April 18 – As if thou hast not received it

Hello everyone,
How are you doing on this day? I hope well. I am fine and just continually amazed at how God manifests His love for us. He is indeed very faithful, so hold tight to Him and enjoy His ride. So a couple of weeks ago, we had an exam in church, based on Sunday School memory verses. One of the ones that we had to learn was from 1 Corinthians 4v7, which says:

“For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?” (King James Version)

“For who separates you from the others [as a faction leader]? [Who makes you superior and sets you apart from another, giving you the preeminence?] What have you that was not given to you? If then you received it [from someone], why do you boast as if you had not received [but had gained it by your own efforts]?” (Amplified Bible)

“For what gives you the right to make such a judgment? What do you have that God hasn’t given you? And if everything you have is from God, why boast as though it was not a gift?” (New Living Translation).

It’s so easy to fall into the trap of thinking we have what we do have because of what we have done. Indeed, what you sow, you do reap, and if we see a man diligent in his affairs, he will stand before kings, and not mean men. But then we look at the basic things which allow for one to keep going like joy, peace, loved ones, friends, family, the breath of life, stamina, good health … and we realize that indeed, it is all God.

Think of such people as the Israelites, they prospered because God was with them. When God’s back was turned from them, the little people of Ai beat them. Think of Gideon, Joseph (who Potiphar saw that the Lord was with him, thus he prospered and was successful), think of Daniel (he would have died if God had not revealed to him the dream of the king) … and on and on and on.

The conclusion of the whole matter: Our lives are in His hands and that is a wonderful to be grateful for. Also recalling a song by Wale Adenuga (I believe) which says – all that I have comes from You, all that I am, You have made me to be, I know that You Lord loves to be praised …

Have a wonderful day.

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Verses for thought:
“For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.

For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s.” Romans 14v7&8