The presence of God was made manifest at the Reckless Worship Experience Calabar.

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Tax collectors and other notorious sinners often came to listen to Jesus teach. This made the Pharisees and teachers of religious law complain that he was associating with such sinful people—even eating with them! So, Jesus told them this story: “If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others in the wilderness and go to search for the one that is lost until he finds it? And when he has found it, he will joyfully carry it home on his shoulders. When he arrives, he will call together his friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.’ In the same way, there is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven’t strayed away!
Luke 15:1‭-‬7 NLT.

I do not know if you have lost something valuable to you. Maybe you misplaced your car key or misplaced your money or cellphone. Worse still, maybe while you are distracted, your little child strayed away from you. You turned around, and the child was not immediately seen. Imagine your sudden distress and panic. Nothing else matters at that moment. All your energy and focus are geared toward finding the lost item or precious child.
Even much more valuable and priceless is every human being in the sight of God.
We have all gone astray from the Heavenly Father. We are lost forever without a Savior, in the person of Jesus Christ !!!

The Pharisees, ignorant of this fact, berated Jesus for associating with sinners. They failed to realize that He came to seek and save the lost. It didn’t occur to them that it is wrong to isolate those they think are not good enough to receive the mercy of God.
Pride made them believe that they are holier than everyone. And that it’s only them that should have access to God.

Thankfully, through the parable of the lost sheep, Jesus delivered a classic message.
He explained the extent God is willing to go, to recover any of His children that strays.
For It’s not the will of God that anyone should perish, but that all should repent and be saved
And as Children of God, we are the vessel the Lord will use to organize a rescue mission for those who have gone astray.
He saved and commissioned us to join His business of reconciling sinners to Himself:

And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us the task of reconciling people to him. For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. So, we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!”
2 Corinthians 5:18‭-‬20 NLT.

So, there is no room to segregate and wall off the people we are called to minister to. God has not sent us to judge and condemn anybody:
Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn others, or it will all come back against you…
Luke 6:37 NLT.

Recall that the main scriptural text we are reviewing, states that there is a great celebration in heaven over a soul that repents.
This should convey a very strong message to us about the great importance God attaches to a soul. He even values a soul more than the wealth of the whole world:

And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?
Matthew 16:26 NLT.

Therefore, let us rely on the Lord to help us put aside any form of prejudice and allow the Holy Spirit to use us to reach out not just to unbelievers, but to our fellow believers who stumble. For we ought to gently and, with all humility, win back a brother that strays. And be careful not to judge and condemn them. Knowing we too can also be tempted:

Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself.
Galatians 6:1 NLT.

Undoubtedly, we cannot be able to do all of this by our strength. Therefore, I urge us to go to the Lord in prayers to guide us.

Dear Lord, we thank You for Your mercy and love for us. You are willing to leave ninety-nine to look for us, no matter how far we have strayed. We are so grateful for that. Cause us to have the same heart and be eager to reach out to all manner of people with your gospel.
Help us not to result to gossip if a brother falls into temptation. And also, empower us to gently in all humility nudge them back on the path of righteousness.
Thank you, Lord, for answering us in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Pst. Mike

When Jesus noticed that all who had come to the dinner trying to sit in the seats of honor near the head of the table, he gave them this advice: “When you are invited to a wedding feast, don’t sit in the seat of honor. What if someone who is more distinguished than you has also been invited? The host will come and say, ‘Give this person your seat.’ Then you will be embarrassed, and you will have to take whatever seat is left at the foot of the table! “Instead, take the lowest place at the foot of the table. Then, when your host sees you, he will come and say, ‘Friend, we have a better place for you!’ Then you will be honored in front of all the other guests. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
Luke 14:7‭-‬11 NLT.

Another classic teaching from the Lord Jesus Christ. He always dishes out eternal words of wisdom that make the simple wise. And transform a person from being ordinary into an extraordinary human being.

