God explicitly instructed Adam not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil in the garden. That was followed by a warning – eating of it would lead to death. Someone may say that the man and his wife lived hundreds of years even after they disobeyed God. That is right, but the consequence of sin is not limited to physical death. It was Evangelist T. L. Osborne who said that whenever you sin, something dies within you. Something dies in a sinner long before he or she dies physically and eternally. For Adam and Eve, the first thing that died was courage or confidence. The confidence with which they had fellowshipped with God in the past was gone the moment they sinned.

…whenever you sin, something dies within you…Sin will rob us of the confidence to approach God and the opportunity to get answers to our prayers.

Jesus revealed the dynamic relationship between Him and the Father. At Lazarus’ tomb, He confidently thanked the Father knowing full well that His petition had been heard. On another occasion He declared, “And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him.”” (John 8:29 NKJV). The dynamic relationship Jesus had with the Father ensured that whatever He asked flowed without hindrance. This is how it should be with us as God’s children. Sin will rob us of the confidence to approach God and the opportunity to get answers to our prayers.

In his epistle to the Philippians, Paul paid a glowing tribute to Timothy his son in the faith. The young Bishop stood out among others because of his selfless service. “But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, that I also may be encouraged when I know your state. For I have no one like-minded, who will sincerely care for your state. For all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus. But you know his proven character, that as a son with his father he served with me in the gospel.” Philippians 2:19-22 NKJV

Life is richer when it is lived in the service of others. We conquer selfishness when we devote ourselves to the welfare of others.

Life is richer when it is lived in the service of others. We conquer selfishness when we devote ourselves to the welfare of others. The moment you make it your priority to promote people’s welfare, you at the same time activate a spiritual principle. God will ensure that other people seek your welfare, too. Living for others also has a way of dealing with one of the controlling spirits in the last days. The Bible says that people will be lovers of self in the last days. When you choose to prioritize others, you overcome this spirit. In addition, you will grow more into the image of Christ who lived His entire life pursuing the welfare of others. He did that to the extent of dying on the Cross. His rich heritage today is because of that eternal sacrifice.

If you are giving your best and still facing significant disapproval, don’t be discouraged. Sometimes, that’s simply part of the journey. Consider it normal and stay faithful. Jesus came as a perfect specimen. He walked the earth doing good, healing the sick and liberating the oppressed. He cleansed the lepers and gave sight to the blind. Did He get the approval of all? The Pharisees challenged Him every inch of the way. The Sadducees questioned His doctrine. Several others opposed Him. Followers of Christ would be expecting too much by asking the whole world to press the “like” button. The world that crucified Jesus but asked a murderer to be set free cannot give you your rightful due. In the light of our text, seeking the world to speak well of you may be treading a slippery path. That was how they goaded the false prophets to their doom.

What truly counts is God’s endorsement. If you have that, you can sleep in peace even if the world talks down on you.

Apostle Paul knew that seeking man’s approval can put someone at odds with God. He said, “I’m obviously not trying to flatter you or water down my message to be popular with men, but my supreme passion is to please God. For if all I attempt to do is please people, I would fail to be a true servant of Christ.” (Galatians 1:10 TPT). To the Corinthians, Paul was considered rude in speech (2 Corinthians 11:6) and contemptible in appearance (2 Corinthians 10:10). The clear message is that no matter how well you are doing, never expect a 100% approval rating. What truly counts is God’s endorsement. If you have that, you can sleep in peace even if the world talks down on you.

One of the key principles of hermeneutics or biblical interpretation is that we should take literally what makes literal sense in Scripture. Some other time, we need to check the meaning of a word and see how its uses have changed over time. Take our text for example. It says that the word of the Lord was precious in the days of Eli. We cannot interpret the word “precious” the way we do today. In a literal sense, there is no time when the word of God is not precious. If we interpret it in modern-day English, we will miss the meaning. Another translation will be of help. “Now the boy Samuel ministered to the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was rare in those days; there was no widespread revelation.” (I Samuel 3:1 NKJV). Typically, God delights in speaking to His people. Whenever He stops speaking, the people must have persisted in their sins. The withholding of divine presence such as the absence of vision or prophecy can be a form of divine judgment or discipline.

