Abraham enjoyed some fascinating descriptions in the Bible. He was referred to as a friend of God (Isaiah 41:8). He was also described as the father of faith (Galatians 3:6). Well, a man described as the father of faith would have one or two important lessons to communicate to us about faith. He was already an old man at 75 (his wife being 65 at the time) when God called him and promised to bless him. He was promised that through his seed, the whole world would be blessed. Meanwhile, he had no child at the time. The child would not come until 25 years later. During the intervening period, he kept his faith strong by giving glory to God.

“That you made it to the last day of the year is a proof that you have benefited from many graces of God. Thank Him for that.”

Gratitude has both ‘backward-forward’ linkage. It is ‘backward’ when we thank God for what He has already done for us. This could be answers to specific prayers made or a release of blessing out of His magnanimous heart. The forward linkage of thanksgiving is when it is offered upfront for what has not yet taken place. This is an exercise of faith. That was what Abraham did in his years of waiting. I believe there is no better way to end the year 2023 than to thank God profusely. Doing this will invoke this backward-forward linkage thrust of gratitude. That you made it to the last day of the year is a proof that you have benefited from many graces of God. Thank Him for that. You can also lift your eyes in faith to thank God in advance for 2024. This way, you will not only finish this year strong, but the next one will begin on a strong note as well.

Perhaps, half of the problems that believers have would fade away if they take care of their faith life. Both from the teachings of Jesus and the apostles, faith is an absolute essential for a victorious life. Out text ties our victory to faith. A few examples will show how imperative faith is as a subject. Peter saw the Master walk on the water and became fascinated. He asked Jesus if he could join Him on the ride and got a nod. He took the first couple of steps with euphoria until he saw the wind. That’s when he started to sink. Jesus saw that as a faith problem. “And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” (Matthew 14:31, NKJV).

“Strong faith will lead to great victory – ALWAYS!”

At another time, Jesus began to teach His disciples to be wary of the leaven of the Pharisees. The disciples thought it was because they did not carry bread along. Jesus found that hard to take, when on two previous occasions He had miraculously provided bread for multitudes. He also saw this as a faith problem. “But Jesus, being aware of it, said to them, “O you of little faith, why do you reason among yourselves because you have brought no bread?” (Matthew 16:8, NKJV). And when the disciples could not cast out the devil from a young boy Jesus equally saw it as a faith problem. “Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?” So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you’” (Matthew 17:19-20, NKJV).

About midday on the last Saturday of September this year, I went to my barber to have a haircut. He was already working on me when a young man walked in and sat down to take his turn. While he was rounding off with me, another middle-aged man walked in. He walked away because of that one customer who would be attended to before him. He couldn’t exercise patience for about 15 minutes to take his turn. I began to wonder what the issue is with human beings as far as patience is concerned. We find it inconveniencing to wait for anything. Yet, even in spiritual parlance, patience is hitched to faith. Faith is a powerful force, but it does not always deliver result at the snap of a finger; in most cases, we have to exercise patient waiting.

“Ability to wait and not give up is like telling God that we have no alternative to Him.”

There is usually an intervening period from when we begin to express faith to when we see the dividends of faith. The name of the game, at such time, is patience. Patience is an expression of faith. Ability to wait and not give up is like telling God that we have no alternative to Him. That ability to keep waiting patiently is what qualified the man by the pool of Bethesda as a man of faith. Others beat him to the pool several times but he never gave up on the source of his miracle. He always believed that there was something called another time. He kept at it until the One with whom nothing is impossible showed up. Choosing to endure to the end is what leads to eventual blessing.

The story of the paralytic man as told in Mark 2 offers another case study on expression of faith. The record states that  the man was carried by four other men to where Jesus was teaching. Having no access through the door or window, the men did something ridiculous. They tore off the roof of the house and let the man down in the midst of the crowd. Jesus saw that effort as faith. Their effort yielded two things. First, the man obtained forgiveness for his sins. (It would seem that the man’s plague was a result of some underlying sins). Second, he was healed of his infirmity.

“For every faith confession there is a corresponding faith act that must be put in place.”

Apostle James taught a couple of things about faith. He acknowledged that faith is discernible by what we say. But more than that, an even greater proof of faith is what we do. He reasons that just as the body without the spirit is dead if it is alone, so is faith unless accompanied by works. Faith is not opposed to efforts. In many cases, it is the efforts that we make that give back-up to the faith we profess. For every faith confession there is a corresponding faith act that must be put in place. Our role is to find out what the faith act is and do it. When we do what we can, God takes it over to do what we can’t.

The Bible admonishes us to follow the example of those who through faith and patience obtained the promises. We will do just that in the next several days, beginning with the story of the Centurion. Before Jesus released the word of authority that healed the centurion’s servant, He first commended his faith.  In Matthew 8:10 the Bible says, “When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, “Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!” (NKJV). How did the centurion express his faith that drew virtue from Jesus? It was by what he said.

