Launch Out Into The Deep
In Luke 5:1-11, it was written that Simon and his friends fished all night without catching anything. Obviously they must have been very disappointed but as they were washing their nets preparing to go home, Jesus approached them and requested for the use of Simon’s boat and he agreed. In appreciation, Jesus asked him to lunch out into the deep for a catch. Initially he was reluctant to comply with His instruction. Thank God that he later did and to his amazement, they caught so much fish such that they had to call for outside help yet, they could not cope. This startling incidence prompted Simon to ask Jesus to depart from him but He refused because once He decides to bless someone, nobody can stop Him.
The following points can be deduced from the account above.
1. Frustrating moments will surely come.
As long as we are alive, we shall experience frustrating moments now and again. It may crop up in our businesses or jobs, health, education, relationships, finances, spiritual lives etc. Simon and his friends were experienced fishermen but that night, they had their frustrating moment in business until Jesus Christ came into the picture. Perhaps you were doing very well in certain areas of your life before but the story has now changed; don’t worry-such is common. Just remember that you are not alone; God is around the corner to help you (Psalms 46:1). Please give him a chance!
2. You may have to give your all to God so as to get his all.
Simon’s only tangible possession was his boat and he released it to Jesus Christ. Let’s say he didn’t, he would have died unsung, unmourned and unremembered like many fishermen before and after him. But because of his act of generosity to Jesus, Simon and his brethren became legends and they still are up till now. You too can give your all to God via getting some people back to their feet physically, mentally, spiritually, financially etc. Is God asking you for your money, time, energy, skill, influence etc today? If He is, please release it to him today. Remember that he that scatters gains more whilst he that gathers only comes to poverty (Proverbs 11:24).
3. God will remember you at some point.
It wasn’t immediately after Simon released his boat to Jesus Christ that He remembered him. No! He remembered him only after He had finished speaking. Perhaps you have given God what seems to be your all but it seems a commensurate reward is not forth coming; don’t worry, just tarry on. He will surely reward you but at His own appointed time (Ecclesiastes 3:11).
4. You must be prepared to obey God whenever He remembers you.
Whenever God remembers you, He will tell you what to do. Jesus remembered Simon and his friends and He told them to launch out into the deep for a catch and they obeyed him. In the same vein, you must be prepared to obey God by doing whatever he tells you to do. Is He telling you to launch out into the deep and start a Ministry for Him or is He telling you to dabble into a particular business? Is He telling you to change your present job so that your situation can change? Is He telling you to attempt a particular examination or is He just telling you to relax for the time being? Please obey Him so that it can be well with you (Jeremiah 42:6).
5. Amazing result awaits you if you obey God.
Simon and his friends obeyed Jesus and launched out into the deep and their destiny changed. They caught so much fish such that they called for outside help. As if that was not enough, Jesus also made them Fishers of Men and by extension, prominent ambassadors of the Kingdom of God. Amazing results awaits you too if you obey God through Jesus Christ. Isaiah 1:19 says ‘’If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land’’. This is my prayer for you today and for the rest of your life and so shall it be in Jesus name. Amen.
Jesus is Lord!
Categories: Mind of Christ Tags: Go out and Fish, Launch out, Obedience
Arise and Go!
We will consider the story of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-24) in this write up. He was one of two sons of a certain man. One day, he went to his father and asked for his inheritance. In most cultures, a request of this nature is bizarre and totally unacceptable since people usually don’t talk about inheriting others when they are still alive. However, he was obliged and he went abroad and squandered all that he was given. Famine soon set in and he suffered intensely but he was wise enough to retrace his steps. He got up one fateful day and said ‘’I will arise and go—’’. That is, in repentance, he went back to his father where he could find help, and he was restored back to his rightful position in their family.
Like the prodigal son, many people have reached their lowest point in life as a result of certain unwise actions they took in the past which are now haunting them. If you are one of them, I perceive the Lord telling you to ARISE and GO to where help can be found. But let me alert you here that your response may be one of those highlighted below and each one has its distinctive consequence. Let us consider them with appropriate biblical examples one by one. You may choose to:
1. Disobey Him.
A good example of this scenario can be found in the book of Jonah Chapter 1. The Lord commanded Jonah to ‘ARISE and GO’ to Nineveh on an errand for Him but he chose to disobey Him. Instead of going to Nineveh in the North East, he headed for Tarshish in the West. The consequence was that he ended up in the belly of a fish for three days and three nights.
