Blessed Beatitudes

Our idea of being blessed in this postmodern and materialistic world that we live in, is perhaps owning a sleek sedan or beaming Benz; classy clothes and daunting dollars; articulate speech and grande gifts. Things. That is our idea of being blessed. Usually, we esteem it mostly among those of a higher standard than the average mwananchi, and most times we are trapped by these cares of our world, our goal being to amass as many blessings as we can. In fact, we do most things with the aim of 'being blessed'. Yet Christ is clear when He tells us that love of the world and love of God are two distinct and opposing kinds of Love (1 John 2: 15 -17).

In light of this, the Sermon on the Mount as written in Matthew 5 presented and still presents a challenge to us during these current times. The context is that Jesus was speaking to His disciples, and others present (crowds, Matt 5:1) concerning the Beatitudes. 

"One way of understanding the word 'blessed' is 'to be congratulated'. Congratulate the poor in spirit, the meek or the persecuted?" (BSF Lesson 5 notes). 

Similarly, we seem just as baffled that Jesus would say that these cohort of 'undeserving people' are blessed. It is far off from our imagination, we even ask "in this day and age Jesus, really? This is the 21st century . . . ." These 8 beatitudes present the keys to a joyful life, because we realize that the people who we assume are blessed because of the many possessions they have, are not necessarily filled with joy, especially if they thought that these would be the means to a joyful life. Yes, people own big houses but empty homes. People look classy but deep down, their performance is below average. The beatitudes show the transforming power of the Holy Spirit, who is available for everyone who believes upon the name of the Lord. (Acts 2:38, Eph 1:13).

This week in my meditations, I have asked myself these deep questions in line with what Jesus was saying here by the mountainside: what does it really mean to be poor in spirit? or blessed are those who mourn? do I hunger and thirst for righteousness? do I really rejoice when I am persecuted? It has humbled me, to know what God really expects of me. I have definitely come up short on several accounts. Reading further into the chapter, Jesus says that "He did not come to abolish the Law, but to fulfill it." (5:16). Jesus was speaking to a Jewish audience, people who held very strongly to their traditions and Laws, and He was somehow appealing to them and illustrating that through His person, He had fulfilled all the requirements of the Law. In fact He quotes the ten commandments when He begins, "You have heard that it was said . . . " in verses 21, 27, 31, 33. The pharisees, who were self-righteous people ('we are too cool for all of you mere mortals') kept all the Laws, and Paul had been one of them and even testifies (Phil 3:5). But Jesus here offers a warning to the disciples when he tells them that they wouldn't enter the Kingdom of Heaven unless their righteousness surpassed the Pharisees' (Matt 5:20) - that is, those who were 'perfect' in the eyes of their society. However, they observed the Law and as much as they didn't commit murder, they seem to have had hatred in their hearts for their brothers (Matt 5:22). They didn't commit adultery, but they lusted in their hearts and Jesus said that this in itself is adultery (Matt 5:28). Sounds very familiar for all of us. In short, "the heart of the matter is that it is a matter of the heart" as our teacher at BSF summarized. Every good or bad thing flows from the heart (Luke 6:45).

How does this apply to  us? I realize every day that pursuing Holiness is a daunting almost discomforting task, yet it is the most noble. (Matt 6:33). In fact, with righteousness, we have all things. But the standard of righteousness according to Jesus, is not that of self-effort (Phil 3:9). His righteousness rebukes our futile attempts at being good. (1 John 2:9 - 11, 1 John 3:16 - 18). The only way we could ever hope to be blessed is by humility, to accept that we are inadequate and to continuously lean towards Him to give rest to our souls; to confess that we are inadequate and He is all we need in order to have an abundant life (Matt 11:28 - 30, 2 Chron 7:14 - 16, John 10:10). As I continue to walk this earth, it dawns on me how we are similar and that we all fight battles of different kinds, and the only difference is that there are some who expend all their energy fighting their own battles, and there are some who depend upon Jesus to help them fight their battles. You see, the gospel of Jesus Christ is the only 'religion' that has strict rules AND ALSO offers a way to fulfill those rules. It is more than rules though. Much more. Being righteous seems a difficult task, but we can trust Him who had no sin (1 John 3:5), to help us in our times of trouble (1 Cor 10:13), and to provide for us a way towards God (John 14:6). In turn, God will continue to conform us to the perfection that is in Christ (Rom 8:29) and to enable us to act as He would want us to, in whatever day to day activities we find ourselves in (Phil 2:12 - 13). So we can be confident that the work which He has began in us, He will definitely see it to completion (Phil 1:6). 

