Blog Title: House of Virtue

Until Now...

There where we stand as fools for His wisdom’s sake,

There I stand.

There where we are weak for His strength’s sake,

There I stand.

There where we are dishonoured for His being distinguished’s sake,

There I stand.

There where we are hungry and thirsty for His righteousness’ sake,

There I stand.

There where we are naked, and beaten, and homeless for His kingdom’s sake,

There I stand.

There where we labour, working with our hands for His gospel’s sake,

There I stand.

There where we being reviled, we bless for His name’s sake,

There I stand.

There where we being persecuted, we endure for His glory’s sake,

There I stand.

There where we being defamed, we entreat for His goodness’s sake,

There I stand.

There where we have been made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things for His joy’s sake,

There I stand.

Until now...

uche

THE PERFECT GENTLEMAN 2

"Character is moral order seen through the medium, of an individual nature.... Men of character are the conscience of the society to which they belong." 

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Good manners are some of the principal external graces of human character. They are like ornaments of action, and often make the most common human functions beautiful in performance. They create a happy way of doing things, adorning even the smallest details of life, and contributing to render human interactions, as a whole, agreeable and pleasant. They are the remarkable first impression of any true gentleman. 

The manners of a man have a good deal to do with his estimation in the eyes of other men, and it has often more influence in his relationship with people than other qualities he may possess. A good, gracious and cordial manner is among the greatest aids to success, and there are many who fail because they have no possession of it. 

The attitude of a gentleman, to a large extent, is a sign of his character. It is the external advocate of his inner nature. It indicates his taste, his feelings, and his temper, as well as the society to which he has been accustomed. There are so-called conventional manners or etiquettes, which I believe are of little importance when compared to a man’s natural manners. Even at best, etiquette may be only a mere counterfeit for good manners. More preferable is the outcome of natural gifts, improved by careful self- culture and discipline, this signifies a great deal of exemplary character. 

Great men have always been known for a high degree of courteousness, kindness and politeness. Politeness has been described as the art of showing, by external signs, the internal regard we have for others. Yet one may be perfectly polite to another without necessarily having a special regard for him. The most truthful of politeness comes out of sincerity. It must be the outcome of the heart, or it will make no lasting impression. 

I have observed that a man would usually respect the individuality of another if he wishes to be respected as well. He will have due regard for the other man’s views and opinions, even though they differ from his own. The well-mannered man pays a compliment to another, and sometimes even secures his respect, by patiently listening to him. He is simply tolerant and restrained, and refrains from judging other people harshly. 

The true gentleman does not assume to be better or wiser or richer than his neighbour. He does not boast of his rank, or his birth, or his country; or look down upon others because they have not been born with the same type of privileges which he has. He does not brag of his achievements or of his calling. On the contrary, in all that he says or does, he will be modest, unpretentious and unassuming. He never thinks himself already too wise to learn from others. He exhibits his true character in performing rather than in boasting, in doing rather than in talking. Even in his use of words, he is tactful and realises that although knowledge makes a man respectable, tact makes him respected. 

The world owes much to these types of men and women. I call them here - the Perfect Gentlemen. They are men and women of courage. The kind of courage that displays itself in silent effort and endeavour - that dares to endure all and suffer all for truth and duty is more truly heroic than the achievements of physical valour, which are rewarded by honours and titles, or by laurels sometimes earned by blood and sweat. 

It is moral courage that characterises the highest order of manhood and womanhood - the courage to seek and to speak the truth; the courage to be just; the courage to be honest; the courage to resist temptation; the courage to do one's duty in life, the courage to be of good manners when the world around us considers such behaviour as foolishness. If men and women do not possess the virtue of courage, they have no security whatever for the preservation of any other virtue. 

Every step of progress in the history of man has been made in the face of opposition and difficulty, and has been achieved and secured by men and women of intrepidity and valour, by leaders in the field of thought, by great discoverers, great patriots, and great workers in all walks of life. There is scarcely a great truth or doctrine that has not had to fight its way to public recognition in the face of detraction, calumny, and persecution. History has shown true gentlemen to be men of moral courage. 

