THERE IS A WORK IN YOU.

THERE IS A WORK IN YOU


God created us for a specific purpose.  He orchestrated everything to work towards our alignment towards this work.


Our Identity in God


The Bible in the Amplified version notes in Ephesians 2:10 that:

“For we are God’s (own) handiwork (his workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, (born a new) that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us (taking paths which he prepared ahead of time), that we should walk in them living the good life which he prearranged and made ready for us to live).”

In line with Genesis 1:26, we note that we are created in GOD’s image and likeness.  Why His likeness and image – why not just a special likeness or any other belonging to His entire creation? 

So that we can be “masters over all of life” (Genesis 1:26b).  He created us in his image and likeness so that we can take charge and dominion – we can have complete authority (authority in line with his image and likeness) – authority that descends from him.   So that when this authority is exercised, rightly, then His will here on earth will be done as it is in heaven.


As any instrument/item made by man has its origin and therefore the blueprint manual from the manufacturer, so is the human being (you and I).  We cannot be able to function ultimately within our purpose without the image and likeness of God, our creator, our manufacturer.  Indeed, even as we came to life physically, God had it all planned in accordance to his purposes for us.  Psalms 139:13-14 brings this out so clearly. 

“You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb…your workmanship is marvelous!”


There we are – God’s workmanship!  We are crafted by him and him alone.  We are his artwork, his masterpiece, we are unique – really out of this world!  And yes, we are out of this world.  We are not created in the class of animals, no, not.  Not in the class of any living creature, but we are created in the Image and likeness of God. 


Isn’t it amazing, truly, a wonder, to notice that we are created just a little lower than God, and as in Genesis 1:26 above, he has bestowed ALL his AUTHORITY ON US!  Take a look at Psalm 8:5-6:

“For you made us only a little lower than God, and you crowned us with you glory and honour.  You put us in CHARGE OF EVERYTHING YOU MADE GIVING US AUTHORITY OVER ALL THINGS!”

What is your identity?  Do you really know who you are – Your source? Your roots?
 
The above scriptures (Genesis 1:26, Psalm 139:13-14 and Psalm 8:5-6) provide us with the most authentic source of who we are. 


Sometimes we may not feel, leave alone accept and have it anchored in us that we are the image of God, and that he has given us authority over all!

We live in a fallen world – the enemy came and his whole intention was and still is to “steal, kill and destroy” (John 10.10a).  As a result, sometimes life challenges and difficulty experiences can blur the truth about our identity!  But that is what they just do – blur – but they do not change the truth that WE ARE CREATED IN GOD’S IMAGE AND THAT HE HAS A DIVINE PURPOSE FOR EACH OF US!


Yes, the challenges you have faced (in form of broken relationships, lack and poverty, sicknesses, failed businesses, rejection and all the nasty things the devil throws our way) may leave you feeling worthless, but the undaunted truth of the word of God is that YOU ARE HIS, AND HE HAS A PURPOSE SPECIFICALLY DESIGNATED FOR YOU.  And that there is a specific path that he would want you to follow so as to fulfill this purpose, because in it you will find “good life”!  Hallelujah!


Right from the beginning, God put his purpose in us – to take charge of everything He made! 


Examining the Work


Back to our opening scripture – Ephesians 2:10:

“For we are God’s (own) handiwork (his workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, (born a new) that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us (taking paths which he prepared ahead of time), that we should walk in them living the good life which he prearranged and made ready for us to live)”.

A closer review of the above scripture reveals the following:

1. We are God’s own handiwork – his workmanship – his masterpiece.


2. We have been recreated in Christ Jesus, i.e. born a new or born again, so that we may do the good works.


It is only through recreation – our being recreated and reconstructed a new through the death and resurrection of Christ Jesus, that we are able to do the God works. 