Be blessed. 

***More details on BSF (https://www.bsfinternational.org/). "There is always a place for you." Nairobi classes are at Parklands Baptist on Thursdays evening, from 6:00 - 8:00 PM or All Saints Cathedral on Mondays evening from 5:45 - 7:45 PM. Open for Young adults who want to investigate the claims of scripture or deepen their intimacy with the Scripture as well as to share with other young people from different backgrounds.

***If you may have any questions or prayer items, feel free to email me at kevin.muriithi89@gmail.com

Rest in Peace

Birth and  death. The two events in everyone's life in which we have no control over. In fact, in both cases it is usually the memories and reports of other people that remind those who are living about the actuality of the two events. No man/woman can run away from the date with life and with death. One is welcomed with much joy and jubilation, the other with sadness and somberness. Death is no respecter of man/woman, so they say. It does not dialogue with the individual on the best day, and we never expect the day of visitation. As sojourners of this earth, we have definitely asked ourselves this question about death, or rather we definitely ought to, and for most it remains a mystical affair. As far as our minds travail, we can continue to debate about the significance and purpose of death, even until the point where it is too late to make an appropriate response (Mark 1:15). By the grace of God's wisdom, death has become a life teacher to others. It definitely has to me. If there is one truth about it is that life is short and fragile. Ecclesiastes 12:7 echoes this fragility by reminding us that we are but dust. Psalms 103:15 - 16 draws a parallel between our lives here on earth and the flower of the field, flourishing one day and blown the other day. It is only that unlike the flower of the field, we can rest in the hope for now and indeed the hope after the grave, for indeed "For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,  who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing." 1 Thess 5:9 - 11 and together with Paul we can say that "to live is Christ, and to die is gain." Philippians 1:21

Pondering about the inescapability of the appointment with death, and in the spirit of passing on wisdom from other sojourners, these 3 T's enable us to rest in peace and to pilgrim in prudent purpose. We could look at them as the 3 T's of life:

Trust.

Solomon is regarded as one of the wisest and wealthiest individuals to have ever lived. His accounts in the book of Ecclesiastes touch upon a multi-faceted interconnection of life's thrills and chills. When all is said and done, we are all entrusted with a variety of things including: Skills and talents (Matthew 25:14 - 30); Time (Ecclesiastes 8:6, Ephesians 5:15 - 17) ; our bodies and spirits (1 Corinthians 6:19 - 20); energy (Proverbs 6: 6 - 11); service to others in Love (Matthew 25:35 - 36) and of foremost importance, our entire lives. May the good Lord teach us to number our days and to give us the wisdom to walk in the way of life (Psalm 90:12) and to conclude life in God's will (Ecclesiastes 12:13).

Test

What is commonplace in many cultures and across all ages is the need to learn and learning through the many tests we have withstood. In fact, life itself is a teacher and it tests us through circumstances and people who we meet. In my culture, once a boy reaches the age of initiation, he is circumcised and spends a few days with an older 'brother' to teach him the ways of manhood and even isolated as a test of strength. Educational systems and mostly menacing lecturers have found ways to re-invent testing as it were. Life's ebb's and flows, if paid careful attention and retrospection can reveal to us a variety of lessons. Indeed, there is a time for everything, of building and destroying, of birth and death, of gain and loss, of silence and speak (Ecclesiastes 3:1 - 8). All these provide gems of lessons while on our life journeys. 

Temporary

Surely comparing the life of man to the span of eternity makes one gasp in fleeting breath, considering how insignificant it may seem (Psalm 39:4 - 5). Whatever titles or positions we hold, whatever roles we play or rituals we observe, whatever valleys we descend or hills we surmount, whatever the whatever, all this is temporary. This should grab a hold on our seemingly unquenchable pride, as well as to humble us. James 4:14, reminds us that we are like a mist, appearing and vanishing in a little while.