Another very important virtue of a gentleman is self-control, which I perceive as only another form of courage. It may almost be regarded as the primary essence of character. It is this quality that forms the chief distinction between man and the ordinary animal; and, indeed, there can be no true manhood without it. Self-control is at the root of all the virtues. Thus it is the power which constitutes the real distinction between a physical and a moral life, and forms the primary basis of individual character. It is by patience and self-control that the truly heroic character is perfected in a man.

In the Bible praise is given, not to the strong man who takes a city, but to the stronger man who rules his own spirit (Proverbs 16:32). This stronger man is he who, by discipline, exercises a constant control over his thoughts, his speech, and his acts. By the watchful exercise of self-control, purity of heart and mind become habitual, and the character is built up in chastity, virtue, and temperance.

Every truly great figure knows that the best support of character will always be found in habit. Habit is formed by careful training. And it is astonishing how much can be accomplished by systematic discipline and drill. See how, for instance, out of the most seemingly unpromising civilian materials some of the best professional soldiers emerge. This is achieved through strict discipline and observance of routine procedures during their training. 

George Herbert once said that “habit is akin to discipline and without it, there will be no proper system and order in the regulation of life.” The most self-reliant, self-governing man is always under discipline: and the more perfect the discipline, the higher will be his moral condition. He has to drill his desires, and keep them in subjection to the higher powers of his nature. They must obey the word of command of his internal monitor - his conscience; otherwise his desires will become mere slaves of their inclinations and impulse. It is upon habit that the cultivation of a sense of self-respect, obedience and the development of a sense of duty is built.

The one who aspires to become a perfect gentleman must understand that duty embraces his whole existence. It begins in his home, where he owes his duty as a parent to his children. As a husband to his wife, as a master to his servants; while outside the home he owes his duty to his friends and neighbours, as an employer or employee, as a governor or governed. The Bible rightly puts it this way, “Owe no man anything, but to love one another; for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law (Romans 13:8).” The abiding sense of duty is the very crown of the character of a true gentleman. 

Men inspired by high principles are often required to sacrifice all that they esteem and love rather than fail in their duty of life. They are quick to realise that to be worth anything, a man’s character must be capable of standing firm upon its feet in the world of daily work, temptation, and trial; and able to bear the wear-and- tear of actual life without undue compromise. They are ready to take constant and consistent action towards the perfection of their character. They realise that the cultivation of a healthy, well - balanced character of a person, lies in having a life in God through Jesus Christ, thus having the Spirit of God dwelling within. Otherwise, man no matter how handsome and cultured, would carry-on like a mere beast, and the most beautiful woman would be little better than a well-dressed doll. 

Author: Uche Aneke

THE PERFECT GENTLEMAN

"The prosperity of a country depends, not on the abundance of its revenues, nor on the strength of its fortifications, nor on the beauty of its public buildings; but it consists in the number of its cultivated citizens, in its men of education, enlightenment, and character; here are to be found its true interest, its chief strength, its real power."

-Martin Luther

Samuel Smiles in his book on, 'Character' defines character as one of the greatest motive powers in the world. In its finest embodiments, it exemplifies human nature in its highest forms, for it exhibits man at his best.

According to the tenth edition of the Concise Oxford Dictionary a gentleman is: " A courteous or honourable man, a man of good social position, especially one of wealth and leisure ." Following this definition of a gentleman one can easily imagine the picture of a man who is polite, respectful and considerate, has a lot of wealth and consequently is held in high respect. Yet, I believe strongly that a gentleman may be rich in all the aforementioned qualities, but may not necessarily be rich in cash or other material possessions.

