Christ’s Ambassador

As we coast home to Christmas time, let’s go through this very familiar story once again, perhaps we may see some things we have been overlooking or taking for granted. Maybe we might even discover some errors in our previous understanding. May God help us to discern his word.

The Government passed a decree that all people should go back to their ‘Local Government Areas’ for registration so as to get a new tax assessment. Tax? Are we not overtaxed as it is? So there was this mass movement –Exodus – in different directions, all trying to beat the deadline to avoid sanctions. Well, you would miss other dividends of democracy if you failed to register. Your children cannot attend public schools. You cannot get treated in a Government hospital. You won’t enjoy any of the public utilities, etc. In Bethlehem, natives poured in (in droves) from all entry points of the town. They came in at all hours of the day and night. All hotels were fully booked. Many emergency hotels and motels have sprang up in odd places, and they got filled as soon as they were opened. Many folks were still hanging around looking for accommodation.  Even the structures under construction have been booked. Joseph and Mary his wife entered Bethlehem in the midst of all these activities, and she was nine months heavy, beginning to feel the labour pains. Perhaps we need to reconsider this statement ”Silent Night ….All is calm“

How did Mary look like? Check out any young lady around you. If you are a lady yourself, look into the mirror. The Bible recorded that Elijah was a man of flesh and blood like us (James 5:17). So were Mary and Joseph. Think of a peasant woman, a prima around you, Mary was like that. This couple were not supernatural human beings but ordinary folks chosen for an extra-ordinary task. This prima rode a donkey for several kilometers on her EDD, looking forward to a warm bed for a rest after the long journey. Yeah! I agree with your thinking. I would take my wife to my family house if I were Joseph, remember the two of them were natives of Bethlehem. But Joseph could not do that. Why? The Bible did not tell us but I do have a guess. They would hardly have been welcomed. Remember Mary’s pregnancy was a controversial one? To devout Jews, this couple was one detestable duo who would not be allowed to live in the same house with those strict adherents of the laws of Moses. Who knows if Mary’s parents belived the ‘angelic visit’? Did Joseph’s? Well, would you have believed if you wer in their shoes? Thank God for the power of the Holy Spirit  he has poured on us to guide us to all truth. And when the last inn keeper had announced again “Sorry, we are fully booked” You guessed right what Mary said to Joseph and what Joseph replied back, and the manner of saying it, I mean the tone of voice………wait, the labour had started.

Did you grow up to find that your birth happened to be a mix-up which no one has been able to explain to you how and why it occurred? Thank God you were born in the first instance. It happened to the Lord. Mary could explain her conception but no one was ready to listen to that kind of story. Are you called to nurture a child whose father you do not know? Jesus was once considered so by ignorant men. Go ahead with the task God has given you to do.

It was not a carefully debated decision that made them to take the manger. There was no choice. A manger is a horrible place to give birth, click here to see one. Mary was in great pain and she was in no position to choose lest she give birth to her first born right there at the motel reception hall. Was Mary in position to give proper consideration to any idea at such a time? Was Joseph very normal at such an hour? I have had the priviledge of seeing women labour for delivery of their children. Its no easy task, especially first attemptss, and the Bible did not suggest to us that Mary’s was any different. Why do we seem to think there was no labour pain at all, I mean, it does not reflect that we appreciate Mary went through labour in the way we tell the story of christmas even in the movies and the songs

Who were the carriers of the news of his birth? Well I concede one point here. The best ever.  A choir of Angels who probably have been rehearsing for ages. My problem then is their audience. Who? Some weather beaten outlaws called shepherds. The Jews gave no regard to shepherds at all, shepherds were bad news. God however gave them the privilege of hearing the good news first of all, but who would listen to shepherds?. Don’t couples go into debt and quarrels these days over the bills for the naming ceremony or the things to buy in preparation for the birth of their child? May God forgive us.  Maybe some have already gone into debts now as they shop for Xmas. Jesus wouldn’t appreciate that.