“Before you speak, remember that justification or condemnation, victory or failure are all tied to our words.”

When Jesus offered to come to the centurion’s house, he declined. This was owing to respect as well as reason. Respect because he did not feel worthy to have Jesus under his roof; and reason because he, being a man of authority, could get things done by simply speaking. He figured out that Jesus’ authority was much stronger than what he could ever boast about. He believed Jesus could speak his servant back to health. And that’s what happened. A primary way of expressing faith is by speaking. Of course, we are not talking of idle words. Everyday people speak; what is not certain is whether they issue faith or doubt from their mouths when they speak. Before you speak, remember that justification or condemnation, victory or failure are all tied to our words.

Jeremiah expressed shock at God’s word on several occasions. He was shocked when God told him that he was ordained and chosen from when he was in his mother’s womb. He thought that his young age would be a barrier to divine purpose, but God disabused his mind from that. He also expressed shock when God prophetically declared that land would be bought in Judah after the 70-year captivity period. God had to challenge his unbelief by asking if anything was too hard for him to do.

“Jesus is the grand gift of God. If He could give Christ, there is not a thing on earth that will not be given in addition.”

Abraham and Sarah expressed similar shock when God promised them a son in their old age. Sarah laughed in unbelief, because her mind kicked against its possibility. Or, consider Moses whom God promised to supply meat for the whole congregation for an entire month. He wondered how that could be possible. In all these instances, the problem is the mind. It is often the case that whatever the mind cannot contain, it doubts. This is why the mind will have to keep undergoing renewal. Romans 8:32 is a good way to boost the mind – “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” (NKJV). We marked Christmas yesterday, a celebration of God’s gift to mankind. Jesus is the grand gift of God. If He could give Christ, there is not a thing on earth that will not be given in addition.

Hundreds of prophecies preceded the birth of Jesus. His mission was not beclouded too. Our text provides about the clearest purpose for His coming – to save His people from their sins. Since the incidence in the Garden of Eden where Adam committed high treason, no one had been able to redress it. Many prophets came and went, preached and did many miracles, but none of them had answers to the sin question. Jesus was born for this express purpose. His birth and the eventual death provided the only solution to the sins of humanity.

“Christmas should be an opportunity to receive the forgiveness brought to us by Jesus and a time of rededication to live acceptably before God as we make Him our model for all things.”

If we are to add another reason for His coming, it would be to demonstrate before the world how to live. In Ephesians 5:1, Apostle Paul enjoined the believers at Ephesus to be followers of God who is their Father. A translation of that verse used the word “imitators” for followers. The idea expressed there was to mimic God! That would pose a problem. How can one imitate God who is invisible? Jesus came as the express image of the invisible God. When one asked Him to show them the Father, He replied by saying whoever has seen Him as seen the Father. Following in the footsteps of Jesus would mean imitating God. Christmas should be an opportunity to receive the forgiveness brought to us by Jesus and a time of rededication to live acceptably before God as we make Him our model for all things.

We are returning to this text a second time in as many days, but for a different emphasis. First of all, let us observe that the act of feet washing was not anything new to the Jewish community. It was part of customary welcome package for visitors. It was part of menial tasks that servants engaged in within the household of their masters. What was new was the fact that Jesus, being the Master, opted to do it for the disciples instead of the other way round. That was why Peter initially resisted the move. Again, let us observe that all the three characteristics of love played out in that one exercise. It was all inclusive – even Judas who eventually betrayed Him had his feet washed. It was sacrificial as well as practical.

“If we are ever going to love like Jesus, we have to be “servant-conscious”.”

Now, the first two words of our text are quite significant – “after that”. We might ask, after what? The previous verse supplies the answer. “…rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself.” It was after Jesus rose from supper, laid aside His garments, took a towel that He began to wash their feet. There are significant things in this verse for those who want to love like Jesus. Rising from dinner can stand for giving up some pleasure. Laying aside our garments may well stand for coming off any high horse we may be on by virtue of position or other privileges. When Jesus laid aside His garments and took towel, He assumed the position of a servant. If we are ever going to love like Jesus, we have to be “servant-conscious”.

In the past couple of meditations, we discussed two characteristics of Jesus’ love which Dr. James Denison identified. The third one is set in the context of Jesus’ act in John 13. This was where he washed the dusty feet of His disciples, a pointer to the fact that love is practical. The writer of the Book of Acts talks of the things which Jesus began both to do and teach. Jesus’ ministry was not skewed in theories and talk shows, it was practical. His custom was to do a thing before teaching it to others. So He demonstrated love before demanding from His disciples to show love. Whether by feeding the hungry, healing the sick, or visiting with people, He passed the same message across that love is practical.