Intellectual acumen has no necessary relation to honourable or excellent character. In the Bible, appeals are constantly made to the heart of man and to the spirit we are of, while references to the intellect are of very rare occurrence. George Herbert once said that, "a handful of good life, is worth a bushel of learning." Not that learning is to be despised, but that it must be allied to goodness. Intellectual capacity, according to Samuel Smiles, is sometimes found associated with the meanest moral character with abject servility to those in high places, and arrogance to those of low estate. A man may be accomplished in art, literature, and science, and yet be of the lowest ranking, in honesty, virtue, truthfulness, and devotion to duty.

It is therefore not a surprise that men of genuine excellence, in every station of life; men of industry, of integrity, of high principles, and of sterling honesty of purpose, command the spontaneous homage of mankind. It is natural to believe in such men, to have confidence in them, and to want to emulate them. All that is good in the world is upheld by them, and without their presence in the world, the world would not be worth living in. These men are the Perfect Gentlemen of our world, and they truly reflect the magnificence of the Almighty God, their creator, irrespective of their creed or colour.

Our society today is in need of men of exemplary character; such character that is worth emulating by all who appreciates the virtues of life, as designed by the Creator of life. While it can be said that such qualities are desirable in leaders in all walks of life, it is also essential to note that it is achievable by every man and woman alive, as such, should be much desired by all. It is this exemplary character that sets the man or woman who has imbibed it, miles apart from others.

Great men are always exceptional men; and greatness itself is only comparative. Indeed, the range of most men in life is so limited, that very few may see the opportunity of being great. But each man can act his part honestly and honourably, and to the best of his ability. He can use his gifts, and not abuse or misuse them. He can strive to make the best of life. He can be true, just, honest, and faithful, even in small things. In a word, he can do his duty in that sphere in which God has placed him, and remain a bastion of hope in the true calling of the Perfect Gentleman, irrespective of the storms of life.

Jesus Christ is the perfect example of gentlemanliness; he embodied a truly great character, yet so simple and gentle in his dealings with the people of his time. He is the perfect combination of the lion and the lamb, of the dove and the eagle, and he has promised to give to the heart in which he dwells the same spirit which dwells in him, which is the Holy Spirit of God. Now the fruit of this Spirit as stated in the Bible (Galatians 5:22) is what I call here the attributes of a truly perfect gentleman. The nine fruit are as follows:

1. Love

2. Joy

3. Peace

4. Patience (Longsuffering)

5. Kindness (Gentleness)

6. Goodness

7. Faithfulness

8. Humility (Meekness)

9. Self Control (Temperance)

These attributes collectively, constitutes the embodiment of the Perfect Gentleman and are traceable to all walks of life whether pastoral, public servant, private sector entrepreneurs, military professional etc.

Be An Example...

A few years ago a group of salesmen went to a regional sales convention in Chicago.

They had assured their wives that they would be home in plenty of time for Friday night's dinner. In their rush, with tickets and briefcases, one of these sales men inadvertently kicked over a table which held a display of apples.

Apples flew everywhere...........Without stopping or looking back, they all managed to reach the plane in time for they nearly missed boarding.

ALL BUT ONE !!! He paused, took a deep breath, got in touch with his feelings, and experienced a twinge of compassion for the girl whose apple stand had been overturned. He told his buddies to go on without him, waved good-bye, told one of them to call his wife when they arrived at their home destination and explain his taking a later flight. Then he returned to the terminal where the apples were all over the terminal floor. He was glad he did.

The 16 year old girl was totally blind! She was softly crying, tears running down her cheeks in frustration, and at the same time helplessly groping for her spilled produce as the crowd swirled about her, no one stopping and no one to care for her plight.

The salesman knelt on the floor with her, gathered up the apples, put them back on the table and helped organize her display. As he did this, he noticed that many of them had become battered and bruised; these he set aside in another basket.

When he had finished, he pulled out his wallet and said to the girl, "Here, please take this $40 for the damage we did. Are you okay?"
She nodded through her tears. He continued on with, "I hope we didn't spoil your day too badly."

As the salesman started to walk away, the bewildered blind girl called out to him, "Mister...." He paused and turned to look back into those blind eyes.
She continued, "Are you Jesus?"

