God's Grace Vocational Centre - GRAVO

21/12/2025

Sunday prayer: Holy Spirit, help me in my resolve to remain among those called to belong to the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen!

21/12/2025

"It's All About Jesus The Christ!"(Rom.1:1-7).
A fable says tortoise won a beautiful princess for his bride. He felt so self-important that he sent the lizard to bring home his bride. The lizard couldn't withstand the beauty of the princess, he eloped with her. After hearing what happened, tortoise took off in hot pursuit of the lizard to get back his bride. To this day, the lizard is still on the run, and that is why it constantly lifts up its head listening to hear whether tortoise is still pursuing him. *There is no peace for a guilt conscience.*
My first assignment from my lecturer in New Testament theology was to read a book on Paul and conclude by my judgment whether it was Jesus or Paul who founded Christianity. This has been a contentious debate among scholars of New Testament theology and biblical scholars.
Paul is precise and conclusive in his autobiography. He does not claim to be a servant who is above his master. He is not the lizard errand boy taking what does not belong to him. *He is a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, and set apart for the gospel of God..." God had promised this gospel "beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures regarding his Son, who as to his human nature was a descendant of David, and who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord."*
The Lord Jesus Christ is the centre of both the Old and New Testament canons. In his words, Jesus says, *"Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms"*(Lk.24:44b).
The Bible is not a western tool of enslavement and subjugation - albeit that its used has been abused.
The gospel was brought to the continent as continuity of Paul's ministry, which was to destigmatize Gentile culture and relativize Jewish cultural and religious haughtiness.
Paul insists that it is all about Jesus and only through Jesus that he has become something:
*"Through him, we received grace and apostleship to call all Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith for his name's sake. And you also are among those Gentiles who are called to belong to Christ..."*
My friend, Christ, is for us because we "also are among those Gentiles who are called to belong to Christ."
Southern Africans tell of how the missionaries gave the Bible to their ancestors, asked them to close their eyes for prayer. When they opened their eyes after the 'Amen,' their land had been demarcated. Since then, the foreigners had the land and the Africans now have the Bible.
But how have we appropriated the Bible better than the colonisers if we continue to preach "pie in the sky " since we have a better home in heaven!
Jesus came and died for our sins. Sin simply means 'missing the mark.' Repentance therefore is to take proper aim and get the mark.
"It is all about Christ" is to state that he does not come to placate oppressors, suppressors, dictators and any kind of structural sin that dehumanises other human beings to provide comfort and lordship to a few! He comes to liberate, to set the captives free and raise the consciousness of the disenfranchised who, like Plato's caveman should come out of the cave and realise the beauty of light that was not enjoyed, but which is always there!
This is what it means when with the birth of Jesus it was fulfilled that *"...the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of the death a light has dawned"*(Mt.4:16).
Dear friend, we Gentiles have been called to belong to Jesus Christ to continue the Great Liberative Commission. The text says "to call people from among all Gentiles..." There's no bad faith on those who decide not to be among, but to those who are among, *"Grace and peace to you from God our Father abd from the Lord Jesus Christ."*
Sunday prayer: Holy Spirit, help me in my resolve to remain among those called to belong to the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen!
Have a blessed Sunday! Peace be with you! Merry Christmas!
Rev Babila Fochang.
21/12/2025.

20/12/2025

LORD, as we look forward to the day our sorrow will end, inspire us to work on the reason for our present sorrow. Amen!

20/12/2025

"Faith Undaunted Or O***m Of The Masses?"(Is.60:19-20).
*Thank you, LORD, for another day of grace.*
*"The sun will no more be your light by day, nor will the brightness of the moon shine on you, for the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory. Your sun will never set again, and your moon will wane no more; the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your days of sorrow will end."*
I sought AI to explain "Faith undaunted" and I got: *"Having courageous, unwavering hope that isn't discouraged or frightened by difficulty, danger, or setbacks, remaining bold, resolute, and determined even when facing immense challenges. It's about staying optimistic and persistent, refusing to give up your purpose or efforts despite obstacles... Undaunted Hope: A powerful, resilient hope that remains steadfast and courageous in the face of adversity."*
Then I asked for a summary of what Karl Marx meant when he called religion "the o***m of the masses."
Answer: *"He meant it functions like a drug, dulling the pain and misery of real-world oppression (like poverty and exploitation) by offering comforting illusions of future rewards (heaven) or spiritual solace, thus pacifying the oppressed and preventing them from challenging their exploitative conditions and fighting for real change. It provides temporary relief but ultimately distracts from the systemic issues causing suffering, fostering 'false consciousness' that supports the ruling class. "*
By religion, Marx was directing his challenge to Christianity. This begs the question whether with hope undaunted Christians have become docile observers where they are supposed to be active participants?
While we have hope undaunted, should we not be asking ourselves whether we have not inadvertently refused to address the reason for our present sorrow? Why should we rejoice for when our days of sorrow will end?
A time of famine is over when the farmer harvests the crops. But harvest comes only after the long investment of preparing the ground, planting, regular tending as God gives it the growth.
*Faith undaunted without Marxist action is fatality. We have to reflect on the word of God in the light of praxis before our days of sorrow will end.*
Weekend prayer: LORD, as we look forward to the day our sorrow will end, inspire us to work on the reason for our present sorrow. Amen!
Have a blessed weekend! Peace be with you! Merry Christmas!
Rev Babila Fochang.
20/12/2025.

