Saved by Grace

Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab, Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth, Obed the father of Jesse

[Matthew 1:5, NIV]

Ruth is an example of someone who found breakthrough. Her background was nothing to write home about. She hailed from Moab - a nation of idol worshippers, a nation under divine condemnation. Despite her past, she was singled out to be the great grand-mother of Jesus Christ.

Ruth, Rahab, Tamar and Bathsheba are among the women listed in the genealogy of Jesus Christ. Two of these women (Ruth and Rahab) were gentiles but made it to the list. In our father's book of records, there is no discrimination on gender or nationality. As you stand out wherever you are for the good of the Kingdom, you are remembered and listed in Heaven's hall of fame.

Ruth was an idolater, Rahab a notorious harlot, Tamar was a victim of incest while Bathsheba was an adulteress, yet they never allowed the sins of the past to hinder their future. Do not allow the events of the past decide your present or future. Instead allow your past to be brought under the cover and cleansing power of the blood of Jesus, so it will not hinder you from entering your next level. In Ruth 2:11, she kept a good report after her salvation that won her favor and breakthrough.

Having confessed Christ as our Savior by grace, let us put aside old sinful habits and grow our Christian character to testify of God's goodness through Christ Jesus.

Prayer: Dear father and Lord, I commit my name into your hands. I pray save me by your grace as you have saved the women in your word. Lord I lay my life before you, wash my sins and my past with the blood of Jesus. Make me a brand new person to carry the mandate of your Kingdom as I live. Let your name be glorified in the life I live, and let your testimony remain with me everywhere. Holy Spirit I invite you to be my strength in every area in which I find myself weak. Be my helper; let me indeed be saved by your grace in Jesus name.

One-Year Daily Bible Reading Plan - June 5 2010 - 2 Chronicles 34 - 36 (OT), 1 Corinthians 10 (NT).

Pray for someone today - Pray for people who desire to know Christ and live by His word, but are afraid of circumstances around them, their friends, family or colleagues. As many as are struggling with making a decision to stand for Christ, may they find positive energy to break out of such resistance and begin living the victorious life for Christ Jesus. If you know any person with this challenge, lift this person up to God.

Gods love and mine...

You Are Salt For The Earth

You are salt for the earth. But if salt loses its taste, how will it be made salty again? ...  

[Matthew 5:13, GWT]

These words were spoken by Jesus Christ after the Beatitudes [Matthew 5:1-10]. He tells the disciples of their responsibility in society and in the world. These words are applicable to us today. The focus of God’s action is the world - not simply the Church or Christians.

Christians are to be the salt of the earth. Jesus used this analogy because in the ancient world, salt was highly valued. Salt has the following uses: -

1. As a seasoning agent: It provides taste and flavour to food. In the same way, may your desire be that as you come into contact with the society, your Christian values should help improve the nature of that society.

2. Salt makes people thirsty: As a children of God, we seek to create a thirst in people's lives that can only be satisfied by Jesus.

3. Salt is used to thaw ice on roads: As children of God, we can add value to our world when we thaw hearts that have hardened against the gospel. As we show love and warmth to people, over time our saltiness can bring people to know Jesus Christ.

4. As a preservative: salt makes food last long. In our world today, there may be things that are wrong but are generally accepted. As children of God, we should preserve the truth and the Christian way of life, that our future generations will know what is right before God.

There may be discouragements as we walk with God. Most times this makes one forget his/her purpose. But as we encourage others and ourselves, we preserve the people whose lives will be testimonies and encouragement to others.

Prayer: My Loving Father, what an honour it is to be the salt for the earth. Father, on my own I cannot fulfill this calling. I pray for Your strength, grace and wisdom to carry out this responsibility. Show me opportunities where I can be salt as I live out my life. Help me to step out of my comfort zone to preserve, reconcile, add taste, give meaning and hope to people in the world. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

It Is Our Privilege

Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.

[Matthew 5:11, NIV]

Every now and then as Christians, we are discredited unjustly and tagged with an identity of dishonor. As we stand on the truth and live the truth daily, we are surrounded by hoards of people who condemn us because they don't understand why we are what we are. You may face instances where you are tagged as 'weird', 'weak', or outright 'foolish' because you wouldn't make your decisions or take actions that are conventional to others. You may even be stigmatized by your family, friends, colleagues or neighbors for your association with Christ.