If the word of God is scarce, then victory is far! …A strong appetite for the word is a must for those who desire to walk in victory.

Every believer must strive to create a conducive environment for divine manifestation. This is because the scarcity of the word of God has consequences. If the word of God is scarce, then victory is far! God’s word is described in various ways. Jeremiah said it is like the hammer that breaks the rock into pieces. He also describes it as fire. Without access to the word of God, those rocks and chaffs will continue to assault a child of God. Moreover, as we can see from Jesus, the word of God is the sword of the spirit that can push back the devil when he comes with temptations. A strong appetite for the word is a must for those who desire to walk in victory.

Just before writing today’s article, I watched the video clip of a multi-million-naira property being bulldozed on the authority of the Enugu State government of Nigeria. The property belonged to a millionaire who made his money through crime. He was notorious for kidnapping people and burying them, some alive, in his compound. When he was arrested, he became a spectacle to the whole community. In a separate development, a woman who had perpetrated fraud for many years was recently apprehended in Ibadan, Nigeria. Her modus operandi was to hire people to feign all forms of misfortune and unleash them on society to ask for alms. She had built her inglorious trade substantially, having agents in Ibadan and Lagos, Nigeria. Out of what her employees make, a percentage is paid back to them as a stipend. She had built houses and bought cars from the proceeds of crime before the bubble burst. She was apprehended as a result of the confession of one of her recruits.

Making money through fraud or other crimes does not guarantee peace of mind…A fraudulent approach to enrichment may appear to be fast, but the end is shame, sorrow, and regret.

Making money through fraud or other crimes does not guarantee peace of mind. No matter what you gain in the process, it will leave your soul empty and craving for more. On the contrary, the little that the righteous gets in a decent and honest way brings satisfaction. This is the truth conveyed in scripture that the blessing of the Lord makes one rich and adds no sorrows with it (Proverbs 10:22). A fraudulent approach to enrichment may appear to be fast, but the end is shame, sorrow, and regret.

Luke documents the account of the paralytic man who was brought where Jesus was teaching. When they couldn’t find a way in through the door or window, those who carried the sick man became remarkably ingenious. They tore off the roof and lowered him down before Jesus. The Lord saw their bold action as a powerful expression of faith. Immediately, He offered forgiveness to the man. Luke 5:25 tells us the reaction of the scribes and Pharisees to Jesus’ words. They felt He was blasphemous. Meanwhile, all that was going on in their hearts and not openly expressed. The lesson for us is that Jesus knew their thoughts and faulted their reasoning.

Finally, the reason why God can do beyond what we ask for in prayer is because He considers our thoughts as well and converts them into prayer requests.

Thoughts matter! David understood this truth. Accordingly, he said of the Lord, “You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off.” Psalms 139:2 NKJV. If thoughts do not count, why would Jesus challenge people for thinking wrong thoughts? There is a divine flow into our lives when we learn to harmonise our thoughts with God’s word and all that is noble. Finally, the reason why God can do beyond what we ask for in prayer is because He considers our thoughts as well and converts them into prayer requests. If God blesses us only to the extent of our prayers, many believers would be destitute. The reason is that we are not as prayerful as the Bible enjoins us to be.

Everything God wants done on earth has a pattern in heaven. Equally, every life that God allowed on earth is designed with a specific purpose and pattern in mind. Following the pattern brings about the glory of God into a life. A believer who wants the glory of God must be interested in understanding and working with divine patterns.

Everything God wants done on earth has a pattern in heaven…The truth is that many of the things people attribute to curses are mere manifestations of failure to follow patterns.

