STAND FIRM REGARDLESS! ENJOY!
Are you hated, shunned, ostracized, or excommunicated by your so-called friends because of your stand for the Lord? Shouldn't least expect that, should you? So what do you do? Yield to the suicidal tendency that might characterize your grief and depression? NOT! Give up on yourself and withdraw into your shell? NOT! Throw a pity party that you know no one will attend? NOT! Compromise your faith and 'suck up' to them? NOT!
Besides, haven't you come across the passage in the scriptures that stated that if your right eye or hand will cause you to stumble, tear it out and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of the body, than to end up in hell with both (Matthew 5:30)? Of course, the right hand or eye can be deemed representatives of factors (things or individuals) you are convinced are indispensable / integral aspect your life. At times, feeling disappointed is out of question; expressing gratitude to God is more like it.
“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28 NKJV)
Your feeling of depression stems from your continual focusing your mind on what they think of you. Once you shift your focus on God and understand what He knows you to be, you will be filled with joy and gladness of heart – and stand firm regardless - even though adversity and challenges come your way.
By the way, do you want to enjoy, uh? Or to put it another way, do you want to weave more enjoyment in to your life? Then, you ought to read this. First of all, how can you weave some enjoyment into your life without joy? Joy? Yes, joy as in J.O.Y. Jehovah, Others, Yourself.
36 “Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?” 37 Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ (Matthew 22:36-39 NLT)
In other words, love and put Jehovah God first; others next; and yourself last. J.O.Y. Any attempt to rearrange the letters of the alphabets in JOY will certainly not result in JOY. Try OJY or JYO or YOJ or YJO. It still doesn’t end in JOY. It is like trying to put the cart before the horse: movement is impeded and it will lead to nowhere. Hence, the Lord’s teaching on loving / putting Jehovah God first; others next; and yourself last should not be taken for granted.
Jehovah first. Remember, “but seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you (Matthew 6:33 New King James Version – NKJV)
Others next. “For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: You shall love your neighbour as yourself.” (Galatians 5:13-14 NKJV)
Yourself last. “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.” (Philippians 2:3-4 NKJV)
5 Your attitude should be the same that Christ Jesus had. 6 Though he was God, he did not demand and cling to his rights as God. 7 He made himself nothing; he took the humble position of a slave and appeared in human form. 8 And in human form he obediently humbled himself even further by dying a criminal’s death on a cross. 9 Because of this, God raised him up to the heights of heaven and gave him a name that is above every other name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:5-11 NLT)
You may want to keep in mind, however, that you (Y) may have featured last, you are still very much part of the picture. You are still an integral part of the JOY equation. In fact, it takes you to put Jehovah and others ahead. In other words, putting yourself last is intended to encourage cultivating a lifestyle of humility. It does not in any way suggest that you are an insignificant person. Is the foundation of a building insignificant simply because it is the base portion of the whole structure that is concealed beneath the ground? It’s just that your importance and significance lies in you playing your role at the tail end of the word JOY. Come to think of it, if you remove the letter Y from the word JOY, what you have left is JO. That still does not add up to JOY. Though you are at the back, you are still very much part of the whole arrangement. To cut you out of the picture is not a good idea for JOY to be complete. Your role in spelling JOY correctly is quite meaningful. Do not confuse the word ‘humility’ with the word ‘nonentity’. They may seem or sound the same, but one is quite different in meaning to the other. Well, some folks do not see it that way.
“Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches.” (Galatians 6:6 NKJV)
17 Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine. 18 For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain,” (Deuteronomy 25:4)
“The laborer is worthy of his wages" (Luke 10:7) and (1 Timothy 5:17-18 NKJV)
Well, some folks beg to differ.
1 Six days before the Passover ceremonies began, Jesus arrived in Bethany, the home of Lazarus - the man he had raised from the dead. 2 A dinner was prepared in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, and Lazarus sat at the table with him. 3 Then Mary took a twelve-ounce jar of expensive perfume made from essence of nard, and she anointed Jesus’ feet with it and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with fragrance. 4 But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples - the one who would betray him - said, 5 “That perfume was worth a small fortune. It should have been sold and the money given to the poor.” 6 Not that he cared for the poor—he was a thief who was in charge of the disciples’ funds, and he often took some for his own use. 7 Jesus replied, “Leave her alone. She did it in preparation for my burial. 8 You will always have the poor among you, but I will not be here with you much longer.” 9 When all the people heard of Jesus’ arrival, they flocked to see him and also to see Lazarus, the man Jesus had raised from the dead. 10 Then the leading priests decided to kill Lazarus, too, 11 for it was because of him that many of the people had deserted them and believed in Jesus. (John 12:1-11 New Living Translation - NLT)
A similar account can be found in Mark 14:3-11 NLT.