We are encouraged today to count ourselves blessed every time people put us down, or throw us out, or speak lies about us to discredit the God we serve and represent. These people act this way because they see the truth in us and it is too close for their comfort. When they can't handle their discomfort any longer, they throw stones at us.


In Matthew 5:12, Jesus says we should rejoice and be glad, because our reward in heaven is great, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets before you. Don't be discouraged when you find yourself in this position. Rejoice that your stand and lifestyle is reaching out to the unsaved for Christ. These people may not tell you, but the Holy Spirit can convict them in their quiet corner and they too choose to be like Christ, because of you.


As we continue to stand firm in our conviction and faith in Jesus Christ, we receive strength from him to overcome persecution and trials to our faith in Jesus name.

Prayer: Dear God of grace, thank you for the words of encouragement today. As

I try to live by your word, father please help me to be firm and not find a position of compromise in order to please the people around me. Help me Lord to know the truth and live by the truth so I will be free from entanglement with sin. Holy Spirit of God, I ask that you remind me of these words of encouragement whenever I find myself in a dilemma, whenever I am confused or discouraged. Lord I rejoice in the privilege you've given me to be a Child of the Most High. Thank you, Jesus.

One-Year Daily Bible Reading Plan - June 3 2010 - 2 Chronicles 27 - 29 (OT), 1 Corinthians 8 (NT)


Pray for someone today - Pray for people who sow sparingly into the works of Gods kingdom with their resources like time, energy, money, etc. Pray that every plan of the enemy to cause them loss will not stand. Pray that they will yield bountiful promotion just as the Kingdom of God is promoted above this world. Pray that God himself will defend their means of livelihood.

The Attribute Of Wisdom

Do you want to be counted wise, to build a reputation for wisdom? Here's what you do: Live well, live wisely, live humbly. It's the way you live, not the way you talk, that counts...

[James 3:13, MSG]

True wisdom shows in the way we live and act. It has a physical manifestation. The Bible helps us understand that humility is the proper attribute of true wisdom [James 3:13, AMP]. Humility is defined as a disposition to be marked by meekness or modesty. For a Christian, it is primarily an attitude towards God and others.

To be humble includes:

1) A willingness to acknowledge one’s dependence on God's power.

2) To rejoice with gratitude in response to God's great blessings and glorious grace.

3) To adopt the ways of God as one’s own.

4) To be remorseful when one falls short.

5) To trust God’s power and His willingness to forgive and redeem.

Most people regard humility as selflessness, a divinely sanctioned inferiority complex, or even being quiet. This is not humility. There is also a false humility that still exists in many forms today where people deny the gifts and abilities that God has given them in an attempt to be modest. False humility is pride that disguises itself as humility. Our Loving Father does not want us to be proud in our humility.

Do you want to be counted wise, to build a reputation for wisdom? Here's what you do: Live well, live wisely, live humbly. It's the way you live, not the way you talk, that counts. Ask the Holy Spirit today to teach you how to live humbly and manifest the proper attribute of wisdom.

Prayer: My Loving Father, Your word teaches that wisdom is the principal thing and therefore we should get wisdom. Only You, Father, can give godly wisdom. My Lord, may the wisdom You have given me manifest properly in my way of life. With the help of the Holy Spirit, may my life continue to evolve in Christ-like humility. May I always acknowledge my dependence on You, to remember to be thankful for Your great blessings, to obey You, to be remorseful when I make mistakes and to trust in Your power and Your willingness to forgive and redeem me. Search me, oh Lord, and reveal to me any false humility that I may have, and help me to overcome it. Thank You, my Loving Father. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Wisdom Promotes

A wise servant will rule over a disgraceful son, and will share the inheritance as one of the brothers.

[Proverbs 17:2, NIV]

Godly wisdom is about making decisions with the fear of God in mind. This is usually not common practice because there are several other factors that may be considered, including but not limited to, personal ego, quick returns, external counsel and the need to get even. The one who makes a decision based on the fear of God though it hurts, has overcome self.

Godly wisdom promotes, because it is established on truth and truth never fails. Joseph made his decisions based on the fear of God, he got recognition and promotion for his consistently Godly decisions. Daniel based his decision on the fear of God, when he insisted on not being defiled with the kings meat. The outcome of his wisdom was promotion. Wisdom promotes. 'A wise servant will rule over a disgraceful son, and will share the inheritance as one of the brothers. Wisdom will cause you to operate at a higher level than you are operating today, and bring you promotion.

