FAITH CAPSULE: Devote to the word and you will not miss your chance.

Luke 10:29-37

Are you one that will take chance to give the best of help to a needy? Will you give help to a needy without expectation but for the glory of God?
Jesus did not just tell the parable of the Good Samaritan but He was prompted to a certain lawyer who stood up and tested Him, saying, “…Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” (Luke 10:25) Jesus asked the understanding of lawyer’s question and he answered Jesus, “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’ and ‘your neighbor as yourself.’”(Luke 10:27)
Jesus responded with the parable of the Good Samaritan:
It was about a certain man that fell among thieves and was left half dead after having been beaten and stripped off naked. Jesus stated that a priest, a Levite and a Samaritan had the chance to pass at scene of thieves against a Samaritan. Being passing at the scene, it was a chance to demonstrate what it means to show the love of God and qualified to inherit eternal life. It is written, “Jesus said, now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.” (Luke 10:31) Jesus pointed that a chance was presented to the priest and the Levite to act the love that they were preaching. Both the priest and the Levite missed their chance. A Samaritan, a much hated neighbor of the Jews, had compassion and did not pass by the chance to demonstrate what it means to love neighbor as self. The Good Samaritan positioned himself qualified to make inherit eternal life. Taking a chance was a favorable circumstance and the Samaritan took the chance as he helped needy certain man as his neighbor. The word of Jesus was not a waste word when He stated “by chance”
The Priest and the Levite had their chance but could not show the love of God and not be qualified as candidate to make inherit eternal life.
Have you been passing over your chances?
A priest and Levite missed their chance. Imagine anyone following and looking up to the priest and the Levite at the time of their passing? It does not matter how long the priest or the Levite has been in the Lord, do look up to Jesus and not at priest or Levite. Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith and He will not mislead us in representing Him.
Do you desire eternal life? Devote to the word and you will not miss your chance.

Prayer for today: Ask God to give you the grace not to miss the chances for the glory of God.

FAITH CAPSULE: Who do you commit yourself to?

1 Samuel 13

Jesus selected few to walk along with Him day and night but He could not commit Himself to any man. The bible recorded, “But Jesus did not commit Himself to them, because He knew all men.” (John 2:24) The experience of Jesus is written for our learning but yet we read over His experience and look over the word by committing ourselves to man.
Who do you commit yourself to?
Who do you commit to and get help from?
It is true that God is the Caring taker of care taker. God’s word does not fail and He is waiting to act when we wait on His committed love and caring. Isaiah 64:4 testified about His caring, “For since the beginning of the world Men have not heard nor perceived by the ear, nor has the eye seen any God besides You, Who acts for the one who waits for Him.”
God is enough to commit on for help not on man. God alone is the Helping helper of man that has never fail. Looking for help from the wrong sources is the evidence of limiting God’s love caring. Your help will not come from where you are looking nor will it come from your own thinking. Saul was confirmed by God as King of the children of Israel. Having been confirmed, he began to think and look for help from the people that were around him. Saul was to fight the Philistines, but he could not wait for the Prophet of God’s role to carry out the burnt offering. Saul disobeyed the law of God by engaging burnt offering which was only to be carried out by Samuel the priest of God. Samuel confronted Saul about the presentation of burnt offering, “…What have you done?” Saul said, “When I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that you did not come within the days appointed, and that the Philistines gathered together at Michmash, then I said, ‘The Philistines will now come down on me at Gilgal, and I have not made supplication to the LORD.’ Therefore I felt compelled, and offered a burnt offering.”(1 Samuel 13:11-12) Committing on man instead of meditating on the testimonies of His care might compel you to become a failure like King Saul.
Meditating on what God can do, what He has done and what He is doing. God is enough to look up to for help. God alone has brought you this far, and He will not leave you nor forsake you. Are you wondering where your help will come from?
God’s help is certain and help will surely come.

Prayer for today: Ask God for the grace not to commit to man but only on God.

FAITH CAPSULE: Be persistent thanking God and He will not resist from answering you.

