Lead with Compassion

Rom 12:1 CPDV And so, I beg you, brothers, by the mercy of God, that you offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, with the subservience of your mind.

In Paul's style of introducing Christian believers to how they should conduct themselves in their daily living, he starts by begging them to offer their bodies as a living sacrifice to God. Doesn't it appear odd to you? I must confess, it took me a while after reading this verse over and over again to see this truth. I also understand that because of our different biblical leanings, we might see it differently, so I will explain. 

I will start by asking you when last you heard a sermon in church begging you to live up to your status as a believer or a message about eternity that admonished you to keep standing in Christ and the preacher was practically begging you to make it your top priority. I am almost certain that if Paul the Apostle were to be preaching this verse as a sermon in the church in Rome, he would most likely be on his knees urging them while also showing them the importance. 

How would you feel seeing your Pastor on his knees begging you to do God's will, not his personal standard or obligations, but to live indeed as Christians during his sermon? I am so sure even if you forget the topic that day, the graphics of the message won't be lost. Instead what is common is using the fear of hell to make believers live right. 

I also personally believe there is a leadership principle we can learn here. It's not all the time commanding and ordering people because they are "under" us and we are their leaders or superiors so we dole out commandments for them. Many times this doesn't work because people have a mind of their own and what is in their heart to do is really what they will eventually do, it doesn't matter what you say. Maybe you have not realised, the reason why anyone will follow you headlong is most likely because of their paycheck or favour they have received or will receive from you.

The whole essence of my story today is to make you realize there is another way to get people do what you want them to do without forcing or raising your voice. Maybe it's time you considered urging them instead as an alternative to shouting that has not proved to be effective. Whenever I try to correct someone and this person still goes ahead to do the wrong thing the next time, I like to believe I probably didn't pass my message well to this person and try to be better next time.

I know it's not culturally a norm for a senior to plead with their juniors to get a task done, the usual mentality is to use the age difference as a point to get them to work, but you will soon realise with your own relationship with your seniors that it doesn't always work well. Next time you want to reach out to someone to get something done, instead of going through the bossy route, try a more compassionate way and make them see reasons with you.

Steps Of Faith

And look, a woman who had an issue of blood for twelve years came behind him, and touched the fringe of his garment. Matthew 9:20

One thing that caught my attention about this woman is the audacity she had to go in the crowd towards Jesus. According to the custom of her day, she was regarded as unclean and should not mix in the crowd lest she makes others too unclean by touching her.

She had been in this condition for 12 years, yet she didn't change her mindset to accept this condition as her new way of life. She did all she could to get out of it, even when it cost her her material possessions. She saw Jesus and knew that if she could simply touch his garment, not him praying for her after a fast, she would be whole.

Although getting in the crowd was against the law, she nonetheless went in, knowing fully well it held the key to her healing. She knew how to receive her healing and what she needed to do to receive it. Touching Jesus garment would give her her healing, while getting close to Jesus was what she had to do.

Knowing that God can heal, deliver or set free from whatever bondage or situation as never been the hindrance for many, but taking a step in that direction. If this woman only knew about how she would get her healing from Jesus but did nothing about it, then we probably would have not heard of her story.

The singular most important reason we heard about this woman is because she chose to become the actor in her own story by going against the odds. How many times the Holy Spirit has prompted us to give our money for a project in church, devote more time for him in service, pray for a sick one or reach out to an unsaved fellow. Even when we know very well that those actions would open us up to receive more from the father, but we explain them away or find a thousand and one more reason not to do them.

Having a strong faith is important as well as taking steps in line with our faith. The only way someone will know you are in faith is not merely by you confessing it, but when they see you take bold steps that will bring those confessions to life. The only way to see what you believe in come to pass is to take those steps of faith.

