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Consider my first parents, Adam and Eve.
Created perfect, and in the image of God.
God’s communion to enjoy in the eve;
In perfect peace and accord.

Along comes the Tempter
Foolishly, the fall.
They hide from their maker:
But He draws near, in spite, He provided a way out of it all.

I was in Adam.
I fell!
My head rebelled, a rebel I am!
But in spite, God draws near, I hear His call.

Tis mercy all, immense and free!
I deserved nothing but hell and death.
Instead He loved me!
He sent Jesus, to atone for His wrath.

What do I have to glory?
None, but to appeal to the blood that was shed for me!
How can I boast?
He first loved me, in spite of me!

All we are like sheep.
We fell, we rebelled, and we hide for shame.
Herein we know His love was deep,
In spite of us, He calls us by name

As in Adam, so in Christ;
All my guilt and shame, nailed to the tree.
No more in Adam, now in Christ
All In spite of me!

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In the previous article, we looked at the first mark of a genuine Christian, Heavenly Mindedness. Today, we will consider the second mark, that is, a genuine Christan Fights Sin. In verse 5 of Colossians 3, Paul tells Christians to  “Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry”.

Pondering over the first part of Colossians 3, the question that comes to my mind is ‘if the Colossians were already dead and their life is hidden with Christ in God, why is Paul asking them to put sin to death again?’  Is that not a contradiction? In one breath he says Christ has defeated Satan, death and sin. And again, he is asking them to put sin to death.

Now, we must understand that Christ’s victory was complete and final.There is no question about that. However when we become Christians, what happens to us is a transfer from the dominion of darkness into light. Sin is no more our master. We change kingdoms.

However, we still live in a fallen body in a fallen world yet to be glorified. This brings us into a conflict between our new nature and the old nature, which is the flesh. By the work of God through the Holy Spirit, we are increasingly transformed to become like Christ.

Progressive Sanctification

This is a very imperfect example because the Kingdom of God and the kingdom of darkness are not equal in power, but imagine there are two camps of opposing forces. One day one camp invades the other and captures some of its inmates. What do you think will happen? Will the losing camp sit idle without doing anything? Of course not, it will try whatever means possible to recapture its people. That’s exactly what happens when we are saved.
Jesus stormed the enemy’s camp and rescued us from the chains of sin and of the devil. The enemy’s power has been broken, however he will not sit idle and look on. Obviously he will try everything possible to try and get us back into his camp. John Piper throws much light on this. He said:

When Paul says the flesh has been crucified, he means that the decisive battle has been fought and won by the Spirit. The Spirit has captured the capital and broken the back of the resistant movement. The flesh is as good as dead. Its doom is sure. But there are outlying pockets of resistance. The guerrillas of the flesh will not lay down their arms and must be fought back daily.

Paul calls on the believers in Colossae to wage war on all that is earthly in them daily. Formerly, they lived like the world but now he calls on them to put those things to death. The verse mentions the specific things to put to death: “Sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry”

These are things that characterise the world system. In vv 2 & 3, Paul calls for heavenly mindedness. Then in v5, he draws a contrast mentioning the things which are earthly. In effect, these earthly things are the opposite of the things in heaven.

Non-Negotiables

Paul is not asking us to suppress sin. He says “put it to death”. Some people try to negotiate with sin, but the language used here is not one of a suggestion. It is a command. Putting sin to death requires drastic measures. Jesus in one of his teachings said, “If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell.”

Jesus of course is not alluding to bodily mutilation. He is painting an imagery of the needed disciplines to deal with sin. The consequences of sin is such that we must use all means of grace God provides to kill it in our lives. When you look at verse 6, Paul says it is “On account of these the wrath of God is coming”. Either you fight sin or you will be faced with the wrath of God. And none of us would like to fall into the hands of God.

One of the humbling things about this battle is that, it is not a battle with an outside force. The enemy is within. Look back at verse 5, what is Paul asking to be “Put to death?”… “All that is earthly in you…” And v.8 “But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth”. And v.9, “Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices”

These are all things that come from within, that is why the excuse “the devil made me do it” will never stand in the court of heaven. It is true Satan is our enemy and we need to continue resisting him, but he often finds a willing ally with us. Therefore in our struggle with sin, we must always recognize that the enemy is not only out there, but we are his willing accomplices. The battle we are called to fight is one of putting off the old self and putting on the new self, which is in the image of Christ. It is a battle to become like Christ (vv. 9-10).

