Hidden (Krypto) Treasures

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No what matter – I will refuse

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On October 7, 2009

In Christian, No matter what

Many decisions that ought to be taken are not taken due to one of the following reasons:
1. we try to rationalize the situation assuming that our finite and limited human minds has infinite comprehension and abilities or
2. we think of the consequences of the decision and are paralyzed for fear of life or fear of being ridiculed.

In today’s text, taken from the book of Exodus, we will look at Moses, who chose to refuse the pleasures and treasures NO MATTER WHAT.

As a backdrop to this character, Moses who was raised the prince of Egypt, by Pharaoh’s own daughter, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He instead chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time. He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward. The consequences of Moses’ action meant that he would now have to give up what many others would aspire to have, he would have to go up against Pharaoh himself to seek deliverance for the people of God, and more importantly, his own life would now be in jeopardy. Moses  nonetheless refused the pleasures and treasures NO MATTER WHAT the consequences would be.

If Moses had rationalized or thought of the consequences, he would have possibly ended up as a successor of Pharaoh in Egypt, merely gaining ephemeral passing pleasures and temporary treasures. His life history may or may not be recorded in history books and with his death, he would be soon forgotten. His act of refusal to accept the things the world offered, and to stand for the people of God, not only solidified his friendship with God (Exodus 33:11) but also earned him an entry into the Hall of Faith (Hebrews 11:24),  and gave him the privilege of being one who is recorded to have seen the invisible God. (Deuteronomy 34:10, Hebrews 11:27). Our refusal of the pleasures and treasures this world has to offer, makes our heart focus on the people and things of God and with the purification work of the Holy Spirit of God in us, we can expect to see God. Jesus Christ will reveal himself unto them whose hearts are pure, who refuse to be corrupted by the pleasures and treasures of this world. Only those who are pure in heart can see God (Matthew 5:8).

Points to ponder:

  1. What is God asking of you and me today to refuse?
  2. Can we take the step to refuse the pleasures and treasures this world has to offer, without rationalizing or thinking of the consequences, NO MATTER WHAT?

No matter what – I will believe

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On October 6, 2009

In Christian, No matter what

Many decisions that ought to be taken are not taken due to one of the following reasons:
1. we try to rationalize the situation assuming that our finite and limited human minds has infinite comprehension and abilities or
2. we think of the consequences of the decision and are paralyzed for fear of life or fear of being ridiculed.

In today’s text, taken from Genesis 22, we will look at Abraham, who chose to believe NO MATTER WHAT.

As a backdrop to this character, Abraham was promised a son by Yahweh God in his old age and true to the promise, he was granted God’s favor in the form of a son, Isaac. However, God wanted to test the love that Abraham had for Him over his son Isaac, and asked Abraham to sacrifice his only son, Isaac, the son he loved. This request would seem ridiculous to say the least, and for all practical purposes could have been easily deemed irrational. Is God irrational in asking for the son, who was promised and gifted in the first place? The consequences of Abraham’s action in following God’s command would mean that Abraham’s promised line through Isaac would cease, upon the sacrifice of Isaac, unless God would provide a way in preventing him for killing his son or would raise his son from the dead, the latter thought being more irrational than the first. Abraham nonetheless believed NO MATTER WHAT the consequences would be.

If Abraham had rationalized or thought of the consequences, he would have ended up being no different than anyone else. His act of obedience, trusting in God’s faithfulness, not only solidified his friendship with God but also earned him an entry into the Hall of Faith (Hebrews 11:8-12),  and his belief in God was credited unto him as righteousness. (Romans 4:3) Our belief  in God can credit to us righteousness. Believing in Jesus, as the savior of the world, imputes on us God’s righteousness.

Points to ponder:

  1. What is God asking of you and me today in the area of believing Him at His word?
  2. Can we take the step to believe implicitly, without rationalizing or thinking of the consequences, NO MATTER WHAT?

