Strive To Enter

TEXT: LUKE 13:23-35

Key verse: “Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able” (Luke 13:24).

Abraham Lincoln, in a speech he made in 1863, said: “We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of heaven; we have been preserved these many years in peace and prosperity; we have grown in numbers, wealth, and power as no other nation has ever grown. But we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us, and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own. Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us.”

Even now, this has been the attitude of many people. Unfortunately, some Christians are among them, living without heaven in focus. Based on the character of people, Jesus was certain that there would be few who would be saved. But He cautioned: “Strive to enter in at the strait gate.” For Him, it would take earnestness, focus and determination to make heaven. 

Jesus, while answering the enquirer’s question: “are there few that be saved,” was point-blank that those who merely wish they would make heaven but would not do anything about the salvation of their soul, could never get there. Many people, today, do not take this warning seriously. Some will even seek to enter through another way other than the right channel, while others will make attempt when it is too late and as such shall not be able to enter.

Earnestly give serious thought to your relationship with God. How much striving have you exerted to get into His Kingdom? Are you merely wishing you will be there? Make the most of today’s opportunity to enter through sincere repentance, faith in Christ and God’s kind of righteousness.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Heaven has no space for those who refuse to get saved. 

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With All Diligence, Seek God

TEXT: JOB 28:1-11

Key verse: “He cutteth out rivers among the rocks; and his eye seeth every precious thing” (Job 28:10).

Men, whose names are written in history, never gave up to life’s challenges. Edward Gibbon, one of them, was noted to have spent twenty-six years writing his great work on history, while Noah Webster worked diligently for thirty-six years to bring into print the first edition of his dictionary. Cicero, a Roman orator, was also said to have practised before friends everyday for thirty years in order to perfect his public speaking. Among all these men, who carved a niche for themselves, one thing stood out - persistence. 

This was the centrality of Job’s sermon to his friends in our text. While explaining the challenges that miners would experience before they could get any precious resources, Job pointed out that they would go deep down into the earth, break rocks and excavate the soil to make deep furrows in the dark recesses of the earth where the sunlight could not penetrate. From that depth, precious stones and gems would be brought to the surface and, through special process, would be separated from the dross.

The miners’ efforts of producing the precious mineral, when compared with the energy, which we put in the Lord’s work, attests to the fact that our contribution is inconsequential. This, of course, should lead us to some heart-searching questions: Why is our service for Christ sometimes performed in a halfhearted manner? Why do some people, who pursue earthly goals, put us to shame with their diligence?

The Scripture says that whatever a man soweth he will reap. If we seek Jesus Christ as earnestly as miners seek for hidden treasures, we will discover God’s hidden treasures in our lives, which will make us to prosper spiritually and physically beyond measure. Jesus is the Word and Wisdom of God personified. So, knowing Him experientially is the greatest of all knowledge and seeking for that knowledge the right way is a treasure indeed.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Idleness is a short road to death, but diligence is the way of life.

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God's Enduring Mercy

TEXT: LUKE 13:1-10

KEY VERSE: “And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it: And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down” (Luke 13:8,9).

Abraham Lincoln, after General Robert E. Lee had surrendered, spoke to a large crowd from the balcony of the White House. His speech raised some curiosities and Senator Harlan, after listening to Lincoln attentively, asked: “What shall we do with the rebels?” The vindictive crowd shouted back, “hang them!” But Tad, Lincoln’s fourth and youngest son, who was then 11 years old, turned to his father and said: “No, no, Papa. Not hang them. Hang on to them!” Lincoln replied: “That’s it!” That was a call for mercy of the rebels. 

Consecration Unto God Alone

TEXT: LEVITICUS 19:23-37

Key verse: “Therefore shall ye observe all my statutes, and all my judgments, and do them: I am the LORD” (Leviticus 19:37).

George Foreman, at 45, was the oldest man in the world to win the heavyweight boxing champion. In his book, God in My Corner, he recounted how he achieved the feat. When he staged a comeback, nearly ten years out of boxing, he felt he needed to get rid of some excess fat, as he had ballooned from 220 to 315 pounds, which was not good enough for him. 

Sequel to this, he engaged himself in fat-shedding exercises. He started with the basics –running every day. At first, he could not make up to a mile. Intermittently, he would stop to catch his breath, huffing and puffing. Apart from himself and his wife, no one else believed he could recapture the title, which he had won before. But with time, especially in the eight month, after a continuous exercise, he was able to shed much fat and finally got down to his fighting weight – 229 pounds. The rest was a testimony.

