He will not let go

Friends,

We have all seen relationships fall apart. At times, we're dumbfounded, because the relationship seemed rock-solid - a godly man and a godly woman, seemingly devoted to one another, enduring through hardships. But even in those circumstances, we may be disappointed. But the LORD does not disappoint.

Isaiah 46:4 [NKJV]
Even to your old age, I am He,
And even to gray hairs I will carry you!
I have made, and I will bear;
Even I will carry, and will deliver you.

It is easy to be carried away by the emotions of a moment. Our challenge, brothers and sisters, is to remain focused, to purposefully remember that our God is faithful and everlasting. And His love and faithfulness is never-ending.

Be encouraged, Jose

Most? or Faithful

Friends,

Let's face it ... humble-ness is not man's greatest strength. The world idolizes those who excel at bringing attention to themselves. Too many are famous simply because they are famous.

Proverbs 20:6 [NKJV]
Most men will proclaim each his own goodness,
But who can find a faithful man?

It is easy to find someone who makes sure that all have heard about his most useful qualities. Go to the house of government. Turn on the television. You will see them everywhere.
You may have even seen one in the mirror this morning.

But seek a faithful man, and you will search long and hard before encountering one. Indeed, there is but One who is truly faithful. We are most wise when we put our faith in Him.

Be encouraged, Jose

He must keep His promises

Friends,

Is anything too hard for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.
- God, as recorded in Genesis 18:14 [NKJV]

Before the LORD appeared to Sarah and Abraham, He promised that Abraham would father a great nation. In that act, Almighty God put His own reputation and glory on the line. After all, why would anyone worship a god who could not deliver on his own promises?

Of course, we know how the story turned out. And we who are depending on the grace of Christ must remember that the Father's promise to us is just as binding as His promise to Abraham. The Lord tells us that His grace is sufficient for us. He declares that we are counted among the righteous. These are literally life-changing promises. For they change the definition of life for us from something temporal to something eternal. If we cannot count on God fulfilling those promises, then what's the point?

But we can count on those promises. The LORD has demonstrated over and over that He keeps His commitments and fulfills His prophecies. We are imperfect, and therefore we occasionally doubt. But Christ Jesus is not imperfect. And therefore, He has no doubt in the Father's will and power. By Christ's grace, He lives within us and keeps us firmly in the promises of God.

Be encouraged, Jose

Keeping a promise

Friends,

It happens so often.

Things work out, but not quite the way you expected them to. In the end, the desired result is achieved, but the path you took was far different from the one you had planned.

Mark 14:31 (NKJV)
But [Peter] spoke more vehemently, “If I have to die with You, I will not deny You!”
And they all said likewise.

Of course, we all know the familiar story of Peter's inability to resist denying that he knew Jesus. We know that Christ brought Peter back to Himself after His resurrection, and that Peter went on to be used by the Lord for great and far-reaching work.

In the end, Peter was executed for His steadfast refusal to disobey Jesus. But he did not accomplish this on his own. When he utilized his own strength to accomplish his own plans, he failed spectacularly.

But when the Lord directed Peter's steps, the fragility and limits of his strength were rendered irrelevant. And the Lord demonstrated, in spectacular fashion, His faithfulness to accomplish what He begins.

Be encouraged, Jose

Faultless Presentation

Friends,

When we miss the mark, keep this in mind...

Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling,
And to present you faultless
Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,
Jude 1:24, NKJV

Our Lord keeps us upright, even through the relentless attack of the enemy.

Our Lord removes every stain, every mis-step, every slip-up.

Our Lord does this with exceeding joy.
Joy that cannot be described.
Joy that cannot be replicated.
Joy that can only be found in the presence of His glory!

Be encouraged, Jose

Live like a grasshopper

Friends,

The people of Israel spent 40 years in the desert, in part because they thought that being a grasshopper was a bad thing.

There we saw the giants (the descendants of Anak came from the giants); and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight.
Numbers 13:33 [NKJV]

They saw the "giants" and got scared, figuring they'd get stomped on like bugs. But they had forgotten that the Lord had sent swarms of grasshoppers into Egypt as part of His terrible judgment upon that land. And they had failed to connect to God's promise -- that they would be His instrument for wrath upon the current occupants of Canaan.

In other words, they were like grasshoppers ... and that is an awesome thing.

Sisters and brothers, we may be looking around, feeling overwhelmed by the enormity of the challenges set against us in this fallen world. In those moments, remember the grasshopper. We are an army. We are on the Lord's side. When Christ returns, we will be a swarm that overwhelms that which overwhelms us today.

Be encouraged, Jose

What are you looking at?

Friends,

Each and every day, the Lord calls us to step out in faith and bring forth the Kingdom of God. Jesus told us that the Kingdom is at hand! Why then, do we behave as frightened as the Hebrew spies of old when faced with enemies that Almighty God has already vanquished:

Then they told him, and said: "We went to the land where you sent us. It truly flows with milk and honey, and this is its fruit. Nevertheless the people who dwell in the land are strong; the cities are fortified and very large; moreover we saw the descendants of Anak there."
Numbers 13:27-28 [NKJV]

The Lord had already told Israel that there were enemies in the land, and that He would drive them out before His people. He even sent them through Hebron, a city that Abraham had purchased and that was home to Abraham's final resting place (and from which we get the designation "Hebrews"). But instead of seeing the future that God had promised, and instead of recognizing their legitimate claim to the land, these 10 men only saw large people, large cities, and large walls.

Are we falling into the same trap?