How Do We Wage This Battle?

1) Fight with the word.

We are in a battle to kill the old self and put on the new self, the most effective way to do this is to renew our minds with the word of God. We change our affections through the renewal of our minds (v.9. see also Rom 12:2). How are you doing with your bible intake? Are you spending time reading and meditating on the word? A Christian without the word is like a soldier without his gun.

2) Starve The Old Self.

We are in the battle to kill the old man, and one of the surest way to kill someone is to starve them. When we don’t give in to the desires of the flesh, we deny the old self the food it needs to survive. We must on a daily basis make decisions that take us away from the scene of sin. So if you struggle with pornography for example, don’t watch nude movies. Don’t be sitting on the internet at midnight. Don’t engage in activities that fuels your weaknesses and sins.

3) Fight In Community.

In every battle you increase the chances of victory when you have others fighting alongside with you (vv. 12-14). One of the greatest means of grace God has given the Christian is the church, to support us in our fight against sin. The church as a covenant  family becomes even more important when the enemy is within us. We point out one another’s fault, we rebuke sin, we encourage and we forgive one another.

As we intentionally love one another and admonish one another, we increase our chances of winning this battle with sin.

The last in the series, Peace With God will be treated in the next article God willing.

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Psalms 51

You might have read or heard of the infamous story of David and Bathesheba. David committed adultery with Bathsheba, and as if that was not enough, he had her husband killed at the war front! He has shed innocent blood in an attempt to cover up his adulterous sin. For a while it appeared as if all was well. But was it really? The prophet Nathan, sent by God, confronts David with his sins(2Samuel 11-12:1-15). Alas, he has been found out, and there’s no hiding place. Overcome with guilt, the man after God’s own heart owns up to his acts. He has missed the mark! He has committed sin.

The Bible uses a number of terms to describe sin. Sin means to miss the mark; God’s perfect, righteous standard. It means to deviate from the right way or to depart from an appointed pathway. The Bible also describes sin as a deliberate breaking of a covenant and a positive transgression of law. Yet other terms used in the Bible for sin are guilt, unfaithfulness, rebellion, vanity and a perversion of nature.

Now, David, agonizing over what he had done, and pleading to God for forgiveness, wrote the 51st Psalm. In his prayers are embedded many valuable lessons about how believers wrestle with sin.

Sin, A Contrast To The Believer’s New Nature

By reason of regeneration by the Holy Spirit, believers have received the life of God implanted in their souls; disposing them to do the things that please God (good works, see Eph. 2:10). Living in sin therefore goes against the nature of the believer; the seed of God planted in them. Because of this, when a believer sins, it produces guilt and agony of soul. That said, the Bible does acknowledge that believers are not sinless — meaning though saved, we still struggle with a residue of sin however we don’t make sin a habit (1John 1:8; 2:9). David in his prayer, graphically expresses this agony:

For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.(v.3).

This verse speaks of the accusation of the conscience; as a result of transgressing God’s holy commands. Contrary to the erroneous claims of some today that confession of sins has no place in the life of the believer, the New Testament actually teaches that agonizing over our sins is a vital part of our fellowship with God, and of prayer. Our Lord taught us to pray for forgiveness, as John also affirms in his first epistle. The author of Hebrews in the 10th chapter, vv.21-22 speaks of an evil conscience in connection to prayer. He says to approach God in prayer with a “heart that is clean from an evil conscience”.

When we have unconfessed and unrepented sins in our lives, our conscience condemns us. David rightly cries out to God in his anguish: “Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow… Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.”

David not only laments over his sin, but he acknowledges what is true of all human beings. He was  born with a sin problem. David acknowledges there is something fundamentally wrong with his nature, as indeed is the case with all humans born by natural conception. We inherited the consequence of the fall of Adam.

Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. (v.5)

In Romans 7, Paul also narrates his battle with the pollution of sin. It is only a regenerate soul who knows the agony of the flesh’s conflict with their spiritual nature. Despite our fallen nature, God still “delights in truth in the inward being…” So how does one deal with this conflict between the old self and the regenerated self?

There Must Be An Exchange

Romans 6 makes us understand that if any man is in Christ, he is no longer in Adam; he is a new creature (Cf 2Corinthians 5:17). Paul wrote to the Ephesian Christians to put off their old way of life (“the old man”, KJV), to renew their minds, and to put on the new. To “put off” here means to forsake, to renounce and to lay aside completely. This “old man” or sin nature is the same in every one of us, and is as old as Adam; because we all inherited it from Adam. As David said, we are all by birth depraved, sinful and evil. But here’s the interesting part.

Romans 6 further tells us our old nature was crucified with Christ at our regeneration and union with Christ. How do we put off someone that has already been crucified?
Here’s the answer: the very fact that the old man is dead, crucified with Christ is the very reason we can put him off! But it is not going to be without a fight. The old nature will always seek to regain entry into our new life. This is why Paul reminds us to renew our minds, and to put on the new man. Renewing our minds practically involves “considering ourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus” and “not letting sin therefore reign in our mortal body…” (Romans 6:11-12).

We must give up the habits of the old man and not do any of the things it used to do, because he’s dead! Rather, we are called to be the new man that we are in Christ. This is a daily discipline of renewing our minds with the truth of God’s word. Scripture abounds with teachings on the means we can do this – namely the spiritual disciplines.

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“My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commandments with your heart, for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you” (Proverbs 3:1-2).

Imagine you are in your old age, about to depart this life; you call your children to your bedside to distribute your wealth. What would be the most valuable inheritance you think you will hand down to your children? Or perhaps you are that son or daughter and your father calls you to his bedside, what would you consider the most precious inheritance? A house, the company stocks, acres of land, the stashed bank account sitting in investments or may be the top end education your parent were able to provide? What would it be? When all is said and done, what will be the most precious inheritance you will bequeath to your children or you will receive from your parent?

Together, lets glean some wisdom from the most prosperous man who ever lived on what he thought was the most precious inheritance to give or to receive. This is a man who was wealthy beyond measure, the richest man to have lived on earth. He didn’t think his greatest inheritance to his children were material. From chapter to chapter in the book of Proverbs, he admonished his son to treasure his teachings and commandments. It is however intriguing though that Solomon gives such an advice because his own life was a tragedy.

He started well in 1 Kings 3:3, but by the time we get to 1 Kings 11:6, he was living in disobedience to God. What therefore makes Solomon so qualified to give such an advice is probably the fact that he himself had experienced the consequences of neglect and forgetfulness of a father’s instruction.

A Command Against Forgetfulness

Solomon, perhaps out of his own experiences, warns against forgetfulness: “Do not Forget” “my son, do not forget my teaching”.

Teaching or commandment in the text refers to the same thing; instruction based on the word of God. Note how Solomon states his instruction in the negative sense “do not forget”. He knows that as sinful humanity, we are prone to forgetfulness. Remembering and keeping the word of God is a daily battle we must fight. There is so much going on in and around us that seek to drown the word of God in our lives. All through scripture, we see the people of God consistently disobeying his word either through sheer disobedience or forgetfulness (Judges 2:10).

Forgetfulness is the greatest enemy to obedience, and that is why Solomon instructed his son not to forget. In his own life, he had experienced firsthand the dangers of a forgetful attitude towards the word of God. God had instructed the Israelites against intermarriage with the nations around them (Deut. 7:1-4), however Solomon did not pay heed to the Lord’s commands. As a result his heart was led away from the Lord.

The question then is, how do we guard against forgetfulness in our own lives?

The Role of The Heart

Solomon writes in the latter part of verse 1, “…but let your heart keep my commandments”.

See the contrast he draws here, “don’t forget” but “keep with your heart”. When the Bible uses the heart, it usually is not referring to the organ that pumps blood. It is pointing to our very being. Now, forgetfulness has to do with the mind. So I can forget something I have read or heard. But I cannot forget something that has entered my heart. Once something enters your heart, it becomes an integral part of who you are and hence difficult to forget. Bruce Ware says “We must let the word of God travel from our head to our heart”. Paul says in Colossians 3:16 that we must let the word of God dwell in us richly.

