Author: olabumblebee55

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“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”

So, yesterday was Valentine’s Day, but much of the talk about Valentine’s was spoken about today in church, being the 15th of February. That the fruit of the Holy Spirit is first love — that is, as I say, the first fruit before joy. And that sometimes the things we look for in physical love often reflect the spiritual ones too. Like you will ask some men why they married their wives, and they will say, “She gives me peace.” It’s an outward manifestation of the inner one. And the query our pastors had was: most of us have been Christians for 15 years or more — when was the last time we spoke to anyone about Christ? And that love is not blind because Jesus said, “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” Of course, the room is always quiet at this point. He says that if you walk with some church people, you are supposed to be recognized with that church, such is the aroma and fragrance of Christ on us — which is His love.

That if we look at the Bible, Jesus did not come to earth to perform miracles; He wasn’t the first person to raise someone from the dead. Some, like Elisha, had done it and done more miracles before Jesus came. The main reason Jesus came to the earth is so that we will be saved from our sins. No man could do that except Jesus, being both God and man, and the mediator of the second covenant spoken of by the prophet Isaiah.

He went on to say that’s why Jesus came — so love moves. Jesus came down to earth (He moved) to show us the way to salvation (His mission). That is why He is our perfect witness of love (Rev. 1:5), our faithful witness. That when God tells us to love our neighbors, it’s no guarantee they will love you back. That just because we don’t eat lions doesn’t mean lions won’t eat us (a Yoruba adage). But why am I going on and on about what he describes love as?

For me, I don’t believe the church is suffering from a lack of love. For anyone to have been a Christian for over 15 years, it’s not because you have not seen the love of God. I mean, if you are in a relationship with Christ, you won’t be there if it’s not benefiting you or you aren’t gaining anything because of human nature in man. By this I mean John 6:26: “Jesus answered them and said, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled.’” And His provision is a reflection of His love for us. That is why He is called Jehovah Jireh — He provides His Son, gave manna, and all. So, we have experienced a measure of God’s love for us through His Son.

Now, the idea that we think our sins affect God is laughable because from Habakkuk, we know God cannot look at sin. So as Christians, His Son is a perfect sacrifice for atonement for our sins so we can have access to the Father. So, our sin no longer affects God because His Son mediates for us as Christians, but guess what? It affects other Christians. Job 35:8: “Your wickedness only affects humans like yourself, and your righteousness only other people.” So, we know that God is too pure to behold iniquity (Habakkuk 1:13). That’s why His Son came — for the Father not to see sin on us and to restore man through salvation. The problem is this:

“And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.”

Iniquity will abound in the last days, causing the love of many people to grow cold. Notice God is not bothered by this because His Son atones for this, but the battle is with humans and other humans causing others, by their actions, not to believe in God. The interesting thing about this period is that Jesus describes it as Him returning as a thief in the night (1 Thessalonians 5:2, Revelation 16:15, Matthew 24:43), signifying that people would be caught off guard or unaware.

Matthew 24:37–39 still emphasizes it would be like business as usual:

“But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be.
For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark,
And knew not until the flood came and took them all away; so, shall also the coming of the Son of Man be.”

Luke 17:34 further states how this will be subtle: “I tell you, on that night two people will be in one bed; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding grain together: one will be taken and the other left.”

Telling you it will be as a normal day — no obvious chaos or distortion. So, when analyzing the church today, the question I would ask is not whether there is love in the church, but whether that love has waxed cold already. As we scream about human love, one wonders about the condition of the human heart toward God. So, I do say Happy Valentine’s, but the first fruit is still the LOVE OF GOD, THEN LOVE FOR MAN.

Proverbs is a very wise book: I went in search of wisdom and found everything worldly is vanity. A passing of the wind and a vexation of the spirit in the words of King Solomon. The only absolute truth is the word of God:

Just as the mouth has a bitter part, bitter words will come out of a person (Job 7:11); sweet words will (flattery) Proverbs 5:3; salty words (Colossians 4:6) the one Jesus recommends we have, sour word spoken (Jeremiah 31: 29) out of jealousy scriptures reveal.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 For everything there is a season, and a time for every ^[a]purpose under heaven: ² a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; ³ a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; ⁴ a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; ⁵ a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; ⁶ a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; ⁷ a time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; ⁸ a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace. So, I will add mine: A TIME TO SPEAK AND WHEN NOT TO.

