We are endowed with conscience, good and innocent

It serves to us as a code of right and wrong;

Conscience, thus, is part of grace we all receive

Let us nurture it in the Word, lest it becomes seared and numb

God has trained us in tribulations, hard and difficult

We are made to depend on God and His power;

Conscience testifies, “We are fine before the Lord,”

When we conduct ourselves well and worthy of the grace given

The Lord will surely return; all things will come to light

That day will see us and you boasting in the Lord

For the parts we each play in one another’s life

This confidence, we shall never forfeit as we enter the narrow gate

It was when the violence arose; the question ‘how long?’ was echoed;
It’s beyond the prophet’s burden, as God’s silence continued.
In the midst of contention and strife, another question ‘why?’ being made;
The prophet saw it as unfair, that the righteous seemed to fade.

(the Mistake -Chapter 1)

As the complaints delivered to God so far, yet the appointed time came for truth;
“Behold no upright in the proud, but ‘the just shall live by faith’”.
Woe to the covetous, iniquity, and liar, who dare question and stand against Him;

“For God is in His Temple, Let all keep silence before Him.”

(the Message-Chapter 2)

It is now after hearing the voice of God; the prophet with creatures was afraid;
The power of God greatly shakes him, he questioned God no more but obeyed.
Here starts the prophet’s new song, “though the fig tree may not blossom;
There be no herd in the stalls, I will ever rejoice at His bosom.”

(the Messenger-Chapter 3)

Who dare to hope?

A man of God, who holds onto God and His Word

In spite of gloom and doom

His hope is part of faith, steadfast and firm

Who dare to hope?

A child of God, who seeks God and His face

In the midst of pain and loss

Such hope is product of faith, proven in life

Who dare to hope?

A disciple of Christ, who walks with God and His rule

Regardless of where and when

His hope is proof of faith, inspiring after all

Trial, regardless of what it is, makes us wise and wiser

Only when we know that God allows it for a reason

And thus accept it as it really is!

How does one know this for sure?

It is through an effective faith that believes in God and His Word

That we are certain that suffering is part of God’s will

Tribulation, be it common or peculiar, makes us deep and deeper

Only when we recognize it as God’s means to make us whole

And learn to live with it as it is meant!

How is that possible in real life?

It is through God’s grace that energizes us so significantly

That we dare to hope in God against all kinds of hopelessness

Suffering, physical or psychological, makes us strong and stronger

Only when we discern Divine purpose embedded in it

And seek to fulfill it as it is foreordained!

How sensible is this doctrine?

It is none other than God Himself who works in us so mightily

That we become God’s channels of salvation and consolation

How does one become right with God and thus righteous?

It is always through Christ Jesus and His redemptive works

We are declared ‘just and righteous’ as God identifies us with Christ His Beloved Son

This is always how we become partakers of the grace of God manifested

What else is there for us to look for as we are identified with Christ Jesus?

Is it not that we are privileged to believe and suffer accordingly?

God has purposed since eternity in the past that the sufferings of Christ abound in us

This is exactly how God’s supply of grace and peace are meant to increase

There would actually come a time for us to undergo suffering of all kinds

Let’s know why we suffer such things, common and peculiar

Something good will finally come out of the sufferings on account of truth and light

This is precisely when we grow deeper and sharper, not just older, in Christ

There may come a time for us to face the harsh reality of life

Pain and problems are part of us human beings

Difficult and narrow is the right way to follow

May we enter that gate of tribulations as the Lord Himself urges us all

One day we will be called to suffer many wrongs for Christ’s sake

Trials and temptations are not foreign to us

The godly is destined to suffer, following Jesus

May we find grace to follow through as the Lord Himself enables us

How does God actually comfort us in all our tribulations?

