"For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves.." - Collosians 1:13 (NIV).
Before Christianity arrived here in Africa there were other beliefs tying down people in a kingdom of darkness. This was centered on vengeful gods occasionally demanding ritual blood sacrifices, including of humans. A writer in Buganda at the turn of the century, John Roscoe, noted how people wore amulets apparently to ward of evil spirits. He noticed people were even afraid of "jumping shadows" which could cause a bad omen.
But come the Gospel and those that heard and believed were released from the kingdom of darkness into the Kingdom of God. Before while lost in the kingdom of darkness they were trapped with fear of upseting malevolent gods and suffering an ignominious end. In the Kingdom of God by accepting Christ they were forgiven and reconciled with the creator of earth, our father God in heaven, through His son Jesus Christ!
No longer would they live in fear - "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed" (John 8:36). They were now no longer trapped into the deeds of darkness for as the Apostle Paul put it in II Corinthians 5:17: "When anyone is in Christ, it is a whole new world. The old things are gone; suddenly, everything is new!"
It is a privilege and joy for us who came after that we were not born into a kingdom of darkness led by Satan who comes to kill and destroy (John 10:10) with his minions. More so, that by grace of God the truth dawned on us that it was not religion that came to save us, but only by receiving and accepting Jesus as our Lord and saviour and then we were truly born into the Kingdom of light.
May we never lose sight of how privileged we are, that we are no longer lost in a dark kingdom. But by the mercy of God we are in fellowship with Christ in a kingdom of light.
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, how I thank you that I have been born in a kingdom of light, and may I walk in that grace, totally free to share the Good News, this I pray in Jesus's name.
Related upcoming events
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06/05/2024 - 07/05/2024 All day“Do not confirm to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is- his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:2)
Almost all cultivators are aware that if soils are used perpetually without rains but constantly under work they are deprived of all nutrients. So, though once productive, they lose all power to yield fresh crops as before. But so is our Christian life when we do not regularly feed our spirit life with the Word!
In our leading verse, the Apostle Paul is urging believers to “renew” their minds rather than make them stale, lest they end up losing all power to yield fruit. But how is this done? We renew our minds by constantly reading the Word of God, for there are always insights with God speaking to us afresh. Psalm 119:104-5 says, “I gain understanding from your precepts; therefore I hate every wrong path. Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” The Apostle Peter reminds us, “Like newborn babies hungry for milk, you should want the pure teaching that feeds your spirit. With it you can grow and be saved.” It is a beautiful illustration for any who have seen a hungry baby sucking the teats of a mother.
Renewing our minds is also by reading about the lives of people of faith who have walked before us and their created works. The Christian faith started in the first century after Jesus was crucified and resurrected from the dead. Now over two millenniums it has produced giants of faith who have shared their walk with God through inspired teachings that are a treasure to dig into. By scouring the writings of the great saints before us, listening to their recorded sermons, songs and preaching, which these days can be found on virtual medial channels like Yu tube, reading their biographies, our faith is renewed.
And then we also renew our faith through fellowship. When the Apostle Paul urges us, “not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching” ( Hebrews 10:25), he is reminding us that our faith cannot grow in isolation. During the Covid pandemic lockdown one bitter issue was denying Believers opportunity to meet fellow followers of Christ to share testimonies showing the work of God in their lives.
So today, if your faith is on a low keel, or you want it to flower, one thing you can’t help doing without is “renewing” your mind. The blessings to unfold are endless.
Prayer for today:Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, what a treasure we have of your rich Word to dig into always; books around us of faith to inspire us; and believers to share our faith- may we make use of these, this I pray in Jesus’ name.