He stopped in mid-stride, and he wondered. Then slowly he made his way to catch the later flight with that question burning and bouncing about in his soul: "Are you Jesus?"

Do people mistake you for Jesus? That's our destiny, is it not?
To be so much like Jesus that people can tell the difference as we live and interact with a world that is blind to His love, life and grace. If we claim to know Him, we should live, walk and act as He would. Knowing Him is more than simply quoting Scripture and going to church.

It's actually living the Word as life unfolds day to day.
You are the apple of His eye even though we, too, have been bruised by a fall.
He stopped what He was doing and picked you and me up on a hill called Calvary and paid in full for our damaged fruit.

Pray it will speak to your heart.

He gives the heart in which He dwells the same Spirit which dwelt in Him….

Becoming like Jesus Christ...

Several years ago, a preacher from out-of-state accepted a call to a church in Houston, Texas.

Some weeks after he arrived, he had an occasion to ride the bus from his home to the downtown area. When he sat down, he discovered that the driver had accidentally given him a double of his change. As he considered what to do, he thought to himself, 'you’d better give the half back. It would be wrong to keep it.' Then he thought, 'Oh, forget it, it's only a half. Who would worry about this little amount?

Anyway, the bus company gets too much fare; they will never miss it. Accept it as a gift from God and keep quiet.

When he gets to his stop, he paused momentarily at the door, then he handed the half to the driver and said, 'Here, you gave me too much change.'

The driver, with a smile, replied, 'Aren't you the new preacher in town? I have been thinking a lot lately about going somewhere to worship. I just wanted to see what you would do if I gave you too much change. I’ll see you at church on Sunday.'

When the preacher stepped off of the bus, he literally grabbed the nearest light pole, held on, and said, 'Oh God, I almost sold your Son for a half price.'

Our lives are the only Bible some people will ever read. This is a really scary example of how much people watch us as Christians and will put us to the test! Always be on guard -- and remember -- You carry the name of Christ on your shoulders when you call yourself 'Christian.'

Watch your thoughts; they become words.

Watch your words; they become actions.

Watch your actions; they become habits.

Watch your habits; they become character.

Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.

Becoming like Christ.

"One of the fundamental requirements of a church that is alive is that that church is knowledgeable and that the people understand the mystery of the kingdom of God, the nature of our calling and what God has already put in place for His people. So that we can become the kind of people that God expects us to be. The Christian life is a continuous struggle to become, because the more I become, the more I can do; it is only those who become that can do."

-Dr Okey Onuzo

Christians - Poem by Maya Angelou

When I say... "I am a Christian"
I'm not shouting "I'm clean livin'."
I'm whispering "I was lost,
Now I'm found and forgiven."

When I say... "I am a Christian"
I don't speak of this with pride.
I'm confessing that I stumble
and need Christ to be my guide.

When I say... "I am a Christian"
I'm not trying to be strong.
I'm professing that I'm weak
And need His strength to carry on.

When I say... "I am a Christian"
I'm not bragging of success.
I'm admitting I have failed
And need God to clean my mess.

When I say... "I am a Christian"
I'm not claiming to be perfect,
My flaws are far too visible
But, God believes I am worth it.

When I say... "I am a Christian"
I still feel the sting of pain.
I have my share of heartaches
So I call upon His name.

When I say... "I am a Christian"
I'm not holier than thou,
I'm just a simple sinner
Who received God's good grace, somehow!

Tongues of My Unchained Spirit

The Beauty of Math!

