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Written By Ben Dankaka

Meditation – Matthew 9:38

Oftentimes, our failure to help others isn’t caused by a lack of concern. Generally, we often feel pity for the needy. We are all born with the ability to show empathy to our fellow humans. Although we naturally feel pity for those who are troubled, most times, we do not realize that it is our responsibility to help them. Normally, when we notice those who are in need as we go about our business, we sympathize with them and then move on, hoping their problems will somehow go away. Because we are preoccupied with our problems, we think we are unqualified to help others. So we ignore or abandon those who are troubled, hoping that someone else would help them out. What we fail to realize is that every helper needs help because there’s no one on earth who doesn’t have problems.

On the day that Jesus looked at the crowd and noticed they were “harassed” and “helpless”, the scripture likened the crowd to a flock of “sheep without a shepherd.” Jesus linked the condition of the crowd to the absence of individuals who would not only be sympathetic but would take the initiative and help the people through effective leadership. So He advised His disciples to “ask the Lord of the harvest, to send out workers into his harvest field.” In other words, Jesus urged his disciples to pray to God so He could send out leaders. Therefore, it is largely our responsibility to help those who are troubled. That is, the task of working in the harvest field isn’t God’s job. It’s our responsibility. As long as we do not ask God to use us as workers, we would always have helpless and harassed people around us. Today, ask God to make you a worker of the harvest.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, send workers to the harvest field. Amen.

REFERENCES/FURTHER STUDY: Matthew 9:35-37

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

Written By Ben Dankaka

Meditation – Matthew 9:37

What do you see whenever you move on the streets of your city? Each day as you drive or walk along a busy road, what gets your attention? We may not all be attracted to the same thing. While some are attracted to the buildings and cars, others give their attention to the natural environment. But whatever gets your attention the most; I am convinced that every time you are on a busy street, you habitually notice other people. And as you move past the people, what do you often notice? Do you see those with worried faces or you don’t even notice? At every given time, the streets are made up of people who carry different expressions. Some carry plain or jovial faces; others have serious or worried expressions. What goes through your mind as you notice those worried faces?

One day, Jesus went through towns and villages, teaching and healing diseases. Then He took a good look at the crowd and had compassion on them because they looked harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. At that moment, Jesus felt a strong desire to do more for the people. Although Jesus had pity on the people, He didn’t think of their miserable situation as a problem that was beyond repair. Instead, He saw it as a great opportunity. As Jesus observed the miserable crowd, He said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.” Notice that Jesus called the pitiable situation, “harvest.” In other words, He viewed it as a job opportunity and not as a problem. The problem, in the mind of Jesus, wasn’t the people’s condition but the shortage of manpower. Today, as you notice those who appear to be restless and harassed, think of ways you can help out.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, make me a helper to other people. Amen.

REFERENCES/FURTHER STUDY: Matthew 9:35-37

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

Written By Ben Dankaka

Meditation – Matthew 4:19

You’ve probably heard the phrase, “Walk with God”. Oftentimes, we use that phrase to describe our relationship with God. Walking with God literally means to take every step as God directs and leads you. So in our attempts to “walk with God” we have to commit ourselves to a daily habit of studying the Bible. To walk with God, you will also have to spend a large amount of your time, praying and meditating until you and God become intimate friends. If you truly walk with God, you will become a godly person. You can’t relate with God and not think and act like Him. The scriptures say, “Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.” (Genesis 5:24). Possibly, because of his walk with God, Enoch became so upright that he couldn’t live among the wicked men of his time.

But just as it is important to walk with God, it is also important to work with Him. While we can walk with God through a relationship, we can also work with God by functioning through Him. Working with God is a process whereby we operate as employees of His vineyard. This happens when we drop aside our personal endeavors in order to fulfill God’s purposes. You see, God isn’t only interested in walking with you; God is also interested in having you work for Him. God doesn’t just want to have a relationship with you; He wants to help you make better impact through His kingdom culture. When Jesus met Simon Peter and his brother, Andrew, He said to them, “Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” These were fishermen who only knew how to catch fish, but when they met Jesus they became world changers. Work with God!

Prayer: Lord Jesus, I want to work with you. Amen.

