by Pastor Afolabi Oladele

As we all approach the end of the lockdown, it is proper to evaluate what spiritual benefits we have obtained from the time of being alone with God, or family and indeed with yourself.

Let’s take the family this morning focusing on husband and wife, parents and children vice versa. Has this been a time of unbearable stress with physical altercations, or a time of bonding leading to better understanding of one another and enriching the bond of love? Dear brother husband, dear sister wife, you cannot afford to exit this opportunity without a positive outcome. Let me quote George Washington Carver, that great black American educator and inventor “hate within will eventually destroy the hater.” This quickly brought to mind the story of Mordecai and Haman in the book of Esther. Haman started with anger. Anger led him to manipulate information to portray Mordecai and his people as a threat to the Persian King (Esther 3:5-9); from where he graduated to deep hatred which crystalized to a scheme of vengeance and to kill. But alas Haman paid with his own life (Esther 7:7-10).

I plead with you, recognize the chain: anger-information manipulation-hatred-scheming for revenge. Break this chain which Apostle Paul also spoke to before it consumes you. Paul’s admonition in Colossians 3:8, 9 (NLT/TLB), whether it is your family or church family expressed this clearly and also provided the cure in verses 12-15 (NLT/TLB) of the same chapter. The cure requires humility and sacrifice but the result is life and peace.

Think on these things and make adjustments before the hustle and bustle that sweeps things under the rug take over again. Shalom.

Good morning.

Photo by National Cancer Institute on Unsplash