Can obedience be imperfect? Week 9, 2016

What are we saying? You will quickly remember the contention between Saul and Samuel. Saul said to him, "Blessed be you to the LORD. I have performed the commandment of the LORD." And Samuel said, "What then is this bleating of the sheep in my ears and the lowing of the oxen that I hear?" 1Sam 15:13-14(ESV).  As far as God was concerned, Saul was yet to obey His commands despite his confident claim before Samuel. "I regret that I have made Saul king, for he has not performed my commandments." 1Sam 15:11(ESV).  There is a need for us to obey completely, not in part; a need to follow through the spirit of God’s word to the full extent of His intention: being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete. 2Cor 10:6(ESV). Ask now for a lifestyle of complete obedience.

I believe a number of people suffer from the effects of incomplete obedience. When was the water at the marriage of cana turned into wine? After complete obedience. Jesus told the servants, "Fill the jars with water." So they filled them up to the brim Jn 2:7(ISV). To the brim, not partway, to the brim. They then stood by waiting for His next instruction and lo! The water turned into wine which was carried to the governor of the feast.

A man ran up to Jesus demanding to know what good thing he would do to gain eternal life. Among other commands Jesus reminded him was: honor your father and mother,' and 'you must love your neighbor as yourself.' Mat 19:19(ISV). Listen to his reply; it says to me there was a niggling un fulfillment in him. The young man told him, "I have kept all of these. What do I still lack?" Mat 19:20(ISV). I do not doubt this man’s sincerity. This was his perception of his service to God from boyhood. Jesus told him"If you want to be perfect, go and sell all you have and give the money to the poor, and you will have riches in heaven; then come and follow me." Mat 19:21(GNB). It becomes clear loving your neighbor as yourself had a deeper meaning than he was willing to practice. When the young man heard this, he went away sad Mat 19:22(GNB).  He had been obeying, albeit imperfectly. Is my obedience like that? Imperfect? I fear so. In so many ways and things claiming before men and sometimes before Him regular unbroken obedience when o, at best I am imperfect! Have considered Amaziah? 2Chron 25:2(ISV)  He practiced what the LORD considered to be right, but not with a perfect heart. See how Good News Bible puts it: He did what was pleasing to the LORD, but did it reluctantly. Ask God for a willing enthusiastic spirit.

But who is perfect? None. Yet we may serve Him with a perfect heart: I beseech thee, O LORD, remember now how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight 2Kg 20:3(KJV).

Restored and elevated Week 8, 2016

It had been discovered some staff in the bank were involved in unethical practice resulting in losses. I was not involved in the wrong doing, but I got sucked into the consequences. Following the investigations the bank applied disciplinary measures on a number of us. I was placed on suspension without pay. How was I going to cope? It was not long I had had my fourth child and things were very tough for me. My husband was a business man frequently out of the country. I was very unhappy about the matter but it was in that situation I came closer to the Lord. A sister advised me to speak the truth on the matter and have my peace. When I did not confess my sins, I was worn out from crying all day long. Day and night you punished me, LORD; my strength was completely drained, as moisture is dried up by the summer heat. Then I confessed my sins to you; I did not conceal my wrongdoings. I decided to confess them to you, and you forgave all my sins Ps 32:3-5(GNB). It is true I didn’t do it but I was aware of what had been going on around and did nothing and failed to report it, so I was guilty in that way. Have nothing to do with the worthless things that people do, things that belong to the darkness. Instead, bring them out to the light Eph 5:11(GNB).

I had by now joined the fellowship that meets on Mondays at the Adimorah’s place and my life in the Lord began to grow. A brother there one day told me God had heard my prayers. He said that God uses one hand to chastise His children and the other to draw them closer and predicted I would not only be restored but promoted. He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever. He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities Ps 103:9-10(KJV).

I was four months under the suspension without pay and in the period evaluations and promotions had been concluded. I was happy to have been restored though. However within 2 weeks of return to work some pay raise was given to the workers and backdated. This meant that I was able to get some money for that period. I was deeply grateful; but God was not through with me yet. In another 2 weeks (a month since my restoration) I was suddenly promoted. There was no interview, I am unaware of any evaluation done to that effect, and had not been promoted before since joining the bank!

To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified Is 61:2-3(KJV).

Finding my true love week 7, 2016

“So far the examples you have given are restricted to men. Does this principle work only for men? And whilst you are thinking of the answer; not every one of us is designed to be a prime minister or governor or king.”

