A walk to remember

25/08/2022

11/11/2021

Education for Today

Friday – 12th November,2021

Discussion Topic – Law and Grace

So, the question that is most important to ask that needs a definite answer now is “Are we saved by Grace or our Works?”

The apostle Paul in Ephesians2:8-9 writes “For by grace we have been saved through faith, and that not of ourselves; it is a gift of God, not of works lest anyone should boast”.

The apostle Luke in his gospel 23:39-43, amplifies the situation on the cross between Jesus and the thief, who entreated Jesus for forgiveness and in return Jesus forgave him saying, “Today you will be me in paradise’. This thief received forgiveness of sin by grace, even though he had absolutely no good works to boast of.

The dialogue between Jesus and thief on the cross gives hope for us today. The hope that we receive as family members to think that our loved ones as notorious as they are, echoing the same line as that thief on the cross before they gave up their last breath.

Work has a place in our salvation as the apostle James put it, “Faith by itself, if it does not have works in dead… and by works our faith are made perfect…for our faith are shown by our works” (James 2:14-22). As is the illustration of the thief on the cross, though he had absolutely no good works to boast of, he acted upon his faith on who he believed was hanging along side him and what He can do for him and his eternal life.

Therefore, as according to scripture, acceptable ‘work’ is that which one performs in accordance to their faith, to show as evidence of their faith. However, ‘work’ that is not acceptable, is that which is performed in the hope to solicit God’s approval and grant eternal life (c.f James 2:23-26)

11/11/2021

Prayer for Today

Friday – 12th November,2021

Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. You Father are our God. You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for You. You are great in counsel and might in work, for Your eyes are open to all ways of men, to give everyone according to his ways and according to the fruit of his doing. Father we are sincerely humbled, as we are every day, for the privilege to wake, not only to a new day but to a Friday as it is going to usher in Your Sabbath for us. Father this morning as we come to Your throne of grace in our prayer, our hearts are sorrowing with sincere repentance for the sins we have committed against You and against our Lord. We have no desire to escape our guilt nor Your judgement. We loath our sin and our souls are defiled. We ask not only to be pardoned but also for a pure heart. We long for the joy of Your holiness and be restored to harmony and communion with You. Father, we are comforted for whatever our situation we have a guide to direct our way; whatever our perplexity we have a sure counselor and whatever our sorrow, bereavement or loneliness we have a sympathizing friend. As we move through the hours of today, Father we need Your grace to strengthen us, Your faithful love to sustain us and the fellowship of Your spirit to instruct us, direct us and lead us. Father, this is our prayer, may it be accepted as sweet incense offered to You in the most blessed name of our Lord and our Savior, Jesus Christ, Amen.

10/11/2021

Education for Today

Thursday – 11th November,2021

Discussion Topic: Law and Grace

As is our human understanding, to do right is to adhere to the law that is in place. In this line of thought, one would become righteous by following and being obedient to the Law of God.

The prophet Isaiah illuminates our view and understanding in regards to God’s mind by quoting God’s words to us, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord, as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8-9). In the light of God’s word, our visions are made clear. We now can see in perfect light what righteousness looks like as we look through the sacred narrative of how Abraham lived his life.

The apostle Paul, in Romans 4:3 clarifies and confirms that Abraham was a righteous man. It was his faith in God that imputed to him righteousness. And what did this ‘faith’ look like? – Paul in Romans 4:20-21 sheds increasing light on Abraham’s faith: “he did not waver at the words and promises of God through unbelief…he was fully convinced, that what God had promised He was more than able to perform.”.

Therefore, we must plant our feet securely on the solid ground of God’s word – that one does not become righteous by being obedient to the Law but rather by his or her belief on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God (Mathew 4:40) which is made complete by their works (that shows evidence of their faith – James 2:22)

So, the inevitable question one would now ask is: how does one become ‘unrighteous’? or more importantly, how does one prove unrighteous as he or she lives daily? In the light of Abraham’s recorded life, ‘unrighteousness’ is a procession of internalized activities:
1. Learning of God’s words and His promises
2. Questioning those words and promises on their sensibility, probability and justiciability.
3. Leading one to doubt God’s words and His ability to perform as He says
4. And which ultimately causes one to place SELF in the seat of God - determining what is good and bad, right and wrong for oneself.

It is our righteousness that will allow us to receive the eternal life (Mathew 5:20) that God in His grace has gifted to us (Roman 6:23) through the death of His only begotten son, Jesus Christ (John 3:16).

10/11/2021

Prayer for Today.

