DEDICATION

DEDICATING TO GOD

Hi,

In this study, we are going to look at “Dedicating to our Lord God’’ and in this we shall answer several questions of;

• What does it mean in dedicating to God?
• What do we dedicate to God?
• Why do we dedicate to God?
• When do we dedicate to God?

We are all initially children of God by creation, but with passage of time as we grow by, interacting with the events and changes of the world, we begin to seal our self from being children of God. In most cases this is due our lack of dedication to our Lord God who is the owner of our life.

In this context, I will say ‘Dedicating to God is the process letting God to take control of your life in all aspect of your life in this world’. Dedication is a process, it is just not once. It is a continuous process.

Note these…

• It is due to dedication of our love to our friends that we live in love, peace and harmony.
• It is due to the dedication of the love of a father to his children that he provides for them.
• It is due to dedication of love to marriage partners that the married do stay together in the marriage till death separates them

Above all, it is due to the dedication of the love of God to us that He is protecting us, providing for us up to date though in times of happiness, sorrow and what ever circumstances we may be in, because God said that He is with us. “The Lord God is with you. He is Mighty to save. He will take great delight in you; he will quiet you with his love…” Zephaniah 3:17 and God has plans for you and for me. “Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future”. Jeremiah 29:11. Our being children of God is not our own wish, but by grace and love of God Ephesians 2:8.

Dedicating to God is a process of giving up our life as a living sacrifice to the service of God, letting God to take control of our life. It is a process because it is from the time we identify our self as SINNERS and admitting that what we have been in, is SIN and therefore taking a step of accepting and coming to Christ Jesus as our Lord and Savior, up to the time of our death (when God takes us to be with Him in His Kingdom). One thing we have to note with concern is that our dedication to our Lord God is being instructed/ a command, for we were once lost in sin when Adam and Eve went beyond Gods’ commands, but by the Grace of God we are been drawn back to him through the death of Jesus Christ for our sins. Galatians 3:26-27, Ephesians 2:4-5, 13.

Remember that our relationship with God was terminated by the act of Adam and Eve. They took pleasure in themselves and the events of the world that they failed to dedicate themselves to the expectation of God, thus sin came in Genesis 3. Even during the Egypt- canner journey under the leadership of Moses, Aaron and so, Israelites failed to dedicate themselves to the expectation of God (Exodus), they kept sinning on the way.

The death of Jesus Christ on the cross has redeemed us from our sinful state and nature and “we are put in one body with Christ through Baptism” Romans 6:3-4. If you are still behind and have not yet identified your self with Christ Jesus, “repent and be Baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins and you will receive the forgiveness of your sins”. God dedicated Jesus Christ to die for our sins so that we may find salvation in Him. The gift of God (Kingdom) can not be bought with money or wealth like what Simon the sorcerer tried to do Acts 8:18-24. “We must go through hardship to enter the Kingdom of God” Acts 14:22b. During Baptism, “you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received a spirit of Sonship” Romans 8:15.

Therefore my dear friends, “clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ ad do not think about how to gratify the desire of the sinful nature” Romans 13:14. Remember that “The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever” 1 John 2:17.

Action needed…….

Read Deuteronomy 22:9 reflect on the writing and evaluate your life, boldly come and act upon. Know that once you are with Christ, nothing will separate you from the Love of Christ. Romans 8:35-39. Even do not worry over a single thing or issue for the Lord your God has plans for you, “to prosper you, not to harm you” Jeremiah 29:11. “Brothers and sisters, “God is with you” (Zephaniah 3:17) in all your struggles.

Be blessed as you dedicate/devote to God, and if you have never been doing so, it is high time you act. You may need special prayers request, please do not hesitate to write to me.

Love in Christ to you all.

Mathew.

Building Life

BUILDING  A  LIFE

An elderly carpenter was ready to retire, and he told his boss of his plans to leave and live a more leisurely life with his wife. He would miss the paycheck, but he needed to retire. They could get by…     

The contractor was sorry to see such a good worker go,and he asked the  carpenter to build just one more house as a personal favor.

The carpenter said yes, but in time it was easy to see that his heart was not in his work, he resorted to shoddy workmanship and used inferior materials. It was an unfortunate way to end a dedicated career.

When the carpenter finished his work, the employer came to inspect the house. He handed the front-door key to the carpenter. “this is your house,” he said. ”it is my gift to you.”

The carpenter was shocked!!! What a shame!!! If he had only known he was  building his own house, he would have done it all so different.

So it is with us, we build our lives, a day at a time, after putting less than our best into the building, then with a shock we realize when we have to live in the house we have build. If we could do it over, we would  do it much differently. But we can not go back....