3. God predestined – he planned beforehand – the good works, and it is upon us to discover these good works.


4. In doing the good works, we have to walk through the paths that God also prepared ahead of time.


5. And in walking through the paths that God prepared for us, then we live the good life, which he also prearranged and made ready for us to live!


Our lives were all planned out by God before we became!  Is it a wonder that God tells Jeremiah that, “I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb.  Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my spokesman to the world.” (Jeremiah 1:5).


Many times a lot of people assume that being in the purposes of God is being in the five-fold ministry of Pastors, Teachers, Prophets, Apostles and Evangelists.  These are only a part of the paths that lead us to the purposes of God.  You could be doing your general shop business and you are in the purpose of God.  You could be teaching in a school, and you are in the purpose of God.  You would be leading a government ministry or a corporate or private entity and still be in the purposes of God.  The determining factor is:  Are you doing it in a renewed state? 


From the beginning, we have seen that God created us in his image and likeness so that our services (our purposes) may be executed in his likeness and image – in his way.  So what kind of an attitude do we need to adopt to execute the purpose of God in our work – it is none other than “DO IT AS UNTO GOD”.  Embrace an attitude of stewardship – where you know and are fully persuaded that whatever you do, you are doing it on behalf of God, you are representing God, you are serving him by taking charge of the space, the knowledge, the skill, the expertise that he has given you. 


The Renewed Mind


Our new identity in Christ only comes as we embrace him as Lord and Saviour in lives.  We give him authority to lead and to govern our lives.  This new identity comes after one exchanges their self-will with the will of Christ Jesus in their lives. 


A self-willed, self-governed and self-led life in any area of work focuses and works towards selfishness.  Yet this is not in the will of God, it does not aid in achieving his intended purpose in our lives. Self-will will only pursue self-interests.  It is in light of this, that God warns us “Not to be CONFORMED to the world (this age), (fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs), but to be TRANSFORMED (changed) by the entire RENEWAL of your mind (by its new ideals and its new attitude), so that you may prove (for yourselves) what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect (in his sight for you).” (Romans 12:2).


ONLY a renewed mind will work out the purpose of God.  Many people including born again believers, have been accustomed to the way of the world – its behaviours and customs – in business, in relationships, in families, in all areas of life – they follow through the worldly norms.  This only keep one blinded and completely off the purposes of God. 


However, a renewal of mind – a transformation – a change – from the worldly to God’s ways is available.  This is what Romans 12:2 presents to us – to turn away from the worldly system.  This renewal comes as one embraces a new behavior, a new attitude, a new way of thinking that only comes when the old is gone.  The renewed mind is able to prove and embrace the good and acceptable and perfect will of God – his purpose for us.  The New Living Translation puts verse 12 this way:

“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God TRANSFORM YOU INTO A NEW PERSON by changing the way you think.  THEN YOU WILL KNOW WHAT GOD WANTS YOU TO DO, AND YOU WILL KNOW HOW GOOD AND PLEASING AND PERFECT HIS WILL REALLY IS.”


Renewal is available for everyone – Only DO NOT CONFORM but be ye TRANSFORMED.  Position yourself to do the work in you.  Position yourself to take charge of that which the Lord has given you.  Position yourself to represent God here on earth.  As you do so, all self-interests will be exchanged for God’s interests.  Corruption will be a thing of the past.  Murder, theft and robbery and all other vices will disappear in light of men and women who have positioned themselves to follow after the purposes of God.  Amen.

Selah! Take Time and Think Before Indulging

Solomon, the author of Proverbs, is also the author of Ecclesiastes. It is interesting to note that this man, was the wisest of his time, and the bible notes that no one before him or after him has held such wisdom.

In Ecclesiastes 3, he writes:

For everything, there is a season; A time for every activity under heaven.

