The Lavish of Grace- Part I

The word grace is often translated from the Hebrew word chen, derived from an adjective chanan, which means favor.  From the very beginning of scripture in the Pentateuch, God's grace is conspicuous and this unmerited favor is the basis of mankind's salvation.

For example, when Adam and Eve sinned, God was not obliged to reconcile mankind back to Himself.  However, as He dismissed man from the garden of Eden, He also chose to provide a plan of their redemption.  Genesis 3:15, known as the first gospel, states, And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”
 
Louis Berkhof in the book Systematic Theology states that grace is an active, working principle, manifesting itself in beneficent acts.  This means that when the grace of God is upon a person's life, there will be tangible evidences of that grace.  This grace is given to man freely and lavishly, as the Lord wills.  It is by God's grace that salvation is made available to mankind.  Titus 2:11 states that the grace of God has appeared bringing salvation to all people.

Think about Abram, a man who did not know God and whose people worshiped idols, and yet God chose to call him and enter into covenant with him (Genesis 12, 15, 17).  Reflect on Moses' life, a man with numerous faults/ weaknesses and yet chosen to deliver the children of Israel from Egypt and to lead them through the wilderness to the promised land.  Consider Esther, a Jewish, orphan girl who found grace before King Ahaseurus and was made queen.  In spite of her humble background, foreign race and inexperience, God used her to deliver the Jews from destruction (Esther 2:16-17). And time does not allow me to talk about women like Tamar, Rahab and Ruth, who had traumatic pasts, wounded hearts and perhaps labelled as "social misfits" and yet they feature in the genealogy of Christ.

The story of the four Hebrew boys, Daniel, Shadrack, Meshack and Abednego is one that vividly depicts God's grace.  For this reason, I shall focus on their lives as detailed in scripture.  Remember that although these young men had been taken into captivity in Babylon as teenagers, they were distinguished as evidenced below, by reason of the grace of God upon their lives:

• The four Hebrew boys stood out in physical beauty, exceptional intellectual capacity and excellent interpersonal skills. Daniel 1:4 states, "young men without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king’s palace. ...."
• Extraordinary favor was advanced to Daniel by the King's official in charge of the young men who had been gathered for preparation for service at the King's palace.  Daniel 1:9 states, "Now God had caused the official to show favour and sympathy to Daniel."
• Daniel and his three friends did not want to defile themselves with the king's food which was offered to idols, and so suggested that they be tested by the King's official after ten days.  Because God's glory was upon their countenance, at the end of the ten days, the four Hebrew boys looked far better than the other boys.  Daniel 1:15 states, "... they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food."
• Irrefutable understanding and knowledge was upon Daniel, Shadrack, Meshack and Abednego.  Daniel 1:17-20 states, "To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. .... The King talked with them and he found none equal to Daniel, Hannaniah, Mishael and Azariah. .... In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the King questioned them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in the whole kingdom."
• A specific gift was given to Daniel such that he could understand all kinds of visions and dreams- Daniel 1:17b.

Was such divine grace primarily for the Hebrew boys' sake (comfortable living, fame and prosperity) or was it for a higher purpose?  The latter is the reason for the grace.  Divine grace was upon them for the fulfillment of God's purposes.  God's grace was for the advancement of the Kingdom of God.  In Babylon, a city plagued with idol worship, sensuality and injustice, the young men were God's representatives and through many tears and tests, they caused the rule of heaven to take effect in a foreign land.

When Daniel interpreted King Nebuchadnezzar's dream in Daniel 2, the King fell prostrate before Daniel and testified, "Surely your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, ..."  The King also made Daniel ruler over the entire province of Babylon and was also in charge of all the wise men.

When Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were thrown into the fiery furnace and emerged therefrom without a single trace of fire or smoke, King Nebuchadnezzar confessed, "Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! ... I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be cut into pieces and their houses turned into piles of rubble, for no other god can save in this way."  In addition, the King promoted the three in the province of Babylon.

King Nebuchadnezzar was struck by God for his sin of pride in fulfillment of a dream that Daniel had earlier on interpreted.  When the King was restored, he resounded in praise to God saying, "His dominion is an eternal dominion; his kingdom endures from generation to generation. ...."  Unfortunately, King Nebuchadnezzar's son upon succeeding him quickly forgot the wrath of God to the proud and indulged in the same sin.  Out of Daniel's interpretation of the writing on the wall by an angel, King Belshazzar was slain that very day.  Daniel, an administrator in Babylon, serves in the prophetic grace that enables him to speak God's rhema word in boldness to the highest ruler of the land.