Unfortunately for many of us, the word of God never makes the journey from our heads to our hearts. Perhaps that explains why obedience is so difficult. We read it, we hear it preached, but when we are called upon to live out our faith, we are found wanting. Could it be that the word of God has not fully found its way into our hearts? Is it possible that perhaps for a long time Jesus has been calling you, but you have chosen to forget his voice? Solomon’s plea to his son was urgent and desperate “my son, do not forget my teaching”.

The Valuable Inheritance

For length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you

So back to my opening analogy, what in your estimation is the most valuable inheritance to pass on to your children at your death bedside? Solomon further tells his son the reason not to forget his instructions. Because there is a reward. We all love rewards, don’t we? Even Jesus loves reward (Hebrews 12:2). Paul said in Philippians 3:14 “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” Rewards make sacrifices worthwhile. When Jesus calls his followers to deny themselves and follow him, he also promises a far superior reward than what the world could ever offer. In the same way Solomon, tells his son about the colossal reward of obeying the word of God. There is a two-fold reward he mentions in our text.

(i) “For length of days and years of life”, and
(ii) “Peace”

“For length of days and years of life”

I must admit the first time I read this, I wasn’t particularly impressed with the first reward. “Length of days and years of life”. Who wants to live in this world for so long? In a world full of turmoil, pain and heartache who wants to live in it forever? However, as I thought further about this, it became clear from the Bible that as Christians, length of days and years of life has more meaning than just a long life on earth.

Long life for the believer is a life of eternal bliss with our heavenly Father, where we will behold his face and never depart from him again. Our greatest reward for obedience to God’s word is eternal life. So Jesus told his disciples “In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also”(John 14:1-3).

This is why as Christians we should not be scared, as we age or see our outward bodies decay and waste away. It was this hope in everlasting life, which made the apostle Paul declare “For I am sure that neither death nor life…will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39). As we obey the word of God, our lives are eternally hidden with God in Christ Jesus.

“Peace”

The other reward for obedience according to our text is peace. In a world filled with tribulation and chaos, Jesus says “let not your hearts be troubled” (John 14:1), because “… I [He] have overcome the world” The Psalmist declares in Psalm 119:165 “Great peace have those who love your law; nothing can make them stumble.” Are you experiencing chaos in your life right now? Perhaps it is the uncertainty about your future or finances or your job or your children or anything for that matter? The word of God offers peace that transcends understanding as we come to Jesus. The secret to peace of mind is loving the word of God and obeying it. And beyond the peace that the word of God provides in this life, there is a greater peace that obedience to the word of God brings–peace with God through faith: “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1)

As we obey the word of God and repent of our sins and believe in Jesus, we gain peace with God. And friends that’s the peace you need more than any other. If you think there is chaos in this world, try a life away from God in eternity. What those of us who have been justified have is a peace with God that can never be taken away.

What has been your attitude towards the word of God? Does it play any role at all in your life, or it’s just one of the many items on your to do list? I don’t know what you consider to be your greatest inheritance, but for Solomon, the richest and wisest man who ever lived, he came to the end of his life acknowledging that indeed the word of God is the most precious of all. Hold it dear and it will bring length of days and peace of mind.

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Most Christians would not like to talk about it.  However, in an age of information where every imaginable information is available at the click of a button, you might have come into contact with pornography in one shape or form in your life.  The truth is that nudity is no longer a hushed subject in today’s society. Men and women, young and old alike are constantly inundated with nudity in the print and electronic media.

Recently, I had a Bible study with some Christian friends on Ephesians 5:3-4, during which I shared my testimony of how the Lord delivered me from what could have easily become an addiction to pornography. What humbled me was the fact that a number of them afterwards admitted how they too had experienced the enthralling captivity of pornography, or knew other Christians who had or were still indulging in it.The question that begs answering is, what does the Bible say about Pornography? Do we have Biblical grounds to call it sin? In this article I present 6 Biblical reasons why I believe pornography is a ‘no’ for Christians.

To start with, I invite you to review with me the verse we discussed.  Paul there says “But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. “For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.”(Ephesians 5:3-5).

