IRON SHARPENS IRON

"Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend." (Pro 27:17 KJV)

God is yet to create an individual who is complete and needs no complement from another. No profession is totally independent of another. No town or city can survive without people living there. No life can be enjoyable without the influx of others around. You may actually consider a relationship a pain, yet it is needed at some point. There is a saying, ‘Variety is the spice of life.’

Until Jethro visited Moses in the wilderness on their journey to the Promised Land, he had judged Israel; declaring unto them the counsel of God and settling disputes that might be between them. But in Exodus 18 from verse 13, Jethro opened Moses to a strange system of operation. Did God not love Moses? Was Moses not hearing God? Was Moses a disobedient leader?

God loved Moses. He would defend him on every course. God was boastful of him. He said, “With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the LORD shall he behold....” Num 12:8 KJV

Moses also loved God – a human leader of no comparison. He would prioritise divine instruction over everything else. But what happened this time? Had God abandoned him? No. He only needed another iron, that is human, to sharpen him. And that iron was found in Jethro, who was a pagan priest of Midian, to call his attention to a better way of handling matters. Is that not a mystery!

We are children of God, no doubt. But we need ourselves to survive. Moses heeded the instruction of Jethro. Jethro too made himself available as an instrument to use. Iron sharpens iron. May you not be a missing piece in the programme of God. When divine instruction is given, may we have the grace to obey in Jesus’ Name. AMEN.

UNWAVERING FAITH AND OBEDIENCE

“But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat....” (Dan 1:8 KJV)

In Daniel 1, we see a glimpse of a young man who is consistently obedient to the instructions of God and has unwavering faith in the fulfilment of God’s plan. We first see this when he, along with his friends Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, are amongst those called to partake in Babylonian ways of life.

They are expected to speak the language, partake in their practices and even eat food that is not holy according to ancient Hebrew law. Of course, they are not to refuse this instruction from their rulers on Earth, but they are also mindful to heed the instructions of God Most High, their ruler in Heaven. It is here we see that Daniel is not compromising yet is abiding with both the expectations of God and King Nebuchadnezzar.

By refusing to eat the unholy food, Daniel risked punishment as severe as death and the official was also at risk of this. However, Daniel trusted that God would not disappoint. Sure enough, the vegetables Daniel and his friends ate in place of the king’s delicacies proved to have a better effect on their bodies. They were seen as the best of the best and were promoted in a foreign setting.

In the same way, we should also be mindful of how we conduct ourselves in the presence of unbelievers. Daniel and his friends did not abandon the sayings of God, and they did not completely disobey the king. At the end of the day, all parties were satisfied and the reward Daniel and his friends received was far greater than they would have imagined. Why? Because they stayed strong in their faith and remained obedient to God, trusting completely on his promises and in the end, it worked out perfectly for them. We should learn from this example and show the same unwavering faith in our daily endeavours. May God help us all in Jesus’ Name.-By Sister Nancy

HONOURING ONE ANOTHER

"He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe's latchet I am not worthy to unloose." (Joh 1:27 KJV)

Some years ago, I was a Music Director with a Pentecostal Church. One day at the rehearsal, I saw someone whom I regard as a celebrated percussionist. Since we knew each other and had done some projects together in the past that were successful, we greeted cheerfully, and that was it. It was during the rehearsals that I discovered that he was invited by a senior coordinator to come and teach us 'Hallelujah Chorus' and 'And the glory' by G. F. Handel. But shockingly, that night was the last time he came!

When we met later, I asked why he did not complete the assignment he started. He said that he explained to the senior coordinator who invited him that, "If you have that man I saw (referring to me), then, you don’t need me for those songs.” Although he was going to be paid for the assignment, he considered it a dishonour to me for him to continue with that assignment.

John the Baptist said that he was not worthy to unloose Jesus’ shoe's latchet! Really!? Stooping down to unloose another person's shoelace is a menial task enough. Lest you forget: John was at least 6 months older than Jesus. Yet, he said that he was not qualified to minister such a degrading task to Him. What a great honour!

But Jesus gave it back to this humble man. John sent two of his disciples to confirm from Him, "Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?" (Mat 11:3) People would perhaps be ready to hurl insults at the Baptiser and wonder what type of disrespectful question that was, wanting to show solidarity to the Saviour of the world. But Jesus waded in and said, "Truly I say to you, Among them that are born of women there has not risen a greater than John the Baptist...." (Mat 11:11 AKJV)

Can you feel the immensity of that statement? Jesus did not sit on the honour He had received, he rather reciprocated. Beloved, Jesus has shown us an example. When someone honours you, it is not a right. It is a privilege. So, let 'Honouring One Another' be your watchword. Shalom.

MY HEART REJOICES IN THE LORD

“And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the LORD, mine horn is exalted in the LORD: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation.” (1Sa 2:1 KJV)

Hannah had been married to Elkanah for some years but had no children. Another woman whom the husband married after her, had children. This led to bitter rivalry in the house of Elkanah. Rather than continuing to strive with Peninnah, her husband’s second wife, the Bible states that Hannah prayed and God answered her supplication.

When God answered her prayers and she had her first child, Hannah suddenly became a Music composer. She said, ‘My heart rejoiceth in the LORD.’ That is a significant expression – My Heart Rejoiceth In The LORD! Her Heart, and not any other part of her body. That word translated heart is from the Hebrew word לב transliterated lêb, which means the inner man.

A lot of the time we say things with our mouths but without any real connection with our hearts – the inner man. According to Mark 7 verse 6, Jesus reckoned that it is possible to honour God with our mouths, yet our hearts (the inner man) are far away from Him.

Today has been set aside to thank God specially for all He did in the past months and this fresh month we are in. I encourage you to let your rejoicing go beyond lip service but well out from your inner man to God your Creator. This is the only time your Thanksgiving will be acceptable unto God.

So, for all God has done for us and is doing, as individuals, as families represented, as a Church and Ministry, and as a nation, let His Way Christian Ministries say: MY HEART REJOICES IN THE LORD.

Experiencing the TRUE GOD.

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