Thoughts for another day
November 30, 2006
Today's verse: Eph. 4:23. And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; (KJV)
The mind as we know is the seat of all thoughts and the fount of all actions. We think and so we act. And thinking begins in the mind. Therefore, it is in the mind that Paul urges us to bring renewal. The spirit of the mind is its core: The depth of man. Some call it the heart. That’s where the essence of a person begins. Jesus said, ‘Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.’ Mt. 12:34 and He also says further that from the heart comes forth good or evil. And that’s a solid reason why we need to renew the spirit of the mind.
How do we do this? Is it easy? Can we really change our miserable selves? ...Such questions are bound to arise and the only answer to that is the hope we have in Christ (1 Tim. 1:1). Without Christ I’d say that we are not in a position to do most things as they seem impossible. We know that changing one’s nature is very very difficult. But God comes to our rescue. God knows our struggle. God knows our attitudes towards sin and our weakness in countering it. And God who knows all this also is our strength and our Way.
My friend we are made to sit at the highest levels in our God. We are made to reign. As babes in God we may not understand much that God says in His Word and (in the coming days, we will see God unfold some of the mysteries which He desires to unfold to us in this column) it is enough that we understand what is in plain words and one of them is what Peter says, ‘chosen generation, royal priesthood and holy nation’ (1 Pet. 2:9) which makes us like kings to reign with our Father.
We are called to believe as He works things out in us. Of our own, we can do nothing but by Him who strengthens us we can do all things. And let me tell you that whatever evil we have, whatever sin we are filled with…on the Cross, Jesus Christ became that sin, that evil; for God our Father made Him who knew no sin to be sin (2 Cor. 5:21) so that in Him i.e. Christ, we might be made the righteousness of God. So even as we struggle with our sinfulness, let us cast this burden of sin on Him who alone has borne it for us and rest assured that it is Jesus who will keep us from falling and present us blameless before the presence of His Glory, with exceeding joy Jude 1:24.
Thursday, November 30, 2006
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
Thoughts for another day
November 29, 2006
Today's verse: Titus 1:15. Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. (KJV)
In a small office there were three people: The boss, the secretary, a woman and the Sales Exec. Most of the time the boss was out and only the other two remained, creating a potentially dangerous situation of moral sin. But nothing happened between the Sales Exec. and the woman. In a conversations the secretary was had with a friend, the situation was mentioned and the friend started looking suspiciously at the secretary. Over time this lady understood what was going on in the mind of the friend and very nicely corrected her and told her that nothing was happening between her and the guy and nothing would, for she treated the Sales Exec. as her brother. Period.
When I heard this episode, the above verse jumped into my mind: unto the pure, all things are pure! When you see the wisdom of this, the entire system of sin will remain but a thought in the mind to be quickly replaced with the Holy Spirit’s Grace.
Today, the biggest worry for the body of Christ, the Church, is sin. And sin takes all forms and is destructive. Besides, even an act of omission is sin at times. Jesus has died for us and wiped away our sins and we who believe this are saved. But then we are to live holy and pure lives. But do we? Our struggle can be seen in the daily grind of life; how we grapple to not commit sin. For me really it is a constant struggle. Daily I pray to God to give me the Grace not to sin.
My friend, I want to tell you today that your mind is the seat of sin. What you think is what you do and therefore if you think pure, you will be pure. The verse above tells us that if you are basically sinful then your mind and consciences are defiled and impure. Truly, the dilemma strikes first in the mind and then it works out the method to sin. In the act of omission the mind reasons out why you should not do it and in case of commission, why it is necessary, e.g. for an alcoholic, the peg is the place of refuge and he tells you how you will never understand it; and of course you don’t. That’s how he thinks and that’s how he is. So all is there in the mind. See today in your inmost mind, what exists. Offer it to God. Take every thought captive to Him and see how He works in you cleansing you and giving you the garment of purity. Keep your mind pure as was that of the secretary and you will be pure for God loves the chaste.
November 29, 2006
Today's verse: Titus 1:15. Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. (KJV)
In a small office there were three people: The boss, the secretary, a woman and the Sales Exec. Most of the time the boss was out and only the other two remained, creating a potentially dangerous situation of moral sin. But nothing happened between the Sales Exec. and the woman. In a conversations the secretary was had with a friend, the situation was mentioned and the friend started looking suspiciously at the secretary. Over time this lady understood what was going on in the mind of the friend and very nicely corrected her and told her that nothing was happening between her and the guy and nothing would, for she treated the Sales Exec. as her brother. Period.
When I heard this episode, the above verse jumped into my mind: unto the pure, all things are pure! When you see the wisdom of this, the entire system of sin will remain but a thought in the mind to be quickly replaced with the Holy Spirit’s Grace.
Today, the biggest worry for the body of Christ, the Church, is sin. And sin takes all forms and is destructive. Besides, even an act of omission is sin at times. Jesus has died for us and wiped away our sins and we who believe this are saved. But then we are to live holy and pure lives. But do we? Our struggle can be seen in the daily grind of life; how we grapple to not commit sin. For me really it is a constant struggle. Daily I pray to God to give me the Grace not to sin.
My friend, I want to tell you today that your mind is the seat of sin. What you think is what you do and therefore if you think pure, you will be pure. The verse above tells us that if you are basically sinful then your mind and consciences are defiled and impure. Truly, the dilemma strikes first in the mind and then it works out the method to sin. In the act of omission the mind reasons out why you should not do it and in case of commission, why it is necessary, e.g. for an alcoholic, the peg is the place of refuge and he tells you how you will never understand it; and of course you don’t. That’s how he thinks and that’s how he is. So all is there in the mind. See today in your inmost mind, what exists. Offer it to God. Take every thought captive to Him and see how He works in you cleansing you and giving you the garment of purity. Keep your mind pure as was that of the secretary and you will be pure for God loves the chaste.
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
Thoughts for another day
November 28, 2006
Today's verse: Hosea 13:6. According to their pasture, so were they filled; they were filled, and their heart was exalted; therefore have they forgotten me. (KJV)
Some years back, a brother was jobless and in distress. He went for retreats and entreated God to give him a job. The prayer he made was, ‘God please give me a job. I promise you, I will be your servant and will serve you all my life. I will never move away from you and will devote my life to you.’ He requested every person to pray for his need and said he wanted to do something for God and a job therefore was important.
God gave him a fantastic job in Dubai with a salary he least expected. It was for him a dream come true. For a while, after this the brother thanked God profusely but slowly the thanks began to wane. As month after month passed by, visits to the church and talk about God decreased dramatically and partying began. His friends said, ‘What’s the point of having such a nice job and not indulging in parties. A little mixing around is necessary. Even God would want that, after all He’s not given you such a nice job for nothing! So man, party and have fun.’ And that’s exactly what He did. Eventually he forgot God.
My beloved in Christ, isn’t this story very very familiar? Maybe, it is yours (perhaps mine too, I need to reflect) or of one of your close ones’. And I see this repeated too often. On occasions, as God is blessing someone with something he or she desires, I tell that person, my brother will you forget Him? And the no comes with such force, even I am amazed. I tell myself ‘Ah, this is the real thing,’ till the reality takes its course and I am left with disgust. And if I am disgusted, how much will God be?
Look at the above verse and see, that’s exactly what He is saying. Whenever He blesses, we change and go away from Him. So what should He do, not bless? Of course, I am no one to suggest Him what He needs to do; but to you I could plead…Forget not His mercies nor hide what He has done for you. Lest, the fount of His blessings, dry up.
November 28, 2006
Today's verse: Hosea 13:6. According to their pasture, so were they filled; they were filled, and their heart was exalted; therefore have they forgotten me. (KJV)
Some years back, a brother was jobless and in distress. He went for retreats and entreated God to give him a job. The prayer he made was, ‘God please give me a job. I promise you, I will be your servant and will serve you all my life. I will never move away from you and will devote my life to you.’ He requested every person to pray for his need and said he wanted to do something for God and a job therefore was important.
God gave him a fantastic job in Dubai with a salary he least expected. It was for him a dream come true. For a while, after this the brother thanked God profusely but slowly the thanks began to wane. As month after month passed by, visits to the church and talk about God decreased dramatically and partying began. His friends said, ‘What’s the point of having such a nice job and not indulging in parties. A little mixing around is necessary. Even God would want that, after all He’s not given you such a nice job for nothing! So man, party and have fun.’ And that’s exactly what He did. Eventually he forgot God.
My beloved in Christ, isn’t this story very very familiar? Maybe, it is yours (perhaps mine too, I need to reflect) or of one of your close ones’. And I see this repeated too often. On occasions, as God is blessing someone with something he or she desires, I tell that person, my brother will you forget Him? And the no comes with such force, even I am amazed. I tell myself ‘Ah, this is the real thing,’ till the reality takes its course and I am left with disgust. And if I am disgusted, how much will God be?