JOB 4: 2 says ….but who can withhold himself from speaking? Job 4: 17 says the reason why? that is because mortal man cannot be purer than God? that a man cannot be purer than his maker. For a person, I had learned a long time that a person’s quietness didn’t mean he or she wasn’t a fool, they were just raised or train that way, and it doesn’t mean those who talk are foolish I can just as easily detect where your weak points are as long as you talk (and if you don’t talk you are prone to depression faster). So, find wisdom as pain. The president of America talks does that mean he is a fool, no! It just means we can see his fault from his lips easily James 3: 8 goes on to say it is impossible to tame the tongue “But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.” why? Like Jesus says in Matthew 12: 34 the mouth speaks only what the heart is full of. Proverbs 10:11 backs up where the mouth gets these things from “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” Proverbs 4: 23. It’s the heart that allows the flow to the mouth.

Does this mean we should stop cautioning our tongue? No, because as far we know each heart knows its own bitterness. As long as the heart has bitterness, the mouth will speak if it’s not guarded making it nearly impossible to tame the tongue.

So, I say “Let my conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” – Colossians 4: 6

Set a guard over my mouth, LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips. – Psalm 141:3.

Some have said LIFE AND DEATH ARE IN THE POWER OF THE TONGUE – Proverbs 18: 21, but then time and chance happen to everyone right Ecclesiastes 9: 11 “I have seen something else under the sun: The race is not to the swift or the battle to the strong, nor does food come to the wise or wealth to the brilliant or favor to the learned; but time and chance happen to them all.” So, if you like confess all the positive verse, if the appropriate time and chance comes and you don’t recognize it, its vanity even if you do, eventually you will understand it’s still vanity. Moreover, I have seen and witnessed that his grace flows in our weakest areas not in our strengths, so the undeserved will still get more grace? why because God wants them to see his love. So, that where the righteous come into labor for the sinners. You say it’s not fair but then that what Jesus got the righteous for the sinner Barabbas.

I would close today’s write-up with one of my favorite verses: Psalm 45: 1 “For the director of music. To the tune of “Lilies.” Of the Sons of Korah. A maskil. A wedding song. My heart is stirred by a noble theme as I recite my verses for the king; my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer.”

Numbers 1:1 says on the 1st day of the second month of the year 2026 after the Jews came out of Egypt. God instructed moses and Aaron to the sum of all the congregation of the children of Isreal (the church).

As we prepare to enter his house and congregation to be counted amongst the living, who survived many battles, of last month and overcame where do you want to be numbered. Number 1: 18 rehashes how the Israelites assembled all the congregation together on the 1st day of the second month. Using their families by the house of their father, with the number of their names, every male by their polls, 20 years upward were to be numbered by their armies.

Reuben was 46,500, Simeon 59,300, Gad 45,650, Judah 14,660, Zebulun 57,400, Ephraim 40,500, Manasseh 32,200, Benjamin 35,400, Dan 62,700 and Asher 41,500, Naphtali 53,400. (I always thought this was the sq boundary each tribe occupied).

With exception of the Levites, who had the tabernacle of testimony to minister. But the beauty is to see how the congregation of the lord (now the church) assemble for battle.

You know for the first time – I was in difficult situation, and I didn’t know what to say, I just thank God for his wisdom. Sometimes, I write and remember the Scripture: “lest ye preach and be guilty of doing the same thing you preach about.” It’s been overwhelming these days. Pray for me.

Now unto today’s message:

Abram (Abraham), our father in the faith—some call him the father of faith.

Genesis 12:1 tells us:

“The Lord had said to Abram, ‘Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.’”

This was Abram’s first encounter with the God of Israel. It shows that before the nation of Israel was built on Elohim or Adonai as its foundation and principles, God began by slowly building a relationship with their patriarch, Abraham. This relationship was novel—it was not based on any prior relationship Abram had with his father or ancestors. Later generations—Isaac, Jacob, and the nation of Israel—would build their relationship with God based on Abraham’s encounter.

God told Abraham to leave his family. Abram took nothing but trust in God’s word. At this point, the only promise God gave him was that He would show him a land. Abraham believed God’s words and left his country, his people, and his father’s household. In Genesis 12:7, God kept His promise and showed him the land He would give him.

But notice this: Abraham did not yet know God. He had no prior relationship with God to assure him that God would do what He said—yet he trusted Him anyway. This shows us that trust and faith are not the same. I can trust what you say without fully having faith in you. Faith is a prolonged trust, built on truth, for something we have not yet seen but hope for.