Examples of Godly wisdom, even in the face of challenge, has shown that their expectations were not cut short. Proverbs 23: 17-18 tells us, 'Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always be zealous for the fear of the Lord, there is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off '. Let us walk daily in wisdom by the fear of God and our hopes and expectations will not be cut off.

Prayer: Dear father, I bless you for the privilege you've given me to learn your wisdom and live right. I ask Lord that you keep me in remembrance of your word as I walk daily. Help me to be sensitive to your Holy Spirit as He guides me into the truth. I pray Lord for your word to shield my every step and preserve me from regret or shame in Jesus Name.

One-Year Daily Bible Reading Plan - June 1 2010 - 2 Chronicles 19 - 22 (OT), 1 Corinthians 6 (NT)

Pray for someone today - Let's pray for Christians who stand in the face of temptation. Let's pray that the spirit of God will help anyone who is struggling with one form of temptation or the other, and that the temptation will lose its appeal, for our brother/sister to be free of its grip in Jesus name.

The Beginning Of Wisdom

...How then can I do this great evil and sin against God?

[Genesis 39:9b, AMP]

After Joseph was placed in Potiphar's house, he faced constant temptation from Potiphar's wife, who wanted him to commit adultery with her [Genesis 39]. He did not give in. His reason for refusing to commit adultery was not merely his respect for his master or the possibility that he could lose the position he just gained. His refusal was because he feared God - as shown in his words above.

Though Joseph got caught up in lies and was put in prison, he was granted favor while in the prison because the Lord was with him. Whatever he did, the LORD made it succeed. Eventually (years later) he was exalted by Pharoah, who set him over all the land of Egypt.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom [Proverbs 9:10]. Fear here means to regard with feelings of respect and reverence; consider hallowed or exalted; or be in awe of. When you fear your Loving Father, you will respect Him, you will obey Him, and you will not want to do anything to grieve Him. Your Loving Father knows that self-determination is not enough to make you obey Him. That is why He has given us the Holy Spirit who will teach us all things, including what the Father likes and empower us to obey Him. 

The choices of one who fears God are always wise choices, which eventually lead to what God has in store for His children. As you continue to make your decisions based on your love and respect for your Loving Father, you will find out that those decisions will end up being wise choices. The Lord rewards those who obey Him.

Prayer: My Loving Father, thank You for revealing to me that the beginning of wisdom is to fear You. I have seen an example of someone who respected You and how his life turned out despite the temporary setbacks after he had made wise choices.  Forgive me for the times I have made decisions that did not honour Your will. My Lord, thank You for the Holy Spirit who teaches me all things. Help me to be more conscious of Your Spirit with me, that I may be guided in my choices and have knowledge of what pleases You. As I make my choices today with respect and fear for you, even if they do not bring the result I want, I will rest knowing that You have great plans for my future. Thank You, Awesome Father. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Importance Of Wisdom

Wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore get wisdom.
And in all your getting, get understanding.
[Proverbs 4:7, NKJV]

Wisdom is a treasure. Every one wants to be identified with wisdom whatever standards they live by. This is made obvious by the strength of a person's opinion over that of others, and how difficult it can be for one person to concede to another person's opinion. Wisdom is a treasure sought by all but which comes at a price. In Matt. 13:44, a man is described to have found a treasure which he hid, for joy over his discovery he goes to sell every thing he has in order to buy and keep that treasure. Wisdom is a treasure we need to spend energy, time and resource to acquire. It differentiates people. It can be the differentiating factor between a person's before and after. It can be the thin line between success and failure.

Wisdom is the principal thing, the most important thing; therefore get wisdom. The person who is guided by common sense and insight, who is prudent in his/her ways ends up a happy person. Prov. 2:10-11 tells us that, 'When wisdom enters your heart, and knowledge is pleasant to your soul, discretion will preserve you; understanding will keep you'.

As children of God who seek to be guided by the wisdom of God, we cannot quantify the safety we have from the troubles of life, most of them triggered by foolish decisions. Source of wisdom can be reviewed here. May the wisdom of a loving God keep us safe and secure always.

Prayer: Dear loving father, thank you for being my shield and protection from of distress. You said in your word, that if I lack wisdom I should ask you and you will give me your wisdom freely, Father I ask for your all-knowing wisdom to be my primary guide. Dear Lord, let my path be lit constantly by your wisdom and knowledge that I may not stumble over any situation. You are my advantage Lord, I thank you.