No matter what – I will obey

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On October 5, 2009

In Christian, No matter what

Many decisions that ought to be taken are not taken due to one of the following reasons:
1. we try to rationalize the situation assuming that our finite and limited human minds has infinite comprehension and abilities or
2. we think of the consequences of the decision and are paralyzed for fear of life or fear of being ridiculed.

In today’s text, taken from Genesis 6-9, we will look at Noah, who chose to obey NO MATTER WHAT.

As a backdrop to this character, Noah was commanded by God to build an ark that would become the means for Salvation of his family and all living things that God had created, from a flood that God said he would destroy the world with, as a punishment for its wickedness and violence. This command would seem absurd to say the least, since there was no account of rain before the flood. The closest thing to rain is the watering of the earth with a mist the came from the ground (Genesis 2:6), but this is not explicitly indicative of rain or flood. For a man to be building an ark when rain had never before been seen (Hebrews 11: 7) and the concept of  a flood not witnessed before then, would certainly give reasons for ridicule, especially if he was also claiming that he was doing so as in obedience to God. Noah nonetheless obeyed NO MATTER WHAT one would think of him.

If Noah had rationalized or thought of the consequences of being ridiculed, he and his family would have ended up like anyone else – unsaved and dead. His act of obedience, trusting in God’s faithfulness, not only saved all who were brought into the ark but also earned him an entry into the Hall of Faith (Hebrews 11:7),  and his obedience in God gave him the title as ‘preacher of righteousness’. (2 Peter 2:5). Only in Jesus, the ark of our Salvation is life and all who place their trust in Jesus, as the savior of the world, are saved from God’s wrath and punishment of death.

Points to ponder:

  1. What is God asking of you and me today in the area of obeying Him at His word?
  2. Can we take the step to obey implicitly, without rationalizing or thinking of the consequences, even if we will be ridiculed; Can we obey NO MATTER WHAT?

Seek, Save and Serve – Attitude of servitude

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On October 2, 2009

In Christian

Jesus came not only to Seek the lost and to Save the lost (Luke 19:10), but also to serve God and His people. Jesus served God and none other as is evident in his confrontation with Satan wherein He verbally expressed that one should worship the Lord God and Him Only shalt one serve (Luke 4:8). Jesus also came to serve man and He demonstrated this by washing His disciple’s feet and affirming that He (the Son of man) came not to be served but to serve (Matthew 20:28)

And as imitators of Jesus Christ (Ephesians 5:1) we are to do the same, seek the lost, save the lost and serve God and one another.

The questions that remain then are this! How are we to serve Serve God? and How are we to serve one another? The Scripture gives us the answer. We are to serve God with a perfect heart and a willing mind. (1 Chronicles 28:9) and we are to serve one another with humility as Jesus demonstrated by washing the feet of his disciples (John 13:1-14).

What is our attitude of servitude? Is it with a perfect heart, a willing mind and a humble Spirit?

1 Chronicles 28:9 (KJV)
9 And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.

John 13:14 (KJV)
14 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.

Lessons from Zacchaeus – a Savior’s mission

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On October 1, 2009

In Christian, Zacchaeus and Jesus

In the account that records Jesus’ encounter with Zacchaeus (Luke 19), once Jesus, the Savior assures the gift of salvation for the sinner Zacchaeus (verse 9), he continues on to say that “the Son of man (talking about Himself) came into this world to seek and to save that which is lost”. In other word’s, Jesus verbally expresses here the Savior’s mission, which is to ensure that no one is lost (separated from God), but that all who are astray will be first sought and then saved. (2 Peter 3:9)

What a wonderful thing it is for us to realize that even those who do not seek the only God and Savior, Jesus Christ, are being sought by Him and those who are lost will be saved when they recognize His sovereignty and Lordship as Zacchaeus did (verse 8).