Let me give a scenario. When I was young, we went to an ice cream fair with many flavors—coffee, cream, even mango. My mom told me, “Take any ice cream; all ice cream is sweet.” I believed her because my past experiences with vanilla and strawberry ice cream had been sweet. I had a reason to trust her based on experience. But when I chose mango ice cream, I regretted it.

What I’m saying is this: Abram had little or no reason—by experience—to trust God, yet he obeyed God and left everything: his family and his country, for God (Elohim).

By Genesis 12:10, we can tell that trust alone was not enough to build a relationship with God. Abram acted as carnal mankind would—out of fear. Because he did not yet know God was with him, he told Pharaoh that Sarai was his sister. When trust is all we have, faith will be tested.

Why did Abram sin? He feared. He did not know God. He had only heard from Him. Remember Job’s famous saying: “Previously I had heard of You, but now my eyes see You.” To hear from God and to know God are two different things.

Who showed mercy here? God. It was God’s mercy toward Abram that He chastised Pharaoh for Abraham’s mistake. This incident also began a chain of events that would later result in Israel’s bondage in Egypt for 400 years. In fact, the relationship between Egypt and Israel began here.

By Genesis 13, when Abram came out of Egypt, he was rich in cattle, silver, and gold. But where did this wealth come from—trust in God, or because he gave Sarai away as his sister? Notice: Abram first gave his wife to Egypt as his sister before Sarai later gave Abram an Egyptian maid to bear him a child (Genesis 16:1). See the recurring relationship Abram had with Egypt.

In Genesis 15:1, the first words God says to Abram are:
“Fear not; I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.”

God reassures Abram because fear was what caused him to lie. There was famine in the land (lack—“exceeding great reward”), and Abram feared he would be killed because his wife was beautiful (need for a “shield”). Abram did not yet know God as his shield or his provider.

In Genesis 15:1–8, God continues speaking to Abram—this time in a vision. Abram begins to see the word of God. Abram tells God he is childless, and God tells him to count the stars, promising him descendants as numerous as them. Genesis 15:6 says Abram believed Adonai, and it was counted to him as righteousness.

Notice: Abram still had not received the land, nor had he received a child—yet he believed God. There was no visible manifestation, yet Abram held on. Truly, he is the father of faith—holding onto nothing but God’s word.

In Genesis 15:8, Abram asks how he will know he will inherit the land, and God instructs him to offer a sacrifice. God also tells him in verse 13 that his descendants would be strangers in a land not their own for 400 years, referring to the Joseph and Moses era. In verse 18, God makes a covenant with Abram to give him land stretching from Egypt to the Euphrates.

Still, it was only words and a covenant.

In Genesis 16, we see again that belief and trust alone were not enough to sustain faith. Abraham took Hagar, an Egyptian. First, the husband gave away his wife out of fear of death and lack. Then, the wife gave her husband to a maid out of fear of barrenness. Despite God’s promise, Abram faltered and had a child outside God’s will.

It seems that every time Abram’s family faced an issue, Egypt appeared as the solution. No wonder Israel later became enslaved to Egypt for 400 years. Yet, we cannot entirely blame Abraham. It would be miraculous for men to hang solely on faith without sight. Many times, humans need physical evidence. The heart fails from time to time.

By Genesis 17:1, God finally appears to Abram and introduces Himself:
“I am El-Shaddai (the Almighty God). Walk before Me and be blameless.”
This echoes Jesus’ words in Matthew 5:48.

Notice how God calms human fear and then reveals who He is. Even in Genesis 22, on Mount Moriah, before providing a ram, God reveals Himself as Jehovah Jireh. God’s actions reveal His nature. After calming Abram’s fears, He shows Himself as all-sufficient; after providing the ram, He reveals Himself as the Provider. It is suffice to say what makes us righteous is not our deeds we do right, its every time we believe God word above all else the world says and even when our heart fails.

It is as if God is saying, “I withhold nothing from you. I even give My Son in place of yours.” We see here the frailty of human nature and the sufficiency of God. Like the widow’s mite, God reminds us that He has given His ALL.

If He has given His ALL for us, why do we still doubt His sufficiency?

El-Shaddai the ALL SUFFICIENT ONE.

