MEMORY VERSE: Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Amos 9- Jonah 1
Not too long ago, I saw an inscription on a wall that caught my attention. It says, ‘Don’t feed the pigeons’. I looked around and saw pigeons everywhere. There were children having fun, chasing after the pigeons and screaming for joy. ‘Why on earth will anyone have problems with feeding these harmless pigeons,’ I thought to myself. As I looked closely, I saw pigeon droppings all round – on walls, railings, windows, etc. It dawned on me that these pigeons were a problem. The cost of maintaining the properties alone, getting people to clean the droppings from time to time, is something. Not only that, who would want to live or set up a business in an area with pigeon problems? No one. The only way to solve this pigeon problem is, stop people from feeding the pigeons. As the food reduced, these pigeons began to migrate to another area.
This principle applies to every area of our life. Fear, faith, anger, resentment, envy, strife, etc, are living ‘organisms’. If you feed them, they will grow; if you starve them of their food, they will die. If you feed your fears, it will grow big. If all you listen to is what the specialists have to say about your condition, you will become scared. Stop listening to what the experts have to say about the economy. If you feed your faith too, it will grow big. If you spend quality time, listening to messages by anointed men and women of God, studying the word of God and exercising your faith, your faith will grow big. Feed your faith today by looking to Jesus, not the challenges. Hebrews 12:2 says Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. A lot of us struggle with our flesh, we have fed it and it has become so big, now we are struggling to keep it under control. Fasting is now a problem, prayer is gradually becoming a burden, spiritual activities are now boring to us. What you are doing when you listen to secular songs – songs about sex, crime, drugs, etc, is, you are feeding your flesh. You are also feeding the flesh, when you read all sorts of novels; watch ungodly programs on TV – pornography, soap operas celebrating unruly children and so on. If you continue to feed your flesh, it will grow so big and begin to control you. Instead of feeding your flesh, why not feed your spirit by praying in tongues, singing in tongues, fasting, reading the Word, etc. Stop feeding that anger. Stop feeding that resentment. Feed peace by saying sorry. Feed your marriage by investing time and resources in it. Do you know, it is also possible for you to feed the fear of others? Instead of feeding the fear of others, feed their faith by encouraging them in the Lord. When someone wrongs you and you keep going over it repeatedly, you are feeding your anger. In that marriage, do not feed strife by arguing with your husband. Do not feed bitterness, by refusing to forgive that sister. I want you to know this, every time you feed your fear, your faith dies. Every time you feed your flesh, your spiritual life suffers. Every time you feed strife, peace disappears.
TO PONDER: what are you feeding - love or hatred?
Bro Samuel | Reaching the world for Jesus.
