Month: November 2013

Morning Dew

 

Key Passage – Ephesians 3: 14-20

           

Key Word – Ephesians 3: 19 “And to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge..”

 

Love created this world. Everything in this created order responds to love. Where love is absent this created order simply disintegrates. Love is more powerful and more effective at transformation than all the military might of all the nations combined. Love ever fails. This morning I was just reflecting on my garden and our numerous plants. As I observed some changes in some of them, I gained a simple heart of understanding. Why are these plants suddenly looking a bit healthier and better? I asked myself, then I realised what had happened. A few days ago I asked my gardener to leave. He had been with us for over a year and I had noticed over time that he really did not love the plants. He probably did not even see them as living things. He tended the garden, but he really did not love plants. It was a job to him and that was it. After I asked him to leave I asked someone else to just help in watering them daily, and just after three days I could already see the transformation. The plants just looked happier, more alive and the colour seems to be returning to some of them. All because someone loves them.

God the creator of the universe, created this earth out of love. Love was His primary motivation for creating the earth. He created human beings in His love and for His love. Human beings are the central focus of His love, so when mankind fell by disobeying Him, His elected method of redemption was more love. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life. John 3;16.

This singular act of love, though gruesome and bloody, was God’s expressed commitment to His created man, that He loves us. Loves us enough to go through the worst torture, most humiliating circumstances and die the most ignoble death, just to win back the object of His love. What more can one say. There are no words to describe the extent of God’s love. It’s deeper, wider, higher and stronger than anything any human being can wrap his finite mind around. God is love! That’s why the Apostle Paul prayed in Ephesians 3: 14-19 –

“For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”

Paul described the love of God as “surpasses knowledge”. It was his way of saying it is beyond comprehension, but easily experienced.

No matter who you are or where you are on this planet earth, know today that you are standing on a planet that is created by love and in love. Know also that there is a God who loves you so deeply. Loves you unconditionally and is simply besotted by you. Know also, that He has demonstrated His love for you by sending His Only Begotten Son to die for you and I on the rugged cross, so we do not have to reap the consequences of our sin and rebellion, but rather enjoy an eternity with Him in His Kingdom of love.

What are you waiting for? Open up your heart and let the love of God in.  Let Jesus Christ in and the watch the power of this love change your life and make you into a person who is also a dispenser of love. This is the power of love. You are transformed by it and you get to help others get transformed by the same love. What a joy to be alive and in His love!

Let’s Pray: My Father in heaven, you are love and I am so happy that I am in your love. Today, please let me recognise the power of your love at work in me and help me to transmit this same love to someone else. And Father, for all who read this today and have never experienced this incredible love of yours, please let this be the day they allow love into their hearts. I ask this in Jesus name. Amen.

 

Morning Dew

 

Key Passage – 1 Samuel 17

 

Key Text – 1 Samuel 17: 26 – “For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?”

 

What a man sees in his heart is potentially more powerful that what he sees with his naked eyes. The perspective of a person always affects their speech and action.  Three men arrive in a piece of land, by the sea. The land is arid and nothing grows on it except a few date palms and some thorny shrubs. One man immediately says ‘it’s just a wasteland nothing grows here, there are no real trees for shelter, nothing to really eat. Let’s get out of here’. The second man says ‘what untapped resources! If I can find a way to get water here, I can turn this dry land into lush agricultural food basket to feed people across the world.’ The third man was silent for a long time and he almost chuckles whilst he starts to speak. He says, ‘gentlemen, first I want you to see where this land is. It is the middle of many seas; it seems a natural crossroads. I see people from all over the world passing through this land on their way to other parts of the world. This could be a great trade centre. A Hub. So the first man put together some scraps of wood and leaves together built a raft and sailed away. We never hear of him again. The second man moves further south and developed an agricultural paradise and food basket for the world. He developed the knowledge to bleach the arid land of the minerals and irrigate the fields and plant seeds that made the desert blossom as a rose. The last man, stayed where they were and began set up welcome centres, hotels for weary travellers. He developed meeting places for trade to happen and eventually developed one of the most modern cities in the world and one of the most prosperous.

This fictional analogy above only goes to show you the power of a man’s imagination. I am sure if you think deeply enough you would find examples of these three men abound around us. You may even know their nations and cities. But my objective is to let you know what you see invariably affects what you say and do.

David had an unusual perspective in the face of great adversity. When Goliath of Gath came and tormented Israel and Saul in the valley of Elah, the entire nation and their king were so scared of the giant. His size was ominous and foreboding. He was about 10 feet tall and had armour like a military tank. He seemed formidable and unconquerable. But enter David and he heard the giant boast and blaspheme the name of God. He looked more closely and realised that this giant was no giant at all, he redefined him as an ‘uncircumcised Philistine’! From that moment on, David had gained the upper hand. He did not see a giant that was unconquerable; he saw an uncircumcised Philistine. A man not under the covenant of God and a man condemned to death by God. So it was a simple matter to David. We all know the end of the story how David killed the Goliath of Gath by using a simple sling and stone and beheaded him with his own sword. He got a major victory for Israel that day!

But it all started with the right perspective. How do you see things? From man’s point of view or from God’s perspective? Whatever is before you, before you start trembling and running all over the place for help, stop and ask God for His view of the situation. Many times people come to me with very difficult situations and over the years, I have learnt not to allow the emotions of their request get me to operate in the flesh. I have learnt to look up to God and ask Him what His view is of the matter raised. As I receive the mind of God in the matter, I am able to speak into the situation accurately and sometimes what I say to them is not what they fear.

In Psalm 16 verse 11, David said “You will show me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy and at your right hand side there are pleasures forevermore”.

In Psalm 34: 4-8 “I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed. This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him and saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them. Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.”

They looked to Him and are radiant and their faces shall never be ashamed – What powerful words. Look to God and get a fresh perspective on you circumstance and life.

I will lift up my heart to the hills, from where comes my help? My help comes from the Lord the maker of heaven and earth. Ps 121:1.

What can you see?

Today turn your eyes towards the Lord. Look into His word, gaze upon His lovely face and I guarantee, you will see and hear something that changes your perspective on the difficult situation you are in.

 

Let’s Pray: Father God, like David grant us hearts that look to you first. Help us to always gain the heavenly perspective to our earthly situations. Father turn away our eyes from looking at worthless things and revive us in your word. Help us to gain that much needed heart of understanding. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.