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Tag: alternatives

  • Theme: Beware of alternatives! (4)

    Theme: Beware of alternatives! (4)

    • By: Henry O. Adelegan
    • Text:”….. one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part…..” (Luke 10:42)

    Mary and Martha, the sisters of Lazarus had the problem of choice when Jesus Christ visited them at their house at Bethany – they were torn between taking care of Jesus Christ and sitting at His feet to listen to His word. They were caught in the web of choice between temporality and eternity. Martha chose the former. She went to the kitchen and was preparing Jesus’ meal while Mary chose the latter, she sat at Jesus’ feet to listen to the word of God. This drew the ire of Martha who apparently was so distressed and “distracted with much serving” and frustrated that her sister didn’t help out in the kitchen but sat at Jesus’ feet while she did all the work. Jesus then replied her that the choice that Mary made was the only needful thing while her own part was needless. He added that the choice of Mary was not only needful but it’s a part that no one could ever take from her.

    Mary of Bethany was a lady who knew the right way and pursued it without counting the cost or minding whose ox was gored (Luke 9:62). One day, Jesus Christ visited her family with the disciples at Bethany and while all were seated to eat, Mary had the option of either using her costly perfume on herself or ‘wasting it’, as Judas Iscariot assumed (John 12:5-6). Mary broke the costly ornament on Jesus Christ and also used her hair to rub it on His leg. She chose the best of the available options and was acknowledged by Jesus Christ that she chose wisely. She voted for the manna from above, she chose Jesus Christ who is “….. the bread of life….” (John 6:35) and had the guarantee of never to hunger or thirst. Mary chose to meditate on the word of God and strained herself to do all that was written therein hence she had good success (Joshua 1:8 cf 2 Timothy 2:15). She didn’t lose her reward as Jesus Christ promised that “….Wherever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman has done, be told for a memorial of her” (Matthew 26:13).

    Read Also: Theme: Beware of alternatives! (3)

    By “choosing the best”, Jesus meant that those whose priority in life is Christ, the knowledge of Him, and nearness to Him have chosen what will last through eternity, such as the “gold, silver and costly stones” referred to in 1 Corinthians 3:11-12. From this incident, we learn that those who are distracted with mundane and earthly cares are building upon the foundation with “wood, hay and straw,” materials which will not stand the fire that comes to us in times of testing, nor will they be remembered in eternity. It is incontrovertible that some people vote for things that are needless, like Martha, as against the things that are needful; a lot of people opt for things that have temporal value to ways of eternal life while others choose to be selfish as against being selfless. Jesus Christ encourages us to “Labour not for the meat which perishes, but for that meat which endures unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him has God the Father sealed”. (John 6:27).

    Are you serving at the tables or learning at His feet? Are you concerned and troubled about pecuniary gains and benefits for yourself and your family as against the kingdom of God and it’s righteousness? Are you living for yourself alone or using what God has blessed you with for the benefit of other people? It needs be said that the choices you make today will determine your peace and how you will be rewarded here on earth on the morrow and of course when this world shall be no more. Jesus Christ is the way, He is the truth and He is the life. Choose Him today as the master of your life, ask Him to forgive your sins, accept Him as your Lord, ask Him to come into your life and allw Him to take over the driver seat of your life, you will never regret your decisions today and in the future. 

    Prayer: Lord, give me grace to be like Mary of Bethany and not her sister Martha. When my life ends here, make me worthy of your heavenly crown, in Jesus’ name

  • Theme: Beware of alternatives!(2)

    Theme: Beware of alternatives!(2)

    • By: Henry O. Adelegan
    • Text: James 1:2 -4 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds

    Sequel to the kickoff of this message yesterday, it was established that what makes or mars the destiny of a life, family, enterprise or nation is the rightness or wrongness of the choices made. Your success in life, peace and prosperity are not about what seemed right to you but it is on the exactitude of your decisions. As there are right ways and associations which have the capacity to lead to your Promised land, there are also the wrong paths and people that have the power to derail your life purpose.

    From our text, James, with the benefit of hindsight, wrote that, anytime you get to a life crossroad and you are faced with the choice of asking, “Lord, Why me?”, he declared that the option you are to pick is to praise God. Why? Your choices will either make or mar you. Viewed against this background, kindly note that the first alternative which you must be wary of is not serving God. God created you to serve Him with all your heart, soul, body and strength. Anyone who does not serve God will ultimately shortchange himself of divine blessings, be exposed to avoidable sicknesses, experience miscarriages of the good things of life, have testimonies of failures at the edges of breakthroughs and live a frustrated life. The second thing you must be wary of is the alternative of Fear or doubt. Fear or doubt makes things very difficult for children of God. It also makes prayers said not answered; but when you have faith in Him mindless of things going on around you now, the mountains and challenges in your life shall be moved and you shall be restored fully. In addition to that, you must flee putting your trust in any human being. When you put your trust in God absolutely, He will open your eyes to see good when it comes and great shall be your heritage.

    Read Also: Beware of alternatives!(1)

    The fourth alternative you must avoid in other to be a beneficiary of divine blessings is Disobedience God. Isaiah 1:19, 20 says, “If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured by the sword; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” God abhors any form of disobedience! It was the disobedience of Adam and Eve to divine instruction that incurred the wrath of God and His outpour of curses on the human race which Jesus came to redeem us from (Colossians 1:13,14). It therefore doesn’t matter how terrible the economy of Nigeria is, for those who choose the path of obedience, when people are saying there is a cast down, your testimonies shall be of a lifting up (Job 22:29). God will protect you from the sword of the avengers. A thousand will fall at your right hand and tens of thousands at the other side but it will not come near you (Psalm 91:7)

    It is also imperative of you to avoid Following the world. 1 John 2:15-17 attests to it that, “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the father, but it is of the world. And the world passes away, and the lust thereof ; but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever”. When you run from every appearance of sin and you are deliberate with holy living, avoid sexual immoralities and you flee anger, wickedness, strife, etc, you shall see God in action and great shall be your reward (Hebrews 12:14). Not only that, the Bible in sundry places advises against Laziness. You must embrace diligence, honesty and dependability. Proverbs 12:24 says that, “Diligent hands will rule, but laziness ends in forced labor”. A person who is lazy desires good things but never has them while God makes the diligent make rich (Proverbs 13:24b)

    Humility is one of the hallmarks of a Christian. There is therefore a demand on you to avoid the alternative of Pride. “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6 cf Proverbs 11:2; 16:18), Please note dear beloved that that Idol worshipping is an ungodly act, night clubbing is unspiritual, wickedness is evil, grumbling is not a fruit of the spirit, social life junketeering from one social party to another is not right, lack of contentment with your present position, selfishness, greed, wickedness are not right. God desires that you make the right choices. When you do that, all your blessings which are available shall be obtainable by you during this Lenten season in the name of Jesus Christ.

    Prayers: Lord, give me by the power of the Holy Spirit to be able to make the right choices in the name of Jesus Christ.