The name God chose for this miraculous child was not one of the Celestial ones. Gabriel left a specific name to avoid mix-ups. It was a name the couple next door have also given their child. YESHUA, translated to Jesus, meaning Salvation of God. Up till today, many Jews are still answering this name even when some of them are not believers. What is your name? I have seen many folks in Nigeria change their names for the purpose of getting better jobs or choice marriage partners. Vanity. Many born Davids have changed to Daudas so that they would be acceptable to the core moslem community for the purpose of getting choice jobs or business links and juicy appointments. Perhaps you are shameful because of your ancestral name or reputation? You are not happy bearing your family name because of the sins of your ancestors? Have your peace. The reaason the son of God came is to destroy the works of the devil. Remember Judah? He committed incest. He slept with Tamar his son’s in law although he took her for a strange harlot, he sinned all the same. Rahab was also a harlot at Jericcho. Ruth was of the Moabite people, a people cursed because of the incestuous relationship between Lot and his daughters which produced Moab their big father. David was a lier, adulterer and then murderer, who tried to cover his sin. God brought all these people back into his family because they accepted the grace. They have this thing in common; they were all ancestors of the man Jesus. You are in this wise related with him and hence he could help you.

And Joseph? He did not wait to give the child Jesus all he would have wanted from a father. He died too early making Jesus to know the pains of bereavement.  Have you lost a dear one this year? Be comforted. Jesus who also lost a dear one early in life would comfort you. As the eldest son, he had to work to support the family, at least until the younger ones were also old enough to work before he started his ministry. Jesus knew what it meant to shoulder heavy responsibility at a very tender age. If you have to work extra-hard to feed your family and relations, be glad you are in this wise related to the Son of man. Jesus had to inherit the carpentry trade from his foster father so he could feed his and siblings and Mary.

Despite the pictures advertisers and film makers make us to see and believe Jesus was a serenely looking, calm, even handsome man, I just have to differ on this issue. We have no physical image preserved but we have the Biblical record to refer to. Many have been so deceived by this actor’s image that they even see it in dreams and visions and they come out to tell us that they have seen Christ. We must be very careful here because even Satan can parade himself as an angel of light to carry out his schemes. Jesus did not come with a handsome face. I mean he wasn’t good looking. He was not attractive. In the prophecy of Isaiah, we read that in chapter 53:2,3 “…..…. he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, [there is] no beauty that we should desire him”. If you think you are not good looking, and you’ve been taking that as a disadvantage, don’t fret. A servant is not greater than his Master. Jesus was not good looking too.  And if you are blessed with good looks, let that not get into your head. The real beauty that lasts is the condition of your mind. Many preachers today expend a lot of the people’s offerings and tithes on makeup, exotic wears and other vanities thinking these would make them acceptable by the congregation and it would show that God works in their lives. This is folly and work of the flesh. I am not saying we should not look attractive, but it is no prove that we are godly and it bothers on vanity and distraction.

Perhaps some people think Jesus’ divinity was very obvious to his family. A glance at John’s account in chapter 7 verses 5 tells a different story. “For even his brothers didn’t believe in him”. He started facing his rejection and persecution right from home. James, Jude and others got help to believe his divinity after his resurrection because he appeared to James. Read it in Acts 15:7.  The issue of the disciples’ unbelief needs not be overbeaten here, it’s legendary already. They denied, etrayed, doubted and forsook him. So why do you think your problems are out of this world because you have family problems?

All the above makes me to appreciate much more the humanity of Jesus even as his resurrection makes me to appreciate his divinity. Have you seen some of our Pastors and GOs who have become very inaccessible? They have lost touch with the congregation. They do not know a thing about the sufferings of the flock of God they have been called to feed. Rather, as hirelings which they are, they fleece the sheep and bolt away at the slightest hint of danger. Even before he was born, the stage was set for Jesus to feel the pains and sorrows of humanity who had lost touch with God. He was thereof made the captain, the author and finisher of our salvation. Having felt more gruesome pains he could help us in our own sufferings. Jesus was truly man. His sorrows were real. His pains were really bitter. He was called a man of sorrows. You can relate with him in your sufferings, he who feels it knows it. There is no other saviour apart from him.

As you celebrate this Christmas reflect on the realities of the birth and life of Jesus. Be modest in your expectations and celebrations because Christ himself set this example. It is not a time to show-off your wealth and acquisitions in the past eleven months. It is not time to over-indulge in pleasure. It is time however, to remember the poor and use Christ as a point of contact to reach them. It is time to remember the pregnant women in difficult labour. It is time to celebrate with widows. It is time to extend your hands of fellowship to the destitutes, the rejected and ostracised in society. It is time to remember the homeless, the orphans and the sorrowful. It is time to seek to mend broken relationships. It is time to avail yourself to God so He might use you to alleviate the sufferings of  people around you. It is also time to teach your household to know the significance of the first coming of Jesus Christ, and to help them to prepare for his second coming.

