THE DEBT OF LOVE

Romans 13:8 Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing DEBT TO LOVE one another, for he who loves his fellow-man has fulfilled the law.

By nature right from birth, the human baby has the desire to love and to be loved! The family home, i.e mother and father…and in other cases, siblings are the first contact where the baby begins to understand and function in love. In receiving and giving love, the child develops an emotional bond with the family which gives the child a sense of security and being needed!

Well, as a child, I never had that complete sense of security…because my parents divorced when I was hardly 3 years old. My mother remarried soon after that…and my stepfather substituted the place of my biological father. Over the years, even though I didn’t know it…I held back my love. THE LOVE THAT WAS DUE TO MY NATURAL FATHER. My relationship with my stepfather was more of a formal kind with no particular emotional bond, while I was too much emotionally attached to my mother. But something else was also missing. As a teenage and in my early adulthood, I didn’t care much about men. And even when I got into a relationship…I never came close to surrendering my heart to any man. There was always a safe emotional distance between us.

ENCOURAGE YOURSELF IN THE LORD

1 Samuel 30:6 David was greatly distressed because the men were talking about stoning him; each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters. But David FOUND STRENGTH IN THE LORD HIS GOD.

STRENGTHEN according to my Collins dictionary means: to fortify, brace up, consolidate, ENCOURAGE, GIVE NEW ENERGY TO, etc.

In other words, we can read this sentence like this: But David ENCOURAGED HIMSELF IN THE LORD HIS GOD.

This morning, I had plans to write on a different topic altogether. But as I was conversing with my husband, I felt the Lord leading me into this direction. The Lord made it clear to me that there are many out there who need not to be encouraged, BUT TO ENCOURAGE THEMSELVES IN THE LORD.

What do I mean by ENCOURAGING YOURSELF IN THE LORD? Let’s go back to the storyline in 1 Samuel 30. David was not yet the King of Israel….but Prophet Samuel had already anointed him as the next king of Israel. The mantle of kingship had already be passed on to David, yet he wasn’t yet at his rightful position. King Saul had plotted more than once to kill him, but he had escaped to the land of the Philistines. Together with six hundred men, he settled in the land of Gath with Achish, son of the King of Gath….and joined his army. On several occasion, he went out with his men to raid the surrounding lands, leaving no man or woman alive but came back to Achish with sheep, cattle, donkey etc. Achish thought David was no longer loyal to his countrymen…and even when the time came for the Philistines to face the Israelites in battle, Achish included him and his men in their army.

But as they were preparing to enter into the battlefield, the rulers of the Philistines army who didn’t approve of David…because they already knew of his earlier conquest against them asked Achish to send him back to his place of assignment, that is, Ziklag.

WEAK FAITH: WHAT IS YOUR ROLE IN IT?

Romans 14:1 Accept him WHOSE FAITH IS WEAK, without passing judgment on disputable matters.

I have a CONFESSION TO MAKE. So here, I come! As a person of strong faith, I find myself often dealing impatiently with a person who has weak faith. Yes, with the knowledge and wisdom God has granted me, at times, I find I want to forcefully turn it over to the one of weak faith….hoping that they will pick up the mantle to become GREAT FAITH WARRIORS. But, God has proved me wrong again and again.

God has been teaching me this:

FAITH IS PERSONAL and even when it is cooperative, it doesn’t mean it is ENOUGH. If one person has great faith and another in their midst has weaker faith, added together it does not equal average faith. In the hearing of the Word, where faith springs from, does not mean that the hearers of the word will hear the same thing at the same time to warrant the same kind of respond.

WARNING: SHE COMES WITH FAVOR

Proverbs 18:22 He who finds a wife finds a GOOD THING and receives FAVOR FROM THE LORD.

I guess every country has its own traditions when it comes to the wedding cards. But back at home, in Kenya, my native country, we have this expectation that on the wedding card there is always a scripture verse chosen by the couple to-be, as their wedding motto. Of the many wedding cards I have come across, I did notice that many couples chose the above scripture for their new marriage covenant. And for many reasons than not, I DO LOVE THIS SCRIPTURE VERSE. For one, it is a scripture more husband-directed than wife. Secondly, its a scripture that comes with two sure declarations from the Lord: A GOOD THING AND FAVOR.