2 A time to be born and a time to die.
A time to plant and a time to harvest.3 A time to kill and a time to heal.
A time to tear down and a time to build up.4 A time to cry and a time to laugh.
A time to grieve and a time to dance.5 A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones.
A time to embrace and a time to turn away.6 A time to search and a time to quit searching.
A time to keep and a time to throw away.7 A time to tear and a time to mend.
A time to be quiet and a time to speak.8 A time to love and a time to hate.
A time for war and a time for peace.


For everything there is a season,


9 What do people really get for all their hard work? 10 I have seen the burden God has placed on us all. 11 Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end. 12 So I concluded there is nothing better than to be happy and enjoy ourselves as long as we can. 13 And people should eat and drink and enjoy the fruits of their labor, for these are gifts from God.

14 And I know that whatever God does is final. Nothing can be added to it or taken from it. God’s purpose is that people should fear him. 15 What is happening now has happened before, and what will happen in the future has happened before, because God makes the same things happen over and over again.

It is possible to reckon that all there is in life is to enjoy oneself with all that the Lord God has given.  While enjoying is good, it is important to understand the context in which one is enjoying himself or herself.  There is a scope, there is a destiny, there is a plan that God has put in place for every man and woman to live in.  Whereas this may be in grey and not black and white, the scriptures provide a clear pathway on how to trend on these grey paths.

So as we plan to indulge in that which God has blessed us with - our monies, our power - the question to bear at all times is, how does this contribute to my getting to God's destiny for me? Is is pro or against?  

After all is said and done, God's purpose and intention for every human being is that we may fear Him (revere and worship him)!  Shall we worship the Lord with our blessings? With our intellect, with our voices, with our friends and families, our monies, our assets - with all that He has blessed us with!

Selah!

WISDOM! WISDOM! 

Where can we find it?  Where can we find understanding?

I do not seem to get enough of this.  Look at what is presented in Job 28:

28 “People know where to mine silver
    and how to refine gold.
2 They know where to dig iron from the earth
    and how to smelt copper from rock.
3 They know how to shine light in the darkness
    and explore the farthest regions of the earth
    as they search in the dark for ore.
4 They sink a mine shaft into the earth
    far from where anyone lives.
    They descend on ropes, swinging back and forth.
5 Food is grown on the earth above,
    but down below, the earth is melted as by fire.
6 Here the rocks contain precious lapis lazuli,
    and the dust contains gold.
7 These are treasures no bird of prey can see,
    no falcon’s eye observe.
8 No wild animal has walked upon these treasures;
    no lion has ever set his paw there.
9 People know how to tear apart flinty rocks
    and overturn the roots of mountains.
10 They cut tunnels in the rocks
    and uncover precious stones.
11 They dam up the trickling streams
    and bring to light the hidden treasures.

12 “But do people know where to find wisdom?
    Where can they find understanding?
13 No one knows where to find it,[a]
    for it is not found among the living.
14 ‘It is not here,’ says the ocean.
    ‘Nor is it here,’ says the sea.
15 It cannot be bought with gold.
    It cannot be purchased with silver.
16 It’s worth more than all the gold of Ophir,
    greater than precious onyx or lapis lazuli.
17 Wisdom is more valuable than gold and crystal.
    It cannot be purchased with jewels mounted in fine gold.
18 Coral and jasper are worthless in trying to get it.
    The price of wisdom is far above rubies.
19 Precious peridot from Ethiopia[b] cannot be exchanged for it.
    It’s worth more than the purest gold.

20 “But do people know where to find wisdom?
    Where can they find understanding?
21 It is hidden from the eyes of all humanity.
    Even the sharp-eyed birds in the sky cannot discover it.
22 Destruction[c] and Death say,
    ‘We’ve heard only rumors of where wisdom can be found.’

23 “God alone understands the way to wisdom;
    he knows where it can be found,
24 for he looks throughout the whole earth
    and sees everything under the heavens.
25 He decided how hard the winds should blow
    and how much rain should fall.
26 He made the laws for the rain
    and laid out a path for the lightning.
27 Then he saw wisdom and evaluated it.
    He set it in place and examined it thoroughly.
28 And this is what he says to all humanity:
‘The fear of the Lord is true wisdom;
    to forsake evil is real understanding.’”