You are the carpenter of your life,each day you hammer a nail, place a board, or erect a wall,,,,,,,,

Your attitudes and the choices you make today build your house for tomorrow....

Build wisely! Ask God to be the master builder of your life. He will show you how to build a strong foundation for the house of your life.

Please pass this on to others.

Love in Christ to you all

Mathew.

Destruction.

DESTRUCTION, A SURE DEAL TO THOSE WHO DOES TRUST IN ITEMS OF THE WORLD.

John 3:36

In the current world, there are so many things happening, people trusting in earthly things for their protection, provisions; like herbs, witches, animals and so on. Besides, there are people who are trusting in themselves on this earth like Kings, Presidents and persons with Riches feeling so superior.

ü  They often forget God their creator, who is the Sole provider of everything they are holding, the chief security provider of their life.

ü  They lose respect for fellow humans, always expecting people to adore to their earthly commands whenever and wherever.

EXAMPLES OF SUCH IN THE BIBLE………

Ø  Haman after attaining His position as the second in the royal command in the Kingdom of Susa Ruled by King Xerxes (Esther 1…), tried to use his position to destroy all the Jews living in the Kingdom because he claimed to be superior that he wanted everyone to adore to his evil worship styles and commands. He wanted earthly pleasure and recognition, he perished…. (Esther 7:1….)

Ø  In 1 Samuel 15,  King Saul failed to carry and follow the instructions of God of destroying all the Amalekites and their assets, instead he spared King Agag and the best of the sheep, cattle, the fat calves and Lambs, everything that was good to him. This was against Gods’ command, God had to bring Saul’s’ rule into an end.

Ø  And many more examples in the Bible you need to dig in and even in the current society. However, at the right timing, they all together lost their life.

What about you and me, whom/what do you and I trust in as the provider, protector and source of life? Some of us trust in our parents, friends, love partners, bosses at work, priests, and pastors and so on, forgetting the position of Jesus Christ in our daily life activities. We have to put/centralise our trust in Christ Jesus who is the center of our life; He determines your fate to Heaven.

“Jesus is the Light of the World” (John 8:12), He gives light to the world and your life but you can only see the light and walk in it unless you ADORE to Him by accepting Jesus as your personal Savior and source of Life, Strength and so on. We have to note that “The Lord is Strength”. He gives you the Strength in times of problems, sorrows, joy, celebrations and any circumstance (Isaiah 26:4).

Jesus is God and through Him we come to know and get closer to our God. Colossians 1:15-20. Jesus even stresses in John 10:30 that “I and the Father are one” John 14:9b “anyone who has seen me has seen the Father”. However, we do not know God because we do not know Jesus. Sometimes we know Jesus but we fail to identify ourselves with Him. Indeed Jesus is God who gives you and me life and the prosperity…. Read John 1:1-4 and 1: 14, also John 8:19.

Jesus is the only path through which we can meet our God. Neither our mother, nor father, uncle, priest, pastor can take us to Heaven but only by BELIEVING AND TRUSTING IN OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. John 14:6. “Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” John 1:29, He takes away your sins and my sins, nothing that he cannot do in cleansing you if you grant Him the chance by giving up your life to Him. You cannot run to your father, mother, witchdoctor, and pastor for the forgiveness of the sin you have committed, but only you can run to Christ Jesus for the cleansing/purification process, to make you pure for the kingdom of God.

Jesus is the only cornerstone to our foundation. Be it in business, Ministry, education or what so ever, PUT first Christ Jesus a head of your plan, you will progress in life in the light of God and your ways will always be liked and appreciated by God and His people on earth. 1 Peter 2:6-7.

We are the flocks/sheep of God whom Jesus is looking after.(let me refer you to KIDS DEVOTIONAL STUDY series Book 1- Developing Relationship with Jesus- by Biblestudyforkids.com) He is the only Shepherd who knows His sheep (us) by names. But though all these, we always refuse to respond to His call. Jesus says anyone who publicly denies Him will also be denied before of God, and imagine how terrible it will be when you are denied access to God by Jesus during your judgment day. Jesus is the only Savior (Luke 2:11) even proclaimed by the Angel to the shepherds while they were looking after their sheep at night.

Now dear friend, take note that “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” Romans 10:13. Keep your eyes to the Lord for He has plans for your life, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future”. Jeremiah 29:11. In times of happiness, trials, temptations, sorrow, sickness or what so ever the case may be, “The Lord God is with you. He is Mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love…” Zephaniah 3:17.

My appeal to you is that, come up boldly, TRUST, BELIEVE and ACCEPT Jesus Christ as your foundation stone. Build your life constructively.

Love in the Lord to you all,

Mathew.