FAITH CAPSULE: The journey of life does not run straight.

Numbers 20:1-13

Living life from January to December is a journey of life. To be alive all through the year is the mercy of God and not merit of man. The beginning of every journey is important; living through the year is very important but the way it comes to an end summarize the whole course of the journey. The journey of life does not run straight. It has hills and valleys. There are always twists and turns before getting to one’s expected end. Moses was a giant in the hand of God though his journey went through ups and downs. He led the children of Israel through forty years of wandering in the wilderness before coming to the Promised Land. Moses failed; he could not lead them through the crossing over, because he did not follow through with God’s command. Instruction to direct is the word of God, the command of God. Allowing instruction to have its place in our life is likened to having a graceful ornament on our head. (Proverbs 1:9) Moses misrepresents the word of God. God asked him to speak to the rock, but he struck the rock twice with his rod. It is written, “Then the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, ‘Because you did not believe Me, to hallow Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.’”(Numbers 20:12) Because of the lack of faith of the children of Israel, Moses was not allowed to get to the end of the journey that he so strongly desired. Are you about to cross over in your journey? Moses pleaded with God, but his plea was not accepted when he stated, “I pray, let me cross over and see the good land beyond the Jordan, those pleasant mountains, and Lebanon.”(Deuteronomy 3:25) Before you get to the point where no pleading or prayer will be accepted, ask God to remove any force or agent that will deny you from getting to the good land. It was because of the faithless Israelites that Moses was denied and Moses stated, “But the Lord was angry with me on your account, and would not listen to me. So the LORD said to me: Enough of that! Speak no more to Me on this matter.”(Deuteronomy 3:26) Your situation might not be because of anyone else’s account, but because of your own actions and the manner in which you are living your life. Ask God for help today and He will answer. 

Prayer for today: Ask God to remove any obstacle that would prohibit you from crossing over to your promised land.

FAITH CAPSULE: When God sends you He will back you up.

Joshua 1

Celebration of the birth of Jesus is good but not understanding the reason for His birth is bad. Jesus stated the reason for His coming, “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10) Where there is lack of understanding of His coming there will be no reason to believe. The grace to believe is to work the works of God. Once, Jesus responded to a question about what it means to work the works of God, “Then they said to Him, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?” Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God that you believe in Him whom He sent.” (John 6:28-29) Believing whom He sent is the only way to abundant life that Jesus brought. To work the works of God demands responding to God’s command without looking back or holding back. Abraham responded to God’s command when he moved out from his family and his country. It is written, “Now the LORD had said to Abram; ‘Get out of your country, from your family and from your father’s house to a land I will show you.’” (Genesis 12:1) For Abraham to work the works of God he had to get out of his comfort zone. For Joshua to lead the children of Israel to the Promised Land he had to rise up and cross the Jordan. The word of God states, “Moses My servant is dead. Now therefore, arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them-the children of Israel.”(Joshua 1:2) Whatever God says He will do is already done by the time He calls you. There was a need for Abraham to get out before entering into the promise of God. Similarly, there was a need for Joshua to arise and go in order for the manifestation of God’s promise to be fulfilled. What is keeping you grounded from arising and getting into His calling for your life? God has a plan and purpose for our life. Jesus is the plan and purpose of God’s salvation for our life. When God sends you He will back you up and He will bring into fruition the plans for which He sends you. Before Joshua answered God’s calling, God had already completed the mission on behalf of Joshua. The book of Joshua 1:3 states, “Every place that the sole of your feet will tread upon I have given you as I said to Moses.” If He has called you, get out, arise and go, and He will back you up. The birth of Jesus already brought abundant life to whoever will work the works of God.

Prayer for today: Ask God for the grace to work His works.

FAITH CAPSULE: This day, who do you say He is in your life?

Luke 9:18-22, John 1

It will be very difficult to find anyone in the Bible that does not live the meaning of their name. Here are few names that can be identified: Joshua–God is Salvation; Samson–Strong; Delilah–Delicate; Josiah–Jehovah supports; and Samuel–Asked of God; Emmanuel—God with us. Among all names Immanuel (Jesus) is the only name that carries power. The name and meaning as they relate to the bearer goes on through the Bible. When the twelve were sent to preach, at their return Jesus wanted to know from his disciples whom the crowds say He was. The disciples responded and gave the name of Elijah and the names of the old prophets. Then He went further to inquire again in Luke 9:20, “He said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Peter answered and said, ‘The Christ of God.’”  This day, who do you say He is in your life? Do you actually understand the name that you call on? Christ is the anointed one. It is possible to know about Him and not know Him. The Bible described Naaman, “Now Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Syria, was a great and honorable man in the eyes of his master, because by him the LORD had given victory to Syria. He was also a mighty man of valor, but a leper.” (2 Kings 5:1) The point here is, despite all that God did for Naaman, Naaman did not know God until he was healed and he testified after his healing, “…Indeed, now I know that there is no God in all the earth, except in Israel…” (2 Kings 5:15) Just like Naaman, there are so many that are enjoying the goodness and mercy of God in Christ Jesus and does not know Jesus. Many know about Him and many celebrate His birth. However, not knowing Him is not having life. Many have confused knowing about Him with knowing Him. The point is, the ones that actually know Him are also known in Him. In this season of celebration, celebrate Him as the Lord and savior and not as Santa from the North Pole. Jesus is the reason for the season. Know Him today as Jesus–Yahweh saves, Immanuel–God with us, Light of the World–One who brings hope and gives guidance, Son of David–One who brings in the Kingdom, Chief Shepherd–Gives guidance and protection, Chief Cornerstone–A sure foundation of life, Firstborn from the Dead–Leads us into resurrection, and Word–Eternal God who ultimately reveals God. Choose any of the few of His names listed, use it and apply it to any area that you have need for, and owe no man or force any apology for calling or claiming the name above all names. He alone is a faithful God and He will answer His name.