“To love like Jesus is to be practical in our profession… We are enjoined to not love in words only but in deeds.”

To love like Jesus is to be practical in our profession. We are to be there for those who are nursing a wound. We are meant to provide food for the hungry as much as it lies within our means. Believers are to ensure that all have clothes on their back, letting our charity begin from home – the household of faith. James reasoned along this line. If any brother is destitute of basic essentials of life and comes to us, coating our words in religious clichés like “be blessed” is not a sign of love. We are enjoined to not love in words only but in deeds.

In 2019, Christian Shield was a 29 year-old pastoring at Christian Life Church in South West Cedar Rapids. He got information about one Matt Alexander who was in stage four renal failure, needing urgent kidney transplant to save his life. He flew down to where Matt was and donated one of his kidneys, though they were complete strangers at that time. He had acted on the words of Jesus where He said that those who have two coats should give one to him that has none. He believed that that word applies to kidney transplant as well! One of Matt’s daughters could not be grateful enough thanking him for “saving my Daddy’s life.”

“…every professing believer must arm themselves with the thought of sacrificing one way or the other.”

In our previous meditation, we learned that we are called to walk in love and that Jesus provides the template. We also mentioned one of the three distinguishing characteristics of Jesus’ love which Dr. Jim Denison refers to as inclusiveness. The next attribute of this love is that it is sacrificial. Jesus became a sacrifice for us, laying down His life even when that involved cruel death at Calvary. Our text says our love for one another should reach that degree of readiness to lay down our lives. I believe Christian Shield lived out the spirit of this admonition. Giving one of his kidneys without fear of losing his life is a true manifestation of the love of Christ. Not everyone will do what he did; but every professing believer must arm themselves with the thought of sacrificing one way or the other.

Christmas has always been a special season. There is this excitement in the air, people travelling to places and exchanging gifts. While all these are good and to be encouraged, we must not forget the core subject of the season. It is all about love. That is the reason He came into the world. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16 NKJV). In a world bedeviled by hatred and wars, there is no subject worth stressing more than love. As is clearly seen from our text, Jesus did not only elevate love to the status of a new commandment, He also enjoined us to love one another.

“To love like Jesus is to have this inclusive mindset, exercising no negative bias against anybody or people-group.”

We are called to demonstrate the exact type of love that Jesus showed. According to Dr. Jim Denison, there are three attributes of His divine love. He discussed the three in his daily cultural commentary of August 13, 2019, and these will be our guide in the next few meditations. The first one that he talked about is the all-inclusive nature of Christ’s love. He did not segregate Gentiles from Jews or the poor from the rich. He was as comfortable in the company of commoners as with tax collectors and businessmen. To love like Jesus is to have this inclusive mindset, exercising no negative bias against anybody or people-group. Whenever you see believers become sentimental about their tribes to the exclusion of others, there you have people who are yet to be perfected in God’s love.

Abraham Kaplan, a philosopher, made a distinction between problem and predicament. He said, “A problem is something you can do something about. If you can’t do something about it, then it’s not a problem, it’s a predicament. That means it’s something that must be coped with; something that must be endured.” It can be very frustrating trying to handle a predicament as a problem and vice versa. Paul spoke of a thorn in his flesh, allowed by God to keep him in check. Whatever the thorn was, it would certainly fit into our description of predicament. It was something he could do nothing about. He sought the Lord thrice for it to be removed. On each occasion, God returned a “no” verdict. Rather, He offered him grace to cope. The same predicament became occasion for the power of Christ to be made manifest to and through him.

“The secret to peace and progress is accepting by grace the things we cannot change and the courage to change what is possible.”

It is important to know what one is dealing with – whether a problem or predicament. This brings up the value of serenity prayer. Reinhold Niebuhr is credited for what has become known as the Serenity Prayer. It says, “God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.” The secret to peace and progress is accepting by grace the things we cannot change and the courage to change what is possible.

You don’t ask a leader if he has any problem; that’s actually the reason why he is called a leader – to fix problems. Most leadership functions will revolve around purpose, people, project, and process. It is impossible to get involved with these without generating some frictions. Those frictions are problems, and that defines the job of a leader. Al Davis gave an insight into a leader’s perspective to problems. He said: “A great leader doesn’t treat problems as special. He treats them as normal. If you’re working, expect problems. If you’re dealing with family, expect problems. If you’re just minding your own business and trying to relax, expect problems. If everything goes according to plan, then be pleasantly surprised. If it doesn’t, and you’ve planned accordingly, you won’t be frustrated. A problem not anticipated is a problem. A problem anticipated is an opportunity.” 

“You don’t ask a leader if he has any problem; that’s actually the reason why he is called a leader – to fix problems.”