Matthew 15:21-28

Jesus was on His journey of mission to the region of Tyre and Sidon when a woman of Canaan came and cried out to Him. Have you been crying to Him all year long? The woman cried for mercy stating, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed.” (Matthew 15: 22) All kinds of crying must have been going up to Him and still waiting for His response. In the scene of this woman of Canaan, Jesus response testifies the truth that God hears every time but only answer at His appointed time. As regard to the case of the woman of Canaan, the Bible recorded Jesus’ response, “But He answered her not a word. And His disciples came and urged Him, saying, “Send her away, for she cries out after us.”” (Matthew 15:23) Jesus did not answer the woman at the time of her asking because Jesus’ timing is different.
God’s timing is not man’s timing.
The disciples could not wait but quickly requested for her to be sent away.
God is a compassionate Father that will never ignore any of His children.
Whenever our expectation for answer from God seems delayed according to our timing, we can always turn to Him with the sacrifice of thanks giving.
Giving thanks in the face of pending needs is declaring God’s faithfulness. Giving thanks is also an evidence of understanding that all things passes through our good God. Without doubt, what passes through God to us comes out good. Romans 8:28 buttress the need for us to constantly hold on to God in thanks giving, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” The Word of God went further concerning the issue of thanks giving when it stated in Ephesians 5:20, “Giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another in the fear of God.” Obviously, the scriptural verses points out that, those that give thanks for all things, will have all things work together for good on their behalf. As difficult or as challenging situations we should know to give thanks for all things and in all things.
After Jesus’ brief silence to a woman of Canaan’s request, He later communicated with her and the Bible recorded, “Then Jesus answered and said to her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.” (Matthew 15:8)
Do not give up, be persistent and He will not resist from answering you.

Prayer for today: Ask for the grace to be persistent giving thanks in your waiting on Him.

FAITH CAPSULE: Give it all for Jesus and He shall settle you.

1Kings 19:11-21, Luke 5:1-11

At a point in time, four fishermen forsook all and followed Jesus. In life, to follow in serving God demands forsaking all. Elisha followed Elijah in his serving of God. The bible recorded that Elisha answered calling to serve when he wholeheartedly followed Elijah. Elisha broke with his old life by kissing father bye and by destroying the yoke of oxen that were his livelihood. (1Kings19:19-21)
What do you forsake to follow in serving God?
Four professional fishermen at the right time at the right place failed to catch fish. The four fishermen could not give up until day break; yet they caught nothing. While they were washing their nets and ready to pack for the day with nothing, Jesus showed up. “Then He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little from the land. And He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat.” (Luke 5:3) Despite lack of success with catching fish, their kindness was intact as they allowed the stranger to use their vessel without any refusal. After Jesus finished teaching the multitude, He turned to the fishermen and gave them His word stating, “…Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” (Luke 5:4) In response, professional fishermen lamented about toiling all night with nothing to show forth.
Are you in any situation where disappointment denies turning to any word of change? Have you found yourself on a ground where you have been grounded due to lack of positive result? Often, listening to hear and see in the word of change is always the route of transformation. The fishermen responded to the word to launch out into the deep and let down nets, “…they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!” (Luke 5:6-8)
Is there any area of your life where you have been toiling? It does not matter how long you have been toiling with nothing to show off. However, it is certain that when you listen to hear and see in the word of God it shall lead you to route of transformation. The fishermen listened and heard the word that terminated their struggle. Give it all for Jesus and He shall settle you.

Prayer for today: Ask for the word of God to sound in direction of every area of your struggle.

FAITH CAPSULE: Hearing and seeing in God’s word is the Key to every door in life.

Joshua 6

The word of God is power and it will deliver when it enters into man. Psalm 119:130 admonished “The entrance of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple.” Do you trust the word of God to enter in your life for understanding? When attention is truly given to words and words not depart from eyes, the heart will keep the words to bring forth its manifestation. (Proverbs 4:20-21)
Responding to God’s word by giving attention to hear and not allow God’s word to depart shall bring forth manifested. God commanded Abraham, “For all the land which you see I give to you and your descendants forever. And I will make your descendants as the dust of the earth; so that if a man could number the dust of the earth, then your descendants also could be numbered.” (Genesis 13:15-16) At the time of command, Abraham has passed the age of child bearing. Despite of that, he was commanded to see himself where he has never been. Not just to see, but to also imagine descendants that could not be numbered. Like Abraham, when attention is truly given to words and words not depart from eyes, the heart will keep the words to receive the promises of God. Abraham saw in the words of God and he obtained God’s promises in the words.
The children of Israel, after years and years of journey to their promise land, the King of Jericho attempted to deny God’s word of promise. They were set to enter, but the King of Jericho was determined to deny them. The bible recorded the plan of the King of Jericho in Joshua 6:1, “Now Jericho was securely shut up because of the children of Israel; none went out, and none came in.” Man can shut you out from where God is taking you, but the key to every door is in the word of God if you allow and see in the word. God spoke His word to Joshua the leader of the children of Israel in Joshua 6:2, “And the LORD said to Joshua: “See! I have given Jericho into your hand, its king, and the mighty men of valor.” In God’s command, there is deliverance if you will give attention to hear and see deliverance while is yet to manifest. Joshua saw victory in God’s command before it was manifested in the physical.

Prayer for today: Ask God for the grace to open your ears and heart for as a house of God’s word.