Faith Capsule: It is the way of God for us not to judge.

John 8

Condemning an act is arriving at judgment. Condemning one’s self or another is passing judgment on one’s self or others. Jesus alone is the true judge and there is no man in position to judge is fellow brother. Jesus specifically warned in Matthew 7:1-2, “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.” Nothing qualifies any believer to be a judge. The Bible declared it in Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” God alone is the perfect judge because He alone is holy and sinless. God alone cannot misjudge man. Condemning others by our judgment is looking into other’s shortcomings while we are yet to take the step to look closely into ours. Jesus said in, Matthew 7:3-4, “And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? As a believer, proper care needs to be constantly placed so as to eliminate our arriving quickly at condemning others, especially outside of what we believe. With the understanding of the fact that no one is perfect but God, forgiving others should be a knowledgeable way of approaching the world of sin and iniquity.
The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman caught in the act of adultery to Jesus, and they wanted to know why she should not be stoned. Have you been greatly offended and wanting to know why your offender should be let go without your judgment? This is what Jesus said to the scribes and the Pharisees, which also speak to us, “So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” (John 8:7) To let go and let God take over can be very challenging when looking for an instant judgment that fits any offence against us. The fact that there is none that is perfect is enough to hold back, rather than carrying out judgment. This was Jesus’ response to the woman caught in the act of adultery, “Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience,went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.” (John 8:9). It is the way of God for us not to judge. Restrain from your way, and let the Lord have His way.

Prayer for today: Ask God to deliver you, from conscious or unconscious ways that you have taken outside of His word.

Faith Capsule: Do you really know if you truly fear Him?

Genesis 22:1-14

The question is do you fear God? Do you fear Him just by the word of your mouth or by the way you are living life? To fear God is all that matters. One that does not fear Him will fail Him. Ecclesiastes 12:13 stated it well, “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandment, for this is man’s all.” Do you really know if you far Him? God treasures it when we fear Him. Isaiah 33:6 buttressed it, “…The fear of the Lord is His treasure.” Those that truly receive the word will know to fear Him. When man treasures God’s command His fear will have its place in man.
It is written in many pages of bible what the fear of God adds up to in the life of a believer. Proverbs 9:10, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” Those who operate wisdom of God are set for great things, and good things are ahead of them. Godly wisdom cannot be substituted neither can it be faked. Do you truly fear Him? It is the wisdom gained in the fear of God that reveals the knowledge of the Holy One. Proverbs 19:23, “The fear of the LORD leads to life, and he who has it will abide in satisfaction; He will not be visited with evil.” The fear of God will give life in the place of death. With the fear of God satisfaction takes the place of dissatisfaction in the life of man. The fear of God is what will make anyone that fears Him to be in a position that is not locatable for any evil visitation. It was the fear of God in the life of many giants in the hand of God that made their testimonies unique ones.

Abraham lived life in the fear of God and could not withhold from his attempt to use Isaac for sacrifice as commanded by God. Abraham heard the word when he was about sacrifice Isaac, “And He said, “Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.” (Genesis 22:12) The fear of God is not compromise-able. Do you actually fear Him or do you think you fear Him? Hear what is written in Isiah 55:10, “Who among you fears the Lord? Who obeys the voice of His Servant? Who walks in darkness and has no light? Let him trust in the name of the Lord and rely upon his God.

Prayer for today: Ask for the fear of God to overtake you in every area of living life.

Faith Capsule: Tune to Him in your toiling and He will turn to you.

Luke 5:1-11

Peter and his fellow professional fisher men toiled all night with nothing to show for their toiling. All night toiling can be very exhausting especially when there is nothing to show for the toiling. The word toiling is described as, “hard and continuous work; exhausting labor or effort.” Peter and his fellow fisher men must have experienced an all-night hard and continuous work with nothing to show when Jesus came in their direction. The fisher men were set to go empty handed as they engaged cleaning up on that empty morning. In the process of cleaning the living Word of God sounded in their direction saying, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” (Luke 5:4) Despite the pain and exhaustion of having toiled all night with nothing to show for toiling all night, the fisher men responded to Jesus’ word “But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.” And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking.” (Luke 5:5-6) The fishermen were able to experience a great turn around because they did not disregard the word of the Master. The living Word of God which sounded in the fishermen’s direction turned around their destiny and led them into the center of their divine assignment. Despite lack of productivity in their toiling all night they did not disregard the command of Jesus. Is your situation dictating how you respond to Word that sound in your direction? The fishermen listened and did as they were commanded.
Toiling is also described as, “to move or travel with difficulty, weariness, or pain.” In the journey of life, there is the possibility that journey might appear unproductive with an ending pain of nothing to show for. What is it that has taken the center stage of your journey in life? In your journey, does it look like you are stagnated and moving forward is like going in circle? As an acclaimed believer, does your situation sound like one that is experiencing pain from stagnation? It is important to know and not to shut down every accessible route that opens man to the living Word of God. Allow word to gain entrance deny discouragement from having a place in your journey. Discouragement is not what is needed in time of toiling but giving regard to the word of God. The fishermen could not disregard the Word of God. Psalm 32:8 admonished, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye.” What is the Lord saying to you in journey that seems to be moving in circle with no sign getting to the expected end? Tune to Him in your toiling and He will not ignore you.