3 ............ During supper, a woman came in with a beautiful jar of expensive perfume. She broke the seal and poured the perfume over his head. 4 Some of those at the table were indignant. “Why was this expensive perfume wasted?” they asked. 5 “She could have sold it for a small fortune and given the money to the poor!” And they scolded her harshly. 6 But Jesus replied, “Leave her alone. Why berate her for doing such a good thing to me? 7 You will always have the poor among you, and you can help them whenever you want to. But I will not be here with you much longer. 8 She has done what she could and has anointed my body for burial ahead of time. 9 I assure you, wherever the Good News is preached throughout the world, this woman’s deed will be talked about in her memory.” 10 Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve disciples, went to the leading priests to arrange to betray Jesus to them. 11 The leading priests were delighted when they heard why he had come, and they promised him a reward. So he began looking for the right time and place to betray Jesus.
Here is another scenario?
36 One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to come to his home for a meal, so Jesus accepted the invitation and sat down to eat. 37 A certain immoral woman heard he was there and brought a beautiful jar filled with expensive perfume. 38 Then she knelt behind him at his feet, weeping. Her tears fell on his feet, and she wiped them off with her hair. Then she kept kissing his feet and putting perfume on them. 39 When the Pharisee who was the host saw what was happening and who the woman was, he said to himself, “This proves that Jesus is no prophet. If God had really sent him, he would know what kind of woman is touching him. She’s a sinner!” .......... 44 Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Look at this woman kneeling here. When I entered your home, you didn’t offer me water to wash the dust from my feet, but she has washed them with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You didn’t give me a kiss of greeting, but she has kissed my feet again and again from the time I first came in. 46 You neglected the courtesy of olive oil to anoint my head, but she has anointed my feet with rare perfume. 47 I tell you, her sins -and they are many - have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love.” 48 Then Jesus said to the woman, “Your sins are forgiven.” 49 The men at the table said among themselves, “Who does this man think he is, going around forgiving sins?” 50 And Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” (Luke 7:36-39,44-50 NLT)
Who would have thought that the Lord Jesus (who was often referred to by fault-finders as “a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners” – Luke 7:34 NKJV) of all people had to be reminded about or reprimanded on caring for the poor? Was it not Jesus who was described in the following words?
38 And no doubt you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the Devil, for God was with him. 39 “And we apostles are witnesses of all he did ......... (Acts 10:38,39 NLT)
Also, 35 Jesus traveled through all the cities and villages of that area, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And wherever he went, he healed people of every sort of disease and illness. 36 He felt great pity for the crowds that came, because their problems were so great and they didn’t know where to go for help. They were like sheep without a shepherd (Matthew 9:35-6 NLT).
37 But Jesus said, “You feed them.”
“With what?” they asked. “It would take a small fortune to buy food for all this crowd!” .................. 41 Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and asked God’s blessing on the food. Breaking the loaves into pieces, he kept giving the bread and fish to the disciples to give to the people. 42 They all ate as much as they wanted, 43 and they picked up twelve baskets of leftover bread and fish. 44 Five thousand men had eaten from those five loaves! (Mark 6:37, 41-44 NLT)
I suppose the cynics were too busy seeing what they want to see to notice all that.
In Luke 19:35-38, Jesus was having quite a ball. His ‘motorcade’ was heralded and received with pomp and pageantry. It was some sort of carnival for celebrating the amazing things the LORD is doing through the ministry of His anointed one. Oh, what a spectacle it was!
35 So they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their garments over it for him to ride on. 36 Then the crowds spread out their coats on the road ahead of Jesus. 37 As they reached the place where the road started down from the Mount of Olives, all of his followers began to shout and sing as they walked along, praising God for all the wonderful miracles they had seen. 38 “Bless the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in highest heaven!” (Luke 19:35-38 NLT)
But his detractors’ onslaught seemed to know no limit. Such insatiable desire to spite Jesus Christ and ruin his parade. Regardless of the nature of the feat, the critics found something to harp on just to add some element of depression to his procession.
39 But some of the Pharisees among the crowd said, “Teacher, rebuke your followers for saying things like that!” 40 He replied, “If they kept quiet, the stones along the road would burst into cheers!” (Luke 19:35-40 NLT)
Judas and company had problem with the level of honour and affection accorded the saviour by the women. And to think that when “ the apostles gathered to Jesus and told Him all things, both what they had done and what they had taught. He said to them, “Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” For there were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat. (Mark 6:30-31 NKJV)
5 Jesus sent the twelve disciples out with these instructions: ......... “8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cure those with leprosy, and cast out demons. Give as freely as you have received! 9 “Don’t take any money with you. 10 Don’t carry a traveler’s bag with an extra coat and sandals or even a walking stick. Don’t hesitate to accept hospitality, because those who work deserve to be fed. (Matthew 10:5,8-10 NLT)
Judas Iscariot stated, “why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” (John 12:5 NKJV). According to Matthew 20:1-16, labourers were paid a denarius a day. Hence, three hundred denarii is almost a year’s income for some workers. That’s bound to turn more than few heads, and get lots of tongues wagging. Isn’t it odd that Judas and company suddenly experienced a fit of moral seizures upon seeing the level of honour and affection being accorded the saviour? Over the years, the Lord has drawn my attention to something in light of this matter: if ‘St. Judas’ was as caring as he made it sound, when he was tipped thirty pieces of silver to pull the job on Jesus Christ, what portion did he give to the poor? Hypocrite. Related readings can be found under OF MANSIONS AND STRUCTURES.
