Hardly far was His walk
When He met a companion owing
But a farthing compared to his debt
Strangulating was His hold
despite pleas for Mercy
“Never!” he bellowed
“YOU MUST PAY BACK!”
time was sought
but “never!” came the hasty response
For He had forgotten the master’s care
All be paid was his claim
Not a part but all
not most but all
not many but all
Never to leave till he had
paid the least farthing
Aching the master’s heart felt
For How could love be repaid so
How could one forgiven so much
yet render such in return.
Do you have aught against your brother or does he have against you? Remember Christ’s love for us. While unlovable, weak and without strength he chose to love. Let us also so love one another with a heart large enough to forgive the vilest of offenses.
– Dr bolaji akanni
One of the biggest dangers in thinking that we are righteous in God’s sight just because of our good works is explained in Ezekiel 33:12 (KJVA) – “…the righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him in the day of his transgression …” It is indeed dangerous grounds! As long as we believe we have right standing with God based on our own righteousness, then a little slip would be enough to sweep our feet off the ground. But what if we did not make any mistake and got things right 100%? Then we would be facing the door of Isaiah 64:6 which has these words inscribed on it – “… all our righteousness are as filthy rags”.
However, if we were determined not to get frustrated; like I did several years ago; and made a U-turn from that door, then we would be favoured to find another door labelled John 10:9. On this door, Jesus Christ has boldly inscribed the following letterings: “I am the door: by me if any man enters in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture”. Hallelujah! I’m sure one of the pastures you would find after entering this door is the joy that will envelope your life when you understand – “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him” – II Corinthians 5:21
Yes! Just because of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, we possess the kind of righteousness that could previously be attributed to God alone. If you could look into all believers’ spirits right now, you would appreciate how righteous God is. God’s righteousness was given to us as a gift when we got saved. Nevertheless, this is not the major point I want to make today. For those of us who have come to understand this truth, how have we been running with it?
There’s a sad turn of events in the church of Jesus today. In time past, many believers did not understand the concept of God’s righteousness. However, you could see their zeal for God. They went about doing good works and exhibiting fruit that attracted men to Christ even though they could fit perfectly in the way Apostle Paul described the Israelites in Romans 10:2 – “For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge”.
Today, knowledge has come and we would expect that believers would be described as having “a zeal of God, according to knowledge”. However, many of us have embraced knowledge and have thrown away our zeal. The days of waking up at night to pray is over. Bible study is history. Evangelism is almost extinct practice. Materialism is the order of the day. It is getting increasingly difficult to differentiate believers from unbelievers.
Beloved, let’s get back on track. Our knowledge is not meant to erode our zeal. Titus 2:14 says Jesus … gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. Have you really been purified by Jesus Christ? Then keep your zeal alive!
– tope aladenusi
I fancy playing some team sports when I’ve got the time to. Maybe on a picnic or sometimes just wanting to break some sweat. But one thing I notice they all have in common (Soccer, Basketball, Volleyball, etc) is the change of attitude a player has when he switches sides. Take for instance player A in team A is suddenly told to change over and join team B, thus becoming his former teammates opponents.
Now he may have teamed well with his former players but now he has to advance strongly AGAINST them. He is suddenly employing all that he has to score against his former team.
As Christians that kind of mindset should permeate our being especially in view of repentance.
No longer are we advancing the same course with respect to our former ways which are in disharmony with the word of God. Paul had this to say about the Thessalonians Church …“and how you turned to God from your idols to serve a God Who is alive and true and genuine, and how you look forward to and await the coming of His Son from heaven, Whom he raised from the dead – Jesus,”
Consider the phrase “turn around” and “look forward”. This connotes a complete reversal of thought.
I love the way Paul conveyed this in the book of Corinthians. “When you became distressed in a godly way, look at how much devotion it caused you to have. You were ready to clear yourselves of the charges against you. You were disgusted with the wrong that had been done. You were afraid. You wanted to see us. You wanted to show your concern for us. You were ready to punish the wrong that had been done. In every way you have demonstrated that you are people who are innocent in this matter.”
A clause I must however add at this juncture is this: We walk by faith and not by sight. Our turn around must be established on the Word of God. It is a turn around with the word of God before us; not just antagonizing all we ever did, but viewing all in the light of God’s word.
Enjoy your game but don’t let this mindset ever escape you.
