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| Pastor Faith Oyedepo |
Topic: Let God Be First! [Part 2]
Dear Reader,
Welcome to today’s edition of your usual Column in Jesus’ name! I started this subject last week. I told you that God’s help is all you need. This Week, I want to discuss God’s Requirement for a Fulfilled Life.
What is your essence of living? Why are you on the surface of this earth? The family, we know fully well, makes the church, the nation and networks the entire world. What does God require of you in order to have a fulfilled life?
The Word of God says: And now, Israel, what doth the Lord thy God require of thee, but to fear the Lord thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul… (Deuteronomy 10:12). This is what God requires of every member of the family. As a man, the head of the home, on whom rests the responsibility of ensuring a godly family, to God’s glory, what is your focus? What is the focus for yourself and for the members of your family? Do you have the fear of the Lord? Do you teach your children so?
As a wife and mother, are you not living for things? Are you not preoccupied with what to eat and wear? Does this not take every part of your thought and daily living? Do you have time to seek out of the Book of the law, to know God’s requirement for you and those God has put in your care? What are you living for, woman? You must get your priorities right this New Year, if you are to actually see and enjoy the full-scale blessings that God has promised His children. It is not for the butter-and-bread-seeking Christians, but rather for those who will care to live by every Word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. What are these requirements?
Fear the Lord Thy God
‘Fear’ in this context is not talking of being afraid. Rather, it connotes respect and reverence for God and His Word. Whatever He says, let it be your guiding principle, this year and beyond. As a man, and the head in the home, if you will walk in the understanding that you have a Head, who watches over you, your doings and movement, you will hold Him in reverence and respect. Whatever He tells you to do, you will do it without questioning or grumbling.
As a wife, even though you have your husband as the head, if you know that ultimately, God is your head, you will hold His commandments in awe. Rather than seeing yourself as being subjected to your husband only, you see yourself as obeying the commandment of God through your husband, thereby reverencing God and His Word. This is the fear of the Lord. As you do these, your children watch and learn from you. Secretly, they are proud to have a God-fearing woman as their own mother, and they in turn learn to obey God and keep His Word.
Walk in All His Ways
You cannot walk in His ways, except you have Him in respect and reverence. When He says, “Turn to the right”, ‘you don’t turn to the left. When He commands you to wait, you don’t get impatient and move.
Love God
This is the first commandment, and God reiterates it here (Deuteronomy 10:12) that He requires your love. Love God in all your doings, towards your spouse, children and all around you.
Serve Him
God does not only require you to fear, love and walk with Him, He also requires you to serve Him. How? With your heart, means and time. You can’t genuinely serve somebody you don’t love. When your love is in place for God, you will willingly serve Him with your being.
Friend, now that you have an idea of God’s requirement for your life, are you living for God? The Bible says: Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the Lord (Lamentation 3:40). Living for the right purpose makes for fulfillment, otherwise, the struggle will continue. God only guides those who will obey Him. He says He will only turn to you, if you turn to Him. If you don’t want to be a wanderer on the earth, let His requirements be your desires. He wants all your struggles and frustrations to come to an end this year, so He has made His requirements plain to you. If He is truly your Father, then you will obey Him and obtain rest for your soul. See Malachi 1:6; Psalm 111:10; Proverbs 9:10. It doesn’t matter how much fame or possession you may have, the Bible says you are as a foolish man, until the fear of God abides in your heart.
Live by the requirements of the Lord your God. It is not too late. Examine yourself and change your purpose for living. Accept the Lord as your own personal Lord and Saviour. Accept Him as your Guide and Director. Seek to do only those things that are pleasing unto Him. In your family life, desire to obey Him. In your careers and businesses, let Him be the Lord of all. In doing so, your full-scale blessings shall be established this year. The Word of God is sure. He said, He will do a new thing for you this year, allow Him to do it. May you not miss your full-scale blessings this year in Jesus’ Name!
You need to surrender your life to Christ, in order to have access to God’s grace to meet His requirement. You surrender by confessing your sins and accepting Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. That way, you are born again. If you are ready for it, please say this prayer and be born again:
Dear Lord Jesus, I come to You today as a sinner. I believe You died and rose on the third day for my sins. I accept You as my Lord and Saviour. Make me a child of God today. Thank You for accepting me into Your Kingdom.
Congratulations! You are now born again! All-round rest and peace are guaranteed you, in Jesus’ Name. Call or write, and share your testimonies with me through contact@faithoyedepo.org, and conselling@faithoyedepo.org; OR 07026385437 and 08141320204.
For more insight, these books authored by me are available at the Dominion Bookstores in all Living Faith Churches and other leading Christian bookstores:
- Marriage Covenant
- Making Marriage Work
- Building A Successful Home and Success in Marriage (Co-Authored).
Click Here To Read Other Messages Written By Pastor Faith Oyedepo