God has come alongside us, aiding us to go on

Believing in His Word and hoping in His mercy

This, He does, through the Scriptures and His saints

Blessed be “the Father of all mercies and God of all comfort,” who

Comforts us with reference to all our tribulations

Thereby enabling us to comfort others in trouble

May we proclaim God as the Comforting One in private and public

In all the tribulations, the God of all comfort is found

By those who hold on to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ

Amidst all their trials and temptations

In all the tribulations, Father of all mercies is discovered

By those who diligently search for God in all the Scriptures

Despite all their pains and problems

In all our tribulations, we are comforted time and again

As our leaders, good and godly, lead us well and worthily

Charting the course for our own good

In all our tribulations, we are strengthened and blessed

As our fellow-workers remain loyal and supportive to us

Taking sides with that which is true

In all our tribulations, we are encouraged and refreshed

As our pupils learn to follow us in terms of faith and work

Teaching the faithful to do the same

In all our tribulations, we are consoled and enabled

As the Holy Spirit comes alongside us as the Comforter

Empowering us to live as we are meant

In all our tribulations, we are truly comforted by God Himself

As God’s people do their parts individually and faithfully

Rendering their reasonable service

Faith is authored by God Himself

It has come to us through the hearing of the Word

This is how God has given us this gift of faith

That we may live by faith in Christ alone

Faith has its law taught in the Word

It is diametrically opposed to the law of works

This is how grace and faith stand in harmony

That we may be saved through grace in Christ

The law of faith concerns how grace operates

Justification is not merited by works or works of the law

Abraham believed, and he was counted righteous

Whatever is of faith is also of grace indeed

Therefore,

Faith is part and parcel of God’s grace given to us all in Christ Jesus

That we may be saved by grace and live by faith in Jesus the Son of God!

Life may be harsh and tough from time to time

We may have to walk under the valley of the shadow of death

But there will always be a light for us in the dark hour

Because the Lord our God reigns supreme in this life

This is what we must hold very dear to our heart and mind

Dreams are thwarted, and plans are stalled at times

There may come a time for us to lose and fail in this present life

But here comes a silver lining for us despite the thick cloud

Because the Lord our God reigns sovereign in history

This is how we will go on, trusting in God and His Word

Qualms and doubts arise, hence; disturbing us many times

Midlife crisis is not foreign to all of us regardless of age and status

We must learn to walk worthy of God in all humility

Because the Lord our God reigns now and forevermore

This is how we become ones among Moses, Aaron and Samuel

The hour has finally come for Jesus to drink the cup of suffering

This is none other than the cup of judgement, full of the horrible wrath of God

Would Jesus rue the day?

He could if He were to choose not to redeem you and me

That would truly be a day of doom and darkness

The Son of Man must fulfill what was written of Him in the Scriptures

As it has been written of Him, Jesus the Lord of glory is to be stricken by God Himself

Could Jesus ruin the plan?

He could if He were to leave our destiny to you and me

That would really be a day of loss and sorrow

Today is Friday, a day before the Sabbath, for the Jews, then and now

Jesus has paid “the wages of sin” in full, fulfilling all the Scriptures foretold of Him

“It’s finished,” He said

He has accomplished the redemptive works for you and me

This makes today Good Friday for us all

G – God has always been good and kind to us

Despite all our faults and fouls;

He has persistently sought to make us (the dead) alive in Christ Jesus,

Though we were ignorantly wicked in His sight

R –  Running against that which is evil is all God embraces

So that He may defeat and end it forever;

He foreordained Christ for our redemption, having our debts paid in full on the Cross

While we were still sinners in His very sight

A –  Against is a preposition used to speak of negative reactions

To anything or anybody we encounter;

God has battled against Satan and his cohorts, enabling us to believe in Jesus,

Who alone is the Christ of the living God

C –  Corruption in all degrees is the essence of life after the Fall

This truth is witnessed by all in words and deeds;

God has begotten us in Christ anew, teaching us to walk worthy

Of His grace and mercy undeservedly given

E –  Eden was a garden our first parents were placed

To toil and till within the Divine rule;

Adam and Eve had corrupted themselves, when they chose to be deaf and blind to God

Eden became a symbol of separation and death

God runs against (the) corrupt Eden!

Count it all joy when you are faced with various trials

God is behind all of these, orchestrating all that come to your way

This is how He will make you a fisher of man

Count it all joy when you suffer wrongs from all sides of life

God is in control of all, waiting for you to turn to Him in time

You are called to commit to Him as your Judge

Count it all joy when your faith is being tested

God is having your faith proven true and precious for life and ministry

This is how you will end up being saved, after all

Count it all joy if you know that you lack wisdom from above

God is more than pleased to grant you wisdom when you ask for it in faith

God is truly generous and kind to the faithful

Count it all joy if you are materially literally poor

God has chosen you to be rich in faith instead for your own good

Blessed are you who love God amidst all poverty