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Advent Calendar day 6: Being Godly

A few years ago, I used to live for the now. My life was so busy and I was so preoccupied with making it through each day that I did not have the space or time to think about eternity. And whenever, I did, thinking about death or dying filled me with so much dread because I always felt unprepared for the thereafter.

One day, I had a switch in my thinking. I cannot recall if it was a sermon I heard, or something on the radio, or God’s gentle admonishing to me but something changed. I started to think about living life with heaven in view each day. I determined within myself to do whatever I needed to do to feel prepared for the thereafter each day. Today’s reading is an encouragement for how we can live life with eternity in view:

For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.

1 Timothy 4: 8 NIV

Every thing we do on earth has eternal ramifications. Day in and day out, we are setting ourselves up for what comes next. Paul presents us with a tool to help us prepare for the afterlife: godliness. Many things that we strive for on earth are ephemeral- short-lived- and have no eternal value. Godliness on the other hand is eternal currency and is valuable in the afterlife. Jesus said it best in one of his teachings:

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Matthew 6: 19-21 NIV

As you reflect and take stock of 2021, ask yourself, “Am I godly?” and be intentional in practicing godliness- it is of great gain.

Yours Truly

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Advent Calendar day 5: A season of giving

I am going to start with a disclaimer: This post is going to be weird for some audiences but for some of you, this would be right up your alley.

Have you ever received a gift from someone and not felt right about it? It is Christmas season and as usual, it is season for gift exchanges. Earlier in the year, I had a conversation with some members of my family about whether or not a Christian could accept gifts from someone who is a known worshipper of “foreign gods” and I was first introduced to this scripture:

For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer.

1 Timothy 4:4-5 NIV

We know that some people are desperately wicked and have ill-intentions and take advantage of the season to carry out evil through gift giving and sharing food. However, this scripture assures us that nothing is to be rejected if received with thanksgiving- the gift is consecrated by the Word of God and prayer. However, it is not only important to sanctify gifts received always and bless the giver, but it is also important to listen for God’s direction regarding the use of gifts received. Sometimes when we are blessed with things- they are for the benefit of others and God’s direction may be to send that blessing the way of someone else. And when we obey, there is even greater blessing in that.

And so in this season, it is imperative that we receive all of God’s bountiful blessings with thanksgiving (which sanctifies and consecrates the gifts) and with a heart of obedience. Let us be intentional in our posture in receiving gifts.

Yours Truly.

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Advent Calendar day 4: Intentional worship

So yesterday I talked a little bit how Paul was opinionated and in today’s readings we see Paul providing some instructions for worship and for the church that on the surface seem rather chauvinistic and outdated. Paul admonishes that women ought to be modestly dressed, to be quiet and not to teach or assume authority over a man. This scripture certainly causes the blood of feminists to boil and frankly I have never heard churches speak about this. Preachers are like “Paul we agree with many things you say but as for this one- we ain’t even going there”. Frankly, I too wanted to gloss over this scripture and all but one thing kept coming to mind all day and convicting me. I kept hearing the word of God saying “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,  so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work (1 Timothy 3: 16-17 NIV)- so read with an open mind”. So I meditated on this scripture a bit more and here’s what I have learned.

Paul was addressing his disciple Timothy and passing on God-inspired instructions that he operated by as he preached to Gentile pagan nations who did not know God (1 Tim 2: 7). These people who had come to know God under Paul’s teachings were coming from a cultural context very removed from what the Jews would have known and it was Paul’s ministry to help them make sense of how to become Christ-followers and truly let go of “worldliness” in pursuit of holiness. One may argue that the worldview in Paul’s day was a lot more primitive than they are today but that does not negate the word of God which is forever settled in heaven. Paul’s instructions to women remain relevant to the “more advanced-more-refined-feminist male or female” today as it did in those days. Here is the scripture in its entirety but I encourage you to read the passage from chapter 1:

I also want the women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, adorning themselves, not with elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God. A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man;  she must be quiet. For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner. But women will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith, love and holiness with propriety.

1 Timothy 2: 9-15 NIV

Paul encourages the proselyte women of his time to eschew disorderliness and vainglory but instead to pursue lasting virtues of faith, love and holiness. Paul encouraged women to work on having an identity that was not superficial but rather, deeply rooted in action- good deeds. This was the appropriate way for newly converted pagan women to present themselves in worship and it still rings true for children of God today. This is why after much thought, I titled today’s post ” intentional worship”. Women and men alike must be intentional in giving God worship that pours out from the inside out. Our actions must come from a place of love, faith and holiness that it adorns us before God and all that are beholden to us. Jesus said it best when He taught:

In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.

Matthew 5:16 NLT

This is God’s expectation of his children, women and men alike and whether Paul said it in a way that rubs many of 21st century Christians the wrong way or not, the truth of God’s word remains the same. Holiness should be our watch word and song.

Yours Truly

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Advent Devotions day 3: But Grace!

This year I shared with you some of my worst days ever. Circumstances brought out the worst in me- I was angry a lot, frustrated a lot, complained a lot, secretly cussed people off in my heart a lot, and called people “idiots” more times than I would like to admit. Yes I know, those were not some of my finest moments and yet, God never decreased his grace and mercy upon my life. All year round, through my best days and my worst, God’s love remained constant and He did not deal with me like I deserved. Instead he saw me through His eyes of mercy and His grace covered me.

In today’s readings Paul eloquently shares this same sentiment:

I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me trustworthy, appointing me to his service. Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

1Timothy 1: 12-14 NIV

Yes, we know Paul who was once Saul of Tarsus, was not a great guy. He was very strongly opinionated as many of us are and did terrible things to the Church of Christ because of the things he once believed to be true. Frankly we have all been there… I have been judgmental, I have acted holier-than-thou and sometimes I have been a downright know-it-all. But the great news is that even Paul to whom at some point Jesus had to say to, “you have persecuted me enough.. haba!” (paraphrasing Acts 9:5)- even that Paul found grace and mercy.

God poured out his grace upon Paul abundantly; how much more you and I? There is nothing, absolutely nothing that you or I can do to deserve this grace and yet it is poured out for us so freely each and every day. Think back over the year… Can you identify specific areas where God’s grace was abundantly poured on you? Let’s give God praise for his unmerited grace and mercy.

Yours Truly