Prodigal Girl: Based on a True Story
I’m excited to announce my new book, Prodigal Girl: Based on a True Story, will be coming out on May 10, 2016.
“A shattered heart. A reckless revenge plan. Big trouble.
They broke her heart…now she has no heart, and they have to deal with the heartless monster they’ve created.
How far would you go to settle the score with your cheating ex?”
Betrayed, raped and afraid to trust anyone with her heart, Finola embarks on a path of revenge, which puts lives in danger. Blinded by pain and circumstances, she cares not who gets hurt, so long as she avenges herself on those who betrayed and hurt her.
A painful and messy break up made her lose all hope and confidence in love, causing her to harden her heart, shut the door on love, and set herself on a path of retaliation that leads to hopelessness.
Sometimes, the thing you are desperately seeking is right in front of your eyes, but you are too blinded by pain and circumstances to see it. Yet, every now and then, life surprises you and love knocks at your closed heart once again…when you least expect it!
Hidden Treasure: The Invitation
Sometimes we can only reach our destiny when we’ve reached the end of ourselves. When circumstances, or rather, the One who has the universe on the palm of His hand redirects our path and leads us to our place in history where we find the purpose of our existence.
The incomprehensible
redeeming love of God is made vivid in this Christian novel!
Levi, a young man that lost his father, and with his loss, had his dream shattered. Losing his dream led him to find purpose.
In purpose he found love and in love he found the true meaning of life. Will he learn to live life or will he throw it all away?
The course of his life is changed after encountering Douglas, an old man with one foot in the grave, who in Levi he discovers a new dream worth living for. He is determined to make this dream a reality. Will he succeed, or is it too late for him?
Through painful circumstances, Levi’s life is intertwined with Rachel’s; a beautiful young woman, who is running away from the past, yet she is so scared of the future. Hurt by the past, will the future treat her any better than the past?
Tragedy leads Levi to cross paths with Carlos, a very successful business man, who is surprised to find out that the most important thing in life is not money. Now he must learn the true meaning of life, but will he?
Feel your heart being tugged and pulled as you delve deep into the story; and find yourself cheering on the gracious love of God and empathizing with the characters as they face trials, pain, sorrow and how their faith is tested to the limits on their journey to blissfulness
Hidden Treasure: The Invitation (A Hunt for the Purpose of Life)
Sometimes we can only reach our destiny when we’ve reached the end of ourselves. When circumstances, or rather, the One who has the universe on the palm of His hand redirects our path and leads us to our place in history where we find the purpose of our existence.
The incomprehensible redeeming love of God is made vivid in this Christian novel!
Levi, a young man that lost his father, and with his loss, had his dream shattered. Losing his dream led him to find purpose.
In purpose he found love and in love he found the true meaning of life. Will he learn to live life or will he throw it all away?
The course of his life is changed after encountering Douglas, an old man with one foot in the grave, who in Levi he discovers a new dream worth living for. He is determined to make this dream a reality. Will he succeed, or is it too late for him?
Through painful circumstances, Levi’s life is intertwined with Rachel’s; a beautiful young woman, who is running away from the past, yet she is so scared of the future. Hurt by the past, will the future treat her any better than the past?
Tragedy leads Levi to cross paths with Carlos, a very successful business man, who is surprised to find out that the most important thing in life is not money. Now he must learn the true meaning of life, but will he?
Feel your heart being tugged and pulled as you delve deep into the story; and find yourself cheering on the gracious love of God and empathizing with the characters as they face trials, pain, sorrow and how their faith is tested to the limits on their journey to blissfulness
SOUL REVIVAL: A 40 Days’ Journey to the Feet of Christ
“For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.” (2 Chronicles 16:9A)
“From time to time, there comes a book that irrevocably changes the lives of many, and this book is that life-changing book!” RT
In a time where Christianity seems to be losing its relevance and influence in the world, where greed and materialism seem to be replacing Christ’s Gospel of salvation and holy living, God is calling on ordinary Christians to take a stand for the Gospel of Christ.
Soul Revival is a practical 40 days’ devotional that helps Christians to draw closer to Jesus Christ our Lord and be spiritually revived.
The book is rooted firmly in Scripture. Based on the greatest sermon ever preached by Christ (The Sermon on the Mount) and is wisely and intricately patterned into a 40 day life journey into the presence of God. With the help of the Holy Spirit, the author expounds on the matchless teachings of Christ, making Christ’s teachings clear and easy for the reader to comprehend.