The 3 T's offer valuable insight to navigating our life journey. Most importantly, we see the need to put our hope for something, need I say, someone, more dependable and transcendent. You see, humans have free will that makes us unique beings and quite adventurous and curious - If only we had nine lives . . . We have a craving for timelessness. It is the core of who we are. Clearly, by our design, our physical bodies cannot aid us in this respect. In abandoning our futile thinking, we can draw our true identity and satisfy our inherent longings upon gazing at and embracing Transcendence Himself. 2 Corinthians 5:1 - 8 reveals that God has made available His spirit as a guarantee of eternal life (Romans 8: 16 - 17). Indeed, it is the same Spirit that spoke the earth into creation (Genesis 1: 1 - 2) and in the same way He can guarantee us this length of days. We need to claim it by faith (Hebrews 11:6), remembering that God's promises and words are true and trustworthy. 

As we have rested many loved ones in past and present times, as well as in the future, let us rest in the hope that these sufferings are not worthy to be compared to the glory that will be revealed (Romans 8:18). It is not in futility that God has desired it so (Romans 8: 20 - 21) but for the hope that is only found in Christ Jesus, the hope of the liberty of the Sons of God, the hope that works for our good in ALL things (Romans 8:28) and the hope that brings us to the Love of God. There is nothing that can separate us from the love of God, the love which is free for all. Nothing in the earth realm nor anything else above, neither trials nor tribulations, neither life nor death shall separate us from God; in fact, we are MORE than conquerors (Romans 8:31 - 39).

My prayer is that we shall surrender to, accept and understand God's great act of Love at Calvary Hill, which has brought us and can bring us into fellowship with our Transcendent and Loving Father through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ (Ephesians 14:14 - 21). Even as we rest our loved ones during this period, God retains the ability to even rest our souls in eternal rest (Matthew 11: 28 - 30, 2 Peter 3:8 - 14). 

May this poignant and heart-felt reminder give us the strength we need in our pilgrimages here, and may we grow in the Wisdom that comes from He who has fashioned everything into existence (Colossians 1:16). To Him be all the glory, now and even to the end of the ages!

May the Peace of God keep us all.

Heart problems and the eternal solution

Isaiah 55:6 -7 (NKJV) "Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon."

1 John 2: 15 - 17 >> The world has many illusions. It is possible to live under a delusion. You may think that you are kind, considerate and gracious, when you are really not. You think you are building positive values into your children when in reality, if you could check with them twenty years later, you find out you really didn't. You seek knowledge to solve your limited abilities or to enlighten your ignorance. Man has designed cars to ease transportation, aeroplanes to solve weightlessness, religion to fit God in a small box and beautiful garments to adorn our tainted hearts.

What our efforts have failed to do is to solve our heart problems.

I had the chance to be in the audience when a former alcohol and marijuana addict was sharing his testimony about his experience at Alcohol Anonymous (AA) and his redemption from addiction. The first thing they were told there was that they are powerless.

You see, this mirrors our current abilities as human beings - We can only do so much, by our own strength. Kenya is mainly a religious country but that cannot account for the high crime rates, the debauchery culture of the youth, the corruption of the politicians and the broken homes and marriages, prevalent in our society. Clearly, these outer forms of meager morality and  futile fortitude in the life journey prove that there is much more to these complex issues.

In many ways, we are similar to this man, in that we are powerless. The very things we want to stop doing are the very things we do (Romans 7:14 - 15).  The things we want to do, we lack the strength in doing them with consistency. 

Paul could not be more accurate in describing the current state of the world or the last days as he calls it. The current state of the world has become defined by the obsession of people with the consumption of power, as if it is part of our life diet, to the point of murders, strife and hatred among 'competitors'. Lusts of the flesh are the reason for unfaithful relationships, revelry, adultery, idolatry, fornication and the fact that we are lovers of ourselves rather than lovers of God (2 Timothy 7: 14 -15).

Reflecting on this core scripture from Isaiah, we see that we ought to turn from our unrighteousness (Philippians 3:8 - 9) because we serve a Holy God. We cannot approach him with 'our filthy rugs'. If you ask anyone, even a random person in the street, they will probably tell you they want to go to Heaven - The only problem is that only God, the King of Kings, who has His everlasting throne there has the entrance manual to this place of eternal joy, peace and perfect fellowship (John 14:6). We do not serve a passive God, we serve a God who is living, interested and involved in the daily details that form our lives. Man has tried and continues to try to create a perfect society, a mimicry of Heaven on earth. Solomon says that 'there is nothing new under the sun'. The world has its illusions and deceptions, and the devil, who is the prince of the air, has come to kill, to steal and to destroy (John 10:10) but there is life and indeed eternal, abundant life in Christ. Life on earth is but a mist, a temporary journey with eternal consequences. At the end of time, we have to answer for our deeds on earth. It will not be a situation of 'God you know my parents were Christians . . . ' or 'I was reading the bible with my friend'. No, it will be an individual affair (2 Corinthians 5:10).