Look at the above verse and see, that’s exactly what He is saying. Whenever He blesses, we change and go away from Him. So what should He do, not bless? Of course, I am no one to suggest Him what He needs to do; but to you I could plead…Forget not His mercies nor hide what He has done for you. Lest, the fount of His blessings, dry up.
Monday, November 27, 2006
Thoughts for another day
November 27, 2006
Today's verse: Is 30:18. And therefore will the LORD wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the LORD is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him. (KJV)
When I consider the ways of the Lord, I cannot but feel proud, that I have a Father such as our God whose name is Yahweh and whose glory fills the earth.
When someone does wrong to me, I react by doing wrong to him or her. When I do wrong to a high-ranking official, why, even if I don’t do wrong but speak in boldness before him, he reprimands me to the extent of his authority. The whole idea is to hit back and wreck vengeance upon the fellow as it were. But how is it with God?
You know when Peter takes out the sword and cuts of Malchus’ ear, Jesus immediately tells him, ‘Can I not pray to my Father and will He not send me twelve legions of angels?’ Jesus of course did not ask for the angels and we know what happened further. Now if we were in Jesus’ place what would we do?
Our God is so merciful; it is difficult to believe that such mercy can exist. He loves us so much it is incredulous. If it can touch your heart today, know that He is waiting for you. He says, ‘Time after time, I have waited before and now I am waiting again…to see if you are willing to open the door, oh how I want to come in!’ What does He want to come in for? So that He could be gracious with you and love you even more. My beloved, exalt Him today and receive His mercy. Wait for Him that you may be blessed.
November 27, 2006
Today's verse: Is 30:18. And therefore will the LORD wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the LORD is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him. (KJV)
When I consider the ways of the Lord, I cannot but feel proud, that I have a Father such as our God whose name is Yahweh and whose glory fills the earth.
When someone does wrong to me, I react by doing wrong to him or her. When I do wrong to a high-ranking official, why, even if I don’t do wrong but speak in boldness before him, he reprimands me to the extent of his authority. The whole idea is to hit back and wreck vengeance upon the fellow as it were. But how is it with God?
You know when Peter takes out the sword and cuts of Malchus’ ear, Jesus immediately tells him, ‘Can I not pray to my Father and will He not send me twelve legions of angels?’ Jesus of course did not ask for the angels and we know what happened further. Now if we were in Jesus’ place what would we do?
Our God is so merciful; it is difficult to believe that such mercy can exist. He loves us so much it is incredulous. If it can touch your heart today, know that He is waiting for you. He says, ‘Time after time, I have waited before and now I am waiting again…to see if you are willing to open the door, oh how I want to come in!’ What does He want to come in for? So that He could be gracious with you and love you even more. My beloved, exalt Him today and receive His mercy. Wait for Him that you may be blessed.
Friday, November 24, 2006
Thoughts for another day
November 24, 2006
Today's verse: Ps. 56:9. When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: this I know; for God is for me. (KJV)
The words above are expressed in quiet confidence of God being there for the psalmist when he cries out.
You might have either heard me or read me saying that it is the business of God to take care of us. Some pseudo spiritualists will express alarm at my statement and say, ‘brother how can you say this of God?’ Yes, who am I that I can do it; but, when we echo anything of what God Himself has said, then what it the need for alarm?
Throughout His Word, God keeps telling us that He is there for our every need. That He will take care of us. Cast your burdens unto the Lord and He shall sustain thee says Ps. 55. Jesus says, even the very hair of your head are numbered! And still we don’t believe.
The enemies that David speaks about in his Psalm would have been men behind his blood, but today, we have so many enemies like: viruses, cancers, people against our happiness, people planning to do evil to us and of course the biggest of them all – the enemy of our soul. Could we also when faced with enemies be confident that God will act for us when we cry out to Him. We can if only we do two things:
1. We actually cry out to Him from our hearts and 2. We trust Him completely.
Only when we do this will we understand the power of God and His love, which works in us in a manner that we are transformed to bring glory to His Name always, even when our enemies are routed and put to flight. And yes, in this is our God exalted as Jesus says, in Jn. 9, the man is born blind so that God may work and be glorified in the blind man (when he got his sight)!
November 24, 2006
Today's verse: Ps. 56:9. When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: this I know; for God is for me. (KJV)
The words above are expressed in quiet confidence of God being there for the psalmist when he cries out.
You might have either heard me or read me saying that it is the business of God to take care of us. Some pseudo spiritualists will express alarm at my statement and say, ‘brother how can you say this of God?’ Yes, who am I that I can do it; but, when we echo anything of what God Himself has said, then what it the need for alarm?
Throughout His Word, God keeps telling us that He is there for our every need. That He will take care of us. Cast your burdens unto the Lord and He shall sustain thee says Ps. 55. Jesus says, even the very hair of your head are numbered! And still we don’t believe.
The enemies that David speaks about in his Psalm would have been men behind his blood, but today, we have so many enemies like: viruses, cancers, people against our happiness, people planning to do evil to us and of course the biggest of them all – the enemy of our soul. Could we also when faced with enemies be confident that God will act for us when we cry out to Him. We can if only we do two things:
1. We actually cry out to Him from our hearts and 2. We trust Him completely.
Only when we do this will we understand the power of God and His love, which works in us in a manner that we are transformed to bring glory to His Name always, even when our enemies are routed and put to flight. And yes, in this is our God exalted as Jesus says, in Jn. 9, the man is born blind so that God may work and be glorified in the blind man (when he got his sight)!
Thursday, November 23, 2006
Thoughts for another day
November 23, 2006
Today's verse: Lk. 12:22, 23. And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on. The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment. (KJV)
Go back in time to when you were small and mummy said, ‘Child, when you sleep, angels will guard you…’ and you believed and loved it. Who doesn’t love these things, which the current world and its denizens call a ‘make believe world’ that doesn’t exist.
Jesus today is telling us to believe in such a make-believe world. To quit worrying about stupid things and for that matter even the essential, like what you will eat, etc. And trust God to give them to you. Funny how we all say, we work for food and then just a small percentage of our money goes to survive and the rest in doing things that satiate our pride and of course tickle the envy of our neighbors.
The world is placed diagonally opposite to God’s ways. We spend our lives trampling each other and doing insane things. There is competition and jealousy. No one is satisfied with what he or she has. The big goal is to save. A typical conservative person would save about 60% if it were possible. If the question is asked why save, pat comes the answer, ‘what will I do after retirement?’ Ah, good question. But then, where is your trust in God? Do you know that God can send you a sickness, which can let you down by 5,00,000 to 10,00,000 Rupees or even more? What then will you do? I just read an article, which postulated the theory that it is an absolute must to have insurance. After all you don’t know the future! Who does? Isn’t it God, He gave it to you after all! So whom should you trust: Insurance or God?
On the other hand you have those who use their credit cards lavishly and live month by month wondering how to repay, with each month increasing their debt. In a study it was ascertained in the US that an average person working and earning a salary of US $ 3000 a month had a loan of around US $ 200,000 at age 35! God will never want you living a life of filthy spending and irrationality, so you will never mount your debts!
Friend I urge you today to live on the principles of God. He is there for you. You know, in the years since I have come to know Him, I have hardly spent any money on medicine or anything that is a drain of resources; neither for me nor for my wife or daughter. But, recently my father-in-law spent his entire life’s savings on an extremely avoidable sickness in just a month! I am saying this because I see these things happening day in and day out. I know God is there to take care of us and Jesus said His Father knows how to give us the essential things. Our focus needs to be on Him alone. Try it, it works. Because God still works.
November 23, 2006
Today's verse: Lk. 12:22, 23. And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on. The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment. (KJV)
Go back in time to when you were small and mummy said, ‘Child, when you sleep, angels will guard you…’ and you believed and loved it. Who doesn’t love these things, which the current world and its denizens call a ‘make believe world’ that doesn’t exist.
Jesus today is telling us to believe in such a make-believe world. To quit worrying about stupid things and for that matter even the essential, like what you will eat, etc. And trust God to give them to you. Funny how we all say, we work for food and then just a small percentage of our money goes to survive and the rest in doing things that satiate our pride and of course tickle the envy of our neighbors.
The world is placed diagonally opposite to God’s ways. We spend our lives trampling each other and doing insane things. There is competition and jealousy. No one is satisfied with what he or she has. The big goal is to save. A typical conservative person would save about 60% if it were possible. If the question is asked why save, pat comes the answer, ‘what will I do after retirement?’ Ah, good question. But then, where is your trust in God? Do you know that God can send you a sickness, which can let you down by 5,00,000 to 10,00,000 Rupees or even more? What then will you do? I just read an article, which postulated the theory that it is an absolute must to have insurance. After all you don’t know the future! Who does? Isn’t it God, He gave it to you after all! So whom should you trust: Insurance or God?