God's grace so distinguished Daniel from the other administrators and satraps that king Darius planned to set him over the whole kingdom (Daniel 6:3).  This elicited jealousy among his colleagues and they planned to have Daniel charged for observing the law of God.  Daniel very well understood the source of his exceptional qualities and abilities- God.  He remained plugged in and loyal to his Source even in the face of death.  His allegiance was in God and not in his career or any other material thing.  In a den of lions, death was inevitable yet God's grace prevailed and shut up the mouths of the lions.  Daniel 6:23 states, "... when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God."

The reason for your exceptional qualities and abilities; and your experiences of unusual doors/ opportunities are for fulfillment of God's purposes.  Nothing less; nothing more.  Ephesians 3:10 states, "His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms."  The grace of God is undeserved.  It is therefore great foolishness to consider yourself more highly than others, because of the manifestations of grace in your life.  God has chosen you, not because you were the best qualified candidate, but because He has reconciled you by grace to Himself and made you a child.  You are His.  All that you are and you will ever be is because of Him; thus all that you are and will ever be ought to be surrendered back to Him.

It is greater foolishness to imagine that our effort, human wisdom or natural abilities have brought us this far.  I have had the privilege of being asked with admiration, how I got to where I am today.  For example, some have asked how I have been able to live a righteous life as a single lady.  Others have asked how I am able to balance life, career and ministry.  To be honest, I have never gotten a better answer than "grace".  All that I am and have achieved is purely a work of grace.  1 Corinthians 4:7 states, "For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?"


The full workings of God's grace require that we live in oneness with our Father, through a life of obedience to His Word.  Matthew 6:33 commands us to seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these other things shall be added to us.  Please note, that good health, promotion, career success, financial prosperity, spouse and children are "all these other things" as cited in the scripture.  The tragedy facing believers in our time is that we have sought first "other things" and yet keep wondering why the Christian life is a struggle.

 God intended that believers be the life in the desert; light in life's dark tunnels; salt in a worldly society; and hope to the dyeing (spiritually and physically).  I challenge us in the Name of Jesus to refocus our eyes on God's Kingdom and His righteousness.  May the full workings of grace be manifest in your life as you do so.

God's grace is a function of His love.  The manifestations of that grace should stir up our hearts to deeply love God and seek Him with all our hearts, minds and strength.  God is calling us back to Himself.  God is instructing us to stop chasing after the wind (the temporary, material things of this world) and to position ourselves in righteousness, that we may operate in the lavish of His grace for the fulfillment of His purpose.  You and I need to make a resolve, like Daniel did (Daniel 1:8), not to defile ourselves with the king's rich food.  In this season of Easter, may God help us to consecrate ourselves that we may be set apart for Him.

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1:2)!

Adjust Your Lens Back To the Manufacturer's Prescription

I thank God that I am blessed with great eye sight and perhaps if I was to wear spectacles, my lenses would have no optical power.  On the other hand, those with sight challenges need to use lenses with optical power which help to converge or diverge light and in so doing, clarity of sight is improved.  No child is born with a perfect spiritual eye lense because we are born in sin.  However, the situation is compounded as we grow up.  Our lenses are distorted by life's experiences resulting to blurred vision.  Though retaining the ability to look, we no longer see.  Re-known Christian leader, Myles Munroe stated, "Eyes that look are common but eyes that see are rare."

 A little boy that walks out to play with neighbouring kids who laugh at his unusually big head or long ears suffers lens distortion that leads to a battered self esteem.  A little girl or boy who is physically or sexually abused by a parent, uncle, cousin, next door neighbour or care giver suffers immense lens distortion.  That teenager who is told they are good for nothing at school begins to believe in their inability not only to learn but also to achieve something significant in life.  That father who is perpetually told by his spouse that he is a failure often buys into the narrative, slowly but surely.  The tragedy is that we become what we perceive ourselves to be.  Among the spies sent by Moses to Canaan were ten who saw themselves as grasshoppers, and so they were!

Numbers 13:33- "We saw the Nephilim there (the descendants of Anak come from the Nephilim). We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them."