Let us render our hearts to the Lord, not our garments, our hearts. There's no theme dressing to gain entrance, He expects us just as we are. Let us seek the Lord while He may still be found.

Additional reading: Psalms 103

Meditating question: What shall you be found with?

Power!

1 Thessalonians 1:4 "For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you. 5 because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake."

Words are powerful. The Word is much more powerful. It is what our walk depends on entirely. It is the reason everything we see, hear, touch or feel is in existence. It was God's word that created everything. It was God's word that became flesh, and it is the flesh which is the lamb, our Lord Jesus Christ who was crucified so that God would atone our sins so that now from where He sits, High up in the heavenly realms, in the thrones of thrones, he looks down on us and only sees the blood that was shed, which covers everyone on the world, and fails to see sins committed in the past, present and future. Indeed, this is LOVE. This is Love beloved. This is the greatest Love known to man/woman. Now that we walk in Christ, we are hence part of this word.

So let's ponder on this passage. v4. We have been chosen. By grace my dear friends. he chooses us, sinners, liars, hypocrites, idolators, selfish people. He sent His son to come just for us. Not while we were at our best. When we were just being ourselves. He just loves us that way, of course His plans for us are quite THE PLAN. Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans with a hope and a future." This is just sugar deep down.

Gospel comes with words AND power. Indeed, we have accepted the truth of life. Not by words, not by our own merit. How much I had tried to seek this truth by my own mind (which isn't even mine). How I read it in many books. Tried to, is more right, because all along I thought it came by 'words'? :-) The Word. Jesus Christ. AND Power! Power! Luke 10: 19 "I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all power of the enemy; nothing will harm you." Nothing will harm me? Nothing will harm you! Nothing! Everything in this world comes from Him. So why would anything hurt us if we are in Him? Authority over all power of the enemy, yes, deceit, fear, pride, anger, stress, those are just small things before Him. Small. This is the amo we have. We need not seek other weapons because what we have, is beyond reproach. What we have, is the FIRST CHOICE of weaponry. The only choice, dare I say.

Conviction of the Holy Spirit overcomes our former ways of living. My former ways of living are clear to those who knew me. Very clear. But what about now? I am not perfect, and I am not speaking out of arrogance but the Psalmist says in Psalms 51:10 "Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a stead-first spirit within me. 11 Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me." Power I tell you. Pure power. This ought to be our prayer. This ought to be our subject of discussion. This ought to be the source of our strength. A stead-first spirit and a pure heart are as a result of His Holy Spirit which changes the way we live i.e. bears good fruits for us and in us, and enables us to do and meditate on what is right before God's eyes.

Power is anchored on faith. Faith without works is dead. In our life's coming in and going out, we will be faced with many challenges/opportunities to exercise this power. So this is the small analogy: Faith is like a switch which you can turn clockwise or anti-clockwise depending on the amount of faith. The power is always available, the fact that the lights are off doesn't mean there is no power in the house. For the power to come on, faith has to be turned on.

May he continue to convict us with His Holy spirit, to guide us in this most noble walk, and shine His face upon us, now and forever more. Amen.

The journey: Suitcases and Our Companion.

"How can you move, when they are weighing you down . . ." Lyrics off suitcases, a song by Dara Maclean. 

What is the best thing about having a relationship with Christ, and the main reasons that pulled me to this love so great, is the fact that we are sinners and he accepts us just as we are! In all our transgressions, imperfections and flaws, He came, just for us to reveal how much he really loves us, and how great our life can be in Him. 

David says in Psalms 51:5 "Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me." We are all sinful, and we have all fallen short of God's glory. Everyone. If you have ever been born, then this is a universal truth.

In the Chrsistian walk, it is not that we are perfect, but it is that God seeks to perfect us. At times we put him aside, and follow our own desires or we want to do things our own way. Most times, this leads to anxiety and agony, and sometimes to sin. These farther leads to a sense of hopelessness, at times we are thrown to our lowest lows, or we feel a great sense of emptiness, and confusion, and we wonder whether God is really with us as he says in His word, or whether in our filthy rugs, he can accept us back or forgive us of our inequities.

