Mary: Be it unto me according to thy word

Mary was going through her usual day when she received a visit from the angel Gabriel. The message from the angel was quite ‘huge’ for the young woman. Heaven has favoured Mary and God has appointed her for a special assignment. The assignment given to this virgin was to conceive and give birth to a son. This son is no ordinary son for “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” (Luke 1:33‭-‬33). Mary might have been in total shock. Why will God choose her to have a son when she was still a virgin?

Mary asked the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” (Luke 1:34). I would have asked a similar question. Why will God choose me? Don’t we ask ourselves similar questions when we are called for a task we believe is greater than we can handle? Even Zachariah, Elizabeth’s husband asked a similar question when the angel told him that his wife will have a son: “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.” (Luke 1:18). Unfortunately for Zachariah, he missed the past case studies of Abraham and Sarah (and many more in the OldTestament). He was a priest and was expected to know more. The angel shut him down for nine months. He became mute.

And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her. (Luke 1:38 KJV)

Angel Gabriel’s reply to Mary’s question was this: “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month.” (Luke 1:35‭-‬36). As young and innocent as Mary was, she did not argue with the angel. In all readiness and preparedness she said: “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.” (Luke 1:38). Mary knew that this huge task will bring unto her challenges from every direction including rejection by family, possible divorce by Joseph, societal ostracization among other challenges including death. Mary did not ask the angel for time to think about it. She did not ask for a sign. She did not even ask about how the child will be catered for in case her family and Joseph reject her.

Mary was not anxious about many things. She did not ask the angel to tell God to send someone else like Moses did. She did not put God to test like Gideon. She did not even prepare a sacrifice like Manoah and his wife (Samson’s parents). Mary’s response to her assignment showed a total dependence on God. The Message Bible states Luke 1:38 this way: “And Mary said, Yes, I see it all now: I’m the Lord’s maid, ready to serve. Let it be with me just as you say. Then the angel left her.” Mary was ready to serve right away. She was ready for the full package of God’s agenda. She knew that the task was huge but she also knew that for God to find her worthy of the task, God will definitely make all things possible for the completion of this task.

Maybe, you are not sure how God’s call on your life will be achieved considering your current situation. Instead of worrying about things YOU cannot change, make it a priority to prepare YOURSELF and position YOURSELF for the assignment. Don’t just be there… be proactive in adding value to yourself. Heaven will make a way for you to get to the destination, but like Mary, you must uphold your purity, and be ready to say, “I’m the Lord’s servant, ready to serve.”

The gift of God and the wages of sin: The choice is ours!

Living in a country with various extreme weather conditions, I don’t think I would like to wake up every morning and go through the different weather conditions to work and expect no wage. No! Imagine walking through a snowstorm with a temperature of about -20 Degree Celsius and not getting any salary. No one wants to be exploited whether in Africa, Asia, the Americas, Oceania or Europe. Every worker deserves a pay that is good! Bringing this real-life scenario helps us understand the importance of getting what you deserve. Similarly, when we live our lives in sin, it also comes with a payment. In Romans 6:23 we are told that the wages (payment/salary) for living a sinful life is death.

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.(Romans 6:23)

This wage seems so unfair. After all, it is our lives and we can live how we choose to live. No way! If we create a product and design a manual of use, anytime the product works contrary to its design, we know that there is a failure somewhere. We try to fix this issue the best way we can. No man is an island and no man stands as a unique entity. That is the reason world organisations and nations put sanctions on individuals and countries that misbehave even in their own territories. We are connected. If sin is payable by death, then what is the opposite of living right? Contrary to the wage given by sin, eternal life is a gift of God. It is not our wage. This implies that naturally, we are undeserving of it but God gives us eternal life as a gift.

Is this a gift for everyone? The gift is for everyone but only those who come to Christ and live a Christlike life have this gift. This gift is accessible only through Jesus Christ. In other words, you cannot have eternal life without passing through Jesus. From the words of Jesus, we know that He is the way, the truth and the life and no one goes to the Father without passing through Jesus (John 14:16). As children of God, we have been presented with this gift and the choice is ours; whether we will go for the wages of our sinful nature or we will enjoy the gift of life. Eternal life is in Christ Jesus alone (John 6:51; John 11:25) and not in any act of the flesh.

We have been presented with a wage that leads to death and a gift that leads to life. The decision we make now will determine our eternal home. We have been presented with life and death (Deuteronomy 30:15) but for us, let us choose to serve the Lord.
We don’t want to work all our lives for a wage that leads to death but rather live for the gift that leads to eternal life.

