Month: July 2020

Written By Ben Dankaka

Meditation – John 3:38

The first thing we learn about God is that He is a Creator. Recall that the first verse in the Bible says, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” As you read through the first two chapters of the Bible, the nature of God as Creator is the dominant theme. And as God created the heavens and the earth, you would notice that everything He created was for a purpose. Light, which is the first thing God created, was for the purpose of having times and seasons. Likewise, Man (the last creation of God) was formed to rule the earth. God didn’t create anything for nothing. You see, knowing why you were created is the same as knowing your purpose on earth. Your life’s purpose is the answer to the question: why am I here? To discover your purpose and then live it to the fullest is more important than anything else.

Know that your life’s purpose is God’s original plan for you. Therefore, those who live their purpose get to spend their lives walking with God. So living your purpose occurs through a relationship with God. While He was on earth, Jesus focused on fulfilling His purpose. Like every other person, Jesus had several choices on how to live His life. He could have decided to be a carpenter like His earthly father; he could have accepted Satan’s offer by having control of the earthly kingdoms. But Jesus chose to do what God sent Him to do. Imagine what the world would have missed if Jesus had not fulfilled his assignment. As a Christian, know that Jesus was not the only one with an assignment from God. Also, Spiritual leaders are not the only ones God calls. You too have a divine assignment. Live your purpose.

Prayer: Dear Lord, show me my divine assignment. Amen.

REFERENCES/FURTHER STUDY: Luke 4:18-19; 42;

Unless otherwise stated all scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version.

Written By Ben Dankaka

Meditation – Psalm 82:6

Who are you? Generally, people do not always look at another person in the face and ask them that question unless there’s a fight going on between them. In Nigeria, for instance, when two people get into an argument, and their tempers rise, one of them may angrily ask the other, “Who are you?” Or they might say, “Who do you think you are?” These questions are often taken as insults. So the responses are often boastful statements, accompanied by acts of rage. Also, when there’s a brawl between two people, one of them may not even wait to be asked the question. Before the real fight starts, they may burst out with the question: “Do you know who I am?” This question is often followed with claims about one’s physical strength, achievements, wealth, influence or mental or spiritual prowess.

Interestingly, these things do not define who you really are. The Psalmist cried out, “I said, ‘you are “gods”; you are all sons of the Most High’ (Psalm 82:6). Is there anyone other statement that defines us better than this verse? Many people are afraid of accepting this truth because they don’t think of God as their Father. The allusion that we are “gods” is intended to make us realize that we are sons of God, not His equals. You are not the kind of god that idolaters worship. You are a god because the Spirit of God dwells inside of you. When Jesus was accused of calling God, His father, He used the same verse to make His point. What people say or think of you is often not true. You may not even be who you think you are. But the one thing I know for sure is that you were created in God’s image. Be godly.

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank you for creating me in your likeness. Amen.

REFERENCES/FURTHER STUDY: Psalm 82; John 10:34-38

Unless otherwise stated all scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version.

Written By Ben Dankaka

Meditation – Isaiah 64:8

Whether it is in formal or informal situations, the question, “where are you from?” is one the most common statements of inquiry. In most cases, the question is raised by those who want to know a person’s roots. Whenever this common question is asked, we are quick to mention our nationality, race, ethnic background, parental lineage or home town. Although these areas may satisfy the curiosity of the inquirer, it doesn’t actually provide the appropriate answer. In the real sense, you and I are not from any country, race, ethnic group, or village. We cannot even limit our roots to our family tree. So if we aren’t from any of these areas, where are we from? Did we come from monkeys as the Darwinian Theory suggests?

After God indicated His interest to create man in His likeness, the Scriptures say, “Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.” Since the dust was created by God, we can trace our roots to God. Also, note that it was after God breathed His spirit into the body that man came alive. So both our body and spirit came from God. Linking our parentage to God is vital because it is through Adam that we all came into this world. When people fail to do so, they would likely worship their ancestors or idols. Note how Paul reacted in Athens when he saw a lot of idols. He said to the people, “From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands.” Brethren, always see yourself as a member of God’s family.

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank you for creating me. Amen.

REFERENCES/FURTHER STUDY: Genesis 2:7; Acts 17:16-29

Unless otherwise stated all scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version.

Written By Ben Dankaka

Meditation – Ephesians 2:10

Paul said to the Ephesians, “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” This statement reiterates God’s original plan for us. Recall that when God created Adam His plan was for man to rule the earth. God didn’t just create us to exist without a purpose. Like every other thing that God created, man was created to influence the world. So Paul’s statement to the Church in Ephesus was a reminder that God has preordained us to do good works on earth. Paul needed to stress this point because man has been held captive by the ways of the world. In contrast to doing good works, man has been preoccupied by evil practices. Therefore, it is our fixation with sin that actually distracts us from fulfilling our divine assignment.