The book makes Christianity easy to understand and practical, and explains what it means to be a follower of Jesus. It will lead many into true discipleship. The book can be summarized in the heart cry of the Psalmist:
“Revive me, O Lord, for Your name’s sake! For Your righteousness’ sake bring my soul out of trouble.” (Psalm 143:11)
Is your soul athirst for God?
Is your heart yearning and longing for a closer and meaningful relationship with Christ?
Do you desire for a closer, intimate and satisfying relationship with the Holy Spirit?
Is your soul athirst for a personal revival?
If yes, then… Sow 40 days of your life and reap a soul revival!
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“Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.” (3 John 1:2)
Greetings in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen!
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The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you always. Amen!
Ramos Talaya
Bondservant of Christ Jesus The Lord
Day 3 Meekness (Gentleness)
Day 3
“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.”
(Matthew 5:5)
Meekness is the 3rd step
Meekness is the third step that marks a believer’s birth of a new spirit.
To be meek is to be bowed down, to be gentle. And this is clearly manifested in the life of Christ Jesus our Lord, who is our perfect example.
“…But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:
Who committed no sin,
nor was deceit found in His mouth;
who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously.”
(1 Peter 2:20-23)
And again:
“He was oppressed and He was afflicted,
Yet He opened not His mouth;
He was led as a lamb to the slaughter,
And as a sheep before its shearers is silent,
So He opened not His mouth.” (Isaiah 53:7)
Today, now, this very hour, the Lord Jesus Christ is inviting us:
“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matthew 11:28-29)
Do not allow this invitation to pass you by today. Yes, today is the right time. Yesterday is gone and tomorrow may never come. Today and even right now is all you have. Surrender your life to the Lord Jesus and testify that God indeed is good.
“ … Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” (2 Corinthians 6:2)
Please hear God’s voice TODAY. Tomorrow may be too late!
“While it is said: today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts…” (Hebrews 3:15)
“For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Romans 10:10)
You can open your heart now by offering this prayer meaningfully:
Dear God,
I believe You love me.
I believe with all my heart that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God,
that Jesus died on the cross for my sins, and that God raised Him from the dead.
I come now before Your throne of grace and confess that I am a sinner.
Please forgive all my sins in the name of Jesus Christ, and cleanse me of all unrighteousness with the blood of Your Son, Jesus Christ.
I repent and confess all my sins, and I promise to forsake all my sins by Your grace.
I believe all my sins are forgiven in Jesus’ name.
I now ask Jesus to come into my heart.
I hereby confess Jesus Christ as my Lord and personal Savior.
I hereby break any covenant or agreement I have made with the devil or any of his agents, knowingly or unknowingly. I break it in the name of Jesus.
I believe that I am free, and I accept Jesus’ promise of eternal life.
Now I ask Jesus to come into my life as my Lord and Savior.
Please help me to live for Christ alone from this day forward.
In Jesus’ name. Amen!
Meekness (gentleness) is a fruit of the Spirit. So only those who are born of water and the Spirit can bear this kind of fruit:
“You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit,
but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.” (Matthew 7:16-18)
So unless you are born again of water and the Spirit, you cannot be truly gentle, for gentleness is a result of your conversion from the old man (flesh “bad tree”) into the new Spirit (spiritual “good tree”) and unless you repent from within your heart, turn away from your evil ways, and turn to the living God with all your heart, mind, and soul, you cannot be truly gentle. Not only that, if you are not meek, you will not inherit the earth in the Kingdom of God, for Scripture says:
“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” (Matthew 5:5)
And again:
“Jesus answered, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, “You must be born again.”’” (John 3:5-7)
It is time for us to repent from the heart and start bearing fruit of worthy repentance. You are probably wondering why your relationships are not successful, whether these are relationships with your family, (mother, father, brother, sister, grandparents, husband, wife or children), or your colleagues, your boss, people you meet on the street. Do you wonder why your relationships are not working out? The answer is simple: You are not being gentle to them because if you were gentle to them, you would be able to be patient with them. You would try to understand them; listen to their problems; be kind, respectful, and polite to them; to forgive them; and when they do evil to you, you would still pray for them and do good to them. Then the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your heart and mind through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen!
