Author: Sarah Afan

Sketched X Day 6 Without A Voice

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Genesis 39:21-40:23
Exodus 2:23-25
Exodus 3:7-12
Isaiah 53:10-12
Matthew 27:45-46

Sketched X, Day 6

As I sit here in my prison room pondering the irony of life, many memories play in my mind.

I clearly recall that fateful day how I pleaded with my brothers when they were about to sell me to the Midianite traders, but they would not listen.

I also recall the day when my Egyptian master’s wife tried to force me to sleep with her, and I escaped from her grip, leaving my shirt behind. (Genesis 39:10-20) On coming home, my master’s wife turned the whole thing against me, and my master, Potiphar, refused to hear my defense..

Like my brothers, my master turned a deaf ear to my plea, and I’ve been in prison since. Innocent, yet condemned as a criminal because I do not have a voice.

But I am comforted by God’s presence. He has been with me before I even knew the depths of the suffering I would experience. I may not understand why He allowed me to pass through all these difficulties, but I am confident He has not abandoned me.

In His mercy, He has granted me favour before the captain of the prison guards. The captain has committed all prisoners to my care to oversee. He does not bother to check my work, because he has found me faithful, and God is prospering the work of my hands..

More recently, I encountered two of Pharaoh’s officers here in the prison. They were his chief cupbearer and chief baker. One day as I checked on them, they were both upset, and I asked them, “Why do you look so sad today?”

They responded, “We had dreams, but there is no one to interpret them.” So I told them interpretation belongs to God, and offered to listen to their dreams.

The cupbearer began:

“In my dream there was a vine in front of me. On the vine were three branches. As soon as it budded, its blossoms came out and its clusters ripened into grapes. Pharaoh’s cup was in my hand, and I took the grapes, squeezed them into Pharaoh’s cup, and placed the cup in Pharaoh’s hand.”

God revealed the meaning of the dream to me, and I told him within three days Pharaoh would restore him to work.

Encouraged by my words, the chief baker also narrated his dream:

“I also had a dream. Three baskets of white bread were on my head. In the top basket were all sorts of baked goods for Pharaoh, but the birds were eating them out of the basket on my head.”

God also gave me the interpretation, and I told him within three days Pharaoh would hang him. Indeed, within three days, God’s messages came to pass as the chief cupbearer was returned to work while the chief baker was hanged.

Meanwhile, I had told the chief cupbearer my unjust ordeal and how I landed in prison. I pleaded with him to remember me, and mention me before Pharaoh when he was restored. But since then I have not heard anything from him. It appears he too, has ignored my plea, and forgotten about me.

Oh, how it feels to be without a voice!

In my despair, I cry out to the only One who has not forgotten about me, “How long, O Lord? Can You hear my cries for help? Will You rescue me?”

Israel: God remembered, heard, and rescued Joseph, making him the voice of his people in Egypt. Later, generations of Israelites found themselves in a similar situation to Joseph as they were enslaved by a new pharaoh, engaged in severe hard labour with no one to speak for them. For over 400 years they cried to God for relief and deliverance, but it seemed they had been forgotten. Yet “God heard their groaning [. . .] God saw the Israelites, and God knew.” (Exodus 2:23-25)

Moses: God heard Israel’s cry and asked Moses to be His mouthpiece to them, just as Joseph asked the cupbearer to be his voice. Moses balked, but God equipped him, and in His kindness provided Aaron to speak for Moses. He ensured His work was accomplished, just as He freed Joseph that His work might continue. (Exodus 3:7-12)

Jesus: He was oppressed and afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth. The God-man whose word could have stopped His own crucifixion chose to remain silent . . . voiceless. Like Joseph, Jesus was innocent but condemned as a criminal. He only cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:45-46) But in His kindness, God was willing to sacrifice Jesus for our sin. (Isaiah 53:10-12)

Even when God appears silent, He is working out His plans in wondrous ways. Joseph became the instrument God used to save Israel from famine, and later, He used Moses to deliver them from slavery. In a similar way, God allowed Jesus to suffer unjustly to bring salvation to humankind.

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A Note About Sketched
In this series, we are stepping into the shoes of various characters throughout history. Some are biblical, some are well-known in modern day times, and some are people our writers know personally. We do our best to research the culture and times surrounding these individuals to give an accurate representation of their first-person perspectives on life and the world, but we can’t be 100% accurate. “Sketched” is our best interpretation of how these characters view(ed) God, themselves, and the world around them. Our hope is that by stepping into their everyday, we will see our own lives a little differently!
Enjoy!
And keep watching for Sketched Themes to pop up throughout the year!

