Committed

by Eileen Thugi | Jul 29, 2020 | Blog

Are you fully invested?

We have to decide if we will be fully invested in what we choose to be part of, or we will just do the bare minimum. The decision will be swayed by who we are doing it for and if it will pay dividends. When we place a high value on something, we will give it the time and energy it deserves. As long as it has a direct impact on us or our loved ones, we will stop at nothing to see the projected outcome; and make the necessary sacrifices to ensure success. Our attitude will also rub off on others one way or the other, as we set the tone for them.

6 And Moses said to the children of Gad and to the children of Reuben: “Shall your brethren go to war while you sit here? 7 Now why will you discourage the heart of the children of Israel from going over into the land which the Lord has given them? 8 Thus your fathers did when I sent them away from Kadesh Barnea to see the land. 9 For when they went up to the Valley of Eshcol and saw the land, they discouraged the heart of the children of Israel, so that they did not go into the land which the Lord had given them. 10 So the Lord’s anger was aroused on that day, and He swore an oath, saying, 11 ‘Surely none of the men who came up from Egypt, from twenty years old and above, shall see the land of which I swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, because they have not wholly followed Me, 12 except Caleb the son of Jephunneh, the Kenizzite, and Joshua the son of Nun, for they have wholly followed the Lord (Numbers 32).

The children of Gad and Reuben had seen land that was fit for their livestock that was not on the other side of the Jordan. They asked Moses if they could just have that land for themselves, without crossing the Jordan to inherit the land of Canaan that God had already searched out for them. This is where the verse picks up Moses’ response; which was a rebuke for their decision. Their lack of zeal to go in by crossing the Jordan and to fight the nations that were on the other side, was disobedience to God and would have led to a rebellion among their fellow brothers. God had already gone before them and promised them that He would fight all the greater nations, and give them the land. Following God wholly requires we take some risks, fight some battles and trust Him in all circumstances. 

A lackadaisical attitude has an impact on others. Our doubts and concerns will cause others to second-guess themselves. The listless response we have to things of God will make others less enthused by godliness. People are affected by the attitude that prevails. People are also often swayed by the opinions of those they are well acquainted with. Obedience is a wholehearted commitment to do God’s Will; while rebellion is refusal to fully obey God. The children of Gad and Reuben only got so far to reach the promised land, then they threw in the towel. They only looked to what would benefit them, at the exclusion of others. They were selfish in their disobedience by failing to consider the needs of their brothers. When we don’t wholly follow God due to our insecurities we inject our perspective into others’ decisions. Our lack of commitment pours cold water on another’s hopes. Stand alone if you must, like Caleb and Joshua and see the Salvation and Promise of God. Do not allow others’ opinion to eat away at your portion. There’s nothing wrong with having doubts, but it’s futile to fail to look beyond the hurdles and risks. 

18 Now the Lord sent you on a mission, and said, ‘Go, and utterly destroy the sinners, the Amalekites, and fight against them until they are consumed.’ 19 Why then did you not obey the voice of the Lord? Why did you swoop down on the spoil, and do evil in the sight of the Lord?”

20 And Saul said to Samuel, “But I have obeyed the voice of the Lord, and gone on the mission on which the Lord sent me, and brought back Agag king of Amalek; I have utterly destroyed the Amalekites. 21 But the people took of the plunder, sheep and oxen, the best of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice to the Lord your God in Gilgal.”

22 So Samuel said: “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams. 23  For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He also has rejected you from being king (1 Samuel 15).”

Saul started well as a king and ended dismally. He was diligent in doing what was right, but somewhere along the way, he felt he had the authority to decide what would be acceptable before God. Saul failed to completely execute what God had commanded him, to destroy everything of the Amelakites including the king; because they were wicked. He saved the king and he allowed his soldiers to take the best plunder. He then decided to justify his actions by claiming he was going to use the spoil to honor God, by sacrificing it. When Samuel the prophet confronted him, Saul claimed he did as God told him by going to the mission. Getting the first step done, doesn’t mean we have done well—we have to complete the mission by fully executing as commanded. 