– Dr bolaji akanni
(Revelation 2: 4,5)
They raised their arms, swaying in tandem with the praise; I gnashed my teeth in despair.
They supped in the same table with Him; I ate the crumbs from their feast.
They beheld His glory; I couldn’t see past the veil on my face.
They jumped in joy; I mourned in sorrow.
What had happened to me?
I decided to quit.
The exit door was huge, but old. I could see the stain from the palm of the last man that used it. The mark was still fresh. How many had left through this door? How many came back? The story goes that it is easy to leave but very difficult to come back.
Heart hitting hard on my ribs, I grabbed the handle. A click, a hilarious shout! I retracted my hand and looked back. A beautiful young woman just came in through the small entrance door. I shook my head in shame. Such was the hilarious welcome-shout when I first entered the kingdom. Then, I was enjoying everything – the music, the worship, the fellowship. What had happened to me?
What happened to my zeal to serve the Lord at all times? What happened to my passion to please the king in all circumstances? What happened to my desire to do His will at all cost? Ashamed of remembering where I had fallen, I quickly grabbed the door handle and turned it hard. Then, everything became dead silent. No more worship, no more music – I was dumb-dead to everything happening inside.
A tap at my back and I turned. Standing behind was a man in white apparel.
“Why do you want to go?”
His countenance was full of care as He asked. His warm smile proved wrong my belief that nobody cared any longer about me in the kingdom.
“I’m no more useful here.” I kindly told Him.
He looked at me with pity. “It’s very cold outside,” He warned. “If you leave, you might not make it back. Stay with us. We love you.”
Me? Those pleading and caring words hit me hard. Am I still loved the way I am? I couldn’t believe it. Shaking terribly, my hands slipped off the door-handle and I fell down on my knees. With tears running down my cheeks,
I promised the King of kings that I would return to my first love.
Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. (Rev. 2:4,5)
– okenna igbokwe
“But how shall He pay back?” the judges asked
For He cannot repay
“How ever did he even come about such huge debt?”
asked others
Never did they realise
debt begets debt
Once in, he could only sink deeper
Having naught to pay
His head price was calculated
amounting to a mere speck
in his huge sea of debt
His wife’s head included
still his debt hung
including his children to the scales till the 4th generation
didn’t tip the scale his way
Surely he shall never have to pay
Concluded the master
“Let him be sold all the same” shouted the judges
He, His wife and His children
Then cried he
“Master be patient
For I shall pay”
Ridiculed the master felt
Even 40 lifetimes could not repay his debt
In Compassion however
the master in love forgave
Not a part but all
Not most but all
Not many but all
Now Free was He
No longer a debtor
But free to live
free to live indeed
His job still in place
– Dr bolaji akanni
“Children”, the Bible tells us, are an heritage of the Lord (Psa 127:3) in other words they are God’s inheritance – his property, as parents, we have only been privileged to be their custodians, caretakers and managers.
Seldom times, leaders who appear to be excelling in their career, business and ministry fail in the area of child upbringing. This in the eyes of the Lord is failure. The Bible tells us one of God’s purposes for instituting marriage in Malachi 2:15
Didn’t the LORD make you one with your wife? In body and spirit you are His. And what does He want? Godly children from your union. So guard your heart; remain loyal to the wife of your youth. (New Living Translation)
Didn’t God create you to become like one person with your wife? And why did he do this? It was so you would have children, and then lead them to become God’s people. Don’t ever be unfaithful to your wife. (Contemporary English Version)
The union of marriage is aimed at leading leaders to lead their children into becoming God’s people. In today’s world, even some pastors lose their children to societal vices and ungodly compromise. This was the case with scriptural examples like Eli (1 Samuel 3:13), Samuel (1 Samuel 8:1-6) and King David (2 Samuel 12ff).
The sins of Eli’s children included their acts of profanity and fornication with ladies who come to the ‘Church’ for worship. See 1 Samuel 2:22-25. Concerning 1 Samuel 3:13 Wesley wrote in his commentary – “They who can, and do not restrain others from sin, make themselves partakers of the guilt. Those in authority will have a great deal to answer for, if the sword they bear be not a terror to evil – doers.”
In the case of Prophet Samuel, his children (Joel and Abiah) made the elders of Israel to apply for a King (1 Samuel 8:1-5) because they were anxious for filthy wages, perverted justice and took bribes. It was obvious that God didn’t like their request for a king but had to approve it since the judges who were the children of the leader were a disappointment.