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Eden Day 8 Temptation Tactics

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Genesis 3:1-6
John 8:44-47
2 Corinthians 11:12-15
Matthew 4:1-11
Ephesians 6:10-18

Eden, Day 8

Scripture tells us Adam and Eve were the first people God created. He placed them in the Garden of Eden, where He provided them with everything they needed, but there was one particular tree God commanded them not to eat from. God said the tree was for the knowledge of good and evil and would bring death if they ate its fruit. Deceptive Satan, in the form of a serpent, deceived Adam and Eve and they ate from the tree. This rebellion resulted in the fall of humanity; the sweet fellowship that once existed between God and humankind came to an end. (Genesis 3)

One may ask why this ugly scenario is in the midst of such beautiful creation?
Why the deception and the disobedience?

The Bible explains, “God is love” (1 John 4:16b), and true love does not force One’s will. He gave humankind free will; we can choose to obey Him or not. Like Adam and Eve, our choices always, always have consequences, whether for life or death.

While we might blame them for choosing disobedience and wrecking, well, everything, we are guilty of the same sins. We easily fall victim to Satan’s deception in our minds and hearts. As Jesus revealed,

“For from the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, sexual immoralities, thefts, false testimonies, slander.” (Matthew 15:19)

It may not be our delight to sin against God, but we easily fall victim to temptation. As Apostle Paul said, “For I know that nothing good lives in me, that is in my flesh. For the desire to do what is good is with me, but there is no ability to do it. For I do not do the good that I want to do, but I practice the evil that I do not want to do.” (Romans 7:18-19)

At the fall of humankind, sin became inherent in humans; we inherited the nature of sin from our ancestors, Adam and Eve. The urge to sin is dominant in us, because we are naturally sinful. Though we are born again in Christ, we are still living in bodies susceptible to sin, as we live in a world temporarily ruled by Satan. (John 16:11)
We are faced with two options: do God’s will, or our will.
Though God’s Spirit lives in us, He does not control us as robots; He allows us to make our own choices.

Aware of this freedom of choice, Satan uses many temptation tactics against us. Some of his tactics include lies (John 8:44), masquerading as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14-15), and blinding people’s minds (2 Corinthians 4:4). We saw his manipulation at work when he deceived Eve, telling her God was withholding something good from her, and her disobedience would certainly not lead to death, but to becoming God-like.

Throughout Scripture, as time passed, his tactics didn’t change. Satan manipulated and deceived men like King David, Achan, and Moses, and they each chose to sin against God.

One evening, King David was on the roof of his palace and saw a woman bathing. Satan enticed him with lust, and David committed rape, adultery, and murder. (2 Samuel 11)

In the same way, Achan, a military leader, coveted and stole the spoils of war, despite being warned against such greed. (Joshua 7:20-21) Satan enticed Achan with lust for the riches before him.

Similarly, Moses struck a rock to get water for the Israelites instead of speaking to it as God instructed. (Numbers 20:6-13) He was enticed by pride, acting as if the power to provide for the people belonged to him.

Sisters, though we may not be kings, military leaders, or deliverers for a people through the wilderness, we can also fall victim to any of those tactics. Knowing our susceptibility to sin, Apostle Paul urges us to put on the full armor of God so we can stand against the schemes of the devil. (Ephesians 6:10-20)

Likewise, Apostle Peter calls us to be sober-minded and alert because our adversary prowls around like a roaring lion seeking prey. (1 Peter 5:8) Jesus instructed us to watch and pray lest we fall into temptation. (Matthew 26:41) Proverbs 4:23 exhorts us to guard our hearts above all else because they are the source of life.

Diligently studying Scripture equips us to discern the activities of Satan. Once we understand his moves, we can resist him as Apostle James instructs us, overcoming Satan’s temptation tactics as we grow closer to God:

“Therefore, submit to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.” (James 4:7-8)

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Sacrifice Day 11 The Price Of Forgiveness!

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Hebrews 9:6-28
Leviticus 16:11-19
Ephesians 2:11-18

Sacrifice, Day 11

Many years ago, an American missionary based in my state of Nigeria was shot by an armed robber as he traveled to the northern part of our country. Wounded in his chest, he knew he would die; in his final moments, he placed his hand on his bloody wound, showed the robber, and said, “This blood is for your repentance; I have forgiven you.”

What a great price for forgiveness! Who can forgive so great a wrong, if not motivated by God? The missionary remembered the great price God paid to forgive him, and he extended the same to the robber, even using similar wording.

“Then Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.’” (Luke 23:34)

God’s forgiveness was not only extended to the missionary, but to all who are willing to embrace it. God sacrificed His one and only Son as atonement for the sin of humankind, for Scripture says, “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” (Hebrews 9:22)

Since the fall of humankind, sin separated people from God, and the only way humans could approach God was through the sacrifice of animals.

