Oluwafemi .The Word of God is a light to my Path.

   Don’t Be a Mockingbird Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.  (James 1:22) The other day I had the opportunity to observe a mockingbird. Mockingbirds are known for their ability to mimic the sounds of not only other birds, but also the sounds of insects. The call of a mockingbird can be deceiving. The mockingbird sounds like the real sound of something else.  Jesus spoke harshly of the Pharisees, referring to them as hypocrites, people who pretended to be something they were not. They pretended to live the life of a true follower of God, but their actual behavior revealed something else. The writer to the Hebrews in the New Testament reminds us:  “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account ” (Hebrews 4:13). God knows if we are only pretending to be a follower of Christ. In order to experience the power of the Holy Spirit i...

  By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept when we remembered Zion. There on the poplars we hung up our harps. Psalm 137:1–2 Don’t Hang Up Your Harp After the people of Judah were conquered and taken into captivity by the Babylonians, they were so discouraged. They used to be joyful and sing about the greatness of Jehovah, but now they just sat and wept over what they lost. They didn’t just lose their freedom; they lost their praise and hung up their harps. When their captors asked them to sing the joyous songs of Israel, they refused. Their attitude was: “After God delivers us, we’ll get our joy back and sing again.” No, praise is what turns a difficult season around. While you’re waiting for things to change, believing for breakthroughs, the enemy would love for you to get discouraged, to sit around complaining about your problems and hang up your harp. That’s when you need to give God praise more than ever. Praise activates His power. Praise causes angels to go to work. Praise o...

   Two Reasons to Give “Do not accumulate for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and devouring insect destroy and where thieves break in and steal. But accumulate for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and devouring insect do not destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. For where yourtreasureis, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:19–21) We have two reasons to give our time, talent, and treasure to God. First of all, giving in our investment in eternity.  Only two things will last for all of eternity: God’s Word will endure forever, and the souls of people will live forever in one of two places. Everything else perishes. Everything you and I can see and touch is going to perish. Our relationship with Jesus Christ will determine  where  we will live in eternity, and how we spend our time, talent, and treasure will determine  how  we live in eternity. We want our investment to be in heaven.  The second reason we want to ...

     He restores my soul. Psalm 23:3,  He Restores Your Soul Oluwafemi, after King David fell into an adulterous affair, his soul felt broken and wounded. When you fall into sin, when you know better but you do it anyway, it’s easy to live wounded and think you’re too far from God, that you’ve made too many mistakes. You can also be wounded from what someone else did to you. But God can restore your soul. He brings healing from the hurts, the pains of the past, what wasn’t fair, the loss, the heartache. He brings healing from self-inflicted wounds, mistakes you’ve made, regrets you’re living in. He brings healing from anxiety and depression If you feel broken and wounded, God is working even now to restore your soul. Get honest with yourself and release the guilt, worry, anger, or jealousy, and then the healing will come. Forces that have held you back will be broken off your emotions, your attitudes, your thoughts. Joy will come. Peace will come. God will do a new t...

             Forever Changed And when Jesus came to that place, he looked upand said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down quickly, because I muststay at your house today.” So he came down quickly and welcomed Jesus joyfully … “Look, Lord, half of my possessions I now giveto the poor, and ifI have cheated anyone of anything, I am paying back four times as much!” ThenJesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this household.”  (Luke 19:5–6, 8–9) We learn a lot from the encounter that Zacchaeus had with Jesus Christ. Here was a “money guy” who was hated by his own people because he was a tax collector for the detested Roman government. He was a self-starter, and he really did not care what anyone thought, otherwise he would not have been a tax collector. Zacchaeus wanted to see Jesus Christ, and he knew he had to get ahead of the crowd. No one ever achieved anything of value just by following the crowd. He was short and needed the aid of a tree perch t...

  So Haman…robed Mordecai, and led him on horseback through the city streets, proclaiming before him, “This is what is done for the man the king delights to honor!” Esther 6:11 Let God Do It In the book of Esther, a powerful Persian official named Haman tried to push down Mordecai, who was Esther’s cousin. He disrespected Mordecai, tried to make him look bad, then plotted to execute him. But one day the king told Haman to put a royal robe on Mordecai, march him through the streets, and announce to everyone what a great man Mordecai was. Out of all the people the king could have chosen, he specifically chose Haman to honor Mordecai, the very person who was against him. When someone treats you badly, that’s what can happen when you let God vindicate you. Don’t worry about the boss who’s not giving you credit. You’re not working unto people. You’re working unto God, and He is keeping the records. Perhaps instead of you working for that boss, one day that boss may be working for you. S...

  Fully Convinced He [Abraham] did not waver in unbelief about the promise of God but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God. He was fully convinced that what God promised he was also able to do.  (Romans 4:20–21) Abraham is an example of someone who was fully convinced that God would do what he had promised. That is conviction. Abraham ordered his life according to his conviction, and he experienced the blessing of God. Conviction is a key component of faith. When a person lacks conviction, their faith wavers. James wrote, “My brothers and sisters, consider it nothing but joywhen you fall into all sorts of trials, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect effect, so that you will be perfect and complete, not deficient in anything. But if anyone is deficient in wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without reprimand, and it will be given to him. But he must ask in faith without doubting, ...

