The child in me wishes that this festive season lasts forever – I believe many other people share my sentiments, especially if you got gifts like I did. My $20 Macy’s gift card from secret Santa brought me so much joy. As a bargain hunter, I could at least get myself a gift from the clearance section. It is breath taking to see streets beautified and made aglow with resplendent lightening. Joy fills the air as families and friends commune. Generally, people celebrate the year-end with so much pomp and anticipate the New Year with a lot of enthusiasm.
Beyond the flurry of activities that engulf the season and the busyness of enjoyment, I wonder why humans cannot just live ‘happily ever after’, like in the Cinderella story. Sadly, that is a fantasy for most people. For instance, just as some are celebrating and exchanging gifts in “peaceful” parts of the world, other people are experiencing the pangs of war and terror in “turbulent” parts of the world. It is a tough world we live in. The rich today can easily be poor tomorrow, the healthy today can be sick tomorrow. As Job says “We’re all adrift in the same boat: too few days, too many troubles.” (Job 14. 1 MSG).
However, it is not all doom and gloom. In truth, happy times are always here. These happy times are not defined by environmental circumstances and social experiences, but by a singular event that has redefined the entire course of history – Jesus Christ was born, he lived, he died and he rose again (Isaiah 9: 2-7, Matthew 1:21, Matthew 28.5-7, Acts 1:1-3)! Zachariah’s jubilant song in Luke chapter 1, affirms the importance of Jesus’ birth. Luke 1.73-75 is particularly insightful and uplifting “What he swore to our father Abraham—a clean rescue from the enemy camp, So we can worship him without a care in the world, made holy before him as long as we live” (MSG).
Jesus’ solution was eternal in nature (John 10:10, Hebrews 2:10-13). He did not only pay for our sins, but he also gave us the full citizenship rights of heaven and he went further to make a home for us (John 14:2). Though events in this world could be very unpredictable and unsavory, we are not left without a guide, a hope and an assurance of victory (Romans 5: 1-5). Nothing can be done against us and nothing can separate us from his love (Romans 8: 31-39). On this basis we can be happy continually. “Be cheerful no matter what” (1 Thessalonians 5:16 MSG).
“I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace. In the world you have tribulation and distress and suffering, but be courageous [be confident, be undaunted, be filled with joy]; I have overcome the world.” [My conquest is accomplished, My victory abiding.] (John 16:33 AMP). As we go through this festive season and embrace the New Year, I charge us to embrace this statement of Jesus and run with it at all times.
Emeka Ofia
Blindness is very challenging. I have played games blindfolded and it was difficult to get anything done without the normal visual cues. I staggered around, missed my way, hit objects and stumbled as one groping in darkness in need for guidance. How much more a physically blind person who constantly needs an aid to perceive the details of the immediate environment in order to efficiently move around. Reading and writing aids are also required in order to facilitate studying and written communication.
The challenges of physical blindness were experienced by the man in chapter 9 of the book of John. He was blind from birth and obviously lived in a state of abject dejection and self-pity. Therefore he became a professional beggar. However, Jesus stepped in and healed the man of his blindness – he fully restored the sight he never had. The frenzy of events that followed were both enlightening and befuddling. The family and friends of the healed man were both bewildered and excited, whilst the religious leaders were miffed and derogatory. (See John 9:1-34). Jesus’ final response to the disgruntled religious leaders sticks out— “If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains” (John 9: 41 NIV). In hindsight, the implication of this scathing remark was not exclusively for the religious leaders as Jesus earlier said “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind” (John 9: 39 NIV). Jesus’ responses addressed “spiritual blindness” rather than physical blindness. Jesus was invariably saying that a sinner is blind and he needs to be healed of it. In other words every person born of a woman, is born blind. As the psalmist puts it “Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me” (Psalm 51:5 NIV). Therefore, without salvation in Christ we are as one groping in darkness in need for guidance (John 15:5).
John Newton’s 1779 classic ‘Amazing Grace’ succinctly puts Jesus’ message into perspective in stanza 1 where it says; “Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, That saved a wretch like me. I once was lost but now am found, Was blind, but now I see.”