God, speaking to Moses said,
“For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have appointed it to you to make atonement on the altar for your lives, since it is the lifeblood that makes atonement.” (Leviticus 17:11)

Romans 6:23 explains, “For the wages of sin is death,” and the sacrificial lifeblood protects the sinner from the consequences of sin, which are death and eternal separation from God.

But Hebrew 9:12-18 tells us an animals’ blood sacrifice was temporary, and the atonement was partial, since it had to be done repeatedly. Contrastingly, when Christ came as the high priest and entered the most holy place, He offered His own blood once and for all time, rendering future atonement unnecessary.

Jesus testified to this truth as He was dying on the cross, declaring, “It is finished.” (John 19:30)

Jesus’ death ended the sacrifice of the blood of bulls and goats, which is unable to cleanse humankind from their sins permanently. By His blood, we have been brought near to God. Hebrew 9:24 says, “For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with hands [. . .] but into heaven itself, so that He might now appear in the presence of God for us.”

Now, whoever believes in the atoning blood of Christ as the price for the forgiveness of his or her sins, they will be saved, rescued for eternity. Yet, I recall times of sharing the gospel when some people would respond they don’t need Jesus’ forgiveness because they had not sinned. This belief is a falsehood, because Scripture confirms, “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God[.]” (Romans 3:23)

The prophet Isaiah testified,
“All of us have become like something unclean,
and all our righteous acts are like a polluted garment[.]” (Isaiah 64:6)

Colossians 1:21 agrees, “Once you were alien and hostile in your minds as expressed in your evil actions.”

These passages make clear that on our own merit, we are lost, drowning in our sin.

For those who reject the gift of forgiveness, “there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of a fire about to consume the adversaries.” (Hebrews 10:26)

Only the atoning blood of Christ can usher us into the presence of God.
And oh, how God longs to welcome us into His presence and fellowship with us!

Ephesians 1:5-6 tells us, “He predestined us to be adopted as sons [and daughters] through Jesus Christ for Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of His glorious grace lavished on us in the Beloved One.”

Jesus, while lamenting over Jerusalem, expressed God’s keen desire to gather His people as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings. (Luke 13:34)

Using imagery of living and feasting together, He expresses His desire for us to dine with Him, and Him with us. (Revelation 3:20) We who have received the covering of Christ’s righteousness through His atoning blood can confidently testify how glorious it is to fellowship with the Master of the Universe.

The psalmist confirms this abundance of joy in God’s presence. (Psalm 16:11)

In Him, we have freedom from the kingdom of darkness (Colossians 1:13), because those the Son has set free are free indeed. (John 8:36)

Sisters, here is our hope, and the reason Jesus was willing to pay the excruciatingly high price of our forgiveness.
Our lives, once lost in sin, have been re-created in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17), awaiting our acceptance of His forgiveness. ALL whose sins have been atoned for by His blood will be with Him forever when we surrender our lives back to Him.

He has gone to prepare a place for us, and one day, He will return to gather us to Himself in eternity. (John 14:3) Come quickly, Lord Jesus!

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Sacrifice Day 8 Singular Love

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Genesis 22:1-13
Deuteronomy 7:6-8
Isaiah 53:7-10
Matthew 22:34-38
Ephesians 5:1-2 

Sacrifice, Day 8

After a long wait, at the ripe old age of 100, Abraham was finally blessed with the arrival of Isaac, the son God promised him years earlier. (Genesis 21:1-5) One cannot imagine the celebration of the birth of this long-awaited son; Abraham’s joy must have known no bounds!

But it appears the joy was cut short; a few years later, God asked Abraham to sacrifice his precious, promised son to God. (Genesis 22:1-2) We imagine Abraham must have been confused; God’s promise of offspring more numerous than the stars in the sky was to be fulfilled through Isaac. Yet Abraham heeded the voice of God, though he could not understand God’s plan.

Nowhere do we learn Abraham consulted with his wife, Sarah, or procrastinated as he grappled with this heartbreaking command. Instead, “he got up early in the morning” (Genesis 22:3) and went with his son to Mount Moriah, the location God specified for the sacrifice. After arranging everything, he tied his son and laid him on the altar; as Abraham raised his knife to slaughter Isaac, God called out to him not to harm his son, and provided a lamb in place of Isaac for the sacrifice. (Genesis 22:9-14)

For God to ask Abraham to sacrifice his son, Isaac, does not mean He delights in human sacrifice. In fact, He had no intention of allowing Isaac to die. He tested Abraham to know the measure of his love for Him. To His delight, Abraham’s love for God was in full measure; nothing shared a space in Abraham’s heart with God, even his only son Isaac. By that act of obedience on the part of Abraham, God confirmed Abraham’s love for Him.

