"To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory" - Col 1:27 (NIV).
The veteran church pastor and US radio broadcaster, Dr David Jeremiah, has raised in one of his sermons, has anyone ever asked you, "How come the way you are!" Such a remark would not be a put down one, but of one who is dumbfounded at how someone can manoeuvre through life not given to worry, quite joyful and not troubled by the things that ruffle so many!
When the scripures point out, "The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God" (2 Cor 4:4), it is not just that. Blinded from the saving power of Christ Satan grips non believers to be obsessed with the world. Blinded there are restless in their craze to have the world and can go at great lengths to achieve that sole but ultimately futile purpose.
But the believer is one who has set his " mind on things above, not on earthly things" (Col 3:3). All that what which would ordinarily trouble so many is rather temporal and quite not worth the stress. It is not that the believer is not interested in this world, where God has created him for a purpose, but there is a more glorious place worth focusing on in the end. Given this, the believer portrays a certain sense of peace and serenity which a non believer can't handle.
So, that is why many non believers are confused about believers with their happy and relaxed lifestyle. The things that keep non believers up at night and or all day fighting for, are not that worth the stress, for they have a greater hope in Christ Jesus. Next time a non believer wonders why you are so different, just note that it is an affirmation of the power of Christ working in you!
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, I think you for this hope that I have in you, which has made all the difference in my life, and this I pray in Jesus's name.
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27/04/2024 - 28/04/2024 All day“As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God” (Psalm 42:1).
In the wildlife, a common feature is predatory animals chasing after less ferocious ones, which on a bad day become good dinner. Through the savannah plains of Africa the antelope tends to suffer that fate. After a long chase from a mighty lion, cheetah or leopard; antelopes that survive tend to retreat to a fresh water spot. There they gladly refresh their quench with streams of water.
King David, must have been more familiar with deer, as there are more common in the Northern Hemisphere. For us in the tropics we can substitute the deer with our antelope, commonly chased by predators. After a long chase, of course all pant for pints of water.
The significance of this metaphor is that whenever we encounter any situation that puts us on a chase, where do we run to! Habakuk 3:19 says, “The Lord God give my strength. He helps me run fast like deer. He leads me safely on the mountains” (Habakuk 3:19).
Two things of note here. The Lord can make us run as fast as the fastest antelope being chased by a predator to a well of safety. And of course, as we run, we have that the well of God to end up to and refresh ourselves! This is why David wrote, “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God” (Psalm 42:11).
Prayer today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, today like the antelopes of the wildlife I run to you, to that well of life, which refreshes my soul, this I pray in Jesus’ name!