I am eternally grateful for the consequences of this spiritual healing, as it affects the lens through which I view life. My perspective to life is constantly honed by my fixation on Jesus and the consequences of his finished work on the cross (Colossians 3:1-3, Hebrews 12: 1-3).
Jesus did not only heal us of our spiritual blindness, but he also made us light. Jesus remarked in John 9:5 (NIV) “While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” This is the harbinger of Paul’s remark in Ephesians 5:8 (NIV) “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light”. We are an encapsulation of hope, decency, love, joy, patience, wisdom and power. It is such that even a physically blind Christian can walk in the illumination of divine understanding to see the unseen and transform the world. Now that we can see, we are the light of the world. Let us live as children of light so our Father in heaven may be glorified.
“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16 NIV).
Emeka Ofia
Profitable businesses today, constantly desire to meet and exceed customer expectations. They want to provide the best possible services to customers, all the time. With the increased usage of e-commerce and social media, it is almost seamless for people to people transactions to be done globally. Round the clock, there is business as usual.
With the advent of artificial intelligence (AI), the websites you frequently visit can be tracked to know your tastes and preference. This helps corporations predict what their prospective clients want by understanding their online behaviour. The corporations want to provide goods and services in the best possible way, so they are always in a vantage position. Government services are not left out from this trend. In USA for instance, automated tracking systems are used to provide improved health and security systems to better serve the populace.
I am intrigued at how human systems are constantly making efforts to build an improved globally integrated system to serve one another better. However, I am overwhelmed that I have a father who knows the beginning, the end and everything in between. I like the way apostle Paul salutes Him in 1 Timothy 1:17 “Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen” (KJV), this echoes his adulation for Jesus in Colossians 1:16 where he says “For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:” (KJV).
It is not just the fact that all accounts show that Jesus is the master of the universe that overwhelms me, but the fact that He went the extra mile to give himself for me, so I can be called his brother and he is proud of me (Hebrews 2:10-14) – awesome wonder! On the basis of this reality, scripture says “God is always on the alert, constantly on the lookout for people who are totally committed to him.” (2 Chronicles 16:9a MSG). For God, this is business as usual. His ceaseless and matchless performance exceed and transcend what any human socio-economic community can anticipate or provide at their best.
We have the mind of Christ and if we continually align our thoughts to His, we will constantly be in business as usual – being kingdom ambassadors, who constantly meet and exceed expectations in both physical and spiritual matters.
“Spiritually alive, we have access to everything God’s Spirit is doing, and can’t be judged by unspiritual critics. Isaiah’s question, “Is there anyone around who knows God’s Spirit, anyone who knows what he is doing?” has been answered: Christ knows, and we have Christ’s Spirit” (1 Corinthians 2:15-16 MSG)
“Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am” (Philippians 4:13 MSG).
Emeka Ofia
A female UBER driver gave me a ride recently and we had a wonderful conversation, which dovetailed into her sharing how she loved to spend time on YouTube. She told me how YouTube videos served as a major resource platform to help sort out her domestic chores or repairs. She especially told me that by simply spending time with YouTube, she learnt how to do some plumbing repairs in her bathroom. I had taken the chat rather lightly, as her disposition seemed to be consistent with her desire to cut the costs of hiring a repair person. However, when I recently went to the Billy Graham Center at the Wheaton College, Illinois, USA, an old animated poster of Evangelist Billy Graham caught my attention with the caption “the repair man is here”.
This caption put the UBER driver’s story into very clear perspectives for me. She became a repair person by paying close attention to what she saw and learnt through a YouTube video, the same way Evangelist Billy Graham was tagged a repair man in the animated poster, by the things he saw and learnt in the Bible.