There are things God wants us to deal with in our relationship with Him; and He requires complete submission. He has called us to different missions in our lives—our profession, family roles, or service to others, He also wants us to get rid of wickedness along the way. We should be careful that we are not dazzled by the glitz of the things He abhors, as to spare them. We should turn our eyes from these worthless things and not try to find an excuse to not deal with them. As the Body of Christ we have to be intentional to not just start well, but finish well. We finish well by running the entire course. We honor God by complete obedience and without compromise. Sin and stubbornness are as vile to God as witchcraft and idolatry. No good deed or offering will be acceptable as a propitiation for our failure to perform our duties. Saul was rejected as king. May it not be said of us that we are unfit for any position and role God would have for us; because we compromised by lusting after the things we were commanded to destroy.

8 “If your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life lame or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet, to be cast into the everlasting fire. 9 And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire (Matthew 18).

One may look at this verse and think it was too draconian. “It is better to enter life lacking a foot or an eye? What?” Scripture is spiritually discerned and understood. We have to look for deeper wisdom, not the superficial appearance. The eye is the thing we desire to look at, the hand is what we determine to do, and the foot is the place we like to go. Well one may say,  “But The Lord was being very specific about the parts of the body.” Indeed, He was. He also explained what He meant, “If your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you.” Why not say your eyes? We don’t just see with one eye, but both and can still see even if we look out of one eye, and we can use one hand or walk on one foot. He meant what we desire to look at that causes us to sin. He meant we give up that activity which we depend on and can’t do without, which is luring us to sin. We depend on it like we do our eyes, feet and hands. To become partakers of eternal life, we must be willing to give up some lifestyles, habits, and desires. It comes down to a choice between eternal life or hell fire—it’s as black and white as that. If it’s a career, a relationship or business that we believe we can’t do without, that is leading to sinful desires, consider finding another one. We have to count the cost of being children of God, and decide whether or not it is worth the sacrifice.

Praise the Lord! I will praise the Lord with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright and in the congregation (Psalm 111).

What does your worship look like? Is it stimulated by those around you and what they are doing? Worship is the honor we bestow to God by song, prayer and how we live each day. When we determine how much we value someone, we give them how much they deserve. It’s not done out of pressure to show them how we truly feel, but out of love. In the assembly of the upright, true worship is done out of reverence, love, honor and willingness. When it comes to God, we should not honor Him like we do humans. When we exalt God we do so willingly, with our whole being. 

14 “And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, ‘These things say the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: 15 “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth (Revelations 3). 

Most of us like our beverages either hot or cold—not lukewarm. With God, the things we would like for Him to delight in, have to be done wholeheartedly or not done at all. This doesn’t just mean how we serve others in our ministry, it also applies to our relationship with Him. Our decision to believe in God and live by faith in Christ, should not be taken lightly. It cost Christ His life so that we could be forgiven and made into a new creation in Him. He did nothing haphazardly, but was intentional and one-track minded to complete His Purpose. Our life has a new purpose in Christ, Who gave everything for us. We must therefore be as He was, wholly committed to live for the purpose we have been called, till we draw our last breath. He knows our works because nothing is hidden from Him; He knows our dedication and our motives. No matter who we are with or where we are we have to be faithful, steadfast and motivated to do what pleases God.

We are already complete in Christ, because we became one with Him by His death and resurrection. He lived to fully do The Father’s Will, and set for us an example. Since we have The Spirit of Christ, we have His likeness to do the same. We can only be fully invested in what is profitable to us. What could be more valuable than forgiveness and new life in Christ! As believers we set the pace for others who may have doubts about making a commitment. We have been chosen at such a time as this, and we must strive to live up to our calling. We should be passionate about our Christian life. Christ gave His life, so that we can truly live. We have to try and reciprocate by being committed to honor and love Him. 

11 Teach me Your way, Lord, that I may rely on Your Faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear Your Name. 12 I will praise You, Lord my God, with all my heart;  I will glorify Your Name forever. 13 For great is Your Love toward me;  You have delivered me from the depths, from the realm of the dead (Psalm 86).

Yearning

by Eileen Thugi | Jul 22, 2020 | Blog

What excites you to get up each day?

We are creatures of habit; we establish routines to keep us on track with daily activities. If for any reason our routine is interrupted, we get thrown off course and things seem off kilter. We also maintain control when we have started our day on autopilot. Priority is a determined need that must be met precisely. Each waking morning, there are some needs that have to be met precisely; getting that workout, going for a run, taking a cup of coffee, praying and other things that are a priority. These things must be done at a set time in order for everything else to fall in place. Why are they so important? They are our first longing because we have grown very fond of them. They are a prerequisite to ensuring we start well. Desires are longings for what we have become extremely fond of.