Psalms 51 "6. Surely you desire truth in the inner parts, you teach me wisdom in the inmost place. 7. Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean. 8. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice."

And in verse 10 "Create in me a pure heart, O God, and RENEW a steadfast spirit within me"

So any suitcase that is heavy beyond what God wants us to carry, we should put it down. We should offer Christ these heavy burdens because His yoke is light. He is always with us, and He has given us the Holy spirit as our companion, to always be with us, and to always guide us and lift us up from our pits when we call upon Him.

Romans 8:26 "In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express."  How powerful? That we don't even need to do the dirty work, the spirit is there to intercede on our behalf together with us. We don't have to fight the big battles, all we need to do like with David and Goliath is not to fight with weapons of the earth, but to fight by the power of His name.

 The Devil is there to create doubt, to distract and to devour. We usually expect the devil to be this red huge monster, with crude facial contortions and running around with a red hot fork. Most times though, he lies to us with a sweet angelic voice, either through some people or through circumstances, especially when we are weak or tired or when we are facing a challenge - when we are not vigil. The battles which we need to be most aware of are spiritual battles, and we need to know when to fight and How to fight. No matter how much low we feel, God's grace is always enough. It was done! at the cross. It really was. Paul in Romans 8:1 says it clearly "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the spirit set me free from the law of sin and death."

However we ought to focus on the main journey. The only journey on this earth, and carry only the right kind of suitcase. We need to get rid of the old wine-skins, and depend on God to give us new wine-skins so that His spirit can bear fruit in us. Romans 7: "5.For when we were controlled by our sinful nature, the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in our bodies, so that we bore fruit for death. 6. But we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code."

A final word of comfort: 1 Corinthians 10:13 "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful, he will not let you to be tempted beyond what you can bear." God disciplines us, just the same way a father disciplines the son, and we might not like the discipline now, but it bears fruits of righteousness and peace, and strengthens our weak knees and arms, so that our steps become firm and our trees bear more green and more fruit, from our fragrant sappy roots. So let us put on the full armour of God (http://ernestwamboye.blogspot.com/2012/12/the-armour-of-god-for-believer.html), as we carry the suitcase which God has given us in this narrow road so that we may look on to our final, eternal home with adamant spirits and joyful smiles.

How unique is my life: in whose eyes?

I am learning not to make myself the centre of my life, because that would make me 1. selfish, and think about myself yet we live in a community, and 2. Depend on myself instead of depending of God, both of which defeat the purpose of the bigger picture which is to serve God.

The teacher in Ecclesiastes says this: "Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man." Ecclesiastes 12:13

 Nothing is an accident. In the past I used to confuse God's conviction for such things as luck and coincidence. You know, so many things happen in life, and at times we are not able to connect the dots. God still loves us that he convicts us all the time to get back on the right track. We are always in circumstances where He gives us these two options: Will you handle the accident or Will you let me drive?

As a parallel, the most successful people in our society or in our 'human eyes' take every occurrence as an opportunity to farther their worldly success. Steve jobs talked about "connecting the dots" when he was explaining about his past and the different routes he had taken to get where he was, and that only looking back did he see how those paths connected. 

 Psalm 139:17 says "Your eyes saw my unfolded substance, in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me."

God doesn't play dice. We do, but He doesn't. He knows everything. He is all knowing, He is knowledge itself. God has given each of us distinctly unique circumstances, environments, cultures, qualities and personalities. Each of us is different. There might be illegitimate parents, but we are not illegitimate children of God! He takes into account human error. 

God knit us in our mother's wombs, "For you created me in my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb." Psalms 139:13

God is all-knowing and we cannot fully understand Him. At times I look at nature and observe its perfect order. The trees are of multitude species, so are the creatures of the earth and they continue in perfect harmony, of course except when we meddle with things and disrupt their order. I look at the skies at night and I am awed at the beauty of starry nights.

God says in Luke 12:6-7 "6 Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. 7 Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered.c Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows."

Sparrows are tiny birds and you've probably noticed them in the skies or on trees. He knows each of them! and furthermore, He knows the very hairs of our head. Can we even fathom How Great this God is? That each of us has unique parents and siblings and unique circumstances. This world we live in was created FOR US before we even existed, He created all this for us to enjoy, of course in the right way. This is God's love.

