Think on these things

We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers, remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father, knowing, beloved brethren, your election by God. For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance, as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake.
I Thessalonians 1:2-5 (NKJV)

When a soul declares openly its allegiance to the living God, a set of expectations do follow such a declaration to ensure the fruitfulness and usefulness of such soul. As stated in the above scripture, there must be the work of faith, labor of love, patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, and being conscious of one's election by God all of which spurs us to action. The faith walk is a vibrant and active one where idleness and inertia has no place.

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Philippians 4:8 (NKJV)

As the hours and minutes go by, what is your work of faith and labor of love? Do you exercise patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ when things don't go too well? What goals are higher than just achieving worldly feats for you? Let the answers to these things drive us to service to reach all for the Kingdom and God's love.

Be encouraged,

Afolabi

Remember to believe

Friends,

It seems as though the news is getting worse by the day. As for me, personally, I'm finding it easy to get discouraged... far too easy.

For what if some did not believe?
Will their unbelief make the faithfulness of God without effect?
Romans 3:3 [NKJV]

This is my reminder. God is faithful and therefore deserves my trust and belief. My feelings of discouragement cannot rule over me, because God alone is faithful. He fulfills every promise and provides for every need.

It matters not what anyone else says or thinks... because no man is God's master. The Lord has proven that He -- and He alone -- is sovereign over every event, large and small. He has proven that He is good, and no evil is present in Him. And He is faithful to assert His good and perfect will over every man.

Be encouraged, Jose

Having a heart of belief

Friends,

Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
Hebrews 3:12

According to commentaries, "departing from" does not convey the true meaning of the original text. A better translation would be to say, "rebelling against the living God." In other words, rebellion against God is linked with unbelief, which God declares here as evil.

This is a stark lesson for every one of us. When we rebel against God, we are demonstrating unbelief. And all who do not believe in the One True Living God are evil. Let no one deceive you into accepting the fantasy of "many ways" to heaven.

In this verse, the Lord commands us to "take heed" because diligence and discipline are required to consistently obey the word of God. Our must not be a lazy or passive faith, for we live in a fallen world, whose prince is constantly warring against God's people.

Rather, we must aggressively pursue the good. We must actively exercise our faith in Christ Jesus... keeping our eyes on the glory that He has set before us.

Be encouraged, Jose

Be a blessing

By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.
1 John 3:16-18 (NKJV)

The visible trait of a child of God is the selfless spirit and not the arrogant, hypocritical and selfish spirit, such as is very visible without the saying of words. The Lord is going to reach many souls with diverse needs, some ... for healing, the next meal, strength, wisdom, peace of mind, assurance, a helping hand, a listening ear, a vessel of hope, etc Out of these, we definitely can play a role and help reach a soul for God.

If we are gifted, talented, blessed, and privileged in one way or the other, we ought not shut our hearts off of the world, for there is a reason for that which we have and we ought to open our bossom and channels as a conduit for the outpouring and flow of God's love. Our hearts must unconsciously crave to do these things because it is His Holy Spirit that drives this. When moved to these things, please don't hold back, be a blessing and

Be encouraged,

Afolabi

Move the Blind Spot

In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the LORD sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. Isaiah 6:1 [KJV]

Do we have a blind-spot or many blind-spots? In the passage that this verse is taken, Isaiah realizes that he was missing the Lord directly with Uzziah around.  As we get into the celebration of Christmas, let's make sure that our focus is still on Christ.  We will have many outside influences that will try to steal away our attention.  We will have many opportunities to miss what is really going on by participating in tasks that are meant to be distractions.  

Whether the death of Uzziah meant that Isaiah's focus shifted to the Lord or his grief over the death brought him closer to the Lord, we don't know.  However, we know that the event caused him to get an up-close and personal view of the Lord in all His Glory.  Let's take this opportunity and the reason for the season and make sure that we are focusing on true Christmas.  Christ is born into non-believers life each day and that is the best Christmas present and blind-spot remover ever.  

Be Encouraged,

Martin

Doing and Finishing

In the meantime His disciples urged Him, saying, “Rabbi, eat.” But He said to them, “I have food to eat of which you do not know.” Therefore the disciples said to one another, “Has anyone brought Him anything to eat?” Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work.
John 4:31-34 (NKJV)

The needs and desires of man are insatiable. Before a need is met there is the resurgence of another need springing up spiraling out into a somewhat ovoid cycle. Foods for the stomach and the stomach for foods, but God will destroy both it and them (1 Corinthians 6:13a NKJV). The disciples wondered what kept the Savior going without physical food, He replied with the real food that gives energy to everlasting life... Doing the will of God and finishing the assignment He was sent.

As children of the Living God, our food, goal, and desire ought to be to do the will of Him we have declared for and get busy with Kingdom business with the intent to finish our part. To do otherwise is to pay lip service and enshrine hypocrisy on our daily walk and life - a lifestyle that incurs the wrath of the Savior (The Fig tree hyposcrisy). What do you hunger for? The things of the world with no eternal value, or Kingdom business with eternal value?

Be encouraged,

Afolabi

What do you smell like?

Friends,

It's interesting what the Lord uses to remind us of Himself. For instance, the other day, my wife met several sisters in the Lord for breakfast. When she returned, she smelled of pancakes and waffles... (eventually she got tired of me following her around the house) ... but she couldn't wait to put on fresh clothes.

In His word, God declares that the prayers and praise of His people rise like a sweet smoke to His throne. He goes even further to state ...

For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life.
2 Corinthians 2:15-16a [NKJV]

We who are saved carry the scent of life, salvation and grace. We are surrounded by those who spiritually smell different... they smell of death and bondage. And just as a mare can pick out her foal from all other colts in the herd, our Father distinguishes His children from those who have not been adopted into His family.

Each day, we must examine the condition of our spirit. Does it smell like the death... soiled by this dying world? Or does it have that fresh smell of something that has been washed clean by Christ's blood?

Be encouraged, Jose