O God, You are my God: Early will I seek You; my soul thirsts for You; my flesh longs for You, in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water. 2 So I have looked for You in the sanctuary, to see Your Power and Your Glory. 3 Because Your Lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise You. 4 Thus I will bless You while I live; I will lift up my hands in Your Name. 5 My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness, and my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips (Psalm 63).

There’s nothing better than what we long for. What we desire can’t be met with a substitute. An insatiable hunger and thirst for God because He is Our God, will get us up early to seek Him. Time and priority are valuable commodities, but how we manage them speak volumes of the things we value in life. Like a dry and thirsty land, is a morning with no certainty of what the day will bring. We put aside all distractions and long for nothing else, but His Lovingkindness. If we consider for one moment everything else the world can offer us, to give us the momentum to get up and go, God’s Goodness, Favor, Grace and Strength should be pale in comparison. So we put on the garments of praise as we approach Him with great expectations; not so much because of what He will do, but because of Who He is. We grow fond of God, because of Who He is. We don’t grow fond of our loved ones because they do certain things for us that others don’t do, but because of who they are to us.  Let your soul, in the beginning of the day, be satisfied with God’s Presence.

So we look for Him in His Sanctuary because of His Power and Glory. When we meet with His Majesty, we throw aside our skills, knowledge, achievements and things we so often trust. We look to God to impart on us His unmatched Abilities, so that we get off on a flying start. We make a determination not to be satisfied with anything less; just as marrow and fatness are the best portions, we yearn for only what God gives us, not what we can offer ourselves. This is what gets our heart pumping and our minds awakened; that we spend the rest of the day lifting His Name, because our name, our experience, and limited capabilities are small fry.  We can jump start our day in His Presence so that we carry the day with His Abilities. It’s a routine that should never be interrupted. So we praise Him by being diligent in expressing Who He is. It’s not the caffeine, the work out, or the music that starts us on our best foot, it’s abiding in Him.

23 He said to them, “You will surely say this proverb to Me, ‘Physician, heal yourself! Whatever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in Your country.’ ” 24 Then He said, “Assuredly, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own country. 25 But I tell you truly, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, and there was a great famine throughout all the land; 26 but to none of them was Elijah sent except to Zarephath, in the region of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. 27 And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian (Luke 4).”

There are many who are in dire need; but only those who acknowledge their only need is God’s Mercy will receive it. It matters little about your background or how long you are a Christian; what is paramount is your longing for God’s Goodness. The LORD Jesus rebuked the Israelites who didn’t believe in His Abilities, because they had believed that they would receive from God based on their lineage through Abraham. They didn’t accept The LORD’S ways of healing on the Sabbath, or His different approach to what they were accustomed to. They expected One Who followed their traditions and the usual way of doing things. Routine and order can get in the way of blessings. The widow and Naaman were not Jews, yet God sent prophets to meet their needs. They longed for their deliverance from their struggles, did exactly what the prophets asked them to do, and received their miracles. They didn’t have to understand the means or the instructions. 

We seek out of need; while we want out of entitlement. These verses tell us that God had already started to reveal Himself to those who were not Israel, because His Goodness is for all who long for it. He looks to the humble who accepts they need Him, regardless of their name and place of privilege. 

25 For a woman whose young daughter had an unclean spirit heard about Him, and she came and fell at His feet. 26 The woman was a Greek, a Syro-Phoenician by birth, and she kept asking Him to cast the demon out of her daughter. 27 But Jesus said to her, “Let the children be filled first, for it is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.” 28 And she answered and said to Him, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs under the table eat from the children’s crumbs.” 29 Then He said to her, “For this saying go your way; the demon has gone out of your daughter (Mark 7).”

“Wow, He was so rude!” one would say of Christ. This poor woman abased herself even to accept being called a “dog”. “Why would The LORD be so callous to her plight?” one may ask. The woman was Greek, a Gentile who was acknowledged by Christ as not deserving of the Mercy that was meant for the children of Israel: As He said, “Let the children be filled first”. She was desperate and would not stop pleading with Him. The LORD knew of her dogged determination, before He even spoke to her. He wanted to push her up against a wall and see if she were any different from the children of Israel, in their unbelief. 