No matter how busy you are, you owe God, yourself and humanity the honour of raising godly children. To fail in this area will be to plan to destroy whatever legacy, prosperity and name you may be making for yourself.
Rise up, take responsibility and love, teach and train your children in the ways of the Lord so when they grow they will not depart from the righteous path – Proverbs 22. A few tips to managing your children:
– Start early: You can only bend a reed while it is tender and fresh
– Use the Word of God: Speak it into them, read it with them, teach it to them. Psalms 119:11
– Apply the rod: He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him quickly.. Pro 13:24
– Be firm: Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; The rod of discipline will remove it far from him. Pro 22:15 (NASB)
– Pray for and with them: Prayer changes things and people
– Love them: Don’t be harsh with them. Rather, treat them with love. Correct, but don’t bully them.
– Listen to them: Many kids just need some attention. Don’t get too busy that you have no time for them.
I trust the Lord to support you to manage your children for His glory.
– david sanda
www.davidsanda.org
| “And yet we Jewish Christians know that we become right with God, not by doing what the law commands, but by faith in Jesus Christ …” Galatians 2:16 (NLT)
If you approached an average believer and said to him: “we become right with God by faith in Jesus Christ and never by doing what the law commands”, he would probably nod his head in agreement. But if you repeated the same statement by emphasizing on “the law”, for instance – “we become right with God by faith in Jesus Christ and never by doing the commandments in the books of Exodus, Leviticus, etc.,” you can be sure that he would not take it lightly with you and may even conclude that you are backslidden. This goes a long way to show that most of us do not really know the implication of what we claim to believe.
What gives you the assurance that God will answer your prayers? What keeps you going in your Christian race hoping that one day you will be with the Lord? What gives you the confidence that God’s blessings will be resident and manifest in your life? What makes you think the devil is under your feet? What drives you away from sin to absolute surrender to the almighty God? What makes you think you are still saved? For many of us, it is simply because we have been able to live by a set of standards. But Apostle Paul was quick to make us reason simply by stating that “… if we could be saved by keeping the law, then there was no need for Christ to die.” Galatians 2:21 (NLT)
The requirement for becoming righteous by keeping the law is expressly stated in Galatians 3:10 (MSG) – “Utterly cursed is every person who fails to carry out every detail written in the Book of the law.” Yes! There are only two possible scores you can have – 100% or 0%. Do we even know every detail of the law, not to talk of keeping it? Then why do we brag and think we exist in God’s inner circle because we have not lied, not killed, paid tithes or prayed thrice a day?
Am I saying you should carry on in sin? God forbid! I only want you to see the importance of launching from the right platform. In this new dispensation, if we always think we are getting God’s approval only because of what we have been able to do, then I am tempted to say we have not really started true Christianity. But I think a better way to put it is that “we are attempting to launch from a platform where we are bound to crash”. It’s like a plane trying to use the desert land as its runway for take-off.
Beloved, let’s get back on the right track and ensure we always launch from the platform of grace. If you have trusted in your efforts in the past, go to God in prayer with a heart of repentance. Live an excellent and holy life not because you want to be right with God, but because you are already right with God through faith in Jesus Christ. – tope aladenusi |
| “For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified”. Hebrews 10:14
Ten years after I became born again, I still found it difficult coming to terms with the verse above. I read it like I did to many other verses of scripture that tells me who I am in Christ; my preconceived ideas preoccupied my mind such that these powerful verses meant nothing to me. My theology just couldn’t stand it. I knew that a person born again is also someone who has been sanctified by God (I Corinthians 6:11). I agreed that Jesus’ sacrifice was done once and for all. But, the part that says “he made me perfect …. forever” was just too much for me. I could stand the word “perfect”, but the word “forever” was like a terrible uppercut.
Perfect forever? The bible says “YES!” but my perception said “NO!”. What about the sin of yesterday? What about that pastor’s story that you heard 3 years ago? What about that movie you watched early this year? What about …. ? And many questions kept coming to choke this revelation. And as it always happened, I stopped looking at the verse and continued analyzing my perceptions. Before long, I returned to zero level again.
But thanks be unto God, who opened up many other scriptures to me. I wish you could understand the thrill that rubbed my spine when I appreciated 1st Peter 1:23 “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever”.