This time, He used His observation at a feast to teach us a great lesson on humility. He noticed that the guests were all struggling to seat in the place of honor. They all wanted to be recognized. Exalting themselves above others. Obviously, displaying flawed human nature.

Usually, human nature loves to be exalted. Pride of life surely intoxicates. It manifests as a strong desire to be noticed and worshiped. Resulting in a superiority complex.

Humility is the antidote to pride. And we truly need to learn and imbibe its tenants. This will help deliver us from pride and rescue us from its destructive effects.

There is so much to learn from the scriptures about humility. It encourages us to humble ourselves and eschew pride. Humility is the nature of God while pride, it’s of the Devil. And as Children of God, we ought to exhibit the nature of our Father.

Even, our Lord Jesus humbled himself unto death. He left us a great example to follow. And it’s expected of us to inculcate it in our lives. For it’s the will of God for us.

God loves and supports the humble. He gives grace to all that submit themselves to Him. He empowers us to be able to resist and overcome the temptations satan brings our way through pride:
And he gives grace generously. As the Scriptures say, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.
James 4:6‭-‬7‭, ‬10 NLT.

Humility is a great virtue. It pleases the Lord. It makes Him go all out to help the humble and exalt them in due time.
Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.
1 Peter 5:6 NIV.

God doesn’t want us to be arrogant. The Bible teaches us to esteem others above ourselves. There is no room for competition and schism. We all are to honor and compliment each other:
Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your interests, but take an interest in others, too.
Philippians 2:3‭-‬4 NLT.

Humility creates the atmosphere for us to thrive and learn.
It’s easier to learn valuable lessons from other people if we stay humble. So, we can deny ourselves the opportunity to benefit from each other if we refuse to submit to the Lord and each other:
And further, submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Ephesians 5:21 NLT.

Now, we are not talking about false humility, pretentiousness, or eyes-service crafted to deceive the unsuspecting. Humility is not an act we put on. It is not a show. You don’t do it to be seen and commended. It is real and should be part of our lives as children of God.

It’s also a form of pride to practice false humility. And pride is so terrible that God Himself resists the proud. It shows we don’t have regard for Him nor are interested in seeking Him. And that we completely rely on ourselves for sustenance.
God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.
James 4:6 NIV.

False humility may work for a while, but it will not stand the test of time. It will surely be exposed for what it is. There are so many benefits to being truly humble. It opens doors for us to experience the blessings of the Lord in all spheres of our lives:
True humility and fear of the Lord lead to riches, honor, and long life.
Proverbs 22:4 NLT.

There is a lot to say about humility and the lack of it, which is pride. And from all indications, it doesn’t pay to be proud. We have so much to lose for not being humble. The consequences are too grave. One can’t afford to take chances on it.

So, I encourage us to embrace Jesus’ admonition of humility. And allow it to be our guiding principle in life. We have all to gain by humbling ourselves. It creates room for the Lord to lift us up and establish the works of our hands. It even makes us relate better with people. And opens endless opportunities to partner with people around us for greater success.

Considering that it’s not easy for human nature to stay humble, we should go to the Lord in prayer to receive strength.

Dear Lord, thank you for teaching us the importance of being humble. I repent of pride and ask for forgiveness. Cause me to resist the urge to be proud. I receive the strength to stay humble. My life will always be guided by your teaching of humility. Going forward, I will start reaping the benefit that comes from humility. Thank you, Lord, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Pst. Mike

YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO GIVE
While Jesus was in the Temple, he watched the rich people dropping their gifts in the collection box. Then a poor widow came by and dropped in two small coins. “I tell you the truth,” Jesus said, “this poor widow has given more than all the rest of them. For they have given a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she has.”
Luke 21:1‭-‬4 NLT.

Jesus, the good teacher, always educates us with powerful illustrations. Every story He tells is filled with nuggets of wisdom.
Packed with profound life principles. With so much to learn from. We are privileged to be exposed to His teachings. Therefore, we must pay rapt attention to it.

