Speak well

For He who would love life and see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking deceit. Let him turn away from evil and do good; Let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their prayers; But the face of the LORD is against those who do evil.”
1 Peter 2:10-12 (NKJV)

These are economically challenging times all around the world. Nations, Organizations like families and individuals are cutting back and slicing budgets, stretching their respective amount of resources to keep afloat. Emotions and frustrations of many and even the elect may be challenged to the point of making unconscious statements. But we must be cautious of what words comes out of our mouth. We must guard our tongue from evil speech and words which can come out seamless and somewhat harmless but with destructive and devastating tendencies.

Keep your tongue from evil,And your lips from speaking deceit.
Psalm 34:13 (NKJV)

We cannot be defined by a transient and passing moment of life, hence we must guard and keep our tongue from evil pronouncements and deceitful words. No matter what the situation, our God is and remains faithful.

Be encouraged,

Afolabi

Bigger Than That

For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel. Luke 2:30-32 [KJV]

All along, God had a bigger plan than He was willing to share with us because He knew that we were too limited in our view.  Christ came for all people, Jews and Gentiles.  He was not just the saviour of one people but the Salvation of the World.  He had a much larger mission than we could ever imagine.  His task on the earth was to bring salvation to everyone.  He was bigger than the save the Jews and place them back into prominence.  

We get to a point sometimes where we get in our own way, when we know too much.  God knows that and His Plan is always bigger than that.  He is viewing the world from an eternal view and how everything we do and say, or don't do or won't say will affect the rest of the world.  He has to have a "Bigger Than That" vision so that we can be sure that we are not stopping His Plan from going forth.  That is why there is always someone waiting in the wings to do the job that we are unwilling or too scared to do.  God's vision of this world is bigger than we are in all of our ideas and plans.

Be Encouraged,

Martin

Be Commission-driven

Then He said to them, Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And you are witnesses of these things. Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.
Luke 24:46-49 (NKJV)

When the Lord appeared to them at the time of resurrection, He brought to their remembrance what the ‘great commission’ was… Repentance and remission of sins should be preached only in His name to all nations and we are to be witnesses of these things. You and I have a role to play for the Kingdom. Let’s get busy while its day for night will come when there won’t be strength for work.

We must never lose sight of what our commission is, even in the midst of our daily distractions and attractions. We are to make our lives a living sacrifice and witness to His cause.

Be Encouraged,

Afolabi

We shall be delivered!

Friends,

At that time Michael shall stand up,
The great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people;
And there shall be a time of trouble,
Such as never was since there was a nation,
Even to that time.
And at that time your people shall be delivered,
Every one who is found written in the book.
Daniel 12:1 [NKJV] ... Emphasis added

The news of the past seven days has been enough to make my head spin. Riots in Greece... Billions lost in an investment scandal... Political corruption reaching new heights in brazenness... Corporate executives begging for money from lawyers... Shoes thrown at a head of state... Suffice it say that the 24-hour News Networks have had plenty to talk about.

Our family, like so many others, is wrestling with hard decisions about spending and saving. In that struggle, it's so easy to confuse financial security with eternal security... and to reverse their priority. But this verse, which is the opening line in a remarkable prophesy about God's faithfulness to His people, reminds all of us that our future is secure.

Our Lord has never broken a promise. And Christ has promised a deliverance for us... His church.

Be encouraged, Jose

Worship Christ for who He truly is

Friends,

During this time of year, we are bombarded with symbols of seemingly every type, ranging from the extreme secular to the extreme religious. I guess that now is a good time to be reminded of the danger of worshiping the symbols.

But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation.
Hebrews 9:11 [NKJV]

All of the rituals and symbols that come out at this time of year are man-made. Even the rite of celebrating Christ's birth is entirely a product of man's imagination. The time of year to do so was chosen for various reasons, none of which have any basis in scripture.

Which brings me to my point.

It is just as tempting to get caught up in the religious spectacle of this season as it is to get swept away by the shopping and shipping tasks. When we do, we worship something made by man... we turn our attention away from Jesus. And what's worse is that we do so in the name of God.

Sisters and brothers, Christ must have our undivided attention. Rather than celebrating His humanity, let us worship Him for who He truly is ... the Alpha and Omega, the Redeemer and King of kings, Almighty God.

Be encouraged, Jose

Precious Stone, Stumbling Stone

Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient,“The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone,” and “A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense.”
1 Peter 2:7-9 (NKJV)

Even as many as have partaken of the grace of God, yet we do fall short of our part and role in the walk of faith. We can choose to remain obedient and operate in the realm of grace and mercy or choose to be disobedient and position ourselves for the curse and stumbling (a not too pretty space to be in).

They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed. But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.
1 Peter 2:8-10 (NKJV)

The same Lord can be different things to you, it only depends on where you stand on the spectrum... obedient or disobedient. Better to be positioned to run to the precious stone that to confront the Rock of offense and stumble to destruction.

Be encouraged,

Afolabi

Christmas Can Be Everyday

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:11 [KJV]

Somewhere as we read this devotion, someone is celebrating the true Christmas of being born again.  Christ has entered another life to free it from sin.  If we have been saved, then we have had our own personal Christmas.  We realize that despite all the actions and items going on in the world today, financial, wars, crimes and corruption, Christ should still be celebrated and held up high.

As this Christmas season comes upon us, let us remember why we celebrate Christmas.  The true and precious gift of Christ was given to the world.  He came so that we might have life everlasting with Him.  As a gift, I would take that over any other item including a new golf club or iPod.  As Christmas can be everyday, let's help someone else realize that Christ is the true way to celebrate Christmas. 

Be Encouraged,

Martin