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.