Aman of God recently released his biography, and it was quite amazing the stories he had to say there. I would just highlight some of the stories for today’s write-up. He talked about amazing things God did with him as part of the Leadership of a local assembly, but an issue arose when there was public scrutiny of Men of God (in the late 90s, early 2000s). During this season, one of the days he was attending a conference representing his office, he was quizzed in about three separate scenarios and asked if he was a Man of God — He flatly denied it. Amazingly, this story never trended (maybe because social media wasn’t as rife as it is now) until this man of God released his biography, probably because there were not so many Believers at the conference or maybe because some other trends swallowed it.
On getting back to his hotel room that day, he wept bitterly because he couldn’t believe what he had just done. He thought that was even the best stage to declare his love and commitment to Christ. I mean, what better place to tell people about the power and love of Christ?
He repented, and the Lord began to furnish his heart with grace. Telling him about the things He would accomplish through him and that he should use this as another opportunity to give grace to himself and encourage other believers. This man of God went on to do amazing things.
That man of God is Apostle Peter — I just tried to contextualise the Apostle Peter’s story (Luke 22:54–62) into 2023 parlance without giving you too many hints.
Growth is the result of several factors: proper nutrition, exercise, and enough sleep; and then, certainly without consciously thinking about it, growth takes place.
You know that we can shout King David’s name, Apostle Paul’s name, and all the other Patriarch’s names because we are reading their story with “plenty” hindsight. Probably if we were alive during their times, we might have led a protest to ask King David to step down after Uriah’s story, or we could have discredited Apostle Paul’s statement and said things like this Apostle guy is too pompous. How can he say he prays more than us all? Does he know how many hours I use in ascending in the place of prayers daily? I mean, Paul literally wrote a letter and said he laboured more than all the other Apostles (just think about this again), and God allowed it to be a part of the Canon—because Humility is doing or saying what God has asked you to do or say.
We are gracious to the Patriarchs as we read their stories because we know how their stories end — IT IS ALL IN THE BOOK.
Are you and I that gracious with those we interact with daily?
What phase are you meeting these people at?
Are you interacting with that Colleague in his Coat of Many Colours stage (Joseph)?
Are you meeting that Acquaintance in her fleecing stage (Gideon)?
What phase of the story are you meeting Rahab?
Are you meeting that person at the stage where they are very critical of the Church, even “Persecuting” it (Saul/Paul)?
Are you meeting that person when they are running away from Pharaoh or being too hasty in executing their “Assignment” (Moses)?
Are you meeting that believer when they are not Certain (Theophilus)?
Are you meeting that follower of Christ when they are in the wrong direction? At least they were still willing to walk with Jesus, hear the Word, and host him even in their errors (Luke 24:13–35).
Are you meeting that disciple when he is denying Jesus real-time (Apostle Peter)?
Would you do better if you had their context?
That’s one of the reasons God has called us to love and walk in love with our neighbours —you don’t have all the perspective. You don’t know where the story started, and you also don’t know how it is going to end.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. — 1 Corinthians 13:4–8a(NIV) — The emphasis here is all mine
This is not an attempt to flip to another extreme or omit the wrong and heinous things that people do—the Word of God is still for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16). So, we have latitude from the Word to Act across these spectra.
Having said the above, this Push Buttons edition is not just about how you interact with others—you are also a part of the conversation. YES, YOU.
Are you walking in Love with yourself?
Are you patient with yourself?
Are you honourable to yourself?
Do you get easily angered with yourself?
Be gracious to yourself even as we are rounding off another calendar year; you might not have achieved all you set out to achieve this year. Be kind to yourself. Don’t dishonour yourself.
Take stock—hopefully, you did well in some things. Most likely, you didn’t have all zones or commitments covered. Maybe you denied Christ: don’t allow your faith to fail—Christ doesn’t condemn you. We still correct people in love and are firm where we need to be (Hebrews 12:6)
Let’s assume you didn’t do well in any area and that you know this is still progress. Be more deliberate next year.
You don’t know how to get into that city, space, discipline or zone⁉️ Some people go there daily — search for them and ask them to show you the road into that city (Ecclesiastes 10:15).
Compliments of the Season and peace within your walls!
I remain a fellow Comrade serving with you to actualize the LORD’s Agenda.
Ayomide Arowele