Before we start today’s discussion, I will put these 3 terms on view:

Recompense

• Meaning: To make amends or compensate someone for loss, damage, or harm. It’s usually neutral or positive, focusing on fairness or restoration rather than anger. Used by King David in Psalm 18: 20, 24.

Retaliate

• Meaning: To respond to an attack or harm with a similar action. It’s more active and often implies revenge or self-defense. Seen in Exodus 2: 11-12

Revenge

• Meaning: To harm or punish someone intentionally in return for a perceived wrong. It often carries a strong emotional motivation, like anger or hatred. 2 Samuel 13:28–29 (NIV).

So, we notice that retaliation and revenge are almost the same, except that someone can retaliate out of self-defense and anger, whereas revenge is fueled by hatred and anger.

We see the character of God in Proverbs 24:12, where He says He ponders the heart of man and keeps our soul, and that He renders to every man according to his works, not speech—works. Psalm 18:22–23 explains the judgment of Elohim implicitly: with the merciful He shows Himself merciful; with the upright He shows Himself upright; with the pure He shows Himself pure; and with the froward He shows Himself froward. He explains further in Proverbs 24:29 that we should not say, “I will do to him as he has done to me; I will render to the man according to his WORK.” Further backing this up is Romans 12:19: “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.”

So, even the killing of Jesus means we find it difficult to tell what is good and evil, right and wrong, righteous and what is not.

The Pharisees, when they wanted to trap Jesus by His words, recited Proverbs 24:23, saying to Him in Matthew 22:15–16: “Master, we know that thou art true (very crafty), and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man: for thou regardest not the person of men” (see also Mark 12:14).

Jesus not only fulfilled the Law, but He also lived it. That is why Paul said, “With my mind I serve the law of God.” In the Old Testament, because of incomplete sanctification—before the blood of Jesus came upon man—it was written: “Thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might” (Deuteronomy 6:5). In the New Testament it became, as Jesus said: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind” (Matthew 22:37, echoed in Mark 12:30–31). This is because the Law is now applied to our hearts, no longer on graven stones that require reminders, but written in the heart of man.

If you study Jesus’ response to the Shema, He uses the words “soul, mind, and strength” in Mark 12:30, while the scribe used “understanding, soul, and strength” from Deuteronomy 6:5, as seen in Mark 12:33. Jesus’ response—“You are not far from the kingdom of God”—shows why our understanding may fail, but our mind, as it is being renewed, will not, because it is inscribed on the doorposts of our hearts.

Why am I saying all this? We go to the story of Moses in Exodus 2. Moses saw his people burdened and thought that by his strength—or might—he would deliver them, so he retaliated, thereby causing harm by killing the Egyptian. In doing so, he lost the right to judge his Hebrew brothers. The truth is, none of us are fit to judge, and the Hebrews were right; yet Moses was still sent to lead his people out of slavery—a deliverer, taking the form of Christ delivering us from the bondage of sin. Was it the right action to cause harm for the sake of justice? No. But his intention to save his people was right, and as the psalmist says, God pondered his heart.

Now we look at Joseph in Genesis 43–44, where he planted the silver cup to implicate Benjamin. Why? Genesis 43:16, 30—the heart of human beings cannot be trusted. Was there any harm done? No. Did he reward his brothers as they had done to him? No. But there was a recompense in order to protect Benjamin, even though he knew his father would worry.

Lastly, we look at Absalom and Amnon in 2 Samuel 13:22. Scripture says Amnon neither spoke good nor bad words, for he hated Absalom, because he forced his sister Tamar. In 2 Samuel 13:28–29, Absalom killed Amnon. The ironic thing is that the son David loved most was Absalom. Absalom’s case was a clear case of revenge.

So why am I saying this? At AFCON, as Proverbs 24:29 says, we should not say, “I will do to him as he has done to me.” This is true. As seen in Mark 12:14, was Jesus honest? Yes—true. He was not a respecter of persons. Jesus spoke justice when He said, “Render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s, and unto God what is God’s.” But then Philippians 4:8 says: “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” This aligns with God’s judgment in Psalm 18:25–26 (note: God’s judgment, not our own justice, which may be flawed).

The AFCON final became a fiasco because Senegal attempted a “Moses” moment after watching what happened to their fellow Africans in the semifinal. Was there fighting and violence? Yes. Did anyone die? No. Was it borne out of hatred? From the Senegalese team’s perspective, it was out of self-defense. Was it right? I think not. Could it have been better handled by the referees? Yes.