If we see this verse as offensive, we miss the important lesson; the woman’s attitude and response. Out of her desire for her daughter to be healed, she saw no other hope. She was willing to take any crumbs of mercy she could receive, because that is all she needed. While using Christ’s description of her as a dog, because she was Gentile, she turned it into hope for “the dog”; who still got the crumbs that fell off the table. Also, she understood that a dog was not kept out of the presence of the master, because he was allowed in the room. If we long for God to help us, we must be willing to accept His Perception of us by agreeing with Him, yet still reminding Him that He is still Good and Loving to all who come into His Presence. The woman was not demoralized by who she was, but motivated Who He was. The LORD acknowledged who she became in His Presence—a woman of greater faith than the children of Israel, and He blessed her. We should yearn for who we can become in His Presence.  

35 Then it happened, as He was coming near Jericho, that a certain blind man sat by the road begging. 36 And hearing a multitude passing by, he asked what it meant. 37 So they told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. 38 And he cried out, saying, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

39 Then those who went before warned him that he should be quiet; but he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 40 So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be brought to Him. And when he had come near, He asked him, 41 saying, “What do you want Me to do for you?” He said, “Lord, that I may receive my sight.” 42 Then Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has made you well.” 43 And immediately he received his sight, and followed Him, glorifying God. And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God (Luke 18).

What do you want to get out of God’s Presence? Be specific and to the point. We don’t have to consult with others’ for their opinion on whether what we desire is the right thing—or the right time or place to receive it. We may sound repetitive; even may become a nuisance to others, because we truly want to see our needs met. It’s good to be persistent and go from strength to strength, in our boldness to receive. Faith will increase the hope of receiving. Let nothing stand in the way of our hope, but our lack of zeal. 

5 Now when Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, pleading with Him, 6 saying, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented.” 7 And Jesus said to him, “I will come and heal him.” 8 The centurion answered and said, “Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed. 9 For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” 10 When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, “Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel (Matthew 8)!” 

We come to God for many reasons, but mostly when we are at our wits end, with no other hope. Devastating situations will drive us to our knees. Like the Centurion, we can plead for God to speak into our situation with just a Word. He can be anywhere where we are not, and meet a need that is distant. We don’t have to wait to be where the situation is playing out, to call upon God to speak deliverance. If there’s an urgency, there’s no time to waste. The sooner we call, the better. He is able to get to the situation just by His Word. We have to believe that urgency requires power beyond our means.

If we long for all that God has for us at the start, middle and end of the day, we will be on our best form. There’s nothing that can truly compare with His Presence, where we are changed and made into vessels of purpose. He protects, empowers, sustains us, and manifests His Best through us. No matter our background, we have to be adamant to desire nothing less, than what He offers us each day. If we rise early to meet with Him, He will never leave us nor forsake us; because we have made Him our first love. Though the day may overwhelm us or end in disappointments, we desire for a new morning alone with Him.

4 One thing I have desired of the Lord, that will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord, all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in His temple. 5 For in the time of trouble, He shall hide me in His pavilion. In the secret place of His tabernacle, He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock. 6 And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me. Therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord (Psalm 27).

Endurance

by Eileen Thugi | Jul 18, 2020 | Blog

Keep a stiff upper lip.

There are times when we carry much sorrow, fear, uncertainty and feel like we don’t want to go on. There are some evenings that take away the excitement of waking up to another day. What motivates you to look forward to tomorrow when you are in the doldrums? After a disappointment, conflict with a loved one, the loss of a loved one, or being laid off, there’s little hope for another day. Life has many highs and lows, and it’s debilitating trying to keep up. During these moments we would fain to throw in the towel and walk away from it all. We need unquestionable reassurance to revitalize us. Whatever that may be, is our only hope in spite of fears or doubts, to get us through the next hour.

¹³  I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. ¹⁴ Wait on the Lord. Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord (Psalm 27)!

When we are at the lowest point in our lives, there’s uncertainty about the very purpose of existence. Everything seems topsy-turvy and hopeless. No one knows our pain, nor can anyone understand it if they were let in on it. It’s a very lonely place—full of darkness with no ray of hope. We are worn out and life makes no sense anymore. But we have to get our focus off our disappointments and sorrow, because we can’t undo the past. The more we think or talk about it, the deeper we plunge into misery. We have to try and find even a morsel of good in the pain, by silencing our negative emotions.