In this part of the world, people are quick to blame the sins of our forefathers for the lack of progress. This will not stand the test of theology. Did the forefathers of the Americans and Europeans sin against God? Of course yes. They were the ones responsible for all the atrocities of slavery and colonialism. If the sins of forefathers could hold people down, those societies would not be where they are today. The other scapegoat we have for our backwardness is ancestral curses. This also does not stand the test of scripture. On the authority of Scriptures, we can state that the work of Jesus on the cross was comprehensive. He not only died to forgive our sins, the manner of His death was the cure for all curses. The truth is that many of the things people attribute to curses are mere manifestations of failure to follow patterns.

I had my maiden trip to Canada between April and May of this year. I was privileged to minister in four different ministries across three regions. I observed that the people there have the same needs as those in America, Europe, and African nations. This brings to mind the words of the Apostle in 1 Peter 5:9, that the same afflictions are accomplished in the brethren all over the world. There is nowhere you go in the world without meeting challenges. However, the good news is that if you know how to connect with God’s power, you can thrive anywhere you find yourself.

The spirit of faith works by speaking… Winning faith is a combination of declaration and action.

The woman with the issue of blood operated in faith to change her situation. Three things were clear in her exercise of faith. First of all, notice how she developed her faith. She had previously heard about Jesus. It is not clear what she heard about Him. It is safe to guess that she heard of the various miracles that Jesus had performed. Each of those testimonies served as a faith booster. Romans 10:17 says that faith comes by hearing. Secondly, she put her faith to work. James noted that faith without works is dead. When she said within herself that touching the garments of Jesus would cure her, it was an expression of faith. The spirit of faith works by speaking. She later acted on her faith when she pressed through the crowd to touch His clothes. Winning faith is a combination of declaration and action.

Having the right perspective on issues will help in no small measure to pilot the affairs of life. To begin it, God’s perspective will always be the right perspective. It was through this that Joseph maintained a quiet attitude amid his travails. Yesterday, we noted that he stood before Pharaoh at the age of 30. He came straight from prison. However, before that day was over, his life changed completely. An erstwhile prisoner became a ruler over Egypt.

Having the right perspective on issues will help in no small measure to pilot the affairs of life. To begin it, God’s perspective will always be the right perspective.

As mentioned earlier, Joseph had the right perspective concerning the maltreatment he received from his brothers. They had sold him into slavery and thought they had made a clean end of him. However, that step brought him closer to his destiny. Joseph became a ruler in Egypt and a saviour of the world. What his brothers meant for evil was turned around by God. A cardinal truth about God is His ability to turn things around. We call this God’s redemptive power. He knows what the enemy is doing or has planned. Beyond this, He can put a redemptive spin on Satan’s activities and turn them to a blessing for His people. With God on your side, head or tail, you will win! Embracing this perspective empowers a child of God to endure even the toughest situations, resting in the assurance of Scripture that God is working all things together for good.

Joseph must have lived up to thirteen years in Egypt before he stood before Pharaoh. His invitation was occasioned by the king’s dream which none of his wise men or magicians could interpret. Joseph’s fame was heralded to the king by the butler who had been a beneficiary of his grace. When Pharaoh praised him upfront, Joseph refused to bite that bait. As our text shows, he rightly put the matter in the hand of God. Though he had correctly interpreted dreams before, he did not assume that it was because of his brilliance.

Our learning and expertise, no matter how vast, will come to nothing without the indispensable factor of God’s presence and guidance.

Jesus reminded the disciples that they could do nothing by themselves. This applies to us as well. The setup in the kingdom is such that we will need to connect with the heavenly grace to achieve anything meaningful here on earth. Even Jesus stated that He could do nothing of Himself. He needed to wait on the Father for His every move. Our learning and expertise, no matter how vast, will come to nothing without the indispensable factor of God’s presence and guidance. As you continue in the month, don’t trust in the arm of flesh. Rather, make the Spirit of God your strength and stay. When Joseph was seen as the solution to all riddles, he simply said, “it is not in me”. Truly, it is not in any of us; it is only by the help of God that we can pull through anything.