Simply put, all who practice the above will not make it to heaven.

We may ask, what does sexual impurity mean in this text?
In answer I will say sexual impurity or immorality is anything that goes against the God – ordained and prescribed use of sex and sexuality as described in the Bible. By saying in the text above that those who do these will not inherit the kingdom of God, Paul means that those who practice these things as a lifestyle (not the believer who falls into sin for example; but those who live in sin) are destined for hell. 1Corinthians 6:9-10, a parallel to this verse carries this same meaning.

If you or someone you know is caught up in addiction to pornography, here are six things I trust will encourage you to deal with this sinful behaviour:

1 Pornography Is Not God Glorifying

Pornography does not lead to the giving of thanks. We are called upon to avoid filthiness and in contrast, give thanks! (Ephesians 5:4b). Another way to put this, is to say that whatever does not lead to the giving of thanks to God, is out of place for the believer. Colossians 3:17 also affirms that whatever we do should lead to the giving of thanks, and to the Glory of God. I’m yet to meet anyone who after watching pornography can straightaway give thanks to God for watching it. Nor can we watch a pornographic movie in Church on Sunday. That’s because we know it’s not glorifying to God and out of place. We are called upon to think on things that are true, honourable, pure, lovely, commendable, and excellent, worthy of praise – Philippians 4:8. I doubt any one will say pornography has any of these holy attributes.

2 Pornography Is Sexual Sin

Engaging in pornography is committing sexual sin. Even if a married couple engage in it together, they are violating the first sacred rule of marriage, which is that the marriage bed is holy and honourable and undefiled (Hebrews 13:4); and private – something that God ordained to be shared between only two people, and not a spectator sport to be watched by the whole world.  If these things are true (and they are), then it means that our viewing of Pornography is an express statement of our acceptance, and endorsement, and promotion of a sinful lifestyle. We should not join in celebrating sin.  It is sinful to partake in sin. Ephesians 5:11 says to have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather to expose them.

3 Pornography Is Defilement Of The Body

Paul admonishes us to not take our bodies (which are members of the Body of Christ) and join them to a prostitute (1Cor. 6:15-16). He explains that if we did this, we’ll be one flesh with them.  If looking at a woman with lust is adultery according to Jesus, then watching pornography is adultery for the married and fornication for the unmarried. Jesus calls us to purge out our eyes instead of committing adultery. Jesus died to purify us (Titus 2:14). He died to save us from sin, adultery included. Why would we want to play with it? Choosing to endorse and enjoy impurity is akin to crucifying Christ yet again. 2Corinthians 7:1 says to cleanse ourselves from every defilement.  Pornography does not advance our holiness. It defiles the mind and takes away from our spirituality and holiness.

4  Pornography Revels In Works Of Darkness

Someone has noted in a song that when you’re watching a sexually explicit movie, it’s actually the movie that is watching you! It’s like you’re held in prison – you hide what you’re doing and you’re constantly looking over your shoulder. Jesus said in John3:19-21 that the reason we prefer darkness to light is because we know what we’re doing is evil. Watching nudity in secret suggests that we know it is something that doesn’t belong to the light.

5 Pornography Celebrates Immodesty

1Timothy 2:9 admonishes Christian women to adorn themselves in respectable apparel; in modesty and self-control. Watching pornography directly endorses women who do the exact opposite and bare their bodies on screen and promote the height of immodesty. It contradicts our beliefs as Christians, and amounts to hypocrisy.

6 Pornography Degrades Human Dignity

Pornography is unloving to women (and I believe to men – for women who indulge in it as well). Pornography invites a third party; a competitor into a marriage. Pornography uses women as sex objects. It is a devilish ploy to turn many a man’s thoughts and desire away from their wives.

Pornography reduces women to sex toys. Addicts see women as objects to satisfy their sexual desires only; however there is more to intimacy between man and wife than just sex. The Biblical teaching is that a wife is a help ‘meet’ for the husband; not a sex partner only. Pornography also promotes unholy sexual practices, such as lesbianism, homosexuality and sex orgies. Pornography promotes lust. Lust gives birth to sin. (James 1:14-15) Romans 14:23 says whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.