You may have seen this before, but take another look:

1 x 8 + 1 = 9
12 x 8 + 2 = 98
123 x 8 + 3 = 987
1234 x 8 + 4 = 9876
12345 x 8 + 5 = 98765
123456 x 8 + 6 = 987654
1234567 x 8 + 7 = 9876543
12345678 x 8 + 8 = 98765432
123456789 x 8 + 9 = 987654321

1 x 9 + 2 = 11
12 x 9 + 3 = 111
123 x 9 + 4 = 1111
1234 x 9 + 5 = 11111
12345 x 9 + 6 = 111111
123456 x 9 + 7 = 1111111
1234567 x 9 + 8 = 11111111
12345678 x 9 + 9 = 111111111
123456789 x 9 +10= 1111111111

9 x 9 + 7 = 88
98 x 9 + 6 = 888
987 x 9 + 5 = 8888
9876 x 9 + 4 = 88888
98765 x 9 + 3 = 888888
987654 x 9 + 2 = 8888888
9876543 x 9 + 1 = 88888888
98765432 x 9 + 0 = 888888888

987654321 x 9 - 1 = 8888888888

9876543210 x 9 - 2 = 88888888888

Brilliant, isn't it?
And look at this symmetry:

1 x 1 = 1
11 x 11 = 121
111 x 111 = 12321
1111 x 1111 = 1234321
11111 x 11111 = 123454321
111111 x 111111 = 12345654321
1111111 x 1111111 = 1234567654321
11111111 x 11111111 = 123456787654321
111111111 x 111111111=123456789 87654321

Now, take a look at this...


101%

From a strictly mathematical viewpoint:


What Equals 100%? What does it mean to give
MORE than 100%?

Ever wonder about those people who say they are
giving more than 100%?

We have all been in situations where someone
wants you to GIVE OVER
100%.

How about ACHIEVING 101%


What equals 100% in life?


Here's a little mathematical formula that might
help answer these
questions:


If:

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X
Y Z


Is represented as:

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19
20 21 22 23 24 25 26.


If:


H-A-R-D-W-O- R- K

8+1+18+4+23+ 15+18+11 = 98%


And:

K-N-O-W-L-E- D-G-E

11+14+15+23+ 12+5+4+7+ 5 = 96%


But:

A-T-T-I-T-U- D-E

1+20+20+9+20+ 21+4+5 = 100%


THEN, look how far the love of God will take
you:



L-O-V-E-O-F- G-O-D

12+15+22+5+15+ 6+7+15+4 = 101%



Therefore, one can conclude with mathematical
certainty that:

While Hard Work and Knowledge will get you
close, and Attitude will
get you there, It's the Love of God that will
put you over the top!

This Love of God is in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:39). Do you have Christ in your life?

Today, you can receive Jesus Christ and His salvation if you believe, by simply and sincerely saying a prayer like this:

"Lord Jesus, I believe you are the Son of God. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins. Please forgive my sins and give me the gift of eternal life. I ask you to come into my life and heart to be my Lord and Savior. I want to experience your Love and to serve you always."

If you have just prayed this prayer or you have any questions about what you have just read please feel free to contact us on houseofvirtue@gmail.com

The Rejected Gift.

Word up...

One day Satan and Jesus were having a conversation.

Satan went to visit Jesus in the Garden of Eden, and Satan came all happy and
boasting. (Lk 4: 1-12; Job 1: 6-12)

"Yes, Lord, now I have
everybody captive,
(well nearly everybody down
there).

I
set traps, I used the baits of temptation,

I know
well what
each one of them can't resist.

I nearly caught them all!"
(I Pet 5: 8-9; Eph 6: 10-17)





"What are you going to do
with
them?" Jesus asked.

And He was praying to God the
Father.





Satan
answered "Oh, I
am going to have some fun with them!"




I'll make them divorce
after they
have married

so the foundation of
humanity will
never be able to be established

"the family" (Mt 19:4-6;
Mal 2: 16)





I will make
them hate
each other and abuse each other,
make them fall into
alcohol and
drugs without control. (Rom 13: 12-14)




I will teach them to make
weapons
and bombs,
so they kill each
other





"I am really going to have
fun!"



"And when you are tired of
playing
with them, what will you do?"

Jesus asked. And continued
praying



"Oh, I will kill them all
and
their souls will be mine forever"


"Lord "
with all
respect, it's, their decision" (I Jn 3:8-10)



"How much do you want for
all of
them?" Jesus asked.





