Payday guaranteed Week 4, 2015

Do you realise there are laws that govern life and living? They are set by God who says “I am watching to see that my words come true”. Jer 1:12(GNB). It is knowing and clinging to these words that give confidence to wholeheartedly do right without tricks, deceit or discouragement. Have you considered Eph 6:8(ISV) ?  You know that everyone will receive a reward from the Lord for whatever good he has done, whether he is a slave or free.  Many are frustrated because a human being fails to give them their due, and so they stop the good work. How sad. There is a risk in stopping: Let's not get tired of doing what is good, for at the right time we will reap a harvest—if we do not give up Gal 6:9(ISV). Stop looking at any man for recognition and reward: look to the LORD. Of course the bible is against slavery: Were you a slave when God called you? Well, never mind; but if you have a chance to become free, use it. God bought you for a price; so do not become slaves of people 1Cor 7:21, 23(GNB).  But never let your boss’s greed, or the government’s insincerity (or your spouse’s unfaithfulness) make you loose sight of this so that you stop or reduce doing good. God, not man, guarantees to personally reward any and every good thing you do irrespective of your social status; irrespective of the prevailing laws in the country, and the obedience to such by her officials. It doesn’t matter what a man thinks or does, GOD must see to your reward! Has someone stolen your ideas? Is any taking credit for your initiative? Let the service not be stopped.

Hear the counsel of the wise: If today you are a servant, you will serve this people by answering them and speaking kindly to them. Then they will serve you forever.1Kgs 12:7(ISV).  Are you in your coronation ceremony? To be crowned in the home or workplace? Voluntarily serve the people and make burdens lighter. Your service will be but a day and you will be served forever. Is this not what Jesus did? Was Joseph not brought low? He was sold into slavery wrongfully yet he served his master faithfully. Are conditions seemingly worsening for you faithful servant? After these he was thrown into prison but the prison warden entrusted into Joseph's care all the prisoners who were confined in prison. Whatever they did, Joseph was in charge of the work detail Gen 39:22(ISV). A glimmer of hope came when the cup bearer was set free, but he forgot him for 2 years. Have men you aided forgotten you? Do not curse them. Even the cup bearer forgetting Joseph didn’t result in his abandoning God. In the day of his manifestation to Pharaoh he makes himself of no reputation and exalts Yahweh God before idol worshipers. "Your Majesty," Joseph answered, "I can't do it myself, but God can give a good meaning to your dreams." Gen 41:16(CEV).  Not surprisingly God elevated him to the highest position of authority. The king told Joseph, "Although I'm king, no one in Egypt is to do anything without your permission." Gen 41:44(CEV). Release yourself to unconditionally and unrelentingly doing good. Your payday is guaranteed by God.

Cheated but not harmed Week 3, 2015

“I will never allow a man to cheat me. I will be seen as weak, and exploited to no end. Even Christians are unbrotherly when it comes to business sometimes.”

How then can you fully obey God? If you can’t ever be cheated then you can’t walk as Christ. If anyone hits you on one cheek, let him hit the other one too; if someone takes your coat, let him have your shirt as well Lk 6:29 (CEV).  What belongs to you will come to you as you serve the Lord. And it doesn’t really depend on people’s disposition towards you but on the hand of God upon you. When God has put you under the authority, under the employment of a cheat or deceiver, do not use the injustice and bad treatment as an excuse. Serve with all your heart.

 “Poor you! Doesn’t scripture warn against suffering needlessly by being simple minded?” Stay away from them, because such people are not serving … our Lord, but their own desires. By their smooth talk and flattering words they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting Rom 16:17-18 (ISV).

I am not referring to naive, foolish reasoning. God expects us to avoid that. I mean keeping integrity in a business or employment despite trickery on the part of others. When you do so you may be cheated but I assure you no harm will come to you.

“What scripture is there to prove this?”

Good. Consider Jacob and Laban. His father had commanded him to go there, and God made a covenant of blessing with him (Gen 28:1-4; 13-15).  Yet see how Laban treated him:" I never once ate any of the rams from your flock, and whatever was torn by beasts, I never bothered to bring to you. Instead, I bore the losses myself. Even so, you demanded that I provide restitution for anything that was stolen, whether during the day or the night. As it was, I was attacked by drought during the day and by cold at night. I never got any decent rest.”  Gen 31:38(ISV). Hear his testimony before his wives after 20 years of service: You know I've been serving your father with all my heart. Even so, your father has cheated me. He broke our wage agreement ten times. However, God didn't allow him to harm me Gen 31:6-7(ISV). Jacob served for 14years and got no sheep. he was serving with his heart and Laban cheated him; and yet God had promised to be with him all through his stay there. Serve with all your heart. You may be cheated; not harmed.

“I wonder why he didn’t leave the man and kept staying under those conditions.”

 well in 6 years God transferred the wealth of Laban to him. Fear not when you are among wolves and deceivers; never allow your eyes or hand to learn tricks. What of Isaac and the Philistines? They hated him, closed up his father’s wells, drove him away, and took over his own wells. "Why have you come to see me," Isaac asked them, "since you hate me so much that you sent me away from you?" Gen 26:27(ISV). Yet they couldn’t harm him. He waxed great, so great he was too powerful for a whole nation of philistines. Now I know Christians who never got their money back. That may be true. we have lost homes and been displaced; but we won't be cheated. God has something far more precious to give: you gladly let your possessions be taken away, because you knew you had something better, something that would last forever Heb 10:34.

