Monday Morning Meditation: Holy As ABC
Copyrights ? 2014 By Ogbo Awoke Ogbo
"… Holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord." ~ Hebrews 12:14, KJV
Last Monday, I was still on my private retreat at the guest facility of the exquisite Canaanland, Ota, Ogun State. If you haven't been there, please do so, if only to witness the efficacy of a man's vision and faith. There are two things to do with Bishop Oyedepo: criticize him or learn from him. If you choose the former, you will have lots to keep yourself busy. If you choose the latter, there's a ton to learn from the man.
Anyway, unfortunately, the Covenant University Internet service was temporarily down and I couldn't check emails or send out the meditation when I needed to. So, I set?out to the dingy Ota town in search of a cybercafe located in what looked like a rabbit hole. It took like 10 minutes or more to load a website, but that isn't the story for today.
The cybercafe had no wireless service; I could't surf with my laptop. The supervisor gracefully offered me a flash drive to copy my work and send through their system. I thanked him and plugged the USB stick into my laptop.?
Soon as I did, my eyes widened with excitement when I beheld the juicy contents of the flash drive - "IT policy for schools in Nigeria," "National School Curriculum," "List of schools in Nigeria" and dozens of similar jewels I needed for my work!
Okay. So, I couldn't resist. Without thinking, I zapped three files from the flash drive onto my desktop. But while I did that, my heart beat abnormally fast. My palms sweated. Someone had been looking over my shoulder! He bent and softly whispered into my ears, "Ole!"
I froze.?
He said, "You just stole."
I tilted to see who was speaking. Sure enough, it was Him. With remorseful embarrassment, I said, "I'm sorry, Holy Spirit, for causing You shame."
My mind went into a trance. I heard God boast to Lucifer, "Do you see my son, Ogbo the Great? There's none like him on earth. I am so proud of him."
And Satan said to God, "Don't be too sure about that."
God insisted, "Yes, I am."
Satan countered, "Why don't we wager on that?"
"Go for it," said the LORD God, "But don't hurt him or I'll kill you!'
"Here's the deal," said Lucifer, "I'll freeze the Covenant University Internet service and take him to a cybercafe in the town."
"And what?"
"Then I'll tempt him with a flash drive loaded with content he can't resist and see if he wouldn't steal it."
And the LORD God said, "Lucifer, I know my son, Ogbo. He won't steal."
(I already gave you the sad epilogue - I stole the data, just as the enemy predicted.)
Immediately following my conviction, I deleted the stolen files from my laptop and promptly emptied the Trash can without opening any of the files. I stood forgiven.
Oh, the Blood of the Lamb!
A few hours after I returned from the cybercafe, the University's Internet service was restored!
Here's what the LORD thereafter reminded me:
Other gods will let you get away with stealing content from someone's flash drive
Other gods will let you get away with pirating other people's books and music
Other gods will let you get away with bribery and corrupt practices
Other gods will let you get away with lying
Other gods will let you get away with cheating the customer
Other gods will let you get away with traveling with a false document
Other gods will let you get away with working with forged academic certificates and false age declaration
Other gods will let you get away with gossip and time wasting
Other gods will let you get away with cheating in your exams
Other gods will let you get away with pornography
Other gods will let you get away with displaying?your disgusting cleavage and polluting the minds of men with your sexy tights
Other gods will let you get away with fornication and adultery
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Other gods will let you get away with cohabiting
Other gods will let you get away with Valentine orgies
Other gods will let you get away with abortion
Other gods will let you get away with homosexuality
Other gods will let you get away with domestic violence
Other gods will let you get away with hate, cruelty, and murder
Other gods will let you get away with throat slitting and beheading in the name of religion
Other gods will let you get away with pastoring a church with sorcery
Other gods will let you get away with paying tithes with blood money
Other gods will let you get away with joining a secret society
Other gods will let you get away with aggressive driving and breaking the traffic lights
Others gods will let you get away with "little sins"
BUT… not Jehovah, the LORD of hosts, the God of Righteousness. Holy is My Name, Holy is My Throne, Holy is My Presence. Without holiness, NO man shall see Me. I am glorious in HOLINESS, fearful in praises.
Remove holiness from My Name and I become like the idols of the heathen.
Confess your sins, forsake them... and BE FORGIVEN.
Can I Really be Holy?
I ask, "Father, is it really possible to be holy on this earth… in Nigeria especially? Aren't You asking the impossible?"?
He answers, "On the contrary, it is easier to be holy than be a slave to sin."
I thought that over… it's true!
"So, you see, being holy is ABC," He said, mirroring my thoughts.
"How?"
"Think about flying an airplane. You have dozens of sophisticated controls and buttons in the cockpit. There are buttons and levers for taking off, navigating weather, emergencies, landing the plane and so on."
"Keep going," I enthused.
"Holiness on earth is like flying a plane. But here's what I have done for sons of men: I have reduced everything to just one button."
"What button?"
"Obedience," He said, "Just obey Me moment by moment, and the plane of holiness can take off, fly successfully, navigate stormy weather, and land safely.
"My commands are not grievous. They are not hard to obey as Satan makes you believe. What is hard about 'Don't steal?' Isn't harder to steal than not steal? Isn't harder to slap your wife than love and cherish her as I commanded you?
"Just let My Spirit guide you and holy becomes reflex. Immerse yourself in my Word and prayer, and holy becomes culture… and holy becomes ABC."
Have an awesome week of grace!
I love you. Wouldn't you rather be holy, healthy, wealthy and wise?
First published February 24, 2014
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1 年What is life without Christ? What is my life without living a Godly life? Happy Easter. Thank you very much for this Monday Motivation my life/mindset is transformed. God bless you always.Ogbo Awoke Ogbo