Walking as Jesus walked
care of the homeless, alcoholics, the poor, scholarship for indigent students, orphanages, etc. I was thrilled when a sister came to me one Sunday after Service to pray for her for divine supply for the orphanage she is building. We will be supporting her in due course as the Lord wills. Believers should believe God to set up rehabilitation centres for the homeless and destitute. I will be setting up a foundation to give scholarship to more students whose parents are poor and cannot afford to train their children. 5. He went where the sinners were. Until we go they will not come. Until we go, they will not be saved. Jesus did not sit and wait for them to come, He sought them out. Luke 19:10, “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”We have to seek them before we can save them. He did not go to partake of their sin. He did not go to condemn them either, he went to show them a better wayin love. He did not tell people how bad they were, He told them how much better they could be if they follow God and not the devil; both now and hereafter. Our neighbours are waiting for us to preach to them. Our colleagues are waiting to hear us present Jesus in a way they can understand. They want us to persuade them, be patient with them, take them to fellowship, pray for them, counsel them and help them with their needs.
Jesus won souls regularly. He presented a Saviour. He went to rescue them. We must all embark on a rescue mission. We must embark on evangelism. We must not just stop at inviting people to church; we must introduce them to the Kingdom of God, we must introduce the Saviour to them.
He preached the gospel of the Kingdom of God. He introduced to people the Kingdom of God- a better Kingdom than the one they were used to. His focus was not sin but a better life for the sinner. Everyone wants a better life; show them how they can get it.
We must obey his commands if we are to enjoy his wealth. Job 36:11, “If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures.” If you don’t believe that, God cannot help you.
1John 3:21-22,“21Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. 22And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.”
If our prayers must be answered, we must constantly spread the resurrection message as well as the love of God. We must constantly refer the needy to Christ. John 15:16, “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.”
If our prayer must be answered, we must obey the commands of the Lord.
There is a better quality of life waiting for you if you will serve God on his own terms.
Jesus took your place and died for you; will you take his place and live for him?He went to the Cross for you so you can go to the world for him.Jesus went to the Cross to rescue you; will you go to the world and rescue others?He spent all his life for you; how much of your life are you willing to spend for him?
Recently on our way to church we saw a car parked at the side of the road and people were trying desperately to revive the driver of the car. He had slumped and apparently died. He had expired! He left home that day never to return and that was not his plan.
You will live long, in Jesus name; but what have you accomplished for Jesus? How many souls will you present to him when you meet him? How many people will make heaven because of your witness?How many lives have you touched with all that he has given to you? bad memories is some overdose of mercy, compassion, forgiveness. The Church declared December 8, 2015 to November 20, 2016 as the Year of Mercy. The Church is aware that to “forgive and forget” is like swimming against the tides and waves of the ocean hence a whole year was dedicated to the celebration of mercy. The door of mercy was opened and closed in all the dioceses of the world. Pope Francis dedicated most of his writings to the theme of mercy. He never made public pronouncements without refraining mercy like a responsorial chorus.
Every year, the season of Lent provides us with ample opportunity to forgive those who sin against us as God has forgiven us. Lent is the time for the Superiors to forget and forgive the offences of their subordinates. This is the time for the fathers and mothers to forget and forgive the sins of their children. This is the time to reunite and renew broken relationships. If all these sound terribly difficult, let us recall that Jesus who calls us to be perfect just like the heavenly father is perfect (Matthew 5:48) does not give us an assignment without giving us the corresponding grace to carry it out. Because God can forget the past sins of a penitent, he enjoins human beings to do the same. Christianity is anchored on unconditional mercy, compassion and forgiveness. These open the door to true and unconditional love, the only virtue that is immortal and can never die (1 Corinthians 13:13). I pray that God our Father,may forgive us our sins and give us the grace to forgive those who sin against us. Amen