The Nephilim's were giants but that did not mean that the Hebrew spies were grasshoppers.  Caleb and Joshua were however of another breed, a breed of faith- they chose to not only look at the situation but also to see it in light of Yahweh.  These two men of faith saw the giants, but also acknowledged the greatness of their God.  They saw the challenges that confronted them as an opportunity for God to glorify Himself.  Their lenses remained intact in spite of glaring dangers in the land of promise.

"Let’s go now and take possession of the land. We should be more than able to conquer it." -
Numbers 13:30

"The land we explored is very good. If the Lord is pleased with us, he will bring us into this land and give it to us. This is a land flowing with milk and honey! Don’t rebel against the Lord, and don’t be afraid of the people of the land. We will devour them like bread. They have no protection, and the Lord is with us. So don’t be afraid of them." - Numbers 14:7-9

The consequences of the ten unbelieving spies were dire while Caleb and Joshua on the other hand, reaped an inheritance in the promised land because of their faith.  When your distorted lenses cause you to doubt God and His Word, it displeases the Lord.  Without faith, it is actually impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6).  The Lord was angered by the Israelite's unbelief and He said to Moses:

"How long will these people treat me with contempt? How long will they refuse to trust me in spite of all the miraculous signs I have done among them? I’ll strike them with a plague, I’ll destroy them, .... But because my servant Caleb has a different attitude and has wholeheartedly followed me, I’ll bring him to the land he already explored. His descendants will possess it." - Numbers 14:11-12a, 24

Moses is a unique character in the Bible because he appears as a remarkable man of faith (Hebrews 3:5; 11:23-29; Numbers 12:7) as well as a great example of what distorted lenses can do in the life of a servant of God.  Perhaps Moses' failures serve to encourage us that if he could walk in faith in spite of his shortcomings, so can we.  Firstly, Moses did not consider himself important in God's service.  In fact, as if facing an identity crisis, Moses asks "Who am I ..." in response to God's call for him to go and speak to Pharaoh (Exodus 3:11).  Many believers are experiencing an identity crisis because they do not know who they are in Christ.  Consequently, they are not able to enjoy the riches of their spiritual inheritance.

Moses did not believe that he had power to influence.   He wondered, "What if they do not believe me or listen to me ...." (Exodus 4:1).  Just like Moses, many of us doubt our ability to fulfill God's intent for us which is to be fruitful, to increase, to multiply, to be in dominion and to rule (Genesis 1:28).  An almost comical account is recorded about Moses' struggles with accurate perspective of the happenings in his life.  When Moses took a word of deliverance to the Israelites, who were under a heavy burden of torturous labour, they did not listen to him.  The Bible records clearly that the reason they did not listen to Moses was because of their discouragement and hard labour (Exodus 6:9).  However, Moses interprets Israel's response incorrectly and attributes it to his faltering lips (Exodus 6:12).  He actually argues with God's decision to send him to Pharaoh, wondering how God expected him to successfully influence Pharaoh while he had failed to convince his own people.

Moses perceived that his stammering weakness as an impediment to serving God (Exodus 4:10; 6:9; 12:30).  Pitifully, he reminded God that he had never been eloquent in speech.  Many believers just like Moses have been pitying themselves due to their weaknesses, seeking sympathy from God yet His answer has never changed: "Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say," (Exodus 4:11-12). Wallowing in thoughts of your inability apart from the providence of God in your life, is not humility but sin.  We actually see God burn in anger at Moses for indulging in thoughts of inability despite God's assurance.  In foolishness, Moses chooses to advised God that Aaron is a better pick- Aaron was more eloquent (Exodus 4:13-14) and older (Exodus 7:7).  The truth is, God chooses the foolish, weak, lowly and despised things of the world to bring to shame the wise, the strong, and to nullify things that are (1 Corinthians 1:27).

The sad truth is that many of us are displeasing God because our distorted lenses continue to yield unbelief and murmuring.  Even more tragic is that some Christians may lose their inheritance if they do not adjust their lenses to see through the eyes of faith.  It is pertinent to know that the faith of a Christian is not an escape from reality or a mere illusion.  Far from it!  Our faith is in the One and Only True God, who is Forever Faithful from one generation to another. You and I need to revisit our Manufacturer's prescription which is God's Word and adjust our lenses accordingly.

Make the following scriptures your prayer as we re-adjust our lenses to see as our Father sees.  Oh help me God!

"Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth" - John 17:17

"Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes" - Ephesians 4:23 

"May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer." - Psalms 19:14

Whom Do You Call Him?

