Knowing God Devotional is an online daily devotional written by Andrews Baah Kwafo, the president of The Bible Daily Network.
Paul is entreating us in Ephesians 4:3 that, as believers, we can dwell together in spiritual harmony by fostering peace among ourselves. But why did he say that? Because he knew that relationships are one of the most complex areas of life in this world.
When I read Ephesians 3:8, I felt a great depth of humility in Paul’s statement. He didn’t say, “I was the least of all the saints.” No. He said, “…who am less than the least of all the saints …”. That means despite all the exploits he has wrought on the face of this Earth for the sake of Christ, he still counted himself as the least of the saints. What a statement of humility. Can you, as a preacher, say this about yourself?
By reason of Jesus’ atonement for the sin of the world, He has taken away that which separated man from God, paving an accessible way for anybody to come closer to God without guilt or condemnation. That was even signalled when the veil in the Jewish temple between the holies and the most holy place was torn into two (see Matthew 27:51).
Salvation, the most precious gift God will ever give to anybody who is an unbeliever, cost Jesus’ life. Though it is a free gift from God, it isn’t cheap because the Son of man died for us when we were unworthy. No believer, including you and I, is ever qualified to get salvation from God. That is why the Bible says it is by grace we have been saved. Think about that!
When the Bible says you were dead in your trespasses and sins, guess what it means? It meant that while you didn’t know God, the consciousness even to convict yourself that the actions you are doing are sinful isn’t even part of your thoughts. That explains why evil is constantly going on in this generation without mercy. Hmm!
In Ephesians 1:13-14, Paul, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, revealed unto us that after we heard the word of truth and got saved, God sealed us with the Holy Spirit of promise. You may ask, but why? It’s because there is an inheritance for us in Christ as servants of God – both on earth and in heaven (see 1 Peter 1:3-4, Matthew 19:29-30). And it is through the Spirit we are assured that that inheritance is ours and nobody can tamper with it.
Please be careful to speak nicely to people you meet, especially for the first time. Remember that the Bible encourages us to be hospitable to strangers because we don’t know whether we may encounter angels unawares (see Hebrews 13:2). People are valuable; don’t treat them as trash cans.
Jesus said, as a believer, you can reap what you have not worked for, provided He sent you (see John 4:38). That means every person sent from God can reap from several areas of legitimate provision by the supernatural works of God. That is why a worldly person cannot understand anyone whom God has blessed with wealth.
Avoid limiting people under your training on what they are to do. Men don’t like domination. Teach people what to do and how to lead themselves as they build loyalty first to God and then to you if they work with you. You’ll realise that your workload will even reduce.
John the Baptist, although he had already told people that he was not the Christ, still had people question him about it. Today, that thing hasn’t changed. Many still like to taunt people about questions they have already replied to and still aren’t satisfied. Dear one, define who you are not. And don’t let the pressure to say what people like make you say something you do not stand for.
Keep watch on your divine mandate because you will give an account of your work before the Lord upon His second coming. Rest when you are tired, but don’t convert your rest period into prolonged procrastination.
Samuel didn’t have a problem hearing God. If he hadn’t heard what God said about Eliab, he would have anointed the wrong king for Israel, and that would have cost the kingdom so much. So, as a leader, especially as an employer, don’t rely solely on the curriculum vitae of prospective employees to choose a person for work, particularly for ministerial work. Let God guide you, and don’t be in a rush.