The apostle Paul magnificently echoes this theme to the Church in Corinth when he says “Such is the confidence and steadfast reliance and absolute trust that we have through Christ toward God. Not that we are sufficiently qualified in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency and qualifications come from God. He has qualified us [making us sufficient] as ministers of a new covenant [of salvation through Christ], not of the letter [of a written code] but of the Spirit; for the letter [of the Law] kills [by revealing sin and demanding obedience], but the Spirit gives life.” (2 Corinthians 2:4-6 AMP). This statement buttresses Jesus’ first cardinal statement to his disciples when he said “Come, Follow me and I will make you fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19, Mark 1:17). In other words, fellowship with Jesus automatically capacitates us to be repair people – people who are hard wired to love, save, build and cherish all that God has made and loves (1John 4:17)!
I really love the way Emmanuel Oyelade’s song ‘Emmanuel’ accentuates these concepts. The lyrics in the second stanza particularly gets my attention. It says:
The Lion of the tribe of Judah lives in me
He’s working inside of me
God is working from my inside
To the outside Reaching everywhere
All over the world (He’s working inside of me)
God is working from my inside
To the outside Reaching everywhere
All over the world
These lyrics are simply breathtaking. It is so refreshing to know that our Father lives in us and is working through us to reach the entire world. We are his repair people – His business associates (1 Corinthians 3:9, 2 Corinthians 6:1). Jesus lives and works through us (Hebrews 2:10-12)! Please let us always keep this in mind and we will always be at our best (Romans 12:1-2). Every believer in Jesus Christ is a repair person sent into a dying world (Matthew 5:13-16)!
“Study and do your best to present yourself to God approved, a workman [tested by trial] who has no reason to be ashamed, accurately handling and skillfully teaching the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15 AMP).
Emeka Ofia.
I recently bought a new travel cologne and I have gotten rave reviews from friends about it. The fragrance is so distinct and lasting, that friends have asked for the brand, so they can purchase the cologne for themselves. I initially thought the cologne was an exorbitant purchase, as the purchase cost me “a fortune”. However, today, I am so glad paid the price. Its fragrance makes me smell distinct and stand out on my many travels. It has served as a catalyst to my self-confidence, hence accentuating my ability to engage and influence people I have interacted with on my travels.
As I pondered the rave reviews I have gotten, based on the distinct fragrance of my cologne, these verses popped in my mind “But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us spreads and makes evident everywhere the sweet fragrance of the knowledge of Him. For we are the sweet fragrance of Christ [which ascends] to God, [discernible both] among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing; to the latter one an aroma from death to death [a fatal, offensive odor], but to the other an aroma from life to life [a vital fragrance, living and fresh]. And who is adequate and sufficiently qualified for these things? For we are not like many, [acting like merchants] peddling God’s word [shortchanging and adulterating God’s message]; but from pure [uncompromised] motives, as [commissioned and sent] from God, we speak [His message] in Christ in the sight of God” (2 Corinthians 2:14-17 AMP).
These verses are so remarkable. It clearly defines us (the children of God) as fragrances of hope! Only those doomed for destruction spitefully reject this fragrance of hope. It is such a privilege that our Father who commissioned us to model the message of hope, both in our conduct and speech, also continually leads us in triumph in Christ. This is mind blowing!
To this end, we should brace up and have our understanding continually enlightened by the word of truth (Ephesians 6:14), so we can consistently carry ourselves in line with the reality of who we are and the commission our Father has given to us. I cannot emphasise this enough – God continually leads us in triumph in Christ and we are the “Fragrances of hope”.
Emeka Ofia
Years ago, I walked past my grandfather’s dead body as he was laid-in-state during his final rites. I remember how he lay there stiff and immobile. The world around him could not do anything that moved him. He was dead, separated from the human world with all emotions and instincts gone. We all stood there and watched with mixed feelings,but he had no sense for what we felt. He would not have moved even if the building collapsed on his body. He was dead.
Death has a great punch that takes the life out of us. Little wonder, those who have an idea of the implications of death, try as much as possible to live “long and prosperous”. To the dead; the wish is for them to “Rest in Peace”. In other words, humans would wish to live long and prosperous, then rest in peace when they’re dead.