Do not be afraid (take off your shoes)

One of the causes of hesitation on the part of those who contemplate total obedience to God is the niggling fear of what God would ask them to do. What sacrifices they would be required to make, what deprivations to smile at... Take off your shoes.

“Take off your shoes?” Yes. Do just that. Shoes are worn specifically to protect the feet, and thereby the wearer. We don’t always see the floor as we are moving, and who knows what harm waits on the ground as we move? So we wear shoes. That’s smart and recommended; that is unless you are on holy ground. God said, "Do not come any closer. Take off your sandals, because you are standing on holy ground.” Ex 3:5(GNB). Moses had been moving with the flock and crossed the desert, and now came to a mountain. He needed the protection in the desert and mountains and anywhere else. But in the presence of God he didn’t need to protect himself. In fact you are required to remove you self protecting tendency when you come to the presence of God. He is our protection. If you are dealing with men, even with a lover, bosom friend, or close relation you know what is in man and retain a measure of caution, some discretion. After all Jesus did not trust himself unto them, for that he knew all men, and because he needed not that any one should bear witness concerning man; for he himself knew what was in man Jn 2:24-25(ASV). Not with God. You can trust Him. In fact retaining such reasoning, such “protective mindset” will keep you at the edge of holy ground.

Do not come any closer… Have you tried to move closer to God and discovered there is a block, a hindrance? For a moment look up at God and listen. Maybe then you will reach down to your feet and take off the sandals you put on to protect yourself from harm. How can you be harmed on holy ground? Are you listening?

Joshua was by Jericho, on enemy territory in the time of war. Clearly it was a new day for the Israelites. Who wouldn’t want protection for his feet at such places? Having been shown the captain of the Lord’s hosts he worships and asks "I am your servant. Does my master have a command for me?" Jos 5:14(GNB) Are you also worshiping Jesus and saying to Him “Lord what would you have me do”? The first thing is not “Circle Jericho seven times...” No. The commander of the LORD'S army answered, "Take off your sandals. The place where you are standing is holy." So Joshua obeyed him Jos 5:15(GNB). You may say Moses hadn’t realised he was before God when the instruction was given. And that it moved him to worship. Joshua already knew and already worshiped. Why then was that the first thing, the instruction given to him? Was it simply to let him know God had called him like Moses? God did that way back before the Jordan River was crossed. There’s more. Like him obey. Don’t try to protect yourself before God.

Release yourself to God My child. He loves you more than you know or understand. Walk with Him and be blameless without fear. He holds you as the apple of the eye. No one can please God without faith, for whoever comes to God must have faith that God exists and rewards those who seek him Heb 11:6.

Only by grace Week 1, 2015

I had always wanted to study medicine and surgery but wasn’t exactly sure if it was God’s will for me. When I wrote the first JAMB exam and didn’t gain admission to study medicine I cried. I began to wonder all the more if I was in God’s will. I prayed and worked hard the next year, with encouragements from friends and family. My score was better. Before I filled in again for medicine I had a feeling it was Physiotherapy God wanted but I waved it off. I was finally admitted that year to study combined Botany and Biochemistry. I started off knowing in my heart I was not to continue with that course. I still applied again for a third time to do medicine whilst in school; and though I did well in JAMB my post UME scores were not released! Was it a sign from God I was pursuing the wrong course? He guards the steps of his faithful ones, while the wicked are made silent in darkness. Indeed it's not by strength that a person prevails1Sam 2:9(ISV). After much prayer I decided God was not leading me into medicine but Medical Rehabilitation so I applied for a change to Medical Rehabilitation. To gain a transfer my grade point (GP) had to equal or exceed 2^nd class upper. God delivered me from failures and I met that target. I applied for the change in September 2014 and expected, as told by the university, to know my fate before the next session started. But the transfer was delayed. In that period I was advised to focus on the current course whilst anticipating the change. I tried, but had no peace daily. I lifted it up to God, was encouraged by others, and had an assurance I would get it. The LORD gives perfect peace to those whose faith is firm Is 26:3(CEV). 

When school work began fully I started asking questions. Each person told me the transfer was in progress, I should wait.  When my faculty officer said our files had been moved to our new department I eagerly went there only to be told nothing had been sent. I was confused. The secretary in the new department gave me favour. I was asked to write a personal letter of application and attach my results. As I didn’t have the results with me a lecturer encouraged me to write first and later attach the results. Being a combined degree student I had no specific department and went to the major department with the request for results’ compilation, and also sought my exams officer. It took 2 weeks of search to meet him, and he directed me to the associate dean advising me that students do not handle results. As I entered the office God granted me favour. He assured me and gave proof my file had been sent to the new department. This was close to the first half of the first semester. I then went over to the new department and was told if I wanted to be accepted I should pay N350, 000 into a specified account. All students transferring there were to pay the money. I was dumbfounded and went home with the account number. My father asked me not to go to the department any more. He said the Dean the faculty had assured everything would be sorted out. At that point I knew my only duty was to pray. I also asked friends to join me in prayer. Two days later my mother called me to say I had been accepted at no cost. The head of department had decided to waive the transfer costs for me and informed the dean who contacted my parents.