Seeing The Other Side

"I know the LORD has given you this land," she told them. "We are all afraid of you. Everyone is living in terror. For we have heard how the LORD made a dry path for you through the Red Sea when you left Egypt. And we know what you did to Sihon and Og, the two Amorite kings east of the Jordan River, whose people you completely destroyed. No wonder our hearts have melted in fear! No one has the courage to fight after hearing such things. For the LORD your God is the supreme God of the heavens above and the earth below. Joshua 2:9-11. NLT

The story of the twelve spies Moses sent to the Promised Land is quite popular and the reports they brought back even more so. Even though God’s word had gone ahead promising them the land, the majority came back with factual, evident-based report; the land was good and the people strong and big, for added effect, they even described how they must have seemed small in the eyes of the inhabitants. The minority report on the other hand did not dispute the facts but they chose to believe God and his abilities more than the evidences before them. Of course, the majority had their way and they died in the wilderness.

Then years later, we get a rare view of the other side, a peep into the mind and the thinking of the inhabitants of the land. ‘We are all afraid of you, everyone is living in terror’, what a huge shock, oh what missed opportunity. If only the ten spies had heard these themselves, they would have marched immediately; instead they died unsung. Joshua and Caleb (minority reporters) had always known the truth though; God was busy behind the scene preparing the way for them, moving mountains for them.

How so much like today, where physical evidence is taken over and above God’s word. Just because we cannot see the other side, we are tempted to walk by sight. Beloved, there is more to it than the facts, God is still at work in the situation and all He asks of you is to believe Him. They might indeed be giants but in their hearts, they are terrified. Hold on to God’s word, he will come through for you. That sickness is not unto death, don’t give up; the marriage will be restored, don’t despair; your breakthrough will come, just hang in there. He that has promised is able to accomplish it.

Even when you can‘t see him, he is working, even when you can’t feel him he is working; he never stops working for you. Shalom.

Seeing Differently

Only rebel not ye against the LORD, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is departed from them, and the LORD is with us: fear them not. Numbers 14:9

Come to think of it, these young men had so much guts. In a world where when you don't follow the norm, you are called different names. I don't think this incidence was the first time Caleb and Joshua had a different opinion from the norm or general opinion. And they definitely had something working for them to be chosen as representatives of their individual tribes.

Ten men reported the people they saw as giants, which indeed is true in reality, but these two men brought a different report. What others called giants, was what they called 'bread'. This shows that whatever the people they went to spy out looked like physically meant nothing to them. They refused to be swayed by their looks.

Could it be that this two men had eye defects that made them underestimate the giants? I don't think so, instead I think they had an image of the invisible God in their minds who was bigger than any giant they saw with their physical eyes. The giants however tall and mighty they appeared meant nothing to them. Instead they reaffirmed that with God on their side, they could have the giants for lunch.

This two men nursed no fear whatsoever for the giants that was why they could face the multitude of people and tell them not to fear the giants. They didn't acknowledge the sight of the giants but were more conscious of the God they had. God on their side they were sure of possessing the land. God on their side they were sure of an imminent victory.

How many times do we shake at the sight of opposing situations and circumstances and forget about the God who not only is with us but dwells within us now? Victory over the giants of life doesn't come by merely having God, but a deep rooted consciousness of him. He was God to the whole nation of Israel, but two young men distinguished themselves by their thoughts and words that they had a God with them. And with God on their side, the giants came down before them. God will always come through for anyone who magnifies him above the physical 'giants' before them.

If you have not made Jesus Christ your Lord and saviour, you cannot take advantage of what God had prepared for you. We urge you, don’t wait another moment. Make up your mind and say this prayer:

“Dear God, I ask you to forgive me all my sins and make me anew. I believe that Jesus died for me and you raised him up on the third day, I confess that He is Lord now and forever. I accept your son, Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour.”

Congratulations! Now that you are born again, look for a bible believing church to attend that you might know what he has provided for you. 

BREAKING FREE

2 Peter 2:2

As new born babes, desire the sincere milk of the word that you may grow thereby.

The starting point for every believer is to start out as a babe. No new convert assumes a matured status as soon as they receive the life of God. Although this is where we all start, we should go beyond it by growing up. This kind of growth is not physical and can't be seen with the natural eyes. However, it must be continous, no matter how small the progress we are making now.

