Be a Blessing, not a Curse

Text: Est. 6:1-3
More Lessons: Lk. 5:1-8
Bible Reading in one Year: Habakkuk 1-3

One of the reasons why God granted you the opportunity to be alive, working, or studying in school is to be a blessing to all who come your way. It gives God pleasure to see you use your position, profession and occupation to bless humanity. God has also programmed that through that position you will enter into his blessings and increase for your life, if only you will discharge your responsibility with a sense of service, not as a hireling. Unfortunately, many believers don't know this truth, and they handle opportunities to bless those that come their way, their offices and their business centres carelessly. They discharge their duty without a sense of commitment. Some even use their position to oppress others. For such people, their promotion has become a symbol of pain and curse for men. In our passage today, Mordecai, an exile in Babylon, was privileged to serve as one of the keepers of the door of the King's chamber. It was his responsibility to defend the king. When his fellow door keepers plotted to assassinate the king, he exposed their plots. That was the beginning of his promotion in that land. If he had kept quiet, the plot may have succeeded. Mordecai may even have lost his job after all, because a new king may not likely retain the same gate keepers.

In Exodus 1:15-21, the Hebrew midwives were handed over a decree from Pharaoh: When you are on duty and you see a Hebrew woman give birth to a son, kill him; if it is a girl let her live. It was an order from Pharaoh and whoever disobeyed was doing so at the risk of her life. But the midwives approached their duties as midwives with the fear of God, and let the male children live. They were determined to be a blessing through their profession and not to be to tool in the hand of a superior officer to inflict pains on subordinates.

When these midwives were confronted for failing to carry out the king's order, they simply explained with wisdom why it was difficult to implement the king's decree. Therefore, God blessed them and provided for them and their household (vs 20, 21). Be determined to be a blessing to others through your profession, occupation, and position of authority. Make up your mind that no one will use you to cause pain and affliction on others. Be determined to discharge your responsibility with every sense of commitment and loyalty, expose every kind of wickedness as Mordecai did.

One thing is sure; your good deed will speak for you someday, somewhere, even in places where you are not physically present to speak for yourself. God will surely remember your good deeds. Y our day of honour is at hand.

Prayer/Action
* Repent of every mistake you made in using your position to cause pain for others.
* Ask the Lord to grant you the grace to serve humanity through your present occupation.

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You are Different

Text: 1Pet. 2:9-10
More Lessons: Exo. 1:15-19
Bible Reading in one Year: Nahum 1-3

There is a popular story about an eaglet that was hatched and grew up amidst some chicks. As long as the eaglet did not know the difference between itself and the chicks, it kept walking, hopping, and flying low and over a short distance. But the day the eaglet looked up and saw an eagle just like it flying and soaring high, it took off from the ground and went up high in the sky.

Many Christians do not know that they are unique, peculiar, and special people. The Bible passage says: But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: v9 Once you give your life to Jesus, you are different from the common man walking on the street. God re-created you in Christ Jesus so that even when men around you are falling you should stand tall and be a shining light to them. Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising: Isaiah 60:1-3.

The story in Exodus 1:15-19 unveils how unique God's people are. The midwives testified before Pharaoh: the Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women; for they are lively, and are delivered before the midwives come in unto them. Beloved, you are different from unbelievers. Allow this truth to sink into you and let it rule your day. The diseases and afflictions that overtake unbelievers cannot prevail over you because God has promised to keep such diseases away from you and to place them on your enemies (Deut.7:14-15). God has promised to preserve you when you go out and when you come in (Ps.121:8). Angels are all over you (Ps.34:7) and they have been given instructions to watch over you (Ps.91:12). So you cannot be involved in an accident. A thousand devils cannot touch your life, you need not fear to travel anywhere, any time. God said, because you have set your love upon Him, He will deliver you: He will set you on high because you have known His name. You shall call upon Him, and He will answer you. He will be with you in trouble. He will deliver you, and honour you. With long life will He satisfy you, and show you His salvation. You can find this promise in Psalm 91:14-16. You must be so special to God for Him to make such a sweet promise to you. As you begin your day today , walk with the consciousness that you are different from everyone you meet on the street because of Jesus in you, you are very special, you belong to the royal family of the great King.