My mistake then became obvious. I wanted to conceptualize being made perfect forever based on my deeds, but the bible says it is based on His seed. His seed cannot be corrupted; no amount of external imperfection can affect its state. It is simply “incorruptible”. Also, the seed lives forever. It therefore makes sense to say that the incorruptible and forever living seed gave birth to creatures of its kind; a breed of believers who are perfected forever. Hallelujah!
Where does this leave us? “Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)” Hebrews 10:23. Let us make our deeds to be constantly influenced by His seed. Let the thrust of our perfect being be felt by our doings. Let what people see on the outside be similar to what God sees on our inside.
– tope aladenusi |
(I Thessalonians 4:13-18)
In a life full of challenges
Bread to eat, water to drink
Early we wake, late we retire
In all these, never forget you are made to fly
Too many decisions to take
Family to please, friends to appease
Our loyalty is sought everywhere
Nonetheless, you never can tell the time we fly
Enjoyment and pleasure we yearn
Enjoy today for tomorrow we die
Better watch your weight
As you eat and drink, never be too heavy to fly
Trials and temptations abound
We run, they pursue
But He is able to deliver
Flee today, you gonna fly one day
He promised to come back
With the voice of the archangel
We shall meet the Lord in the air
Oh, what a wonderful day we fly
– okenna igbokwe
| At the inception of the year, the Federal Road Safety Corps in Nigeria made the wearing of crash helmets mandatory for all motor bike riders and passengers nationwide. This order was to bring a sense of decorum and protection for both bike riders and passengers alike. Given the spate of “Okada” (commercial motor bikes) accidents in Nigeria, the government through its agency needed to step in to enforce the much needed safety measures. Government came to the realization that all citizens and inhabitants are first and foremost “government pikin” (Government’s responsibility). They know they are primary custodians of the well beings of their citizens and inhabitants of the geopolity. On this basis the government views anybody who denies them this onerous responsibility of being the harbingers of a befitting wellbeing as enemy of the state and thus would be dealt with accordingly.
Over the weekend I hitched a ride on a motor bike to my friend’s abode. I wore a crash helmet as a law abiding citizen who had been inculcated into this new regime of security and social wellbeing. It then dawned on me that I was “abstract”. I wasn’t looking the “norm”. Especially in a society where people have been used to plying the most popular means of transportation unprotected – skulls left stark naked awaiting the uncanny event of an accident by a recluse “expert” rider. After all I wasn’t mounting a power bike so why should I be embellished with a “sophisticated” Grand prix outfit. As much as I had imbibed this new social culture I was feeling very odd with this new regime of conformity. A sense of humility encapsulated me as I was being gagged by the law. Above all I needed not fear the wrath of the law enforcement agents who were ready to wield their authority at the slightest default.
Much as the government of the day is concerned about our well being God is much more concerned about the well being of the world he created. He gave his son (Jhn.3:16, Gal.4:4, Rom.8:32) and in addition to that he gave us all things freely to enjoy (Rom.8:32, 1Tim.6:17). It’s erroneous for humans to work and walk trusting expertly on their whims rather than the plan of the Father (Eph.5:17). They’ll thereby leave themselves in the hands of the Devil who’ll have them for a gourmet made lunch (1Pet.5:8). The Father’s plan for us is that we work in line with his protection and provision for us in Christ Jesus (2Pet.1:1-3). This safety measure humbles us (Eph.3:9-14, Phil.3:8-10) and makes us live against the norm (Gal2:20, 2Cor.5:14-15). It brings a sense of decorum and direction in our conducts on the face of the earth (Tit.3:11-14). The Christians appreciate their pilgrimage and sense of responsibility to the dying souls (1Pet2.11-12). At first we would feel that we are being unwholesomely abstract – yea, but we are (Eph.5:8-10).
Friends much as you could have been used to being driven by some expertly cut out human ideas, we belong to the ultimate counselor, governor and master (Isaiah 9:6-7). He knows he’s responsible for our lives because he bought us with his life. He’s the creator of everything (John.1:1-5, Col.1:16-17) so he has a better idea of how to manoeuvre in this puzzled terrain. Just as it is an aberration to defy the laws of the land to the detriment of our safety it is an aberration to defy the law of the new creature (Gal.6:15-16) to the detriment of your excellence as a Christian.
Abide with the “safety first measure” by attending to and doing God’s will in all your endeavors. God owns you (1Cor.6:19-20).
– emeka ofia |