“Life is a field. You sow evil, you reap evil; you sow good, you reap good.” (R.amos Talaya)
The Lord Jesus commands us:
“Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and Prophets.” (Matthew 7:12)
Now those who are strong in the LORD must be gentle at all times to:
- Those who fall into sin:
“Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:1-2)
And again:
“With all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love.” (Ephesians 4:2)
- Those who oppose you:
“In humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.” (2 timothy 2:25-26)
“To speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men.” (Titus 3:2)
Meekness is essential when hearing the Word of God:
“Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.” (James 1:21)
“Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom.” (James 3:13)
Meekness is very precious in the sight of God:
“Rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.” (1 Peter 3:4)
By being meek, you may save some souls. People will be converted and drawn to Christ just because of your gentle and loving attitude toward them. Let us, therefore, be gentle to everyone everywhere we go as good ambassadors of Christ Jesus our Lord, representing the Truth and the goodness of God. Let people see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven, through Christ Jesus our Lord! Amen!
Finally brethren:
“… A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient.” (2 Timothy 2:24)
The grace of our Lord Jesus be with your spirit. Amen!
Meditation: I am an ambassador of heaven on earth. God expects me to be gentle to everyone, all the time, good or bad.
Prayer points: LORD please give me a gentle heart. Please fill my heart with meekness, patience, and humility. Please work in me and through me for Your glory. Please teach me, oh my God, to be gentle and lowly in heart. For I ask in Jesus’ name. Amen!
Commitment: Because You, Oh Lord Jesus, are gentle and lowly in heart toward me, I also commit myself to learn, by Your grace, to be gentle to others.
Day 2 Penitence (Mourning for sin)
Day 2
Penitence (Mourning for sin)
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.”
(Matthew 5:4)
Penitence is the 2nd step
Penitence is the second step that any human being can take in order to attain forgiveness from God! It is a human responsibility to turn away from evil and to learn to do good!
“Now, therefore,” says the LORD,
“Turn to Me with all your heart,
With fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.”
So rend your heart, and not your garments;
Return to the LORD your God,
For He is gracious and merciful,
Slow to anger, and of great kindness;
And He relents from doing harm.” (Joel 2:12-13)
“Cast away from you all the transgressions which you have committed, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die, O house of Israel?” (Ezekiel 18:31)
“Say to them: ‘As I live,’ says the Lord GOD, ‘I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why should you die, O house of Israel?’” (Ezekiel 33:11)
Penitence is a fundamental change of heart and mind away from sin towards God. Penitence is mourning and turning away from sins. This is not God’s responsibility; it is human responsibility. No one can do it for you; you must do it yourself. This is you sitting down by yourself, with sorrow in your heart (for there is no joy in sinning) telling yourself that you can no longer live the way you are living; you can no longer do what you are doing. This is you sitting alone, mourning with bitter tears, telling God where it hurts the most, confessing all your sins with your mouth, asking God:
God, be merciful to me a sinner!
Please forgive me in the name of Jesus Christ,
Wash me with the blood of Jesus Christ
And I shall be whiter than snow, for I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen!
It is a conscious decision you make to hate sin, to loathe sin, to abhor sin passionately, to flee from any form or appearance of evil! It is your responsibility to get up in the name of Jesus and say it with your mouth:
“For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Romans 10:10)
Confess with your mouth:
I hereby break any covenant I made with the devil or any of his agents knowingly or unknowingly. I break this covenant in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen! I believe that I am free, and I therefore open my heart to You, oh Lord Jesus. Please come into my heart and help me become more like You each day, for in Jesus’ name I have prayed! Amen!
Only you can make this conscious decision to turn away from your evil ways and turn to the living God with all your heart! Then your penitent heart, your repentant heart, will meet the Righteous Heart, the Divine Heart, the Merciful and Kind Heart. You and God will start a new journey together and through the Holy Spirit God will guide you saying, “This is the way, walk in it.” Hallelujah, praise the Lord. Amen!
Will you tell the devil today?
I command you in the name of Jesus: get you behind me Satan!
I was once lost, wandering away far from home. You persecuted my soul, crushed my life to the ground, but no more. I once walked in darkness committing all sorts of sins. Oh, you name it all: fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murder, drunkenness, revelries and the like. But no more! I’m going home!
Father, in the name of Jesus, I’m coming home. Open Your arms, for here I come. Please fill my heart with joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, for I ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen!
The most important thing about a penitent, repentant heart is a teachable spirit, for the Spirit is our teacher. God is not a hard master that expects the impossible from us. Here is what the Lord expects from us:
“…Cease to do evil, Learn to do good…” (Isaiah 1:16-17)
Now God is not saying “cease to do evil and be good,” He is saying “learn to do good!” Hallelujah! This is why I love God with all my heart. All I have to do is to be prepared to cease to do evil and learn to do good, and He will do the rest! Blessed be the LORD our God. Amen!
