[Read: Romans 5:12-21]
“As sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through
righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” - - (Romans
5:21)
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Some people avoid going to the doctor because they don’t want to find out that anything is wrong with them. Some people avoid going
to church for the same reason. But ignorance of our sickness doesn’t
make us healthy, and ignorance of our sin doesn’t make us innocent.
Do you know that Roman law is considered to be the source of the idea
that ignorance of the law excuses no one? But the concept however,
originated much earlier – When God gave the Law to Israel, He
established that even unintentional sin required a sacrifice for
forgiveness (Leviticus 4; Ezekiel 45: 18-20). In his letter to
Christians living in Rome, the apostle Paul addressed the issue of
ignorance or lack of understanding. When people were ignorant of God’s
righteousness, they made up their own (Rom. 10:3)
When we live
according to our own standards of right or wrong, we might feel good
about ourselves, but that doesn’t make us spiritually healthy. Only when
we are measured by God’s standard of righteousness (Jesus) do we know
the condition of our spiritual health. None of us can achieve the
righteousness of Christ, but thankfully we don’t have to. He shares His
righteousness with us (v.5:21) the good news about finding out what is
wrong with us is that the Great Physician will make us well.
Keep in Mind (Prayer):
Great Physician, You know my heart.
I bow before You now, and ask that you show me.
Any attitude or action that doesn’t please You.
Make me clean, Make me well.
Foot Note:
God is The 'Measurer' and Healer of my spiritual health.
Have a great week ahead friends.
QS || xoxo
SLACKER? [#WORD_FOR_TODAY]
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Read: [Proverbs 6: 6-11]
“How long will you slumber, O sluggard?” – Proverbs 6:9
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While studying the book of Proverbs last night, I came across the above scripture and remembered my days in Bible school. My mind went flashing back to one of my teachers (Pastor Adebusola) who suggested we change the description of a lazy person (as in the scripture – ch. 6:6,9) from “sluggard” to “slacker”. Ah, now he was speaking my ‘lingo’, and I found it quite interesting and funky (coming from the early-50s-aged man of God). I immediately started thinking of all the people I considered to be “slackers”.
Like men and women who fail to teach and discipline their children. Or a guy who refuses to help around the house (most of them usually say house chores are for the ladies, not guys). Or those teenagers who neglect their studies and play Internet games all day and night long. If we are honest to ourselves, we’ll see that we are all susceptible to this. What about being a “prayer slacker” (1 Thess. 5:17-18), or a “Bible-reading slacker” (Ps. 119:103; 2 Tim. 3:16-17), or a “non-exercising-of-our-spiritual-gifts slacker” (Rom. 12: 4-8), or a “non-witnessing slacker”??? (Matthew 28: 19-20; Acts1:8). If we are not doing what we know God wants us to do, we are certainly “SPIRITUAL SLACKERSS”. In fact, if we refuse to obey God, we are ‘sinning’.
Listen to these challenging and convincing words from the book of James: “It is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.” (James 4:17, NLT) Today, let’s not be spiritual slackers. God is Watching!
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The WorldCup Brazil2014 comes to an end soon…some teams have slacked…only the ‘fittest’ have survived to the ‘Final’ stage…and one team at the finals must ‘surely’ slack cos there can only be one ‘Winner’! In the ‘Tournament of Life’, will you emerge ‘Winner’..??? Think on this, and don’t slack! STOP THE LAZINESS, be in Church tomorrow!
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Keep in Mind:
When we know what God wants us to do,
but then, we refuse to obey,
We're ignoring the voice of God ,
and sinfully choosing our way.
Shalom! Happy Saturday!
QS || xoxo :)
July 4th
LEAST POWERFUL PEOPLE
Read: [1 Corinthians 10:1-13]
During one of my recent reads, I stumbled on a very unusual list called
THE 100 LEAST POWERFUL PEOPLE which appeared in one of the articles of
the online publication 24/7 WALL STR.
Among those selected were corporate executives…yes, sports figures,
politicians and celebrities who shared one common characteristic – they
used to be powerful. Some were victims of circumstances; others made
poor business decisions, while others lost their influence because of
moral failure.
In 1 Corinthians 10, Paul draws a somber lesson
from Old Testament history. The people Moses led from slavery in Egypt
toward freedom in the Promised Land kept turning their backs on God who
had delivered them (v. 1-5). Idolatry, immorality, and grumbling were
among the things that brought them down (v.6-10). Paul points to their
collapse as an example to us, and sounds this warning: “Let him who
thinks he stands take heed lest he fall” (v.12).
Every follower
of Jesus Christ can stand firm, on God’s promise: “He will see to it
that every temptation has a way out, so that it will never be impossible
for you to bear it” (v.13; PHILLIPS). All of us have the power to
influence others in their faith – How tragic to squander it by yielding
to a temptation that God has empowered us to resist.
Keep in Mind (Prayer):
Lord, there are temptations to sin everywhere. Help me not to give in. Make me sensitive to see the ways out that You provide.
I want my love for You to be real, and to encourage others in their faith’s journey.
In You I put my Trust!
Foot Note:
Over time, I have come to the realization that the best way to escape temptation is to run to God! For in God we Trust!