On the other hand you have those who use their credit cards lavishly and live month by month wondering how to repay, with each month increasing their debt. In a study it was ascertained in the US that an average person working and earning a salary of US $ 3000 a month had a loan of around US $ 200,000 at age 35! God will never want you living a life of filthy spending and irrationality, so you will never mount your debts!
Friend I urge you today to live on the principles of God. He is there for you. You know, in the years since I have come to know Him, I have hardly spent any money on medicine or anything that is a drain of resources; neither for me nor for my wife or daughter. But, recently my father-in-law spent his entire life’s savings on an extremely avoidable sickness in just a month! I am saying this because I see these things happening day in and day out. I know God is there to take care of us and Jesus said His Father knows how to give us the essential things. Our focus needs to be on Him alone. Try it, it works. Because God still works.
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
Thoughts for another day
November 22, 2006
Today's verse: 2 Cor. 4:18. While we look not at the things, which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. (KJV)
I am going to ask you a simple question: do you see God?
Well we don’t no? Yet, God is all in all. He fills all. And He is forever more. Today’s verse is amazing in that Paul blasts all the theories we have had about things that we see and observe and that which we don’t!
So what do we make of it and how do we understand it? For this we need to catapult ourselves into the heavenly realm and understand God through the Holy Spirit. Jesus says, Heaven and earth will pass away but My Words will not pass away. One more amazing statement on the lines of today’s verse. It makes us think: words won’t pass but earth (heaven we have not seen so we’ll bypass that) will! Incredulous. Imagine this big earth with its huge mountains and awesome oceans will disappear but Jesus’ Words will not! What are words anyway? Nothing, except when they are of God.
The moment the Holy Spirit expounds the scriptures to us, our eyes open up to the reality and we understand the greatness of God. Our words are nothing but God’s Words are everything. Far greater than the universe; and all other universes, if they exist at all. For God can create universes with His Word. So dynamic, amazing and powerful is His Word. Therefore, we must recognise that when God speaks, it is etched not on finite time but infinite eternity. We who believe have made our homes in the realm of eternity and we will see how greatly permanent we are and the Kingdom of Heaven is. We do not see it but we can sense it. We have not seen the Lord but we have felt His touch. We have not heard His Words but we have seen the effect they have had particularly when we see His creation.
Oh beautiful child of God, realize today that God though unseen is. And He is greatly embellished in our hearts. All we need to do is believe. Our belief will take us up the glassy stairs into the very courts of the Most High. It will strengthen our life here on earth and make us ready to transit into heaven on that day. Today, if you have a trial and believe that He will intervene, I tell you most assuredly, He will. Do you know that God is absolutely pleased when we believe in Him absolutely? Jesus said, Blessed are those who have not seen and believed. So you see, you are blessed and therefore God will deliver. Then will you utter the words of Paul, ‘For we walk by FAITH, not by sight’ (2 Cor. 5:7). Because what we don’t see is more that all that we see.
November 22, 2006
Today's verse: 2 Cor. 4:18. While we look not at the things, which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. (KJV)
I am going to ask you a simple question: do you see God?
Well we don’t no? Yet, God is all in all. He fills all. And He is forever more. Today’s verse is amazing in that Paul blasts all the theories we have had about things that we see and observe and that which we don’t!
So what do we make of it and how do we understand it? For this we need to catapult ourselves into the heavenly realm and understand God through the Holy Spirit. Jesus says, Heaven and earth will pass away but My Words will not pass away. One more amazing statement on the lines of today’s verse. It makes us think: words won’t pass but earth (heaven we have not seen so we’ll bypass that) will! Incredulous. Imagine this big earth with its huge mountains and awesome oceans will disappear but Jesus’ Words will not! What are words anyway? Nothing, except when they are of God.
The moment the Holy Spirit expounds the scriptures to us, our eyes open up to the reality and we understand the greatness of God. Our words are nothing but God’s Words are everything. Far greater than the universe; and all other universes, if they exist at all. For God can create universes with His Word. So dynamic, amazing and powerful is His Word. Therefore, we must recognise that when God speaks, it is etched not on finite time but infinite eternity. We who believe have made our homes in the realm of eternity and we will see how greatly permanent we are and the Kingdom of Heaven is. We do not see it but we can sense it. We have not seen the Lord but we have felt His touch. We have not heard His Words but we have seen the effect they have had particularly when we see His creation.
Oh beautiful child of God, realize today that God though unseen is. And He is greatly embellished in our hearts. All we need to do is believe. Our belief will take us up the glassy stairs into the very courts of the Most High. It will strengthen our life here on earth and make us ready to transit into heaven on that day. Today, if you have a trial and believe that He will intervene, I tell you most assuredly, He will. Do you know that God is absolutely pleased when we believe in Him absolutely? Jesus said, Blessed are those who have not seen and believed. So you see, you are blessed and therefore God will deliver. Then will you utter the words of Paul, ‘For we walk by FAITH, not by sight’ (2 Cor. 5:7). Because what we don’t see is more that all that we see.
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
Thoughts for another day
November 21, 2006
Today's verse: James 4:7. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (KJV)
If you’ve been reading these thoughts over the last few days, you would have noticed the pain in my heart because of sin. You know, I cannot comprehend how I sin despite the overflowing Grace of God within me. And by the way, it is not robbing or stealing or such a thing that I am referring to as sin but a simple thing as talking too much or maligning someone or judging someone… It is disgraceful and a thing of great shame. In human terms I would liken it to offending a person who loves you much and whom you too love but then go and offend that person drastically. And so in the evening my chief prayer to the Rock of Ages is: Have mercy on me my Father.
My beloved in the face of such awesome love as that which our Father in heaven has bestowed upon us, I am sure you too have this deep pain within you for having hurt Him. And what is amazing is that every time we ascribe our sinfulness to our human nature. Yes, it is right that the greatest sinned and even St. Paul expresses his wretchedness in the murkiness of sin. But there has to be a way out.
Today, God the blemishless, the Holy One of Israel, tells us to fling ourselves on Him. He asks us to completely give of ourselves to Him and hide in the cleft of His wings. That way we will get the strength to resist the father of lies and he will flee from us. My friend, eternity is staring us in the face, just a day perhaps from now, maybe even the next moment, who knows… But there is the Rock of Ages who is for us and really He is delighted when we fall upon Him in abject dismay because of our sins.
My friend, remove the cobwebs of sin from your soul. Do it, if not for anything, because Jesus look at you from the Cross and then looked at His Father and said, ‘Forgive that one for he knows not what he doeth.’ Embrace remorse and sit before Him telling Him of your poverty of purity and take His Grace into yourself. The glory of heaven waits for you oh Saint of God!
November 21, 2006
Today's verse: James 4:7. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (KJV)
If you’ve been reading these thoughts over the last few days, you would have noticed the pain in my heart because of sin. You know, I cannot comprehend how I sin despite the overflowing Grace of God within me. And by the way, it is not robbing or stealing or such a thing that I am referring to as sin but a simple thing as talking too much or maligning someone or judging someone… It is disgraceful and a thing of great shame. In human terms I would liken it to offending a person who loves you much and whom you too love but then go and offend that person drastically. And so in the evening my chief prayer to the Rock of Ages is: Have mercy on me my Father.
My beloved in the face of such awesome love as that which our Father in heaven has bestowed upon us, I am sure you too have this deep pain within you for having hurt Him. And what is amazing is that every time we ascribe our sinfulness to our human nature. Yes, it is right that the greatest sinned and even St. Paul expresses his wretchedness in the murkiness of sin. But there has to be a way out.
Today, God the blemishless, the Holy One of Israel, tells us to fling ourselves on Him. He asks us to completely give of ourselves to Him and hide in the cleft of His wings. That way we will get the strength to resist the father of lies and he will flee from us. My friend, eternity is staring us in the face, just a day perhaps from now, maybe even the next moment, who knows… But there is the Rock of Ages who is for us and really He is delighted when we fall upon Him in abject dismay because of our sins.
My friend, remove the cobwebs of sin from your soul. Do it, if not for anything, because Jesus look at you from the Cross and then looked at His Father and said, ‘Forgive that one for he knows not what he doeth.’ Embrace remorse and sit before Him telling Him of your poverty of purity and take His Grace into yourself. The glory of heaven waits for you oh Saint of God!