You may have put your hope in God, and things just didn’t pan out; you depended on someone and they failed your expectations, so now what? Reason with God about His Character as it relates to your situation. Recite God’s promises and profess to Him that they are all you have left. Unless we believe to see His Goodness in the land of the living, we have no hope. We must be forthright with God about how we feel—desperate and frustrated. We plead to see His Goodness in the land of the living. Using His Own Character—He is Good, we compel Him to reveal His Goodness. God is our only hope when there’s no other firm hope. Our emotions don’t give us solace. We must not depend on how we feel to bring us comfort. Emotions are driven by thoughts, which are fickle at best. Our minds race from one event to the another in a matter of seconds. Rather than clinging to what we don’t understand, we must make a last ditch attempt to find good. We should never give up until we have left no stone unturned.

Cry out to God and ask to see His Goodness yet another day. Wait on God’s Goodness like your life depends on it. We often get excited about something we hope for; a package, an announcement, a score in a game where our team is losing, yet we have trouble getting the nervous-excitement of seeing what God will do.  Refuse to wallow in darkness and reach out for a flicker of hope. Wait, by trusting in Him and silencing all the dark thoughts. Trust in God by being eager to see what He will do, in prayer and thanksgiving. Wait, by not rushing Him—be patient with God. We wait in line for hours for things we think are worth the time, so why can’t we wait on God? Be attentive with your ears to the ground as you spend time in Scripture. Let God strengthen your heart with optimism about what He will do. Pray Scripture that professes God’s matchless qualities. Hope by plucking up your courage to face the next moment, and doing the next thing. Be at your best in the present.

⁸ We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; ⁹ persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed— ¹⁰ always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. ¹¹ For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh (2 Corinthians 4). 

Living in Christ is living in a body of suffering. Those who have the Spirit of Christ will suffer as He did. The life of a Christian is not immune to the struggles of this world. We are carrying the body of the dying LORD Jesus daily, because we ate the bread—the broken body and became one with Him. We have exchanged the life of worldly comforts to gain His Life—denying ourselves by carrying our own cross—we carry the symbol of our own suffering, following in the footsteps of Our LORD. We have been crucified with Him; therefore, we are never alone in our own suffering. The Life of Christ manifested through us is one that overcomes; that was raised from the dead—ever lives to rise up triumphant in all suffering. While we are struck down by our circumstances, we are never destroyed; when we are hard-pressed on every side we are not crushed; this is our heritage—this is what makes the children of God different from others. We manifest His Power in the most trying times, by handing it all over to the One Who conquered death.

That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; ¹¹ if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead (Philipians 3).

Never forget that there’s a battle for our soul particularly when we are most weak. The enemy of our souls would like to remind us of our weakness and sufferings, but we must remind him of The Power in us. We stick it to the enemy, by abiding in The LORD in every circumstance. We do this by lifting up our voices in praise, while calling out, “Save me, Oh LORD!”  This is how the walls of Jericho fell down—by a shout of praise and the sounding of a trumpet.

Undoubtedly, suffering can be the will of God for us. Why would a Loving God allow us to suffer? Why would a Loving Father allow His Son to suffer and die for us? Every suffering has its purpose. If Christ suffered according to The Will of His Father, will we be exempted?

10  Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When You make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed. He shall prolong His days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand. 11  He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied. By His knowledge, My righteous Servant shall justify many, for He shall bear their iniquities. 12  Therefore, I will divide Him a portion with the great; And He shall divide the spoil with the strong, because He poured out His soul unto death. And He was numbered with the transgressors, and He bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors (Isaiah 53).

We don’t understand and may never understand what God is doing during excruciating times. The question, “Why?” will not offer much comfort except cast doubt on God’s Love. If Christ didn’t suffer, we would not be who we are today. Our suffering could also give hope to someone else. As we cling to God we draw nearer to Him, while we encourage others. Suffering could be the very reason we seek God like we never did before. He will bring us to the other side; He will reward us for overcoming, because we refused to doubt His Love in the most difficult time. We can then testify to what the LORD has done, and build the faith of others. God’s Love is tested most not in the highs, but in the lows. If God is still Good in the worst of times, then that invests Him as Almighty God.