Centuries later, Jesus (whose earthly father was descended from Abraham through Isaac) would succinctly encapsulate the devotion Abraham lived before God:

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and most important command.” (Matthew 22:37-38)

Do we love God this way as “first” and “most”? We proclaim our love for God in prayers and songs, but does it sink deep into our hearts? It is one thing to nod assent, another to live in the place of willingness to sacrifice all else for this love of ONE.

How could God ask us to love Him so singularly?

Because He singularly set His own love upon us.

He loves, not because of anything we do, but because He chose to love us and be faithful to us.

Centuries later, Father God sacrificed His own Son on another hill outside of Jerusalem (visible from Mt. Moriah!). There was no voice to stop the slaying on that day; in fact, “the Lord was pleased to crush him severely.” (Isaiah 53:10)

Ephesians 5:2 describes Jesus’ sacrificial death.

“Christ also loved us and gave Himself for us, a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God.”

Amazing! It pleased God the Father to crush His only Son, in whom He is well-pleased, because of the love He has for you and me. I can imagine a scenario where the Son was agonizing on the cross and the Father smiling, not because He enjoyed the scene, but celebrating our liberation and restoration into His family.
He chose to forsake His Son on the cross, and offered us a gracious welcome into His family. Oh, what love!

His act of love changed our status and our destiny.

“So, then, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with the saints, and members of God’s household[.]” (Ephesians 2:19)

So we see God deserves our singular love; the question is, how do we show Him we love Him first and best and most?

First, we demonstrate our love by obeying Him. Jesus said,

“The one who has My commands and keeps them is the one who loves Me.” (John 14:21)

We can’t say we love God if we fail to obey His instructions, even when His instructions are hard to follow. This is the type of obedience Abraham lived out.

Another way we demonstrate we love God is by trusting Him. (Hebrews 11:6) Trusting God means believing His words, whether they make sense to us or not, because His ways are higher than our ways. (Isaiah 55:9) I imagine God’s command to sacrifice Isaac made little sense to Abraham, yet he trusted in “the One who gives life to the dead and calls things into existence that do not exist.” (Romans 4:17)

God gave Abraham an opportunity to sort out which love would come first in his heart, either his love for Isaac, or his love for His God, from whom Isaac was a miraculous gift?

Sisters, He extends to us the same opportunity to sort which love will reign in our hearts. If God’s love for us compelled Him to crush His only begotten Son in order to restore us to Himself, is there anything too hard for us to do for Him?

We must each decide; will we love Him first and best and most?

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Wilderness Day 5 Purposed Desolation

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Matthew 3:13-17
Matthew 4:1-11
Deuteronomy 6:13-16

Wilderness, Day 5

“Wilderness” is woven throughout the Bible.

Hagar’s desperation in the wilderness (Genesis 16:1-16)
Moses’ shepherding in the wilderness (Exodus 3)

Israel’s bitter complaining in wilderness wanderings (Exodus 14:11-14)
These are only a few examples.

Amazingly, God spoke of making a way in the wilderness. (Isaiah 43:20)

The wilderness isn’t a place of comfort, but is defined as a lonely, desolate place. I imagine wilderness as a place similar to the forested place I traveled with my mother as a child to cut firewood. Regardless of the landscape, wilderness is a place of lonely isolation.

Imagine Jesus taken by the Holy Spirit to that place of desolation. (Matthew 4:1-3) Imagine yourself there alone for 40 days and 40 nights without sustenance, and then the devil coming to tempt and taunt you. Some argue that because Jesus was God, He would have not felt tempted, physically weak, or lonely as we might, but Scripture reveals,

“For we do not have a great high priest [Jesus, the Son of God] who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin.” (Hebrews 4:15)

We know Jesus felt hungry (Matthew 4:2) and tired (John 4:6), because, though He was fully God, He was also fully man.

Jesus’ wilderness was purposeful, a time set aside to fast, pray, and be present with His Father as He prepared to begin His ministry. Directly before this, when He was baptized, the Father testified about Him, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased.” (Matthew 3:17)

In the wilderness, the devil tempted Jesus to use His power in ways inconsistent with His mission as God’s Beloved Son.

