Good Report

...let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

[Matthew 5:16, NIV]

Needed in these days are men and women of good report, whose lives speak GOD, even when no word is uttered. In many ways the Cause of Jesus has suffered so much because Christians who are supposed to shine as light have no good report in their localities and environments. It is still possible to live lives that stand out above the standards of this world and all its weaknesses. To say this is impossible is to make ridicule of the reason for which Jesus came to earth. Daniel was such a man, nothing evil or bad could be found against him save a matter concerning his God (Dan 6:4-5). 1 Peter 4:15-16 tells us that no man should suffer as an evil doer except as a Christian, because concerning this many people will want to find offense. What Peter is saying is that, if you are going to be guilty of anything at all, let it be because of God and related to your faith.

We live in a time that calls for so much attention to the way we conduct ourselves and the kind of image we portray to others. Many a times, it’s those of us inside the church that hinder others from coming into the church - because of the way we conduct our lives. This is not a call to hypocrisy or to try to be men-pleasers, but it’s a call to live like biblical Christians, because if you are a Christian in God’s way, you will have a good report among men.

Jesus was also a man of good report – the bible says He went about doing good (Acts 10:38). It was the weight of His words that men couldn’t contain. They knew He was true but were not ready to accept His Words which were strange to their ears. Nicodemus revealed the heart of the leaders at that time when he said in John 3:2 – “For we know that you are a teacher sent from God and that no man can do the things that you do except God be with him” – so they knew. Others would come to him and call him – good Master.

When the time came for the table men to be chosen in Acts 6, the Apostles asked the general church assembly to look among themselves for seven men of honest report. This qualification even came before that of the in-filling of the Holy Ghost. God wants a people whose lives emit sweet aroma to the world. It is not the end of the road if you have had it bad and your reputation in your world is nothing to write home about. It used to be like that for Saul until Jesus turned the table around for him, and the same Jesus can still do the turning around for you so that men will ask – Is Saul also among the prophets?

Prayer: Loving Father, thank you for your word inviting me to be courageous in living like Christ. I receive the power of your word with obedience. Make my life a radiant reflection of your Holy Spirit. In place of my weaknesses please reveal your strength, and make my strengths instruments of your praise, I pray in Jesus name

One-Year Daily Bible Reading Plan - Aug. 27 2010 - Ezekiel 4-5 (OT), 1 Thessalonians 5 (NT).

Pray for someone today - Pray for marriages; that there will be peace between husbands and wives and that every tension sowed by the enemy to steal the joy of their homes will be displaced.

God's love and mine...

You Can Overcome

...for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith...

[1 John 5:4, NIV]

Everyone born of God has the ability to overcome the world. The world here could mean practices, trials, temptations, or circumstances that could make you doubt God or turn you from the right path in your walk with Him. You may find out that if you allow it, you can encounter somethings at every point in your walk with God that will rob you of your victory and your peace of mind. The enemy is far from retiring from his work of attempting to deceive and destroy God's children. The word assures us that everyone born of God overcomes the world. At each milestone in your life, it is wise to check the where you are in your faith and be very aware of the surrounding conditions, that you may not be robbed of your victory.

If you will do this and firmly exhibit your faith at the right moment, you can sometimes take your victory from the very jaws of defeat. Faith can change any situation, no matter how dark or difficult it may seem. Lifting your heart to God in a moment of genuine faith in Him can quickly alter your circumstances. God has given everyone a measure of faith [Romans 12:3].

God, your Loving Father, is still on His throne, and He can turn any situation into victory, if you will trust Him. Will you trust Him today?

Prayer: My Loving Father, thank You that because of Jesus I can overcome the world. Thank You for giving me a measure of faith to start with. As I check where I am at every milestone of my walk with You, if my faith is not enough for what I have to face, I pray Father that You teach me and show me ways that I may grow my faith. May I be reminded of who You are, what You have done and what You can do if my trust in You is shaking. May I come to the point of peace and assurance that as Your child, indeed I have overcome the world. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Celebrating Success

Then Noah built an altar to the LORD and, taking some of all the clean animals and clean birds, he sacrificed burnt offerings on it. The LORD smelled the pleasing aroma and said in his heart: "Never again will I curse the ground because of man..."

[Genesis 8:20-22, NIV]

Noah's story is a proverbial case of thanking the doer, and he'll do more. In direct response to God's awesome interaction with his household, Noah gathered everyone together and offered a sacrifice of thanksgiving, acknowledging the One who had done this great thing in their lives. The only family unit that was spared when an entire generation of human race was wiped out! Noah did not hesitate to show his heartfelt appreciation, and God did not hesitate to show He accepted their worship. He poured out blessing upon blessing upon blessing on them even to unborn generations, because Noah worshiped. Imagine if Noah had not worshiped...