Thursday – 11th November,2021

Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. You Father are our God. The whole earth is Yours and all its fullness and so are those who dwell therein. For You Father have founded the earth upon the seas and established it upon the waters. As we wake this morning, our hearts are sincerely humbled for the privilege to live and to see another new day, a new Thursday. Because of the multitude of Your mercy Father, we are returning to You this morning bringing with us our confession. Please forgive us of all the sins we have committed against You and against our Lord; and may You graciously receive us so we can continue to offer You our praises. Father, today, we surrender our all to You in faith to be wholly Yours. Take us and mold us and fashion us according to Your purpose that we may be vessels unto Your honor. Father, please allow us to receive a clear knowledge of You through Your spirit. We need to be patiently and kindly yet earnestly taught how our whole being may be thrown open to the healing agencies of heaven. We humbly ask for the sunshine of Your love to illuminate the darkened chambers of our souls so our restless, weariness and dissatisfaction cease and in their stead satisfying joys to our mind and health and energy to our bodies. Father, as we do every day, we need Your grace to strengthen us, Your faithful love to sustain us and the fellowship of Your Holy Spirit to instruct us, teach us, and lead us through out our day. Father, this is our prayer, may it be accepted as sweet incense offered to You in the most precious name of our Lord and our Savior, Jesus Christ, Amen.

09/11/2021

Education for Today

Wednesday – 10th November,2021

Discussion Topic: Law and Grace

Grace as we must understand, in simple thought, is when we are given something we do not rightfully deserve.

Therefore, if one fully understands the essence of God’s Law he or she will appreciate it for what it really is – a manifestation of God’s grace for us.

As our sacred history records, being progenies of our first parents: Adam and Eve, we have been sentenced to eternal death because of their disobedience to God’s first Law and commandment given man, “thou shalt not eat of the fruit for the tree… lest ye die” (Genesis 2:17). To save us from the condemnation of His law, by His grace God sent His only begotten son to die on our behalf so we may live (John 3:16). Not only does He want to perpetuate life for us eternally, God also wants us to live and live abundantly (John 10:10) while we are yet alive here on earth. To manifest His deep desire and the intent of His heart, God gives us His law as a hedge of protection to sustain our safety, our security, our rest, and our peace through our obedience to His law. Therefore, one can equate God’s Law to God’s grace for mankind.

This truth discussed today about the relationship between God’s Law and His Grace, like all divine truth given us through God’s Word, can not be justified on a basis of a logical process but rather its only through our obedience, and in this case to God’s law, that will verify the righteousness of this truth.

Please do join me again tomorrow as we continue to dig deeper into our Bibles and divulge the necessity of both God Law and God’s Grace in our lives.

09/11/2021

Prayer for Today

Wednesday – 10th November,2021

Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. You Father are our God. Many are Your wonderful works which You have done. Your ways are just. For the righteous You put to test their hearts and minds. You Father are our defence for You save the upright in heart. Our hearts are humbly grateful for the privilege to wake to another new Wednesday – may we live not in vain for this day is a blessing that many are unable to receive. Father as we come into Your throne room of grace in our prayer, our souls are bowed in penitent before You. Our lips tremble as we confess that we have sinned against You and against our Lord Jesus. Father for today, may Your spirit yearn over us with tenderness, and draw us to You. Mould us into humble instruments to be used by our Lord. Remove from us, we ask, the wicked pride that delights in the vanity of our own works, that boasts of our excellent qualities, and that seeks to make others to seem inferior in order to exalt ourselves, claiming more glory than our cold hearts are willing to give to You Father. And as we move through the hours of today, we need Your grace to strengthen us; Your faithful love to sustain us and the fellowship of Your Holy Spirit to lead us, instruct us and direct us through out our day. Father this is our prayer, may it be accepted as sweet incense offered to You in the most precious name of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, Amen.

08/11/2021

Education for Today

Tuesday – 9th November,2021

Discussion Topic: Law and Grace

As discussed yesterday, God’s Law, founded on eternal LOVE is in truth the expression of His Will and enduring love and care for His people. And the transgression of this divine moral law is SIN (1 John 3:4), a conscious choice one makes to return to ‘nothingness’ at the end of this life that we live (Romans 6:23; Ecclesiastes 9:5)

The question needed asking is: does obedience to God’s Law save us unto eternal life then? The definite answer is NO. The Law does nothing but convicts us of our sin (Romans 7:7). The Law works for us as the mirror does for our appearance. As the mirror cannot remove from us the flaws it shows, the law also cannot remove from us the sins that we have or have been convicted of.

As I love to put it – self examination through God’s law is our main point of return on our walk of emancipation from SIN and back to the ‘old path’ (Jeremiah 6:16) where we journey with God on our pathway of salvation.

As we do with the information the mirror gives, we too, naturally, attempt to remove the sins and sinful practices in our lives that the law convicts us, by our own efforts – human efforts (daily trying to do right). Unlike physically clearing flaws off our appearance, we, however, would in time realize that our human efforts cannot sustain our adherence and obedience to the demands and requirements of the law. Until and unless we have reached this point in our lives, where we realize our hopelessness and helplessness in obeying the law, would we realize our desperate need of our Savior’s grace to help us, to empower us to sustain our obedience to God and His law.

The Law is to us a two- edged sword, if we like. It cuts both ways to satisfy our real need in our relationship with God. On one side it is the hedge God puts around us to sustain His protective intentions for us and in our obedience, on the other, we are reciprocating the love that He bestows graciously upon us (John 14:15) and which He rightly deserves as Creator and Sustainer of all life forms. (Psalms 104).

