YOUR OBEDIENCE; ANOTHER’S REJOICING
I was returning from a trip to the South-South about ten years ago. A dear one picked me up at the Airport in Lagos. He was to drop me off at the park so I could pick up a cab to Ibadan en route to Eruwa.
Just before we got to the car park, he pulled out a pack and handed me a gift. It was a Lenovo Tab. I was overjoyed. I needed it. Once I got home, I began to plot the use of the tab. Around 2 am, I woke up to pray. The Holy Spirit said, “The tab is not yours. Give it to ___.”
This is the interesting part: When I handed the tab to the person, he said, “I woke up around 2 am, and I was just full of joy. I did not know why. But seeing this now. I understand.” That was the same time I promised the Holy Spirit that I would obey. It means that the moment I decided to obey, the communication of joy landed in the recipient’s spirit without knowing what was happening.
Your obedience is the joy of another. You are not just blessed for your own sake. There is more- you are blessed to be a blessing.
“I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.”
Genesis 12:2 NIV
Giving is divine communication.
Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.
Galatians 6:6 KJV
It is a divine communication that can erupt in joy in the recipient’s heart. That is, the moment you obey the prompt to give, you have become a divine courier of joy.
Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction. Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only. But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well pleasing to God.
Philippians 4:14-15, 18 KJV
When Paul received the gifts from the Philippian church, it was a communication of joy for him and a secret-smelling sacrifice well pleasing to God.
Giving stirs great joy. Never hold back when you have a prompt to give. Do not debate it. Do not delay it. Ask the Lord to bless you with a liberal heart. There is the grace to give. You can ask the Lord for it.
But since you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness, and in the love we have kindled in you—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
2 Corinthians 8:7 NIV
Whose joy are you delaying?
This is why we pray for men! Some delays are happening simply because a man is struggling with obedience.
Months later, the recipient sent me a message. The tab was a saving grace for him during his service year. He had a device loaded with a lot of teachings that kept him sane in the middle of opportunities to derail.
Know the things meant for you.
Know the ones that you are simply a channel and courier for. Never mix it up.
May you be willing.
May the channels of blessing to you also be willing. Amen.
temilOluwa Ola, Eruwa.