CELEBRATING WITH THE IDEALS 3

THE FRAGRANCE OF THANKSGIVING (Thanks/ Thankfulness)

1Thessalonians 5:18 Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (ESV); In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. (KJV)

This blog post is short because it is long overdue and also due to the fact that I don’t have much to write, as it is a pretty straight forward one. But let me nip some juice, if I can call it that, from the two earlier posts. The Celebrated Secrete of Contentment (1Tim 6:6-8; Phil 4:11-13) should at least bolster a closer, peaceful and sweeter walk with the Lord. God commands us to be content. In The Distinguished vessel of Usefulness based on 2Tim 2:21, I concluded with the fact that one cannot miss the value and beauty of usefulness as it distinguishes and reveals God’s people and His saving grace upon them. We honour Jesus and God our Father as we bear fruit, and he makes us (by pruning) to be even more fruitful. I deduced that assurance of salvation is also enjoyed through this fruit and that it is and will be rewarded!

Now, if celebrating can be in different forms, so does thanksgiving have many expressions. However difficult giving thanks might be in some circumstance, we are exhorted to offer it as a moral obligation to God in all things at all times. And thankfully, we are considering the time of rejoicing and gladness when thanksgiving seems or should be so obvious and fitting. The rejoicing which should be always in the Lord!

Yet how much and very often are we self-focused and self-pleasing in those celebrations that there’s not even  a thought of, or an ounce of thanks to the God whose air we breathe and goodness we enjoy! It is about us with loved ones and friends, our achievements and feelings of being fortunate and blessed without a real view of and relationship with God, the one who blesses. The thought-focus during the celebrations is often about what was left out or how best we will celebrate next time, and perhaps what is left to accomplish and how we need God’s help but not needing to give him thanks or acknowledge him.

Sometimes we are grumbling, scrutinizing and asking why and how some “nice” things did not happen as expected or requested, and how and why bad things have spoilt almost everything! Ungratefully, instead of giving thanks, some people arrogantly even give instructions to God during their celebrations. With brute instinct and sometimes glorying in shame, most people are blinded by selfishness and sheer love for pleasure. Such people should not simply claim ignorance or oversight what God demands. It reminds me of a critical question the Lord our God asked in the days of the prophets and still asks today, ‘And when you eat and when you drink, do you not eat for yourselves and drink for yourselves?’ Zechariah 7:6.  Those of us who profess to be Christians should not behave like this.

I have recommended that reflecting on our lives, meditation on God’s word and obeying or putting it into practice is the rational thing to do and the underlying or over-aching anti-dote if we are to celebrate whatever occasion so that it is not in a cunning manner mere indulgence. Here are some more petty simple reasons why we should give thanks to God as we celebrate:

1.       We owe our all to the Almighty and gracious God;

2.      It is for our good (it is God’s Will as seen in 1 Thes)

3.      God knows best, we give the glory to him when we are thankful

This is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning us, that we give thanks, seeing God is reconciled to us in Christ Jesus; in him, through him, and for his sake, he allows us to rejoice evermore, and appoints us in every thing to give thanks. It is plainly pleasing to God!

For this reason, that all things work together for good to them that love God; therefore, every occasion may be a subject of gratitude and thankfulness. Beloved, gratitude (thankfulness) and obedience are inseparably connected, be thankful always!

WHEN IN GLORY PERFECTED, I SEE YOU AS YOU ARE

PRIVILEGED TO HALLOW YOUR HOLY NAME

O let me be, God of my soul

Wholly to thee, full of praise!

ETERNALLY GRATEFUL, A BLESSED SOUL

AMID GREAT MULTITUDES, BOUGHT BY CHRIST!

(Words from God of My Soul, the song)

CELEBRATING WITH THE IDEALS 2

 THE DISTINGUISHED VESSEL OF USEFULNESS

Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work. 2Ti 2:21

“O lord, I was born to serve thee, to be thine and to be thy instrument. I ask not to see; I ask not to know; I ask simply to be used”.