Thank God, through Jesus Christ we have been restored to do what God originally intended. But if you are going to fulfill God’s original plan, knowing and accepting Jesus is just the beginning. The real secret to fulfilling your divine assignment is found in the scriptures. The Bible is the manual for fulfilling God’s will for our lives. Just as people have to study laws before becoming lawyers, we all have to study the scriptures in order to learn how to fulfill God’s specific plan for us. So the Bible is not just a book that talks about the history of a people. Also, don’t think of the Bible as a book containing a set of laws for religious people. The Bible is God’s instructive manual intended to help you solve life’s most important topics: where you came from, who you are, why you were born, where you are going and how to fulfill your purpose.  

Prayer: Dear Lord, help me to fulfill my destiny. Amen.

REFERENCES/FURTHER STUDY: Ephesians 2:1-10; Genesis 1:26-28.

Unless otherwise stated all scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version.

Written By Ben Dankaka

Meditation – Titus 3:14

Each time God’s will is mentioned in the Bible, it is either referring to God’s word or God’s purposes. While we can interpret the will of God as those instructions contained in the Scriptures, God’s will also means His plans for us. For instance, in Hebrews 10:9, we are told that when Jesus came into the world, He said to the Father, “Here I am, I have come to do your will.” The will of God in this context means God’s plan for Jesus. So by dying on the cross, Jesus fulfilled God’s will. On the other hand, when David said, “I desire to do your will, my God; your law is within my heart” (Psalm 40:8), he was referring to the word of God that is written in the scriptures. So when we do what the scriptures say, we are doing God’s will. At the same, God’s will is fulfilled when we do what He wants us to do on earth.

It is important for us to know that God’s will – whether it is the word in the Bible or God’s plan for us, is important. Fulfilling God’s plan for us is as important as doing what is written in the Bible. God does not expect us to follow what is written in the Bible, become holy and then do nothing until we die. In other words, we are not supposed to become holy for the sake of heaven alone. In the same way, God does not expect us to focus on fulfilling our purpose while we ignore the instructions in the Bible. As Christians, we expected to do what is written in the Bible and fulfill our life’s assignment at the same time. It is only when we do that we can truly become sons of God.

Prayer: Dear Lord, reveal your purpose for me. Amen.

REFERENCES/FURTHER STUDY: 1 John 2:17; Ecclesiastes 9:10; Titus 3:1

Unless otherwise stated all scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version.

Written By Ben Dankaka

Meditation – John 6:38

In order to know and do God’s will, we have to follow the life and teachings of Christ. Therefore, doing God’s will isn’t about following others. Don’t try to do God’s will by imitating another person. If you want to do God’s will, don’t follow anyone, including your Pastor. To understand what it means to do God’s will, study the Bible or follow Jesus. When you study the teachings of Jesus, you would realize that He approached the subject of doing God’s will in two different ways.

First, Jesus taught that doing God’s will is about hearing His words and putting it into practice. Chapters five, six and seven of the book of Matthew captures the main teachings of Christ. Jesus spoke on a wide range of subjects as He taught the crowd. Towards the end, Jesus mentioned the need for us to do the will of the Father in heaven. Then He said, “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.” Therefore, doing God’s will mean we should do what the Bible teaches.

On another occasion, Jesus said, “For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me.” When Jesus made that statement He wasn’t speaking of God’s will in the context of doing what the Bible teaches. He was referring to His divine assignment of bringing eternal life. And so, doing God’s will also means doing what God called you to do. That is, fulfilling your purpose is another way of doing God’s will. Today, spend time and think about God’s will for your life. Fulfilling God’s plan for you is the most important thing in life.

Prayer: Dear Lord, reveal your purpose for me. Amen.

REFERENCES/FURTHER STUDY: Matthew 7:21-24; John 6: 38-39

Unless otherwise stated all scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version.

Written By Ben Dankaka

Meditation – Matthew 7:21

Not many people know what it means to do God’s will. Generally, the will of God simply means what God expects from us. But to discover what God requires of us, we need to study the Bible. The will of God is, therefore, not found in encyclopedias, philosophical books or in any other kind of book. God’s will for man is laid out in the Bible. So one of the reasons why many people do not know God’s will is because they do not read the Bible. It is impossible for anyone to know the will of God without studying the Scriptures. At the same time, one can read the Bible and yet fail to do God’s will. Knowing what the Bible teaches doesn’t make you a doer of God’s will. Do you know a person can know what the Bible teaches and still not do God’s will?

One time, Jesus said, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” This means, a person may know who God is, and not do God’s will. That is, many would not make heaven not because they didn’t acknowledge Jesus as Lord, but for the reason that they didn’t do what He wanted them to do. You see, it is like a lawyer who went to a law school but never practiced law. Or like a doctor who graduated from a medical school but never practiced. To do God’s will, we have to follow the footsteps of Christ. Bear in mind that doing God’s will isn’t about doing what others are doing. It is about doing what God says you should do.