Now, coming to the above scriptural story, Jesus singled out a widow to teach us great lessons about giving. This Woman stood out from the crowd. Her attitude towards giving distinguished her from others. At the Temple that day, her two coins were recognized above all the offerings the rest of the people gave.

By the grace of God, we will unpack some of the great principles projected in this impactful story:

1. We can easily deduce, from this story, that everyone has something to give. Even a widow who, based on her condition, would have had excuses, still managed to give.

2. To give is a mindset. It does not necessarily depend on how much you have.
If you can’t give when you think you have little, you may not be able to give even if you have much.
So, we can all give at our various levels.

3. God does not measure our offering according to its magnitude. He rather looks at the ratio of what we give in comparison to the level of His blessing in our life.

4. It is not like God depends on what we give. He is truly all-sufficient. But He expects us to take a percentage of what He gave us and give to Him in appreciation.

5. We have the responsibility to contribute to our local assembly. Nobody is exempted from playing a role in the house of God.

6. God will always provide for those who are willing to give. Once you make up your mind to offer unto the Lord, you will not lack what to give:
But Isaac spoke to Abraham, his father, and said, “My father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” Then he said, “Look, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” And Abraham said, “My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering.” So, the two of them went together.
Genesis 22:7‭-‬8 NKJV.

7. Giving is an act of obedience and worship to the Lord. We honor Him with our offering:
Honor the Lord with your possessions, And with the first fruits of all your increase;
Proverbs 3:9 NKJV.

8. There is a blessing attached to giving. So, if we don’t give, God will not recognize us and unlock that blessing:
Cornelius stared at him in terror. “What is it, sir?” he asked the angel. And the angel replied, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have been received by God as an offering!
Acts of the Apostles 10:4 NLT.

9. When we give, it shows we are not trusting ourselves and what we have for our sustenance. The widow gave all she had, trusting that God will keep sustaining her.

10. Those who give will be replenished. The Lord always makes the liberal soul fat:
The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.
Proverbs 11:25 KJVAAE.

As children of God, we should know that our Father is a giver. And we have inherited that attribute from Him. So, He expects us to emulate Him.
If we completely trust Him and understand that we can never go broke for giving, then it becomes easier for us to give.
The widow of Zarephath is a good example. Because she trusted and obeyed the word of God spoken by Prophet Elijah, she never ran out of food. The Lord sustained her and her son throughout the drought (1 Kings 17: 8-16).

We are not supposed to be Stingy.
Stinginess exposes our reliance on what we have and on our ability to provide for ourselves.
This is a symptom of a lack of faith. And a portrayal that we don’t trust the sufficiency of God in our life.

Even nature teaches us that giving is a necessity. Can you imagine always eating and never visiting the restroom? Or taking in oxygen without giving out carbon dioxide?
It will certainly lead to something catastrophic. So, let us learn from nature, and allow ourselves to live by its principle of giving.

We shouldn’t be like the Dead Sea, which only allows water to flow in but not out. This makes it difficult for sea life to thrive in it. And causes a horrible smell. But we should rather be like the Sea of Galilee, which allows the River Jordan to flow in and out, thereby keeping it fresh and healthy all the time.

As we ponder over all of this, let’s approach the throne of Grace to obtain the strength to overcome any form of stinginess we may have in our life.

Dear Lord, I thank You for using a Widow to expound the importance of giving. Help me to put to practice all I have learned. I obtain the strength to put aside stinginess of any kind and embrace giving. As your child, I shall continually manifest your liberal nature. Faithfully contributing to my Local Assembly and assisting people around me according to the level of your blessing in my life.
Thank You, Lord, for hearing me in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Pst. Mike

For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. And likewise, he who had received two gained two more also. But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his Lord’s money. After a long time, the Lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them. “So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’ His Lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your Lord.’ He also who had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.’ His Lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your Lord.’ “Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. And I was afraid and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’ “But his Lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. So, you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming, I would have received back my own with interest. Therefore, take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents. ‘For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
Matthew 25:14‭-‬30, NKJV.