2. Obey Him partially.
In 1 Samuel Chapter 15, the Lord commanded King Saul to ‘ARISE and GO’ to Amalek and destroy everything insight because its people made life difficult for the Israelites as they came up from Egypt. Initially, the King responded enthusiastically to God’s instruction but he later derailed by keeping for himself, some of the spoils of war that God specifically instructed him to destroy. For obeying God partially, he lost his children, his anointing, his throne and his life.
3. Obey Him completely.
In Genesis Chapter 12, God told Abraham at an old age to ‘ARISE and GO’ to a strange land far away from his people and he obeyed Him completely. For doing so, God blessed him with children even though it was physiologically impossible for him and his wife to have them on account of old age. As if that was not enough, God also blessed him with riches, honour, glory, good life and with the privilege of dying peacefully and of being buried decently.
Today, if you are suffering as a result of your past misdeeds, the time has come for you to be free. All you need to do is to ARISE and GO to Jesus Christ where there is help. He is waiting for you and He is willing to set you free. He confirmed this in Matthew 11:28 when He said ’’Come to me all you who labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest’’.
How will you respond to above instruction? Will you disobey Him? Or will you obey Him partially or completely? The choice is yours but remember that disobedience and partial obedience to His instructions is fraught with danger. It certainly pays to obey Him completely! The prodigal son and Abraham as well as many other people all over the world did and they did not regret their actions. You too will not regret yours in Jesus name. Amen.
Jesus is Lord!
Categories: Mind of Christ Tags: Arise and Go, Obedience, Repentance
Walk Before God Blameless
In Genesis 17:1 God said: ‘’—-I am the Almighty God, walk before me and be blameless’’.
This instruction was given to Abram and by extension to us, children of God for our own good but somehow, it appears to me as if many of us are finding it rather hard to comply with it. This probably, may be because we are yet to fully grapple with who He is and what He can accomplish in our lives. It is because of this, that I want to shed more light on His great might today. But first of all, let us first look at the words MIGHTY and ALMIGHTY more closely.
A person is said to be MIGHTY if he or she is strong or very outstanding in a particular field of human endeavour and the world is/was full of such people. Good examples include Nelson Mandela in the field of Human Rights and Human Dignity, William Shakespeare in Literature, Isaac Newton in Physics, Michael Faraday in Chemistry, Pythagoras in Mathematics, Ronald Ross in Medicine, Lord Denning in Law, Adam Smith in Economics, Mohammed Ali in Sports etc. No doubt they are/were mighty men in their own rights. However, one thing is common to them; each of them is/was mighty in one field only. That means they are/ were limited.
But God is not limited because He is MIGHTY in ALL fields put together hence His designation; ALMIGHTY. For example, He is mighty in Medicine. Remember that He performed the first surgical operation in history (Genesis 2:21) and He is capable of healing all kinds of diseases (Exodus 15:26). He is also mighty in Law (He gave the Ten Commandments (Deuteronomy 5:6-22) which form the basis of all earthly laws). He is equally mighty in Engineering (He created this intricate universe of ours (Genesis 1:1), Agriculture (He owns all the cattle on a thousand hills (Psalm 50:10), Military (He is mighty in battle (Psalm 24:8) etc. You can see clearly that God is mighty in all fields; a feat that no one living or dead can boast of. He is truly MIGHTY!
This same God is telling you to walk before Him blameless. Listen, if you obey His instructions, you will do well in life (Deuteronomy 5:29). Thank goodness that the bible is full of His instructions but it is your responsibility to pinpoint them. For example, in Matthew 22:37-39, Jesus Christ instructed us to love God and our neighbours passionately. If you love your neighbours for instance, you will not steal from them; you will not covet their spouses; you will not harm or kill them etc. And if you love God along side then, you will surely walk before Him blameless.
However, let me reiterate here that compliance with His instructions cannot be easy since we are just mortals full of sins. That is why we need Jesus Christ to assist us. Have you accepted Him into your life as your personal Lord and Saviour; that is, are you born again? If you aren’t, please do so without delay. It is after scaling over this harmless but very important hurdle that you can aspire to walk before God blameless (Philippians 4:13) and blessed. Please remember that ‘’If you are willing and obedient, You shall eat the good of the land’’ (Isaiah 1:19). May your obedience be fully rewarded by God and may your joy be full all the days of your life in Jesus name. Amen.
Jesus is Lord!
Categories: Mind of Christ Tags: Almighty, Mighty, Obedience, Walking Before God Blameless