"Oh, you don't want these
people.
They aren't anything good.

Why do you want them if
they
neither follow you nor love you?

Many hate you! I have seen
many of
them spitting on you, cursing you and even denying
you."

"What's more, they love me
a lot"
(Mt 24: 10-13)



"You don't want these
people!!"



"How much?" Jesus asked
again



Satan looked at him with a
nasty face



"All your tears and all
your blood,
all the pain of the entire
world,
all together" (Is 53: 4-10; I Pet 2: 24 )



Jesus said..."DONE"




"and He paid the price"
(II Cor 5: 21)



How terrible it is that
people
don't seek for God,

and then ask themselves why the world is
going to hell!





How terrible that we seek
the
newspaper everyday to read tragedies

and we never seek the
Bible



How insensible it is how
everybody
wants to go to heaven,

thinking they can get
there
without having to believe,

without loving God above
all things,
or doing what the Bible
says...the
Laws of God.



It is terrible how some
people can
say "I believe in God"

but still follow Satan (Who
as matter
of fact, does fear God)

(II Tim 4: 3-4; II Jn 1:
7-11)



Don't you think it's
pathetic how
they send
each other thousands of
jokes by email,
so they spread like
plagues.



But when it's about the
Lord's messages,
we think about it twice
before we
share them;

and we leave the mailboxes
of our
friends without this message





Don't you think it is
outrageous
that the obscene,
vulgar and crude is
allowed freely
to pass through the internet

that even many people
would desire
to get into the screen.



But it is forbidden to
speak
publicly about Jesus
in the schools, places of
work,
self-help groups,
etc... (Acts 4: 19-20)



Even after
knowing
what He did for us.

Because the Romans didn't
kill
Him. It was our sin.
that we may be
forgiven

and know Him in His glory
with the Father.



Doesn't it seem incredible
to you
how somebody can be a
light
on
Sabbath
in the Church,
worshipping and thanking
the Lord
for His mercy,
for one more day to live
etc.



But during the rest of the
week he
is an invisible Christian! (II Tim 3: 1-5; Rom 10: 9-13)



Does this seem just to
you?

Don't let Satan stop you
from thinking
about this Message and sharing the Gospel
with all your contacts on
the Web or wherever,

It doesn't matter if he
tells you
that many don't believe this
Don't let him get through
with his plans!



Stop worrying about what people may think of you

It is time to worry about
what
"God thinks about you"



Please brother and sister,
pass on the Good News of Christ?

"We just did
it"



May God bless you always
(II Cor 13: 13 )

Ever wanting not to stop...

Position yourself to receive His best

Now that's what's up....

Beloved Friends and Readers, it’s a joy for us to be back online once again. Much as we love to keep this Blog fresh and exciting, yet the challenges have been quite much here in Nigeria. But we thank God who has enabled us to be back and better, to Him be the glory forever and ever! Amen.

Please remember that the vision of this Blog (House of Virtue) is to proclaim the promised life which we have in union with Christ Jesus.

God has promised us eternal life which we have in union with Christ Jesus. For this reason we would remember to keep alive any gift that God has given us when we received the Holy Spirit. For the Spirit that God has given us does not make us timid; instead, His Spirit fills us with power, love, and self-control. With this in mind, we ought not to be ashamed, then, of witnessing for our Lord; instead, do all that we can for the spread of the Good News, as God gives us the strength and ability for it.

God has saved us and called us to be his own people, not because of what we have done, but because of his own purpose and grace. He gave us this grace by means of Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but now it has been revealed to us through the coming of our Savior, Christ Jesus. He has ended the power of death and through the gospel has revealed immortal life.

We urge you therefore, friends, to hold firmly to the true word of God in the Bible, let the example of Jesus and the Saints be the example for you to follow, and remain in the faith and love that are ours in union with Christ Jesus.