The devil took advantage of timing, approaching Jesus at the end of His 40 day fast, when He was hungry. Tempting Jesus to give in to the desires of His body, He urged Jesus to turn nearby stones to bread to satisfy His hunger. (Matthew 4:2-3)

But Jesus answered, “It is written: Man must not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4, Deuteronomy 8:3)

Undaunted by his failure, the devil took Jesus to stand on the pinnacle of the temple in the holy city, asking Jesus to prove Himself as the Son of God. Misusing Scripture to qualify his claim, he asked Jesus to fall from the pinnacle, claiming angels would save Him. (Matthew 4:5-6)

But Jesus answered, “It is also written: Do not test the Lord your God.” (Matthew 4:7, Deuteronomy 6:16)

The devil still would not give up; he took Jesus to a high mountain and showed Him the kingdoms of the world and their glory, then asked Him to worship Satan, in order to gain ownership of said kingdoms and glory. (Matthew 4:8-9)

Again, Jesus resisted with Scripture, “Go away, Satan! For it is written: Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.” (Matthew 4:10, Deuteronomy 6:13)
Defeated, the devil departed from Jesus.

At times, we find ourselves in our own wildernesses. Even in daily life, we may feel alone in our wilderness, threatened physically, mentally, or spiritually.

In our world, sin and temptation constantly surround us.
Temptation may approach in the form of a threat or that of pleasure,
but always with the same goal: to lure us into sin.
The devil will either use our everyday needs to tempt us, or dreadful condition to submerge us in fear, belittling God’s power in our lives.

Anything shifting our gaze away from God can become our idol. Ordinary things may not appear sinful, but if we prioritize them above God, they become idols. Food is a normal need, but if we allow it to control us, it becomes an idol; likewise money, position, or any hunger of our heart. We are always tempted to pursue that which we think will satisfy our lusts, and the resulting idols always stand between us and God.

Sister, be encouraged; these idols are stripped of their power in Christ!
Through God’s Spirit, we have the capacity to overcome temptation!

The Scripture says God is faithful to sustain us through temptation (1 Corinthians 10:13), and He has given us His Word to fight against the devil’s schemes. Jesus depended on God’s Word during His wilderness time; likewise, our victory over temptation depends on His Word. Among the spiritual weapons apostle and preacher, Paul, lists in Ephesians 6:10-18, “the sword of the Spirit–which is the word of God” is the only offensive weapon mentioned.

Finally, when we find ourselves in the wilderness, let’s believe the desolation can be unto a purpose. Let’s immerse ourselves in His Word, meditating on it day and night, until it abides within us. Then, when we face temptation, let us follow the example set by Jesus and wield it effectively, unto victory!

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Build Day 6 Building Character

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Nehemiah 5
John 21:15-19
Luke 19:41-47

Build, Day 6

Leadership positions are challenging. 

When people look up to a leader for guidance and direction, the leader may be tempted to think he’s better than his followers and become full of himself. On the other hand, if a leader is intimidated by the demands of his role, he may feel incapacitated and lead others to be ineffective. As leaders, if we depend on our human effort, we are likely to fall victim to one of these unhealthy scenarios, neither of which glorify God.

Whatever position of leadership God has given us, we are His ambassadors. The earthly life of Jesus Christ is our practical example; as He ministered, He said, “I do as the Father commanded Me.” (John 14:31) Likewise, before He returned to Heaven, Jesus asked Peter, one of His disciples, three times if he loved Him. At Peter’s positive responses, Jesus commissioned, “Feed my lambs,” and again, “Shepherd my sheep.” (John 21:15-17)

Jesus’ emphasis indicates what biblical leadership entails.
As leaders, we are responsible for the people and accountable to God.
God calls us to care for His people and help them become who He made them to be.

As governor over Judah, Nehemiah modeled this type of leadership. He was confronted with challenges, both without and within, yet was not found wanting. He contended with enemies who were bent on stopping Jerusalem’s wall project. While he concentrated on rebuilding, Jewish nobles and officials compounded his problem by oppressing the less privileged.

“There was a wide outcry from the people and their wives against their Jewish countrymen.” (Nehemiah 5:1) Their own countrymen had subjected them to poverty and slavery by lending to them with high interest and seizing their properties when they were unable to pay. Nehemiah described his response, “I became extremely angry when I heard their outcry and these complaints.” (Nehemiah 5:6) The unjust behavior of the Jewish nobles and officials prompted righteous anger in Nehemiah. He perceived their behaviour as contrary to God’s standard of caring for people.

Jesus acted with this righteous anger when He drove out money changers and sellers from the temple. He said they had turned His Father’s house into a den of thieves. (Matthew 21:12-13) As Jesus was passionate about doing the will of His Father, likewise Nehemiah was also passionate in keeping with God’s standard in leadership.