18 Now “If the righteous one is scarcely saved, where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?” 19 Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator (1 Peter 4).

People pay closer attention when we are in difficulties. This is God’s Will not just for us, but for someone else watching. Others are drawn to our suffering and are intently focused on what will come next. So, we must commit ourselves to our Faithful Creator Who knows the end from the beginning. If the righteous are delivered from their troubles, what is the hope of the unbelievers? According to God’s Will we must continue to do good to others, even as we wait to see God’s Goodness for us.

24 Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. 25 He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also (John 12).

Life is never fair, because life in this world is temporary. Temporary dwellings lack a lot of comforts. If we live for this life only, we will never accept anything less than bliss. If we choose Eternal Life in Christ we acknowledge that we are not comfortable, but content with the temporary conditions. We can then serve the LORD in all circumstances; by surrendering our lives in times of joy or sorrow to Him.

We are witnesses to His Greatness, in all issues pertaining to our lives. Some tragic things happen because of human free-will; homicides, violence and the list goes on. But even in these situations, God has allowed humans to act upon what they desire most, so that He can remind all of us that there are two forces operating in the world—good and evil. We can choose which force to turn to in tumultuous times. 

 10 Many shall be purified, made white, and refined, but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand (Daniel 12).

Rejecting God because of the consequences of brazen human will, is denying one force while acknowledging the power of another. When we turn our backs on God because we have suffered wrong, we allow the consequences of evil to dictate how we feel about God, and make Him equivalent to the offender. If we commit ourselves to God, He is sure to use our suffering for our good and perfect us in His Strength. But if we allow our struggles and pain to shut God out, we give our adversary the right to direct our thinking. We have never suffered more than the next person. We should always remember that someone else has it worse.

8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. 10 But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. 11 To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen (1 Peter 5).

The devil is our adversary, because He is God’s adversary. Enemies always try to go for the weak ones that are dear to their targets. At our lowest point, we are most vulnerable to deception; thoughts that tell us, “We will not overcome and this is a permanent state”. When our confidence is shaken, we lose hope in the things and people we trust. So we have to be vigilant and stand on our confidence, even when we don’t have all the answers. Our faith will keep us steadfast enough to resist our enemy. Faith is unshakable trust. The God of all Grace who has called us to eternal glory, will perfect us in the things that are eternal, not in the ephemera. He specializes in circumventing the physical laws to prove His Supremacy; He is The God Who creates by His Spoken Word. 

23 Oh, love the Lord, all you His saints! For the Lord preserves the faithful, and fully repays the proud person. 24 Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all you who hope in the Lord (Psalm 31).

Love for God doesn’t hinge on our happiness and prosperity. Loving God is the core of our existence. Love engenders faithfulness. Faithfulness is commitment that doesn’t waver under intense pressure. Endurance is faith and confidence in the Goodness of God to see us through. He preserves the faithful—those who don’t waver on His Goodness and love Him through thick and thin. The proud want God to be at their beck and call—answering to their demands based on how much they have invested in their relationship. Even a marriage founded on this kind of entitlement is bound to fail. Endurance is steeling oneself to go on in God’s Strength. Courage builds endurance by silencing doubt. 

24 “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: 25 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock (Matthew 7).”

Where do you turn to when the storms of life are buffeting you? We have to find a strong and dependable hope that we can act upon immediately so that we don’t crush. Those who keep God’s Word by doing it, will be able to withstand the struggles of life. Why? Like everyone else, they aren’t immune to struggles, but their focus is not on their surroundings and issues but obedience and trust. They understand that hardship is part of life, but obedience and trust is a choice, in the midst of it. They weather the storm by channeling their thoughts to doing what  pleases God. They have not built their lives on their achievements but on every Word that comes from the Mouth of God; this is their solid foundation—the rock that no storm can move. 