Now the Bible also counsels us that we ought to be imitators (mirror images) of Jesus (Ephesians 5:1), which means that the Savior’s mission which is to seek and save, should be the same mission of all of his servants (you and me who know Jesus as Lord and Savior).

The questions that remain then are this –
Are we carrying on the Savior’s mission as he would expect us to?
Are we seeking and saving those who are lost?

Luke 19:10 (KJV)
10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

Ephesians 5:1 (NIV)
1 Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children

Lessons from Zacchaeus – Grace, Found and Blessed

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On September 30, 2009

In Christian, Salvation Story (and since), Zacchaeus and Jesus

When Zacchaeus the sinner  encounters the Savior Jesus Christ, he receives Jesus joyfully and promises to return and restore all that he had falsely and deceptively acquired. In response to Zacchaeus change of heart, Jesus makes an interesting and profound statement of assurance by saying “Today, salvation has come into this (Zacchaeus’) house and that Zaccaheus is also a son of Abraham.”

While superficially it may seem that Zacchaeus promise of works (to return and restore) is what earned him his salvation, we must be careful to not fall into the trap that our good works can earn the gift of eternal life. It is important to carefully review this encounter and understand that the recognition of Jesus as Lord by Zacchaeus (verse 8 ) is what gave Zacchaeus his salvation as a free gift. Note, how Jesus did not say, go do this and do that and then Salvation will come into your house. Zacchaeus ‘ promise to return and restore (good works) was merely a byproduct of his change of heart and opened eyes by which he saw Jesus as sovereign Lord. It is only by the grace of God and grace alone that one can be saved and not by any works.

For Zacchaeus a man of prominence (chief among the publicans) and a Jew, recognition of Jesus as Lord would mean blasphemy to the other devout and legalistic Jews, but to him it meant that he who was lost and caught up in barren foolishness (syke from where we get ‘syco’ refers to the fig tree signifying barreness – Luke 13:6 and moria from where we get ‘more’ means foolishness or folly) is now found and blessed; found to be blessed as a son of Abraham.

If today we are to meet Jesus, let us not fail to recognize Him as Lord for such a recognition makes us, who are lost in the barren foolishness of trying to work our way to salvation, to be found and blessed, and adopted as children of Abraham, the one who was promised God’s blessings and through whom the nations are blessed. Through you and me, will the nations be blessed?

P.S: This is the day (September 30), 19 years ago, I accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as my personal Lord and Savior. In other words, this day (19 years ago), Salvation came into my heart and I was adopted as a child (son) of God.

Luke 19:6-10 (KJV)
6 And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully.
7 And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner.
8 And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord: Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.
9 And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham.
10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

Lessons from Zacchaeus – Change of heart

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On September 29, 2009

In Christian, Zacchaeus and Jesus

Luke 19 records the story of Zacchaeus, the sinner who meets the Savior (Jesus Christ) and when this happens we see that a few things happened in Zacchaeus’ life.

First, Zacchaeus received Jesus joyfully (verse 6).
Second, Zacchaeus recognized Jesus to be the Lord (verse 8).
Third, Zacchaeus had a change of heart and from being a man who took, took and took, he vowed to return that which he had taken; to give and to restore (verse 8).

When the sinner who has no hope but the sure overhanging penalty of death, encounters Jesus Christ as a Savior, the natural response that is evoked is one of joy and rejoicing. Jesus is the only one who can turn your day of sorrow into a day of joy (John 16:20).  And when the sinner sees Jesus seeing Him and seeking to be part of his life, a change of heart should occur in which the Lordship of Jesus is recognized and the old is gone and a new creation ensues that vows to give Jesus to those in need and restore their relationships with God the Father.

When a sinner meets the Savior, there is Rejoicing, Recognition, Returning and Restoring. Have you had that encounter?

Luke 19:6-8 (KJV)
6 And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully.
7 And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner.
8 And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord: Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.