Monday, November 20, 2006
Thoughts for another day
November 20, 2006
Today's verse: Job 22:23. If thou return to the Almighty, thou shalt be built up, thou shalt put away iniquity far from thy tabernacles. (KJV)
That our Father in Heaven is merciful is a known fact and that He always forgives us when we repent and return is also known. It is not measured by any yardstick but felt in your heart as it burns within you and then you know that you are forgiven. Take for eg. the ‘sinful’ woman in Lk 7:36-50. She came and anointed Jesus’ legs and wiped them with her hair.
The Pharisee who had invited Jesus saw this and doubted the credibility of Jesus because he felt Jesus did not know about the woman. Jesus questioned him in His own way and then told him that her many sins were forgiven, although Jesus had not really uttered the words, which He does later. Now how did the woman know that she was forgiven? She felt it in her heart! So also with us, when we have offended God and then go to seek His forgiveness, He accepts and welcomes us back. We know this because deep within our being we feel the release of His love.
An illustration, which embellishes this well, is the parable of the lost son. My friend, see the picture of the son’s father. The son had asked for his share of the wealth and then gone about leading an obnoxious life. When the son returned, the Word of God tells us, the father saw him afar and ran and embraced him. Surely Jesus says this to tell us how our Heavenly Father too waits for us and when we return, runs to embrace us and build us up. He cherishes our return and there is rejoicing in heaven over it.
Beloved look not at your sin but look at the mercy of the Father and seek His heart. We are all unworthy of Him, yet when we return, He is joyful. So come back to Him and allow the full glow of His mercy fall upon you and rejoice; for He your Redeemer is also your spouse and He will never leave you.
November 20, 2006
Today's verse: Job 22:23. If thou return to the Almighty, thou shalt be built up, thou shalt put away iniquity far from thy tabernacles. (KJV)
That our Father in Heaven is merciful is a known fact and that He always forgives us when we repent and return is also known. It is not measured by any yardstick but felt in your heart as it burns within you and then you know that you are forgiven. Take for eg. the ‘sinful’ woman in Lk 7:36-50. She came and anointed Jesus’ legs and wiped them with her hair.
The Pharisee who had invited Jesus saw this and doubted the credibility of Jesus because he felt Jesus did not know about the woman. Jesus questioned him in His own way and then told him that her many sins were forgiven, although Jesus had not really uttered the words, which He does later. Now how did the woman know that she was forgiven? She felt it in her heart! So also with us, when we have offended God and then go to seek His forgiveness, He accepts and welcomes us back. We know this because deep within our being we feel the release of His love.
An illustration, which embellishes this well, is the parable of the lost son. My friend, see the picture of the son’s father. The son had asked for his share of the wealth and then gone about leading an obnoxious life. When the son returned, the Word of God tells us, the father saw him afar and ran and embraced him. Surely Jesus says this to tell us how our Heavenly Father too waits for us and when we return, runs to embrace us and build us up. He cherishes our return and there is rejoicing in heaven over it.
Beloved look not at your sin but look at the mercy of the Father and seek His heart. We are all unworthy of Him, yet when we return, He is joyful. So come back to Him and allow the full glow of His mercy fall upon you and rejoice; for He your Redeemer is also your spouse and He will never leave you.
Friday, November 17, 2006
Thoughts for another day
November 17, 2006
Today's verse: Is. 40:11. He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young. (KJV)
When I was a child, I used to be always fascinated with the picture of the good Shepherd. Yes, what a picture it makes. Truly the art reflects the sanctity of the moment when the little lamb rests securely in the arms of the Shepherd.
There is at that time such tranquility and serenity. For the little lamb the shepherd is the ultimate symbol of security and comfort. In the arms of the shepherd, the sheep have no worry. The enemy may come, but then he has to contend with the shepherd. And if the shepherd is of the type who at any cost will save the sheep from the enemy, even to the cost of his life then the enemy need be scared, very scared. And that is the case with our God. He is the good Shepherd. One who has laid down His life for the sheep.
Isaiah clearly mentions the role of our beloved Father as the good Shepherd. That He will feed us and will gather us and carry us in His bosom and lead us on. David in his ode to the good Shepherd talks about his fearlessness in the presence of the Shepherd because his Shepherd is not anybody but the Creator of the universe.
Our good Shepherd deals with our enemies in every way that they are to be dealt with. He covers us with His arms and provides us warmth beyond comprehension and fullness of life. And when danger comes our way, like David we could say, ‘even though I walk in the valley of the shadow of death, I shall not fear for He is there!’
November 17, 2006
Today's verse: Is. 40:11. He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young. (KJV)
When I was a child, I used to be always fascinated with the picture of the good Shepherd. Yes, what a picture it makes. Truly the art reflects the sanctity of the moment when the little lamb rests securely in the arms of the Shepherd.
There is at that time such tranquility and serenity. For the little lamb the shepherd is the ultimate symbol of security and comfort. In the arms of the shepherd, the sheep have no worry. The enemy may come, but then he has to contend with the shepherd. And if the shepherd is of the type who at any cost will save the sheep from the enemy, even to the cost of his life then the enemy need be scared, very scared. And that is the case with our God. He is the good Shepherd. One who has laid down His life for the sheep.
Isaiah clearly mentions the role of our beloved Father as the good Shepherd. That He will feed us and will gather us and carry us in His bosom and lead us on. David in his ode to the good Shepherd talks about his fearlessness in the presence of the Shepherd because his Shepherd is not anybody but the Creator of the universe.
Our good Shepherd deals with our enemies in every way that they are to be dealt with. He covers us with His arms and provides us warmth beyond comprehension and fullness of life. And when danger comes our way, like David we could say, ‘even though I walk in the valley of the shadow of death, I shall not fear for He is there!’
Thursday, November 16, 2006
Thoughts for another day
November 16, 2006
Today's verse: 2 Pet. 3:8. But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. (KJV)
Time. One thing we are ever short of and has always eluded us and escaped like water through our fingers. We are pained for time and are its slaves too. We want every thing to happen now. We go to God with the same condition…please Lord, now!
But God has His time. There is a beautiful song: ‘In His time…He makes all things beautiful in His time…’ God in His time works out things that are simply superb. You see the wonderful world that He has created; He took time to create it as we see in Genesis. We may never know why, because He just needs to speak and it comes to be. It could perhaps be because He needs us to understand this concept. Unlike us, God never has any time constraints as His Word says today.
I want you to know my beloved that though you might be severely afflicted and pitted against time, don’t be vexed for God is in control and time is in His hand. If the doctor says you have just two months to live, scorn it, for He who has made time will have another say if you believe. In my own life as to my calling, I have come to understand His way of time. I know because I have spiritually seen the Ministry God has given to me. Yet, when I look at what is happening today, I wonder and tell myself, ‘if for the greatest of them, it has taken a lifetime to accomplish the little they have, how much time will it take me to achieve what the Lord has ordained for me; and do I have that much time on earth?
Then I am led to the above verse and I gently smile for I know that the Lord of time is the One who accomplishes all things in His time. He packs in the ingredients of our days and weeks and years. In Him if we trust, there is no question of not accomplishing anything. You may feel that time is running out but then He can re-create things. Abraham must have surely felt awful at age ninety to have no child and ever more so at age ninety-nine and then…Isaac was born when he was hundred years of age! So don’t fret my friend and bother not about time for the One who created it is the Lord of time. And behold, He is your friend.
November 16, 2006
Today's verse: 2 Pet. 3:8. But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. (KJV)
Time. One thing we are ever short of and has always eluded us and escaped like water through our fingers. We are pained for time and are its slaves too. We want every thing to happen now. We go to God with the same condition…please Lord, now!
But God has His time. There is a beautiful song: ‘In His time…He makes all things beautiful in His time…’ God in His time works out things that are simply superb. You see the wonderful world that He has created; He took time to create it as we see in Genesis. We may never know why, because He just needs to speak and it comes to be. It could perhaps be because He needs us to understand this concept. Unlike us, God never has any time constraints as His Word says today.
I want you to know my beloved that though you might be severely afflicted and pitted against time, don’t be vexed for God is in control and time is in His hand. If the doctor says you have just two months to live, scorn it, for He who has made time will have another say if you believe. In my own life as to my calling, I have come to understand His way of time. I know because I have spiritually seen the Ministry God has given to me. Yet, when I look at what is happening today, I wonder and tell myself, ‘if for the greatest of them, it has taken a lifetime to accomplish the little they have, how much time will it take me to achieve what the Lord has ordained for me; and do I have that much time on earth?
Then I am led to the above verse and I gently smile for I know that the Lord of time is the One who accomplishes all things in His time. He packs in the ingredients of our days and weeks and years. In Him if we trust, there is no question of not accomplishing anything. You may feel that time is running out but then He can re-create things. Abraham must have surely felt awful at age ninety to have no child and ever more so at age ninety-nine and then…Isaac was born when he was hundred years of age! So don’t fret my friend and bother not about time for the One who created it is the Lord of time. And behold, He is your friend.