If any of those inn-keepers knew who was in Mary’s protruding belly would they not have gladly yielded their own personal sleeping quarters for the one who is in charge of the entire household of God? As you enjoy God’s blessings this Christmas, look out of your comfort zone. The one whose birth you claim to be celebrating might just be out there hungry, naked, homeless and without a friend. If we neglect such people, is our Christmas celebration real?

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Then Peter came to him and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?” “No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven”

Mathew 18:21-22

This is a necessary follow-up to my earlier posting titled Betrayed But Not Defeated. If you have not read it, it was a story of Mama Abutu, my mother in-law’s sustained faithfullness to her marriage vows even when her husband deserted the house and was not seen or heard of for seven years. She used that bitter disappointment as a launching pad for a more intimate relationship with God. The last one to graduate of her seven children, Grace, a Journalist, is now on the one-year National Service program at Akwa Ibom state. The Lord restored the fortunes of Abutu family when, as a thief in the night, baba walked in on 27th August 2008. This, I must confess happened because you people prayed for the family when you read the that post, for it happened ten days after the publication came online. Thank God for hearing your prayers on behalf of the family.

Baba, David Bala Abutu a retired cop, came in sober and repentant. He, like the Biblical David approached Mama and pleaded guilty. He confessed that Mama did not offend her in any way and that he was sorry for inflicting so much pain on everybody when he abandoned his family. He confirmed that he had suffered greatly from the heat of the Holy Spirit who kept on convicting him. He came back home when he could not bear it any longer. He wondered if Mama and the children would have him back?

Mama’s joy knew no limits. She at first thought she was in a dream. Her doubts cleared when she conducted all tests of reality, straining her eyes, pinching herself and still Baba’s presence before her was as real as it could ever be. According to her, she could not say a word other than “God! How great you are!” In response to the question, she bursted out singing her favourite song “Praise God Halleluyah, Praise God Amen, Praise God Halleluyah, Praise God Amen”. This she sang as she prepared a warm bath for baba who had travelled over 800 kilometeres to reach home. And while he took his bath, she still sang as she prepared food and served her husband for the first time in seven years. All the while, she was marveling at what God has brought about in her life.

When the man had finished eating and is refreshed. They settled down to talk. Old wounds were re-opened so they could be given proper treaatment for healing. Baba was taken by surprise at what he found out. He never expected that he would be received quite easily and even with gratitude to God. He never expected an easy forgiveness from a woman who had never enjoyed marital love and care for almost forty years, no thanks to him. What eventually became a seven year-absence from home started with short absences, uncaring attitudes and unwillingness to make provisions for the family needs. He knew mama as a good believer and servant of God yet he was overwhelmed by this grace of forgiveness and acceptance without him having to pay a limb for it.

Mama’s attitude is rare in these evil days. It could be likened to the Father rushing out to meet the prodigal son even when he was still far off from the house, lest the poor boy became frightened and change his mind. She took her husband back demonstrating that vengeance is of God. It is in man to sin but its nature of God to forgive. She recognized the fact that if she refused to forgive, her own sins would not be forgiven and her prayers will be hindered as Jesus warned clearly in Mark 11:25-26. “And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses” KJV

After about three days when Baba had rested well and they had discussed at length, Mama arranged for her husband to meet with the Elders of the Church. The elders prayed for them and asked all the necessary questions, which Baba answered to their satisfaction. For those who had known him before, here was a repented David Bala Abutu before them. For some of them had counseled him several times in the past when it was obvious he would fall into the sin of abandoning his family.

To show he was ready to turn a new leaf, he accepted the Elders’ counsel that he started attending a baptismal class at once upon the conclusion of which he would be accepted into the Church fully and then prayers would be organized for his family. He had since concluded the training and had been given an immersion baptism. The climax of it was the marriage blessing which held on 28th November 2008. It was a grand occasion for the members of Qua Iboe Church in Makurdi and other parishes in Benue State and Abuja, and all the members of Heart Of Faith Ministry which Mama founded at the beginning of her trials.