Prayer for today: Ask the grace to keep you from running out of God’s mercy.

FAITH CAPSULE: Attraction we display in the name of celebrating God is like a fig tree that attracts its creator without anything to show for.

Mark 11:12-14, 1 Peter 1:13-21

Among the ways of seeking God is celebrating God for who He is. A God that is jealous will undoubtedly appreciate being celebrated by His creation. With understanding, it is safe to say celebrating the birth of Jesus is seeking Jesus. The words of God demands, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”(Matthew 6:33) As one that celebrates the birth of Jesus, do you actually understand it that celebrating the birth of Jesus is seeking God? The word of God encourage, “…seek the LORD your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul.” (Deuteronomy 4:29) It is always worth to make our seeking God a fruitful experience and not just a something of attraction. Attraction we display in the name of celebrating God is like a fig tree that attracts its creator without anything to show for. This brings to mind the story of a fig tree that attracted Jesus without any fruit to deliver to its creator.The fig tree perhaps was the only tree in the region that was mouth watering. Its leaves were an indication that its fruit was delicious and palatable. Jesus created the fig tree for a purpose. The fig tree was not only created to be pleasing to the eye nor to be the best looking among the many trees in the garden. It is written, “And seeing from afar a fig tree having leaves, He went to see if perhaps He would find something on it. When He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the seasons for figs.” (Mark 11:13) All of Jesus’ actions, reactions and words were meant to communicate to the people both during His time on earth and after His ascension. How much attention are you devoting to the Word of God? Jesus was not only displaying His power when He approached the unfruitful fig tree by virtue of the inviting leaves it displayed. Jesus was communicating a message through the demonstration of power. Christianity or Christmas celebration is not just about adornment and Sunday-noise-making. Christianity is about Jesus reality, and Jesus reality is fruitfulness. Do not let your adornment be merely outward by the arrangement that is putting on fine apparel or beautifying your surroundings with Christmas lights. Avoid being a side attraction. Whenever your attractiveness is used for purposes other than having communion with the Creator, God may deal with you by showing you the futility of your vanity. All that Jesus wants is to see your fruitfulness.

Prayer for today: Ask Him to deliver you from religion into Jesus reality.

FAITH CAPSULE: Just a word from God will terminate your entire struggle.

John 11:38-44

The psalmist declared, “He sent His word and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.”(Psalm 107:20) The word of God is power to deliver and to preserve. The Bible also recorded, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.  All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.” (John 1:1-3) The same word that is being referred to is the same yesterday, today and forever. The book of revelation pointed out, “He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God.” (Revelation 19:13) There is no other one that was clothed with a robe dipped in the blood than Jesus. He came in the form of man through the Virgin Mary about two thousand years ago. Jesus is the reason for celebration because there is life in Him. Do you believe in the living Word of God? In the world today, there is trouble everywhere. However, when trouble gets to the heart it becomes evident that there is lack of believe in the heart. Jesus said, “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.” (John 14:1) Yes, there is trouble everywhere but guard your heart from getting troubled by believing in the Word of God that gives life where there is death. Celebrating the birth of Jesus is not elevating one’s self in the word. You are still struggling, you are constantly overwhelmed, and you are not getting what you’ve been hoping for, because you are not getting into the Word. For so long you have been constant and conversant with the Word of God, but your problem is that the Word is not entering into your life. The Word of God is true and it is life. For four days, Lazarus was dead. His body was stinking, and there was no way in scientific understanding for Lazarus to have life again, but when the healing healer stepped into the situation, He brought Lazarus back from death. John 11:43 says, “He cried out with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth! And he who had died came out of bound hand and foot with grave clothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, loose him, and let him go.”  Jesus is alive; the issue that is causing you to struggle and that is constantly overwhelming you are far from taking your life. Just a word from God breathed life back to Lazarus. Scripture tells us, “Take the word as life not as letter because the word gives life but the letter kills (1Cor.3:6).”  That same word that located Lazarus will terminate your entire struggle. Just a word from God will terminate your entire struggle. 

Prayer for today: Ask for the word to sound in your direction.