Evidence of righteousness

Friends,

Let your heart be governed by a simple instruction:

Psalm 4:5
Offer the sacrifices of righteousness,
And put your trust in the LORD. [NKJV]

Do not over-complicate this with burdensome rules, emotion-filled rituals, or distracting traditions. Seek righteousness and demonstrate it with every word, thought and action. Such a sacrifice will be opposed by the enemy. It is evidence of a heart that trusts in the LORD. And it will shout the good news of salvation and victory!

Be encouraged, Jose

God provides

Friends,

The world tells us that we can all get to heaven, if we just try hard enough. Religions tell us that we can follow their rules and rituals and practices, and they will lead us to heaven.

But the truth is that there is only way to achieve eternal life in the presence of God. And that way has nothing to do with our human effort.

Genesis 22:14 [NKJV]
And Abraham called the name of the place, The-LORD-Will-Provide; as it is said to this day, “In the Mount of the LORD it shall be provided.”

The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob provided the atonement for our sins. He did it in Himself. It is a gift ... unearned by human effort. It is grace.

Be encouraged, Jose

Good Model

1 Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.
Ephesians 5:1-2 (NKJV)

It is not uncommon for us to seek out some inspiration for our daily walk. We must be driven by a higher purpose to a cause bigger than ourselves. The Lord demonstrated sacrificial living, edifying others while giving up self in the process.

This is love (God) at His best. If anything at all, let us imitate this.

Be encouraged,

Afolabi

Give your heart

I will not take a bull from your house, Nor goats out of your folds. For every beast of the forest is Mine, And the cattle on a thousand hills. I know all the birds of the mountains, And the wild beasts of the field are Mine. “If I were hungry, I would not tell you; For the world is Mine, and all its fullness. Will I eat the flesh of bulls, Or drink the blood of goats? Offer to God thanksgiving, And pay your vows to the Most High.
Psalm 50:9-14 (NKKJV)

How else can one impress the giver of all gifts and things... life, health, riches, family, world, etc. The life and breath we breath He gave, the resources we own and produce with, He gave, the Shine, provision, health, peace, joy, talents, and just anything we can think of or imagine, He freely gave. Like King David said here, will we feel cool by just bringing 'a fraction' of one of our bountiful blessings thinking we have done Him a favor? Certainly not.

For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it; You do not delight in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart - These, O God, You will not despise.
Psalm 51:16-17 (NKJV)

Nothing we bring to Him will touch God but giving our hearts to Him. Our whole heart is what He desires not a fraction of our gifts, talents, toys, resources and sacrifices.

Be encouraged,

Afolabi

To be in His image

Friends,

Here in the United States, we have set aside this day - the last Monday in May - to recall and honor those who gave their lives for the great privileges we enjoy as citizens. On a daily basis, we honor their actions by exercising responsible citizenship.

Of course, Christ Jesus paid the ultimate price. Not only did He die, but He took on the full and unrestrained wrath of Almighty God. It was so steep a price that the Father enveloped the earth in darkness lest our frail eyes be forever scarred by the sight. Remembering these events helps to put into perspective the unimaginable value of the gift Christ has given to every believer.

Knowing that He has given us such a gift, what are we to do with it?

2 Peter 3:17-18
You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. [NKJV, emphasis added]

Among the most important traits of Jesus' gift to His people is the knowledge of Him. That knowledge is pathway to deep intimacy with Christ Jesus. As His bride, we must pursue intimacy with Jesus, our bridegroom, at every opportunity. It is the key to our becoming fully restored into the image of our God and Father.

Be encouraged, Jose

He made Himself ready

Friends,

You have no doubt heard the expression, "Take the bull its horns." I wonder ... has any really tried to do so? I can't imagine that the bull would stand idly while a man takes hold of his horns. I can't imagine that such an action would end well for the man foolish enough to actually try it.

Genesis 22:13
Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son. [NKJV]

Picture this scene in your mind. Under natural circumstances, would a wild ram stand still while his horns were tangled in a little bush? Of course a ram is not as powerful as a bull, but a desert shrub is certainly no match for a ram being held "against his will."

But then, we are not talking about natural circumstances are we? Rather we are looking at a sacrifice, sent by Almighty God, perfectly obedient, and completely prepared to lay down and die for the sake of one who is far from innocent.

Sound familiar?

Christ Jesus was not murdered.
He was not forced to stay on the cross by any man.
Even those nails were no match for His sovereign power and might.

He went ... willing and obediently ... to the cross. He did so out of love for His Father. He did so out of love for you and for me. He spent His whole life making Himself ready to be the One who redeemed us with His blood.

Our gratitude and ceaseless praise is the very least we can offer. Why not start right now!

Be encouraged, Jose

Temporarily

Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (NKJV)

To be a recipient of God’s blessings in life and for eternity, we may often encounter pain, persecution, discomfort, inconvenience, sufferings, rejection and tough/hard times. Tough and difficult enough to make us want to quit. But our Lord Jesus Christ gave us a divine example to emulate in His ultimate sacrifice for us at the Cross of Calvary. The eternal prize is bigger than the passing challenges of the present all put together.

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
Romans 8:18 (NKJV)

It is my fervent prayer that may we find the strength to always overcome the heat of the moment, while not missing the lessons and insights from every situation.

Be encouraged,

Afolabi

Faith Exercise & Seasoning

Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.”
Mark 9:23 (NKJV)

It is generally known that a skill, talent, ability and gift that is not exercised, practiced and perfected will soon become rusty and mediocre. The same goes with our faith. How do we perfect our faith, how do we exercise our faith, do we exercise it only in good, peaceful, plentiful and tranquility times? Our best is not brought forth in just the good times.

“For everyone will be seasoned with fire, and every sacrifice will be seasoned with salt. Salt is good, but if the salt loses its flavor, how will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace with one another.”
Mark 9:49-50 (NKJV)

The salt in us and our treasures are exposed when we are seasoned with fire, then will our testimony be seasoned, sure and sharable. Then our testimony can be a healing balm, comforting, touching and lifting up of the body of Christ. When your fire season arrives, do not despise, but work through your faith exercise diligently and patiently. At the end you will be better, more seasoned and be a blessing to the world and the body of Christ.

Be encouraged,

Afolabi