LENT DAY 3

One of the desires of the human heart is to feel acknowledged and approved by others. Such gives joy to the heart and encourages people to do more. But to what extent are you ready to go just to get this acknowledgement? Some people are ready to do anything just to feel accepted or again to belong. Some go to the extent of spilling blood just to take someone’s place and receive the honours due to the person. But today I want you to know that good things come to those who know how to wait on the Lord (lamentations 3:25) and not to those who strive to get there by any means.
Acknowledgement is at two levels: divine and human. Men can acknowledge you and God rejects you (1 Samuel 16:6-7). If God doesn’t acknowledge you, everything you do will be nothing else than a battle and the slightest mistake will take you back to the trenches. This explains why after all the evil some people do just to stay up, they still come crushing. There is therefore no need to fight or kill others because all acknowledgements that come from such channels will never last long. Cain killed Abel just because God had approved of Abel and not him (Genesis 4:4-8) but what was the result? He was rejected and banished. Saul did all in his power to kill David just because he felt bad, that the people sang David’s praises and not his, (1 Samuel 18:6-9) and he saw his throne passing on to David but still what was the result? Why fight so much to have and cling to something that won’t last long? Those who go against all odds just be acknowledged will always come crushing in the worst of ways. I want you to think of all the people you fought hard to be seen well off and ask yourself how they see you today. Many of us have done horrible things just to get a place or a favour or an achievement and today those things we fought for do not have value in our eyes anymore. How many lives have we destroyed in words or actions just because of envy and unholy ambitions? Vanity upon vanity.
Let’s look at this example of Jacob who fraudulent took the blessings of the first son. Yes, he was blessed but what was the outcome? He lived all his life as a fugitive. Even with the blessings he had to seek refuge in the house of Laban (Genesis 27:43-45) where he worked double and was cheated and left in not good conditions but in the end, he still came to bow in front of the right owner of the blessings So that he could have peace (Genesis 33:7-11). If you decide to fight hard for people to appreciate and acknowledge you, you will have to work hard and fight all your life to maintain the acknowledgement, because the moment you stop, they will exclude you. Women who have been married into families that didn’t want them can testify to the fact that after they made so much effort to be accepted, they were termed devils at the slightest mistakes. So why the stress? Why not wait for the right time? Every one of us has been marked by God for approval at various levels and at different times. A perfect example is John the Baptist who refused to be acknowledged as Christ and took his place as the precursor (John 1:19-23) and the second is Mary who stopped Jesus from continuing at the temple when he was just 12 (Luke 2:42-51). What if John had accepted being the Christ? How long will his fame have lasted? What if Mother Mary Had not stopped Jesus at 12? The people would have killed him before he even started his mission. Joseph ignorantly told his dreams to his brothers so that they could acknowledge him but it made them despise him and seek to destroy him (Genesis 37:5 and verses 18-20). Let me use this channel to advise mothers who fail to protect their children at tender ages and showcase them thinking they are doing well. You are simply exposing them to be devoured. This is the mistake Jacob made with Joseph and it ended with him being sold into slavery. Follow the steps our Lady and better prepare the Children for the dangers of the forthcoming acknowledgement. The Father’s approval at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry (Matthew 3:17) paved the way for his acknowledgement by John and others (John 1:29-30). When the acknowledgement comes from God, there is nothing to struggle for, it flows naturally. Trying to get it by your strength or even trying to buy it with your means will only lead to curses (Acts 8:17-24). Be patient and pray your way out. It’s just a matter of time.

Resolutions

I resolve not to seek or fight for undue favours and acknowledgement.

I resolve to seek God’s acknowledgement beyond human acknowledgement.

I resolve to walk with Jesus and enjoy the position that is mine and trust him for the ones to come.
I resolve not to envy others but to thank God for his goodness to them.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, I thank you for your constant direction and guidance in my life. Thank you for accepting me as I am and for making me a part of the people you have chosen. I beg for forgiveness for all the times I went astray and did the wrong things just to appear good and be accepted by people. Teach me O Lord to be humble enough and wait on you. Help to work hard and access the things and places you have destined for me and grant me the joy of savouring the good things when they come with them.

Amen.

Assignment

Look back at how far you have come and examine the process that led you there.
If there are people who were hurt in the course beg God’s forgiveness and make some reparations where possible.
Pray against the spirit of envy and jealousy.