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
Thoughts for another day
November 15, 2006
Today's verse: Ps. 37:23,24. If the LORD delights in a man's way, he makes his steps firm; though he stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand. (NIV)
All of us humans are on a journey on earth. The Christian faith gives a reason for the journey and marks out a purpose for man to be on earth. The purpose is to praise the glory of the Creator God, Eph. 1:11,12. (Without purpose, life is vanity of vanities, totally meaningless, as the Book of Ecclesiastes says with regard to certain actions of man.) Then we leave our mortal bodies, to be welcomed in His Kingdom, which He has prepared even before the foundation of the world for His chosen ones.
Each person on earth will move according to the plan God has for them and fulfill it in accord with God’s glorious Grace. You know my friend God knows all. But He has given us the free will from which we choose what we are to do. Somewhere down the line after we have chosen to follow Him, we choose to do that which pleases Him. Then God starts taking delight in our ways. That’s the time when our hearts are flooded with a joy inexplicable and lightness unknown. The Holy Spirit’s gentle breeze unfurls the most ecstatic feelings in us and despite the worldly troubles we have, we experience happiness beyond understanding.
But somewhere down the line we fall. As long as we are human we will fall. Yet, through the tears in our eyes, we shall see His hand upholding us. (Can you imagine lifting up the body of a beggar filled with dirt and worms?) Then we may say, ‘Look Lord, I am here in this mud and totally dirty. But yet, Lord, You have extended your pure hand to lift me up.’ And somewhere into the depths of your being He will gently tell you, ‘Behold, little one, even before you were born, I loved you and made you My child. Do you think I will allow a little mud to come between us?’
November 15, 2006
Today's verse: Ps. 37:23,24. If the LORD delights in a man's way, he makes his steps firm; though he stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand. (NIV)
All of us humans are on a journey on earth. The Christian faith gives a reason for the journey and marks out a purpose for man to be on earth. The purpose is to praise the glory of the Creator God, Eph. 1:11,12. (Without purpose, life is vanity of vanities, totally meaningless, as the Book of Ecclesiastes says with regard to certain actions of man.) Then we leave our mortal bodies, to be welcomed in His Kingdom, which He has prepared even before the foundation of the world for His chosen ones.
Each person on earth will move according to the plan God has for them and fulfill it in accord with God’s glorious Grace. You know my friend God knows all. But He has given us the free will from which we choose what we are to do. Somewhere down the line after we have chosen to follow Him, we choose to do that which pleases Him. Then God starts taking delight in our ways. That’s the time when our hearts are flooded with a joy inexplicable and lightness unknown. The Holy Spirit’s gentle breeze unfurls the most ecstatic feelings in us and despite the worldly troubles we have, we experience happiness beyond understanding.
But somewhere down the line we fall. As long as we are human we will fall. Yet, through the tears in our eyes, we shall see His hand upholding us. (Can you imagine lifting up the body of a beggar filled with dirt and worms?) Then we may say, ‘Look Lord, I am here in this mud and totally dirty. But yet, Lord, You have extended your pure hand to lift me up.’ And somewhere into the depths of your being He will gently tell you, ‘Behold, little one, even before you were born, I loved you and made you My child. Do you think I will allow a little mud to come between us?’
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Thoughts for another day
November 14, 2006
Today's verse: Is. 11:6. The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. (KJV)
For a deeper impression of the significance of the verse, read also verses 7-10
God allowed my focus to rest on a rather strange verse, which I put down after a bit of churning in the mind, knowing well that He would want it to be the verse for us this day. The confirmation came when He showed me the word ‘child’ in the verse and in India it is children’s day today.
Now, picture the imagery in today’s verse. We get a tremendous semblance of peace in the world. A peace ushered in by Yahweh Shalom. A peace and calm only He can give in which, the exact opposite of all that we think, happens. That is why we see the wolf and the lamb together and even a calf and a young lion with a little child leading them. The weak (as the world knows) leading the strong!
It brings me to know what the way of God as told by the Bible is, ‘My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, saith the LORD.’ My friend, what we see here and what we are to see in the kingdom is exactly opposite. When the disciples were arguing as to who was the greatest, Jesus said to them, ‘If any man desires to be the first, the same shall be the last of all and servant of all’ Mk. 9:35. Jesus wants us to be like children. You know when a child is appointed as a leader it will go about serving others, unlike world leaders who expect everyone else to serve them.
Jesus said, that unless we are changed to be like children, we cannot enter the kingdom of God. Our mindset needs a change, like that in the child. We need to become feeble like children to recognise His power! We need to acknowledge that we are insufficient so that He can be our sufficiency. And thus will we own the kingdom of heaven for Jesus said further that the Kingdom of God belongs to them (Mk. 10:14).
November 14, 2006
Today's verse: Is. 11:6. The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. (KJV)
For a deeper impression of the significance of the verse, read also verses 7-10
God allowed my focus to rest on a rather strange verse, which I put down after a bit of churning in the mind, knowing well that He would want it to be the verse for us this day. The confirmation came when He showed me the word ‘child’ in the verse and in India it is children’s day today.
Now, picture the imagery in today’s verse. We get a tremendous semblance of peace in the world. A peace ushered in by Yahweh Shalom. A peace and calm only He can give in which, the exact opposite of all that we think, happens. That is why we see the wolf and the lamb together and even a calf and a young lion with a little child leading them. The weak (as the world knows) leading the strong!
It brings me to know what the way of God as told by the Bible is, ‘My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, saith the LORD.’ My friend, what we see here and what we are to see in the kingdom is exactly opposite. When the disciples were arguing as to who was the greatest, Jesus said to them, ‘If any man desires to be the first, the same shall be the last of all and servant of all’ Mk. 9:35. Jesus wants us to be like children. You know when a child is appointed as a leader it will go about serving others, unlike world leaders who expect everyone else to serve them.
Jesus said, that unless we are changed to be like children, we cannot enter the kingdom of God. Our mindset needs a change, like that in the child. We need to become feeble like children to recognise His power! We need to acknowledge that we are insufficient so that He can be our sufficiency. And thus will we own the kingdom of heaven for Jesus said further that the Kingdom of God belongs to them (Mk. 10:14).
Monday, November 13, 2006
Thoughts for another day
November 13, 2006
Today's verse: Lk. 19:10. For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. (KJV)
God told Adam that he would die if he ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. It was an irrevocable decree. Adam’s eating of the fruit, resulted in the entire human race being ‘lost’. The mysterious plan of God’s redemption through His only begotten Son, was kept a secret from the time the world began (Ro. 16:25) and revealed only when the Lord of Heaven, Jesus Christ, took birth on earth as a feeble human being.
He was born in the lowest circumstances so that the lowest could approach Him. Kings of the earth lord it over their subjects, but the King of the universe comes in love. His Spirit stirs our heart gently like a baby trying to assess whether mom is interested in a little companionship! And then if we do not open our hearts to Him, he silently moves away, insulted.
My friend, our God is all of love. You sin – He loves you. You deny Him – He loves you. You backslide from Him – He loves you. Love is His way, love is His language and His breath is love. When you are a sinner, He loves you even more. He Himself says, ‘those who are good in health, do not need a doctor but they, who are not well’ Mt. 9:12. I can feel the intense stirring of John’s heart when he wrote his first letter and said, ‘Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God.’ 1 Jn. 3:1. I myself cry out often and say, ‘Lord what kind of love is this which chooses to ignore my dirt but imparts the purity Your Son has bestowed. My friend, this really is a moment of profound serenity and unalloyed joy.
When Jesus searched out Zacchaeus (Lk. 19:1-10), much before he had climbed the sycamore tree, Jesus recognised him and welcomed him and His Grace reached Zacchaeus on the tree. He instantly received it and his spirit cried at God’s mercy; bringing change within him. Now when the pseudo righteous saw this they were appalled for they did not expect a righteous man to mingle with the unrighteous and Jesus told them of His nature and His task. My friend, I couldn’t care what dirt you have been playing around with till now. But now and here is the visitation of His Grace. Accept it and say, ‘Lord forgive me, I am a sinner.’ Truly, the bells of heaven will toll for you as Jesus rejoices and tells His Father, ‘Dad, here is one more…’
November 13, 2006
Today's verse: Lk. 19:10. For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. (KJV)
God told Adam that he would die if he ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. It was an irrevocable decree. Adam’s eating of the fruit, resulted in the entire human race being ‘lost’. The mysterious plan of God’s redemption through His only begotten Son, was kept a secret from the time the world began (Ro. 16:25) and revealed only when the Lord of Heaven, Jesus Christ, took birth on earth as a feeble human being.
