Loving Jesus Above All Else

Many countries today are registering numerous people attending church every Sunday or Saturday (for the Seventh Day Adventists).  This is especially true in Africa.  Studies show that in 1900, only nine million Christians were in the continent of Africa.  Today, the number of Christians in Africa outnumbers that found in any other single continent.  2015 studies shows that Africa leads with 631 million resident Christians, followed by Latin America at 601 million and thirdly, Europe at 571 million (Gordon Theological Seminary Data).

What significant growth of Christianity in the African continent! It is a seventy-fold growth!  Indeed, God has been at work in this continent once known as the "black continent".  The light of Christ has shown on us through the gospel and given us life- abundant life!  We who were not a people, sometimes even thought of us second class creation, are now the people of God!

1 Peter 2:9- But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

There is no doubt that God has been good to mankind.  God's providence of salvation has given mankind a new eternal life.  A life that is dead to sin and alive in righteousness.  A life of enjoying all the providence of God's blessings- peace, joy, rest, fruitfulness, abundance, dominion, physical and emotional wholeness, and most importantly, communion with Our Father.  The gift of salvation is the greatest gift to mankind; it is the greatest gift to the continents of the world.

Having received this gift, it is easy to forget the worth of salvation.  It is easy to take for granted that gift that is familiar to many of us.   Since familiarity breeds contempt, it is possible for believers, who dearly loved God, to trample under foot the Son of God.  It is probable for believers to forget the invaluable price that was paid at the cross for our redemption from eternal condemnation and death.  When such forgetfulness plagues our minds, believers begin to indulge in sin as a matter of lifestyle.  The conscious is seared with sin and they no longer revere their Saviour and Lord.

Hebrews 10:26-29- If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, 27 but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. 28 Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 How much more severely do you think someone deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified them, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace?

Many in the body of Christ today have retained the rituals of Christianity but their hearts have grown cold to the guidance of the Spirit and they have left the path of righteousness.  They have maintained their church membership and mannerisms, but their hearts are not with the Lord.  Please note that what I describe here is not occasional stumbling to sin by a believer.  As long as believers are on the earth, they are yet to be perfected.  God remembers that believers are flesh and dust (Psalms 78:39), and though they fall seven times, they arise (Proverbs 24:16).   Thus, what I describe here is a believer whose heart is set on knowingly violating God's word.

How can a person who knew the Lord so well and experienced the warmth of His embrace, the joy of His liberty, and His indescribable peace that surpasses human understanding, forsake all these for worldly and temporary things?  This question rightly reveals the wickedness of the heart of man.  He is gullible to the lures of sin.

The fallibility of man was known to God as He dealt with Israel across the Jordan prior to them entering the promised land.  For this reason, God took time to guide them on how they were to order their lives if they were to flourish in the promised land and enjoy its blessings.  For emphasis, God did not address the matter once or twice, He did it severally.  It was important for Israel to follow God if they were to be established and take over the entire land of promise.

Deuteronomy 4:1-2  Now, Israel, hear the decrees and laws I am about to teach you. Follow them so that you may live and may go in and take possession of the land the LORD, the God of your ancestors, is giving you.  Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it, but keep the commands of the LORD your God that I give you.

Deuteronomy 5:29 Oh, that their hearts would be inclined to fear me and keep all my commands always, so that it might go well with them and their children forever!

Deuteronomy 5:32-33 So be careful to do what the LORD your God has commanded you; do not turn aside to the right or to the left.  Walk in obedience to all that the LORD your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will possess.

Deuteronomy 8:1 Be careful to follow every command I am giving you today, so that you may live and increase and may enter and possess the land the LORD promised on oath to your ancestors.

Deuteronomy 10:12-13 And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God ask of you but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in obedience to him, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the LORD's commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good?

The Old Testament is the New Testament foretold; the Old Covenant a foreshadow of the New Covenant.  The words of God through the prophets speak to us who are in the New Covenant in profound ways, to reveal to us God; to teach us the wisdom of God; and to build our faith in God.  These words in Deuteronomy though spoken to Israel by Moses, are being spoken to us the 21st Century church.  Oh, how the Lord desires that we walk in His paths of righteousness if we are to experience the full blessedness of our Salvation!

What does God require of the Church today?  What must we do as believers of our time to safeguard against disobedience?

 God requires that the Church of Jesus Christ to feed itself with the Bread of Life- His Word.  God instructed Joshua to meditate on His law day and night, that he may prosper and have good success (Joshua 1:8).  Many preachers and motivational speakers today are giving people many "wisdom nuggets" on prosperity.   When human wisdom is popularized and presented as the Word of God, many believers chase prosperity and success apart from the principles of God.  Stop the rat race!  The wisdom you need for life and godliness is already given you through God's Word.  That word, which is a lamp and light, will guard your heart from worldliness and keep your mind set on Jesus.  That word will preserve you in righteousness and give you true prosperity and success.

