The Oscar Ajoku Blog: Daily Vitamin Devotional

DAILY VITAMIN - Putting Your Life To Proper Use "Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a peck measure, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house." (Matthew 5:15 AMP) If I were to ask you a question concerning your present state, I'd like to presume that I will receive a fortunate response. Like for instance, if I were to ask how many times in a year you cry yourself to sleep, a good number of us would respond with a resounding less than one answer. That is, 1 or less in 360+ days a year. But unfortunately that is not the case for some others who hit the everyday mark. That is, some folks around us are so laden with problems that they cry everyday to sleep. A typical philosopher would, at this juncture, argue that if there was a God, why would this set suffer such; but nevertheless the issue here is not the problem, but the effectiveness of the solution provided - in which case today I want you to know that you are. I can hear someone say "Wh

DAILY VITAMIN - The Father's Love "...He had always loved those in the world who were his own, and he loved them to the very end" (John 13:1 GNB) How can one describe the love of Christ for us? With what extremity or degree can it be depicted or compared with to the understanding of men. What vocabulary will best explain it? And what models will best measure it? With what can it be preferably juxtaposed with? Perhaps as the love of a mother for her child, No! for though that may stand a while, but when far away from the toddler in the fire, it avails little. Or maybe perhaps as the bee's for the honeycomb? But, No! again, for when the southern winds pull all combs down the tree, the bee finds another home. Yet again maybe as the love you have for your closest friend? Yet no again, but rather greater than that, for in death one cannot save even his closest. But Christ, when death had engulfed you and I, He substituted in exchange His life for our death that we may

DAILY VITAMIN - Living The Life Most times when I wish to describe the Christian life, I like to use the  picture of the Flock and the Nomad. You see, a nomad may be outnumbered by his flock, but regardless of what he does to them, they don't retaliate. Does that tell you anything? Okay, let's see.... No matter how hard the nomadic fellow strikes the cattle, it never turns to strike back, rather it continues as it was directed to move. It obeys the unwritten order until it gets to where it must. Little wonder why Jesus lived, as according to Isaiah, as 'a sheep led to the slaugther'. The sheep could decide to run away, just as the cattle could choose to plunge the nomad beneath the fifth rib, yet they choose to do nothing, because they live to serve purpose. They obey even though they have the power to pull off a successful rebellion. In the same vein, the Christian no longer lives as himself, rather he lives the Person of Jesus to the world around him, so that even

DAILY VITAMIN Am I The Judge? "DO NOT judge and criticize and condemn others, so that you may not be judged and criticized and condemned yourselves". (Matthew 7:7) Have you ever seen a family scenario where one of the 'tykes' did something appalling, and instead of correcting him, every single one of the unit fumes up in vexation, and cancels the little one out of every one of their minds? Have you ever seen that? Well, the truth is that if that child doesn't have someone to put him back on track, how do you think that child would end up? Distraught, I guess. Well, the same thing applies to our everyday life as Christians and as people in general. Let me show you: As Christians: One day Jesus was walking through the corn field with His disciples who plucked off the corn which they ate while on through the field they walked. The Pharisees saw them commit this felonious act according to the law since it was the sabbath, but instead of calling them discreetly t

DAILY VITAMIN - Judged To Live "And when I passed by you and saw you rolling about in your blood, I said to you in your blood, Live! Yes, I said to you still in your natal blood, Live!" (Ezekiel 16:6 AMP) A man's action isn't measured by what he did, but by what he could have done and didn't do. By juxtaposing what was done with what could have been done and wasn't, the true value of his work is revealed. In the same way, the level of love is measured not by what was shown, but what could have been shown and wasn't. However, as for Jesus, we know that He acted in all the colours of love- no shade left unexplored; for the Bible He loved us His disciples to the end (John 13:1). But what did He really do for us? In scriptures, Isaiah prophesied of the coming Messiah 'who shall show judgment to the Gentiles' (see Matthew 12:18). As you keep pondering about this, you would realize that if God was to judge the Gentiles in their undone state, hell wo

DAILY VITAMIN -Hands Made Useful "Then the LORD God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to cultivate it and guard it". (Genesis 2:15) It is an appalling feat how this present world has lazily decided to sit back and do nothing, and yet still expect their desires to rain upon them. That may appear religious, but it's definitely not God's way of effecting results. It may seem funny, but it's true. Many have turned waiting on God into an excuse to remain entirely  passive in life, but it isn't suppose to. It sort of like tickle the minds of individuals to think up unimaginable things they don't deserve, and upon this are not even willing to work for, to expecting it to just drop and add up to their list of possessions; and furthermore they even justify their thoughts with that innocent word 'Grace' that so many now abuse. To their ignorance, they count this as having faith. Faith does not despise work. In fact, faith is proven by works (James 2:

DAILY VITAMIN - Living For Purpose "You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you and I have appointed you [I have planted you], that you might go and bear fruit and keep on bearing, and that your fruit may be lasting [that it may remain, abide], so that whatever you ask the Father in My Name [as presenting all that I AM], He may give it to you". (John 15:16 AMP) One of the most popular phrases we might have heard, perhaps from our favourite movies or the episodes our life depicts on a daily basis, is the question..''What do you live for?''. Someone once mused that he loves living; but as much as that is great, what's greater is knowing what you live for, and living for that exact reason. While addressing Timothy in his concerted letter, Paul said '..saved, and called....not according to our works, but according to His purpose and grace...' (2 Timothy 1:9). Note, the word 'work' in that verse can be likened to feelings, emotions, pers

DAILY VITAMIN - Great Men Are Made Not Born The story is said of a group of individuals who took a trip to a deserted town, and on meeting the hoary comptroller of the town, they sought to inquire how many great men were born there, and the old man replied saying 'None, only babies'. Note, he didn't say no individual from that town was great, but clearly stated simple biology that men aren't born, only babies are. This statement, I believe, can address the wrong mentality of many who feel the other guy is better because he was born to be better, because it's a wrong ideology. Though it's true that every baby born might have different gifts and virtues, but it's also true that every gift found in babies no matter how minute is enough to make him great if he so desires.....no one cheated. Little wonder why God saw all He created and commented 'very good', because He had looked at those before time, those at the present, and those beyond the presen

DAILY VITAMIN - Pain Shared Is Gain "Bear one another's burden, and so fulfil the law of Christ".            (Galatians 6:2 RSV) A burden carried by a multitude of persons doesn't cause as much backache as when only one person carries the load. And as evident as it can be, the Roman troops show us that when the burden of war comes against them, by staying together, aiding one another to gain balance, they can lyse the very centre of strength in the defence of the invading enemies. In the same vein, Christianity goes along with a cross- a cross that sometimes may feel too heavy for the weak to carry; and thus it becomes mandatory for the strong to aid the weak when he falls. Though scripture says that no one can fully share in the bitterness or joy of another (Proverbs 14:10), yet these ones can help either to worsen or lighten the load. Note, everything we see in the Bible teaches us this. From the apostle's constant advice for men to stay as an assembly help

DAILY VITAMIN - Watch Your Moves A man's life is somewhat like a chess game, where a wrong move represents a wrong choice. In the game of chess, the aim of the player is to override upon all obstacles to get checkmate; in the same way, every man's ambition and aspiration is to get the Zöe kind of life - the fulfilled life. But just as a wrong pawn move can expose the fragile parts, a wrong choice can alter these big dreams. And that's why just like chess, the moves we choose to make are the determining factors. for whatever would come our way - a checkmate or a stalemate; and fortunately we have distinct examples from the imprint of the lives of the men of early ages. For instance, Judas played with his heart off-guards, thinking a little gain could do him good, but that little decision has forever branded him as the symbol of Perdition. Esther, on the other hand, played with her heart on-guard, yet with a little risk when she dared to do what had never been done befor

DAILY VITAMIN - Overcoming Depression "But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shines more and more unto the perfect day."   (Proverbs 4:18) A lot of terrible things happen in this terrestrial globe, but by subtly evaluating these conditions, we'd realize that none is worth the cessation of any human life. These many heart breaking occurrences cause many to deflate past their emotional threshold, leading to a state of minimal self-worth: a state termed depression. This is the broken state of the spirit and the captivity of the soul that leaves the body no choice than to live in utter self-deprecation. With the many cases of suicide and self abuse, I have come to learn that the condition isn't the trigger for the deaths, nor was it the problem; rather the feelings of those involved were. How you choose to feel at every given moment in time is what determines what value you eventually give to your life. Note the word choose, because no one and nothin

DAILY VITAMIN - Giving Is Getting "Give, and [gifts] will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will they pour into [the pouch formed by] the bosom [of your robe and used as a bag]. For with the measure you deal out [with the measure you use when you confer benefits on others], it will be measured back to you." (Luke 6:38 AMP) By our everyday experiences, we will come to realize that unbeknownst to us or otherwise, when we give, we actually take. Nothing brings more upon and towards a man than when he stretches out to give. Scripture says that there is one who scatters and yet increases (see Proverbs 11:24). This concerns more than just material wealth; in all the world there is, whatever and however you give, you get. From our personal lives, we can tell that the more we give our time to something....any task or field of study, the more we gain expertise in it. Apart from that we can also see that the less attention we give, oft

DAILY VITAMIN - Lessons From Job "For whatever was thus written in former days was written for our instruction, that by [our steadfast and patient] endurance and the encouragement [drawn] from the Scriptures we might hold fast to and cherish hope." (Romans 15:4 AMP) The book of Job is a very exciting book to read, not just because it teaches the memoirs of a man with patience, but because it reveals to us things that occur unseen and unknown to men. It shows deep mysteries about the ways of life; and I'll show you the same just about now. First, we see a man who put all his trust in God lose everything he worked for as if he was one of the wicked ones that God would punish, but despite all this and even in the absence of the knowledge of who was behind it all, at its occurrence, it is recorded that he bowed and worshipped God, refusing to launch the 'why?' question on God (1:20-22). This teaches us that no matter what a man goes through, his reaction towards G

