December 9
We bless the Name of our Father in heaven for another great week ahead of us, we thank You for the past weeks and we trust You that it is well with us in Jesus Name. Amen!
Merciful God, We are grateful unto You alone Who preserved our lives from destructions and make us to seat far above principalities and powers; therefore we shall not be afraid of all their schemes. They gathering will always be in vain over the lives of Your children in Jesus name, Amen!
Child of God, what do you do in the face difficulties and challenging situation? The tendency to play up self or get angry or irritated is very easy which you can always excused or explained away but will God accept those explanation as against His standard He set for His children? We cannot afford to live anyhow, (Heb 13:1) said that we have huge witnesses surrounding us; so you and I must be careful how we live and carry on with our daily transactions in the kingdom, among our brethren and associates by holding fast on what is good and making sure that we walk in integrity:
. . . but test all things. Hold on to what is good. Stay away from every form of evil.—1 Thessalonians 5:21–22
Hold fast to what is good, or the world will take it away. Satan is the relentless enemy of good. When he saw that what God gave Adam and Eve was good, he set about to take it away from them. When he saw that King David was pleasing to God, he attempted to destroy David’s relationship with God. Never take the good in your life for granted. If you do not hold on to it firmly, it may be lost.
People will challenge the good that you are practicing. They may criticize you for your moral stand, your child rearing, your use of money, or your involvement in church. Time pressures will attack the good in your life. Your time to pray, study Scripture, be with your family, and serve in your church will all be pressured by the many other time demands you face. You may give generously to your church and other Christian causes, but you will be tempted to spend your money selfishly and minimize the good you are doing with your finances.
Scripture reveals the solution for holding on to what is good—abstain from every form of evil. Evil robs you of what God intends for you. A spouse and family are great blessings, but the evil of adultery can rob you of the good that God has given. Prayer is a wonderful gift from God. Yet sin robs the power of prayer (Isa. 1:15). If you will not abstain from evil, it will rob you of the good things God has given. God’s commandments do not restrict you: they free you to experience God’s best.
Diligently abstain from every form of evil, and you will be free to enjoy every good thing God has for you. The Spirit of God will guide you into all truth and help you to walk uprightly before God and men:
“He that walketh uprightly walketh surely.” Prov. 10:9
His walk may be slow, but it is sure. He that hasteth to be rich shall not be innocent nor sure; but steady perseverance in integrity, if it do not bring riches, will certainly bring peace. In doing that which is just and right we are like one walking upon a rock, for we have confidence that every step we take is upon solid and safe ground. On the other hand, the utmost success through questionable transactions must always be hollow and treacherous, and the man who has gained it must always be afraid that a day of reckoning will come, and then his gains will condemn him.
Let us stick to truth and righteousness. By God’s grace let us imitate our Lord and Master, in whose mouth no deceit was ever found. Let us not be afraid of being poor, nor of being treated with contempt. Never, on any account whatever, let us do that which our conscience cannot justify. If we lose inward peace, we lose more than a fortune can buy. If we keep in the Lord’s own way, and never sin against our conscience, our way is sure against all comers.
Who is he that can harm us if we be followers of that which is good? We may be thought fools by fools if we are firm in our integrity; but in the place where judgment is infallible we shall be approved.
Beloved, when your work in Christ be proven with fire can it stand or be engulfed by fire? Be diligent in your walk in Christ that you do not miss the mark. For we all shall stand before the judgment seat of God and give account of lives. On the judgment seat of God; God is not God of love but of justice and truth and we are all going to be judge according to our works.
As the Christmas season is so close, how are you planning to celebrate it? Do you know the whole essence of this season or are you still been carried away with the eating and drinking that characterized the season. Planning so much on entertainment and visitation (families and friends, not a bad idea) without preparing your heart for the arrival of the King Baby Jesus is a dangerous adventure?
Let me conclude this way, be careful on how you live not as unwise but wise (Eph 5:15-17). May God help us in Jesus Name Amen!
Remain blessed in the Lord.
Evang. Ifeoma Ohondu
