Tag Archives: Christian

January 14, 2016 · 5:04 pm

TWO PHEASANTS AND AN EGG

Over the last holiday season, my kids and I got engaged in paying daily visits to 2 birds -a local breed of pheasants- that decided to breed at our backyard. There were two pheasants and an egg, so we christened one of the birds as Mama Pheasant and the other as Papa Pheasant. Each time we approached the new parents, they would make some noise that sounded like a tiny growl to ensure that we did not cross our limits and get too close. This was their way of ensuring that Baby Pheasant remained unharmed till the day of hatching and “manifestation”. Of course we never crossed our limits, not knowing what surprises the pheasants would spring at us if we dared.

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On one of the days, a thought crossed my mind as we were in the middle of our daily visit: the Baby Pheasant inside the egg had no idea of what was going on outside its shell and had no way of influencing the behaviour of Mama and Papa Pheasant. It had no way of begging its parents for protection; it did not have to do anything to earn the right to be protected. Yet it did not have any reason to fear. The parents were under obligation to offer the protection, even if it meant putting themselves in harm’s way – and they never failed. Day and night, they stood at their duty post, unwavering, unflinching and untiring.
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This is similar to the kind of covenant relationship that believers have with God. What an awesome privilege! Our covenant confers a plethora of promises on us. If we can take out time to understand the terms of this covenant in the Bible, we will live our lives in unimaginable peace. Just living, walking and working in the glory of the covenant. We will no longer give prominent place to enemies and fill our prayers with concerns about them. A highly superior version of the kind of protection that the pheasant in the egg got is just one of the benefits that we enjoy as believers.

If we are seated together with Christ in heavenly places (Ephesians 2:6); if we are dead and our lives are hid with Christ (Colossians 3:3); if He that is in us is greater than he that is in the world (1 John 4:4); if the name of the Lord is a strong tower that the righteous run into and are safe (Proverbs 18:10); If the Lord is around us as the mountains that surround Jerusalem (Psalms 125:2), If the Lord will not allow the rod of the wicked to rest upon the lot of the righteous (Psalms 125:3) why should we be afraid of enemies. We should rather devote time to mediate on these promises day and night until they are ingrained on the tablets of our hearts. This way, we will be steadfast and unmoveable, working in the sound mind that God has given us instead of walking in fear.

The Bible verses referenced above are just a few of the reasons why we should be bold as the lion, living above fear of enemies. We will discover many more if we will be willing to search the scriptures diligently. We would then be able to treat them the way Jesus recommended in Matthew 5:43 – 48

43 “You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbour and hate your enemy’. 44 But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! 45 In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. 46 If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. 47 If you are kind only to your friends] how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. 48 But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.

 One thing we can be sure of is this: No enemy in the form of man or devil can harm us if we remain under the shadow of the Almighty. It is our covenant privilege.

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October 22, 2014 · 6:16 am

IT’S NOT ABOUT ME

Reading Max Lucado’s book: ‘IT’S NOT ABOUT ME’, I came across a fascinating story of something that happened when he was a guide in the art museum. His job was very simple: Lead the visitors to the paintings, answer their questions and step out of the way. The idea was for them to take in as much of the painting as possible, without unnecessary distractions and diversions. He stayed on track for some time and did just as he was directed to do.  However, he soon started talking a bit too much, thus shifting the focus from the paintings to himself. Little by little, he began to unconsciously block the paintings and just going on and on with his stories. He was sharply brought back in line by these words: “This job isn’t about you Max. Don’t obscure my masterpieces”

Most ministers set off on the right track, initially preaching nothing but ‘Christ and Him Crucified’, until those wonderful remarks at the end of the service begin to pour in: “Pastor, I felt God all through the message, the message was speaking directly to me”, “That was a wonderful message, I have never heard it that way before”. The worship leader just wants to lead the church into God’s presence, but the compliments can’t be avoided: “Your voice was so angelic”, “The worship session was something else today, everyone was caught up in the spirit”. “I felt something like a shock during the opening prayer”

When these accolades start pouring in, we start planning to ‘Preach up a storm’ at every meeting and singing to strike the right chord that will generate those wonderful comments. This somehow affects all of us, not just the preachers, prayer leaders and the singers. We all have a way of unconsciously deflecting the glory that is due to God to ourselves.

The truth is that there is nothing really wrong with the compliments and we never really set out to take God’s glory. However, when we let our guards down, we fall for this age long trick. Little by little, one short step after another. The tiny seed is sown in our hearts and it just grows without restrictions.

