“I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” ( Philippians 3:14).
Sports Day is one of the most exciting time in a typical school calendar. This is the day which most kids look forward to as one by one they all descend early on the field to showcase their talents. All over they compete in a series of exacting games: track and field, high jump, long jump, short put, javelin, volley ball and many others. Often so towards the end parents also join in one final race, to the screaming delight of children as they see their mothers and fathers suddenly pull out all their old tricks and sprint to the finishing line.
The climax of any Sports day is the awards ceremonies. Any child who excelled and beat his competitors receives a medal. In other cases there are group medals shared among members of winning teams. It is a joyous day for every child who wins at something and goes home proudly strapping around his neck a medal. Job well done!
Now, much like Sports Day, the Christian life also culminates with a reward. The first reward is one which comes quite effortless. John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life”! The Almighty God through His son Jesus Christ has already done it for us. Like the robber who was crucified with Jesus, this is a reward we receive not because of our individual effort but because we have believed. “Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise” ( Luke 23:43).
But then there is also a reward that comes after our individual efforts, just like the medals won on Sports Day. Romans 2:6 says, “God “will repay each person according to what they have done.”
We as believers God has given each one of us a worthy talent. God expects us not to sit on our talents like one man who decided to hide his and still expect a reward ( Mathew 25: 14- 30). For those who use their God given talents to serve Him, God has promised yet a huge reward!
Prayer today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, today I thank you for the reward of eternal life through faith in Jesus, and the reward that awaits me as I use the talents you have blessed me with for the extension of your kingdom, this I pray in Jesus’s name!
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18/05/2024 - 19/05/2024 All day“Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.” (Colossians 2:15)
Perhaps one of the most inspiring passages in the Bible with enduring lessons is where Moses pleads to Pharaoh to let the Jews go. Instead Pharaoh dared Moses if he had the power as that of a king. Challenged to “perform a miracle” Moses turned to Aaron who threw his staff down in front of Pharaoh and his officials, and it became a snake. Pharaoh then summoned wise men and sorcerers, and the Egyptian magicians also did the same things by their secret arts: Each one threw down his staff and it became a snake. But Aaron’s staff swallowed up their staffs (Exodus 7: 9-12).
What we see here is the presence of occult powers in high places, as is true even today. A common mistake by some is to deny the existence of the occult behind certain thrones or power centers, especially in instances where we find those putting on a genteel manner of social respectability. There are also those who through their education and confined exposure to the spirit realm of things, doubt the existence of occult powers. The reality is that in the world we live in the enemy is much at work. 1 Peter 5:8 says, “Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”
In this passage we see that while Pharaoh did release his snakes the staff God had placed in the hands of his messenger, Moses, was far greater and swallowed all. Here is the point. As believers we do have a far greater and mighty power to protect us from any attacks of the enemy. It is the blood of the lamb. As it is written, “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony...” (Revelation 12:11).
Today whatever snakes you may encounter from anywhere be assured that you have a far greater power than of the enemy. It is the blood of Jesus. As His word says, “call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor Me” (Psalm 50:15).
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, today I pray for protection from the attacks of the enemy by the blood of the lamb, this I pray in Jesus’name.