REFERENCES/FURTHER STUDY: Matthew 5:13-16

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

Written By Ben Dankaka

Meditation – Luke 21:19

Until you commit yourself to a single cause, you will never become an outstanding leader. Great leaders, all over the world are known for doing one thing. Think of all the leaders that have impacted our world the most – They are single-minded. When people talk about Nelson Mandela, the one thing that goes through their minds is the man’s fight against apartheid even though he was a lawyer. Martin Luther King Jr was a pastor, but he is celebrated as a civil rights activist. So what makes great leaders exceptional isn’t really their profession but what they do with their lives. Whether it is in business, sports or entertainment, it is the same. Jesus, the greatest leader of all time, applied this principle. At one time, He was a carpenter. During that period, He neither preached nor performed miracles. And when He launched His ministry, He quit carpentry and focused on His work of saving the world.

Jesus often emphasized the importance of dedication. One time, He told His disciples that “the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.” Although, this parable is intended to make us recognize the worth of the kingdom of heaven, it also illustrates the kind of attitude that is required of anyone who wants to achieve anything worthwhile. The “merchant” gave up everything he had for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. In other words, the merchant let go every other endeavor that might stop him from achieving his ultimate goal of making heaven. I don’t know what you need to give up. But if that dream means so much to you, you will have to let go of other things.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, give me the courage to stay focused. Amen.

REFERENCES/FURTHER STUDY: Matthew 14:44-46

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

Written By Ben Dankaka

Meditation – Luke 9:25

One time, Jesus said, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” Clearly, Jesus wasn’t referring to a physical cross. What He actually meant was the “suffering” He was about to go through. Moments before, Jesus had told his disciples that He would suffer many things, including rejection and death on the cross. But Jesus didn’t mean we would all have to live and die in the same way He did. He didn’t mean that everyone who followed Him would be rejected and be hung on the cross. Specifically, Jesus wanted us to know that we will all face our own troubles as Christians. Though we are bound to suffer, Christ assures us that our suffering will not be in vain. Just as He was raised to life, after His suffering, we too will be raised after our suffering.

But it is important for us to note that this suffering isn’t just any kind of misery. Whether we like it or not, life often hits everyone with troubles. You don’t have to be a Christian to face persecution. Even as an unbeliever, you could be rejected for your principles. Even if you are not a Christian, life can hit you with travails. Accidents, diseases, rejections and all other negative events do not affect people according to their religious affiliations. So we should not assume that every problem in our lives is a sign that we are carrying the cross that Jesus talked about. The daily cross that Jesus meant can only come when we give our lives to Him. The suffering you are going through is it as a result of your faithfulness to Christ or is caused by your own foolish acts? Don’t suffer for the wrong reasons.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, may I not suffer for the wrong reasons. Amen.

REFERENCES/FURTHER STUDY: Luke 9:23-27

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

Written By Ben Dankaka

Meditation – 1 Kings 18:36

One of the most powerful prayers in the Bible is the one said by Elijah as at the time of his prayer challenge with the prophets of Baal. The prayer contest was on whose “God” could light a sacrifice all by himself. The prophets of Baal had begun the challenge by praying to their god from morning to evening. They shouted, pleaded and danced as they asked their god to bring fire on their sacrifice. But despite their loud appeals and dramatic show, their god couldn’t light the fire on the altar. Their attempts to get the attention of their god proved futile, even after slashing themselves with swords and spears. After their prayer marathon, they became exhausted. When it got to Elijah’s turn, the atmosphere suddenly became calm as Elijah carefully prepared his sacrifice. Possibly, his prayer didn’t take more than five minutes but the response was instant.

A lot can be learned from the way Elijah said his prayer. First of all, his prayer was concise and straight to the point. He didn’t try to embellish it with so many words. He also didn’t get emotional. He didn’t try to impress his God or anyone by screaming and dancing. He prayed as if there was no one there except him and God. Elijah’s prayer was like a conversation between him and God. But most importantly, Elijah was confident as he prayed to God. Clearly, Elijah’s confidence was inspired by the fact that his prayer was said according to God’s will and purposes. Elijah’s request was for God to answer his prayer so that it will be known that He is the God of Israel and that He was willing to turn the people’s hearts back to Him. Today, let your prayer be according to God’s purposes.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, may it be done according to your purpose. Amen.