Like Paul said to Timothy (2Tim 2:1), we encourage you to be strong through the grace that is ours in union with Christ Jesus. The times we are living in are indeed precarious with the truth; therefore, it would be wise to become more alert and see yourself as a soldier on active duty who wants to please his commanding officer and so does not get mixed up in the affairs of civilian life. Remember that an athlete who runs in a race cannot win the prize unless he obeys the rules (2Tim 2:5).

May the LORD be with your spirit, and His grace be with you all in Christ. Amen.

With love,

Uche & Lola

Show some love

"Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God has commanded you, so that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land the LORD your God is giving you.
-Deuteronomy 5:16 (New International Version)

Today, a friend sent us this interesting email we'd love to share with you here. Enjoy the read:

An 80 year old man was sitting on the sofa in his house along with his 45years old highly educated son. Suddenly a crow perched on their window.The Father asked his Son, "What is this?"

Life at the speed of grace...

The Best News in the World Today!

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has chosen me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free the oppressed and announce that the time has come when the Lord will save his people." (Luke 4:19 GNB)

In his days, Jesus had good news to share and people wanted to hear it. His message offered practical benefits to those who listened to him. His truth would set people free and bring all sorts of blessings to their lives.

In our world today there are many people who are frustrated in their personal lives, in their family, in business, work, etc. They take their cue for living from television and radio, and in newspapers and magazines, and they build their lives around these information. The end result is always the same: souls which get completely broken and distraught. Today’s news is all laced with war, political/economic crises, natural disasters, gender/marriage controversies, drugs, sex, etc.

As children of God, it’s important that we learn from Jesus how to show the relevance of the information we receive from the Bible. And then by the enablement of the Holy Spirit we can share this information, as well as apply the message personally to people’s lives.

The Bible calls this information the “Good News” or the “Gospel.” Jesus commands Christians to preach the Gospel to all people (Mark 16:15). The Gospel is about what God has done for us and what we can become in Christ. It’s about personal relationship with Christ being the answer to our deepest needs. The Good News offers people what they are anxiously searching for: forgiveness, freedom, security, purpose, love, acceptance, and strength. It settles the question of our past, gives assurance for our future, and gives meaning to today. We believe the Good News of Jesus Christ is the best news in the world today.

Keep Recognizing Jesus....

“…So Peter got out of the boat and started walking on the water to Jesus. But when he noticed the strong wind, he was afraid and started to sink down in the water (Matthew 14:30 GNB).”

I remember one of those old gangster rap songs I used to listen to, with part of the lyrics like this: Once again is the man with the master plan, they call him Sam….and I think you better recognize…

We have come to realize that every thing in life always follows a plan. Even as the old saying goes that, “if you fail to plan, then you have planned to fail.” And so it becomes necessary to make plans for our every circumstance in life, yet even more important, to recognize the Man with the master plan for our life. Only that His name is Jesus, the Christ, and not Sam as the lyric above suggests.

If we are truly recognizing our Lord, we have no business being concerned about how and where He engineers our circumstances in life.

We got into Nigeria last Friday after spending nine months out of the country, and the challenges of adjusting back to ‘normal’ life in Nigeria has been so tough. And we are aware of the evils which could be exhibited through us in our response to the difficult times which we face here, if it were not for the grace of God. Nevertheless, we realize the necessity of letting circumstances take us where they will, and the need to recognize and keep drawing on the grace of God in whatever condition we may find ourselves.

According to Terry Virgo in his book, ‘The Tide is Turning,’ “…One of the great promises that should make Christians shine in a world where people are tormented by fear and anxiety is that when we are assured of God’s overruling providence, we can live with poise and praise. The fact that everything is working together for good becomes a well of water springing up in our spirit. Having confidence that God is on the throne is what changes and transforms us...” and even when evil men seem responsible for the pressures we face, they only prove to be God’s instruments in a great and divine plan. Therefore, let us recognize the hand of God in every circumstances and conditions which we may find ourselves. Whether it feels good or bad, God allows them as part of His divine plan to accomplish His purposes for our lives.

Who do you truly think you are?