He was born in the lowest circumstances so that the lowest could approach Him. Kings of the earth lord it over their subjects, but the King of the universe comes in love. His Spirit stirs our heart gently like a baby trying to assess whether mom is interested in a little companionship! And then if we do not open our hearts to Him, he silently moves away, insulted.
My friend, our God is all of love. You sin – He loves you. You deny Him – He loves you. You backslide from Him – He loves you. Love is His way, love is His language and His breath is love. When you are a sinner, He loves you even more. He Himself says, ‘those who are good in health, do not need a doctor but they, who are not well’ Mt. 9:12. I can feel the intense stirring of John’s heart when he wrote his first letter and said, ‘Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God.’ 1 Jn. 3:1. I myself cry out often and say, ‘Lord what kind of love is this which chooses to ignore my dirt but imparts the purity Your Son has bestowed. My friend, this really is a moment of profound serenity and unalloyed joy.
When Jesus searched out Zacchaeus (Lk. 19:1-10), much before he had climbed the sycamore tree, Jesus recognised him and welcomed him and His Grace reached Zacchaeus on the tree. He instantly received it and his spirit cried at God’s mercy; bringing change within him. Now when the pseudo righteous saw this they were appalled for they did not expect a righteous man to mingle with the unrighteous and Jesus told them of His nature and His task. My friend, I couldn’t care what dirt you have been playing around with till now. But now and here is the visitation of His Grace. Accept it and say, ‘Lord forgive me, I am a sinner.’ Truly, the bells of heaven will toll for you as Jesus rejoices and tells His Father, ‘Dad, here is one more…’
Friday, November 10, 2006
Thoughts for another day
November 10, 2006
Today's verse: Acts 2:2. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. (KJV)
When somebody mentions the word suddenly, what does it mean to you? I am sure that it means instantly right. You know in the ways of God, the word ‘suddenly’ has tremendous influence. When God works it happens in an instant: suddenly.
Take today’s verse, the Holy Spirit chose to suddenly come upon the apostles and the others gathered in the upper room and He strengthened them to an extent that they who were timidly gathered in secret for fear of the Jews became completely fearless and started doing the work entrusted to them by Jesus Christ.
My friend, you might have cried out for something to the Lord with pain and travailing and as you look ahead in the night of your situation, you might only hear silence. But think not that the Lord of the universe is asleep on your need. For He is waiting to see how much you trust in Him. In the moment when the time has come, He will suddenly deliver you. His power will come upon you and whatever the situation of need will be met instantly! I have also prayed for something for myself. I believe that in an instant it will come and till then I have to wait upon Him.
I want to comfort you today with His comfort. I want to encourage you today with His encouragement, the same that I have received from our Lord. It is not an empty promise but on it dwells the very nature of our God whose words are longer lasting than time itself, ‘Heaven and earth will pass away, My Word remains…’ So gird up yourself and wait on Him…He will deliver. Amen.
November 10, 2006
Today's verse: Acts 2:2. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. (KJV)
When somebody mentions the word suddenly, what does it mean to you? I am sure that it means instantly right. You know in the ways of God, the word ‘suddenly’ has tremendous influence. When God works it happens in an instant: suddenly.
Take today’s verse, the Holy Spirit chose to suddenly come upon the apostles and the others gathered in the upper room and He strengthened them to an extent that they who were timidly gathered in secret for fear of the Jews became completely fearless and started doing the work entrusted to them by Jesus Christ.
My friend, you might have cried out for something to the Lord with pain and travailing and as you look ahead in the night of your situation, you might only hear silence. But think not that the Lord of the universe is asleep on your need. For He is waiting to see how much you trust in Him. In the moment when the time has come, He will suddenly deliver you. His power will come upon you and whatever the situation of need will be met instantly! I have also prayed for something for myself. I believe that in an instant it will come and till then I have to wait upon Him.
I want to comfort you today with His comfort. I want to encourage you today with His encouragement, the same that I have received from our Lord. It is not an empty promise but on it dwells the very nature of our God whose words are longer lasting than time itself, ‘Heaven and earth will pass away, My Word remains…’ So gird up yourself and wait on Him…He will deliver. Amen.
Thursday, November 09, 2006
Thoughts for another day
November 9, 2006
Today's verse: 1Chron. 17:20. O LORD, there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears. (KJV)
This morning as I was traveling to work, I thought of the meanness I possess. My friend, being a person rooted to Christ is easy to say; but living it is tough. And in this world, we too behave like the people in the world. I have seen this in me and in many others too. I am sure we have our internal struggles. It is very distressing, not necessarily in our day to day relationships with people (because people don’t expect you to be what Christ wants you to be) but with God! So if you are harsh, your friends will probably tell you, ‘oh it doesn’t matter; after all we are in the process of growth.’ But when it comes to God, it’s an altogether different story.
It does matter and matters a lot. With Him there is no excuse. One cannot point to another preacher who is harsh and say, ‘look at him, he is a bigger preacher than me and he is not so good, so I can forget this internal strife.’ No. God is not going to be asking us about others; but about what we have done. And before the throne, when you are all alone, there is no escape route. And God’s justice remains.
Now this can be frightening and an indictment. However, there is an escape route. A rather narrow way. He is Christ. He is the way. My beloved in Christ, God for a moment even, does not want us to be separated from Him, how then can we ever think that He would want us to be separated for eternity. When He had ordained, the death of Christ, by Jesus’ own will on account of the love He had for the Father and the love the Father had for us, He already redeemed us. Only like the letter to the Galatians says, But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children; He revealed the Redeemer later.
You know, God’s mercy takes precedence over His justice. His love prevails. When I think of His Word, which says, His mercy is new every morning, I felt Him once telling me, ‘My mercy is not exhaustible. It never ceases. When you have sinned and you get up next morning, take it as a new day. Come back to Me. Don’t remember the past. This is a new day and My mercy remains.’ What a wonderful God we have and that is why, I pray today’s verse.
November 9, 2006
Today's verse: 1Chron. 17:20. O LORD, there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears. (KJV)
This morning as I was traveling to work, I thought of the meanness I possess. My friend, being a person rooted to Christ is easy to say; but living it is tough. And in this world, we too behave like the people in the world. I have seen this in me and in many others too. I am sure we have our internal struggles. It is very distressing, not necessarily in our day to day relationships with people (because people don’t expect you to be what Christ wants you to be) but with God! So if you are harsh, your friends will probably tell you, ‘oh it doesn’t matter; after all we are in the process of growth.’ But when it comes to God, it’s an altogether different story.
It does matter and matters a lot. With Him there is no excuse. One cannot point to another preacher who is harsh and say, ‘look at him, he is a bigger preacher than me and he is not so good, so I can forget this internal strife.’ No. God is not going to be asking us about others; but about what we have done. And before the throne, when you are all alone, there is no escape route. And God’s justice remains.
Now this can be frightening and an indictment. However, there is an escape route. A rather narrow way. He is Christ. He is the way. My beloved in Christ, God for a moment even, does not want us to be separated from Him, how then can we ever think that He would want us to be separated for eternity. When He had ordained, the death of Christ, by Jesus’ own will on account of the love He had for the Father and the love the Father had for us, He already redeemed us. Only like the letter to the Galatians says, But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children; He revealed the Redeemer later.
You know, God’s mercy takes precedence over His justice. His love prevails. When I think of His Word, which says, His mercy is new every morning, I felt Him once telling me, ‘My mercy is not exhaustible. It never ceases. When you have sinned and you get up next morning, take it as a new day. Come back to Me. Don’t remember the past. This is a new day and My mercy remains.’ What a wonderful God we have and that is why, I pray today’s verse.
Wednesday, November 08, 2006
Thoughts for another day
November 8, 2006
Today's verse: Gen. 18:17. And the LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do; (KJV)
You know that God speaks to us in His Word when we seek His Word carefully giving it its due, He opens up hitherto unknown aspects of Himself. Today, the Holy Spirit will reveal a very important facet of our Father. A facet which will tell us how much He yearns to raise us high – we who are mere smoke in the wind, and establish us in His kingdom.
Abraham lived and breathed God. He ran contrary to the world but when it came to God, he obeyed completely; right from the time he left his homeland and wandered through the wilderness; because God told Him to do so. He believed and he believed implicitly. That is why God blessed Abraham miraculously and in an amazing manner. In the above verse, we find God saying that He should not hide the thing He would do with Sodom and Gomorrah that of course is because his nephew Lot stayed there. Then God tells Abraham what He is going to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah, after which we have the marvelous bargaining of Abraham with God. To understand this we need to know that God is great. Far greater than we can ever think or imagine. Yet, He speaks to Abraham as His friend.