We can’t build endurance without anticipating a benefit. Any seasoned athlete will tell you that endurance is the crux of physical training; builds momentum and ensures less injury to the body. Endurance requires not just the physical-human will of the body systems, but mental and emotional coordination. As spiritual beings, our endurance in Christ will impact our ability to overcome in many areas of our lives. We don’t need to whine and complain each time we are faced with a hill to climb; we want to reveal God’s Strength in us. We have to be faithful in obedience and trust. He will preserve, strengthen, perfect and establish us. Our determination will encourage others who are looking on to see how we pull through. Our faith will keep us steadfast and vigilant in trying moments, as we resist the enemy; who wants to see us destroyed by doubt. We bear in these bodies the sufferings of our LORD Jesus, because we were crucified with Him. Day by day, we will continue to live the death and risen life of our LORD in triumph and endurance in our temporary circumstances. 

8 You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. 9 Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door! 10 My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience. 11 Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful (James 5).

Evaluation

by Eileen Thugi | Jul 9, 2020 | Blog

Do a self-evaluation.

It’s important to take stock of our lives, in order to make the necessary changes or take a different approach. There are issues that impede progress that need to be addressed and there are advancements that can propel us to the next level. We are better able to make decisions and go forward after taking a step back and evaluating who we have become. Some employers evaluate their employees every year; to reward them for putting their best foot forward; to encourage them to do better and  address their shortfalls. Progress reports are churned out during the school year to keep parents and teachers abreast about their children’s achievements and areas that need improvement. There are attributes we may need to change that affect our overall performance before God and others, that leave a lasting impact. 

⁷  The works of His (God’s) hands are verity and justice; All His precepts are sure.⁸ They stand fast forever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness (Psalm 111).

We are usually earnest to do our jobs well, learn the new technology and keep up with new information, so that we remain on top of our game. Behavior is changed by a new perspective. An introspection of our motives and attitudes will unravel frailties that need to be addressed. God’s precepts are a guide to doing our bit with integrity. The traits we acquire from putting God’s Ways to practice, will benefit us for a lifetime, regardless of what role we play. We can’t be diligent about our outward conduct, without the motivation of firm convictions. By applying God’s Precepts to our responsibilities we will be doing what’s honest and upright.

⁵ But also for this very reason, give all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, ⁶ to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, ⁷ to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. ⁸ For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹ For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.

¹⁰ Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; ¹¹ for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1).

These values should be applied to our daily interactions no matter where we are. Who we are is what we have nurtured inside. We can’t be effective in any role, unless we have applied ourselves to integrity. We can’t be team players; willing to help others, unless we have learned to be kind. No rules or code of conduct can make us submit to authority until we have submitted to the authority of God. Our faith gives us the much needed perseverance in the most trying times. So, we see that our spiritual life impacts our entire well being, more than we know. Godliness is integrity in things pertaining to this life.  We should see to it that we are growing in virtue, knowledge, self-control, kindness and love.

⁶ For the Lord gives wisdom; From His mouth comes knowledge and understanding. ⁷ He stores up sound wisdom for the upright. He is a shield to those who walk uprightly; ⁸ He guards the paths of justice, and preserves the way of His saints. ⁹ Then you will understand righteousness, justice, equity and every good path (Proverbs 2).

We make progress, by boning up on the knowledge of Who God is; because He is the Highest Standard—He is our Mentor. We increase in knowledge by reading Scripture and doing what pleases Him. If we live in the Spirit of The Lord Jesus, we will not indulge our fleshly lusts that mar our character. Living in the Spirit takes self-control and discipline, by submitting to His Authority. We can reign in our emotions and attitudes by giving The Holy Spirit complete Authority. God will always prosper and preserve His people.

³ Let not mercy and truth forsake you; bind them around your neck. Write them on the tablet of your heart,⁴  and so find favor and high esteem in the sight of God and man (Proverbs 3).

By cultivating these virtues in increasing measure we become productive in everything we do and everywhere we go. We can gain favor with God and others by expressing these virtues. We will hardly stumble when implementing the things of God. Let’s examine our call as children of God, just as we do with our professional performance. Let’s be diligent in everything that reveals the likeness of Christ. Godliness will profit us in everything.

¹⁰¹ I have restrained my feet from every evil way, that I may keep Your word. ¹⁰² I have not departed from Your judgments, for You Yourself have taught me. ¹⁰³  How sweet are Your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! ¹⁰⁴ Through Your precepts I get understanding: Therefore I hate every false way (Psalms 119).