The kingdom of God is business-oriented. The above passage of the Scripture makes it abundantly clear. God has made serious, heavy investments in man. And rightfully deserves a good return.

The parable of the Talents illustrates how our heavenly Father made provisions for us all. It also demonstrates the seriousness the Lord attaches to His business. During His earthly ministry, Jesus from a young age showed us how the kingdom affairs should be handled:
And He said to them, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?”
Luke 2:49 NKJV.

Now, we have to know that no Child of God is without endowment. We all have received gifts that will enable us to be profitable to the Kingdom of God:
But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:
I Corinthians 12:7 NKJV.

However, some belittle the grace of God in their life. And even think the Lord has not done anything for them. Just like the man who went and hid his one talent. Some neglect their gift, allowing it to be dormant. Greatly hindering the will of God for them.

We can’t be like the lazy servant, who failed to see his great potential. Despising the days of little beginning. Not recognizing that grace is given to us according to the gift of God we have received:
But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift.
Ephesians 4:7 NKJV.

Perhaps you are feeling you have nothing to offer? Do you assume that what you have is insignificant? Are you envying others instead of developing your gifts?

Then, take a cue from the servants that were able to put their talents to good use.
They diligently did business according to their capacity. And the Lord blessed their efforts in a hundred folds.

Though this parable speaks of talent or money, it is rich with timeless principles and insights. Some of them are outlined below:

1. God, the Maker, and Creator, is ultimately the Source of all life and all things. He has granted each person a defined number of years and time on earth. Your life on earth is a gift from God. And He expects you to be fruitful on earth, and this brings glory to Him.

2. Everyone is endowed with unique wiring that enables us to naturally perform certain tasks with ease. And this adds value and supplies the needs of others:
But it is one and the same Spirit who does all this; as he wishes, he gives a different gift to each person.
1 Corinthians 12:11 GNTD.

3. As you use these gifts or talents or even acquire skills based on your desires, you improve in performance. What was initially difficult will gradually become much easier, and thus greater productivity is achieved.

4. Your brain capacity is enhanced. As you get stretched, new areas of your brain are developed to handle different tasks you may not even know you were designed to do.

5. Not cultivating your God-given time or gifts robs those who would have benefited from your input. You live a wasteful life of just being a consumer who failed to enrich others in the community. The ultimate Investor, God, is robbed of all His rich and invaluable investments in your life
This is a faithless existence and God is not honored.

6. Do not compare yourself with others. No two people are exactly the same. Even identical twins have something that differentiates them. Lean on God for wisdom and strength, regardless of your lot in life. The battle is not for the strong or the swift. Be content and grateful to God in all things. As you cultivate your time and gifts wisely and diligently, you grow stronger and with time extend to newer grounds.

7. Avoid the temptation of judging God. He is Sovereign and does not owe anyone an explanation for your background or supposed humble beginnings. He is all-wise and apportions to everyone as He pleases.

8. If we use the gift we have received from the Lord, God multiples it. But if we don’t, it stays dormant and a time will come it will seem as if it’s no longer there.

9. The talent we received is like a seed. So, we shouldn’t mind the initial size. Some seeds are so tiny but when cultivated, it yield something huge:
Here is another illustration Jesus used: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed planted in a field. It is the smallest of all seeds, but it becomes the largest of garden plants; it grows into a tree, and birds come and make nests in its branches.”
Matthew 13:31‭-‬32 NLT.

10. Our heavenly Father is so productive; hence He also wants us His children to be like Him. He created the whole world in six days and only rested on the seventh day.
That’s why He frowns at His children being unproductive.

How do you assess your life? Have you asked yourself this thought-provoking question: Why I’m I here on earth?

Unfortunately, many Children of God are so, unfruitful. Resulting in them living a beggarly life.
Clearly, this is not the will of God. For He wants us to prosper:
Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.
III John 1:2 NKJV.

