Daily Meditations from John N. N. Ng'ang'a: Week of May 24th-- Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world
 
Day 1
1 John 1:8-9 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. NIV

I thank God it says if not when . That means I do not have to sin but if I do sin he has prepared way of restoring me back to himself by confessing and renouncing my sin. My sinful nature is permanently at war with my desire for holiness.

When I see someone whom I regard not as gifted as me doing well …. I feel jealous. When I hear evil, it influences my thoughts to those that do not please the lord.

Even the sense of taste can draw me to taste that which will not please the lord. Being able to discuss this with the lord in prayer openly leads to both my forgiveness but also makes it easier in future to say no to the sin.

But if I can also discuss it with a confidant like my wife who will also pray for me and hold me to account makes it easier for me to say no to the sin. The flesh is for sure an enemy of my spiritual race. Fasting over the area of sin will help me to become free of the bondage of the flesh. Fasting may be on something i usually see and am getting addicted or something I hear or something a taste. In each case God promises to free me if I seek his help.

Day 2
1 John 2:17 The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever. NIV

The world is not just the geography but the culture that influences how I interpret life. It is very easy to have my cultural world view as determining what I call good or bad. Yet as Christians Gods word is supposed to determine what I call good not my culture.

It is easy to be a member of the church but the way I live is determined by my cultural values.

In fact even what the bible says is interpreted by my cultural eye glasses. That is why you can have Christians supporting apartheid in the name of God like was the case in south Africa. Despite the bible being categorical about valuing all human beings you read the same verses including the story of Philemon with cultural eyes that says that see Africans are half human.

Doing what my culture determines as good is being worldly. Going against it will cause me to be punished by my clan but it will lead me to doing God's will, which will lead me to live with Jesus for ever. For the world and my clan are transitory but God's word is eternal.

Day 3
Rom 12:2  Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will. NIV

Believing that I need to remain in contact with the dead however much I loved them when they lived will get me God's curse . it may be the normal thing to keep having activity that keeps me in touch with the loved dead but in the interests of my relationship with God, I must allow the dead to be dead. This is the message of Deut 18:9-11

10 Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, 11 or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. NIV

I need to cut all communication with the dead or else I will be cursed as the Canaanites were for consulting the dead as seen above.

There are other customs we do as cultural thing and I must ask myself whether the message resonates with the bible.

For example among some Kenya tribes to conclude wedding negotiations we must shed blood. What for once you are Christian?. Why not buy the meet from the butchery if you just need protein for the guests. Traditionally it appease the spirits of the dead.

What about now?

Day 4
2 Tim 1:7 For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. NIV

Timidity will lead you to only do things that are not controversial. It becomes your requirements that you have peace at all costs.

That is not the way of the cross. If Jesus wanted peace he would have not rubbed the Jewish leaders the wrong way I must seek the power that the holy spirit gives. This is what Jesus modeled by going all the way to the cross.

In following him I must not cause controversy for the sake of it ….but if by doing the right ..controversy comes.. I must be ready to suffer as I face it for the sake of the following the bible way.

I will then to be a disciplined person rather than just doing what feels nice at the time. This way I will not take the worldly pattern but rather I will influence it.

Day 5
Jer 29: 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. NIV

Yes, if I am to be close to the lord I will have to seek him with all my heart. This means it is possible to seek him with part of my heart. He warns that I will not find him.

He only wants to be found by those who have decided to stop all other pursuits so that they have only one pursuit in life… to be like Christ.

But when self is my number one concern, I will not seek him fully. I must therefore decide up- front, that my aim in life is not to become famous but make him famous.

Like the donkey on the passion week, I will be happy to carry him into Jerusalem. When they sing they will praise him and forget me.