This is a clear testimony that “Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning” Mama held onto the Lord. The waters of the storm did not drown her and the fire of trials did not consume her as God promised through Isaiah (Isaiah 43:2) God has replenished the oil in her marriage. I rejoice with her greatly. My congratulations also go to Mama’s children; Samuel, Hassan Paul, Hassana Suzan (my wife), Victoria, Stephen, Grace and Rose. They, in obedience to Mama’s teaching and following her example, have allowed the Holy Spirit to take control of their emotions. They all received their father back with forgiving hearts, compassion and honour. God will surely honour them back for treating their father with honour and kind regards. Ex 20:12 says “Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee”. God is not unjust to forget this labour of love.

As you read this piece, perhaps oil has dried up in your own marriage and you are going through a hard time? Perhaps you are in one problem or the other and you cannot see the end of it for now? This is a sure, real-live contemporary testimony that God sees your tears and he is concerned. Jesus knows about your troubles and if he is in the boat with you, you can smile at the storm. He will guide till the day is done. God is on your case, do not conclude yet. He has good plans for you. Perhaps you are keeping someone’s offence warm in your heart and you are not ready or able to forgive them? Think of all you owe Jesus Christ himself who died for your sins. Ask Jesus to make your heart tender and give you the ability to forgive. Remember what Joseph said to his brothers who had inflicted him with great pains? “But as for you, ye thought evil against me; [but] God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as [it is] this day, to save much people alive” Ex 50:20

Or are you the one who has offended someone and you think it is impossible for you to be forgiven? You only need to confess your sins and repent genuinely. Learn to say “I am Sorry” and make sure you mean it. Pray and be ready to repair the broken relationship. If the Spirit speaks to you today, do not harden your heart.

Finally, train your children in the way of the Lord if God has blessed you with children. Mama trained her children to forgive and to live in peace with everyone. She herself is having peace under her roof now with her husband because her children have not departed from the teaching she gave them. To God be the Glory.

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Late in the year 2003, August precisely I got involved in the processes to fill a job vacancy. By then I had been un-employed for three years and still counting, (meaning I had nothing doing, all job interviews had not yielded any fruit) The new attempt was at the Defense Ministry. The expatriates running a Simulation Centre in one of the agencies have been asked to handover to competent indigenes and leave. To cut the story short, I was one of the people who went through the series of tests and were shortlisted. Eleven positions in all and I was among the hundreds of applicants being considered.

The processing have been going on for months rolling into the first quarter of year 2004. God saw me through all the stages of screening and then came the last oral interview . On the day of the interview, we were screened down to only me for my category, the position was Assistant Director, Database Management. As I sat facing the panel for the last chat, we discussed agreeably over many issues ranging from the knowledge of the job to industry standards and then to the nitty gritties of remuneration. We were all smiles even as the head of the panel, a Brigadier General representing the Commandant of the agency assured me of their readiness to hire me and their anticipated quick response. I left the venue in high spirits and it was all praises and thanksgiving as I recounted the experience to my wife. Our house rent was due and the Estate Agent had been  pestering. We had not paid our electricity bills for months and the power company had cut us off. We needed money to pay other bills and Tayo our son had to start schooling. It seemed God had finally answered our prayers. My Pastor complemented our sentiments by recounting a vision he had which also revealed that I was going to have a very rewarding career and I would be very popular in the agency.

True to his words, I got a letter from the Agency about a month later, congratulating me for being found qualified to hold the position of Assistant Director, Database Management. I was instructed to proceed to the Ministry of Defence for final documentations and inclusion in the payroll. To say the least, I was mad with joy. I went gaga with exhilaration. So I was out of the wood at last. Truly God worked in mysterious ways, making ways where there seemed to be no way. This appointment would just raise poor me and put me at par with some of the fastest among my school mates who had gotten good employments immediately after graduation. God had finally closed the gap for me.

My brother, who was already in close contact with the ministry because of his chosen career, introduced me to a contact man who could show me around the ministry and facilitate a quick processing of my papers. I had started calling some of the guys who would be my superiors in the agency and they were all expecting me, in fact, urging me to come quick.

My first day at the ministry showed that there would be some delay. I was taken to the right office and the officer in charge of recruitment checked through the files and mails but couldn’t find any letter with the same reference as the one I brought. He asked me to come back a week later, adding that their communication processes were slow in the ministry. Their own copy of the file had not come. There was no cause for alarm yet, I went back home to wait. A week later I went back and it was the same story. And this status remained till the middle of year 2004. With my brother’s help, calls were made to the agency hiring me and copies of the same file were sent and this was a rare priviledge because of my brother’s influence. But again, none of the files surfaced at the ministry.