Prayer for today: Ask for the grace to be opened and give regard to your breakthrough when it sounds in your direction.  

Faith Capsule: Unplanned journey can be exceedingly painful but often comes to a gainful end.

Genesis 28

Joseph’s errand of hours lasted for over thirteen years. Joseph’s journey began when Jacob (Israel) called on his beloved son Joseph, “And Israel said to Joseph, “Are not your brothers feeding the flock in Shechem? Come, I will send you to them.” So he said to him, “Here I am.” Then he said to him, “Please go and see if it is well with your brothers and well with the flocks, and bring back word to me.” So he sent him out of the Valley of Hebron, and he went to Shechem.” (Genesis 37:13-14) The errand took Joseph away when he was at age of seventeen. What a journey? What a life? A very long and unplanned journey can be very challenging. Are you in any unplanned journey? The truth is, it can be exceedingly painful but it often comes to a gainful end. With Joseph, unplanned journey took him to the center of his divine assignment in life. By the time he came back into his father’s life, he was a man in the position of power. Joseph experienced change of story that delivered his whole family from the famine of his time and they could not suffer from the famine.
It is worthy to meditate on Joseph’s story in every journey of life.
After Jacob stole the blessings of Esau, there was no way of escape for Jacob from the wrath of his brother other than to run for his life. A time of running can lead to reposition man for a glorious ending. Jacob experienced unplanned journey. Jacob was directed by his mother to flee to her brother Laban in Haran. Rebekah said to Jacob to go, “And stay with him a few days, until your brother’s fury turns away,” (Genesis 27:44) Jacob entered journey with no way of turning back. It was a journey which took him to center of divine assignment. Jacob, on the journey of his escape, came to a certain place, “Now Jacob went out from Beersheba and went toward Haran. 11 So he came to a certain place and stayed there all night, because the sun had set. And he took one of the stones of that place and put it at his head, and he lay down in that place to sleep. 12 Then he dreamed, and behold, a ladder was set up on the earth, and its top reached to heaven; and there the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.” (Genesis 28:10-12) A certain place for Jacob was the particular place for his divine encounter; a place of God’s visitation and Gods assurance. Arriving at your certain place in the journey of life will place you in the center of God’s divine assignment for your life.

Prayer for today: Ask for the grace to keep you and not miss your certain place in the course of life journey.

Faith Capsule: Truly, God is true to His word.

1 Samuel 1

It does not matter which route you have taken into self-affliction, but it is clear that regardless of the route taken into affliction God is mercifully enough to have mercy if you will remember to return to Him for His mercy. The importance of making a vow to God and fulfilling it is identified in the book of Ecclesiastes 5:4-5, “When you make a vow to God, do not delay to pay it; For He has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you have vowed—better not to vow than to vow and not pay.” The importance of making a vow is seen across the pages of Scripture. Many giants in the hand of God and many with great miracle testimonies made vows to have their closed doors opened. It is recorded concerning Hannah, “…The Lord had closed her womb and her rival provoked her severely to make her miserable…” (1Samuel 1:5-6) Affliction is also an agent of making people miserable. Making a vow unto God was one of the open door avenues for Hannah’s blessing of fruitfulness. Hannah made a vow and it was duly fulfilled.
Reaching out to God by making a vow is not to be played with. Once a vow is made either in the heart or in writing, it must be carried out. Jonah vowed in his self-inflicted affliction and God delivered him. Also, no matter how simple or difficult the vow is, it must be completed as vowed. Jonah vowed “But I will sacrifice to You With the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay what I have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD.”(Jonah 2:9) Thanksgiving sacrifice was Jonah’s vow for his deliverance. Making a vow to be given after deliverance in the middle of serious affliction is not as easy as recorded. It can be very challenging to remember to vow a thanksgiving offering in the face of overwhelming challenge like Jonah did.
Jonah, despite going down into self-inflicted affliction, cried out, he looked up, he remembered to reaffirm his faith and made a vow before God. The steps taken by Jonah to come out of affliction will work for you where there is a need to come out of affliction. God did not withdraw His mercy but He answered Jonah, “So the LORD spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.” (Jonah 2:10) Indeed and in truth, the word of God is written for our learning when studying is applied to gain knowledge for deliverance. Study the word; do not skim through the word. Gain understanding of the word, apply it to your affliction and you shall have a knowing edge.
Truly, God is true to His word as stated “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all.”(Psalm 34:19)

Prayer for today: Ask God to open your understanding that you may live by His word.