Christianity 911

Psalm 91:1 - He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High, will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
What is Christmass my people? Where would Joseph and Mary be today were they to live in our times? What is the essence of the birth of Christ?

Christianity is a rescue mission, God came to seek and save man from his sin by  bringing  Jesus to the world. Christmass is the declaration of war against the powers of evil headed by Lucifer, it is the beginning of a rescue mission.

Nothing has changed many years later, we are required to seek ye first the kingdom of God then obey the Great commission and go out to make disciples, DO WE EVER DO THAT?

If Joseph and Mary would have survived the dust raised by the pre-marital pregnancy and went ahead and wedded, where would Jesus have been born?

If he was born and grew up today and had the opportunity of celebrating Christmas with us, where would he be in, Shags or in Nairobi? One thing I'm sure about is that Christ would seldom be in church, he wouldn't attend even a carol service, where would he be then?

It is time we left the Christianity ivory towers and went down to respond to the 911 call. That is the essence of Christianity, as it was then so it is now. Face book and email are here, if Christ had this massive media of communication what would he do with them? I believe he would influence the whole world.

Christ went against the grain in his time, he went through Samaria to reach out to the Samaritan woman, when the people of Judah never interacted with their Samaritan cousins. He healed on the sabbath and ate with sinners and still held onto his mission because he knew who he was and understood his mission. Do you know why you are who you are?

One thing I have come to realize about my walk with Christ is the importance of, taking up my cross and following him. Dial Psalms 911.

MERRY CHRISTMASS

PEACE

TAKE OFF YOUR SHOES AND SAY YES

Exodus chapter 3.

I was reading the book of Exodus when something struck me and I was delivered from my fears. I identify with Moses, or to be in the times, I feel Moses. Like him, my mind works faster than my mouth can speak and so I would tell God to send you if He asked me to go and speak to Pharaoh. I got several lessons from the burning bush experience that i would like to share with you today.

TAKE OFF YOUR SHOES: God asked Moses to take off his shoes which then would have exposed him to the thorns and scorpions of the desert. For us to be used of God there is a level of vulnerability we have to expose ourselves to. Shoes here signify status or other things we hold dear to our hearts. We have to let go and die to self.

GOD’S STRENGTH IN OUR WEAKNESS: That God sometimes will not take away the ‘thorn’ in our flesh- Paul’s thorn was not known but God did not take it away either. When Moses complained about his speech problem, I believe he expected God to heal his stammering pap. But God did not; he chose to glorify himself in Moses’ stammering. He organized for his brother Aaron to speak on his behalf but Moses had to accomplish the mission.

WHAT I HAVE: I sometimes feel that if only I could communicate fluently, I would do many great things. Though I thank God I have done many things as well as (if not better) any person with fluent speech. God used Moses’ shepherd staff to pass the message across in such a way that Pharaoh never failed to acknowledge that God had sent him. I believe I am special and that God uses special means to assist me pass my message across. God will use the simple things you have to achieve great stuff in your life inspite of your weaknesses for the honour and glory of His name. Take of your shoes and say yes.

© kenyatta otieno

For such a time as this!

Esther 4:14-

For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to the royal position for such a time as this.

The book of Esther is famous for the verse quoted above. This is one verse that humbles me out of my human arrogance and pride and reminds me that I am not all that in a bag of chips. It reminds me that God’s work will be done inspite and despite of who I think I am. My take out is usually that it is a privilege and honour to be used of God as Esther stepped up and stood in the gap for the Jews.

It also reminds me of the Mordecai’s of this world who will tell us the truths that will make us take that plunge. It is the above statement that led Esther to say that she will go to the King without his summons, an act which was equivalent to treason. She called for a fast and said even if she will die, let her die. It is this act of courage that saved the Jewish exiles in Babylon.

Every generation enjoys privileges bestowed on them by the older folks. My generation in Kenya did not fight for independence yet we have enjoyed the fruits of it. We are the generation that finished off the agitation for a greater democratic space that was started in the late eighties. Every generation has a responsibility to make things better for themselves and for those who will come after them. You were created for such a time as this, step out; you cannot coin an excuse good enough to excuse yourself.

As much as I am humbled by the fact that I am dispensable, I have a duty to step out and do what I need to do. Meanwhile you need to seek the face of God and fast and pray as an anchor to the whole process. Mordecai was a man who through simple acts saved the Israelites from annihilation schemes of Haman the Agagite. This is insight that if one wants to have an impact of change in this world you must pray to God to always keep your sight ahead of the pack.

This is the time.

Boaz and Ruth: True Love Means Letting Go

True Love Means Letting Go

I read a note on facebook about loving enough to let go and I was fascinated. The text concentrated on agape love, where a father figure loves a child. It was insightful just how God loves us yet He still allows us free will. T.D. Jakes in his famous blessing full viral mail ‘LET IT GO’ talks about the gift of goodbye. It doesn’t make one mean or resentful, but is good for the heart.

Romantic love as the world presents to us is so skewed. The bible has several representation of true love; Paul did not have to look anywhere to write to the Corinthians the words of 1 Corinthians chapter 13. He had good reference from the word of God.

Abraham in Genesis 13 loved his nephew Lot enough to agree to part with him and let him choose the Jordan Valley that was full of pasture, while he remained in Canaan. Yet in chapter 14 he sets out to rescue Lot who had been captured. In chapter 18 he pleads with God not to destroy everybody in Sodom because Lot lived there. When God asked for his son Isaac as a sacrifice, he was willing to give him over. He loved Lot and Isaac enough to let go of them.

I love reading the books of Ruth and Ecclesiastes, one because they are short and I can easily read through and two because they are exciting. As I do HATUA, I went through the book of Ruth again and one thing came screaming at me. It was obvious Boaz’s feeling for Ruth was a typical love at first sight story. The way he went out of his way to provide for her and what he said to her on his threshing floor.

What Boaz said to Ruth in response to her advances was mind blowing. In this age and time, the fact that a lady has given in to your subtle advances is an excuse to take advantage of her feelings. Boaz is a rare kind of man, no wonder he represents Christ’s redemption mission (to jews and gentiles) many years later. Boaz says in Ruth 3:12; “It is true that I am a closer relative and I am responsible for you, but there is a man who is a closer relative than I am……….. in the morning I will find out whether or not he will take responsibility for you. If so well and good, if not I swear by the living God that I will take responsibility….”

Yes, he went through the process of obeying the law as prescribed in the word of God with wisdom knowing which side of his slice was buttered. In the end he ended up with the woman he claimed everybody in Bethlehem knew is a fine woman. What caught me is that Boaz loved Ruth enough to put his interests on the line and let go. In the end, he married her and through his lineage we got two great men who shaped Israel and the world, David and Jesus Christ.

November 18th 2010: kenyatta otieno