He will purify us from all unrighteousness

One of the things most people find it hard to do is to confess to one another the wrong we have done to each other. Sometimes, people confess not because they are genuinely remorseful but so as to be trusted again. The truth is we don’t walk around with X-rays and scanning machines to know what is in each other’s hearts. However, God does see the depths of our hearts. In the same way confessing our sins to God should come out of genuine brokenness. Confession should not just be a routine exercise but it should come from a broken and a contrite heart. Psalm 51:17 says that the Lord will not despise a broken and contrite heart.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.(1 John 1:9)

When we confess our sins to God, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). God sees when we are genuinely remorseful. David in the Bathsheba encounter committed adultery and murder and God’s anger was on David. But, David showed a legitimate repentance. He prayed for forgiveness and asked God to forgive him of his iniquities. Indeed God forgave David but the child born from this adulterous encounter died. David prayed for the child to live, but the child still died. Our actions have consequences and even if God forgives our sins, the laws of our countries will deal with us accordingly. Before you vent out your anger or do something you know will have bad consequences, know that the law is no respecter of persons.

Let us pray together with David:
“Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me” (Psalms 51:1-2; 10‭-‬12).

Sin makes us unrighteous before God but when God purifies us, He cleanses us from all unrighteousness. Reach out to one another in genuine repentance for it is the will of God that we live at peace with one another.

Whoever does the will of God lives forever

Different religions have different views about life after death. Some believe that our state after death depends on the lives we lived while we were on earth, others believe that we return as animals but whether you return as an annoying mosquito or a lovely dog depends on how you lived. Christians have hope beyond this life. Paul states that “if only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied”
(1 Corinthians 15:19). We have hope of a glorious life after death. Remember, this world is transient and it is passing away together with all it desires. However, whoever does the will of God lives forever.

The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever. (1 John 2:17)

This hope is our comfort that our family members in Christ who have passed on to glory are the church triumphant now. They are cheering us on while we do this race of life. One musician sang a song about being forever young. So far, no cosmetic is able to keep one alive and young forever. When we grow older, the body naturally adjusts to our age. We can cover the outward view with make-up but we can never cover the internals. The only way to secure a forevermore life of bliss is in Christ. Jesus Christ promised us that, “I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am” (John 14:3).

The only way to live forever is to do the will of God. God desires all men to come to the saving knowledge of Christ. God wants all men to live a Christlike life. God wants all men to live a life without blemishes. God wants all men to be saved! Through Jesus, God has made salvation accessible to mankind. John 3:16 noted that whosoever believes in Jesus will not perish but have life everlasting. Everything happening around is an indication that this world is fleeting. The world and all its desires will pass away but the words of Jesus will never pass away (Matthew 24:35).

Have you made that decision to accept the Lord as your Saviour yet?

If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. (Romans 10:9‭-‬10)

The Lord wants everyone to come to repentance

Have you ever wondered why wicked people live long? I had asked a similar question some years ago. Why does God allow evil people to live? Why doesn’t the earth open up and swallow them? Why do we have to endure watching them do harm to people for a long time? What happens to the souls of the innocent people they harm? These questions are legitimate questions all of us ask all the time. However, God is not man and we don’t expect Him to think, act and payback like the way we would. In fact, scripture admonishes us that we have the mind of Christ (1Cor. 2:16). So, what will Jesus do?

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9).

Is the Lord just slow in dealing with the wicked? 2 Peter 3:9 states that “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” Thus, the Lord has given us the opportunity to repent. God does not delight in seeing men perish in their sins. He wants all men to come to the saving knowledge of Christ. None is beyond redemption, none is beyond forgiveness, none is beyond salvation, none is too sinful that God cannot save.

Instead of channeling our energy to wish evil to fall on evil people, let us rather pray for their salvation and look for opportunities to share with them the Gospel. Imagine how peaceful the world will be if everyone comes to repentance! The world is changing so fast and the things we see around us indicate that the end is near. We don’t want to leave our family and friends in a state of unawareness. Let’s be kind enough to pray for them and use every opportunity to share the love of God with them. If we refuse to pray and share God’s love with them, they will perish and we might end up as the victims of their evil escapades.

PRAY UNTIL SOMETHING HAPPENS (PUSH)
The world needs our intercession now.

Perseverance in doing God’s will

Few years ago, I read a book from Brother Andrew titled “God’s smuggler”. I was really amazed at one man’s perseverance at all costs to send the gospel to those who have not heard. I have also heard of stories of people in nations that are hostile to the gospel and how they are keeping the faith in the midst of persecution. These stories and many more draw my attention to the fact that people are willing and ready to fight for their faith with the last drop of their blood. Persevering for the gospel might not be popular considering challenges others have faced just to stand for the gospel.

In our part of the world, we might not be faced with death sentences and punishment but we face persecution in different ways. I remember a Christian sister requested for prayers so that she may not be considered inappropriate for her job when they discover that she is a Christian. I also remember another person who told someone to commit all their troubles to God in prayer and was reported by another colleague for mentioning God. I have also heard of a Christian who was sued for thousands of dollars because they refused to offer their services to people whose lifestyle the Bible is against. The list can go on and on.