Now, look at Proverbs 8:

Wisdom Calls for a Hearing

8 Listen as Wisdom calls out!
    Hear as understanding raises her voice!
2 On the hilltop along the road,
    she takes her stand at the crossroads.
3 By the gates at the entrance to the town,
    on the road leading in, she cries aloud,
4 “I call to you, to all of you!
    I raise my voice to all people.
5 You simple people, use good judgment.
    You foolish people, show some understanding.
6 Listen to me! For I have important things to tell you.
    Everything I say is right,
7 for I speak the truth
    and detest every kind of deception.
8 My advice is wholesome.
    There is nothing devious or crooked in it.
9 My words are plain to anyone with understanding,
    clear to those with knowledge.
10 Choose my instruction rather than silver,
    and knowledge rather than pure gold.
11 For wisdom is far more valuable than rubies.
    Nothing you desire can compare with it.

12 “I, Wisdom, live together with good judgment.
    I know where to discover knowledge and discernment.
13 All who fear the Lord will hate evil.
    Therefore, I hate pride and arrogance,
    corruption and perverse speech.
14 Common sense and success belong to me.
    Insight and strength are mine.
15 Because of me, kings reign,
    and rulers make just decrees.
16 Rulers lead with my help,
    and nobles make righteous judgments.[a]

17 “I love all who love me.
    Those who search will surely find me.
18 I have riches and honor,
    as well as enduring wealth and justice.
19 My gifts are better than gold, even the purest gold,
    my wages better than sterling silver!
20 I walk in righteousness,
    in paths of justice.
21 Those who love me inherit wealth.
    I will fill their treasuries.

22 “The Lord formed me from the beginning,
    before he created anything else.
23 I was appointed in ages past,
    at the very first, before the earth began.
24 I was born before the oceans were created,
    before the springs bubbled forth their waters.
25 Before the mountains were formed,
    before the hills, I was born—
26 before he had made the earth and fields
    and the first handfuls of soil.
27 I was there when he established the heavens,
    when he drew the horizon on the oceans.
28 I was there when he set the clouds above,
    when he established springs deep in the earth.
29 I was there when he set the limits of the seas,
    so they would not spread beyond their boundaries.
And when he marked off the earth’s foundations,
30     I was the architect at his side.
I was his constant delight,
    rejoicing always in his presence.
31 And how happy I was with the world he created;
    how I rejoiced with the human family!

32 “And so, my children,[b] listen to me,
    for all who follow my ways are joyful.
33 Listen to my instruction and be wise.
    Don’t ignore it.
34 Joyful are those who listen to me,
    watching for me daily at my gates,
    waiting for me outside my home!
35 For whoever finds me finds life
    and receives favor from the Lord.
36 But those who miss me injure themselves.
    All who hate me love death.”

Wisdom calls us his children ... and implores us to listen to his instructions and be wise; not to ignore it!  Why, WHOEVER FINDS WISDOM, FINDS LIFE AND RECEIVES FAVOUR FROM THE LORD!

Who is Wisdom?  Do you know him?  Lets talk about this again.  

GOD'S WISDOM IS UNFATHOMABLE


" Can you catch a crocodile with a hook or put a noose around its jaw? Can you tie it with a rope through the nose or pierce its jaw with a spike? Will it beg you for mercy or implore you for pity? Will it agree to work for you? Can you make it your slave for life? CAN YOU MAKE IT A PET LIKE A BIRD, OR GIVE IT TO YOUR LITTLE GIRLS TO PLAY WITH?" Job 41:1-5

THE BUILDING MATERIALS OF A BELIEVER’S LIFE

A Closer Look

The building materials of any construction work are first and foremost dependent on the use of what is being constructed – it could be a house (semi-permanent or permanent), a school, an estate, a mall – it could be really any construction work including bridges or roads, or a fence.  The quality, cost and value of the materials are also to be highly considered.  What this means then is that in consideration of the building materials, one has to determine the end from the beginning. 