Please do join me again tomorrow as we continue to dig deeper into our Bibles and divulge the necessity of both God Law and God’s Grace in our lives.

08/11/2021

Prayer for Today

Tuesday – 9th November,2021

Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. You Father are our God. You are righteous and You test both hearts and minds. You also are our defence and shield, and You save those who are upright in heart. Father our hearts are humbled with gratitude for the privilege of waking to see another new day added to our lives. As we come to Your throne room in our prayer, we cry out to You with our sincere hearts. May Your reproofs touch our hearts, arouse our conscience and make our guilt appear in its rightful enormity. We beg for mercy that our sins committed against You Father be forgiven us. Father we need Your grace ‘to watch and pray’, lest we enter and fall into temptation. Please do not allow the devil to stand in any way between You and us Father, lest we savour of things that are of men and to our end and not of You and unto our life. May Your grace transform our faith from a weakling into one that is genuine, secure and strong. May Your grace enable us to cherish the love of Christ in our hearts to flow out in our respect for You Father, first and foremost, and to others before ourselves. Father as we move through the unknown hours of today, we need Your grace to give us strength to overcome our enemy the devil; Your faithful love to sustain us, and the fellowship of Your Holy Spirit to lead us, direct us and instruct us throughout our day. Father, this is our prayer, may it be accepted as sweet incense offered to You in the most blessed name of our Lord and our Savior, Jesus Christ, Amen.

07/11/2021

Education for Today

Monday – 8th November,2021

Discussion Title – Law and Grace

Scripture Readings for this week’s Bible study: - Ezekiel 28:15,16; Deuteronomy 4:44; Romans 3:20; Deuteronomy 10:1-15; Deuteronomy 5:6-22; Deuteronomy 9:1-6

Throughout this week we will be discussing the relationship between these two real and profound terms and concepts: Law and Grace. Even as Christians, though we talk about Law and Grace, most of us do not fully understand their relationship and what they entail in our lives.

Today, we will try to examine the purpose of God’s Law and the importance of obedience to this Law. I personally believe one can never fully understand the importance of obedience to the law, even if we are repeatedly told by the scriptures, unless and until we understand, correctly, the nature of God and His governance. We must seek God’s grace to help us fully realize, acutely convinced and thoroughly appreciate the founding pillar of God’s constitution and governance which is LOVE (1 John 4:8). God’s Law (clearly outlined in Exodus 20:1-17), is in truth the expression of His Will and love for His people. Therefore, the transgression of this law is a direct rebellion against God and what God stands for. As the apostle John puts it: “Whosoever commits sin transgresses also the law: for sin is the transgression for the law” (1 John 3:4)

Over the ages as recorded in the sacred history, God has been adapting His law, His command to fit the condition of the ‘fall’ (Romans 3:23) in those generations. However, the principle of Love has always remained the same – love with the intention to sustain our safety, peace, joy and happiness. A good illustration of this, if I may, is the laws put in place to keep us safe as we live and mobilize daily. If one travels by a commercial passenger jet at 36,000 ft, the law that governs flying at this altitude demands that the plane maintains the speed of 460-575 mph for safety. This speed, however, is adapted to 80 mph when the same person hops into a moving vehicle on the ground. In these two instances, the principle is the same: Safety – but the laws are adapted to suit the situation.

As humans we are all ‘prisoners’ of sin (Galatians 3:22) and it is by God’s grace alone that we are saved (Ephesians 2:8) unto our eternal life.

Please do join me again tomorrow as we dig deeper into scriptures and divulge the importance of ‘grace’ for us as sinners, transgressing God’s Law.

07/11/2021

Prayer for Today

Monday – 8th November,2021

Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Father you are a shield for us, our glory and the One who lifts up our head in praise of you. We lay down and slept last night and woke to another beautiful Monday morning for You sustained us. Father, with our confidence in Christ as our personal and loving Saviour we call upon You in our prayer today. Allow us Father to feel Your precious love and a distinct view of Your tenderness and compassion. Allow our hearts to break and melt with contemplation of the love that is given to us. Father as we come to Your throne room of grace in our prayer, we also bring with us genuine sorrows in our hearts for every offence we have committed against You and against our Lord Jesus. Please forgive us Father, create in us a new heart and put the right spirit within us. Father nothing is hidden from You for You read all motives and intents of our hearts. Father we need peace today. Not the peace that comes from conformity to the world but rather Your peace that remains with us amid strife and division. Peace that remains within us while war and fighting rage without. Peace that stills us through the opposition of avowed enemies, and the coldness and suspicions of those who claim to be friends. Father, please descent into our hearts to allow the miracle of circumcision within us that we may love You more, hear Your voice and obey Your commandments. As we move through the hours of today, we ask for Your grace to give us strength against our enemy the devil; Your faithful love to sustain us and the fellowship of Your Holy Spirit to teach us, lead us and instruct us throughout our day. Father this is our prayer, may it be accepted as sweet incense offered to You in the most precious name of our Lord and our Saviour, Jesus Christ, Amen.