FRUSTRATING GRACE
GALATIANS 2:19-3:5
So he answered and said to me: “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: “Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ Says the LORD of hosts. Zechariah 4:6
In one of the verses of our text for today, we see the following; “I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness comes by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.” It is easy to fall into the temptation of asserting the flesh in an effort to please God or do the work of God. For some, they have left the simplicity of Christ and have exalted ‘working for God’ above fellowshipping with God. To as many in this category, Jesus Christ situates working for God within the parameters of believing in Him (John 6:29). Working for God starts and finishes with continuous faith in Jesus Christ. You must experience the new birth for heaven to see you as a worker of God. Jesus was speaking to a religious audience akin to the kind of people we find today who enjoy being in, and working in Church without allowing the grace of God to work within them for salvation.
Some understood the place of the Spirit of God and started their journey of faith leaning on the Spirit’s help. They couldn’t and wouldn’t take a step without recourse to the Spirit. Unfortunately, they are now trying to be perfected “through their human efforts.” Paul described people in this state as foolish. You can’t perfect (complete; attain the goal) with the flesh what was begun by the Spirit. In times past, you spent quality time waiting on the Lord for direction and inspiration; do you now follow formulas and familiar patterns to achieve the goal? You frustrate grace or set grace aside when you confine the Holy Spirit to a box. Grace is undermined when you depend on natural abilities and learning to accomplish divine tasks. When you depend on the Holy Spirit from start to finish in your life and ministry, abundant grace will mark all you do. Like Zerubbabel, people will see you “set the final stone” and they will exclaim, “Grace, Grace” because human effort did not and could not have done it.
PRAYER: Pray that you always depend on the Holy Spirit for everything and that formulas and familiar patterns will not substitute this absolute dependence.
WATCH YOUR LIFE FIRST
1 TIMOTHY 4:13-16
…They made me the keeper of the vineyards, but my own vineyard I have not kept. Song of Solomon 1:6
We are often faced with the temptation to pray for others, preach to others, and counsel others while neglecting the paramount need to keep a close watch on ourselves. This is true, especially, to those who have been called to serve in the Lord’s garden. We give our all in tending the gardens of others while neglecting ours. We are excellent at teaching and preaching to others while ignoring the divine instructions therein. We study the word only to use it as sermon text for others. We care about the spiritual state of the families of others but ignore the spiritual needs of our family. Tending the flock of God is good but it must be done after we have attended to ourselves. This is the blueprint for success in serving the Lord (Acts 20:28, 1 Tim. 4:16).
Let us not be like the fellow who fetches water for others to drink while dying of thirst. You are to save both yourself and those who hear you. Saving yourself comes first. The public devotion should emanate from the private communion. We usually express surprise when well-known workers in the vineyard slip; but if we had paid more attention, we would have realized that they were running on empty. Dear assigned keeper of the vineyard; do you keep your own vineyard?
PRAYER: Lord, help me to tend to the vineyard of my soul while tending to the vineyard of others. Amen.
TRANSFORMED BY HIS WORD
PSALMS 119:9-11, EPHESIANS 4:17-24
“And be not conformed to this world but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Romans 12:2
The best thing that would happen to any man is to encounter Christ and experience salvation. Accepting Christ is the bedrock of living a life of purpose on earth. The mind is where every action of man is first actualized – from the planning process to the execution. So, when a man comes to salvation by accepting Christ, it is important to detoxify the mind from its old ways. Some expect a sudden change in all aspects of their lives at the point of believing in Jesus. They think they will suddenly forget how to steal, cheat, smoke, lie, hate, etc. They get disappointed when they still feel the urge to do those things they did in their ‘old life.’
It is important for us to know that transformation is not always automatic. Sometimes, it gradually happens as we begin to renew/feed our minds with more of God’s word. We must allow the word of God to dwell in our hearts richly through personal study of the word and fellowship with other believers. We also must open our hearts to the leadership and instructions of the Holy Spirit as He alone helps us live as we should as followers of Christ.
PRAYER. Lord, thank you for Your word that transforms me into Your likeness. I stay with Your word and I express Your glory. Amen.
