Sunday 1, May 2011
The month of May is said to be the month of grace. It is the month following immediately after Easter; when we remember the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ; which brought about our reconciliation and restoration to God our Father. So as we move into the new month, let me reiterate the need for us to come to our Saviour and renew our commitment to Him. This is the only requirement for us to live a fruitful life. Therefore as we proceed in this year of New Beginnings, let us continue to strive towards fruitfulness by living a righteous and sin free life.
We cannot attain unto Grace if we continue in sin. This fact was emphasized by Apostle Paul in his letter to the Romans where he asked “… Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?” (Vs. 1) Should we because we are under grace continue to sin and expect that there will be no consequences? Paul replied, “Certainly not!” In that “how shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?” (Vs. 2)
Jesus Christ, our Saviour, came to give Himself as a sacrifice to mankind. Romans 5: 7 – 8, tell us: “For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” This is a demonstration of unconditional love. We see here that love is at the heart of giving. That is when you love, you give unconditionally. You are prepared to go the extra mile for the object of your love, no matter the way the object treats or perceives you. Many a times the object you love may spurn your love. But when the love is genuine – the agape kind of love, you do not stop loving, even if you were once rejected. In the same way, God, through Jesus Christ demonstrated His undying love for us. By His grace we have been saved through the death of His Son Jesus Christ on the cross at Calvary. This grace is available to all who are ready to embrace it. Jesus Christ has paid it all, hence the gift of salvation and eternal life is free, because it has already been paid for.
However, some have taken the grace for granted, believing that they can continue in sin since grace is available. Such thinking is fraught with dangers and, if not quickly disabused, can lead to destruction. Yes God is love and He is merciful, but He cannot and will not condone sin. So this month I want to draw our attention to the danger of taking grace for granted. Yes grace is unlimited, but we must not take it for granted. We have work to do! We need to continually keep our selves holy and righteous. And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.” (Romans 6:13)
On a final note, thanks be to our Lord for the peaceful elections in April in Nigeria. The elections have come and gone and we are all living witnesses to its outcome. In our lifetime, God caused us to have an election in which our votes actually counted. I tell you, this is just the beginning and a tip of the iceberg of what God is planning to do in our land. The events of the past one year in Nigeria bring to mind the following passage:
“For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence.” I Corinthians 1: 26 -28
The Lord bless and keep you, May He make His face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you. May the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace, now and forevermore. Amen.
Have a wonderful month.