Now we all know that learning is a process, and sometimes we fail while learning. However, just because we fail a test, it does not mean we have failed the course. So if you fail, don’t lose hope. Don’t listen to the devil telling you that you are not worthy, that you will not make it, or any of his other lies. For you, my beloved, are precious and priceless in the eyes of God.
Even if you fail, the LORD will correct you. Do not despise the correction of the LORD. It is for your own good and you will thank Him later.
“My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; For whom the LORD loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives.” (Hebrews 12:5-6)
A Call to Repentance
Brethren, thus says the Word of the LORD:
“Therefore say to them, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts: “Return to Me,” says the LORD of hosts, “and I will return to you,” says the LORD of hosts.’” (Zechariah 1:3)
If you return to God with all your heart, here are His promises to you:
- To answer your prayers
“If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you” (John 15:7)
“If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.”(John 14:14)
“So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” (Luke 11:9)
- To hear your cry, To forgive you and heal the land
“If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14)
- To give you the good of the land
“If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land.” (Isaiah 1:19)
- To forgive all your sins
“Seek the LORD while He may be found,
Call upon Him while He is near.
Let the wicked forsake his way,
And the unrighteous man his thoughts;
Let him return to the LORD,
And He will have mercy on him;
And to our God,
For He will abundantly pardon.” (Isaiah 55:6-7)
And again:
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)
“…. And the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.”
(1 John 1:7)
And again:
“I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; And I will not remember your sins.” (Isaiah 43:25)
Once you have confessed all your sins with all your heart, God promises us in His Word that He will remember our sins no more.
And God will erase everything that you have ever done wrong in your whole life. Now how is that! Everything you have ever done!!! After you have confessed all your sins, your life will start afresh, a new lease in life. Praise God!
“Come now, and let us reason together” says the LORD,
“Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow;
Though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” (Isaiah 1:18)
- To give you abundant life
“But if a wicked man turns from all his sins which he has committed, keeps all My statutes, and does what is lawful and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die.” (Ezekiel 18:21)
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
(John 3:16)
And the Son says:
“I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10)
- To comfort you
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” (Matthew 5:4)
And again:
“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be ofgood cheer, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
And again:
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God, and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 4:6-7)
- To give you the gift of the Holy Spirit
“Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:38)
- No condemnation in Christ
Beloved, in truth I tell you, the Scriptures are very clear: none of us is righteous, no, not even one!
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23)
But! Yes I said ‘’but.’’ Because if God Almighty has forgiven you, who is the devil or anyone to condemn you?
“Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.” (Romans 8:33-34)
“Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.” (John 8:36)
The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you always. Amen!
Meditation: If I confess all my sins to God and turn away from my sins by His grace, the LORD is faithful and just to forgive and forget all my sins and to cleanse me from all unrighteousness, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses me of all sin!
Prayer points:
Hear my prayer, O LORD,
Give ear to my supplications!
In Your faithfulness answer me,
Have mercy upon me, O God,
According to Your loving kindness;
According to the multitude of Your tender mercies,
Blot out my transgressions.
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
And cleanse me from my sin.
Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Make me hear joy and gladness.
Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Restore to me the joy of Your salvation,
And uphold me by Your generous Spirit;
Open my lips, and my mouth shall show forth Your praise;
For a broken spirit, and a contrite heart—
These, O God, You will not despise!
Teach me to do Your will,
For You are my God;
Your Spirit is good.
Lead me in the land of uprightness.
For I acknowledge my transgressions,
And my sin is always before me.
Revive me, O LORD, for Your name’s sake!
For Your righteousness’ sake bring my soul out of trouble.
For I am Your servant. (Psalms 51, 143)
I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen!
Commitment: Because of Your mercy, I commit myself to come before You, oh God, with a broken heart and a contrite spirit. And by Your grace, oh my God, I will cease to do evil and learn to do good. In Jesus’ name. Amen!
DAY 1: Humility
DAY 1
Humility
“Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:3)
Humility is the 1St Step
Humility is the first step that any human being can take to draw closer to God. Humility is a two-way attitude of heart: vertical and horizontal.
- a) Vertical humility (Repentance)
“Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.”
(James 4:10)
Vertical humility is your heart’s attitude towards and before God; this is also called ‘’conscious need.’’ It is you settling within your heart your desperate need for God, making a conscious decision to humble yourself before God, and accepting your need of His divine grace through His forgiveness.
Humility means to change the attitude of your heart toward God: to accept God as your God, your Creator, your Father, your LORD, your Savior, your Redeemer, your King, your Master, your Teacher; to lock in your heart once and for all that your existence depends solely in Him; to accept that you have no control whatsoever over your life; and to believe that your life is in His hands. That settles your attitude towards God.
