Phillipians 3:12 - 14

Your deeds, words, conduct and attitude can either attract positive or negative change. In the parable of the talents documented in Matthew 25 :14-30, the man who had a change for increase got there by a dint of hard work. He was given five talents and he processed them through  labour  to obtain five more. If you want God to give you increase, you must be prepared to labour. It is unfortunate that many people who claim to be believers in Christ are fast losing touch with hard work. They desire to increase by doing nothing or through wishful thinking. Come off it. Every gift, talent, either acquired or innate is given to you to process through labour. Without doing so, there can be no increase. Similarly, the servant with one talent who refused to process it with labour, paid dearly for it. He lost it to somebody else. He also lost his freedom. He became an enemy of his master, and was bound and thrown into hell. It is a terrible thing to have a decreasing change. Some people think that the Lord will not do anything about the talent they refuse to develop and invest into God's kingdom. Oh, what a deception! The Lord will do something about it  and this is a frightening issue. If you fail to discover some of your talents or you bury them like this man, on the day of accountability the Lord will do something about it.

 

A minister of the gospel whose work was being celebrated around the world and was feeling contented got a shocker one day. The Lord told him he was far from reaching his optimal level and that he had many more talents he was yet to develop. The Lord sounded qite disappointed that he was getting carried away by the applause of men and had to show him his score-card. How disappointed he was! Never allow the praise of men pool wool over your eyes in any area. At best they will get you blinded to your fallow ground. What talents are you not developing? What resources are you not processing into a change in increase? Immediately rise up and do something about it. Always adopt the attitude of Paul, who, in spite of his outstanding accomplishments never saw himself to have apprehended. You have not reached your peak. Except for self deception, there is still space for you at higher levels. Move up and fast today!

ACTION POINT: Prayerfully identify your fallow grounds and ask God for the wisdom and grace to develop them. 

 

Prevent Future Regrets.........

2 KING 5: 20-27

Obtaining a change can be quite costly irrespective of whether it is a positive or negative one. Naaman had  to give up his pride and reputation in order to receive his healing. What is that price standing between you and your desired end? For a certain user of this Devotional, pride is what is hindering you from your desired breakthrough. As you humble yourself and submit totally to God on that pressing issue, you will obtain our desire.

Gehazi also paid a price for his negative change. Everyone in the Bible who experienced a negative change paid a very costly price. The truth is, the price you pay for a positive change is far cheaper than what you would pay for a negative change. For one moment of greed and covetousness, Gehazi lost his health, ministry, possibility of being the most anointed and powerful old Testament prophet and even the goodwill of his future generations. If you know what that single, few minutes of sinful pleasure could cost you and your generations, you would prefer to die that moment than indulge in it. Today, many have regrets. Gehazi regretted his foolish act after the curse but it was too late. Abraham is still regretting one moment of unbelief during his faith ride which made him to accept to sleep with Hagar Sarah’s maid. Oh, the havoc the world has seen and is still facing as result.

Adam is another person who paid dearly for a negative change. For deciding to be willful and to take his life in his hands, he lost his relationship with God, the Garden of Eden, control over all creatures and the position as the god of this world. Before you decide to step into sin, think. And think again. Think of what it will take from you, your family, the church of Christ and your generations. One sinful act could turn your helpers against you. It could deny you of the help they were meant to deliver to you. Oh, how Adam would have regretted that day he took of the forbidden fruit. Are you doing something that could make you to regret? Put a stop to it today. Do all you can to reverse any negative seed you have sown to prevent unstoppable regrets in the future.

ACTION POINT: Anything that will cause regrets later can be avoided. ASK FOR GRACE TO PREVENT REGRETS.