A wife is a GOOD THING….because she is a gift from God to man.

Genesis 2:18 The Lord God said, “It is NOT GOOD for man to be alone. I will make a HELPER suitable for him.”

A wife is GOOD THING….because she came from man.

Genesis 2:22 Then the Lord God made woman from the rib he had taken OUT OF THE MAN, and he brought her to the man.

A HANDSOME MAN FORGOTTEN

Genesis 39:6-7… Now Joseph was WELL-BUILT and HANDSOME, and after a while his master’s wife took notice of Joseph and said, “Come to bed with me!”

Genesis 40:23 The chief cupbearer, however, did not REMEMBER Joseph; he FORGOT him.

You are a Godly young man…hardworking, handsome and yes, a visionary with the future before you. The favorite of your father among many brothers. Your daddy makes you a coat of many colors which makes your stand out among the crowd. But the worst part of it all is you love to dream…and retell your dreams to a not very enthusiastic audience. YOUR NAME IS JOSEPH.

And while from the outside, everything seems to be going well, things are brewing from the inside. Before you know it…you are a SLAVE in a foreign country. But while you are not free…the things of nature still take their course. Oh…YOU ARE NOW A FINE HANDSOME YOUNG MAN…and a married woman cannot resist you. But you have not changed a bit. Your values are still intact. But this time, from the outside, everything seems to be going wrong, but things from the inside are unusual calm. Before you know it….you are a PRISONER paying for a crime you never committed. But while you are not free…the things of God take their purposed cause. Oh…YOU ARE NOW AN INTERPRETER OF DREAM…and a cupbearer is restored to his position. But your position is unchanged. Your existence is soon FORGOTTEN.

HAS GOD FAILED AT ADVERTISING?

Isaiah 53:1 Who has believed OUR MESSAGE and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?

ADVERTISE means to present or praise (goods, services etc) to the public especially in order to encourage sales; to make publicly known. In simpler terms ADVERTISING means sending out a MESSAGE publicly. Hence the above scripture can also read this way:

Who has believed OUR ADVERT and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed.

We all have to agree that in our modern society, ADVERTS have become a part of us almost as natural as the air we breathe. In every corner you turn, there is a form of MESSAGE which is aimed at you. And while advertising is not evil or bad in itself, its the seductive way the message is conveyed that is really the problem. You see, most adverts are directed towards your sensual appetite. What you see, touch, feel, taste and hear.

But why do people advertise in the first place? There are three main reasons;to introduce something new, to stand out as the best among rivals or to be seen as authentic. So did God score well on these three? Oh, if you didn’t know ISAIAH 53 is the grand way God first introduced HIS SON, JESUS to the world. But wait a minute? Why would God, the Creator choose to introduce HIS ONE AND ONLY BELOVED in such a crude, unedited form? If you read Isaiah 53 this in what you will come across;

– He is lacking in BEAUTY OR MAJESTY… nothing we are uncomfortable with.
– He is lacking in APPEARANCE…and of course, he doesn’t fit in our celebrity world.
– He is BEATEN UP and DESPISED..we have no time for the downtrodden in life.
– He is SICKLY and MOURNFUL…we prefer stadiums and theaters than hospital corridors or elderly homes.
– He is UNMANLY and QUIET…we like rebels and advocates of whatever rights.
– He is DEAD and GONE…we go on with our business as if nothing happened.

But I have news for you, what might have seemed like the most UNWISE, NONSTRATEGIC ADVERT of all times became the MOST EFFECTIVE of them all. Because unlike the message of the world, God does not appeal to us through our sensuality,that is (indulgence) but rather through sensitivity, that is (common sense). What you see, hear or read is not necessary what you need, but rather to look closely again at God’s ONE TIME advert. If I am not wrong…You will see yourself…the self you don’t like, the self you are not comfortable with, the self who has known nothing but rejection, the self that is lost in spite of all knowledge. And the most painful truth, the self that is DEAD while still living.

GOD’S ADVERT OF HIS SON...is actually YOU AND ME. He who did not know sin became sin for you and me. So next time, you see an advert what is offering you something better, remember there is ONE who did a good job, once and for all…and then HE CEASED ADVERTISING.

