Soldier on Soldier

Remember that day you gave your life to Christ? What’s your testimony for all (Christians) who believe in the Son have a testimony. From this very testimony comes the reality of us being sinful to the core and Jesus the Son of our Living God having being the propitiation for us that we now have life for Christ lives in us. When I first got an idea of salvation, I thought of it as a walk in the park where, when one chooses Christ and His ways, s/he gets to then enjoy life in the worldly sense, that of being the happiest, away from tragedies and prospering. I thought of it as being second to what we choose to do daily and of it being a favour to God and that prayer alongside Bible study was a convenience tool.

But wait, that was before I realized how sinful I am and the Holiness of God. I thank God for the Gospel and for the gift of salvation that I don’t deserve but Him in His fullness of grace and mercy did give freely to me. The Gospel continues to reveal to me what His Will is in my life, that I am to take up my cross and faithfully follow Him with every beating of my heart, a vessel of clay in the hands of the greatest potter, God. Despite being corrupt due to my own sins and trespasses, choosing God was not within my own ability and will. Instead, it’s through His sovereign Grace that God chose me and this is my only hope. It is God alone who continues to infuse spiritual life into me, a dead sinner. I live in the hope of getting to see His kingdom in accordance to His will.

Ever thought of what the name “Christian” really is. Being Christ-like is what it is. We, human beings remain to be inadequate though an Adequate God continues to sustain us in this walk of Faith that we’ve been called to. The Gospel must remain central, permeating each and every sphere of our living meaning we are first Christians then whatever we do in life rather explained as careers come second, not the other way round. Then the call comes in for we live in a sin-filled world and being in the world yet not of the world, we all need to soldier on in this very path of sanctification that is painfully slow for to us grace is given in abundance. Amidst the temptations, valleys and hills that life offers, our eyes need remain fixed on the eternal promises of our creator since we are believers and have faith in God and God alone for we haven’t gotten to the point of shedding blood at all. Our Heavenly Father is never deaf, neither is He blind, He hears, He sees and He delivers us in accordance with His Will. As we journey through life, may we walk with Him and in Him as we work out our salvation in fear and trembling unashamed of the Gospel that is the power of God that when all is said and done, we may get to live with Christ in our eternal home where we surely belong. I soldier on. Soldier on brother, soldier on sister.

To God be the Glory.

Sunday Christian No More

That life of having to carry a Bible each Sunday , getting dressed in the best and most descent outfit in the wardrobe, that of waking up at the break of dawn so as to make it to church in time is all I am fed up with. That leading of praise and worship from the mouth and choir mastering just for pride and praise is not just worth it.

That life of being part of a church to cement membership in the multitude of Christian civilians on earth is useless; the act of ushering in church for attention is not part of me anymore, no more playing instruments just for the skillful part of it during service.

No more giving offerings and tithes all for the virtue of it being a norm- a practice inherited from our forefathers, no more shopping for the pastor and servants of God just for the efficiency of it, no more gospel raves for the fun of it and its popularity amongst the Christian youth of today.

All I yearn for is to be in communion with the Holy spirit, to be in a fellowship of believers so as to draw motivation and advice each other on keeping the Faith in God, to reduce so that God increases in me, to seek Him so as to be found by Him and never to forsake Him.

All I seek is to be led by the Holy spirit, be guided along the commandments of the Heavenly Father, to be part of the chosen generation, the royal priesthood and the servants of His vineyard in and out of seasons, in all that I do, in my thought, in my words, in what I have done and that I have failed to do.

My focus is to have Him who works in me get to continue living in me, that I get to see His coming and that His purpose in me gets to completion for I am convinced that neither height nor depth, neither evil nor demons nor any other thing in all creation shall separate me from the never ending Love of Christ, no not one.

 

It is worthy and fulfilling to be in the presence of the Lord, to be a sheep in His flock for I am certain God provides all I need to remain a believer be it lack or prosperity, full or hungry , in pain and in joy with worship as my lifestyle and prayer as my blueprint .

 I choose to follow Christ all the days of my life, a Sunday Christian no more.

.. the Struggles within

When the journey started, I was the most of the skeptics for tomorrow was what I feared the most. I had to let go a job at hand and plunge into an internship in student discipleship, yes, ministry. All this time, the parents and folks knew I was working with some firm only to realize I left the opportunity months before.

The struggle went on into the second month, a struggle on what I really wanted to do with this one life before the giver takes it away at His rightful time. My housemate would sit and haves their quite time as I sat listening to “gospel” music in the comfort of an antique crafted seat wondering why he had to be so disciplined on this very routine. A question would wander through my mind on this very act for I only took hold of the Bible when in dire need, when a struggle braves itself against me. My faith was that that a whirlwind of calamity would sweep away with a flash, prayer at that moment was want, not a need. Parental pressure on taking up a “common” career was endless with my allegiance to them tempting my thirst for finances to get out there.

Somehow, I fell into the temptation to have that other hustle that would assure my pocket of additional bucks to increase my figures in the savings account taking me nearer that plot purchase. An opportunity arose to do a series of events for some institution at a cost, one I gladly took up with full knowledge of how this very endeavour would come between me and the internship at hand that served a priceless opportunity to grow in Christ, I chose to shake this awareness dust off my chest.

I surely delivered at the events assignment. Again, I used it as an avenue to run away from the other struggles on whether or not to honour the parents or keep on with the journey of being more informed on the price of being a witness.

But, I felt a burden in my heart amidst all these prowess in events and all the glamour that came with the engagement. At these events, I would stomach the scenes where guys my age would waste themselves in alcoholism, smoking and sexual immorality for the events were 100% in support of secularism and a platform where the above would not only be propagated but again be facilitated. I had immersed my whole back to where I had been saved from, the world.

The emptiness brought forth served as a wake up call to me for a thought of why Jesus, the Son of our Creator took all my sins and bore them on a rugged cross, a ransom paid. The call to holiness and purity, not by my strength but by the fullness of the Grace of He who is rich in mercy, repeatedly rung in my head and mind. My heart was broken by my own sins, a choice I took against the full glare of unmerited favour as a Son. The approval of men I got, guys were pleased at my involvements in the events and deep inside I felt good having such. Thou, my heart was not at peace, not at all. That was a complete opposite of what a servant of Christ needs heed to each day.

Titus 2:11-15 For the Grace of God has appeared bringing salvation to all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions and to live self-controlled, godly lives in the present age.

But, I am encouraged for a chance is given, that of acknowledging my sins and asking God for forgiveness. My prayer is that I am not led into temptation but delivered from all evils by God and that I may heed to this call to lead be a Christian, to use my gifts to make disciples and remain unashamed of this very Gospel of Christ, the power of God unto salvation... a gift freely given. A lifestyle of prayer and study of the living Word is serving a pivotal role in my growth as a Christian too, I know understand the reasons my housemate would invest much time in this. 

A study on the book of Acts further encourages me with its richness in teachings on ministry and on the conversion of Saul , that no matter how far one runs, a call from God can never be outdone. I have decided to let go and let God, that His will be done in my life, heed to the master's call, pray that the Holy Spirit leads me in my daily endeavors for a day awaits me to give a record of how I lived here on this side of eternity. I seek forgiveness from those hearts I have broken in the course of this journey of learning life in the fullness of the struggles within. Again, thank you for keeping me in your prayers.

To God be the Glory