Ultimately, what the Lord is after is that we put to use His gift in our life, and He will enable us to make a profit. For in the Kingdom of God, there is no room for slothfulness:
not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;
Romans 12:11 KJV.

Moving forward, there is still an opportunity to utilize the gift of God in our life before it becomes too late. For the Lord has set a date to settle accounts. And there will be a great punishment for non-performance and neglect of God’s endowment in our life.

Why don’t we go to the Lord in prayers right now? And earnestly, ask for wisdom on how to manage the resources He has deposited in our life:

Father, I thank you so much for your endowment in my life.
I’m so happy that you equipped me with all that I need to be successful.
Dear Lord, forgive my ignorance and underutilization of your gifts in my life. May your wisdom guide me to start making proper use of them.
Cause me to reach my full potential and become as productive as you will love me to be.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Pst. Mike

He threw himself to the ground at Jesus’ feet and thanked him. The man was a Samaritan. Jesus spoke up, “There were ten who were healed; where are the other nine? Why is this foreigner the only one who came back to give thanks to God?” And Jesus said to him, “Get up and go; your faith has made you well.”
Luke 17:16‭-‬19 GNTD.

The above Bible story is a great example of gratitude. Interestingly, it was only the Samaritan, a foreigner that came back to appreciate the Lord for what he did for him.
The rest of them took it for granted. Never thought it necessary to show gratitude to the Lord.
Maybe they have become over-familiar with the Lord Jesus. Probably they are feeling entitled.
Well, whatever the case might be, Jesus made it clear He expected them to come and thank Him for healing them.

Now, we have a lot to learn from this. It’s the will of God that we always give him thanks for what he has done for us:
And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 5:20 NLT.

So, let’s not take for granted the goodness of the Lord in our life. The Lord God has done so much for us and deserves all the praise from us. Nothing should ever deter us from thanking Him. As a matter of truth, judging by the benevolence of the Lord towards us, our mouth should be giving Him praise continually:
Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.
Hebrews 13:15 NKJV.

There are countless reasons and benefits to be grateful and live a life of gratitude. Listed below are some of them:

1. Appreciating others for their kind gestures affirms them. And encourages them to continue making needed sacrifices in uplifting the lives of others

2. It helps the beneficiaries because their hearts are healed of self-centeredness as they realize what they gained from the contributions of others in their lives

3. It helps them to desire to be like the benefactor, as they are inspired to extend blessings and kindness to others

4. It shows they understand the value of the gift or acts of kindness they receive

5. Both the life of the giver and the receiver appreciate. Meaning values are infused into both lives. Depreciation means low value. Hence, appreciation means enhanced values.

6. Gratitude softens our hearts and draws us closer to each other. An unthankful heart makes us just complain and drains the life of everyone. It creates an unnecessary negative atmosphere that pushes people further away from others.
For the despondent, every day brings trouble; for the happy heart, life is a continual feast.
Proverbs 15:15 NLT.

7. Certainly, there are great benefits to being thankful. It even helps our health and acts as medicine for our bodies. By implication, if we fail to be thankful, our health may deteriorate. There are a lot of sicknesses that can result from worrying, unhappiness, and being ungrateful:
A happy heart is good medicine and a cheerful mind works healing, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.
Proverbs 17:22 AMPC.

8. It helps us to see the good in everyone. We also hold on to God’s goodness in every situation, as we learn to thank Him in every circumstance, seemingly good or bad:
Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 NLT.

9. Being grateful is the antidote for worry, and it makes our heart to be at peace. Once we learn to be grateful, it helps us trust and appreciate God. Resulting in us being at peace with life and everybody:
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6‭-‬7 NLT.

So how about you? Do you struggle with an unthankful or ungrateful heart? Do you want to be healed by His grace? Jesus Christ came to usher a clean heart and gracious spirit!!!

The goodness of the Lord should humble and make us grateful. We should continually remain thankful and dedicated to serving the Lord. There is no room to feel entitled. For we don’t deserve all that the Lord has done for us. So, we shouldn’t hesitate to return all the praise, glory, and honor to the Lord.