While bitterness gives birth to retaliation, we must be careful that it does not grow into hatred and give rise to murder. I am not saying what the Moroccans did was right, but two wrongs do not make a right. Either they should have waited for an appeal to FIFA or CAF after the match, if those bodies are credible, or risk-taking matters into their own hands like Moses. It is difficult to judge, after all— “Who made me a prince or a judge over you?” (Exodus 2:14), echoed by Jesus in Luke 12:14: “Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you?”

Is it good to retaliate? Yes or no. If it is out of self-defense, I would say yes; otherwise, out of revenge, no—because Jesus clearly said, “Avenge not yourselves.” Is it honest to side with transgressors? No. Is it just to reflect lies? No. Is it pure? No. Is it lovely to watch teams fight? No. Is it of good report? No.

These are the things I think on.

I watched this video yesterday: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJjKoHut7iE&t=2034s.

I also read Matthew 25, and I had the conviction that I had not been spreading the gospel. Today, something happened that required me to be the bigger person, but I did not want to be. I guess this reflects what Paul says in Romans 7:15: “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.”

Matthew 25 begins by showing us how we ought to prepare for the coming of Jesus Christ, through the parable of the five wise virgins who had extra oil for their lamps. In the next story, Jesus explains what this oil looks like by telling the parable of the talents and abilities.

I like to think of the oil as our talents and abilities. In the Old Testament, oil was poured to signify an anointing that carried the presence of the Ruach HaKodesh, which helped people do exploits. Today, we experience this through the gift of the Holy Spirit, which we are to exercise while we wait for Him.

Jesus tells us that this talent is something we can trade with (Matthew 25:16), and it is also something we can bury (Matthew 25:25). Our abilities are what we use to serve God and to help the least among us—by clothing them, feeding them, and caring for them.

He calls those who use their abilities “righteous,” and those who steward their talents well “faithful servants” (Matthew 25:21). This is what we are meant to do while we wait for the return of the Lord: serve Him with our talents and abilities.

That is why I say, “Call me righteous,” but also confess, “I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus; I have no righteousness of my own.”

When he was eighty-eight years old, the late Supreme Court Justice, Oliver Wendell Holmes, once found himself on a train. When the conductor came by, Justice Holmes could not find his ticket; and he seemed terribly upset. He searched all of his pockets and fumbled through his wallet without success. The conductor was sympathetic; “Don’t worry, Mr. Holmes,” he said. “The Pennsylvania Railroad will be happy to trust you. After you reach your destination, you’ll probably find the ticket; and you can just mail it to us.” But the conductor’s kindness failed to put Mr. Holmes at ease. Still very much upset, he said, “My dear man, my problem is not, “Where is my ticket?” The problem is, “Where am I going?”

As this year ends and another begins, we know everyone is in some kind of rat race: a fierce pursuit to make ends meet, acquire certificates, build wealth, climb the ladder of success, improve standard of living, make a mark in life; but after all is said and done, where do these pursuit lead you? Do you know if the pursuit takes you closer or farther from God.

Amidst your daily hustling and bustling, sometimes, take a minute to ponder about the two eternal destinations of man; or are you one of those who believe that life ends here on earth? Friend, the bible tells us that there’s life beyond this realm. When you close your eyes here on earth, they open up in heaven or hell; these are two eternal destinations awaiting all humanity. Examine your life today; are you on the path that leads to eternal rest in heaven?

In Matthew 7: 13 – 14, the Lord counsels, “Enter through the narrow gate, because the gate is wide and the way is spacious that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. But the gate is narrow, and the way is difficult that leads to life, and there are few who find it.”

The ‘strait gate’ is the narrow WAY; the way of salvation that leads to eternal life in heaven. It accommodates those who try to walk in holiness and righteousness i.e. liberated from their heavy weight of which they have offloaded at the cross of calvary.

The ‘wide gate’ on the other hand, is the broad way. it is the way of ease and self-indulgence; it accommodates excesses of all sorts, and sin, it has the widest range. it is the way of destruction. Which way are you headed? You may claim you are on the path to life – the narrow way, because you bear a Christian name, and you go to church regularly; or because you are a dedicated worker in your local church, pay tithes, do charity, donate to Christian projects and the likes. All these are commendable; but when you do all these good deeds, and still remain a liar, a thief, an adulterer, a fornicator, a cheat, or indulge in any sinful habits or acts, you are on the path to destruction – Hell.

