The reward of obedience week 39, 2011

I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed Gen 12:3(ESV). “My reward shall be plenty, never mind these people who do not know God!” That’s what I used to say. In fact I often compared myself with others in terms of what I have and would feel, “Yes, I deserve this. I have obeyed God more than they have, so I deserve more than they.” So if I do not get material things I feel I have not been rewarded, or if I get what every other person gets I feel unrewarded too. Remember the labourers in the vineyard? When the first came, they thought they would receive more, but each received a denarius as well. When they received it, they began to complain to the landowner Mat 20:10-11(ISV).You think the blessing is only for you and your family? Not at all. The blessing promised Abraham is that he becomes a focal point to bless others, not that he monopolises the blessings.
Indeed the truly blessed man is he through whom all people get blessed. Consider what Laban said to Jacob: "Listen to me. I've learned from the signs I've seen that the LORD has blessed me because of you." Gen 30:27 (GW). Did not Potiphar get blessed because of Joseph? And from the time when he made him overseer and gave him control of all his property, the blessing of the Lord was with the Egyptian, because of Joseph; the blessing of the Lord was on all he had, in the house and in the field Gen 39:5 (BBE). What’s been happening since you have been in charge?
When you look at the reward of Jesus’ obedience it went beyond Him. While it is true He was humble and walked the path of obedience all the way to death--- his death on the cross. For this reason God raised him to the highest place above and gave him the name that is greater than any other name Php 2:8-9(GNB); yet recall Adam disobeyed God and caused many others to be sinners. But Jesus obeyed him and will make many people acceptable to God Rom 5:19(CEV). The blessing of obedience makes you a giver, an exporter of the same. You become a contact point and cannot hoard it. Jesus himself said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'" Act 20:35(ISV).
So how much are people around you being blessed? How about your home? How much profit has your work place since you came? How many souls have come to salvation through your obedience? Or will your own blessing be different? Yet that’s not the fullness of Abraham’s blessing.

Sowing in tears (2) Week 38, 2011

“Why are you crying?” I just sent off my beloved to the NYSC, that battle ground, and the parting hurts. “You should not cry. Are you not convinced it is God’s will?” Leave me, let me express my emotions. You do not understand. “Yes I don’t. When you obey God it should be with all your heart. He did what the LORD considered right, but he did not do it wholeheartedly 2Ch 25:2(GW).” Why have you decided that I do not have a perfect heart? Because of my tears? “Yes of course obedience that is real, that pleases God is a delight, a joy. Then I said, "Behold, I have come; in the scroll of the book it is written of me: I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart." Psa 40:7, 8(ESV). We were taught obedience that is acceptable is knowing the will of God and then doing it with the heart with joy. If you know it is the wish of God you should be rejoicing not mourning, singing and not weeping.”
I agree true obedience is with joy, but tears do not necessarily mean reluctance to obey God. You know, sometimes obedience comes first and joy comes in the morning. Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy! He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him Psa 126:5, 6(ESV). Our emotions being expressed do not necessarily mean we are less than wholehearted in our obedience. “I don’t understand.” Do you remember when your daughter was to marry, how you felt? “Oh, I still feel it.” Were you smiling then? “No, I cried.” You see! Yet I know we had prayed for her marriage and would you say you did not give her away with your heart? “Hmm!” So why did you cry then? “Just the thought of my baby now going away; it hit me hard but you know I never let anyone see me cry. You just happened to be around; why are you reminding me?” I am coming yet.
Did Jesus fully obey the Father? “Yes he was the pattern of wholehearted obedience.” Correct yet have you read: In the days of his flesh, he offered up prayers and appeals with loud cries and tears to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his devotion to God. Son though he was, he learned obedience through his sufferings Heb 5:7, 8(ISV). Obedience is deliberate submission, even with tears.
“So Jesus did not always obey with joy?” He did, beloved, he did. The presence of tears is not the absence of joy. It is joy, not happiness. I have joy in my heart my beloved has reached the stage of NYSC, but pain in parting company.