With the believer’s foundation laid in Christ, the building of their faith does not just come automatically.  It has to be intentionally built up.  The bible puts it very clearly that, believers must continue to build their lives on the foundations of their holy faith.  Jude, brother of Jesus, puts it so plainly in Jude 20:

“But you dear friends, must continue to build your lives on the foundations of your holy faith” (Jude 20).

The intentionality in building our faith cannot be achieved if a believer has not fully identified himself/herself in Christ.  Determining one’s identity in Christ helps to secure a believer’s walk of faith.  The truths here below affirm a believer’s identity in Christ!

The fact that one is born again (not physical but spiritual birth), and bought with the precious blood of Jesus Christ;
The fact that one is redeemed and accepted in the family of God;
The fact that a believer is counted righteous not on their own standing but because of Jesus’ death and resurrection;
The fact that they have been translated from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light, even the kingdom of God’s dear son, Jesus Christ.

Identifying and affirming one’s identity is therefore a critical component that aids a believer in not only building their faith life, but also critically choosing the materials to use in building.  Without this critical consideration, a believer lives a life oblivious of the cost of his/her salvation.  As a result, they may not also be quite alert and clear on the end result of their Christian faith.

Before proceeding on, let us determine our end result as believers. 

Eternity With Christ

The most profound scripture in the bible, and really the essence of salvation is John 3: 16, thus; 

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.”

This scripture presents the end-result of a believer’s life – eternal life with Christ Jesus and God the Father.  What a pleasant joy it is to know that though the building process may take long, though the building materials may be costly, the result is an overwhelming, an unending and everlasting joyful life with God the creator, and Jesus Christ, the Saviour. 

In this regard, we now fully understand why the bible further brings out very clearly the fact that all who believe and accept Christ, the Word of God, have been given the right to become children of God.  Why?  So that as children of God we can grow in Him and into Him, day by day, step by step, as we build our lives in Him in preparation to our spending eternity with Him.

BUILDING ON THE FOUNDATION

So we have laid our foundation, and it is secure – purely anchored in the Word of God.  We therefore intentionally choose God’s Word as the standard, the yardstick and the sieve for all that we embrace in our daily lives – in our lifestyles.  This Word is none other than Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 3:11). 

Let us now focus on the actual building - what materials should we use to build lives of faith (listening and obeying) the Lord Jesus? 
In the construction industry, there are many materials that are used for building.   Some buildings are constructed using stone, others using timber, while still others are constructed using iron sheets as well as grass.  The quality and longevity of these buildings depend on the material used.  Their ability to withstand calamities such as floods, fire and theft will also depend on the material used. 


Any human being, and in this case a believer is a spiritual being, with a soul, and living in the body.   This reveals 3 critical facets of our lives i.e. 

Spirit
Soul (Mind, Will and Emotions)
Body

Taking the whole believer, what materials are we currently using to build considering the 3 facets?  What materials do we use for the spirit?  What materials do we use for the mind, the will and the emotions?  How about our bodies? 

The Sprit – We thank God that He has created us in His image and likeness.  The spirit of man is what looks like God, (Genesis 2:7).  So we have only one type of material to build the spirit – God’s Word!  But are we adequately building the spiritual man?  Are we reading the word of God as we ought to?  Or, have we malnourished the Spirit?  Have we empowered the spiritual man to take charge of our souls and bodies?   Proverb 18:14 notes that “The strong spirit of a man sustains him in bodily pain or trouble, but a weak and broken spirit who can raise up or bear?” 