You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.(Hebrews 10:36)

How do we do God’s will in the midst of this hostile environment? God has given us many promises in His word. These promises are not automatic and we need to live and do God’s will in order to receive these promises. The only way for us to thrive in the midst of this subtle but permeating persecution is to persevere. We need God’s grace each day to stand up for the truth. We need to constantly pray for our government and leaders so that laws made will be favourable to us. We need to intercede for our brothers and sisters who are facing death threats elsewhere for God to give them boldness. Know that, if the world persecuted our Lord and Saviour, then, we are not exempted from persecution.

Dear God, even as we desire to do Your will, we ask for the enablement to be able to stand up to all the persecution that may come our way. We pray for the way out if possible and we ask for the spirit of boldness to stand in the midst of all persecution. We desire to attain Your promises so help us God. Amen.

The family members of Christ do God’s will!

Family is usually defined as a group of people with a common ancestor. There are different families in the world and each family is either distinguished by a family name or a particular physical trait. When we come to Christ, the size of our family increases drastically because we become related to other brothers and sisters in Christ. Jesus is our elder brother (Rom. 8:29). In Mark 3:35, Jesus said that “whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.” Our relationship with Christ is based on our relationship with the Father. We are a family because we are doing God’s will.

Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.”(Mark 3:35)

In the past few days, we have identified specific areas that God expects us to align our lives to. God’s will as we saw in Jeremiah 29:11 is to give us a future and a hope. We have been called to live to reflect the image of Christ and that is what makes us a family of Christ. Whenever children or family members of respected people in society misbehave, we are quick to point that out. In the same way, as a family of believers, God expects us to live a certain way of life and this way of life is to be Christlike in all our ways. Whenever a Christian misbehaves, even unbelievers are quick to point that out. This is because even the unbelievers know that there is a particular lifestyle expected of believers.

Whoever does God’s will is the family member of Jesus… If Christ should come back today, will He call you brother and sister? How are you related to other believers in lifestyle, mentality and worship? Can we easily identify you from among the lot as a family member of Christ? Do we need magnifying glasses to really see whose family you belong to? Do you share similar traits with members of other families? Can the devil confess before God that you do not belong to the devil’s family? Your answer to any of these questions should help you know the way forward. If you do not know what the will of God is, take time and read my blogs on Christlikeness and the blogs on the will of God.

We are members of God’s family and that should reflect in our way of life.

It is God’s will that you should be sanctified!

Recently, I saw an advertisement on YouTube. I was very disappointed because the message of the advertisement and the dress code of one of the people promoting this company did not align at all. It seems like the new strategy for online businesses is to present videos and images of naked people (particularly women). Thus, we are bombarded with sexual and sensual messages all day long. From the billboard, to the video ad to the picture ad that pops up on your phone screen. You either install an ad blocker or you deal with it!

It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; (1 Thessalonians 4:3)

How do we keep ourselves sanctified in the midst of all these? What the world has not realized that sexual immorality has a deeper root than what is mostly reported. It begins from the lust of the eye, the lust of the flesh and finally the pride of life (satisfying the crave). God’s will for us is to sanctified: that we should avoid sexual immorality and learn to control our own bodies in a way that is honourable (1 These. 4:3-4). There are times that the only way out for the believer is to flee and that is perfectly fine. Joseph had to flee from Potipher’s wife as well. It landed him in prison but in the long run, God glorified him.

Satisfying our human cravings is temporary but the side effects can be a permanent destruction of another life. Many women have been abused by men because of lack of self control. Some men have also suffered sexual abuse from the hands of women. Now, schools in the West are teaching young children that they can indulge in sexual immorality as long as they use protection. This is sad! We all have our rights, Yes! But some actions tend to have permanent effects on the people, the society and the nation as a whole. Teach your children the dangers of premarital sex. As believers, let’s learn to control our own bodies from acts that do not glorify God.

Remember, true satisfaction in life comes from God. If God cannot satisfy you, nothing will!

It is God’s will to live Godly in an ungodly society

For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. (1 Peter 2:15)

It is increasingly becoming more and more challenging to live Godly lives in our ever increasing unbelieving world. At the slightest misnomer portrayed by a Christian, the world tends to point accusing fingers at the entire Christian family across the world. Peter admonishes the church to live faultless lives in the midst of a perverse generation. Below are some of the things Peter admonish the church to either do or abstain from:

1. Abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul.
2. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.
3. Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right.
4. Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves.
5. Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.
6. Slaves, in reverent fear of God submit yourselves to your masters, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh.
(1 Peter 2:11‭-‬14, 16-18)

According to Peter, it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people (1 Peter 2:15). God’s will for the church is for us to live Godly lives in an ungodly society and by so doing, we will silence the ignorant talks or accusations levelled against the Church. We are free in Christ but our freedom is not a passport for lawlessness. We should not indulge in actions that dishonor our bodies and the entire body of Christ. As we reflect Christ in our lives, the unbelieving people will by seeing our lifestyles know what we truly reflect.

May we desire to live in a way that men will see our lives and desire Christ.