 God's unique Love.

"God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and of every living creature that moves on the ground." Genesis 1:28

"God looked at everything He had made and it was good" Gen1:31

 He created everything with its own purpose and gave us dominion. We are Christ's precious possessions! People have a tough time getting their heads around this. I do. How can I just be a possession? How unique is that, does that mean I can't make my own choices?

You can. But under the creator's manual. Besides, God has given us free will. We can make our own choices. But our uniqueness is that we are all different and we each have a part to play in the bigger plan. We should be proud of who we are, because through the different stories that we tell, we exhibit God's uniqueness and Love for each of us, that no matter where we are in our lives or what we go through, whatever difficulties we have, His love is sufficient for us to see us through whatever situations. On our own we are weak, but He gives us the strength, and He takes care of us all the days of our lives. 

Ponder on: Knowing that God uniquely created me, what areas of my personality/background/physical qualities am I trying to accept?

My purpose or God's purpose?

"Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters . . ." Isaiah 55:1

We are all seekers, in this life we look to find something - meaning and purpose in our lives. It is a long time question which never seems to have one particular answer, depending on what schools of thoughts you ascribe to. We can only speculate what life's purpose is based on our experiences and biases based on our lenses. What if there was an easier way?

Since we are creations, we cannot tell ourselves what our purposes are since we are not the creators, getting the creator's manual would shed more light - Think about a television set trying to set itself up. alas!

"For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; ALL things were created BY him FOR him" Colossians 1:16

It has to start with God. The way we have approached this question since time began is to try and figure out what kind of life we want; or what sort of preferences we have for our future lives, and this becomes only a speculation and a tiresome procedure for many. We end up doing things in life which we don't like. We follow careers which are not in line with who we are as individuals, for the wrong reasons. We submit to the pressures of this life, and in turn live life(s) which are stressful and too fast to enjoy life's simple pleasures! The reason man fell from God's grace was because of this (Fall of Adam and Eve). We put ourselves as the centre of life, yet we have a Father who knows us before conception, and can give us these answers in order to make our life, more lighter, less stressful, utilize less effort and produce much more joy, peace, purpose and eternal happiness.

"Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails" Proverbs 19:21

His purpose for each of us fits into a bigger cosmic purpose. The moment we take things into our own hands, we spoil/retard the bigger plan. Think about a football team: A goal keeper's purpose is to prevent the ball from getting into the net. Defenders protect the goal keepers and fend them off from opposing strikers. Midfielders keep the heart of the team safe, by controlling the play and linking the defense and strikers. Strikers score goals! If any of those roles are tweaked, then it becomes something else. Perhaps a different formation/strategy each with a different purpose, or a different team altogether, maybe like a basketball team, with another different purpose. 

Paul's letter to the Romans says in Romans 8:28 "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to His purpose."

God's Purpose for us is GOOD and we need to respond to it. Paul says that we have been called to God's purpose, and when there is a call there has to be a response. How are we suppose to respond to this call of purpose? Submission to Him and to His will, which is in the Word of God. The prophet Isaiah compares His word to rain which falls from Heaven and waters the earth, and does not go back to the Heavens but instead it bears fruit on the ground, "it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater." Of His Word the Lord says: "so is my word that goes out from my mouth: it will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire." Isaiah 55:11

 How we respond to it is to do what God desires. 

 God's desire according to Philippians 2:2 says "then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose."

Pine tree

 Isaiah continues on to say this about this response to God's purpose: "Instead of the thornbush will grow the pine tree, and instead of the briers the myrtle will grow . . ." Isaiah 55:13

His purpose bears good fruit. Pine trees are beautiful trees, and are evergreen as compared to thornbushes - for obvious reasons :-) I looked up briers and myrtle trees and found out some interesting things. A brier is a bush, which has hardened roots whereas the myrtle tree is an evergreen tree whose roots have a fragrant oil. Aside from bearing fruit in all seasons and in drought, God's purpose softens our hearts so that His word can work more in our lives, producing a sweet smell and this fragrance is sweet to other people who we interract with on a day-to-day basis! How great is our God and His purpose.

 

As a summary:

Something to ponder on: How can I remind myself that living is FOR God and not myself, in this day and age when there are many advertisements to the contrary of this truth and despite the many contradicting ideologies/principles which many people live by (including Christians as well)?

Am I going to live for man or for God?