In God’s kingdom, success is not measured by results alone. In Luke 10, Jesus commissioned seventy disciples into the evangelistic field. They were to preach God’s Kingdom as well as heal the sick. They came back and seemed to have outperformed their expectation as we can see in verse 17 – “Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.” When we examine their commissioning, we do not see any specific instruction given to them to cast out demons. The victory over demons is not difficult to explain. In some cases, sicknesses have demonic roots. So the command to heal sickness is already a liberty to deal with its demonic source. On another note, the power given to them to heal the sick is the supreme power of God; it can solve every other problem along its path.

To gain the whole world and lose one’s soul is no success at all. True success is being in harmony with God and dwelling with Him eternally.

The disciples were excited about the results that they obtained in the field, but Jesus reoriented them. Their joy was not to stem from the results they obtained, but from the fact that their names were written in the Lamb’s book of life. The inheritance that is reserved for us in heaven is what counts. There is no result that we post here on earth that is as important as having our names in the Lamb’s book of life. To gain the whole world and lose one’s soul is no success at all. True success is being in harmony with God and dwelling with Him eternally.

In Ephesians 4:31, Apostle Paul gave a clear instruction to believers, urging them to remove certain negative attitudes and behaviours from their lives. “Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.” My attention is particularly drawn to one of the items – evil speaking. This vice is closely associated with another: evil surmising. We are not likely to overcome evil speaking until we have overcome evil surmising. By the way, to surmise is to conclude with little or no evidence. If the conclusion reached is evil, that is evil surmising. I call this one of the little foxes that is capable of destroying the family or church vine.

We are not likely to overcome evil speaking until we have overcome evil surmising. By the way, to surmise is to conclude with little or no evidence.

I recently had an experience that clearly illustrates this point. We’ve been in discussions with a minister of the gospel to be one of our guest speakers for this year’s national convention. An elder from his church was assigned to liaise with me to work out the modalities. He called me once, and when I didn’t answer, he concluded that I was unwilling to take his calls. When he called, I wasn’t disposed to take calls. I later returned the call but it went straight into his voicemail. Evil surmising is a subtle but serious error — one that even those considered spiritually mature can occasionally fall into. Eli fell into the error. As he watched Hannah’s mouth move without any discernible words, he concluded that the woman was drunk. Refrain from jumping into conclusions and making light of people’s situations. The safeguard is to be kind to everyone and uphold them in prayer.

In our previous meditation, we showed that peace is a gift of God. This gift surpasses what anyone or any organisation can offer. This much can be said of joy as well. The kind of joy which the Lord gives is not conditioned by our external circumstances. It is something much deeper and flows from within. Apostle Paul demonstrated this in a number of ways. In recent times, we have had occasion to refer to his attitude when beaten alongside Silas and hauled into jail. They resorted to singing in the night. Their response was not typical in any way. Most people in their situation would be sighing, grieving, and complaining.

Walking with the Spirit of God in fellowship and obedience is a sure way to activate joy which no force on earth can quench.

In his writings to the Philippians, Paul explained that divine joy does not depend on external circumstances. In two separate instances, Paul exhorted the brethren to rejoice. One of those instances is found in our main text today. Before this, he had written similar things in chapter 3:1 –“Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. For me to write the same things to you is not tedious, but for you it is safe.” A point that must not be lost is that Paul wrote this epistle from prison. This paints a picture of a man who had risen above his unpleasant circumstances by the help of the Holy Spirit. Jesus promised those who believe in Him that out of their bellies will flow rivers of living water. We understand that the “rivers” here symbolizes the Holy Spirit. Walking with the Spirit of God in fellowship and obedience is a sure way to activate joy which no force on earth can quench.