REFERENCES/FURTHER STUDY: 1 Kings 18:1-39

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

Written By Ben Dankaka

Meditation – Proverbs 23:7

In the parable of the lost son, Jesus shared a story of a man who had two sons. The younger one demanded for his share of inheritance and left home. After he had spent everything on reckless living, an economic recession hit his country. To survive, he had to work in a farm where he was assigned to feed pigs. Apparently, the money he earned from his boss wasn’t enough because he found himself longing to fill his stomach with the food of the pigs. This went on until one fateful day when he suddenly realized that while he was starving to death, the servants in his father’s house had food to spare. So he got up and returned to his father. When you carefully study Luke’s account of this story, you would notice that the son didn’t arrive at that decision until “he came to his senses” (Luke 15:11-32 – NIV).

This story illustrates the power of the mind. Nothing changes unless you change your thoughts. If the prodigal son hadn’t come to his senses, he wouldn’t have made the decision to return home. If he hadn’t changed his mind, he would have remained in that farm, feeding pigs and wishing he could eat their food. But when he came to his senses, he experienced a turning point. That decision saved him from dying. Are you in a similar situation? Perhaps, you’ve declared independence from God. Instead of asking God for help, you’ve been trying to do things your own way. Now things are tough and you feel stuck in an area. I want you to know that you can still bounce back. Recall that when the prodigal son changed his mind and then returned to his father, he regained his privileged position. Change your mind.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, forgive me for my prodigal ways. Amen.

REFERENCES/FURTHER STUDY: Isaiah 41:13; Isaiah 40:29; Proverbs 16:9;

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

Written By Ben Dankaka

Meditation – Proverbs 19:21

To know how to fulfill your purpose, recognize that purpose and passion are not the same. While your passion is what you love doing, purpose is what God wants you to do. Your passion isn’t peculiar to you. For instance, if you love writing, you should be aware that there other people who also love writing. But your purpose is specific, something you’ve been set aside to do. So your passion is simply an activity. But then, your purpose is what happens after you have done a certain activity. However, your passion and your purpose have to do a lot with your natural abilities. Therefore, your passion can either be related to your purpose or completely unrelated. Even though what you love doing can be used to fulfill your purpose, it could also be used to achieve other things that aren’t connected to your purpose. So you need to be guided.

To fulfill your purpose, you would need the help of the One who created you. Recognize that purpose isn’t conceived by man. Normally, the manufacturer of a product is the one who knows why his product was created. Therefore, God who created you knows why you are on earth. So God didn’t bless you with talents so you could do whatever you want to do with it. Your talent is intended to equip you for your divine assignment. Paul tells the Philippians, “For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose” (Philippians 2:13). I assure you that when you ask God to reveal His purpose to you, He would do so and then make sure you succeed. Our purposes may fail. But God’s purposes never fail. Today, invite the Holy Spirit to guide you.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, teach me how to fulfill God’s purpose. Amen.

REFERENCES/FURTHER STUDY: Philippians 2:13; Romans 2:28; 2 Timothy 1:9; Exodus 9:16

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

Written By Ben Dankaka

Meditation – John 10:10

All humans, regardless of their race and religion are interested in knowing what happens after death. Some people fear death, not because they are afraid to die but for the reason that they are unsure of what will happen to their soul after they are gone. The fear of the unknown is what often makes people feel uneasy at the thought of dying. One thing we all know is that our body is going to be buried in a grave when we pass on. But where our soul and spirit will be is often considered as one of the greatest mysteries in the world. Theologians, atheist and scientists have come up with hundreds of thousands of books regarding man’s journey on earth. Yet, the answer to this famous question can be found in the most popular book on earth – the Holy Bible.

On different occasions, Jesus delved into the subject of life and death. Interestingly, He didn’t make the issue of death sound like it was something that should be feared. More than once, He referred to “death” as “sleeping”. Moments before He brought Jairus’ daughter back to life He said, “Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep.” When Lazarus died, He said, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep.” Throughout His ministry, Jesus made it clear that He came so that we may not just have life but have it fully. In other words, He came so we could have a life that never ends. Here’s the truth: Anyone who accepts Jesus as Lord and Savior would not only become a son of God, but would also live forever. Therefore, in Christ Jesus, our life’s journey has no end. That is, the destination of those who believe in Christ is not death but life.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, I accept you as my Lord and Savior. Amen.

REFERENCES/FURTHER STUDY: Matthew 9:18-26; Mark 5:21-43; John 11:1-16

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

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.