Just as Foreman controlled himself, our text revealed the restriction, which God placed before the Israelites. For the first three years, they should not eat the fruits of their farm and on the fourth year, when the fruit had become holy, they should offer it to praise Him. Then, from the fifth year, they should start eating the fruits. For the greedy ones among them, this might prove an uphill task. They might start eating the fruit from the first year, thus disregarding God’s instruction, which, unfortunately, might attract God’s wrath upon their lives. 

Sometimes, God can give such a holdup directive concerning His will and it may be to teach us self-control or how to be patient. Unfortunately, some impatient and disobedient believers may not appreciate this waiting period. 

Our text equally stressed God’s warning against all forms of ungodly practices, particularly magic, charm, horoscopy, shaving because of the dead and tattoo, among others. If you are involved or giving approval to these evil practices, you had better repent.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: With complete consecration comes perfect peace.

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It's In The Life You Live

TEXT: LEVITICUS 19:14-22

KEY VERSE: “Thou shalt not curse the deaf, nor put a stumbling block before the blind, but shalt fear thy God: I am the LORD” (Leviticus 19:14).

If we let the Bible rule our thoughts and personal conduct, we will have the right attitude toward everybody. It helps us to act the way Christians should in all our relationships with others.

In the passage of Scriptures for today, we see God’s demand on his people for discretion and righteousness in their relationship with all men. True believers are the people of God. We are to be mindful of the safety of those that cannot help themselves. The disabled, the disadvantaged, the defenseless and minors are not to be taken advantage of. We are to fear the Lord. Believers in position of authority are to be different from the world. They are to dispense justice without fear, compromise or regard to persons, for such behaviours are an abomination in the sight of God.

Every true believer is expected to be a soul winner and never a waster. To this end, we are to warn sinners daily of the doom and the consequences of sin by effectively presenting the gospel to them. We should not permit sin by not preaching to them, otherwise, we ourselves become guilty of sin  and liable to judgment (Ezekiel 3:18). The believer is not a slanderer. He allows the Spirit’s control over his passions and emotions, and he takes care not to offend in word or in deed.

Some of the greatest proofs of a true relationship with Christ is the possession of God’s love in the heart towards others and the fact that we keep His commandments. The genuineness of our profession is not measured by the high-sounding words of the testimony we give, but by the fruits of obedience which show forth in our lives. Strive to be a fruitful, shinning Christian.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Don’t make your life offensive; make it winsome for Christ.

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Care For Them

Text: LEVITICUS 19:1-13

KEY VERSE: “And thou shalt not glean thy vineyard, neither shalt thou gather every grape of thy vineyard; thou shalt leave them for the poor and stranger: I am the LORD your God” (Leviticus 19:10).

The phrase, “God’s preferential option for the poor” was coined by some religious scholars. This, they use to describe the special attention God pays to the poor and the disadvantaged as reflected in both the Old and New Testaments. Truly, the poor easily gets God’s attention because of their disposition that befits the grace of God. But in a world that runs on the principle of “the survival of the fittest,” who cares for the poor?  Even a pastor of a gospel church was heard some time ago announcing to his congregation that his church was not for the poor. How absurd!

In today’s text, we find sundry ceremonial and moral precepts God gave to the children of Israel through Moses. They contain principles that should get us sure-footed on the path of righteousness. Israel was reminded that they were dealing with a holy God and as such were expected to be holy themselves. Even so are we that are by redemption affiliated to the same God of holiness expected to be holy. This holiness consists in our duties to God and to man.

Verses 9 and 10, however, draw attention to God’s concern for the poor and the disadvantaged. The Jews were required to deliberately leave their corn-fields and vineyards after harvesting for the poor to pick up the leftover. God expects the piety of His people to incorporate benevolence - making provision for the poor and needy.

The people of the world may continue with their greed, avarice and covetousness, but those who have tasted of the grace of God and in whose hearts the love of God is shed abroad have no excuse to neglect this duty of caring for the poor and disadvantaged. Look around, see the poor and, as much as it lies in you, help put a smile on their faces. Indeed, when you share your blessings with the less privileged, those blessing become multiplied. In attending to the poor though, let’s strike a balance. Don’t become a god to anyone and do not allow your benevolence to promote idleness.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Holiness does not make us insensitive to people’s need.

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