Lessons from Zacchaeus – Seek to see and be seen

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On September 28, 2009

In Christian, Zacchaeus and Jesus

Luke 19 records the true story of a short statured, rich and sinful tax collector named Zacchaeus who ran ahead and climbed up a Sycomore tree (IRS guy up the tree) so that he could see Jesus. When Jesus passed by, He told Zacchaeus to come down, to come down quickly (in haste) for Jesus said that he must abide in Zacchaeus’ home.

Some of us may be familiar with this account, but by a mere cursorial review of the story, one may miss out certain hidden truths, the first of which is that Zacchaeus sought the Lord for he was unsatisfied of just hearing about Jesus, He wanted to see Jesus face to face. How many of us have heard of Jesus, but do we really take the time and effort to rise up to see Him?

Secondly, the account records that Jesus beheld (saw) Zacchaeus and asked to be taken into his home (his life in a manner of speaking). When we take the first step to see Jesus, you can be assured that He will see you first and seek to come into your life, changing it accordingly to what God expects of you. Note how Jesus says that He must go into the house of Zacchaeus. The request from Jesus to all today is the same – He must come into our lives.

Thirdly, the account states that Zacchaeus ran ahead (prepared) and climbed the Sycomore tree. Jesus asks him to have the same sense of urgency (saying make haste) to come down from the tree so that Zacchaeus could take Jesus into his home. Are we preparing ourselves to see Jesus and when we encounter Him, let our fervency to connect with Him be equally urgent (in haste).

If you have heard of Jesus but have never seen Him as Savior, take the time and effort to seek to see Him and you can be sure of one thing, Jesus will see (behold) you and seek to come into your life, changing it for good, once and for all. Seek to see and be seen!

Luke 19:1-6 (KJV)
1 And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho.
2 And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich.
3 And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature.
4 And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way.
5 And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house.
6 And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully.

Living as we will never die and Dying as we never lived

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On September 25, 2009

In Christian

King Hezekiah of whom it is said that there was no king like him in all of Israel was told by God that “He will surely die”, but he pleaded for his life to be extended and God added fifteen years to his life. (2 Kings 20:1-11)

However, pitiably there is nothing that we know of the fifteen years that Hezekiah lived. It is as if it would have been better for him to have died when God had originally planned.

Many today live as if they will never die and die as if they have never lived. May this not be said of us.

Psalm 90:12 (KJV)
12 So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.

No time, no time, too much to do

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On September 24, 2009

In Christian

In a world that moves at an accelerated pace, we often find our lives caught in a rut, as if it revolves within a hamster wheel. We make time for many things but when it comes to the work of God, we find ourselves saying that there is no time. Interesting isn’t it that each one of us are given exactly the same amount of time; 24 hours in a day, no matter who you are or where you are. The Bible tells us that Time (life) and Chance (opportunity) is given to ALL (Ecclesiastes 9:11). So what are we doing with the time and chance that has been given to us? Are we finding ourselves saying we have ‘no time’?

Did you ever wonder as to what our plight would have been, if and only if Jesus had said, ‘I have no time‘ to Father God? I hope there never comes a time when Jesus has the need to say that He had no time for us. Read below this poem (author unknown) and respond as the Spirit of God leads you to —

I knelt to pray but not for long, I had too much to do.
I had to hurry and get to work, for bills would soon be due.
So I knelt and said a hurried prayer, and jumped up off my knees.
My Christian duty was now done, my soul could rest at ease.

All day long I had no time, to spread a word of cheer.
No time to speak of Jesus Christ to friends, they’d laugh at me I’d fear.
No time, no time, too much to do,  that was my constant cry,
No time to give to souls in need; But at last the time, the time to die.

I went before the Lord, I came, I stood with downcast eyes.
For in his hands God held a book; It was the book of life.
God looked into his book and said “Your name I cannot find.
I once was going to write it down… But never found the time”

Ecclesiastes 9:11 (KJV)
11 I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.

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