The Ancient of Days still steps into our lives in amazing ways that leave His footprints all over us. Great victories are attained, great successes are achieved, great deliverance's are born, great works that are obviously God's doing in our lives. Living in a society that is rife with 'owambe' or celebrations, organizing parties to celebrate a promotion or breakthrough before thanksgiving is becoming a trend. We may find ourselves hitting the next social spot for a flamboyant celebration with friends and family. At the end of the day, we may be too tired and excited to give a proper thanksgiving to the doer of the great deed, but this could also deprive us of the opportunity to receive the full package of blessings that will establish our joy and that of unborn generations.

As we put God back into the scene of our achievements and breakthroughs, may our heartfelt worship, thanksgiving and praise be acceptable unto Him in Jesus name.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I acknowledge all you've done in my life, I say thank you Lord. I receive your word with obedience to put you first in all I do. Teach me to worship you in the way that is acceptable to you and let my blessings be established by your grace in Jesus name.

One-Year Daily Bible Reading Plan - Aug. 25 2010 - Lamentations 4-5 (OT), 1 Thessalonians 3(NT).

Pray for someone today - Pray for countries that are thorn with natural disaster like Pakistan. That God of mercy will hold back the floods and help His people.

God's love and mine...

Working All Through The Night

...All that night the LORD drove the sea back...

[Exodus 14:21, NIV]

This scripture for today is confirmation that God neither sleeps nor slumbers [Psalm 121:4]. The real work of God for the children of Israel did not happen when they awoke that morning to find they could cross the Red Sea, but it happened “ALL that night.”

You may be at a point in your life that seems like night or darkness. You may wonder, "what is going on?" or "when will this night be over". From the Heart of a Loving Father, rest assurred that there is a great work going on in your life when things seems their darkest. You may not see the evidence yet, but God is at work. God was just as much at work “all that night” as He was the next day, when the Israelites finally saw the evidence. The next day simply revealed what God had done during the night. Your "day" will come, and you will see evidence of the work God has been doing during your night. Wait expectantly on Him.

Prayer: My Loving Father, I thank You for You are God who neither sleeps nor slumbers. When it seems like nothing is going on in my life, you are working all through the night in my favour. I wait expectantly on You for my hope is in You only. By Your grace I will surely see the day after my night. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Contending For The Faith

Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints. [Jude 3, NIV]

Jude in his book alerted children of God of the challenges of staying as Christians in the world today. It is true that upon recruitment into God’s family, we all have a common salvation that is available to all men, however, the amount of falsehood and adulteration that has sneaked into the body of Christ puts ‘common salvation’ at risk. If not guarded carefully, we can lose it without knowing.

We are therefore encouraged to contend for the faith, to fight and preserve, to jealously guard our faith. Our faith is our salvation and this is the target of all anti God forces working against us… 1 Peter 1:9, mentions ‘for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls’. The salvation of our soul can be victory in our secular job, it can be answers to specific prayer requests, it can be healing, it can be every breakthrough that gives us peace.

As faith comes by hearing the word of God, we can contend to preserve our faith by reading, listening and meditating on the word of God regularly. Not as tradition but with the awareness that we are strengthening our faith. Hiding the word of God in our heart dispels fear. We also contend for our faith by praying in the Holy Spirit. Jude 20 says, …build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. As we contend for our faith according to the word of God, I pray the Spirit of God multiply His fruit in our lives in Jesus name.

Prayer: Lord please teach me to pray in the Holy Spirit to the building of my most Holy faith. Open my heart and ears to your word and quicken me to obey. Preserve my faith Lord by the strength that makes you my worthy God, I pray in Jesus name.

One-Year Daily Bible Reading Plan - Aug. 23 2010 - Jeremiah 48 - 52 (OT), 1 Thessalonians 1 (NT)

God’s love and mine…

Mentoring Others

And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also

[2 Timothy 2:2, NKJV]

A sign of a true leader is the ability to positively affect others with the same zeal or fire in him. For a teacher to be rated successful, he must be able to reproduce himself in others, meaning that his knowledge must not be in him alone. He must raise or mentor more people who can further teach others. As such, a leader who cannot train and develop other leaders capable of taking his place has failed.

Our Lord Jesus Christ was able to reproduce others who looked like him, also called Christians. In our daily Christian walk, we meet several people of different ages and circumstances. As a Christian and a born leader, let us allow ourselves to mentor someone to the knowledge of God. To successfully mentor another person, it calls for love, understanding, commitment, continuity and prayers.

In the place of ministry, is there a complete stand still whenever you’re not around, because there’s no one else who can do what you do? Then it’s time to commit to mentoring another to learn your skills. In your family and among your friends, is there anyone that has the fear of God as you do? Take at least one person, and mentor the person to growth in God. Follow up another Christian today.

Prayer: Dear Lord, help me to love another person enough to help them know you more and get closer to you. Jesus you are the best teacher, give me the skills and patience to draw others to you. I pray for your great name to be established in more and more lives in Jesus name.

One-Year Daily Bible Reading Plan - Aug. 22 2010 - Jeremiah 44 - 47 (OT), Colossians 4 (NT)

Pray for someone today – Pray for Christians everywhere, that the hand of God will strengthen them to overcome the challenges of staying as Christians in this present world. Pray for yourself too.

God's love and mine...