I believe there is reasonably enough work at “home” and “abroad” for every healthy person and Christian in particular. The world is replete with opportunities to be useful as there is really need for so much good!

In my previous writing on celebrating with the ideals, the gist was and still is how we can celebrate whatever occasion such that it is not in a cunning manner mere indulgence. Essentially, it is through reflecting on our lives, meditation on God’s Word and using a variety of opportunities to be useful. The latter is my answer and focus for this writing. You do not need to be a genius to gather this from the Bible, our manual – I sincerely hope I’m not being dogmatic – nor do I mean we should be unresponsive to the ecstasy and aura which these occasions may afford us.

I had once sensed myself slowly sliding into inertia especially after we shifted houses twice and when I stopped leading a home group.  My traveling contributed such that I refused being an absentee leader when I was proposed and almost voted to be chairperson for Hope ministry. This ministry I perceived was and I think is slowly dying.  Very few members are useful or committed. I feel there is something else or more we as Hope can do to reach the unsaved with the Gospel. That, we do not seem to see; Lord help! 

The fact of the matter is that it is easy to be entirely or partially unconcerned or slothful in many things and ways and to later come and feel bad or regret that we never did anything when we (perhaps) could have. But that does not help and it is as destructive as a lie! We have no excuse. Could it be that people have become accustomed to wicked vices, poor and deplorable conditions and have forgotten this distinguishing and time-tested tool for earthly good? Be not reduced to busybodies (2Thessalonians3:11) or busy yourself with iniquity (Isaiah 32:6). See David’s prayer (Psalm 141:4 ESV).

Well, the Bible has numerous examples of ordinary men, women and young people who were, not withstanding, vessels for honourable use in every way. Some of them even became bi-vocational missionaries, a clear call that’s still there in our day! Our aim should be to so conduct ourselves with wisdom and honour that even in our celebrations the world is evangelized to God’s glory. I single out Apollos because he was said to have been A GREAT HELP to those who by grace had believed (Acts 18:27b) and in view of what he accomplished in 1 Corinthians 3:5-8.

Seemingly an implied imperative, one cannot miss value and beauty of usefulness as it distinguishes and reveals God’s people and His saving grace upon them. We honour Jesus and our Father as we bear fruit, and he makes (by pruning) us to be even more fruitful. I believe I am not forcing the camel through a needle’s eye by boldly stating that assurance of salvation is enjoyed also through this fruit – usefulness. Finally, it is or will be rewarded. Be encouraged, be faithful!

DRIVE ME ON, DRIVE ME HOME!

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28 

“The Devil doesn’t know what to use against God’s children”

We are sometimes overwhelmed by responsibility, blinded by passion and driven by reason and “need”. Struggling, we develop (a bit of) cold feet towards serving the Lord and became self-absorbed. We may even slumber not realizing that the holy God still and ever reigns righteously! We are often awakened not by His anger but by an unusual gentle show and memento of His holiness, ownership and universal sovereign rule. May we therefore not run or repine but be still and experience whatever “tool(s)” God uses to make us what and put us where He wills. Thanks to Pastor Chipita Sibale’s lessons from the life of David and glory to God!

 

WHATEVER I DO,

WHAT OTHERS DO AND

WHATEVER HAPPENS TO ME

DRIVES ME ON, DRIVES ME HOME TO GOD!

THIS, GOD HAS DESIGNED FOR ME.

SINCE ALL THINGS

WORK FOR MY GOOD

AND GOD IS MY ULTIMATE GOOD,

THEN ALL WILL DRIVE ME ON,

HOME TO HEAVEN!

NOTHING SHALL NOT

DRIVE ME ON, HOME TO GOD.

NOTHING SHALL MOVE ME,

NOTHING SHALL STOP ME

SINCE GOD COMMANDS WHAT HE WILLS

AND WILLS WHAT HE COMMANDS

TO DRIVE ME ON, DRIVE ME HOME TO HEAVEN IN CHRIST!