I laugh. If the principle doesn’t work for females then it can’t be right. We do have several examples of women whose obedience resulted in blessings. Do you recall Zipporah?

“The wife of Moses who was reluctant to circumcise their son? What about her?”

When she was yet in her father’s house was she not sent by her father to water and care for the flocks? Meanwhile, the seven daughters of a certain Midianite priest would come to draw water in order to fill water troughs for their father's sheep. Some shepherds came to drive them away Ex 2:16-17(ISV).  She and her sisters would obey though harassed repeatedly

“Hold on a second. How do you know the harassment was repeated? Don’t forge.”

Did you notice their father’s question? When they returned to their father Reuel, he asked, "Why have you returned so quickly today?" Ex 2:18 (ISV)  They had adjusted to the harassment when they would come to draw water and continued in obedience for an undefined time with nothing happening to them seemingly as a reward. She again obeyed when they were asked to call Moses to their home. I say this so you do not easily give up when obedience results in repeated harassment. It takes a while.

“So what opportunity did it give her?”

Ah ah! Was she not designed by God to be the wife of Moses? Her habit of obedience despite harassment finally gave opportunity to meet her husband. Is that not the same thing that happened with Rebecca? At the time to fetch water she was doing the natural thing of obeying to fetch water. The young women of the city will soon come to this well for water Gen 24:13(CEV) 

“But that was not the sign. I'll ask one of them for a drink. If she gives me a drink and then offers to get some water for my camels, I'll know she is the one you have chosen Gen 24:14(GW).  That’s it.”

I know, but don’t you see it was her obedience to get water in the first place that gave opportunity for her to meet Abraham’s servant?  

“Are you telling us that on Valentine’s Day for any special reason?”

Oh I see; today is the so called lovers’ day. These women found their true love alright, but it was following repeated obedience to authority and not in disobedience by going where they should not. There they get deceived and defiled. Remember that famous love relationship between Jacob and Rachel? Did it not start when Rachel obeyed her own father to go care for the sheep? While Jacob was still talking with them, Rachel arrived with the flock Gen 29:9(GNB).

“What of the other sisters? No Moses to marry them when they equally obeyed.”

Yes. Obedience cannot be traded as money in the market for what results you desire.The opportunity it opens is decided by God.

Blessed through discipline Week 6, 2016

My course in the university was not what I practice for a living now. In fact when I started out in University of Nigeria little did I know how things would turn out. But what I am today I owe to God first, and then to good family values. I had a very disciplined father and he brought us up strictly. He was a non stipendiary church teacher in the Anglican Church for a while before travelling to further his education. He would give me money in the university and expect me to retire the money before getting another. It was not a verbal retirement he demanded but a written one. I am ashamed to say that I would lie just to balance the accounts and get more money from him. You see I was not converted as at then.

In the course of time I came in contact with such brethren as Ven Sam, Iyke and Harold and gave my life to Jesus. I knew I could no longer continue the lies. Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds Eph 4:17(ESV). I tried to balance my accounts but could not. I tended to spend without having thought it through and could not recount later everything I had purchased. I owned up to my dad what I had been doing and when he still insisted on not giving me money without a proper accounting I fell out with him. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it Heb 12:11(ESV). For a while I was on my own. Having skills of keyboard playing and driving I was using them as a student to make money. In those days there was not this Anglican revival there is today; I found nourishment in Pentecostal settings. Indeed I made a lot of money and felt myself comfortable for two years I didn’t go back to my father. In the course of time a void came up in my life that could only be filled by his presence so I went back to him.

He seemed to have been waiting for me and took me in. but he said we had to go back to the discipline of balancing account books. He taught me that it is not proper to spend money impulsively; one should think things through before spending. I learned the skills and became very competent in balancing accounts, making budgets and pursuing set goals and targets. Indeed I became employed in the banking industry. I analyze risk and balance books as though I were a chartered accountant which my dad was. In fact in this competitive industry I am a regional manager. When I wanted to get married I faced a lot of opposition from my uncles and relations. My father stepped in and declared that I have his total support for the marriage and was going to give me his blessings because I had learnt total obedience and accountability. That’s how we got married and today are blessed with both male and female children. I live each day being accountable as my dad taught me and it has really profited me. My dad passed on to be with the Lord 3 years ago and his home going was glorious. "Honor your father and mother that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land." Eph 6:2-3(ESV)