Prayer/Action
* Thank God for making so great a promise to you.
* Make a promise to serve God with all that you have.
* Share with someone today a promise of God in the Bible to encourage him

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Second-Class Citizen Mentality

Text: Exo. 1:8-14
More Lessons: Jer. 29:4-7
Bible Reading in one Year: Micah 4-7

The scriptural passage this morning can be regarded as an irony. The Egyptians were not only afraid of the rate at which the Israelites were multiplying, they dreaded them. Yet, they were successfully able to make Israelites serve them with rigour. How can someone be afraid of you, yet he is still able to enslave you, and make you serve him the way he wants? How is it that you were so intelligent, full of potential, your enemy knows it and he is even afraid of what you can become, yet he still subjects you to all manner of tributes and forced labour?

The problem with these Israelites was their mind-set while in Egypt. There was no doubt that they were sojourners in Egypt and their true land was Canaan, but Israelites lived in Egypt with a disposition of total strangers who do not have a stake in the land. That disposition made them to constantly see themselves as second class citizens in the land. They were always wishing and looking for opportunity to return to where they came from, and the Egyptians knew this very well. That was why the king said to his people, behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we: Come on, let us deal wisely with them; lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that, when there falleth out any war, they join also unto our enemies, and fight against us, and so get them up out of the land (vs.9, 10). They also forgot that they were in Egypt by divine direction. They failed to realize that it was for their sake God blessed Egypt. In fact, Egypt prospered because of Joseph an Israelite. So Israelites had a big stake in the land in Egypt.

Friend, you are where you are today by divine direction. Stop seeing yourself as a citizen in your locality, and some other persons as the “sons of the soil”. Arise and take your place. You are created to rule and not to be ruled over.

Your enemies know how capable you are; they know that if you rightly take your place, there will be no room for them. That is why they are doing everything to scheme you out and continue to rule over you. It is true that Heaven is our home and we are sojourners on earth, but while we are still here, Jesus said we should occupy until He comes (Luke 19:13). That means we should take charge, be responsible, manage and direct until He comes. You cannot afford to do less. Arise, change your mind set. You are the true son of the soil because the whole earth belongs to God your Father. It is enough of slaves riding on horseback and princes walking barefooted. If anybody deserved to rule and manage that your work place, it is you, because you carry the spirit of grace and truth. Get up today and begin to plan your way to the top where ever you find yourself.

Prayer/Action
* Jesus, help me to set my mind aright.
* Grant me what it takes to occupy till you come.

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A Goodly Child

Text: Exo. 2:1-4
MORE LESSONS: Psa. 139:14
Bible Reading in one Year: Micah 1-3

No child born into this world is a product of an accident. God carefully fashioned everyone and created a purpose for which they are to fulfil. Nobody is in this world without a purpose and responsibility. One reason why some people do not succeed in God's purpose for their lives is lack of foresight on the part of their parents of the manner of children God has given them. Since they lack understanding, they are not able to instruct, guide and direct the path of their children from infancy. Moses' parents were full of foresight. Moses was born at the time when all Israelites who gave birth to male children threw them into River Nile, in obedience to Pharaoh's decree. But when Moses' parent looked at the baby in their hand, they saw a “goodly”, “unique”, “fine”, “proper”, “extraordinary” child. They saw in that child a world-mover; a deliverer, a prophet, a miracle worker. They saw greatness, prosperity and success in their baby. What they saw in that baby made them to dare to disobey Pharaoh's decree and hid the child. By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment” (Heb.1 1:23). Parents, what good do you see in your children, and what are you doing to preserve that which you have seen in them? What are you doing now to help your children realize their dreams? It is unfortunate that some parents only see in their children folly , “block head”, “stupid child”, “you will never make it in life”, “good-for-nothing”, and these they yell at their children every time. What these parents do not know is that their words go a long way to rule over the destinies of their children. If you keep insulting your child as good for nothing and stupid, the forces of darkness may simply reckon your words as a curse upon that child and ride on that to afflict your child. Moses' parents saw in their child excellence, achievement, greatness and they worked Moses into it.

It is possible that your parents never saw anything good in you, and those around you never assisted you to pursue your dreams, but how do you see yourself? Moses grew up in Pharaoh's house, but he never saw himself as an Egyptian. By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter: Heb.11:24. Now that you are grown up, your destiny is in your hand. It is how you see yourself that matters. God created you great, and has purposed to use you for great things. Begin now to see yourself the way God created you, and you will enter into your greatness.

Prayer/Action
* Lord, open my eyes to see the unique gifts in me and my children
* Grant me what it takes to nurture my uniqueness to fruition.
Make a choice today to speak excellently to your children.

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