With this understanding, we should approach the Lord in prayers and repent if we have not been living a life of gratitude and service unto him:

Dear Lord, thank you for all you have done for me. I repent of my ingratitude. Please forgive me for not appreciating you for all the great things you have accomplished for me. Help me realize the magnitude of your benevolence in my life. And cause me to learn to appreciate your goodness and the people you bring into my life.
May my life always bring praise and glory to you. And my heart filled with gratitude, my mouth continually offering you the sacrifice of praise. Rejoicing and enjoying all the provisions you have made for me.
Thank you, Lord, for hearing me in Jesus’ name. Amen

Pst. Mike.

Spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of God to different communities.

We share His message of Biblical hope in Words and acts of kindness.

“No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money. “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.
Matthew 6:24‭-‬34, NLT.

Jesus Christ is teaching us something profound about relationships. He pointed out that man will always be mastered and controlled by something. And who and what we submit to influences every aspect of our life.

He used man’s service to make an illustration.
Who we are devoted to and what has captured our hearts will define us.
If our life is devoted to God and His ways, peace, and confidence will mark our life.
Worries or anxiety will have no power over us.
For we will understand and operate in the love of the Father.

God’s Word will illuminate our hearts. Our decisions and actions will be guided through His Word and the power of His Spirit,
The Wisdom of God will grant us discretion in all we do.
Making us prosper and turning challenges into an opportunity for our heavenly Father to manifest His abiding presence. What a wonderful adventure of peace, confidence, and fruitfulness.

While others are terrified of the uncertainties of life, we will smile at those tsunamis because the Father’s presence is with us by Faith.
But if we have relegated God to the back seat, or we have a compromised relationship with Him, we better worry.
Worry is a symptom of a troubled heart.
It leads to helplessness, uncertainty, the fear of the unknown, and many more negative emotions. And as children of God, our heavenly Father will not be pleased that we have him as our provider, yet we still worry. Imagine how you will feel if you have kids, and they don’t trust you to provide for them.

So, worrying exposes our lack of faith in God. It shows we are more sure of the things we can see, rather than trusting God. It limits our ability to experience miracles and receive God’s provisions:
And so he did only a few miracles there because of their unbelief.
Matthew 13:58 NLT.

If we draw near to God, he will bring us closer to Himself. Our intimate relationship with the Lord allays all our fears and worries. It gives us the confidence to face all the uncertainties and issues of this life:
Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.” So, we can say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?”
Hebrews 13:5‭-‬6 NLT.

Moving forward, rather than investing our energies in worrying, we should trust God. And take advantage of the enabling power of the Holy Spirit to conceive ideas and execute them to make wealth:
Remember that it is the Lord your God who gives you the power to become rich. He does this because he is still faithful today to the covenant that he made with your ancestors.
Deuteronomy 8:18 GNTD.

A new heart and renewed thought process are paramount in the heart of God for mankind. Our heavenly Father wants us to begin to see things from His viewpoint. And align ourselves to His purpose and the life He planned for us:
For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
Jeremiah 29:11 NLT.

It is the will of our heavenly Father for us to know how much he loves us. And it’s not His design that we should suffer and be so wretched in this world.
He clearly demonstrated that through creation.
Before He made man, He first created everything man will ever need to live comfortably in this world. He provided inexhaustible resources for us:
God made all sorts of wild animals, livestock, and small animals, each able to produce offspring of the same kind. And God saw that it was good. Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground.”
Genesis 1:25‭-‬26 NLT.

It’s only the believers that are truly blessed. And the blessing is spiritual. But from the spiritual realms, it also manifests as material blessings. For the spiritual controls the physical:
By faith, we understand that the entire universe was formed at God’s command and that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen.
Hebrews 11:3 NLT.