To you and me who are in touch with God regularly, He will do the same. For God is the same yesterday, today and forever. And His Word says, He is not partial. Of course, He has his favorites but then His traits don’t change and you can expect Him to be the same affable Father He was to Abraham. So get down on your knees and look up to the Lord, He is waiting for your companionship and also that He may tell you how much He loves you.
November 8, 2006
Today's verse: Gen. 18:17. And the LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do; (KJV)
You know that God speaks to us in His Word when we seek His Word carefully giving it its due, He opens up hitherto unknown aspects of Himself. Today, the Holy Spirit will reveal a very important facet of our Father. A facet which will tell us how much He yearns to raise us high – we who are mere smoke in the wind, and establish us in His kingdom.
Abraham lived and breathed God. He ran contrary to the world but when it came to God, he obeyed completely; right from the time he left his homeland and wandered through the wilderness; because God told Him to do so. He believed and he believed implicitly. That is why God blessed Abraham miraculously and in an amazing manner. In the above verse, we find God saying that He should not hide the thing He would do with Sodom and Gomorrah that of course is because his nephew Lot stayed there. Then God tells Abraham what He is going to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah, after which we have the marvelous bargaining of Abraham with God. To understand this we need to know that God is great. Far greater than we can ever think or imagine. Yet, He speaks to Abraham as His friend.
To you and me who are in touch with God regularly, He will do the same. For God is the same yesterday, today and forever. And His Word says, He is not partial. Of course, He has his favorites but then His traits don’t change and you can expect Him to be the same affable Father He was to Abraham. So get down on your knees and look up to the Lord, He is waiting for your companionship and also that He may tell you how much He loves you.
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
Thoughts for another day
November 7, 2006
Today's verse: Judges 7:2. The people that are with thee are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel vaunt themselves against me, saying, Mine own hand hath saved me. (KJV)
In Ministry, we come across all kinds of people. Some tell us to pray for them; then they go about doing everything that would defeat the very purpose of our prayer. I’ll explain through an example. Nowadays, it has become fashionable for parents to go through the angst of their kids concerning studies. The parent will ask us to pray that the child scores well. And it doesn’t end here. The child is enrolled in the most expensive coaching classes. The cable is disconnected. The parent stays with the child all through the evening and day and night (mercifully schools do not allow parents to accompany the child!) and the efforts continue.
Somewhere down the line, in this vast exercise of nurturing and looking after the child, God is completely forgotten. And then the results come in and the parent basks in the glory of the child (if at all the child scores well, which in most cases it doesn’t and I’ve got solid experience to back this) and of course the response is, who do you think made it possible, me, of course!…
There are so many situations in our lives where the same thing happens. We look toward all human avenues (yes, of course, we also ask someone to pray and then quickly forget about it) and despair and frustrate ourselves. In such a situation, how can you expect God’s help? Yeah, thank God He is not man that He should be like us and completely ignore us; but He still doesn’t approve of our stupid behavior. In any difficult situation, there is only one thing He needs us to do: Be still. And allow Him to work. In my own life, I have seen His mighty power at work. My job today is so easy. I hardly do anything but He delivers because I completely entrust my job to Him. Amazing thing but, He never fails. And sure He gets all the glory. In today’s verse too, God tells Gideon to reduce the no of men accompanying Him so that He will get the glory and you know what? With just 300 men, He delivers the entire army of the Midianites to the Israelites!
My beloved in Christ, God’s power is awesome. Just trust Him. Don’t frustrate His work in your life by going to all and sundry for help. But trust Him. He is The Rock who will save you, come what may and when He does, sing Him a song of praise and proclaim to the world the marvelous things He has done in your life.
November 7, 2006
Today's verse: Judges 7:2. The people that are with thee are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel vaunt themselves against me, saying, Mine own hand hath saved me. (KJV)
In Ministry, we come across all kinds of people. Some tell us to pray for them; then they go about doing everything that would defeat the very purpose of our prayer. I’ll explain through an example. Nowadays, it has become fashionable for parents to go through the angst of their kids concerning studies. The parent will ask us to pray that the child scores well. And it doesn’t end here. The child is enrolled in the most expensive coaching classes. The cable is disconnected. The parent stays with the child all through the evening and day and night (mercifully schools do not allow parents to accompany the child!) and the efforts continue.
Somewhere down the line, in this vast exercise of nurturing and looking after the child, God is completely forgotten. And then the results come in and the parent basks in the glory of the child (if at all the child scores well, which in most cases it doesn’t and I’ve got solid experience to back this) and of course the response is, who do you think made it possible, me, of course!…
There are so many situations in our lives where the same thing happens. We look toward all human avenues (yes, of course, we also ask someone to pray and then quickly forget about it) and despair and frustrate ourselves. In such a situation, how can you expect God’s help? Yeah, thank God He is not man that He should be like us and completely ignore us; but He still doesn’t approve of our stupid behavior. In any difficult situation, there is only one thing He needs us to do: Be still. And allow Him to work. In my own life, I have seen His mighty power at work. My job today is so easy. I hardly do anything but He delivers because I completely entrust my job to Him. Amazing thing but, He never fails. And sure He gets all the glory. In today’s verse too, God tells Gideon to reduce the no of men accompanying Him so that He will get the glory and you know what? With just 300 men, He delivers the entire army of the Midianites to the Israelites!
My beloved in Christ, God’s power is awesome. Just trust Him. Don’t frustrate His work in your life by going to all and sundry for help. But trust Him. He is The Rock who will save you, come what may and when He does, sing Him a song of praise and proclaim to the world the marvelous things He has done in your life.
Monday, November 06, 2006
Thoughts for another day
November 6, 2006
Today's verse: Ps. 51:10. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. (KJV)
A lot many times in life, we do things, which offend the Most High. We are subject to the evil desires of flesh and no matter what we do, somewhere in the deep recesses of the heart when we evaluate our actions during the day, we find some sin lurking within. Small, however it might be, yet sin. And sin, whether big or small, is sin and eligible for the wrath of God.
Now, for many of us who are tuned to our wonderful Father and have experienced His love, it is a thing of discomfort. When we next commune with the Father, this sin is going to block His Grace from flooding our hearts and inhibit the right communion with Him. It is hurting and humiliating and very very defeating. Hurting because we feel His pain. Humiliating because we see Him so pure and when we look at ourselves what we see is dirt. Defeating because, we see His purposes come to naught in our lives, despite the lofty offices He has called us to!
Something similar happened to David. You know, David was the one who wrote, ‘One thing I ask of the Lord, this I seek; to dwell in the House of the Lord all my life and gaze on the Lord’s beauty!’ You also know what happened between him and Bathsheba: a gross sin. And David felt isolation from God. He felt alone and miserable and that’s when from his heart came the words of Psalm 51 which gives us today’s verse.
My beloved in Christ, if you are also feeling isolated from God, get up and go to Him; no matter how gross your sin. People facing the death sentence have experienced God and have felt His pardon and love. Imagine the joy of the thief to whom the Lord said, ‘today you will be with Me in Paradise’. Remember God sent His son because He has loved you and me with an everlasting love and that He could reconcile us to Himself. My friend, get into the right groove with God. Let your heart echo today’s verse and add, ‘Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation and take not Your Holy Spirit from me.’
November 6, 2006
Today's verse: Ps. 51:10. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. (KJV)
A lot many times in life, we do things, which offend the Most High. We are subject to the evil desires of flesh and no matter what we do, somewhere in the deep recesses of the heart when we evaluate our actions during the day, we find some sin lurking within. Small, however it might be, yet sin. And sin, whether big or small, is sin and eligible for the wrath of God.
Now, for many of us who are tuned to our wonderful Father and have experienced His love, it is a thing of discomfort. When we next commune with the Father, this sin is going to block His Grace from flooding our hearts and inhibit the right communion with Him. It is hurting and humiliating and very very defeating. Hurting because we feel His pain. Humiliating because we see Him so pure and when we look at ourselves what we see is dirt. Defeating because, we see His purposes come to naught in our lives, despite the lofty offices He has called us to!
Something similar happened to David. You know, David was the one who wrote, ‘One thing I ask of the Lord, this I seek; to dwell in the House of the Lord all my life and gaze on the Lord’s beauty!’ You also know what happened between him and Bathsheba: a gross sin. And David felt isolation from God. He felt alone and miserable and that’s when from his heart came the words of Psalm 51 which gives us today’s verse.