Happy 4th of July America!
In God we Trust!
Have a great day friends
QS. | xoxo
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July 3
AN EXERCISE IN GODLINESS
Read: [1 Timothy 4:6-11]
“Bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things”. – 1 Timothy 4:8
The New Year is often the time when we resolve to take better care of
ourselves – to exercise, eat right, and perhaps shed some of the pounds
we gained over the holidays. The year’s half way gone now, how many of
us have kept to our ‘Fitness Quest’ till now…??? Never mind!...I’m ‘guilty’ of that too! (Lol)
Paul says, “Exercise profits a little” (1 Timothy 4:8), so I struggle
to be as fit as I can be. I try to eat right, more or less though I do
love fried chicken. I lift weights and take walks, but I know that my
body is not long for this world. Its strength is fading.
It’s
better to concentrate on godliness, because it holds promise for this
life and the life to come (v.8). Contrary to the old adage, we can take
something with us after all.
Godliness may sound dull, scary,
and unattainable, but the essence of godliness is simply self-giving
love – caring more for others than we care for ourselves. This kind of
love is hard to come by, but it’s one that grows in the presence of
love. We grow loving and more lovely by sitting at Jesus’ feet,
listening to Him, talking things over – gaining in likeness to the One
who is love (1 John 4:8).
Life is a journey into love, it seems
to me, and there’s nothing so beautiful as a godly soul. Physical
exercise is good, no doubt, but there is something far, far better: It
is love.
Keep in Mind (Prayer):
That I may love Him is my soul’s ambition –
Love Him with all my mind and strength and heart,
Seek out His will and choose it, in submission,
And with the joy He only can impart.
Foot Note:
Love is godliness in action.
#KeepLoving!
Have a great day friends!
QS || xoxo
July 2
A NEW DAY!
Read: [ Psalm 118: 19-29 ]
“This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” – Psalm 118:24 #Word_For_Today!
In an early morning meeting I recently attended, the person who opened
the gathering began by praying, “Lord, thanks for today. It is the
beginning of a new day that has never existed before, and we are
grateful to be alive to behold it.” Although the idea seemed obvious,
that prayer got me thinking about a couple of different things. First,
because each day is a new opportunity, it will be filled with things we
cannot accurately anticipate or even prepare for. Therefore, it’s
important that we recognize our limitations and lean heavily on God –
intentionally choosing to live in His grace and strength rather than
relying on our own resources.
The second thing that occurred to
me is that the newness of each day is a gift worth celebrating. Perhaps
this concept was what prompted the psalmist to declare, “This is the
day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it” (Ps. 118:24).
No doubt we face many unknowns each day – and some could be difficult.
But the treasure of each brand-new day is so special that David was led
to write; “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of
wisdom” (Psalm 90:12).
Every new day is a precious gift. May we thankfully embrace each one with confident trust and humble celebrations.
Keep in Mind (Prayer):
He whose heart is kind beyond all measure
Gives unto each day what He deems best –
Lovingly, its part of pain and pleasure,
Mingling toil with peace and rest
Foot Note:
Each new day gives us a new reason to praise God. Don’t miss out on the benefits that come with doing so.
Have a great day friends!
QS || xoxo :)
BACK TO MY WRITINGS!!! I know it's been ages since I 'cared' about this blog! My love for 'QS' is back! Ride along with me...on my #WORD_FOR_TODAY...some writings of encouragements based on the Word of The Almighty God, Jehovah Yahweh! Also, I shall be sharing with us some things I have been up to lately...it's more like playing 'Catch Up'... Join me!
July 1.
THE OFFERING PLATE
Read: [2 Corinthians 8:1-9]
“…See that you abound in this grace also.” – 2 Corinthians 8:7
Brother Edward Alabi, a pastoral assistant and one of my House-care
fellowship leaders, often said that he disliked preaching about
financial giving to the members of the satellite fellow ship. He said
his previous job required fundraising, so he didn’t like putting any
unnecessary pressure on people. But one day, when he was teaching
through 2 Corinthians, and he came to chapters 8 and 9, he couldn’t
avoid the topic of giving. What I remember most about that sermon was
the illustration he used. He placed an offering plate on the floor,
stepped into it, and stood there as he shared with us the importance of
giving our whole selves to the Lord, not just our wallets.
Those two chapters in Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians give us a
number of attitudes and actions that we are to display in our giving to
the Lord;
- Give yourself to the Lord first (ch. 8v5)
- Give, remembering the example of the Lord Jesus (ch. 8v9)
- Give according to your means (ch. 8v11-12)
- Give enthusiastically because of God’s love (ch. 9v2)
- Give generously, not grudgingly or because of outside pressure (ch. 9v5-7)
Next time the offering plate comes around at church, imagine yourself
stepping into it. It will help you to excel in the grace of giving (ch.
8v7).
Keep in Mind (Prayer):
Thank You, Lord Jesus, for giving Yourself for me on the Cross.
Because of Your Love, I give all of me – my heart, my time, my funds, my will;
All to You. I love You.
Foot Note:
When we give ourselves completely to the Lord, all lesser giving becomes easier.
HAPPY JULY!!!
QS. || xoxo