In order to restrain oneself from folly, there has to be a stronger opposing force. Whatever we value most stimulates our response. Obedience to God’s Word is driven by our love for Him and desire to do what He delights in. Our love is a powerful force that can overcome all sorts of temptations and restrain poor judgement. We must have an insatiable appetite for His precepts, instructions, and even correction. We should be willing to take in all that God teaches us from Scripture, with a yearning for its sweetness. By examining ourselves through Scripture, we gain understanding on issues; we are enlightened on which paths to avoid. Our commitment to obey will keep us above board in our daily interactions. Therefore, we will abhor every false way that acts one way before God and different before others. Consistency is living by conviction.

“I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. ² Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God. ³ Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you. ⁴ You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy (Revelations 3).”

If you have backslidden, you have an opportunity for introspection and repentance. Like a person in authority or a boss would warn us of the consequences of failing to pass muster, The LORD warns us to examine ourselves and rectify what is lacking. We are commanded to watch and pay close attention to where we have become deficient. In order to see how much we have drifted away, we need to go back and relearn what we had already been taught. We have to return to God in prayer and in quiet devotion in His Word; to examine ourselves as He sees us. Christ warns, “You are dead”, meaning unfruitful in the knowledge of Him Who saved us. We must eat humble pie and repent. 

Rehabilitation begins with an honest acknowledgement of our failures. There’s hope for us all, day after day. The LORD compels us to strengthen that which we have neglected to cultivate and nurture in us; because it will lead to a demise of that area. Values we have failed to strengthen, by lack of practice, become atrophied. The LORD doesn’t commend a character filled with head knowledge and lacking in substance. If we don’t watch—pay close attention to those areas we neglect, we will not be considered worthy to walk with Him.

⁹ On the first day of the first month he began his journey from Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month he came to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God upon him. ¹⁰ For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the Law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel (Ezra 7).

Ezra was a scribe who like the rest of Israel was taken captive in Babylon, a pagan nation. When he was given the freedom to return to Jerusalem, he had his heart set on one thing; The Law of God and to obey it. He was removed from one bad situation and brought to a place of freedom. He had not been defiled by the practices of the Babylonians. God’s hand was upon him, because Ezra had prepared his heart to know what God’s Law required of him. With every new beginning, are you preparing your heart for God’s instruction and obedience? Seeking God is receiving His Law with intent to obey. Like Ezra, we can’t teach others what we have failed to practice. God will take us from one learning experience to another as long as we are willing to prepare our hearts to receive. Every new beginning is by The Hand of God. Every fresh start should be done in consultation with God.

¹³ Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. ¹⁴ Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless (2 Peter 3).

Many look forward to job promotions. When the opportunity presents itself, people will jump through hoops to impress the head honcho. When people get tired of the same drab position they have held for years, they begin to long for a new corner office, with its perks. So it is with the children of God—we look forward to the new earth and heaven where righteousness dwells. We look forward to the occupation that God has for us in His Kingdom. As we yearn for it, we have to be astute to make the short list. We make peace with Him by pleasing Him. We can only please Him when we are found in The Son, Who is spotless and blameless. The Son is our dominant Reference. We do this by maintaining an unbroken fellowship—by abiding in Him. In Christ Jesus, Who is The Prince of Peace, we have Peace with God for eternity. Being in opposition with a boss will never lead to an advancement.

⁴ For though He was crucified in weakness, yet He lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in Him, but we shall live with Him by the power of God toward you. ⁵ Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified (2 Corinthians 13).

As I mentioned earlier, performance is evaluated to make improvements, for a reward. When juxtaposed to God’s Standards we are delinquent. We can do all we can to impress our fellow mankind, but if it doesn’t meet God’s approval it’s worthless. So how do we do a proper self-evaluation? We examine ourselves to see if we are in the faith. Are we agreeing with God, that He is right about us and that we need to do as He tells us? Or are we rebellious? If we are weak in ourselves to keep up, we are strong in Christ by His Power. We can boldly acknowledge before God and others, that we need God to perfect us. We are lacking in our own capacity to get it right, apart from God. It’s better we are disqualified by a human gauge, than be disqualified by God. In all these things we strive not to evaluate ourselves for human approval, because we are first servants of The Most High God. So, we test our competency in everything, by ensuring what we do pleases Him, and is only for His Glory.

²³ Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. ²⁴ Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ. ²⁵ But if you do what is wrong, you will be paid back for the wrong you have done. For God has no favorites (Colossians 3).