  Jesus wept. John 11:35 Amazing One of the beauties of our God is that He feels what we feel. When Jesus saw Mary and Martha weeping over the death of their brother, Lazarus, “Jesus wept.” He was “deeply moved in spirit and troubled” by their tears. He could feel their heartbreak, their sorrow. There are times when life throws us such a blow that all we can do is weep. What’s interesting is that Jesus already knew He was going to raise Lazarus, yet He entered into their sorrow and began to weep with them. Know this: When you weep, God weeps. When you’re heartbroken, God feels it. When you don’t think you can go on, when you feel overwhelmed, God is right there with you. The Scripture says, “He is close to the brokenhearted.” God used sorrow to prepare Mary and Martha for something amazing—a resurrection. Tears of sorrow gave way to tears of joy, laughter, and celebration. When you’re in a season of struggle and weeping, keep this promise in your spirit: “I know joy is coming. God ...

   Echo into Eternity “ We … speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. ” (1 Corinthians 2:6) The Bible explains to us God’s plan for the ages and generally how it is going to end. The crazy “wisdom of this age” and the “rulers of this age” are coming to nothing. For this we are truly grateful, since they are really messing things up!  When I began to really understand that this world is coming to an end, I changed the way I was using my time, talent, and treasure and decided to make sure I was investing my resources in God’s program. First, I decided I wanted to do my giving while I am living. This way I can enjoy the excitement of seeing what my investments in the kingdom are doing. I made the great discovery that giving is one of the ways God works in and through me. Second, I now try to follow the principle of increasing the giving of my time, talent, and treasure each year. I’ve ...

  God Loves A Cheerful Giver: 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.   Matthew 9:36 NKJV      God wants us to give out of generosity, not obligation or need. He will reward those who give with a cheerful heart!   Because of our sin nature, giving often does not come naturally. Yet we are told in Scripture that God loves a cheerful giver, and those who give much will also receive much. Therefore, we should give not “grudgingly or of necessity,” but out of the generosity of our hearts ( 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 ). Here are five things we can learn from Scripture about giving:   We should give with a pure heart.  In the story of the widow’s mite ( Luke 21:1-4 ), the widow’s small gift is contrasted to the large contributions of the rich men. Jesus s...

   Keep Seeking the Things Above Therefore, if you have been raised with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Keep thinking about things above, not things on the earth, for you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.  (Colossians 3:1–3) You have been raised with Christ! You are also seeking the things above. Your life is becoming increasingly hidden in Christ as you strategically invest your time, talent, and treasure into advancing the kingdom of God. You are actively seeking to do his will. What are some of the characteristics of the person who is seeking the things above? You are focused on doing the will of God and accomplishing the work he has for you to do. Doing the will of God is an indication that the Word of God is operating in your life. Increasingly, the fruit of the Spirit is manifesting itself in your life. Your objective is to be into low-profile, high-impact player as you help fulfill the Gr...

  Introduction Amos 4:1–13: Today’s reading begins with a sharp indictment against the luxurious lifestyle of the people of Samaria, with particular attention on the ruthless women of the city. The prophet calls out Israel’s inability to learn from the punishments God had already sent. Today’s Key Verse: Amos 4:13 God is the one who made the mountains and created the winds. He makes his thoughts known to people; he changes day into night. He walks on the heights on the earth. This is his name: the LORD God Almighty! Reading 4  Listen to this, you women of Samaria, who grow fat like the well-fed cows of Bashan, who mistreat the weak, oppress the poor, and demand that your husbands keep you supplied with liquor!  2  As the Sovereign Lord is holy, he has promised, “The days will come when they will drag you away with hooks; every one of you will be like a fish on a hook.  3  You will be dragged to the nearest break in the wall and thrown out.” 4...

   The Loaf of Time For the present shape of this world is passing away.  (1 Corinthians 7:31) Time is passing quickly. This has become a stark reality for me. The company I used to work for is now gone. The house we lived in for years has been sold and is now gone. When I look in the mirror in the morning, the evidence is increasing that even my body is passing away. Each one of us has been given a “loaf of time,” and each day is like a slice of the loaf. As each day passes, our loaf gets shorter. What are we doing with each slice of time that we have? Jesus said, “Do not work for the food that disappears, but for the food that remains to eternal life—the food which the Son of Man will give to you” (John 6:27). In what ways are you working for the food that remain to eternal life? How do we leverage the mortal into immortality? How do we leverage the fading into the unfading? Is there a way for us to leverage the temporary into the eternal? I believe there is an answer t...

  “Your approval means nothing to me.” John 5:41 Approval Addiction After the religious leaders in Jerusalem criticized Jesus for healing a man on the Sabbath, He told them that their disapproval meant nothing to Him. He wasn’t dependent on who liked or supported Him. He received His approval from His Heavenly Father. We all want to be liked, but too many people let the opinion of others determine what they do and who they are. They run everything through a filter: “How’s this going to make me look? Will others be impressed and applaud, or will they look down on me?” They don’t realize they’re addicted to approval. They have to keep pleasing others in order to feel good about themselves. But some people will never give you their approval no matter what you do. Sometimes people are for you, and sometimes they’re not. Your destiny is not predicated on their approval of you. God laid out your plan. He called you, equipped you, and gave you favor. When you’re secure in who He made you ...

  Who Are You Serving? Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica.  (2 Timothy 4:10) I do not know of anyone who is serving God who wants Demas’s choice to be a part of their legacy. Who wants it said of them that they so loved this world that they abandoned their opportunities to live a life that will echo into eternity? Exchanging a life of eternal value for one that is perishing is not a good exchange at all.  But that is exactly what happened to Demas. As a companion in the service of Paul, Demas was living a life that would echo into eternity. But the allure of the world deceived him. James 4:4 tells us, “Do you not know that friendship with the world means hostility toward God? So whoever decides to be the world’s friend makes himself God’s enemy.” We need to be very careful when it comes to our relationship with the world. This does not mean we cannot be in the world and serve effectively for the Lord. God’s people are spread t...