It is important to note that all the aforementioned hold for all forms of nudity in movies, electronic and print media.

Need I say more?

Just going through these points sends a shiver of holy trepidation and trembling down my spine, to think that indulging in pornography as children of God means our promoting everything that assaults the holiness of God. And I trust that every child of God will come to the realization that pornography is a tool of the devil that is aimed at defiling something holy and honourable and sacred, that God created to be enjoyed only in the sacredness of the marriage covenant.

I pray that each of us will, with the power of the Holy Spirit, vow from today to never condone sexual immorality in any shape or form. Amen.

Recommended Reading:

How can I overcome an addiction to internet porn?

Can I break pornography addiction?

No Such Thing As Free Porn

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You probably might have heard or read the story of Joseph. It is one that holds great lessons for God’s people of all time. In Genesis 39:2-3, there is a quiet fascinating description of Joseph’s relationship with his master:

His master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord caused all that he did to succeed in his hands.”

Reading this verse, I asked myself, “how did Joseph’s Egyptian master come to the realisation that all of Joseph’s successes were the Lord’s doing?” Egyptians then were polytheistic. However, the words of the Pharaoh in Exodus 5:2-3 gives us clues that both he and his people did not know the God of the Jewish people, the Lord (Jehovah) whom Joseph served. So how did Potiphar, Pharaoh’s servant and Joseph’s master come to this knowledge?

We can speculate reasons, but two stands out to me:

1) Joseph must have told Potiphar about his faith in the Lord; the God of his fathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; as we see him do with his fellow prisoners in the king’s prison; and at the first audience he had with Pharaoh (Genesis 40:8; 41:16).

2) Potiphar, looking at Joseph’s life must have come to the conclusion that Joseph’s faith which he professed was indeed what gave him the successes he chocked whilst in his employ.

Joseph’s life undoubtedly, was commensurate with his beliefs. Potiphar might have observed Joseph’s lifestyle of devotion and dedication to duty. His life was a testimony. A true child of God’s life cannot be hidden, regardless of geography or circumstances they find themselves in. Though his uncompromising faith in God resulted in his imprisonment, yet still, Joseph was resolute in his convictions.

Throughout the Old Testament, the lives of people who knew their God prove that faith in God cannot be hidden under a bushel. We can mention Daniel and his three friends; Naaman’s slave girl; Esther, among many. These men and women simply would not compromise their Godly standards. What is striking about Joseph and all the other heroes of the Old Testament is the fact that through them, even pagan people (unbelievers) came to know about their God.

The stories of the Old Testament saints are not unique. Saintly men and women of the first Century Church similarly testified to their faith even at the threat of death! The apostles were persecuted for their faith; many of them martyred at the hands of wicked emperors and despotic rulers; yet they stood resolute and would not compromise their stance for Christ. At one time, the Sanhedrin of the Jews noted the courage and boldness of the apostles; and took notice that surely they had been with Christ (Acts 4:13).

Sadly, there appears to be a sharp contrast between Christians of old and Christians of our day. While earlier generations of Christians embraced trials, persecution and the sword with joy, Christians of today are taught it is unchristian to suffer (for our faith) in any shape or form. Many today are not prepared to stand for their faith, for fear of losing face or reputation, or one earthly benefit or the other. What a travesty!

I shudder to read that the words of Jesus in Hebrews 2:11. Even our Lord was not ashamed to call us (all believers in Him) brethren. He was prepared to lay down all his entitlements as God, and take on the form of a man, and the lowliest status – that of a servant! He stooped so low as to be one of us, in order that He might be the first born among many brethren (Philippians 2:6-8).

Hear His words in Luke 9:26:

For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.

Jesus decried the hypocrisy of the Pharisees in his days, who only made an outward show of piety, whilst living lives which contradicted what they taught others (Matthew 23:27). Will you stand by your Christian convictions in the face of adversities and trials? If it will mean persecution, and even death, will you declare Christ as Lord? It is time for us believers to live out the faith we profess. If our lives at the office, in the market place, at school and at play do not measure up to our profession as Christians, then something is seriously amiss.

May the Grace of Our Lord Jesus Christ help us all to practice what we preach. Amen.

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