Just as I pondered the effects of death and the importance of a long and fruitful life, the implications of Apostle Paul’s comment in Galatians 2:20 dawned on me. He said, “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gavehimself for me.” (ESV). In other words, it is possible to be dead to human tendencies, unmoved by the cares of the world, yet still live by the absolute realities of the new life, through faith in the finished work on the cross. This status is what I love to tag the Living Dead.
The living dead is the person living in awareness of the divine nature, and by this, subjects the desires of the flesh to the grace of God. As such, righteousness, peace and joy always radiates in our dealings (Romans14:17-18). As children of God, we succeed in this world by constantly subjecting the desires of our flesh to the desire of the spirit of God, who lives in us.
It is common to see tales of wars and various forms of anarchy in the news these days. We get various renditions of sexually explicit commercial adverts. There is an escalation in the forms of corruption, from political authorities to organized religious authorities, from educational citadels to financial houses, the list is endless. Also, we find limitless shortcomings in our humanity. As imperfect human beings by nature, we have varying senses of insecurity and a knack to outshine and outdo ourselves. Pride takes center stage as we rate ourselves by our abilities. Accordingly, it is no surprise that our world, made up of humans, is plagued with so much trouble.
As children of God, we have an obligation to live above the intrigues of the human story. To do this, we need to be dead to default human survival instincts, and live by faith in Christ Jesus. Just as my late grandfather lay motionless irrespective of what happened around him, the Christian, who sets their sight on endless life in Christ, will be unfazed bythe daunting requirements of the world (Colossians 3:1-3).
I want to encourage us, as the children of God to always remember that we can do all things by the help of Christ (Philippians 4:13) and all things are possible to them who have faith in God (Mark 9:23). We have been crucified with Christ and we have risen with Him to live a new, impactful, successful and vibrant life through Him (Romans 6:4). This is the heritage of the living dead – full of eternal life and prosperity in Christ.
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. (Galatians5: 16-17 ESV).
Emeka Ofia
One evening, I was reading bible stories to my children and I saw an interesting story. It is a story I had heard several times since I was young. I read it to them and then it hit me, the whole essence of the bible can be summed into a paragraph:
The “Not So Old” Story: God created the heaven and the earth. He also created man in His own image so that man will have dominion over other creatures and fellowship with Him (Genesis 1:26, Genesis 3:6-8, 1 Corinthians 1:9). Man fell short of God’s plan through disobedience and broke the relationship (Genesis 3:6-7 – “6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.”). God sought to restore this relationship, through the law and prophets, until Jesus came (Romans 3:19-21, 8:3 – “For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh”). Jesus came to earth to die for our sins and even though He was sinless, He died to remove our sins and restore us back into fellowship with God (i.e. back to the original plan God had for man).
You will agree with me that almost every Christian would have heard the story of why Jesus came to the world a number of times but sometimes when we hear or see a particular thing (song, jingle, story, advert, etc.) multiple times, we begin to overlook the “essence” and it begins to become “non-existent”.
The truth is, once you have given your life to Christ, you have been reconciled{to be reconciled means to settle or resolve} with God (Romans 5:10, 2 Corinthians 5:17 -18). You now have the Spirit of God living within you, you are a Child of God and have everything that comes with it (Ephesians 1:3 – “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ”). Part of the things you have as a child of God is spiritual blessing and it includes: healing, wisdom, redemption, grace, power, anointing, promotion, etc.
It is amazing how we spend our precious time chasing after what is already ours. The work of the Devil is to make us believe we do not have these things so that we suffer in the midst of abundance (John 10:10, Galatians 4:1-5). The essence of The “Not So Old” Story is that as a believer, you have been reconciled with God and you are a son and are above all (John 3:31, Ephesians 2:6, Galatians 4:6 – 7 – “Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father. So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.“).
Don’t be deceived! Since we are sons of God, we already have all these blessing in Christ. We need to be thankful and appreciate God each day for what He has given us. We need to confess all that He has given us and with faith, manifest it even when it seems otherwise. Our Father “calleth those things which be not as though they were” (Romans 4:17), so we should take after Him and do the same.