Use Jacob as a case study, by the blessing of God he received from his father, he was able to prosper. He came up with fantastic business ideas that made him very wealthy, even while doing business with crafty and hostile Laban. (Gen 30: 25-43)

To conclude, I honestly don’t know what you may be going through right now or what has mastered you. Are you enslaved by the pursuit of money? Inundated by the cares of this world? Running helter-skelter instead of trusting God and submitting to Him? Do you allow fear of the unknown to paralyze and keep you from moving forward?

I encourage you to seek the Lord in all your ways. Humble yourself and follow His guidance and leadership. He cares for the birds and even the flowers that are of less value than you.
The Father deeply cares about you and your wholeness. You are the apple of His eyes !!!
Cheer up, my dear brother and sister. Remain steadfast in your devotion to the Lord, regardless of the cost. He is faithful, and His timing is perfect. He will never forget you.

Join me to commit our lives and circumstances to the Father:

Dear Lord, thank you for loving me so much, even though I don’t deserve it.
I am so grateful to know that you will never abandon me, despite my wavering trust in You.
Forgive me for making the pursuit of money to consume my life. Lord, help me in my unbelief and cause me to firmly trust you in all things and every situation.
Your instructions and guidance will lead me to greater ideas and empower me to build wealth.
Thank you for all the provisions you have made for me in Christ Jesus. I receive and will see them all manifest in my life. In Jesus’ name, Amen!

Pst. Mike

Then Jesus told this story to some who had great confidence in their righteousness and scorned everyone else: “Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer: ‘I thank you, God, that I am not like other people—cheaters, sinners, adulterers. I’m certainly not like that tax collector! I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.’ “But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.’ I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
Luke 18:9‭-‬14 NLT.

What a fantastic way for Jesus to address self-righteousness. He exposed the futility of it all. And the dangers therein.
The Pharisee thought he was righteous based on the good deeds he had done. Pride filled his heart, making him look down on the Tax collector.

Interestingly, Salvation cannot be earned through anything we can do for ourselves. Human efforts are all tainted by sin. Hence, cannot be acceptable to God. For all have sinned:
For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.
Romans 3:23 NLT.

So, those that rely on their efforts have missed it already. For our righteousness is nothing but a filthy rag before God:
We are all infected and impure with sin. When we display our righteous deeds, they are nothing but filthy rags. Like autumn leaves, we wither and fall, and our sins sweep us away like the wind.
Isaiah 64:6 NLT.

Have you asked this question: if our efforts and good deeds can give us Salvation, why did Jesus die to save us?
There won’t be any need at all if it’s what we can achieve by ourselves. To be clear, Salvation can only be purchased by the blood of Jesus:
and through him, God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross.
Colossians 1:20 NLT.

Furthermore, Salvation is a gift. And It’s by the grace of God that we can be saved. Therefore, there is no basis for us to boast:
God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.
Ephesians 2:8‭-‬9 NLT.

In light of this, one has to humble himself to obtain mercy from God. For God loves the humble but rejects the proud:
And he gives grace generously. As the Scriptures say, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
James 4:6‭-‬7 NLT.

The Tax collector was recommended for acknowledging his inadequacy. It was obvious to him that he didn’t deserve anything from God. Hence, he resulted in pleading for mercy. And always the mercy of God triumphs over judgment:
For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
James 2:13 NKJV.

Now, I do not know the category you fit in. Are you among those counting on the things they do? Do you think God will accept you because of your endeavors? Are you looking down on those you assume you are better than?
I sincerely hope, through this write-up, you have seen the error thereof.

So, I implore you, to come to God today with all humility. Plead for his mercy, and forgiveness, and renounce your old proud ways. For He is ever disposed to receive those that seek him diligently.

I invite you to pray this prayer to receive the mercy of God:

Dear Lord, I come to you today with all humility. I acknowledged that I’m inadequate. And I do not deserve your mercy. But Lord, I plead for your mercy. Deliver me from pride and self-righteousness. I now understand that I can only be saved and made righteous through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. Help me to always be conscious of the fact that it’s by your grace that I can do any good deeds. Thank you, dear Lord, for saving me in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Pst. Mike