Nehemiah summoned the people after careful consideration. He accused the nobles and the officials of behaving reproachfully for lending to their fellow Jews with interest and seizing their properties. He asked them to stop charging interest when lending, and instructed them to return to the people their fields, vineyards, olive groves, and houses they had seized. (Nehemiah 5:7-11)

A quality worth emulating from Nehemiah’s leadership is not allowing emotion to be the driver. We may have good reasons for being angry with the actions of our followers, but when we are unable to control our emotions, we are likely to compound issues.

In fact, the Bible tells us Nehemiah considered the matter carefully before taking action, despite his anger. (Nehemiah 5:7) He composed himself and handled his emotions with maturity. When he rebuked the people with self-control, they became remorseful, and promised to do as he commanded. Nehemiah charged them with an oath to obey God or face His curse. Instead of becoming angry and defiant, the people praised God. (Nehemiah 5:12-13) Nehemiah’s rebuke led to willful repentance and restitution.

Like Nehemiah, as leaders, we are God’s instruments to ensure righteousness prevails where He has placed us to represent Him. In this regard, the Apostle Paul charged Timothy, “Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and encourage with great patience and teaching. For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine[.]” (2 Timothy 4:2-3) We must lead those under us to God’s standard, even if doing so involves rebuke.

Nehemiah’s rebuke was effective because of the trust he’d built with his people through his genuine care for them. He loved his people and sacrificed much for them. He declined his privileges as a governor because he sympathized with their suffering, unlike his predecessors who “heavily burdened the people, taking from them food and wine as well as a pound of silver.” (Nehemiah 5:15) We can be inspired by Nehemiah’s approach to leadership, sacrificing when necessary for the betterment of those we lead.

A leader has a responsibility to care for his people and hold them to God’s standard, as Nehemiah did.
He expressed his anger against the unjust deeds of the nobles and the officials when they extorted the poor.
He was self-controlled and courageous; he rebuked them with maturity leading to their repentance and restitution.
He had compassion on the people and sacrificed his privileges as a governor.

His exemplary life challenged and encouraged Jewish nobles and officials to repentance and restitution, while leading them to reach their goal. Sisters, may we be challenged to learn from and emulate Nehemiah’s Godly leadership, partnering with Him in the fulfillment of His plans for our communities!

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Training Day 10 Our Wandering Hearts

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Read His Words Before Ours!

John 1:1-8
Deuteronomy 6:1-6
Proverbs 4:20-22
Psalm 1:1-3
2 Timothy 3:14-17

Training, Day 10

I believe every Christ-follower wants to do what Scripture says. We want to succeed and be happy in life, but it doesn’t always happen. We find ourselves struggling with issues that weigh us down or sins we seem unable to avoid. Have you ever heard the Scriptures preached and it clearly addresses your sin issue? At such times, we become convicted and think we will never depart from the good teaching. Yet, after a while, we forget easily.

I have noticed that often, when we neglect the Scripture for a period, it is easy for us to lose the focus of our journey with God. It is not surprising then, that upon their entrance into the land He promised them, God urged Israel’s leader, Joshua, “This book of instruction must not depart from your mouth; you are to meditate on it day and night so that you may carefully observe everything written in it. For then you will prosper and succeed in whatever you do.” (Joshua 1:8)

With the Spirit’s power to teach and convict, the Scripture guards us from sin and grants us access to knowing God’s heart. Hebrews 4:12 tells us, “For the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any double-edged sword, penetrating as far as the separation of soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”

Now, what makes the word living and active? John 1:1-8 reveals that the Word existed in the beginning with God, and the Word was God. The whole creation was executed through Him, and there was nothing created apart from Him. In Him was life, and that life was the light of men; the Word became flesh and lived among men. John 1:16 continues, “Indeed, we have all received grace upon grace from His fullness, for the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.”

The text reveals Jesus Christ is the Word who existed in the beginning, through whom everything was created. What does this mean in real life?

Scripture, which is the written word, works powerfully in us because it points us to Jesus Christ, the living Word.

Jesus, the living Word, is the subject matter of the written word.

If we cannot do without Christ, the living Word, then we cannot do without the written word, in which Christ is the main focus.

When we study Scripture and meditate on it always, it stays in our hearts and helps us keep in contact with Jesus, “the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.” (Hebrews 12:2)

Having the word in us enables us to overcome temptations and live victoriously in our faith. We know that as long as we are in this world, Satan is bound to tempt us again and again. If he could tempt Jesus, who would he not tempt? Jesus’ response to temptation was to use Scripture; by this, He overcame fiery darts of the devil. (Matthew 4:1-11, Ephesians 6:16) Jesus replied to Satan, “It is written,” and then quoted a portion of Scripture relevant to the temptation at hand. If Jesus needed the Scripture to fight temptation, how much more do we need it?