Whereas man is consistently known to take periodic meals (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner) to feed the body, is there a consistency in feeding the spirit?  How does a 2-hour Sunday service once a week compare to 3 meals x 7 days a week?  What becomes and remains strong – the body or the spirit?  You may object and tell me that you do your devotions once a day – what is the effect of these devotions to your spirit?  Are they a form of ritual or are you intentional in developing your spirit?

The Soul – This is a powerful part of the whole person.  It comprises one’s mind, will and emotions.  How long does it take to develop one’s intellectualism?  In the current 8:4:4 Education System in Kenya, (which is being phased out), a learner has 3 years of pre-school, 8 years of primary, 4 years of secondary school and 4 years of university.  In total, these are 19 years of developing one’s mind.  These have not considered the time taken for any other additional learning such as a second or third degree.  If anyone spends all this time developing just the intellect, how much more should the spiritual man be developed? 

Without any intentionality to develop the spiritual man, an intellectual person, will have an empowered mind that subjects the spirit to it.  The mind becomes the standard, the yard stick and the sieve that one uses to filter information in life. 

One’s will and emotions flow freely with either the mind or the spirit, depending on which one has been built more.  If one’s spirit is built and equipped in the word of God, the emotions and will thereof, will be subjected to the word.  It will be easy to say, “Lord, not my will but yours”, it will be easy to control anger; and it will be easy to look at other people from God’s lens.  On the other hand, it will be easily to rationalize things based on one’s
that is not founded and sieved through the light of the word of God, if the mind is developed more than the spirit. 

Minds cannot think beyond what one’s spirit allows, nor will one’s will or emotions be exercised freely outside their spiritual power.  However, if the spiritual man is not empowered through the Word of God, then, the other 2 aspects will rise above the spiritual and take charge.

Friend, I would like you to note that intellectualism is a great tool for not only development but advancing the gospel.  But it cannot be looked into in isolation of God’s word. 

The bible in Colossians 2:8 admonishes us not to be “led astray with empty philosophy and high sounding nonsense that come from HUMAN THINKING (mind) and from the evil powers of this world and not from Christ.” (NLT).  The same verse reads as follows in the Amplified Version:

“See to it that no one carries you off as spoil or makes you yourselves captive by his so-called philosophy and intellectualism and vain deceit (idle fancies and plain nonsense), following human tradition (men’s ideas of the material rather than the spiritual world), just crude notions following the rudimentary and elemental teachings of the universe and disregarding (the teachings of) Christ (the Messiah).”

The Body – Our bodies are tents, they are vehicles that facilitate our living here on earth.  They enable us to connect from point ‘A’ to ‘B’, and they will aid us in communicating with each other, whether in verbal or non-verbal modes. They are also the temples of the Holy Spirit.  How then, should we build them to facilitate a lifestyle that fits in the spiritual life that we have been called into through Christ Jesus?

I am thinking of a believer’s eating habits, dressing, communication, relationships, areas we visit and many more aspects of our lives that exclusively involve our bodies.  Looking at relationships, for instance, we see the bible warning us that “… bad company corrupts good character” (1 Corinthians 15:33).  It further warns us not to “team up with those who are unbelievers” (2 Corinthians 6:14).  This does not mean that we eliminate non-believers from our lives – Paul says that we would have to leave this world to do that.  But it means that we don’t have deals together – partnerships such as businesses.  This is because light cannot live in darkness (see verses 14-16).  How will you convince your non-believer partner that you need to give tithe? What will be your reaction when they have to bribe?  How about a little lies here and there… so as to survive in business?  Light cannot live in darkness!!!

How about communication – Look at Proverbs 15:1, “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but harsh words stir up anger”. 

What do we allow our eyes to see?  What do we allow our ears to hear?  Getting a little closer – what TV programmes/movies do you watch and of course listen to?  What music do you listen to?  What are you feeding the soul, the body and the spirit with that you consume through these media?

I submit to you dear reader that you are a product of what you see and hear; you are a product of your associations (relationships).  You are a product of what you think on (whatsoever a man thinketh, so is he).  Are you happy with the product you have become? Especially as you use the mirror of the word of God?