© Mwango Lupupa

      13012009/21052012

CELEBRATING WITH THE IDEALS - THE CELEBRATED SECRET OF CONTENTMENT

Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. 1Ti 6:6-8 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.  I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.  I can do all things through him who strengthens me. Phi 4:11-13

In the week before my birthday, which is May Day, I came across three very solidly influential quotes. I had written them down from somewhere, I cannot even remember how many years ago. They made me sit up, look God in the face as it were and tremble for my fluctuation! But the Lord does not vacillate and I thank him I stumbled upon them again for my very good.

“O lord, I was born to serve thee, to be thine and to be thy instrument. I ask not to see; I ask not to know; I ask simply to be used”. I don’t know who said this yet my heart resonated with a very powerful “amen!” The other quote by John A Broadus is on the right side-bar of the blog and the last one of these three was the first I put with my previous post: “Love nothing, embrace nothing but what sets God higher or brings God nearer to your heart” Thomas Brooks (Touchstone of Sincerity). At least I remember reading this booklet and I recommend it for some soul searching on the subject of hypocrisy and as an evangelistic tool. As for me, I got the double deal of being used of the God and experiencing the celebrated secret of contentment on my birthday!

Well, the celebrated secret of contentment should always be on our minds and lips if not for anything else at least so that the world should be witnessed to as the Lord gives us opportunity. So how did I celebrate with this? And how can we celebrate whatever occasion such that it is not in a cunning manner of indulgence, with perhaps any other Christian ideals or principles? Essentially, it is through reflecting on our lives and meditation on God’s Word and using the opportunities to be useful. There’s really so much need for good!

On the evening before May 1, my wife got a message from the young sister that one of her nieces was coming through to our home. My wife made some inquiries as to why and how a girl of about thirteen years was moving that late. She was on a bus coming from town, and the story being that they lost each other with her cousin when they went shopping for slippers and she could not walk to her home alone in the night. Our place is very close to the bus stop.

I told my wife not to question her too much through the mobile phone as though she was not welcome because she would be frightened and who knows where she might end up, if she had issues at home? Well, she came and Mercy had the first go talking with her.

After talking with the girl that night during supper, I had an idea of the issues she was struggling with. At breakfast we continued our talk and I tapped on her conscience with God’s law that she was violating, while I hope Christ was and is still knocking at her heart. She was covetous, lying, stealing, stubborn and rebellious; calling these sins by other names and refusing to own up, even in my face! I talked about her relationship with God and how He is the only who would change her heart, forgive her and make her His child.

You know this is not a forcing matter and the Lord particularly made me talk about contentment too in a really reflective way. She was having a cell phone belonging to one of her friends from next door or so. She also used her father’s perfume that day “only”, so she revealed because she likes the way it smells. And I was like, “Lord, how far do we steep in sin and you forgive and rescue; how much are we willing to forego or deny ourselves and you smile; and suffer with and for Christ and we are not ashamed, and you give us more grace?”

That, and the quotes, made a deep incision into my whole being such that I spent most part of the day reflecting and meditating on the celebrated secret of contentment. Even though there was no cake from anywhere for me, and my wife was going away just before noon on my birthday, traveling to see the bright lights of Johannesburg once again, no car to take a drive, and there being nothing really “special” to talk about, except for the nice dinner hosted by a friend and his wife; I say with Paul the apostle, “Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.  I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.  I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” Phi 4:11-13

The fruit of this has, as you may have guessed, been a closer, peaceful and sweeter walk with the Lord, and the “Enough to Get By” dialogue, perhaps for you to pin up.

“If yours is dripping and not running water; if yours are crumbs instead of slices of bread; and if yours be barrenness and prolonged season of tumult and the valley, know and trust thou still that the Lord is Love and dost reign. God’s power, wisdom, and glory will duly be manifest.”