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REFLECTION

The theme for our reflection is “Beware of what you wish for” “Beware of what you wish for” is an idiom that means you should think carefully before expressing a desire because the reality of getting what you want might bring unexpected negative consequences or not make you happy as you had anticipated. We shall reflect on the fact that we must be eager to do God’s will rather than pursue our wishes or desires.

Beloved in the Lord, the greatest temptation of believers is the desire for that which is contrary to the will of God for our lives, hence the caution for us to beware of what we wish for. In 1 Samuel 8:10-18, God, through the prophet Samuel, warns the Israelites that their request for a human king will lead to oppression and hardship, detailing how a king would draft their sons into the army and labour, seize their daughters for service, conscript their land and resources, and tax their produce. “But the people refused to listen to Samuel. “No!” they said. “We want a king over us. 20 Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles.” 21 When Samuel heard all that the people said, he repeated it before the LORD. 22 The LORD answered, “Listen to them and give them a king.” (1 Samuel 8:19-22). Dear friend, some of our wishes or desires may sound reasonable, appealing and may even have immediate benefits, but at end, it may lead to hardship and regrets. This was the predicament of the Israelites when they rejected the leadership of God and opted for the leadership of a mere mortal. Some of us impatiently make choices based on worldly standards and existential needs. Beloved in the Lord, many of us have lost our spiritual and moral compass because we want to be like those who are in the world. We have abandoned Biblical or godly standards and have rather settled for worldly standards of doing things. Some of the popular sayings are “everyone is wearing it” “Oh, this is the fashion trend of the day.” It is for this reason that we see some of our sisters exposing their cleavages even on their wedding day. We see our young ladies and future mothers walking half naked on our streets. We see Christian women wearing tight-fitting and transparent clothing in the name of modernity and fashion. Bleaching us become the order of the day under the pretext of skin care and toning.

When it comes to our appetite, the cliche is everyone is eating and drinking it; therefore, it is normal. We eat and drink everything simply because we have the means to afford them. To the married men, we are being told that having a side chick is normal in our time. So it’s fine to settle for one. For the married woman, we are told to live the way we please; after all, we make our own money and should not submit to our husbands. To the youth, we are told we live in a world of freedom of expression; therefore, it is normal to insult the elderly on social media. In brief, we live in a liberal world where we are told our lives and bodies are in our hands. We can choose to alter our sexual organs or even change our sexual orientation if we wish. Beloved in the Lord, we have been admonished in Proverbs 14:12, “There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death. Again, Paul reminds us in his letter to the church of Corinth, “I have the right to do anything,” …but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”,…but not everything is constructive. (1 Corinthians 10:23) Jesus’ prayer for us reminds us that we are not of the world, although we are in the world. Jesus prayed, “My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. 17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. (John 17:15-17) We cannot settle for worldly standards like the Israelites, who opted for the standard of the world by opting for a monarchy instead of maintaining a Theocracy. Let us always pray for God’s divine guidance and perfect will to be done in our lives. When Jesus’ agony became physically intense, He prayed, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” 43 An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. (Luke 22:42-43). Truly when we pursue God’s will, we shall be strengthened not to fall into temptation and destruction.

Dear friend in the Lord, it is not too late if you have settled for worldly fashion, philosophies, pleasure and entertainment at the expense of your salvation. It is not too late if your mind has been greatly influenced and your heart corrupted by sexual immorality, substance abuse and all manner of sinful desires. Jesus came into the world to save us and to direct our path. He is our perfect example in making the right choices that pleases God. God re-established His Theocracy through Jesus Christ for all who elect to part of His Kingdom, therefore John 3:16-17 assures us, “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. ¹⁷ 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) All we are required to do is to surrender our lives to Jesus and accept Him as Lord and Saviour and we shall be saved. Again, Let us heed Paul’s admonishment to the Romans as a demonstration of repentance when he wrote, “I urge you, brothers and sisters, 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. 2 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) Let us not compare ourselves with those in the world or be attracted to their way of life, but be prayerfully measured in what we wish for.

In summary, we have discovered that we must desire God’s will rather than pursue our wishes or desires. We must be careful not to follow the standards of the world but to consistently desire and do the will of God.

PRAYER

May the Holy Spirit grant us the wisdom and discernment to always listen and obey God in all our endeavours. Amen.