DAILY VITAMIN - Overcoming The Lust For Power "For the love of money is a root of all evils; it is through this craving that some have been led astray and have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves through with many acute [mental] pangs. But as for you, O man of God, flee from all these things; aim at and pursue righteousness (right standing with God and true goodness), godliness (which is the loving fear of God and being Christlike), faith, love, steadfastness (patience), and gentleness of heart.".                        (1 Timothy 6:10-11 AMP) How far can your desire for power drive you? To what extent can it move you? The pursuit of power has driven many a man mad. It has moved even great men to do things against their beliefs. It has caused many men to kill families and break fellowships. Well to Daniel, it didn't move him any bit, because he was never driven by power, but by God's will for him. After passing the greatest test that had ever been aske

DAILY VITAMIN - Leading Like Jesus Who comforts (consoles and encourages) us in every trouble (calamity and affliction), so that we may also be able to comfort (console and encourage) those who are in any kind of trouble or distress, with the comfort (consolation and encouragement) with which we ourselves are comforted (consoled and encouraged) by God".                 (2 Corinthians 1:4 AMP) I once stated that a leader's mind is never on 'me', neither 'us' but always on 'them'. His primary duty is always to make sure that those among the 'them' are safe. A typical shepherd sees his sheep's life as more sacred than his; that is to say that a father values his son's life than his, and would be willing to give an organ for him whenever the call comes. So also, we must live everyday of our lives as though we were leaders placed by God in our surrounding niche to help as many as possible return to their 'safe' minds where they ca

DAILY VITAMIN - Becoming Hope "To whom God was pleased to make known how great for the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ within and among you, the Hope of [realizing the] glory". (Colossians 1:27 AMP) If I were asked to describe the Person of Jesus with one word, not on the basis of race, or ministry, I would say HOPE. Everywhere Jesus stepped into, He was a ray of hope to everyone who encountered Him. The scripture says He went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed of the devil (Acts 10:38). So at all times, people knew they had a solution with Him around. When the blind met Jesus, they immediately knew that there might be a chance to see the stars glow. When the lame saw Him, they knew that walking again could cease being a dream or wishful thinking. When the afflicted touched Him, they could feel all affictions within them dropping. When the broken-hearted conversed with Him, they knew the cracks were soon to be anneal

DAILY VITAMIN - God is Aware "For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth to show Himself strong in behalf of those whose hearts are blameless toward Him. You have done foolishly in this; therefore, from now on you shall have wars." (2 Chronicles 16:9 AMP) Due to the evil that rampantly occurs around us, a lot of people have chosen to give up on the tightly held belief of the existence of a God, and the thought of ever being anything great in this presently infested world. We give up the thought of attaining the promises of God for our lives simply because we can't explain the obstacle that we presumed should have never been there in the first place. But guess what? Our God is not dead; as rightly said the only reason why evil occur has its roots on freewill, yet in whatever omen we find ourselves God is aware, and He is there, not as a spectator, but as a Saviour. God’s dignity is seen of all men when He defends His people (see 2 Chronicles 16:

DAILY VITAMIN - Come Home! "Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest". (Matthew 11:28) A home is more than a place where a group of people lay their head to sleep every night, and gather at the table by day to meal. A home is more than just a depot for hugs, smiles, and those words we assume make us comfy. It is also more than just blood. Rather, a home is a feeling; one that brings not only belongingness, but also an aura that strengthens perfection out of our imperfection. A home is more than just where you constantly see parents and siblings; instead it is anywhere you can feel like family. And that's why God's Person is and will always be a home for all. Little wonder why the Psalmist confessed '...the righteous run into....and are safe'. In God's presence, there is liberty (2 Corinthians 3:17)....to procure virtues that seemed non-existent within you.... to unleash the potential that men's myopism blind the

DAILY VITAMIN - God Knows "Thus says the Lord, Consider thy ways" (Haggai 1:7) Most people always want a definition for everything that occurs, or might occur, and when it comes to issues about God, they want an 'up-there' kind of definition, at least that's what they call an ambiguous explanation. Yet unknown to them, God relates to men in a similar way in which we the sons of men relate with one another.  For instance, when a great general dies after several battle victories, a huge 'parliamentarian' funeral would be set up for him; the whole army would stand at attention for him; military rifles would be shot into the open air for him, and most times even a parade, just so that the surrounding world may know that someone who did great works just passed on.....instilling in your mind this feeling to never forget him. In the same way, God says 'I will never forget any of their works' (Amos 8:7). Whether it be of good or evil, God keeps a re

DAILY VITAMIN - The Responsibility To Forgive (2) "Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful." (Luke 6:36) Imagine a world full of hate with little or no forgiving, there would be no giving; that is, no giving of love, of helping hands, of nothing. Now imagine a world without the penumbra of hatred, yet with no forgiving, it would seem nice for a while until its incompleteness surfaces, splashing reality before the faces of men that all there ever was was hate in the disguise of serenity. Lastly, imagine a world without hate, yet full of forgiveness; in there you would see a world where chances are never devoid until the end; a world where strife and grief would easily be expelled from the minds of men; a world where men would give to foes regardless of 'before'. A world where helping a soul get rid of guilt would feel more like a calling. If there's anything God did to us through Jesus, it was forgiving us, for with forgiveness comes a savi