Today’s Readings:
Psalm 40: 1-11; 1 Kings. 19 :19-21; Luke 5:1-11
The Scripture, in Mathew 6:33 admonishes us to – “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you.” God is a God of orderliness. 1 Cor. 14:40 says Let all things be done decently and in order. Paul brought home this point in Colossians 2 v. 5 when he stated that - For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, rejoicing and beholding your order, and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ. You cannot put the cart before the horse. The resultant effect is standstill or stagnancy. Unfortunately, that is what a lot of Christians are doing today. They want to serve God based on conditions. Their postulation is God, if you bless me richly, I will serve you. God’s Kingdom does not work like that. There will be no movement if that happens. Jesus said Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me: for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. (Mathew 11 v. 28 -30.)
In effect, you cannot graduate without going to school and writing examinations. To be qualified to serve the master you must study the Master himself. Imagine, somebody who is not a doctor wanting to perform operation on a patient or someone who is not a lawyer wanting to represent an accused person in court. The results of both will result in disastrous consequences. The issue is how can you avoid such disaster? The answer is simple. It is by following Christ’s example. How did Jesus do it? He tells us: “The son can do nothing by himself; he can only do what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. For the Father loves the son and shows him all he does… by myself I can do nothing; I Judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me” (John 5:19-20, 30 NIV). That sounds simple, right? Simple – but not easy. People will try to talk you into doing good things that are not necessarily God’s highest priority for you. You can spend your life doing the “good” and never get around to doing the “best.” Jesus said, “I have finished the work which thou gave me to do. “If God doesn’t give it to you, don’t take it on. And if He does, don’t try it without his help. Paul also said the same thing at the end of his ministry.
Elisha despite his riches forsook all and followed Elijah and he was the best for it. He received double anointing and performed double of Elijah’s miracles. Peter followed Jesus by leaving his fishing business to become fishers of men and was rewarded by Jesus building his church upon Peter the Rock. The Scripture says, “Cast your burdens upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved. (Psalm 55: 22). But He can only carry them when you give them to him. The Rich Young Ruler went away sorrowfully because he did not cast his burden on the Lord. He trusted in his riches and nothing was heard of him again. Today, God is calling on you to forsake all and follow him. Tomorrow may be too late. It is our prayer that it will not be too late for any of us in Jesus’ name. David said it all when as a young shepherd he sought God with all his heart. In Psalm 42 v. 1 as the hart pants after the brooks, so pants my soul after thee, o God. No wonder God made him a man after his own heart.
OLUKAYODE OLATUNJI
Prayers:
Oh Lord Help me to forsake all and follow you with all my heart, my soul and spirit in the name of Jesus.
My father, my father, my father help me to do your work without any fear or inhibitions in the name of Jesus.
Any spirit distracting me and my family from following your footsteps, Lord Jesus remove them by fire in the name of Jesus.
Powers that are hindering the movement of your work in the church, Oh Lord remove them by your fire in the name of Jesus.
Anointing of Grace and Mercy fall upon Nigeria and all Nations that are calling upon your name Oh Lord, in the name of Jesus.
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