KEEP YOURSELF PURE
2 TIM. 2:20-22, 2 COR. 6:14-17
If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work. 2 Timothy 2:21
Sanctification means to set apart for holy use or purpose, to consecrate, to make free, and to cleanse from moral corruption and depravity. Purity is one of the conditions that sets us apart for the Master’s use. Keep yourself pure from anything that contaminates the body and soul. God doesn’t use filthy vessels. Every vessel to be used must be kept pure and holy. The will of God for us His children is that we are sanctified, therefore, we must continue daily in total sanctification unto the Lord (1 Thessalonians 4:3).
To remain pure, we must run away from anything –books, social media posts, songs, pictures, videos, gatherings, thoughts, and people– that stimulate lust in us and rather pursue righteousness, faithfulness, love, and peace. Also, being in and enjoying fellowship with other believers and with God through constant study and meditating on the word of God. The word of God sanctifies our lives, exposes our wrongs, and helps us see the need to make amends where necessary. Prayer and watching also help to keep us pure. Are you still indulging in things that contaminate you?
PRAYER: Lord, help me to be a sanctuary that is pure, holy, tried, and true. Amen.
NAVIGATING THE STORMS OF LIFE
1PETER 4:12-14, 5:10
Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you. 1 Peter 4:12
It has not been rosy for man ever since the fall from the original God-given position in Eden. Life presents various upheavals that try your faith in God, seek to weaken you spiritually and distract you from the heavenly focus. Jesus Christ was tested in every way while in His earthly ministry. The believer should expect tests and trials too. You’re sure to come up against different storms of life. Such storms can either be natural causes, self imposed or both. Some storms may arise as a result of ignorance or negligence whereas others may arise as a consequence of your unwillingness to yield to the Holy Spirit’s instructions. You must rightfully discern the source of your storm so you can plead your case before God in the right manner. Some of these storms are not consequences of our sins but that God be glorified in us.
Dearly beloved, never assume that being in Christ absolves you from trials. Behind every trial is a promotion for the person who overcomes it. Today, reflect on your life and prayerfully discern the kind of storm you are facing. Through it all, know that God is for you and He will see you through in victory. He will strengthen and settle you.
PRAYER: Pray and ask the Lord to guide and guard you through every storm.
GOD IS TRAINING YOU
HEBREWS 12:5-11
If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? Hebrews 12:7
The problems and trials we face in life can be draining. Sometimes, we are tempted to question God’s care and love towards us. In times like these, we are to trust the love of our sovereign and omniscient God. The Hebrew word for test comes from a word that means “to take a keen look at, to look, to choose.” This will help to dismiss the notion that God does not see our struggle. God sees the needs of tomorrow and, accordingly, uses our circumstances to create the test of today. The Message paraphrase of our memory verse paints a clearer picture; “God is educating you; that’s why you must never drop out. He’s treating you as dear children. This trouble you’re in isn’t punishment; it’s training.”
You have to trust His training. He is the potter and you are the clay. He is the shepherd; you are the sheep. He is the gardener and you are the branch. All tests are temporary. They have a duration. Keep in mind that you can’t shorten your testing period, but you can prolong it by being insensitive and stubborn. When you resist God’s training and fail to grasp what He is teaching you, you run the risk of going out of His purpose. There is a reward when we stay the course of God’s training, “Afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it,” Take time to reflect and examine your life to see if there are areas have resisted God’s training and sought for shortcuts.
PRAYER: Pray that the Lord helps you to stay the course of His training so you will reap the peaceable fruit of righteousness in your life.
BLESSED HUNGER
PSALM 63:1-6
Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Matthew 5:6
Have you ever been thirsty– I mean really thirsty? When you are very thirsty your whole focus is on finding water to quench your thirst. To hunger and thirst after righteousness means wanting to live according to God’s will. It is refusing to do what is not pleasing to God even when it is offered on a platter of gold. Daniel had a hunger for righteousness and that was why he determined not to defile himself. He never allowed the fact that he was in a strange land to deter him. How about you, how do you live your life when others are not watching?
David said, “As the deer pants for the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God…” (Psalm 42:1-2). Does your s o u l l o n g a f t e r G o d a n d H i s righteousness or do you want to live the way you like? Only those who hunger and thirst after righteousness would be filled (satisfied). You must desire it above everything else. Your yearning for God must supersede all other desires (Revelations 21:6). When you seek first God’s kingdom and His righteousness, He will take care of your other needs.
PRAYER: Lord, please keep me in perpetual thirst and hunger for You. Amen.
English 
French