The challenge with many Christians when it comes to spiritual growth is that growth is in inches and may not be noticeable until after a long while. We tend to give up after a period of consistency because we see no visible changes yet in our life. But in reality, inasmuch as we commit to spiritual activities like spending time daily in prayer and the word, and fellowship with other believers, we are definitely growing.

This is where we usually fall for the enemies' lies that nothing is happening after being consistent for 10days and yet no sign. Whereas we are actually growing and the only way to grow is to be consistent. Since we are already on the path of growth, we should not be deterred if the symptoms of those habits and addictions still persists. Its in fact an evidence of growth in certain cases.

Each time we take a break on our commitment, it stifles the process especially when we have an end in view. For someone trying to break of on some habits, total commitment to the process is essential. The more entrenched we are in habit requires more tenacious effort in spiritual activities till they wear of. Never be discouraged, keep at the daily prayers and meditations in the Word irrespective of how inconvenient it might be.

Always keep the end in view. A fierce and aggressive commitment to spiritual activities over a period of time will always produce victory over negative activities we desire to break of from.

If you have not made Jesus Christ your Lord and saviour, you cannot take advantage of what God had prepared for you. We urge you, don’t wait another moment. Make up your mind and say this prayer:

“Dear God, I ask you to forgive me all my sins and make me anew. I believe that Jesus died for me and you raised him up on the third day, I confess that He is Lord now and forever. I accept your son, Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour.”

Congratulations! Now that you are born again, look for a bible believing church to attend that you might know what he has provided for you. 

Who Do They Say You Are?

When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.  Matthew 16: 13-17.

One day Jesus thought; ‘hey guys, who do your community people say that I am?’ And the disciples one after the other, I believe, started mentioning names; Elias, John the Baptist, Jeremias or one of the prophet. Sigh. Then Jesus asked: "who do you say I am?" And Mr Peter answered. He certainly was in the spirit when he did. It was not head knowledge, it was revealed unto him!

But why did the 'men’ who saw Jesus as a prophet think that?  Was there some particular way prophets dressed that Jesus followed? Was there a particular look they wore? Was their diet different? Was it a function of their complexion or height? I'm just wondering. 

Don’t Take Offence

In our last article, we saw how the Syrophoenician woman got the healing of her daughter along with a commendation from Christ because she refused to be offended and persisted till the end. We will in this piece look more closely at offence and how to correctly relate with it.

Offence is simply a cause or occasion of stumbling or sin, any action or words spoken against your person that could cause you to be displeased or angry. Hardly will a day go by that you will not have a reason to be offended. As long as we are in this world, there will always be a cause for displeasure, a reason to be angry. But the choice to be angry or offended is yours and we will dwell more on this later, first what are the consequences of getting offended.

As can be seen in Matt 15:22-30 (The Syrophoenician woman’s story), taking offence can deny you of your progress or desired goal. It distracts you and whittles away the energy needed for success. You spend time and resources dwelling and reacting to an offence thereby draining the present of the same resources. One of the greatest tool the enemy is using in the church today is offences, you see brethren refusing to work with each other because of years-old grudges.

Taking offences could also have ramifications far beyond the immediate action. You will be surprised how many persons are in prison today because of actions done in a fit of anger, they just had to react to a slight. A momentary loss of control and years of consequences. There is no better example than those of Simeon and Levi, brothers-in-arm who got offended that their sister was raped and took revenge on a whole city (Gen 34). Hear their fathers’ blessing (verdict seems more apt) on them “Simeon and Levi are brethren; instruments of cruelty are in their habitations. O my soul, come not thou into their secret; unto their assembly, mine honour, be not thou united: for in their anger they slew a man, and in their selfwill they digged down a wall. Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce; and their wrath, for it was cruel: I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel” (Gen 49:5-7). For that singular act, their generations were scattered abroad and the scepter of authority was given to their younger brother. Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools (Eccl 7:9).