There is no doubt we need Scripture settled in our hearts. Psalm 1:1-3 reveals the happiness of those who delight in the Lord’s instructions and meditate on them; they are like trees planted beside flowing streams. They prosper because they receive nourishment from the Word.

How do we meditate on Scripture so we will not depart from it? Dr. Ralph Wilson, one of my favorite writers, shares these guidelines, “Bible study takes a longer block of uninterrupted time. The real key to Bible study is being inquisitive, learning to ask questions of the text. First, read the passage. Then be a detective; look for clues. What’s going on? What stands out to you?”

Following his advice, I usually choose a single book or a topic and study it in-depth. Often, I spend at least an hour, and early morning time is best for me. I read a portion of Scripture more than once, and pause; I think over it again and again. In doing so, a message from the Scripture captures my mind. Then, I consult some commentaries, which provide a more thorough understanding. I will then task myself to think over the message throughout the day. For example, recently I was studying Philippians 4:8, which encourages us to think about what is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, and praiseworthy. As I went about my day, I asked the Spirit to guide my thoughts along those virtues. This requires self-discipline and practice, but simply begin practicing and find the delight the Spirit brings as you grow!

We cannot overemphasize the significance of meditating on Scripture; it is the only way we can succeed in keeping God’s word in our hearts. When we have the word in our hearts, the Spirit enables us to act on it, and we will grow deeply in our faith journey!

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Kneel Day 6 On Our Behalf

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Romans 8:32-34
Hebrews 4:14-16
Ephesians 1:20-23
Acts 7:54-60
Hebrews 10:19-23

Kneel, Day 6

What no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no human heart has conceived,
Jesus did for us. (1 Corinthians 2:9)
He died for our sins (Matthew 27),
rose from the dead (Matthew 28),
and ascended to Heaven (Luke 24:50-53).
He is sitting at the right hand of the Father far above every ruler and authority, power and dominion, and every title given. Everything is subjected under His feet and He is appointed over everything for the Church. (Ephesians 1:20-21)
What a place of glory and assurance for those who believe in Him!

He assured us He has gone to prepare a place for us in Heaven; eventually, He will come and take us to be with Him. (John 14:2-3) But while we wait for His return, we are not free from the challenges of a broken world, including pain, loss, and persecution. When faced with such sufferings, it’s easy for us to lose sight of Christ’s victory, and become discouraged.

Scripture assures us Jesus is making intercession for us (praying on our behalf). He is a great high priest who has passed through the heavens; He empathizes with our weaknesses and is able to help us in times of need. (Hebrews 4:14-16) He understands our experiences, because He also lived in the world in human form, faced struggles, and overcame. Now, having conquered sin and death, with everything subjected under His feet, and sitting at the Father’s right hand, He is able to help us.

When believers first began to spread the Good News, they faced intense persecution. One man, Stephen, was stoned by the Jews for preaching about Jesus. As he was dying, he had a vision of Jesus standing at the Father’s right hand. (Acts 7:55-56) While Scripture often describes Jesus sitting, Stephen saw Him standing. What does His posture signify? I see it as a symbol of Jesus actively interceding for Stephen before the Father in his greatest moment of need and sacrifice, possibly reminding the Father of the ransom He paid for Stephen. It could also have been an assurance of heavenly welcome for Stephen.

Like Stephen, we are assured no one can condemn us, because the only One who has that power is Jesus, and He instead intercedes for us before the Father. He helps us when we are tempted, and advocates for us when we sin. Despite pressure from the world, Scripture assures us He will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we can bear; He will always make a way out for us to follow in obedience. (1 Corinthians 10:13) If we lose sight of His grace and yield to temptation by sinning, He is our advocate before the Father. He is the righteous One, the atoning sacrifice for our sins. (1 John 2:1-2) If we confess our sins, He forgives us. (1 John 1:9)

Reconciled with God through Jesus, we can approach the Father in confidence.
“[L]et us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith [. . . holding] fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, since He who promised is faithful.” (Hebrews 10:22-23)

Furthermore, we hold an assurance that He hears our prayers:

“This is the confidence we have before Him: If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears whatever we ask, we know that we have what we have asked of Him.” (1 John 5:14-15, emphasis mine)

Did you catch the qualifier, sisters?

According to His will.