The only way to eternal life in heaven is the way of repentance from all sins, and faith in Jesus Christ, the Savior. Good works do not make a good person, and Jesus did not come to die to make us good with God he came to die to make us right (righteous) with God. Jesus has already completed the work of redemption. All we need to do is go to him and get this saving grace. He says, in Matthew 11: 28, “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy burdened/laden, and I will give you rest”. There is an eternal rest awaiting you, if you sincerely repent, accept the lordship of our lord Jesus, to walk in the narrow way till the end.

adapted by me, curled from Deeper Christian Life Ministry

www.dclm.org

Jesus says more about the ways of God. In fact, scripture say the ways of God the father is unsearchable. Romans 11: 33. Some go on to say the method and plans are mysterious. As we enter this festive season, we ought to remember why he came to show us the way.

Jesus preceding his coming spoke in Isaiah that he sent is messenger to go before him. Isaiah 40:3 why did he send a messenger to go before him? TO PREPARE THE WAY. Jesus says, ” I AM THE WAY, TRUTH AND LIFE “. The way to the father is Jesus, the ways of God the father will always be unsearchable. It is only by walking in the way of Christ we find the path to God. The wise men followed the stars to find their way to Jesus, when he was born. Not all ways lead to God except in Christ. I love what Genesis 28: 20 – 22 says “Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me, and keep me in this WAY that I am going, and give me bread to eat and clothing to put on, ²¹ so that I come back to my father’s house in peace, then the Lord shall be my God. ²² And this stone which I have set as a pillar shall be God’s house, and of all that You give me I will surely give a ^[a]tenth to You.”

Jesus came to be God with us (Emmanuel), to show us the way and the stone the builder rejected. Yet he is the foundation and pillar of our faith. It is when we realize God has been with us and has been showing us the way that he gives and we give.

The Old Testament speaks of the ways of God Genesis 13: 1 Lot and Abraham parted ways, God spoke to both lot and Abraham, yet they parted ways, it tells me one can be in a relationship with God and yet not walk in the way of God. Deut. 5:33 to keep the commands of YHWH in his ways. So, YHWH ways are bounded by his commands, and his command is bounded by his love for us. Hence, Jesus says if you love me keep my commands. Deut 10: 12, Deut 11: 12, to love YHWH and walk in ALL his ways. Deut 19: 9, 26: 17, 28:7, 28:9; 25:29 to walk by faith in Christ is to obey YHWH Commands. Deut 28: 33, 30:16, Deut 32:4. All YHWH way is justice, a God truth and without injustice, righteous and upright is he. The Lord is righteous in all his ways and faithful in all he does. Psalm 145: 17. One way king Solomon he showed he was a righteous king was the way he brought justice to the two women who claimed a baby was theirs. He sought justice and I believe as a righteous person we ought to seek justice but never let it overwhelm us as in the case of Job, ultimately there is a greater judge who is more righteous than we will ever be. Judges 2: 22 he tests us to see whether we will keep the ways of YHWH to walk in them. Joshua 22:5, I Samuel 8:3 shows us ways we are not to walk in. I Samuel 1:5, 1 Samuel 18: 14 and to Daniel in all ways he behaved WISELY and YHWH was with him. 2 Samuel 22: 22 for I have kept the WAYS of YHWH and not departed wickedly from God, I kings 2: 3, I kings 3:14, I kings 8: 39, 8:58, 11:33, Isaiah 57: 10 that people can weary themselves in the greatness of their ways. Isaiah 57: 14 says in the path of John the Baptist, prepare the way, take up the stumbling block out the way of people (that’s what JOHN came to do). Isaiah 57:17 says the forwardly goes in the way of his heart, God sees his ways, and he will heal him and lead him also and restore comfort unto him. When we repent as John preaches, he restores comfort to us. Truth is we all need repentance in one way or the other. King David one of my favorite bible characters says ²³ Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts²⁴ and see if there be any wicked WAY in me and lead me in the WAY everlasting (truth). Psalm 139:23 – 24. The ways of God leads to truth and truth brings Justice (light), and justice brings peace. YHWH saith in Isaiah 55: 8-9 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Sometimes it is good remember this that only by walking in the way of Christ which he came to show us can we be in the line of his will. As this festive season goes remember he came to show us the WAY, the way Jesus appeared was not the way we thought a savior would appear, he was fashioned as a mortal man for you and I, suffered on the cross for you and I, born in a manger for you and I to show us the way. Remember the light the magi followed that led them to Christ, is the light of the gospel of Christ Jesus that reflect in us to show us the way. Happy Holidays. I don’t have time these days.