19/12/2025

Weekend prayer: Holy Spirit, help me daily to look not only to my own interests but also to the interests of others. Amen!

19/12/2025

https://www.babilafochang.com/do-your-utmost-for-the-topmost/

"Do Your Utmost For The Topmost!"(Phi.2:19-30).When it gets worse, we hear expressions like, "God, how long?" Such utterances may console us and kindle the fire of hope, but they are excuses for our lacklustre attitude towards bold and courageous action.The answer to the question, "God, how

18/12/2025

Prayer: Holy Spirit, help me to live this day as if there is no tomorrow. Amen!

17/12/2025

https://www.babilafochang.com/spread-the-good-news-wherever-and-whenever/

"Spread The Good News Wherever And Whenever!"(Acts 13:13-25).I will declare the goodness of the LORD all the days of my life!For quite some time, some missionaries tried to convert an old African to no avail. One day, one of the missionaries was reading the genealogy of Jesus in the old man's presen...

13/12/2025

https://www.babilafochang.com/judgment-day-a-day-of-commensurate-rewards/

"Judgment Day: A Day Of Commensurate Rewards II!"(Rev.11:15-19).Heavenly Father, I wake up knowing that the earth and everything in it belong to you. I resolve to revere your name as I handle the things of the earth.It is attributed to King Louis XIV to have said, "I am the state," and "It is

20/10/2025

Prayer: LORD, in your mercy, save us as the Holy Spirit searches our consciences and directs us to stand for truth. Amen!

20/10/2025

Prayer of the day and week: Holy Spirit, prod me to reach out in love to help someone within my means. Amen!

13/10/2025

"Do Not Desecrate The Sabbath!"(Ex.31:12-17).
*O LORD, your steadfast love never ceases, your compassions never fail. They are new every morning. Great is your faithfulness.*(Lam.3:22-23).
*"All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy, but all play and no work makes Jack a mere toy."* Jack has to balance work and play so that he won't be dull or become a toy. The balance between work and play is creating space for work, play, and rest. If Jack switches straight from work to play or vice versa, he will be exhausted.
The day of rest is somehow being abused as we sometimes use it for light work around the house or for play. Sporting activities on the Sabbath are nit leisurely. It is work to those involved.
Today is a special Monday in Cameroon and for Cameroonians all over the world. Whatever took place yesterday will be boldly engraved in the annals of history in gold.
We are not yet talking about the outcome. *"A poor man's field may produce abundant food, but injustice sweeps it away"*(Prv.13:23).
Yesterday, we talked about the importance of observing the Sabbath for doing good and not evil, for saving lives and not to kill.
We posed the questions to the Cameroonian Christian electorate as they prepared to go cast their votes for a new president: *"Are you going to cast your vote with the intention of doing good or evil? Are you planning to kill somebody after the Sabbath? Would you be hatching an evil against somebody? Remember, it is the Sabbath day of rest, and you must keep it holy by doing good."*
And we prayed: *"Holy Spirit, help our voters to keep the Sabbath holy by casting votes for the good of our country. Amen!*
Today, the Sabbath rest is reemphasised accompanied by a death penalty. *"Observe the Sabbath because it is holy to you. Anyone who desecrates it must be put to death; whoever does any work on that day must be cut off from his people."*
Thanks be to the Lord Jesus Christ whose blood has taken off the stink of death from such harsh covenant laws.
We should remind ourselves that as far as the Sabbath is for doing good and not evil, as far as it is for saving lives and not to kill, every day is a Sabbath. But for the purpose of rest - as in rest - a day of rest is important so as to be refreshed and renewed vitality. Also, so that the slaves have a day of rest like the masters.
Prayer of the day and week: Holy Spirit, put it in our hearts to know that, like Moses, we must not enter the promised land we are sacrificing for. Amen!
Welcome back to a new working day and week! *The days ahead are pregnant with anticipation and hope. Let us be ready with baby things.* Have a blessed day and week!
Rev Babila Fochang.
13/10/2025.