Jesus is THE ONE AND ONLY SON OF GOD; He has NO RIVALS; He is AUTHENTIC. Believe in HIS MESSAGE and live!!!!
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EXTRAVAGANT GRACE

Luke 7:37-38 When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume, and as she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with HER TEARS. Then she wiped them with HER HAIR, kissed them and poured perfume on them.

EXTRAVAGANT is defined in my Collins dictionary as: spending money excessively or immodestly; GOING BEYOND USUAL BOUNDS; UNRESTRAINED; Ostentatious or showy; EXORBITANT IN PRICE; overpriced.

Before I start, I wish to pass my well wishes to all my fellow women readers as the world celebrates the INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY today. To all of you out there...YOU ARE LOVED AND PRECIOUS IN HIS EYES.

And with that note, let’s have a look at the story of a woman in Jesus’ earthly life. Its most probable that you have heard or read, or been preached to, the story of the WOMAN WITH AN ALABASTER BOX OF PERFUME. But until yesterday, I had never seen this side of the story before. So here in the UGLY TRUTH.

The woman in the story is a PROSTITUTE. That means…she earned her living by selling her body in exchange for money. Hence, it is most likely that her ALABASTER JAR OF PERFUME was bought with money from her immoral trade. But wait a minute. Why in the world would Jesus accept to be anointed by her knowing how she had obtained the jar of perfume? But here is the WHOLESOME TRUTH.

SUFFERING: A COMPASS TO WHOLENESS

James 1:2-4 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face TRIALS OF MANY KINDS, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be MATURE and COMPLETE, not lacking anything.

A COMPASS according to Wikipedia is a NAVIGATIONAL INSTRUMENT for determining direction relative to Earth’s magnetic poles.

Suffering for a Christian also works in the same way as the compass. I have heard this question asked over and over again. WHY DO GOOD PEOPLE SUFFER? Or, IS IT NECESSARY FOR A CHILD OF GOD TO GO THROUGH SUFFERING? Before I answer these questions let me put the record straight. SUFFERING is a part and parcel of our everyday life…e.i for the unbeliever and the believer alike.

Psalm 90:10 The length of our days is seventy years or eighty, if we have the strength; yet their span is but TROUBLE AND SORROW for they quickly pass, and we fly away.

But here is the difference. For a believer, suffering is a means to an end and not the end itself. Like the above scripture puts it….trials of many kinds will come to test our faith. And when we have endured suffering, it produces in us, MATURE CHARACTER and makes us COMPLETE or in other words, gives us WHOLENESS! Hence, good people or the child of God will endured suffering because, we live in a fallen world, and secondly God allows us to suffer so that we may also share in the sufferings of Christ and in turn, we will be glorified in Him.

Below are just

MARRIED BUT UNLOVED

Genesis 29:30-31 Jacob lay with Rachel also, and HE LOVED RACHEL MORE THAN LEAH. And he worked for Laban another seven years. When the Lord saw the Leah was NOT LOVED, he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren.

LEAH in Hebrew means WEARY, TIRED, TENDER or WEAK.

A simple question for the single person. At what state are you approaching the idea of marriage?
For the married person. At what state did you enter into your marriage? Let’s put some substance into the above questions from the example of Leah’s love story in Genesis 29

Here is Leah, daughter of Laban. Leah had WEAK EYES and most probably unattractive, unlike her younger sister, Rachel who was lovely in form and beautiful. According to their custom, the younger sister could not get married before her elder sister. So here we see a problem. Even through the bible does not mention it, it is most probable that Rachel had many suitors. But NO, none of them were interested in her sister Leah. Hence, right from the start, Leah was always DISADVANTAGED. Not only because she was physically unattractive, but she was seen as

DUST YOUR SHOES

Mark 6:9-11 Wear SANDALS but not an extra tunic. Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that town. And if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, SHAKE THE DUST OFF your feet when you leave, as a testimony against them.

Dust on my shoes? Are you kidding me? Dusty shoes for the modern, urbanized western man is something which is but a rare occasion. But not for me. Having grown up and spent most of my life in Africa, dust on the shoes is a familiar everyday scenario, which tells the untold story of the traveler. In Jesus’ earthly life, dust too on SANDALED FEET also represented