Seeds of Wisdom

Jesus describes a rich farmer blessed with abundant crops who gives no credit to God, nor gives any thought to being a steward but thinks only of himself. Jesus calls him a fool, not because he had great possessions, but because his possessions had him.

We are expected to represent God wherever we find ourselves. One of the places we spend most of our time is the marketplace. The marketplace is where we work and earn wages. David worked under Saul; so that was his marketplace. The Bible records that David behaved wisely wherever Saul sent him.

Humility is the act of placing someone or something above yourself. It is not about us – and specifically for followers of Jesus, humility is about remembering that God is God and He is the provider of all things.  “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change”

Paul, the writer of most of the books in the New Testament, attests to the transformative power of Grace. He first enjoyed the grace of God on the road to Damascus when he encountered Jesus, was saved from his many sins, and was washed by the blood of Jesus. Ever since God saved him through this unmerited grace, he enjoyed grace till his last breath on earth.

Joseph’s story appeared to stall out in Genesis 40. Our hero was in shackles. The train was off the tracks. History was in a holding pattern. But while Joseph was waiting, God was working behind the scenes. He assembled the characters. God placed the butler in Joseph’s care. He stirred the sleep of the king with odd dreams.

The concept of Grace is profound and fundamental to our faith. It is an infinite expression of God’s love and mercy to all believers. Consider the transformational journey of Paul, who once persecuted Christians but became an apostle of grace. Writing to the Ephesians, he declares that it is a gift from God (Ephesians 2:8). But this grace is not limited to people like Paul.

As shown in the Bible passage above, Moses recognised his inadequacy and limitations. He knew he alone could not lead the people. He wanted to know whom God would send with him. When God assured him that His presence would go with him, Moses reiterated his demand, saying that he was ready to go only if God’s presence would go with them.

God is a promise-keeper, and from eternity to eternity, He remains faithful to His word. This is one area where people of God must settle in their journey of faith. How can God, the maker of heaven and earth, give a promise and not have the ability to perform it?

We are created uniquely for different purposes. It is a mistake to compare yourself to others because God’s plan for individuals is unique and personal. The way He trains individuals may sometimes be strange, but His result is always worth waiting for. He accomplishes His purpose in our lives, and all He wants from us is trust and obedience.

God reaches out to help us because of His mercy. HE will not leave you in oppression, sickness, financial bondage, and lack for the enemy to rejoice over you. So, the mercy of God rescues us from misery and affliction in life (Mark 10:47-48). His mercy will help you out of poverty and allow you not to miss what He has for you.

Although we know some basic facts about grace, most of us do not have a full idea of what grace is. We know we were saved by it (Ephesians 2:8), but we have not even begun to understand the real power it can release into our lives. If you want to get a picture of what grace can do, look at what happened to the early Christians in Acts 4.

Our God is a God of grace Who desires for us to enjoy His grace in all aspects of life. Paul, in our opening scripture, implies that he could not have achieved what he did ordinarily without the enablement of God’s grace. What then is grace? Grace is the divine assistance and empowerment of God that makes you go beyond human effort to achieve success in the purpose of God for your life.

God is telling us that He does not think the way we think, and He certainly does not do things the way we do things, period! We are mere mortals, and He is God. When you are dealing with God, remember that He is the creator of the heavens and the earth.

Amid the wickedness that penetrated society and corrupted the hearts and lives of the people in Noah’s generation, Noah found grace in the sight of God. The same applies today, where God can still find people He can trust. He determined to blot out the people from the face of the land and punish the wicked who would not repent.

God is faithful and full of compassion. His mercies are new every morning. As a believer, simply knowing God is not enough to enjoy all that He has for you; there is a need for you to recall His mercies over you. You must remember His faithfulness and goodness every day. This will rekindle your faith as you appreciate His lovingkindness over your life.

Life is in seasons, and one must recognise the folding of one season and the emergence of another, to maximise the opportunities that it presents. How can you recognise a new season? One way to know is that you will feel uncomfortable with where you are or that there will be an urge to do something new.