The Lord has promised us great blessings, as well as great trials and tribulation. Are we focused only on the trials and tribulations, giving them power to stop our advance into the promises of God? Or will we instead follow in the footsteps of Caleb and Joshua, who declared in faith:

Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it.
Numbers 13:30b [NKJV]

Brothers and sisters, the enemy is determined to frighten us into paralysis. He wants us to believe that he has the power to defeat the faithfulness of Almighty God. If we are to believe that God is indeed Almighty, then we must stand firm and step forward, knowing that no force of hell can stop us.

Be encouraged, Jose

Stewards, not Owners

As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
1 Peter 4:10 (NKJV)

All our possessions, from Our Family, Husbands, Wives, Sons, Daughter, Pets, Homes, Congregations, Automobiles, Boats, Positions, Skills, Businesses and even our physical bodies belong to God and we are only given these things as Stewards. Let us be faithful with them; let us nurture them for God's glory.

Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.
1 Corinthians 4:1-2 (NKJV)

Let us operate with the Steward mentality and not the Owner mentality, for we will give an account someday for all that has been placed in our possession.

Be Encouraged,

Afolabi

Vain and Empty

For what happens to the sons of men also happens to animals; one thing befalls them: as one dies, so dies the other. Surely, they all have one breath; man has no advantage over animals, for all is vanity.
Ecclesiastes 3:19 (NKJV)

The blitz, the bling, the glamor, the pride, the self righteousness, the subtle hatred, the terrorist, the pervert, the extremist, the superstar, even the faithful... One thing levels all at this side of things. They are all one breath away from this world. Why should man now get carried away by the passing pleasures, glamor, hate, joy, pain, success and struggles of this world. Nothing in life has ever been permanent. As the preacher states it, one dies, so dies the other, no one is exempt.

Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.
1 Corinthians 10:12 (NKJV)

The saved ought not get caught up in these distractions lest they fall into the trap and scheme of the world. All is vanity.

What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?
Mark 8:36 (NIV)

A life without Christ is what the heading above says. Pray that all souls come to repentance before the final curtain is drawn.

Be encouraged,

Afolabi

That was fast

Friends,

Saturday's devotional was focused on the need for elders to come forth. What happened Sunday was unexpected, but it shouldn't have been surprising ...

And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.
John 14:13-14 [NKJV]

We had a fellowship out our home to celebrate some of the birthdays taking place this month within our group of believing friends. Included in those whose presence graced our home was the husband of two of the "birthday girls'" close friends. He is an older man ... quiet, unassuming, and an unapologetic follower of Christ.

We talked and laughed for a few hours. Through it all, I was struck by God's amazing and gracious answer to my prayer. Here was an elder ... a real man who has lived as God has called him to live, who has obeyed God's call to work, to love, and to make time to study His word, and who seemed to take a genuine interest a guy 30 years his junior. It may be Lord's will that we have more opportunities to spend time together; or it may not. Either way, I am grateful for God's divine provision.

Be encouraged, Jose

Blessing to blessing

Friends, consider this song found in the Book of Psalms ...

A Song of Ascents.
Behold, bless the LORD,
All you servants of the LORD,
Who by night stand in the house of the LORD!
Lift up your hands in the sanctuary,
And bless the LORD.
The LORDwho made heaven and earth
Bless you from Zion!

Psalm 134

The writer of this psalms implores the people to "bless the LORD". And in turn, the LORD declares that He blesses His people from His holy place. It is a beautiful exchange, just as children loves their parents, and as parents lavish love and blessings on their children.

If you are seeking that incomprehensible peace and joy, then begin today by giving unrestrained praise and glory to Almighty God. Do this no matter what your present circumstances may appear to be. And without fail, He will shower blessings upon you.

Be encouraged, Jose

Fruitfulness in all conditions

Friends,

The LORD says ...

Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD,
And whose hope is the LORD.
For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters,
Which spreads out its roots by the river,
And will not fear when heat comes;
But its leaf will be green,
And will not be anxious in the year of drought,
Nor will cease from yielding fruit.
Jeremiah 17:7-8 [NKJV]

Today is the day to trust in the LORD. Wait no longer, brothers and sisters. The fact that the world is untrustworthy cannot get much more obvious. We do not need to live in fear, nor must we be anxious during the difficult times.

No matter happens in this earth, the LORD promises that we will never stop bearing fruit.

A thousand may fall at your side,
And ten thousand at your right hand;
But it shall not come near you.
Psalm 91:7 [NKJV]

Be encouraged, Jose

The God who saves

Friends,

In scripture, the Lord reveals Himself to have more facets than we can possibly count. Many of us are familiar with some His more commonly discussed names: Jehovah Jireh (The LORD who provides) and El Roi (The God who sees). Here, though, is a name for the LORD that we may not have noticed before.

Show Your marvelous lovingkindness by Your right hand,
O You who save those who trust in You
From those who rise up against them.
Psalm 17:7 [NKJV] (emphasis added)

The LORD does indeed save us, for we are the ones who trust in Him. And He knows that there are many forces rising up against us, both seen and unseen. We do well to praise and honor the LORD for this act of mercy, love and strength. He is our Protector and our Shield.

Be encouraged, Jose

Finding Me

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.
Jeremiah 29:11-13 (NKJV)

The Lord's assurance to captives through Jeremiah was gentle, firm yet assuring. For a generation that have lived in captivity for a long time, the news of hope and deliverance is usually taken with a grain of salt. But to a hopeful generation, the living word is a reminder of the Lord's faithfulness and mercies. One which though and sometimes may tarry but never fails.

In this letter to them in captivity, the process was stated out clearly... You will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with 'all your heart'. This means our search must be diligent, sustained and be genuine. We must not seek Him solely for the toys, and not what just we want, but we must offer ourselves as living sacrifices holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. Anything short of this will be hypocrisy and deceitful which is not acceptable to our Creator.

Be encouraged,

Afolabi