Prayer: Dear Lord, May I not only be a listener, but a doer of your word. Amen.

REFERENCES/FURTHER STUDY: Matthew 7:21-24; Matthew 12:50

Unless otherwise stated all scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version.

Written By Ben Dankaka

Meditation – Mark 12: 28

Just as God rejected the Hittites and six other nations for their abominable ways, God also rejected the Israelites for the same reason. Just as God ejected the mighty kingdoms and gave their lands to Israel, He also ejected the Israelites from their land after they followed the evil ways of other nations. Know that God isn’t partial. He didn’t eject other nations and gave their lands to Israel because He wanted to please the Israelites. As Moses reminded the Israelites of God’s faithfulness, he said, “It is not because of your righteousness or your integrity that you are going in to take possession of their land; but on account of the wickedness of these nations….” (Deuteronomy 9:5) The word, “wickedness” in the context of that statement implies idolatry. All of the seven nations that God drove out of their lands were idol worshipers.

Clearly, God is unhappy with anyone who disregards Him. When you idolize or worship anything or anyone other than God, your relationship with Him is broken. It doesn’t matter who you are, whether you are saved or not, if you don’t put God first in everything you do, God isn’t going to be pleased with you. Even if He has already blessed you in so many ways, God will break up His relationship with you the moment you put anyone above Him. As a leader, recognize that putting God first is the key to success in every endeavor. Remember, the Ten Commandments begin with a warning against idolatry. One time, when a lawyer wanted to know the most important commandment, Jesus said, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” Put God first and He will always be with you.

Prayer: Dear Lord, I want to serve you forever. Amen.

REFERENCES/FURTHER STUDY: Deuteronomy 9:5-6; Exodus 20:1-5; Mark 12:28

Unless otherwise stated all scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version.

Written By Ben Dankaka

Meditation – Psalm 136:21

Have you ever wondered why God ejected other kingdoms and gave their land to the Israelites? The Scriptures say that God struck down great kings and gave their land to his servant, Israel. In particular, God killed Sihon, king of the Amorites and Og King of Bashan, in order to give their land as inheritance to the people of Israel. Why would God take what belongs to a person and give it to another person? Off course, the Bible teaches that the reason why God expelled other nations and gave their kingdoms to the Israelites was because of their abominable ways. Because they served idols and defiled their lands through evil practices, God displaced them. But God wouldn’t have been able to do that if the earth wasn’t His property. David said, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it;” Because God owns everything, He chooses who to bless.

As leaders, it is important for us to recognize that God is the “Boss of all bosses.” Never lead with the mentality that the buck ends with you. You may be the leader of a country, organization or family; you may be in charge of lives and properties; but always bear in mind that you are accountable to God. God is not only in charge of heaven, He is in control of the earth. No matter how powerful you are, try not to do anything that affects God’s authority. Solomon was wise, rich and powerful. But when he forsook God and followed other gods, God tore his kingdom and gave a large chunk to his subordinate, Jeroboam. When Jeroboam also abandoned God, God retrieved the throne and wipe out every male in his family. Because God owns everything, every leader must honor Him.

Prayer: Dear Lord, be my Master. Amen.

REFERENCES/FURTHER STUDY: Psalm 136; Leviticus 18:24-25; Psalm 24:1; 1Kings 14:7-10  

Unless otherwise stated all scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version.

Written By Ben Dankaka

Meditation – Luke 4:35

One day Jesus entered the synagogue to teach. Suddenly, he was confronted by a man possessed by a demon. As soon as the evil spirit recognized Jesus, it shrieked. Obviously, the demon couldn’t contain the presence of Jesus. Because the light that Jesus radiated was overwhelming the demon had to go. In desperation, the evil spirit cried out, declaring Jesus as the Holy One of God. To shut the demon, Jesus commanded it to come out of the man. As is always the case, the demon complied but in the process of leaving, it drew the man on the floor. Interestingly, even though the evil spirit flung the man, it came out without injuring him. In other words, the demon left without breaking the man’s head, neck or any other part of his body. The man was delivered without wounds.

Sometimes, life can overwhelm us with challenges that may seem impossible to overcome. Actually, there are problems we can overcome by ourselves. You can overcome certain challenges with will power and new age philosophies. But some of our problems cannot be solved easily. Know that the demons and some of the problems in your life aren’t going to give up because you want them to. They won’t go because you are a leader, or because you are smart. Imagine what would have happened if the man with the evil spirit had tried to discharge the demon by his will power. For sure, the demon wouldn’t have surrendered without a good fight. But thank God, when Jesus came, the man was delivered without a scratch. If you are trying to win your own battles without God, you might end up with scars. But then if you want to win your battles without injuries ask Jesus to help you out.

Prayer: Dear Lord, fight my battles. Amen.

REFERENCES/FURTHER STUDY: Luke 4:33-35       

Unless otherwise stated all scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version.