We understand from the scriptures that God is a God of exploits; the one, Who, at the breath of His nostrils and the command of His Word, all things came into being. As His offsprings, He made us after His image, He has ordained us also to do exploits; hence, the provision of His Word. For we know that all this consists in the living Word as well as the Logo and Rhema.

The world is not going to devote itself to making us happy, and until we accept this reality, we cannot move forward. At times, life does not work out the way we plan. Paul wrote to the Romans, “I hope to see you in passing as I go to Spain.” But he never got to Spain; instead, he landed in prison. But it was from there he wrote the Epistles.

Favour is a reality of God’s way of assisting man in the fulfilment of life’s assignment. If your result in life depends only on your effort solely, something is wrong, and you cannot go far. Favour is a supernatural grace that results in a sudden shift or lifting that causes someone’s story to change overnight.

Many times, when we talk about contentment, some people think we are against progress. No. Paul is saying contentment never comes from externals! It comes from inside of us which are products of self-control and satisfaction. People often purchase products they do not need. Manufacturers advertise their products; they try to convince us that contentment is not possible without their brand of product. You do not need to go for it!

God does not want us to be anxious about any issues but talk to Him about whatever problem you may be encountering, in prayer. Paul said in the above scripture that after praying, we should thank Him for responding to us with a clear direction, solution, and instruction. After we have communicated our needs to God, we must learn to wait for His voice.

The love of God compels Him to reveal what He has prepared for us as His children. Paul was giving us one of the important benefits of being spiritual because dealing with God, who is Spirit, requires one to be spiritually minded. You cannot know most of the things that God has for you if you do not train your spirit to see the way God sees.

The path of the righteous man shines brighter because God orders it, even when on our life’s journey we encounter situations that seem unbearable, and we need someone to rely on God can be that companion in times of need. The Psalmist says God will walk through that path with you and is beside you to see you through those challenging times to comfort you.

There is a great impact of the help of God and man in the journey of destiny. God created us in a way that we would need His help and that of others to enable us to fulfil our assignments in life. There are several parts of the human body but all of them work towards the same goal. No man or woman is an island and for you to fulfil your destiny, there are certain people you need to connect with that God has sent your way.

Passion causes you to go the extra mile for a solution. It causes you to search for information on how to be better at what you do. My encouragement to you is, to do everything possible that will make your dream work. Moses’ passion was to see the oppressed delivered and set free. Some people want to see others succeed; hence, they go the extra mile to see success in these people’s lives. Where is your passion?

Paul says in Colossians 2:18, “Do not let anyone who delights in false humility… disqualify you.” Whether it is in your manner of dress, your speech, or your behaviour, anything that draws attention to you and away from Christ is displeasing to God. Truly humble people do not take offence easily or fight back; they turn the other cheek.

The above verse is a powerful declaration of God’s grace as symbolised by the capstone. This capstone, representing completion and perfection, is laid with shouts of “Grace, grace to it!” It serves as a vivid reminder of the indispensable role of God’s grace in our lives.

Jesus’ words to Peter before his betrayal and arrest have profound lessons for believers in Christ. The cup symbolises the unique journey and purpose each believer must embrace, representing the trials, tribulations, and challenges appointed by the Father. We are called to accept our own cups with faith and obedience.

These words offer comfort and assurance to every believer. They remind us that our God is not distant or indifferent but actively involved in our lives, ready to extend His mighty arm on our behalf. Throughout the Bible, we encounter stories of God’s powerful intervention in the lives of His people.

When you feel lost and uncertain, know that God’s hand is with you. As a loving parent holds the hand of their child, likewise our Heavenly Father guides and protects us through every trial to triumph. In the story of Joseph, we see how God’s hand guided him through the depths of despair to the heights of honour and influence in Egypt.

In times of uncertainty and hardship, it is easy to feel overwhelmed and discouraged. But take heart, for His grace will see you through. Despite David’s flaws, he found grace in God’s abounding love. Rest assured; God’s grace is sufficient for any challenge you may face.