Sowing in tears? (1) Week37, 2011

“I wish sometimes I did not know what God’s will is. It’s very painful at times; I wish I were hypnotised not to fall into temptations or disobey God.” Well for one thing ignorance of God’s wish will not protect you from judgement. But servants who don't know what their master wants them to do will not be beaten so hard for doing wrong Lk 12: 48(CEV). It is God’s design that we know His will for our lives and scripture explicitly instructs us to find out what is pleasing to Him. “Well I wish then to be led to obey without knowing it was God’s will.” What? Don’t you know that is the portion of those outside the kingdom? “Is that so?” The soldiers ignorantly fulfilled the scripture but Jesus knowingly did things to fulfil scripture Jn 19:24-28. Genuine obedience implies knowing God’s will and doing it with joy: I delight to do your will, O my God Ps 40:8.
Why are you so depressed? “I was at a meeting yesterday, the preacher said he wanted to bless us and asked us to bring all the money we had for prayers. After praying he now asked us to keep up our hands until the ushers came, and that we drop the whole money inside the bag so that we be truly blessed.” So why are you upset? I give all sometimes, and am at peace doing so. The person who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the person who sows generously will also reap generously 2Co 9:6(ISV). “Ah! My electricity bill was there as well as the money to pay my child’s school fees. I just struggled with myself wanting to run out but dropped in the money. But you know, I really wish I did not give like that and feel used. O my God! Who is going to pay my electricity bills and child’s school fees?” Clearly you have not given by faith, for if you had you would be at peace. And the effect of righteousness will be peace, and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust forever Isa 32:17(ESV).
“I met the usher but he laughed and said I was sowing in tears and would reap in joy.” Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy! He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him Ps 126:5, 6(ESV). Well you did sow in tears and he’s gone off with glee! “Is that obedience, it resembles extortion.” God never intended for us to give with murmuring and a feeling of being ripped off.Then you will have the chance to give because you want to, and not because you feel forced to 2Co 9:5(CEV).
“So have I lost out?” It was God you gave to, He will definitely take care of your needs, but know that you must give what you have decided in your heart, not with regret or under compulsion, since God loves a cheerful giver 2Co 9:7(ISV). Give generously with joy always. You can do better next time.

Let it rain! Week 36, 2011

It was a hot evening in March, and became even hotter as flames arose from within a building close to mine. An electrical fault had resulted in a fire which threatened to consume the building and others around.
You see I live in a crowded place; a shanty of several wooden structures with zinc roofs clustered together so close you could hear conversations in adjacent buildings. There was little space between buildings, and ventilation was sparse, but it was home. It was the home we had been in for a while with our life belongings. My husband worked as a security man and sexton while I made a living selling “okpa” for people to eat. Life insurance and fire insurance were definitely not in our dictionary. As for me, I am poor and needy, but the Lord takes thought for me. You are my help and my deliverer; do not delay, O my God! Psa 40:17(ESV).
The fire had now spread to the building next to ours, and the occupants were frantically removing property and attempting vainly to douse the flames with detergent water. Clearly it was time to evacuate! What can I take? What should I go for first? Where are the children? We quickly began taking some things out of the house; our neighbour was not spared, it appeared the house would be engulfed: the flames were already pouring into our building! When you cross deep rivers, I will be with you, and you won't drown. When you walk through fire, you won't be burned or scorched by the flames Isa 43:2 (CEV).
“Won’t you help move out the property?” my husband asked. I had stopped moving things about. What use was it? I paced around and prayed “God, you can’t allow this to happen to us. No God you just cannot. Today I shall know if I serve a living God! God I have to see your hand in this matter.” He rescues the poor who call to him, and those who are needy and neglected Psa 72:12 (GNB).
Suddenly the rain began, slowly at first. Could it be? It was too early for rains, was it a drizzle? It picked up strength and poured, boy it poured water down! My God had heard! This was His answer. When he utters his voice, there is a tumult of waters in the heavens, and he makes the mist rise from the ends of the earth. He makes lightning for the rain, and he brings forth the wind from his storehouses Jer 10:13(ESV). The fire was completely put out by the rain. We were saved.
Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together! I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him and saved him out of all his troubles Psa 34:3, 4, 6(ESV).
Sr Florence still lives in the shanty in New Haven.