Age changes many things. With age comes a change in taste, fashion, targets, and a lot more. From personal experience and that of others, peace becomes a major priority as one gets older. The exuberance of the earlier years gives way to a more contemplative one. This goes hand in hand with good health. With these, people care less about how much they eat or what clothes they put on. Incidentally, none of us can manufacture this peace, it is a gift of God. In our text, Jesus offered peace to His followers. He went on to distinguish His peace from the one which the world offers. His peace is enduring. What Jesus offered before He went to the cross was also the first thing He offered after His resurrection.

…to activate the peace of God. Firstly, walking in righteousness is a must.

There are two ways to activate the peace of God. Firstly, walking in righteousness is a must. Isaiah 48:22 did not mince words when it declares, “There is no peace,” says the Lord, “for the wicked.” Sin robs the mind of its peace. Secondly, we need to build a life of trust. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding.” Proverbs 3:5 NKJV. To trust in the Lord is to rely on His integrity. It is operating with the confidence that God cannot lie or go back on what He promised. It is also to believe that God is all powerful, hence He has the resources to execute whatever He has promised. Those who fulfill these conditions will never be shaken.

Naaman, the Syrian army general, almost lost his miracle. He simply did not understand God’s ways. Following the recommendation of a slave girl, he went to Samaria with great pomp in search of healing. The prophet Elisha asked him to go and dip himself seven times in the river Jordan, and that would suffice for his healing. That got him angry. He had better rivers back home, and felt that such instruction was ridiculous. He was also disappointed that the prophet did not personally come out to him. It took the intervention of his servants to save the day. When he obeyed the prophet, he was cured of leprosy.

God’s operations are beyond the limits of human conventions…What we must never forget is that even those things that look foolish are wiser than the best wisdom man can put together.

God’s operations are beyond the limits of human conventions. One of the reasons why many people miss God’s operations is that they expect Him to reason and act in a certain way. To begin with, it is utterly unreasonable for anyone to think that they can dictate how God should carry out His work. He is far too great to be ordered around. The Bible declares that His ways are not our ways, and His thoughts are far above ours. When viewed from a human standpoint, the preferred ways of God will appear foolish. What we must never forget is that even those things that look foolish are wiser than the best wisdom man can put together.

From scriptures we understand that there are different genres of music. In no classical sense, we can talk of music of celebration. This idea is from James who recommends that believers should sing when they are happy. (See James 5:13). If we go by the experience of Paul and Silas, we may conclude that there is music of deliverance. After a demon possessed girl had been delivered, her masters raised false accusations against the apostles and had them committed to jail. In the middle of the night, they sang praises to God. The result was the earthquake that shook the foundations of the prison, and their chains were ripped apart. The story of Saul would also confirm that there is music of deliverance. When he suffered bouts of attacks, they sought a man who was skilled in playing music. As often as David played, Saul was relieved of the tormenting evil spirit.

The summary is that music is indeed powerful, and must be used with discretion…Be sure that your choice of music is edifying and not defiling you.

Our text points to a different category of music. Call this music of invocation, if you like. The children of Israel needed direction and a word of assurance when faced with battle. They contacted Elisha who asked for a minstrel to play. The moment the music started, the hand of the Lord came on him. That hand of the Lord was God’s Spirit who showed them what they needed to do. Of course, they were victorious in that campaign. The summary is that music is indeed powerful, and must be used with discretion. If a category of music brought the hand of God to bear, it is not in doubt that Satan may also manifest if the choice of songs appeals to him. Be sure that your choice of music is edifying and not defiling you.

The cross was the highest and the most painful thing that Jesus endured, but it was by no means the only thing. He endured desertion. Though he fed thousands of people on different occasions, they all deserted Him at the trying moment. He endured being misunderstood. Many of His teachings were wrongly interpreted. When He asked them to destroy the temple and that He would build it back within three days, they thought that He spoke of Herod’s temple. In our text, we see a different type of endurance – enduring blame for what He did not do wrong! Martha’s statement implied that Jesus’ delay was the cause of Lazarus’ death. The commonest error that people fall into is blaming God for their woes.

