Have you ever heard the word bambelela?
If you have, most likely you are from South Africa or sang it away in a beautiful, upbeat song.
If you haven’t, worry not. I will tell you in a moment but first, let’s agree on something.
Believing God’s word and living for Him is not easy.
Not with the avalanche of voices screaming contrary messages into our ears each waking moment. Not when our culture is encouraging us to forgo the traditional Christian ways of doing things and embrace the so-called modern trends. And certainly not when disobedience to God’s word is considered fashionable and even rewarded.
However difficult, a believer has but one choice –believe God’s word. To study God’s word, believe it, and then live it.
Tucked away in Jeremiah 35:1-19 is an account that could help strengthen our resolve.
When Yahweh wanted to illustrate how firmly men ought to hold to His word, He sent the prophet Jeremiah to the Recabites with a simple test. He asked them to drink some wine.
The Recabites vehemently declined. Why? Their forefather Jonadab commanded them to, among other things, not drink wine. Over the years, they followed his instructions to the letter.
Their response was a rebuke to the Israelites who had such a light hold on God’s commandments and were caught up in the vicious cycle of sin.
Let’s take a cue from the Recabites and reject convenient Christianity.
If they held on to the tradition of man that firmly, how much more intensely ought we hold on to God’s word? How much more seriously must we take God’s voice?
More, a million times more.
Saint, regardless of what other voices are saying, let’s endeavor to listen to and obey God’s voice. Like the Recabites did the commands of their forefathers, let’s hold firmly to God’s command.
Cling to Him.
Hold tightly to God’s word like your life depends on it for it actually does.
That’s the only way you can live pure in a crooked world (Philippians 2:14-16). A sure way to find peace and stability in a shaky world.
Don’t even allow the troubles and cares of life to erode your confidence in God.
Jesus, our great high priest, Has paved the way for us. Let’s then hold firmly to the faith we profess (Hebrews 4:14).
Yes, consolidate and hold firmly to Christ so that at the end of time you will have a share in His treasures (Hebrews 3:14/ Revelation 3:11).
The promised reward is worth every effort.
Talking of promise, God is faithful. Unlike the fickle voices that bombard us, God’s word can be trusted. He Has proven Himself over and over again. Hebrews 10:23 reminds us He is faithful to keep His promises.
Therefore, focus on Jesus (Hebrews 12:2). When you keep your eyes on Jesus, you won’t have time for other voices.
Now this will be music to many ears.
You may think you are holding on to God but actually, He’s the one holding you. God’s mighty righteous hand is holding you (Isaiah 41:10, 13). It’s not necessarily your grip that keeps you in place, it’s God’s hold. And nothing can snatch you from the firm grip of His loving hold.
So when life pushes you to the edge and it feels like you are slipping away, don’t fret. You are well secured. Hold on to Christ with that assured smile on your face.
Let’s end where we started. Remember the promise?
Bambelela is a Zulu word that means hold fast or cling. Now that I am not a Zulu, you can almost tell I got to know it through the hit song. Several years on, the song continues to stir me to hold fast to God. I pray it will have the same effect on you.
Ku Jesu Bambelela. Hold on to Jesus!