Our faith in Jesus does not guarantee an affirmative answer to any and every request. We must remain in Him and put His will above ours, learning to align our wills and prayers with the Father’s heart and plan. Jesus explained, “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you want and it will be done for you.” (John 15:7) Similarly, Scripture tells us that when we ask with wrong motives, such as to satisfy our pleasures, we do not receive what we asked for. (James 4:2-3)

In my personal walk with God, prayer has been paramount. But not long ago, I realized why so many of my prayers were not answered as I wanted. I held on to “Ask, and it will be given to you” (Matthew 7:7), while neglecting “If you remain in me and my words remain in you[.]” (John 15:7) It dawned on me that I must keep a close relationship with Jesus by studying and meditating on His Word always, just as God instructed Israel’s leader, Joshua, so long ago. I realized that my relationship with Jesus is what counts in the place of prayer.

Now, the pattern of my prayer has changed. I see prayer as an opportunity to worship and thank God, and not just asking Him to “give me-give me.” He has clothed me with His righteousness; I owe Him thanksgiving without end. Whatever need I have, I tell Him, and trust in His Word. While I have confidence He answers me, I submit to His perfect will over mine. I must testify that the result has been tremendous!

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Advent Day 10 Bridging The Gap

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Hebrews 9:6-15
Isaiah 53:4-6
Romans 3:10-26 
John 14:1-3
Romans 5:12-21

Advent, Day 10

“There is no one righteous, not even one. There is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. All have turned away; all alike have become worthless. There is no one who does what is good, not even one [. . .] For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:10b-12, 23)

After the first man made the crushing choice of self over God, mankind became warped in their sinful selves, unable to truly stand before a righteous and holy God. They became objects of God’s wrath, and so there was nothing left for mankind except condemnation.

But while man was grubbing in darkness and hopelessness, One came who perfectly fulfilled the role of a mediator between God and man. He was God in the flesh, come to take our punishment and to cover our sinfulness with His righteousness. The Scripture says, “For this is the kind of high priest we need: holy, innocent, undefiled, separate from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.” (Hebrews 7:26)

As we celebrate the coming of God in the flesh with our Advent series, today, we journey further back still to examine how the priesthood foreshadowed our Savior’s arrival, generations before His birth.

Consider Jesus, our perfect Priest, Who sacrificed Himself to put away the sin of mankind. As it is appointed for man to die once, and after that judgement, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of the many. (Hebrews 9:26-28) He bore our sins in His own body on the cross, that we, having died to sin, might live for righteousness. (1 Peter 2:24)

What lavish love! What priest would dare love like this?
In His humble coming, He provided access to the Father never before known,
to not just a select few who could enter the holy of holies,
but for all who believe in Him.

In fact, Scripture says of those who have believed in Christ,
“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” (1 Peter 2:9-10)

No other blood can save except the blood of our Perfect Priest. While the priests in the Old Testament offered animals’ blood for the atonement of sins, their sacrifice could not grant complete access to God’s presence. In fact, it was offered as many times as sin was committed. The perfect Priest, however, offered Himself willingly and freely,
as a sacrifice for our sins once and for all.

The prophet Isaiah expounded,
“Yet he himself bore our sickness, and he carried our pains; but we in turn regarded him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced because of our rebellion, crushed because of our iniquities; punishment for our peace was on him, and we are healed by his wounds. We all went astray like sheep; we all have turned to our own way; and the Lord has punished him for the iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53:4-6)

Jesus Himself said, “No one has greater love than this: to lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13)

We may not appreciate this demonstration of great love by our perfect Priest if we do not understand the awful and grievous nature of our sinfulness.

In Ephesians 2:1-3, apostle and preacher, Paul, provides a sobering elucidation:
we were dead in our trespasses and sins,
following the course of this world, according to the ways of the prince of the air (Satan)
fulfilling the desires of our flesh and of our minds,
by nature children of wrath.

By following the course of this world,
we become servants of Satan.
We follow his dictates and crave evil rather than good. 

But this perfect Priest obtained for us eternal redemption with His own blood; He became sin that we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:21) The payment price to buy us back from the slavery of sin, under the dictatorship of Satan, is His blood.

What love!
What mercy!
Our redemption is in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.

When I recall I was an object of God’s wrath, and consider the saving grace of my Redeemer, I shed tears of joy.

When I reflect on my awfulness, and how I deserved eternal death, but Jesus, the perfect Priest, died in my place, I know I owe Him my all.

Willingly, Christ died for us even when we were God’s enemies. (Romans 5:8) Now, He has provided access to God for whoever believes in Him, welcoming all to be reconciled to God. One day, coming still, we will leave our own sin-wrecked selves and find solace in Christ, face-to-face.

Scripture confirms,
“[T]here will no longer be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will worship him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads [. . .] and they will reign forever and ever.” (Revelations 22:3-5) Oh, what great joy awaits those who believe in Christ, the perfect Priest!

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