The cross was the highest and the most painful thing that Jesus endured… He endured desertion… He endured being misunderstood…enduring blame for what He did not do wrong!

We can learn a thing or two from Jesus when we are being wrongly blamed. The first thing is that Jesus showed no anger against Martha.  He knew that she was already in grief. Lashing out at her could only deepen her sorrow.  What Jesus did was to demonstrate love and tolerance born out of understanding. He moved beyond that to offer hope by saying that Lazarus would rise again. Many of us would go up in arms if accused wrongly. Those who accuse you wrongly may be dealing with some undisclosed frustrations. If you can, correct the wrong impression to alter their judgment; but if you are not making sense to them, pray and leave the matter in the hands of God. Finally, Jesus eventually turned sorrow to dancing when He raised Lazarus back to life. That was more miraculous than if He had healed him. This is the point: whenever we think that God is delaying, He may be working out something grander than we could imagine.

There are two possible extremes one can fall into regarding pleasing God. The first can be illustrated with the story of the Pharisee told in Luke 18. The man in question mentions fasting twice a week as well as paying tithes as at when due. On the basis of his works, he was convinced he had a special place in the heart of God. The moment we think we have enough good works to present to God as credentials, we miss the boat. We need to remember that all our works of righteousness are nothing but filthy rags before God. No man can be justified by the works of the law. When we hold on to works, we forfeit grace.

We cannot keep emphasizing the goodness of God at the expense of His severity.

The other extreme is the lascivious tendency of those who think we are not under the law. This group further push their luck by thinking that once saved we are forever saved. They foreclose the possibility of drawing back, no matter how reckless we choose to live. They are quick to emphasize the fact that God is merciful, and He will always overlook and pardon sin. What they forget to recognize is that God is as severe as He is merciful. The truth lies in between these extremes. We need to strike a balance. We cannot keep emphasizing the goodness of God at the expense of His severity. The safety valve is what the Bible describes as a broken and contrite spirit.  This frame of mind neither boasts of any personal accomplishment nor lives indulgently. Such people simply tremble at the word of God.

It is commonly said, “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” This popular saying has its root in God’s word, which teaches us not to judge by outward appearance but to look at the heart.  It simply means that we should not be carried away by how things or people look on the outside. Samuel fell into this mistake. In Jesse’s house where he had gone to anoint Saul’s replacement by the word of the Lord, the first person that showed up was Eliab. He was Jesse’s first son, and he had the physical statistics to match. Samuel concluded that he must surely be God’s choice. God  had a different verdict. “But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”” I Samuel 16:7 NKJV

Judging who is courageous based solely on outward appearance is a flawed and unreliable measure…Boldness or courage is about the heart, and it is a part of our heritage as believers.

Judging who is courageous based solely on outward appearance is a flawed and unreliable measure. It will be misleading to assume that someone who appears macho and cocky is courageous. You could appear steely on the outside and be jelly-like on the inside. If boldness were all about external appearance, David could not have had a chance against Goliath. In our text, the psalmist shows us the secret of his boldness. He prayed, and the Lord infused his soul with boldness and strength. If you find yourself faltering where you ought to take bold actions, ask the Lord to strengthen you with courage in your heart. Boldness or courage is about the heart, and it is a part of our heritage as believers.

There is what could be described as the “extra mile” principle. This is derived from Jesus’ teaching where He instructs us to go two miles for anyone who compels us to go one. It is also in that context that He asked the disciples to turn the other cheek if they had been struck on the one side. The principle implies that we should be ready to go beyond the demand of duty. Following this principle might be all that is required for harmonious relationships among people.

Maturity is when one is willing to lose a peculiar advantage so that all may gain.

Abram employed this principle in dealing with his nephew, Lot. When he noticed that a crisis was brewing between his men and Lot’s men, he acted proactively, nipped it in the bud, to preserve their relationship.  He proposed an amicable separation so that each camp could continue to expand without any encumbrances. Lot was allowed to make the first pick. By their culture, the right of first choice belonged to Abram, but he forfeited that. To preserve the bond of unity among couples or in the larger household of faith, there are times we may have to forgo our rights and cherished positions for the greater good of all. Maturity is when one is willing to lose a peculiar advantage so that all may gain.