Unknown to us at the time, the file must also pass through the Defence Headquarters for a certain Chief to sight on need- to- know reasons. After a careful tracking of all dispatch books, it was found that the original file (and several subsequent copies of it) went out of circulation after getting to a certain table en route the Chief’s desk. So the real authority never sighted it. After much investigation, the one responsible for the untimely interment of the file owned up to his nefarious scheme. He was overheard boasting to one of his colleagues that unless the process was done all over again, and his own candidate found qualified to fill one of the positions, hundreds of such files would never get to his Chief. I would never have believed if he did not make the mistake of initiating a discussion with my brother. It happened like this. He felt ashamed and probably a little afraid of the consequences of his actions for that was a breach of trust for someone occupying such a position as he did. He wanted to call my brother who found him out but did not have his number. I guess he wanted to intimidate him to stop all activities concerning this issue, or at least to offer some flimsy excuses to justify his own actions. So he went through the files he hid and when he got to my documents and seeing that I used my brother’s mailing address, he also assumed that the phone number there was also his. There he was wrong. The mailing address was my brother’s but the contact phone was Suzan’s, my wife. The only cell phone available to my wife and I was in custody of my wife so that I could always reach her wherever I may be. Our man called that number and when he heard a lady’s voice, offered his apologies and dropped. I was not at home that time, I was still hanging around the Ministry and the Defence Headquarters. When I got home and learnt of that strange call, I copied the number and called from a public phone booth. He picked the call and identified himself. I was scandalized when I heard the big name and r -  - k. He told me point blank that he had wanted to speak to my brother but my brother would explain things better for me and he clicked off.

That was the final blow to my anxiety of almost eleven months.  All the hopes of covering the lost gap in my career, all the hopes of a reconstruction of my damaged career path, all the hopes of recovering all lost time, relevance and wealth blew off like a mist. The hope of being able to earn an income again to provide for my family became a mere mirage. How would I pay my house rent now? How would I be able to live again as a normal person? I would I play the role of Father to my son and husband to my wife if I could not feed, clothe and provide shelter for them? How would I take care of my aged mother who suffered to ensure I had education? My father had died at the ripe old age of 75 without me being able to care as much as I would have wanted to care for him. I got depressed as though my un-employment problems had suddenly escalated

Who would dare face this powerful man who was denying me access to a job I was tested and found qualified for? A job for which I had been given a letter of employment.  Should I go to the press? Yes I could, but what would be the result of that? The same man who dealt with me could deal another blow on my brother’s career. He was powerful, influential and w—ed. I have learnt to not look unto man for justice. I decided to lick my wounds quietly and wait on God.

Around December in year 2004 just at the time the promotions were released in Government agencies and parastatals, I read in the papers that this man had been promoted and also appointed to higher responsibilities. I received this news with mixed feelings. On one hand, I was sad that God still promoted this wicked fellow. All promotions come from God and the scriptures say “Fret not when the wicked prospers” . On the other hand, I was happy that he was no longer in that position so I renewed my eagerness  to know what could become of my case. I launched a fresh search of the file with the help of new contacts in the Defence Headquarters. The search yielded no new fruits but we found out that some other man was already doing the job I had high hopes for.

I must confess here that I fell sick when all hope was lost in this manner. I got really depressed such that my wife began to worry about my health and state of mind. I did not know I would be able to pull through but God comforted me. It was three years after that before I could get another offer of job and that’s the job I am at now. Three more years of hard life, terrible pains, years of utter hopelessness, but years that offered the opportunity to lean on God very hard. Looking back, I confess they were gracious years. Tough but toughening. My wounds have healed because of the comfort of the Holy Spirit. I feel no bitterness towards that man again and he himself had since retired from the service. Others are also doing his former job now. I thank God for seeing me through. Nothing lasts forever except the word of God.

Have you suffered betrayal and disappointment? Remember that Jesus also did. Are you facing administrative tyrany in your place of work? Are you suffering from the hands of  wicked and powerful people? Are you tempted to fight for yourself? Wait a moment. The battle is the Lord’s. A servant cannot be greater than his master, Jesus warned. Allow Jesus the expert to handle it. Take your case to God whose eyes roam to and fro throughout the earth. He will take care of you and your feelings. He will provide for you and give you peace. He will conmfort you so that you can as well comfort others.

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