March 20
Father, we thank You for preserving our lives and Your blessings that has no end. Thank You for adding to our numbers and enlarging our coast. Let Your Name alone be glorified in Jesus Name.
Beloved, the Lord have something to say, I pray you listen and pay great attention. The word of God told us not to be listeners alone but also doers of same (Jas 1:22-25). As good stewards, let us from to time examine our self so that we will not be misled. How? Someone want to know.
As a child of God, your standard of living must be based on the Word of God, nothing more or less. I have discover that everything in life has it root from the Word of God. Be it Politics, Management, Administration, Business, Home building and Management, Trainings, Vision and Vocations. It all have it foundation in the Word of God, therefore to live a life pleasing to God, we must make our Bible as our companion not as a reference book.
The text before us today is speaking to both pastors, leaders, followers, old and young. It must make us to have a holy fear towards our callings, ministries and businesses, least we fall into the hand of God. Let’s go for more discovering:
“Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” 1Corinthians 10:12
It is a curious fact, that there is such a thing as being proud of grace. A man says, “I have great faith, I shall not fall; poor little faith may, but I never shall.” “I have fervent love,” says another, “I can stand, there is no danger of my going astray.” He who boasts of grace has little grace to boast of. Some who do this imagine that their graces can keep them, knowing not that the stream must flow constantly from the fountain head, or else the brook will soon be dry.
If a continuous stream of oil comes not to the lamp, though it burn brightly today, it will smoke tomorrow, and noxious will be its scent. Take heed that thou gloriest not in thy graces, but let all thy glorying and confidence be in Christ and His strength, for only so canst thou be kept from falling. Be much more in prayer. Spend longer time in holy adoration. Read the Scriptures more earnestly and constantly. Watch your lives more carefully. Live nearer to God. Take the best examples for your pattern. Let your conversation be redolent of heaven. Let your hearts be perfumed with affection for men’s souls.
So live that men may take knowledge of you that you have been with Jesus, and have learned of Him; and when that happy day shall come, when He whom you love shall say, “Come up higher,” may it be your happiness to hear Him say, “Thou hast fought a good fight, thou hast finished thy course, and henceforth there is laid up for thee a crown of righteousness which fadeth not away.”
On, Christian, with care and caution! On, with holy fear and trembling! On, with faith and confidence in Jesus alone, and let your constant petition be, “Uphold me according to Thy word.” He is able, and He alone, “To keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy.”
Are you humbled by this message? Never think you know it all; our God is a dynamic God. You are not expecting to hear God through fire as did Moses nor by fleece as Gideon in our days. But God is still speaking to people, He still in the business of signs and wonder, so you must be in tune with Him to get His direction/guidance all the way. I learnt here that we cannot do anything and be successful without the help and blessings of God. Even successful life race is also with the help of God. Come along with me for more discovering:
“I will take heed to my ways.” Psalm 39:1
Fellow-pilgrim, say not in your heart, “I will go hither and thither, and I shall not sin;” for you are never so out of danger of sinning as to boast of security. The road is very miry, it will be hard to pick your path so as not to soil your garments. This is a world of pitch; you will need to watch often, if in handling it you are to keep your hands clean.
There is a robber at every turn of the road to rob you of your jewels; there is a temptation in every mercy; there is a snare in every joy; and if you ever reach heaven, it will be a miracle of divine grace to be ascribed entirely to your Father’s power. Be on your guard. When a man carries a bomb-shell in his hand, he should mind that he does not go near a candle; and you too must take care that you enter not into temptation. Even your common actions are edged tools; you must mind how you handle them.
There is nothing in this world to foster a Christian’s piety, but everything to destroy it. How anxious should you be to look up to God, that He may keep you! Your prayer should be, “Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe.” Having prayed, you must also watch; guarding every thought, word, and action, with holy jealousy. Do not expose yourselves unnecessarily; but if called to exposure, if you are bidden to go where the darts are flying, never venture forth without your shield; for if once the devil finds you without your buckler, he will rejoice that his hour of triumph is come, and will soon make you fall down wounded by his arrows.
Though slain you cannot be; wounded you may be. “Be sober; be vigilant, danger may be in an hour when all seemeth securest to thee.” Therefore, take heed to thy ways, and watch unto prayer. No man ever fell into error through being too watchful.
May the Holy Spirit guide us in all our ways, so shall they always please the Lord. Amen!
Remain blessed in the Lord.
Evang. Ifeoma Ohondu