A Closer look at our Building Materials (TBC)

LAYING A FIRM FOUNDATION


Precisely a week ago, I was invited to join a “Christian Writers and Bloggers” WhatsApp Group.  In my one week membership to the group, we have exchanged/shared so much to the extent that I feel like the group has existed for more than a year.  Earlier, a close friend had asked me if I could open a blog where I could share some of the inspiration messages that I have been sharing occasionally with her and other friends in my network.  My friend did not know that I had opened a blog over 5 years ago, but it had been inactive for some time.  Whereas this message is meant to bless and minister to all who access it, it is dedicated to Anne Mureithi, my dear friend and, Jane & Mugure, the administrators to the “Christian Writers and Bloggers” WhatsApp Group.  Thank you dear ones for stirring me up to activate my Blog – Karibuni!  Let’s be refreshed by the word of God together.

I am currently reading the book of Job in the Bible.  What stands out for me from the beginning of this book is the importance of a strong foundation.  Whether one is building a house, going through an education programme or starting a family, the foundation they lay for the undertaking determines its permanence and longevity as well as the ability to bear roughness of whatever sort.

Our Christian foundation is no different.  What informs our foundation as believers – is it the prestige of the church (assembly) that we go to every Sunday?  Is it the Pastor or Bishop? Is it material blessing? What are the materials that constitute the foundation of a believer?  Job in the bible was a “blameless man of complete integrity.  He feared God and stayed away from evil” (Job 1:1).  Besides, he was a very wealthy man.  He however had calamity befall him and in a very short span of time, he lost all his children and all the wealth.  Yet, “In all this, Job did not sin by blaming God” (Job 1:22).  In fact when his wife asked him to curse God and die, Job replied to her, “Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad?” (Job 2:10).

What is it that Job held on that his wife didn’t know that which caused him not to curse God even after the loss of his children and his wealth? Whereas we later learn that Job asked many hard questions as a result of his suffering, he never cursed God.  He never doubted God.  He believed in God.  His foundation in faith was God – He was blameless, a man of complete integrity, and he feared and stayed away from evil.  This was a constant for Job, whether he had children or not, whether he had wealth or not.  He was still a man of integrity. He still feared God.  Is it a wonder then that God himself had such faith in him to the extent of allowing Satan to test him?  Is it a wonder that God restored to Job all that He had lost in double portions?

Let us consider our foundations as believers – what have we anchored our faith in?  What truths do we embrace that cannot be faltered whether in good or bad times?  Truths that can cause us to be identified as men and women of integrity, men and women who fear God and stay away from evil. 

In this era of microwave “stuff”, there are many fake materials that can be used to lay foundations.  And still even when some are not fake, they are not robust, nor are they long lasting.  In Luke 6:46-49, Jesus taught about a solid foundation.  Essentially his main point was that if anyone calls him (Jesus), Lord of his/her life, then he/she ought to listen and obey his commands.  This way, his/her foundation as a believer is firm and can withstand any amount of pressure from whatever source – may it be relationships, finances, work related or any other kind of pressure. 

When a believer listens and obeys the Lord, their foundation is secure.  This listening and obedience is based purely on the word of God.  This is the core material, the core ingredient that forms our foundation as believers.  So, lets us intentionally and confidently search the word of God and align ourselves with the incorruptible truths and promises therein.  Let us embrace these as anchors that secure our lives at all times.  Let us lay a firm foundation for our faith in God. 

Great blessings,
Rose Kainda.

PARENTING IN THE 21ST CENTURY; ROSE KAINDA - A BOOK

What a joy to see what the Lord can do when we trust in him!  May he increase you and position you for Godly change in this generation and those to come.  To acquire a copy, please contact me on: fbm011@gmail.com or betoo.kiki@gmail.com; tel. +254 723 710 552 or 254 736 189 631.