A powerful truth throughout the Bible is that God is “numero uno” of the universe. He is before and above all things, and we should accord Him that recognition. It is in the light of this that we can appreciate the injunction of the psalmist – “Give unto the Lord the glory due to His name; Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.”Psalms 29:2 NKJV. It is also in the same light that we can appreciate Jesus’ response to those who wanted to know what the greatest commandment was. “Jesus answered him, “The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment.” Mark 12:29-30 NKJV

Whenever you are tempted to make God play the second fiddle, remember that it is only the blessing of the Lord that can make you rich and add no sorrow with it. Keep God where He belongs!

Often, the need to put God first is overshadowed by our pursuits. That was where the Jewish returnees from captivity found themselves. After the captivity, the people’s morale was low, and they faced a severe shortage of resources. Everybody was busy trying to pick up the pieces of their lives that they forgot to give attention to the house of God. That was the circumstance in which Haggai ministered. He galvanized the people to attend to God’s house so that they might secure His blessing on their lives. Whenever you are tempted to make God play the second fiddle, remember that it is only the blessing of the Lord that can make you rich and add no sorrow with it. Keep God where He belongs!

In May this year, one Gbolagade Samuel, went viral. He is 15 years of age. He was later featured on a popular Radio Show anchored by Oriyomi Hamzat in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. Before his newfound fame, he was used to mimicking newscasters in the Yoruba language. He would prepare his script and read with such dexterity and humour that it made him a listener’s delight. He is now known by the sobriquet, “Radio Boy”. As part of his reward, someone has offered to sponsor his education up to the university level. Several other people have made promises to help him. His gift has indeed announced him to the world.

Those who do not use their gifts, either due to a lack of discovery or laziness, rob the Body of Christ and weaken its overall health.

As in the physical, so is the spiritual. Your gift can make a difference. In our text, Paul advised Timothy not to neglect his gift. That warning was given because neglect was a real possibility. If Timothy could be at risk, then so can we today. Neglecting spiritual gifts has consequences. Those who do not use their gifts, either due to a lack of discovery or laziness, rob the Body of Christ and weaken its overall health. They also rob themselves since our fulfillment is tied to the contribution we make towards sustaining the whole. There is a feeling of satisfaction that goes with seeing that one’s effort is adding to the overall growth of the Body. Most importantly, your reward is tied to faithful administration of God’s gift in your life.

Our response to God’s command will always produce a lasting effect on us – it will never leave us unchanged. Obedience will bring us close to Him and all His blessings, while disobedience will do the opposite. The story of Adam and Eve bears eloquent testimony to this. When they disobeyed God regarding the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil, they faced immediate repercussions. They first noticed that they were naked. Then God showed up and proclaimed a curse on the ground, turning what had been sweet labour into hard toil before they could eat. Also, the woman received her share of the punishment, bearing children in pain. The greater punishment was that they were both driven out of the garden of Eden without any chance of making it back there on their own.

Jesus is the gate to renewed fellowship with the Father… Those who put their faith in Him have unrestricted access to God and all He can offer.

That high treason in Eden set the stage for the Messiah. Jesus needed to come down to earth to redeem fallen man and restore him to what was once lost. This will help us to understand what Jesus meant when He said, “I am the gate”. He is the gate to all that the garden of Eden represented and more. Don’t forget that it was in the garden that God regularly fellowshipped with Adam and Eve. That was lost when they were driven out of it. So Jesus is the gate to renewed fellowship with the Father. He is the gate to peace, tranquility, and abundance which the garden life stood for. Those who put their faith in Him have unrestricted access to God and all He can offer. Jesus is the new and living way to the Father and all of the heavenly bounties.