Deuteronomy 11:18-21  18 Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 19 Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 20 Write them on the door frames of your houses and on your gates, 21 so that your days and the days of your children may be many in the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors, as many as the days that the heavens are above the earth.

Many believers want Jesus.  That is why they show up at church every Sunday.  That is why they got saved and baptized.  That is why they observe Christian holidays and participate in Christian festivities.  However, the tragedy is they do not want Jesus above all else that they want in life.  For them, Jesus is a "good-to-have" and not a "must-have".  Because of this condition, believers have opened up a loophole for idolatry in their lives.  Since Jesus is not their ultimate need and desire, they are willing to compromise Jesus for worldly things.  God says to us, "Stop the religious show!  I am not interested!"

Consider a Christian accountant who gives a false report as directed by his/her manager to not only safeguard his/her job but also to secure a promotion.  For this Christian accountant, salvation is good but is not the greatest treasure in his/her life.  Sadly, other things have higher priority.  Perhaps the career is higher prioritized than Jesus in his/her life.  Or what about that young mother who suffers lack and decides to relate intimately with a married man (commonly known as "sponsors" here in Kenya) for her survival.  Or what about that aspiring Christian politician who dishes out money to potential voters because his/her country's system dictates that money is the best means for convincing voters.  Yet all these three congregate on Sunday at a service and since they have learnt the language and mannerisms of Christianity, they may hypocritically worship God and perhaps even serve Him and heftily contribute towards church projects. 

God requires today's believer to revere Him and to love Him above all else.  When we love God with all our hearts, minds, soul and strength, obeying Him is not burdensome and serving Him is a delight.  We must model our lives after Christ, the Author and Perfector of our faith (Hebrews 12:1-2).  We must follow Jesus; He alone must we follow.  Truly, from the depths of us, we must love the Lord with all that is within us.  Not hypocritically, as some are fond of doing.

The fear of God must return to the Church; all else believers should expect judgment- severe judgment.  The God of Love is also the God of Justice, lest we should forget.

Deuteronomy 13:4 It is the Lord your God you must follow, and him you must revere. Keep his commands and obey him; serve him and hold fast to him.

1 Peter 4:16-17 16But if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but glorify God that you bear that name. 17For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who disobey the gospel of God? 

God requires that believers safeguard their hearts against the corruption of worldly riches and pleasures.  Undoubtedly, in God there is abundance.  That abundance is as a result of His grace and has nothing to do with our righteousness.  Indeed God is a Good Father, and so He lavishes His children with abundant blessings.  However, He requires that we will not love money nor serve it.  No one can serve two masters (Matthew 6:24).  If a person's love is money, there his/her heart will be also (Matthew 6:21).

God requires that we safeguard our hearts from idolatry of riches and wealth by observing the principle of giving.  Africa and many other continents of the world are suffering from the repercussions of greed.  Greed is a sin of idolatry.  Many believers today are struggling to attain riches and wealth at whatever expense.  Some hoard wealth to themselves even when there is no reason to.  Unfortunately, in so doing, they deny themselves the privilege of being conduits of God's blessings in their communities, nations and the continent at large.

When we love Jesus above all else, we will love those He loves.  We will be glad to join Him in His agenda on earth.  Giving to the course of Christ will be such a joy and delight.  God does not need our resources, but He has privileged us with an opportunity to partner with Him in His work here on earth.  For the 21st Century believer to walk in the fullness of God's blessings, he/she must pay his/ her tithes; be compassionate about the less fortunate in society and share with them as God provides.  If believers are to eat and be satisfied in the land, we must observe the command in the below scripture.

Deuteronomy 26:11-12 Then you and the Levites and the foreigners residing among you shall rejoice in all the good things the Lord your God has given to you and your household.  When you have finished setting aside a tenth of all your produce in the third year, the year of the tithe, you shall give it to the Levite, the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow, so that they may eat in your towns and be satisfied.

God is calling the 21st Century believer to renew his/her love vows to Him.  He is calling us to forsake all else and follow Jesus.  He is calling us away from religion to the blessed secret place of intimately knowing the Lord.  He is calling us to renewed resolve that we will serve Him, and Him Only, irrespective of what others think or say (Joshua 24:15).

I pray that you will make this your payer: "It is You Lord that I need; it is communing with You intimately that I long for; it is You Lord that I thirst for above all else; it is You Lord that I will labour for, spending my self unreservedly for Your purposes.  You are the Greatest Treasure in my Life.  I commit to love you and obey you in good times and in bad times,"