CAN I EVER GET OVER THIS?

It has always intrigued me. How Jesus left the glory and comfort of heaven for a life of suffering and death so that I might be redeemed. This is beyond imagination in a world in which people are always dreaming of more wealth, more comfort and more glory. Now, to make matters even more intriguing, Peter by inspiration of Holy Spirit wrote in 1 Peter 2:21-23 (NKJV)  “For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: “Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth”; Who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously”.

Am I really supposed to imitate Jesus in these things? Am I ready to give up any legitimate thing so I can accomplish for God something of eternal significance? Which wealth, comfort or glory can I readily lay down? Even if I give up any of these things, is it anything compared to what Christ had to give up for me? It is often easier to give up what is not worth much than to give up what is considered a fortune. This was the difficulty the rich young ruler faced when Jesus asked him to sell all that he has and give to the poor and come and follow Him. The Bible says in Matthew 19:22 (NKJV)  “But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions”.

As I ponder these things, my heart adores my Lord Jesus Christ for His great sacrificial love for me. I don’t need any other reason to be thankful to Him for the rest of my life. I know that He will give me many good things and I will witness His faithfulness in many more ways but every other thing pales in significance when compared to what He did on the cross. The words of the hymn is right on target when it says “There is no other argument, there is no other plea, it is enough that Jesus died and that He died for me”.

In the Old Testament, Habakkuk declared his commitment to joy in the Lord even when there seems to be no reason to do so. He said it so eloquently with these famous words “Though the fig tree may not blossom, Nor fruit be on the vines; Though the labor of the olive may fail, And the fields yield no food; Though the flock may be cut off from the fold, And there be no herd in the stalls—Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation" Habakkuk 3:17-18 (NKJV). However, in the New Testament we never lack a reason for thanksgiving. The fact that Jesus left all in order to die and rise again for our redemption is the greatest reason for thanksgiving. Paul wrote "For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again" 2Co 5:14-15 (NIV).

Thank you Lord Jesus for giving up everything for me. You did for me what the rich young ruler could not do for the poor of his time. Even I, have not been able to do it as I should with consistency yet you did it for me.

THANK YOU LORD FOR YOU LOVED ME AND LEFT ALL TO DIE FOR ME SO THAT I MIGHT HAVE YOUR LIFE.

I PLEDGE MY ALLEGIANCE TO THE LAMB OF GOD THAT TAKES AWAY THE SIN OF THE WORLD 

Written by Ifiok Ukobo

Think Right and Live Right Club & Lifebuilders Resource

IF THIS IS YOUR CHURCH? JESUS IS OUTSIDE

Revelation 3:14–16 (NKJV):
"And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, ‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.’”

We are living in a time that mirrors the condition of the Laodicean church. As we approach the end of the age, the rebuke Jesus gave to that church stands as a prophetic warning to us today. The primary issue they faced—and which we now increasingly face—is spiritual lukewarmness, hidden beneath a facade of religious activity. Christ's words to the Laodiceans serve as a wake-up call to a generation losing its fervor. If we can identify the root causes of this lukewarmness and apply the solution Christ gave, we can guard our lives, families, and churches from falling into the same trap.

What was the root of their problem?
Jesus revealed it clearly:
"Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked..." (Revelation 3:17–18 NKJV)

The issue was not wealth itself—God delights in blessing His people. The problem was that they judged their spiritual state using worldly standards. They assumed that material success equaled spiritual health. From their perspective, they had it all. But from Jesus’ perspective, they were destitute. This stark contrast highlights the danger of viewing life through a temporal lens rather than an eternal one.

Your perspective shapes your decisions, values, and priorities. When you see life through the world’s eyes, your conclusions will often oppose Christ’s. The Laodiceans believed they were thriving, but Jesus saw spiritual bankruptcy. They were materially rich but spiritually impoverished. This disconnect happened because they stopped seeing life from Christ’s eternal perspective and adopted the short-sighted values of their generation.

When the Church loses sight of Christ’s perspective, it begins to measure success and greatness the same way the world does. It might still claim to follow Jesus, but its values, pursuits, and message reveal otherwise. Such a church becomes active in programs but passive in devotion, busy in appearance but barren in spirit. They may celebrate worldly accomplishments, but to Jesus, these mean nothing if they hold no eternal value.

The lukewarm churches of the end times will be characterized by a form of false spirituality rooted in worldly thinking. To be “hot” for Christ in these days means to adopt His perspective on everything. Sadly, we often hear even pastors refer to ungodly individuals as “great” simply because they are wealthy. But would Jesus call them great?

Who does Jesus consider great?
Jesus said, “Whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches them will be called great” (Matthew 5:19 NKJV).
He also said, “Whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:1, 4 NKJV).

So, greatness in God’s eyes is measured by humility and obedience, not status or wealth.

As followers of Christ, we’ve been rescued from the kingdom of darkness and brought into His kingdom. Why then do many believers still use the values and terminology of the world? There's no such thing as “great in the world” versus “great in the kingdom.” God's definition is the only true one. The moment the Church starts celebrating worldly measures of greatness, it has already begun walking the path of the Laodicean Church.

A worldly mindset will always push Jesus out. That’s why He stood outside the door of the Laodicean Church, knocking and calling for repentance (Revelation 3:19–20). Imagine—Jesus outside His own Church, while those inside boast of His blessings! This only happens when Jesus and His people no longer share the same perspective.

As Christians, we follow Jesus. He is the ultimate expression of God’s heart, and His words are final. What He taught about greatness, marriage, giving, love, and eternal treasure is the standard. We don’t form personal perspectives apart from His. Hebrews 1:1–2 reminds us that God now speaks to us through His Son.

On the Mount of Transfiguration, God made it clear that Jesus is not on the same level as Moses or Elijah. He declared, “This is My beloved Son… Hear Him!” (Matthew 17:5 NKJV). Jesus is the final Word. His teachings even take precedence over the laws given through Moses.

So here’s the question:
Whose lens are you using to view life—Jesus’ or the world’s? Who will bring the Church back to the eternal perspective Jesus taught?

God is counting on you.

As Apostle John wrote:
“These people belong to this world, so they speak from the world's viewpoint, and the world listens to them. But we belong to God; that is why those who know God listen to us. If they do not belong to God, they do not listen to us. That is how we know if someone has the Spirit of truth or the spirit of deception.”
(1 John 4:5–6 NLT)

Written by Ifiok Ukobo
President: Think Right and Live Right Club and Lifebuilders Ministry
Email : tralright@gmail.com