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Saturday, October 6, 2012

GOD A MYSTERY TO MAN, MAN A MYSTERY TO HIMSELF:


It is in this light that man comes to God in prayer as an encounter of contradiction with a contradictory figure {the lion and the lamb on the Throne; Rev.5:5-6} not just by clapping, shouting, dancing e.t.c which are important parts of prayer but the connection of man’s abstraction with a Being whose abstraction is beyond his comprehension then ladled to the things around him. If you think and believe you have known God enough and the ordering of man’s affairs well then let’s go through this passage as you provide the answers therein:
“If you do know, you must have been born when they were, you must be very old by now!
Have you visited the place where the snow is stored?
Have you seen the stores of hail,
Which I keep for times of distress,
For days of battle and war?
From which direction does the lightning fork,
Where in the world does the east wind blow itself out?
Who bores a channel for the downpour
Or clears the way for the rolling thunder
So that rain may fall on the lands where no one lives,
And the deserts void of human dwelling,
To meet the needs of the lonely wastes
And make grass sprout on the thirsty ground?
Has the rain a father?
Who begets the dewdrops?
What womb brings forth the ice,
Who gives birth to the frost of heaven,
When the waters grow hard as stone
And the surface of the deep congeals” {Job 38:21-30}

If you can rarely give answers to these then what is the pride inside your head about your intelligence, beauty, handsomeness, wealth and status still doing there that you find it very hard to bend your knees in reverence awe for your Creator?

ANGER AND FORGIVENESS:


“Do not let resentment lead you into sin; the sunset must not find you still angry. Do not give the devil his opportunity” {Eph.4:26-27}
When annoyed try to swallow it as food, digest it by asking yourself the reason for such aggravation whether you truly caused it or is it a message from God on humility even though with human reasoning it’s painful. Even though a meal contains much of pepper spice, most people go down with it as a tasty meal hence at the penetration of the nails into his members Jesus wailed in pains yet after pondering over this ignorance of ours, He who hung between the earth and the heavens on the Cross chose forgiveness for us who crucified him with our sins instead of curse {Lk.23:34}.

This entails that word forgive which was divided into two by most preachers as ‘FORE’ from BEFORE and ‘GIVE’ calls us to calm our nerves before we give response to our aggravation lest we condemn ourselves [‘since it is by your words you will be justified and by your words condemned’ Mtt.12:37] in anger since no anger of man can bear righteous fruit before God (James.1:19) and don’t be too quick to give the lip-service expression of “I have forgiven you” when you have not finished nursing as well as expressing the pain you feel about what happened rather learn to speak the truth from your heart {Ps.15:2} and the truth will set you free (Jn.8:32).

Why should you forgive?
The highest conditional clause by which we can receive God’s forgiveness which will enable the doors of Heaven for us (“Yes, if you forgive others their failings, your heavenly Father will forgive you yours; but if you do not forgive others, your Father will not forgive your failings either” Mtt.6:14-15)

What does it entail to forget?
The hurt/pain/harm done to you by another will never go off as far as human memory is alive when we encounter such person but remembering that incidence at the instant of such persons visibility helps you to know how to inculcate such virtue lacking within him/her since God’s grace in you has enabled a higher percentage of such virtue to be active within your heart {‘he supports us in every hardship, so that we are able to come to the support of others, in every hardship of theirs because of the encouragement that we ourselves receive from God’ 2Cor.1:4}

Friday, October 5, 2012

THE CONSCIENCE AND SIN

“…and be sure your sin will find you out” (Numb.32:23)
‘Don’t think that you can sin and get away with it; the Lord does not mind waiting to punish you. Don’t be so certain of the Lord’s forgiveness that you go on committing one sin after another. Don’t think that his mercy is so great that he will forgive your sins no matter how many they are. He does show mercy, but he also shows furious anger with sinners’ {Sirach5:4-6}
“Don’t commit the same sin twice. The punishment you get the first time ought to be enough. Don’t think that God Most High is going to take into account how very generous you are and so accept any offering you decide to make” [Sirach7:8-9]
‘When you lift your hands in prayer, I will not look at you. No matter how much you pray, I will not listen, for your hands are covered with blood’ (Isaiah 1:15)
“Every lawless act leaves an incurable wound, like one left by a double-edged sword” {Sirach21:3}
“Be sure of it, the wicked will not go unpunished…” (Prov.11:21)
‘…you showed them that you are a God who forgives even though you punished them for their sins’ [Ps.99:8]
“for there is no longer any sacrifice that will take away sins if we purposely go on sinning after the truth has been made known to us. Instead, all that is left is to wait in fear for the coming judgment and the fierce fire which will destroy those who oppose God” (Heb.10:26-27)
‘Do not deceive yourselves; no one makes a fool of God. A person will reap exactly what he sows’ {Gal.6:7}
“If it is hard for the upright to be saved what will happen to the wicked and to sinners?” (1Pet.4:18)
‘Look on our Lord’s patience as the opportunity he is giving you to be saved…’ {2Pet.3:15}
“…so then spend, spend the rest of your lives here on earth in reverence for him” [1Pet.1:17]
‘there is no favoritism with God’ (Rom.2:5)

Thursday, October 4, 2012

UNTAMED LADY/GIRL/MAN/BOY:


‘A woman’s wantonness shows in her wide-eyed look, her eyelashes leave no doubt. Keep a headstrong daughter under firm control, or feeling free, she will take advantage of it. Keep a strict watch on her shameless eye, do not be surprised if she disgraces you. Like a thirsty traveler she will open her mouth and drink any water she comes across; she will sit down in front of every tent-peg and open her quiver to any arrow’ {Sirach26:9-12}
As a lady/girl/man/boy are you tamed?
Does your appearance portray lust/love?
Are you quick at opening your mouth for a kiss or your embrace for any passer-by?
What picture of yourself does your dressing paint on the streets, offices, markets, church and internet?
Do you find it normal exposing/projecting your private parts and underwear’s to the public under the disguise of fashion/fame/favor/love/romance?
Are you quick at opening up your quiver to any arrow i.e your private parts to any man/woman in fornication, adultery, lesbianism, homosexuality, masturbation, pornographic magazines/discussions/videos/pictures/songs?
Remember some people died in these acts as many are still dying in it currently by being unrepentant in heart after hearing the gospel (‘If, after we have been given knowledge of the truth, we should deliberately commit any sins, then there is no longer any sacrifice for them. There is left only the dreadful prospect of judgment and of the fiery wrath that is to devour your enemies’ Heb.10:26-27) as we recall he does not practice favoritism {“there is no favoritism with God” Rom.2:11}

SECRETS


“A betrayer of secrets forfeits all trust and will never find the kind of friend he wants. Be fond of a friend and keep faith with him, but if you have betrayed his secrets, do not go after him anymore; for, as one destroys a person by killing him, so you have killed your neighbor’s friendship, and as you let a bird slip through your fingers, so you have let your friend go and will not catch him. Do not got after him – he is far away, he has fled like gazelle from the snare. For a wound can be bandaged and abuse forgiven, but for the betrayer of a secret there is no hope” (Sirach27:16-21)
Here the friendship/secrets we are being told about are one that helps us to develop as well as maintain consistent path with the righteousness of GOD, nothing more or less.

VIRTUE:


‘If you pursue virtue, you will attain it and put it on like a festal gown. Birds consort with their kind, truth comes home to those who practice it. The lion lies in wait for its prey, so does sin for those who do wrong. The conversation of the devout is wisdom at all times, but the fool is as changeable as the moon. When visiting stupid people, choose the right moment, but among the thoughtful take your time. The conversation of fools is disgusting, raucous their laughter in their sinful pleasures. The talk of hard-swearing people makes your hair stand on end, their brawling makes you stop your ears. A quarrel between the proud leads to bloodshed and their insults are embarrassing to hear’ (Sirach27:8-15)

ALMSGIVING:


“Nevertheless, be patient with those who are badly off, do not keep them waiting on your generosity. In obedience to the commandment, help the poor; do not turn the poor away empty-handed in their need. Spend your money on your brother or your friend; do not leave it under a stone to rust away. Use your wealth as the Most High has decreed; you will find that more profitable than gold. Stock your store-rooms with almsgiving; this will save you from all misfortune. Better than sturdy shield or weighty spear, this will fight for you against the enemy” [Sirach29:8-13]

BRINGING UP CHILDREN:


If you have anyone under your care either as parents, guardian or senior/head in any group as well as future parents and guardian; your responsibility will be made simpler, unique and worthwhile if you meditate with this passage before and after every day’s encounter/event:
‘Whoever loves his son will beat him frequently so that in after years the son may be his comfort. Whoever is strict with his son will reap the benefit and be able to boast of him to his acquaintances. Whoever educates his son will be the envy of his enemy and will be proud of him among his friends. Even when the father dies, he might well not be dead, since he leaves his likeness behind him. In life he has had the joy of his company, dying, he has no anxieties. He leaves an avenger against his enemies and a rewarder of favors for his friends. Whoever coddles his son will bandage his wounds; his heart will turn over at every cry. A badly broken-in horse turns out stubborn; a son left to himself turns out headstrong. Pamper your child and he will terrorize you, play along with him and he will bring you sorrow. Do not laugh with him or one day you will weep with him and end up gnashing your teeth. While he is young, do not allow his freedom and do not wink at his mistakes. Bend his neck in youth, bruise his ribs while he is a child, or else he will grow stubborn and disobedient and hurt you very deeply. Be strict with your son and persevere with him or you will rue his insolence’ (Sirach30:1-13)

CHASTE CELIBACY:


“…like an eunuch embracing a pretty girl – how he sighs” (Sirach30:20)
What is a man under the vow of chaste celibacy doing in the warmth embrace of a woman/lady?
What is a woman under the vow of chaste celibacy doing in the warmth embrace of a man/boy?

HEALTH:


“Better be poor if healthy and fit than rich if tormented in body. Health and strength are better than any gold, a robust body than untold wealth. No riches can outweigh bodily health, no enjoyment surpass a cheerful heart. Better death than a wretched life and everlasting rest than chronic illness. Good things lavished on a closed mouth are like food offerings put on a grave. What use is an offering to an idol which can neither eat nor smell? How describe someone pursued by the Lord’s displeasure? He looks and sighs like an eunuch embracing a pretty girl – how he sighs!” {Sirach 30:14-20}

ATTIRE