If you are not yet born again, you are yet to be reconciled to God, even if you are a “good person”. Every offspring of Adam i.e. the whole of humanity partook of this death (Romans 5:14 –“Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come”). Sin nature became a way of life, and the reality for man.
The story of redemption (Jesus coming to die and reconciling man to God) is a story that has been told for centuries but it is still as powerful today as it was in the beginning. Hallelujah!!! Jesus has paid the price for man to be reconciled with God and all we have to do is to accept Him as our Lord and Savior (John 1:12 – “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name,”)
If you have not accepted Jesus as your Savior, You can do so today by believing in His death and resurrection. You will receive forgiveness of sins and eternal life (the very life of God) will be yours forever. (Romans 10:9, John 3:16).
–Funmilola Odumuboni
Children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. John 1 :13 (New International Version)
I just couldn’t help but give more than a cursory look to the scripture above. Today I trust God to lead us in a logical discourse ‘on being born not of natural descent’.
A lot is attached to our natural descent. Our lineage as it is sometimes rendered. A genetic tree is perhaps common. Many have gone to extreme lengths to find out their origin. For those who know, it is jealously guarded and lifted like a trophy. I remember back in school days, it was sacrilegious for just about anyone to address you by your surname unless during a roll call. It was the easiest way to start a fight back then. It sounded like you just insulted a whole generation. If you must do so it is with a whole lot of courtesy.
The bible however is emphatic in addressing the new birth by first telling us what not to ascribe it to. While our natural birth into this world could be viewed from such an angle, we shouldn’t think the same of our new birth. We are not just part of a long line of people. Our existence and our role are not defined by such – Acts 17:29. We are not just called to live and make sure things don’t get messed up at our end. Our targets and goals ought not to be limited to our natural descent.
God says we are different. We are children ‘not of a natural descent’.
Our heritage is now heavenly. Which means our outlook should be heavenly, our limitations also heavenly, our motivations heavenly – Col 3:1 – 4
So glorious that the bible says we are surrounded by witnesses who testify to this truth
– Heb 12:1 – 2
As long as we dwell on the physical, we would not manifest in line with the huge deposit God has placed in us. Rom 8:5 – 9
Every child of God without exception is blessed to be a blessing – Eph 1:3, 1ST Pet 2:9. We are a sign and a wonder to our generation.
It is so vital scriptures state that the whole of creation is waiting for you and I to manifest in line with what God has deposited within us – Rom 8:16 – 19. It is not for some select few. Only angels are permitted to be spectators here – 1ST Pet. 1:12. We ought to live out this reality.
Are you still viewing yourself from the scope of your natural descent? Our family is like this or my family is like that. My people don’t usually… And so on and so forth. Reassess rather who you are gazing on.
We are called of God. We are birthed of God. My limitation is that of God.
Col 3:1 – 3 puts it succinctly ‘If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God. Be mindful of things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life has been hidden with Christ in God’.
Having this armamentarium, I realise nothing shall be called impossible. I don’t wish away my existence because of some temporal challenges or trials but realise I was made for such a time as this.
I AM A CHILD OF THE MOST HIGH GOD. THAT’S ALL THAT MATTERS!
– Dr. Bolaji Akanni
(All scriptures quoted from the King James version (KJV) unless otherwise stated)
Today I received a call from my bankers on some “mouthwatering” insurance policy they called “Protection Plus”. On face value it sounded like a jackpot when the Rep was telling me about certain incentives I and my family could benefit, but the presentation hit a snag especially when I was told that the insurance would not cover eventualities in some certain “high risk” countries in the world. When I asked the Rep to mention the high risk countries involved, he included my beloved Nigeria. Obviously, the marketing was over. I told him I wasn’t interested in his offer, after all I could not benefit if I decided to relocate to Nigeria.
Just as we discussed the insurance offer and its limitations, it dawned on me that I have a superior and unmatchable insurance package from the master, the maker of heaven and earth. He is the provider of the true “Protection Plus”. His scheme is not bought, but received, because He paid the ultimate premium for it – His blood was shed!