  I am most commonly known by two names, “Faith Mathenge”.  I also have a maiden name which my extended family members fondly call me by, "Nyokabi". My nuclear family too have a name for me, which my second born sister coined from my maiden name. On the other hand, those who know me in my professional circles refer to me by some titles, based on my role at the place of work, my work interactions with them & perhaps their perception of me.   Also, a few church friends have nicknames for me.  It is common in life for different people to call you by different names depending on several factors that among others include type of relationship existing between the two of you; and their knowledge and perception of who you are. 

Over the years, as I have journeyed through my walk of faith, experiencing God in my lows and highs, I have known many Names of God.   I have experienced God in numerous ways that have influenced what I call Him. Such address of God is powerful because it emanates from God’s divine revelation of Himself to us as well as our encounter with Him. David, the Psalmist, is a great example of men in the Bible who experienced God and this informed their address of God.  With great confidence and deep conviction, David calls God "a shield round me"; "my righteous God"; "righteous judge"; "a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble"; "King forever and ever"; "my strength and the horn of my salvation"; "my rock and my redeemer" (Psalms 3:3; 4:1; 7:11; 9:9; 10:16; 18:1,3; 19:14), only to mention but a few . When we know God experientially, no theological argument, wisdom of men or troubles of life can cause our faith to falter.  This is because the faith of a believer who has personally experienced God transcends what is carnal; he/she is deeply anchored in the knowledge of God's Truth, taught not by human wisdom but by God's Spirit (Colossians 2:6-7; 1 Corinthians 2:13).

In scripture, the Names of God were either expressly revealed by God Himself or ascribed to God by men and women who encountered Him.  For example, in the call of Abram, God revealed Himself to him in a vision and said, "Do not be afraid, Abram.  I am your shield, your very great reward" (Genesis 15:1).  Also, having received the promise of a son at seventy five years of age, Abram had to wait for about twenty five years for the fulfillment of God's promise.  At age ninety nine years, he must have felt the pressures and pains of waiting upon God's promise.   Then God in Genesis 17:1 reminded Abram that "I am God Almighty"- El-Shaddai.  Irrespective of the circumstances we find ourselves in, we must never forget this Name of God that proofs His Sovereign reign and control in our lives.  Unto Moses God revealed Himself as "I AM WHO I AM"-YHWH, Exodus 3:14.  God revealed Himself as the God of Moses' fathers: Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

On the other hand there are numerous incidences in scripture where people ascribed titles to God.  Hagar, while heavy with child, was ill-treated and chased away by Sarah and as she wandered in the desert, she agonized in pain and shed bitter tears of destitution, rejection and despair.  In that very state, God appeared to her through an angel with words of comfort and hope.  Consequently, Hagar gave the Lord a name: "You are the God who sees me"- Lahai Roi (Genesis 16:13-14).  When God tested Abram to offer his only son Isaac as a sacrifice, Abram obeyed and before he could kill his son, God intervened and divinely provided a ram for sacrifice.  In awe, Abram said "The Lord Will Provide"- Jehovah Jireh (Genesis 22:14).  Jacob, after serving his uncle for many years, under God's guidance decided to return to his native land.  Upon arriving safely at Shechem in Canaan, he set up an altar and said "El Elohe Israel", meaning "Mighty is the God of Israel"- Genesis 33:20.

For a moment, forget about what others said God is and reflect on who you have personally known Him to be.  In the past year, who has God been to you?  Who do you call Him?  In year 2018, I got to know God as "Papa"; "My Deliverer"; "My Strength" and "The Lifter of my head".  Every time I mention this Names of God, my heart resounds in praise and is strengthened in faith.  Take a moment to reflect on the Names of God and to worship Him for Who He is.  Also share with us on Who He is to you (#WhomDoYouCallHim).

Note: The many Names of God are His Attributes and they serve as a daily reminder that God is far above our ability to fully understand Him.  Link https://www.navigators.org/resource/praying-names-attributes-god/

When Your Cabin Is Smoking

  The month of July each year is usually an exciting time for me because it is my birth month.  I am the kind of person who gets excited weeks before my birth month and the excitement fever hangs on weeks after my birthday.  Apart from my usual birthday excitements, July 2018 will remain memorable because within a span of about two weeks, I faced two nerve wrecking experiences for which I am forever grateful for God's divine deliverance.  For purposes of today's discussion, I will focus on one of the two incidence which occurred on the 4th July 2018.