Now your attitude before God is that, when you come before Him, you believe with all your heart that before you were formed in your mother’s womb, God knew you. Hallelujah! And everything you have ever done is written in a book, God’s book, so God knows all about you. Hallelujah! When you come before God, put away pride and self-dignity and strip your soul before Him. Pour your heart before Him with tears and sorrow. Accept who you are, a sinner in desperate need of divine grace, confessing your sins with your mouth, admitting and taking responsibility for your sins without blaming others, and begging for God’s forgiveness. Hope in His mercy rather than depending on your own ability to do good. This is your rightful position–a helpless sinner. In your position as a sinner, confess your sins and ask forgiveness from God, and God in His rightful position of righteousness will hear your confession and be merciful to you and forgive all your sins in the name of Jesus. Not sins in part, but ALL your sins. And by the blood of Christ Jesus our Lord, He blots away all your sins written in His book.
“Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out.”
(Romans 11:33)
And again:
“Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 18:9-14)
And again:
“This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.” (1 Timothy 1:15-17)
- B) Horizontal humility (Servant Attitude)
“Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another.” (Romans 12:10)
Horizontal humility is your heart’s attitude towards and before your fellow humans, your ‘’neighbors.’’ The truth is, most of us desire to serve God and most of us don’t have any problem serving God, because of who God is and of course because of our own selfish ambitions. Let’s face it, we always want or need something from God, so none of us who believes has any problem serving God. Our problem is serving each other. That is the real difficulty, to become each other’s servants. That’s beneath us! We don’t like that, especially because we live in a world that constantly promotes:
- Worldly pride
- Appearance (‘’image is everything’’)
- Worldly success
- Reputation
- Riches
- Rank or position (the devil’s latest weapon against the Church)
We want to serve God in prominent positions, where people can see us and respect us. We want to serve God in mighty ways. So we don’t like the small days of preparation, the days of mundane and simple things which God expects us to do in preparation for the big and great things that are to come if we are found humble and faithful with the small things. So in our great pursuit to serve God, we often ignore this simple truth:
“To serve God is to serve others”
“By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.” (1 John 3:16-18)
Therefore, to be humble towards and before others is to accept that you are a servant in the Master’s hand, ready for good works; to be prepared to be the last; to learn to lose so that others may win; to be prepared that in everything you must put others before yourself. A humble life is a selfless life. And this we learn from Christ Jesus our Lord, who is our perfect example:
“Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.” (John 13:3-5)
Read this again:
“Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands…”
The Father had given all things into His hands! This was no time to wash feet, this was time to shout victory, to celebrate, to tell the world who is the boss. But not so with my Jesus. Christ uses this as an opportunity to teach us the greatest lesson about the Kingdom of God: that in the Kingdom of God everyone is a servant, everyone has a ministry to fulfill, and this ministry starts with the Father who is always working.
“But Jesus answered them, ‘My Father has been working until now, and I have been working.’” (John 5:17)
Christ uses this event to stamp His position as the “Servant” which in turn serves as an example to us, so that none of us must or can esteem himself too highly to serve others.
“For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.” (Romans 12:3)
Now listen to what the Lord Jesus said to the disciples after He washed their feet:
“So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. If I then, your Lord
and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.”
Why?
“For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.”
What for?
“Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him.”
And the promise:
“If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.” (John 13:12-17)
Now, this is not just a ritual we ought to follow. It goes much deeper. This is the Lord commanding us to put away all our titles, reputation, and pride, to take off all our worldly crowns, the ties and the suits, to roll up our sleeves and join the Lord in His vineyard getting our hands dirty for His sake. Amen!
“But Jesus called them to Himself and said, ‘You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.’” (Matthew 20:25-28)
“For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at the table? Yet I am among you as the One who serves.”
(Luke 22:27)
“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.” (2 Corinthians 8:9)
“And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the deatof the cross.” (Philippians 2:8)
“Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” (1 Peter 5:5)
Finally brethren:
“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.” (Philippians 2:5-7)
The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you always. Amen!
Meditation: I serve God by serving others.
Prayer points: LORD, please give me the heart of a servant. Please fill my heart with humility, and work in me and through me for Your glory. Please teach me, oh God, to put others before myself. I pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen!
Commitment: Because You humbled Yourself, oh Lord Jesus Christ, for my sake, so that I may be exalted with You, I also commit myself to learn to put others before myself; to humble myself so that others may be exalted with me.
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