The person who puts his faith in the finished work on the cross is covered by God’s insurance scheme with guaranteed protection in every part of the world he finds himself. Above all, the incentives transcend cash; it is all about the unwavering presence of God to direct our affairs to his glory. It’s a protection from both the physical and spiritual influences in the world.
“If God didn’t hesitate to put everything on the line for us, embracing our condition and exposing himself to the worst by sending His own Son, is there anything else he wouldn’t gladly and freely do for us?” (Rom. 3:32)
“The Father has delivered and drawn us to Himself out of the control and the dominion of darkness and has transferred us into the kingdom of the Son of His love,” (Col.1:13 Amplified)
“Don’t be obsessed with getting more material things. Be relaxed with what you have. Since God assured us, “I’ll never let you down, never walk off and leave you,” we can boldly quote,
God is there, ready to help; I’m fearless no matter what. Who or what can get to me?” (Heb. 13:5-6 The Message).
– Emeka Ofia
I was told the story of a man who had some friends come visit him from afar. As they got down to discussing some urgent matter, the telephone in the kitchen started to ring. Without batting so much as to an eyelid or even halting the discussion, the host continued the discourse as though he heard nothing.
A little while later into their discussion, the phone rang again but the host continued as before – unperturbed. The guests however took a glance at each other as if to say – Does he know the phone is ringing?
Going a little further in their discussion, the phone rang again. This time the guests had had enough. ‘Your phone is ringing sir’ they chorused. The host responded coolly and calmly ‘I know the phone is ringing. I heard it all the while but the phone is made for me and for my convenience. I was not made for the phone. I would pick it at a more opportune time’.
This story has since registered in my mind as it is a reminder to the fact that we ought to be careful how we use these world’s goods.
What we have no control over inadvertently controls us.
We are assured by the word that Christ Jesus our saviour has given unto us the privilege to share in the dominion and the victory he has wrought for us through the cross – over all that is in the earth, under the earth and in heaven.
But this is made a mockery when those who have been given such a high privilege are brought to be mere servants of the world’s devices. Listen to the following scriptures:
Those in frequent contact with the things of the world should make good use of them without becoming attached to them, for this world and all it contains will pass away. In everything you do, I want you to be free from the concerns of this life – 1st Corinthians 7: 31 – 32b NLT
Someone may say, “I’m allowed to do anything,” but not everything is helpful. I’m allowed to do anything, but I won’t allow anything to gain control over my life – 1st Corinthians 6: 12 GW
It appears as though if I am not careful I would find myself at the mercy of those things that I allow to creep into my life. If this year would amount to anything meaningful, then we must be resolute in separating ourselves from those things that impinge on our healthy growth and relationship with God.
Take for instance the mobile phone. The consciousness of the mobile phone has seemingly replaced the greater consciousness of our ever constant communion with the father. How many times has our quiet time, prayer, a revelation or even a ministration been slaughtered on the altar of calls, texts, pings, gist, flash, etc
If there ought to be a time we should tread cautiously and carefully, it is now. We were not made for these gadgets, they were made for us. Can we get off the TV, radio, phones, face book, 2go, and tweeter for an hour and still be the same?
Are we living in view of the glorious reality we have been called into as believers or are we gradually being drawn into attitudes and traits that are unbecoming of the glorious name we profess?
It becomes disheartening when we fail to realise that as Christians the devils tactic is to keep getting us distracted so we would not come to terms with who and all that God has made us.
From midnight calls, through texts to pings, to tweets, and possibly some newer ones, the tactic has always remained the same – Distraction.
Are we saying never buy a phone, radio, and TV or satellite television? No!! But on a lighter mood, if it were possible you would think when rapture comes we would first hurriedly rush off to pick up our phones or other gadgets.
Let us exercise restraint and caution that our focus would not be taken from us. Remember only one thing is needful, don’t let that be taken from you.
If you already see yourself being consumed by this passion, pray about it and trust God to strengthen you as you take steps towards recovery.
Remember ‘be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith’. 1st Peter 5:8 – 9b NIV
Cheers
Do have a lovely week.
-Emeka Ofia