I was scheduled to travel from Nairobi to Mombasa at 1300 hours through Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and despite the day unfolding as expected, something within me was uneasy and prompting me to pray.  The flight was on schedule and so the boarding call was made on time.  I found my self occupying my self with "non-issues" such as looking for that day's daily newspaper, implying that unconsciously, I was not eager to board the craft.  After several boarding calls, I eventually walked to the airline desk for boarding, never mind that I was perhaps the second last person to board.  All this while, I was praying in the spirit though I did not know what I was praying for.

Having settled on my sit, I engaged with a friend on a phone conversation and when the craft started moving toward the runway, I ended the conversation and picked my bible for some reading.  Within two to three minutes, we were on the runway ready for take off.  All seemed well and my mind had gotten captured in scripture.  As the craft wheeled on the runway, I realized that the air in the cabin had changed.  Before I could make out what was happening, a passenger seated on the middle seats shouted "Smoke! It is smoking!"  Within a split of seconds, the smoke was visible in the cabin and the smell of fuel was gradually filling the air.  I was dumb struck though a number of passengers shouted hysterically, "Stop! Stop! Stop!" while others repeatedly shouted "Smoke! Smoke!"

The seconds were ticking and the craft was gaining momentum on the runway.  I could feel the lift of the momentum, and it was frustrating to think that the craft was about to take off while in its smoking state.  The situation was urgent and though the passengers commendably remained belted on their seats, many of them were now hitting the backside of seats in front of them with their fists, demanding that the craft stops.  I was seated on an isle seat so I swayed to the right and looked back to see what the crew at the far end of the craft were doing.  Interestingly, the crew too while seated had swayed to the aisle and were also looking at the passengers with fret struck faces.  At this point I realized that our safety highly relied on the decisions that the pilot was going to make in less than a minute perhaps, and many concerns rushed through my mind.  I wondered whether the captain was hearing our shouts and whether the cockpit was smoking too.  Was he smelling the smoke or is he in his own "safe world" at the cockpit?

The most frightening moment was when the aircraft wheels lifted from the runway.  Some held their heads in disbelief and shouted harder; others cursed; while others called on the name of the Lord for divine intervention.  Within blinking of an eye, the craft began to descend and within no time, the craft landed back to the runway, though not without sharp sways.    Phew!! What a relief! We were back on land and we were safe.  Then the captain's voice came through reassuring us that we were out of danger and informing us that the craft had developed a technical problem.  Elaborating on the situation, the captain informed us that there was smoke both at the cabin and cockpit and thus it was not safe for us to continue with our journey.

We had to disembark that craft and though what followed was a very long wait at the airport, I had a great opportunity to reflect on what had just happened. Firstly, my two main concerns during that moment of trouble stood out for me.  Does the captain hear us?  Does the captain know that the cabin is smoking?  These concerns I believe are not unique to this situation.  Many of us when faced by difficult, heart-breaking and/or threatening situations usually wonder whether God hears their cries and prayers.  Secondly, we doubt whether God understands the intensity of the situation and sometimes we perceive God as being aloof.

The truth of the matter is that when the cabin of your life is smoking, God hears and He understands.  In fact, God is present in that situation and he understands the dangers, pains, disappointments, tears and hurts of your situation.  Numerous scriptures support this nature of God.  God is not a ruthless unconcerned master but rather, He is our Father.  If we who are wicked do respond promptly to our children's cries and shouts for help, how much more God?  1 John 5:14-15 states, "And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him."

Secondly, God is present with you in the time of trouble and though the situation may look grim, you can trust Him to come through for you at the break of day.  Psalms 46:1-5 states, "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.  Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof.  There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.  God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early."

My prayer for you is that you will be persuaded today and as you journey through life, that God hears you when you call and that He is present, not just in times of joy and gladness, but also in times of loss, pain, tragedy, tears and hurts.  When we are persuaded on these matters about the nature of God, we can live by faith irrespective of what our circumstances may be.  We can exhibit confidence when situations dictate hopelessness; we can sing a song victory when the battle is raging hard against us; and we can be at peace and still in spite of the expectation that we ought to loose our minds.  This is our inheritance as children of God!

Captain Jesus will most assuredly land us safely and victoriously.  Paul was persuaded about this aspect of God and though imprisoned, he confessed that he was persuaded of the fact that God was able to keep what he had entrusted to Him (his life) until the Day of the Lord.  2 Corinthians 4:8-9 states "We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed."  The circumstances that we are going through today are not for our destruction but are for God's glory.