Those with incomplete knowledge of faith will simply dismiss Al Davis, considering him as a pessimist. Unbalanced presentation of faith message is the bane of many Christians today. Many times, our wrong notion of faith is the very reason we capitulate when faced with the slightest challenge. We have come to erroneously believe that if only we have faith, we will not see another problem in life. Jesus never promised us a life void of problem. He only said He will be with us till the end of the age. He also said that all that we will ever face will be resolved in our favour. Bible faith does not mean there will never be problems; it means that Jesus has already overcome the world for us.

In our previous meditation, we understand that prayers will not always focus on what God should do for you, but for the opening of the eyes to see what has not been known before. Added to that is that sometimes the things we pray for will not be within reach until we have the capacity to handle it. So, praying for increased capacity is one of the important steps before we access some blessings. It is important to know that the container must be in place before God will supply the content. Again, God will not supply more than the size of the container provided. We use container in this context to represent capacity. Until you have developed room for more, God will not waste His resources on you.

“Until you have developed room for more, God will not waste His resources on you.”

The children of Israel complained of the manna they were eating. They pressed for meat and Moses took their cause to God, who promised to supply quantity large enough to last a whole month! Apparently, Moses’ mind could not handle the arithmetic. Moses reasoned that if all the cattle in the field plus the fishes in the sea were released for the exercise that would still be a pittance. The text before us was God’s answer. It was meant to remind Moses of what the arm of the Lord had done in the past; and by so doing to enlarge his mind’s capacity to receive. Moses got the picture; and God brought meat for the people as He had promised. Every  time you study the Bible or hear the word of faith preached, it is your opportunity to enlarge capacity.

The request of the sons of Zebedee regarding sitting on either side of Jesus, carnal as it may seem, brings up an important aspect of prayer that is often overlooked; that is, responsibility. More than most people think, prayer will often place a demand on you. If you pray, “Give us this day our daily bread”, you must be ready to work in order to get answer to your prayer. In our text, Jesus implied that what the two brothers were seeking would entail a responsibility, a costly one at that. Praying to sit on either side of the throne would at the very least cost them their lives. So prayer is not a proposition for a lazy man.

“Once you know what God wants you to do, your next prayer should be the courage and wisdom to follow through.”

Not all prayer is in the mode of “give me” or making a long list of what God should do for us. Prayer that absolves one of all duties will fail the test of praying responsibly. Some of the most important prayers would be asking God to open your eyes to truth previously unknown and to show what He would have you do. Saul prayed that way on the way to Damascus and that gave birth to missionary endeavours that greatly impacted the kingdom of God. Nothing wastes time more than praying God to do what He already earmarked for you to do. Once you know what God wants you to do, your next prayer should be the courage and wisdom to follow through.

When carried out in proper context, prayer helps us in mortifying the deeds of the flesh. We observed yesterday that mature prayer is not self-focused; otherwise God is not obligated to pamper our carnal desires. Ironically, most prayers these days are such as have no spiritual value or the good of others at its core. The request that these two brothers made was of no value to God’s kingdom or the welfare of the brotherhood.

“Praying without being mindful of the will of God on the subject matter is an exercise in futility.”

In our text, the sons of Zebedee took the liberty of association for license. They were audacious in asking Jesus to make a commitment to grant whatever they would ask Him. Jesus did not make any commitment, but gave them leave to present their petition. It turned out that they were asking for chief seats on either side of Jesus in the Kingdom. Their idea of prayer was that God grants anything that appeal to our fancy. I think many believers still operate with this mindset. If we are going to make the most of the holy art of prayer, we have to remove self-promotion from the way. In addition, we must learn that the prayers that move God are the ones that aligns with His will. Praying without being mindful of the will of God on the subject matter is an exercise in futility.

Prayer is divine dialogue, mostly carried out behind the curtains. Covid-19 altered many things, including the privacy with which prayer is designed to be carried out. Rather than the dialogue between God and man done behind the scene, we see a lot of ostentatious prayers going on these days. The effectiveness of prayer is not tied to the frenzy behind it, but in our ability to engage in proper reasoning. Abraham understood the importance of reasoning with God. His intercession was on the heel of the information that he got. God had told him of the impending judgment on Sodom. On hearing that, he began to reason with God, wondering if the city would not be spared on account of 50 righteous souls. God assured him that if there were as many as 50 righteous in the land, it would be spared. He pressed harder, moving the figure to 40, then 30, then 20. On each round of reasoning or negotiation God obliged him. Finally, he set the cut off mark at 10.

“Prayer is divine dialogue, mostly carried out behind the curtains.”

In reasoning with God Abraham held on to God’s justice. His argument was that it would be contrary to natural justice to destroy the righteous with the wicked, and that by God who is known as the Judge of the whole earth. Even though Sodom was eventually destroyed, God saved Lot on account of the prayers of Abraham. A critical lesson here is that mature prayer is not all about self; it is a major tool we employ to seek the good of others. Finally, a good prayer provides something for God to remember.