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Our objective as ministers in any capacity should always be to direct people to God our source. We should always strive to count ourselves as nothing but mediums. We are similar to the donkey that God used to speak to Balaam, the fish that God used to call Jonah to order or even the rod of Moses that turned to a snake to reflect God’s glory.

When God moves via our ministration, it is not because of us, it is not about us. It is not for us. Paul planted, Apollos watered and the increase came because of God. It is all about Him. Our ultimate goal should be never to obscure the glory of God in any way, just like the moon reflects nothing but the light from the sun. May we never fail in this assignment in Jesus’ name.

So then, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you may do, do all for the honour and glory of God. 1Cor 10:31

photcredits: allaboutgod.net

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February 16, 2014 · 3:18 pm

SHADES OF HOLY

I am the Lord, who brought you up out of Egypt to be your God; therefore be holy, because I am holy. Leviticus 11: 45 (NIV)

Growing up, I have seen HOLINESS mean different things at different times and the evolution is not showing any sign of stopping. The definitions are somehow affected by level of exposure, class, geographical location and who you are relating with at the time.

I remember when it was a grievous sin for ladies to put on trousers on the streets and they dare not go close to a church dressed like that or …. It was a sign of holiness to ensure that your hair is always covered anytime you are in church or when any prayer is being said; that hair cover could well be a strip of cloth or a sheet of paper. Back in the days, even Jeans was a sign of ‘unholiness’ and if you were very rich, there must be something unholy about you. There was also a holy look, there were holy hairstyles and it was easy to spot ‘holy’ people out in a crowd.

It evolved from the way we look to the way we speak. Certain phrases came to be associated with holiness. I’m sure you can think of some of them.  And then the music had to sound in a certain way to be holy. You probably have your own experience on this.

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In all these things, one thing is certain and not in dispute: Our God is the same yesterday, today and forever. He has had one definition of holiness and that definition will remain till the end of time. God really wants us to be holy because that is the only way we can relate with Him as He intends and eventually end up with Him. We can never attain to that level of holiness by our hard work or by trying hard enough. I believe holiness becomes natural to us as we get closer and closer to God. It is a fruit of intimacy with God at the place of prayer, worship and study of the Word. There are no set of rules that can help you get there. God just works it out in you as you spend more time with Him.

I recently heard something which I think summarises the pursuit of holiness:

The more you see God, the more you know Him. The more you know Him, the more you want to know Him. The more you know Him, the more you are changed by God. The more you are changed by God, the more you see Him.

2 Corinthians 3:18 lays more credence to this:

And all of us, as with unveiled face, [because we] continued to behold [in the Word of God] as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are constantly being transfigured into His very own image in ever increasing splendor and from one degree of glory to another; [for this comes] from the Lord [Who is] the Spirit.

Devote more time, not just to church activities, but to developing your intimacy with God and you will become the definition of holiness. His grace is sufficient!

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March 3, 2013 · 12:48 pm

Because I Did Not Know

I always laugh at myself whenever I remember an incident that occurred on my first ever trip outside my home country- Nigeria. I had finished picking the items I wanted to buy at a large shopping mall and headed to the checkout counter. The cashier was attending to one person, while the rest of the people stood behind the waiting line. I wasn’t used to this and I just felt the people were not done with their shopping. I thought to myself; “if they wanted to pay, they’ll be in line in front of the cashier”. In my ignorance, I walked past all the people on the queue and stood behind the person at the till. Nobody said a word to me including the cashier, who was kind enough to attend to me and I left the shop afterwards, without an inkling that I had made a fool of myself. Sometimes, I still wonder what was going on in the minds of those people then.

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At that time, I didn’t know any better, so I did not really know that I was completely out of order. I can’t quite remember how I learnt my lesson, but I know I did not make the mistake again. I am sure that at least one of those people must have judged me for my wrong doing, without thinking that I might have been acting in ignorance. It might have been helpful if any of them had corrected me nicely. There are actually many people making similar mistakes in various facets of life and they are completely ignorant of a better way. That was why Paul said in Romans 10:14

“How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?”

While I agree that there are many people today, who are willingly living in the wrong, you may not have the right to judge them until you have at least tried to direct them to the right direction. So next time you think of placing the SINNER tag on someone and judging them, ask yourself what you have done about it and plan to do something about it. I believe that is our primary assignment as God’s children.

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