The Ark of the Covenant stayed in the house of Abinadab in Kirjath Jearim for about twenty years after being returned from the Philistines. When King David attempted to bring the Ark to Jerusalem, it was temporarily kept in the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite for three months before being moved to Jerusalem (2 Samuel 6:10-12). This pause allowed David to regroup and prepare for its proper transportation and placement in Jerusalem.

Some have argued because Obededom valued the presence of God more than Abinadab, God blessed him more. Others say “the Ark of the Covenant prospered in Obed-Edom’s house because Obed-Edom was a righteous and God-fearing man who treated the Ark with reverence and respect. Unlike in Abinadab’s house, where the Ark had been for about twenty years without recorded blessings, Obed-Edom’s proper stewardship and wholehearted acceptance of the Ark led to God’s blessings on his entire household, crops, and possessions (2 Samuel 6:11-12, 1 Chronicles 13:14). His home became visibly prosperous, which was so evident that the news reached King David. The key difference was Obed-Edom’s attitude of honor and his faithfulness in caring for the Ark, which attracted God’s favor and blessing.”

Truthfully, it could be a combination of these reasons, why I believe their names settled it Abinadab name means a generous one, he was an embodiment of the father – ab means Father, Nadab means “willing to give”. Abinadab life was an epitome of the father’s nobility and love, whereas Obededom name translates to “a hired servant to the red one”. Not only is a flame red, but it also signifies servantship and embodiment of one who serves. Abinadab name is a state of the fathers being whereas Obededom is servantship. Truly, there is no way they could act as priest in the Old Testament without true worship to God, because the ark of the covenant could be brought out (i.e. signifying the presence of God) they had to worship and praise to offer sacrifice, it was that strict. And King David was king as of this period.

Why am I bringing this up: Some people associate the presence of God with material blessing, but we have clearly seen in Job that God was with Job through his trail even when he was not blessed and when he was. Some have said God blesses us when we suffer and wait long enough but King David was blessed at age 16, he killed Goliath became the Kings armor bearer. He was clearly favored before he became King at 30. Joseph got blessed at a latter age.

Isaiah 40: 28 says ’28 Hast thou not known? hast thou did not hear that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. 29 He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.’

We may know Gods ways but there is no searching of his understanding. Who he chooses to bless, at what he chooses to bless is based on his understanding. Theres no formular for this. It’s not head over heart or heart over logic (i.e. head). Its Gods understanding and there’s no searching of this, we can only know the way of the father in faith, as scriptures would say who put the thought in man?

Jesus would paint a picture of Lazarus a poor beggar and a rich man who died and went to heaven, the physical state doesn’t determine what a person is in the kingdom of God it’s the heart. And only God searches the heart.

When we think of the word reJOIce, we rarely see the word JOY there. One of the fruits of the spirit is love (Christ), and he brought JOY…peace…. Galatians 5: 22 – 23.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Yet when Christ came, he brought love, joy, peace and all good fruits.

Psalm 100 Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.

2 Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing.

3 Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

5 For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

Joyfulness always brings good tidings; it did when Jesus was born and it’s the key to praise. Isaiah 21: 3 Therefore with joy shall ye draw water of the wells of salvation, Luke 2: 30 Simeon says for my eyes have seen your salvation. To see the saving grace of God we joy in the lord and his salvation. Philippians 4:4

4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is nearby. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

Philippians show how the lord gets near when we praise, even Christ birth angels were praising when Jesus appeared physically. Romans 4: 20 Strong in faith giving glory to God. The children of Isreal echoed this statement ” How could we sing to the lord in a strange land”.

Psalms 137:4-6 Oh, how could we ever sing GOD’s song in this wasteland? If I ever forget you, Jerusalem, let my fingers wither and fall off like leaves. Let my tongue swell and turn black if I fail to remember you, how shall we sing The LORD’s song in a strange land?

John 8: 56

56 Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad.

Abraham rejoiced and saw the day of the lord. Scriptures say Job praised God and God restored him. Psalm 103: 1 Let all that I am praise the lord, with my heart, with my whole heart I will praise his holy name.