NO BIBLE NO BREAKFAST DAILY BIBLE REFLECTIONS AND MORE

REFLECTION

The “ways of God” is the theme for our reflection. There was a time in the history of the Israelites when God appointed individuals to lead Israel. They usually perform the role of judges, and when the need arises, God uses them to deliver Israel from their enemies. The ways of God are His desires, commandment, and will. The ways of God ought to be followed by His children or those who have a covenant with Him. The relationship between God and Isreal is always broken when Israel abandons the ways of God. Again, abandoning the ways of God to follow the ways of Satan leads to sin, suffering, and even death. Israel suffered the consequences of abandoning the ways of God. We are told “... the people of Israel again did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, and the LORD strengthened Eglon the king of Moab against Israel, because they had done what was evil in the sight of the LORD. He gathered to himself the Ammonites and the Amalekites, and went and defeated Israel. And they took possession of the city of palms. And the people of Israel served Eglon the king of Moab eighteen years. (Judges 3:1214). However, … the Israelites cried out to the LORD, and he gave them a deliverer —Ehud, a left-handed man, the son of Gera the Benjamite… “Follow me,” he ordered, “for the LORD has given Moab, your enemy, into your hands. ” So they followed him down and took possession of the fords of the Jordan that led to Moab; they allowed no one to cross over. At that time they struck down about ten thousand Moabites, all vigorous and strong; not one escaped. That day Moab was made subject to Israel, and the land had peace for eighty years. (Judges 3:15, 28-30)

Beloved in the Lord, the key lesson of our reflection is that the ramifications of abandoning the ways of God are a broken relationship between us and God, which then make us vulnerable in the eyes of our enemies. In addition, when we are vulnerable, we shall be attacked, and our enemies will have their way in our lives, thereby making us captives. Our enemies are not only in human form but could also be demons or evil spirits that spiritually enslaves us, causing us to experience spiritual death. The parable of the prodigal son in Luke 15:11-32 teaches us the consequences of abandoning the ways of God. Similarly, Paul warns us that “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23). Again Jesus admonishes us about the consequences of abandoning the ways of God when He said that “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 7:21)

Beloved in the Lord, to keep focused on the ways of God, we must have a relationship with His son Jesus Christ because “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him” (John 3:16-17). Again, Jesus gives us the assurance that “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6) Dear friend, in the Old Testament era, the ways of God were captured in the laws of Moses known as the Torah, but in our dispensation, the ways of God are fulfilled and embodied in Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour. It is for this reason, He assures us that “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. (Matthew 5:17). Having been saved by knowing the ways of God through Jesus, He has commissioned and given us the mandate as His disciples to preach and teach the ways of God to the world when He said “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:18-20). In other words, the Church and for that matter, all believers, have one divine assignment and that is to live by the ways of God and to make new disciples for Jesus by preaching and teaching the ways of God. When the lost and perishing come to know the ways of God, they will experience true repentance, liberation, and salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. It is for this purpose Jesus admonishes us that “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31-32) Dear friend, have you dedicated your life to the ways of God, or are you still following the ways of the world? The assurance God gives us when we follow His ways is that “… I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the LORD, “and will bring you back from captivity. (Jeremiah 29:11-14) The choice is yours to make today but Jesus invites us to “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” (Matthew 7:13-14). If we are ready to follow the small gate and the narrow way or road that leads to life then Paul admonishes us “…in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is —his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:1-2) Shalom.

PRAYER

Dear Father, into your hands we commit and rededicate our lives, let the Holy Spirit strengthen us to follow your ways in preparation for the day of redemption by our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.