Word of the week
Exodus 14:26-28 NLT
When all the Israelites had reached the other side, the Lord said to Moses, “Raise your hand over the sea again. Then the waters will rush back and cover the Egyptians and their chariots and charioteers.” So as the sun began to rise, Moses raised his hand over the sea, and the water rushed back into its usual place. The Egyptians tried to escape, but the Lord swept them into the sea. Then the waters returned and covered all the chariots and charioteers—the entire army of Pharaoh. Of all the Egyptians who had chased the Israelites into the sea, not a single one survived.
This is a phenomenal story of how God delivered His people from their stubborn enemies.
The Egyptians were so blinded by anger and rage at the children of Israel. The Israelites leaving Egypt was going to impact their economy. They had lost their slaves and free labour.
They were also on a revenge mission. They had lost their first born children. They were looking for people to vent their negative emotions on.
To cut a long story short, when God parted the Red Sea for the Israelites, the Egyptians followed them into the Red Sea.
Sometimes, I ask myself, ‘were they insane?’ Why did they not stop in fear at the sight of the Red Sea parting? Had they seen such a thing before?
Anger and other negative emotions make one to be blind and irrational. They make one not to think properly.
Anyway, after all the Israelites had crossed the Red Sea, God told Moses to stretch out his hand over the Red Sea so that the sea could close. The Egyptians that entered the Red Sea were going to drown.
This is where I asked myself another question; what if Moses, out of pity for the Egyptians, did not stretch out his hand?
This brings me to our topic for today which is ‘Don’t sacrifice yourself’.
Be nice to people, be kind, but when push comes to shove, don’t sacrifice yourself.
You must learn not to practice the kindness that will make you to be a victim of another person. Some weeks ago, I did a broadcast titled ‘Victim of kindness?’ I will encourage you to watch the video.
You may be saying, ‘Ola, that is not the Christian way’. But it is. God never asked me to love my neighbour MORE THAN myself. He said I should love my neighbour AS myself. You must learn to think of yourself first particularly, God forbid, in situations of danger. Even in the aircraft, they tell you that in an emergency you should fit your oxygen mask before you attempt to fit that of the child you may be carrying. My daddy in the Lord, Daddy EA Adeboye said recently that self love is not selfishness.
My husband said something to me many years ago that has stood the test of time. He said to me, ‘Me first’ is what is ruling this world’. Check your environment and you will see this is true.
I know as Christians we are in the world but not of the world.
Not withstanding, always bear in mind that Jesus is the Saviour of the world. He is the Ultimate Sacrifice. Don’t make yourself another sacrifice.
Message of the week
The prodigal son
Luke 15:11-14 NLT
“To illustrate the point further, Jesus told them this story: “A man had two sons. The younger son told his father, ‘I want my share of your estate now before you die.’ So his father agreed to divide his wealth between his sons. “A few days later this younger son packed all his belongings and moved to a distant land, and there he wasted all his money in wild living. About the time his money ran out, a great famine swept over the land, and he began to starve.”
Sometimes you have to let people do their own thing.
The father of the prodigal son typified God Who despite our poor choices still loves us and accepts us
The prodigal son is like all of us.
We insist sometimes on doing things that are contrary to the will of God.
When God says be diligent, we make a choice to be lazy
When God says be angry and sin not, we make a choice to be angry and say terrible things in the process.
When God says to speak evil of no man, we make a choice to gossip about or slander others.
The prodigal son was insistent on freedom and going his own way and the father allowed him.
It didn’t work out well.
Notwithstanding, the father received him back with open arms.
You see, human beings have been created with free will and if someone is bent on doing something, you must let them.
However, if their choices burn them and land them into trouble, don’t gloat over them as if you don’t have any shortcomings yourself
Be kind and forgiving and help those whose poor choices have landed them into trouble.
That is the way of Christ.
May we all walk and operate in the mind of Christ always in Jesus Name