Needless to say, some folks – if they have their way - will use any means necessary to lay their hands on the goods. Jezebel and Ahab really demonstrated what it means to get what they want by any means necessary. Jezebel’s dastardly technique is in the neighbourhood of false accusations, false arrest, false witnessing, evidence manipulation, misrepresentations, setting traps, prosecutorial / judicial misconduct, fixing / corrupting the system, etc.
6 “I asked Naboth to sell me his vineyard or to trade it, and he refused!” Ahab told her. 7 “Are you the king of Israel or not?” Jezebel asked. “Get up and eat and don’t worry about it. I’ll get you Naboth’s vineyard!” 8 So she wrote letters in Ahab’s name, sealed them with his seal, and sent them to the elders and other leaders of the city where Naboth lived. 9 In her letters she commanded: “Call the citizens together for fasting and prayer and give Naboth a place of honor. 10 Find two scoundrels who will accuse him of cursing God and the king. Then take him out and stone him to death.” 11 So the elders and other leaders followed the instructions Jezebel had written in the letters. 12 They called for a fast and put Naboth at a prominent place before the people. 13 Then two scoundrels accused him before all the people of cursing God and the king. So he was dragged outside the city and stoned to death. 14 The city officials then sent word to Jezebel, “Naboth has been stoned to death.” 15 When Jezebel heard the news, she said to Ahab, “You know the vineyard Naboth wouldn’t sell you? Well, you can have it now! He’s dead!” 16 So Ahab immediately went down to the vineyard to claim it. ............ ............’” (1 Kings 21:6-16,19 NLT)
It is common knowledge that the LORD promised in Deuteronomy 6:10,11 NLT:
10 “The LORD your God will soon bring you into the land he swore to give your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It is a land filled with large, prosperous cities that you did not build. 11 The houses will be richly stocked with goods you did not produce. You will draw water from cisterns you did not dig, and you will eat from vineyards and olive trees you did not plant.”
That is no excuse to justify Jezebel’s actions. And the LORD did not fail to point that out.
19 Give him this message: ‘This is what the LORD says: Isn’t killing Naboth bad enough? Must you rob him, too? (1 Kings 21:19 NLT)
16 You are not slaves; you are free. But your freedom is not an excuse to do evil. You are free to live as God’s slaves. 17 Show respect for everyone. Love your Christian brothers and sisters. Fear God. Show respect for the king. (1 Peter 2:16,17 NLT)
Of course, the Lord does not condone Jezebel’s style (slothful, cunning, or greedy means) of acquiring things.
13 Then someone called from the crowd, “Teacher, please tell my brother to divide our father’s estate with me.” 14 Jesus replied, “Friend, who made me a judge over you to decide such things as that?” 15 Then he said, “Beware! Don’t be greedy for what you don’t have. Real life is not measured by how much we own.” (Luke 12:13-15 NLT)
Again, as said, putting yourself last does not imply shutting yourself out of the picture. After all, God wants the very best for you. He told Joshua “you will have good success (Joshua 1:8 NKJV).
24 Look at the ravens. They don’t need to plant or harvest or put food in barns because God feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than any birds! (Luke 12:24 NLT)
32 ................Your heavenly Father already knows all your needs, 33 and he will give you all you need from day to day if you live for him and make the Kingdom of God your primary concern. (Matthew 6:32-33 NLT)
“Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” (Luke 12:32 NKJV)
3 “And my blessings are for Gentiles, too, when they commit themselves to the LORD. Do not let them think that I consider them second-class citizens. And my blessings are also for the eunuchs. They are as much mine as anyone else. 4 For I say this to the eunuchs who keep my Sabbath days holy, who choose to do what pleases me and commit their lives to me: 5 I will give them - in my house, within my walls - a memorial and a name far greater than the honor they would have received by having sons and daughters. For the name I give them is an everlasting one. It will never disappear! (Isaiah 56:3-5 NLT)
3 Do not let the son of the foreigner who has joined himself to the LORD speak, saying, “The LORD has utterly separated me from His people”; Nor let the eunuch say, Here I am, a very dry tree.” For thus says the LORD: “To the eunuchs who keep My Sabbaths, and choose what pleases Me, and hold fast My covenant, Even to them I will give in My house and within My walls a place and a name better than that of sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name that shall not be cut off............ Even them I will bring to My holy mountain, and make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on My altar; for My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations.” (Isaiah 56:3-5, 7 NKJV)
1 This is what the LORD says to Cyrus, his anointed one, whose right hand he will empower. Before him, mighty kings will be paralyzed with fear. Their fortress gates will be opened, never again to shut against him. 2 This is what the LORD says: “I will go before you, Cyrus, and level the mountains. I will smash down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron. 3 And I will give you treasures hidden in the darkness — secret riches. I will do this so you may know that I am the LORD, the God of Israel, the one who calls you by name. (Isaiah 45:1-3 NLT)
So my friends, enjoy!
God bless
Yours
Adekunle O. Majek'
H I A F E M
Of impact, quality and excellence
That's the Spirit!
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