My beloved in Christ, if you are also feeling isolated from God, get up and go to Him; no matter how gross your sin. People facing the death sentence have experienced God and have felt His pardon and love. Imagine the joy of the thief to whom the Lord said, ‘today you will be with Me in Paradise’. Remember God sent His son because He has loved you and me with an everlasting love and that He could reconcile us to Himself. My friend, get into the right groove with God. Let your heart echo today’s verse and add, ‘Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation and take not Your Holy Spirit from me.’
Friday, November 03, 2006
Thoughts for another day
November 3, 2006
Today's verse: 2 Cor. 5:21. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. (KJV)
If someone asks me ‘When did the entire universe stand in bated breath with great anxiety?’ I’d say, at the moment the Father thumped the sins of mankind across generations on to His only begotten Son.
For you and me to get the import of it is a trite difficult because we belong to the feeble species. Our minds are limited or else, there would be exhilaration within our hearts because when the Father did that, there came into fulfillment the pact the son had made with the Father long before the foundation of the world. The pact was that He would go down to earth, become limited and then die for man, the Father’s most marvelous creation, and redeem him from the clutches of death!
My friend, Jesus Christ paid a heavy price to keep the pact. No, not the pain of death if, you are thinking that way. Neither the scourging nor the humiliation by the Roman soldiers, nor the betrayal by Judas or the denial by Peter or the absconding disciples and the people He had loved and helped. Far away from His mind were all these trivialities including the hegemony of the Sanhedrin and the Pharisees. But His main cry was, ‘My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?
My friend, it was a terrible price Christ had to pay. I am not able to give you even a shred of an example of how terrible it was. For that I appeal to the Holy Spirit to enter the core of your heart and give you the feeling of the awesome loneliness your Lord went through when the hour had come. And of course you know why He went through it. Because He loves you. Because His Father loves you and has great expectations from you. Reader, wherever you are, whoever you are, if you have fallen into the muck of sin, get up. Your Savior is calling you. Rise and be healed in your soul for He has endured all for your sake. Blessed is His Name.
November 3, 2006
Today's verse: 2 Cor. 5:21. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. (KJV)
If someone asks me ‘When did the entire universe stand in bated breath with great anxiety?’ I’d say, at the moment the Father thumped the sins of mankind across generations on to His only begotten Son.
For you and me to get the import of it is a trite difficult because we belong to the feeble species. Our minds are limited or else, there would be exhilaration within our hearts because when the Father did that, there came into fulfillment the pact the son had made with the Father long before the foundation of the world. The pact was that He would go down to earth, become limited and then die for man, the Father’s most marvelous creation, and redeem him from the clutches of death!
My friend, Jesus Christ paid a heavy price to keep the pact. No, not the pain of death if, you are thinking that way. Neither the scourging nor the humiliation by the Roman soldiers, nor the betrayal by Judas or the denial by Peter or the absconding disciples and the people He had loved and helped. Far away from His mind were all these trivialities including the hegemony of the Sanhedrin and the Pharisees. But His main cry was, ‘My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?
My friend, it was a terrible price Christ had to pay. I am not able to give you even a shred of an example of how terrible it was. For that I appeal to the Holy Spirit to enter the core of your heart and give you the feeling of the awesome loneliness your Lord went through when the hour had come. And of course you know why He went through it. Because He loves you. Because His Father loves you and has great expectations from you. Reader, wherever you are, whoever you are, if you have fallen into the muck of sin, get up. Your Savior is calling you. Rise and be healed in your soul for He has endured all for your sake. Blessed is His Name.
Thursday, November 02, 2006
Thoughts for another day
November 2, 2006
Today's verse: Jer. 29:13. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. (KJV)
Where do you find God? asked a man of a priest? The holy man after much thinking said, ‘My son, you don’t find God. He finds you!’ Do you think it’s true? Think you can never find God? Let’s see what the Spirit of God has to say today; then you can arrive at your own answer.
Look at today’s verse carefully. He says, we shall seek Him and find Him when we seek Him with all our heart. Now a few basic things:
1. God is omnipresent i.e. He is everywhere.
2. God is extremely gigantic (He says the earth is His footstool…).
3. God is invisible.
There are others but we will dwell on these and mind you this is not an academic exercise but an attempt to understand Him who is above all. It will also refute many arguments that people have very deviously brought forward to rationalize their lack of communion with God. For e.g. when I tell somebody to go to the prayer room to pray, the person asks me why? Isn’t God in my home too, can’t I meet Him there? Fair enough, then why did Jesus go to the mountaintops or deserted places to pray?
See, when you come to God, you need to come with your heart. Futile is your attempt to contact Him if your heart is not with you. Physically present, mentally absent, is not acceptable to God. Since He is omnipresent, the question of finding Him doesn’t arise; rather it is a question of sensing Him. You can develop a sensor only when you sit with Him for long ‘whiles’ in quiet, ‘Be still and know that I am God’ (Ps. 46:10). Flirting with Him will never give you the opportunity to sup with Him but only tying the knot will allow you that, if you understand what I mean.
When God comes to you after your sincere seeking, He becomes small for your sake. Remember with God ‘bigness’, glory, etc. don’t matter. God is all in all and He can be found even in smallness. When He spoke to Elijah, His was a still small voice (1 Ki. 19:12). The Word of says, in Jn. Ch. 13 that Jesus knew the Father had put all things in His hand, then He began washing the disciples’ feet!
Though God cannot be seen He can be felt. At times in deep prayer, I can clearly feel Him with me. Tears of joy roll down my eyes and I pray like David, ‘Why are you so fond of me Lord? What manner of love is this that You, Purity undefiled come and commune with me a sinner?’
My friend God is just looking for that willingness in your heart to give Him company. Believe me the courts are empty where God dwells. The stairways are deserted where His feet fall and when He speaks, there are no ears to listen! For God’s sake will you be there? Will you be found of Him today?
November 2, 2006
Today's verse: Jer. 29:13. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. (KJV)
Where do you find God? asked a man of a priest? The holy man after much thinking said, ‘My son, you don’t find God. He finds you!’ Do you think it’s true? Think you can never find God? Let’s see what the Spirit of God has to say today; then you can arrive at your own answer.
Look at today’s verse carefully. He says, we shall seek Him and find Him when we seek Him with all our heart. Now a few basic things:
1. God is omnipresent i.e. He is everywhere.
2. God is extremely gigantic (He says the earth is His footstool…).
3. God is invisible.
There are others but we will dwell on these and mind you this is not an academic exercise but an attempt to understand Him who is above all. It will also refute many arguments that people have very deviously brought forward to rationalize their lack of communion with God. For e.g. when I tell somebody to go to the prayer room to pray, the person asks me why? Isn’t God in my home too, can’t I meet Him there? Fair enough, then why did Jesus go to the mountaintops or deserted places to pray?
See, when you come to God, you need to come with your heart. Futile is your attempt to contact Him if your heart is not with you. Physically present, mentally absent, is not acceptable to God. Since He is omnipresent, the question of finding Him doesn’t arise; rather it is a question of sensing Him. You can develop a sensor only when you sit with Him for long ‘whiles’ in quiet, ‘Be still and know that I am God’ (Ps. 46:10). Flirting with Him will never give you the opportunity to sup with Him but only tying the knot will allow you that, if you understand what I mean.
When God comes to you after your sincere seeking, He becomes small for your sake. Remember with God ‘bigness’, glory, etc. don’t matter. God is all in all and He can be found even in smallness. When He spoke to Elijah, His was a still small voice (1 Ki. 19:12). The Word of says, in Jn. Ch. 13 that Jesus knew the Father had put all things in His hand, then He began washing the disciples’ feet!
Though God cannot be seen He can be felt. At times in deep prayer, I can clearly feel Him with me. Tears of joy roll down my eyes and I pray like David, ‘Why are you so fond of me Lord? What manner of love is this that You, Purity undefiled come and commune with me a sinner?’
My friend God is just looking for that willingness in your heart to give Him company. Believe me the courts are empty where God dwells. The stairways are deserted where His feet fall and when He speaks, there are no ears to listen! For God’s sake will you be there? Will you be found of Him today?
Wednesday, November 01, 2006
Thoughts for another day
November 1, 2006
Today's verse: Jn 11:4. This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby. (KJV)
A few days ago, I was reading about a lady who was suffering from cancer and how she survived it and today is completely alright. In that article she wrote about all that she had done to get out of it and all that the medicines, the doctors and others had done so that her life was saved. In it she glorified everybody including herself. But to the one who holds everybody’s breath, there was no glory! Sad.
My beloved in Christ, God sends us trials so that something good may come out of it. The best that can happen is what Christ says in today’s verse, which is; the trial is so that God will get glory out of it. Rest assured, God will not send you a trial you cannot bear. His Word says, ‘No trial has come to you but what is human. God is faithful and will not let you be tried beyond your strength; but with the trial He will also provide a way out, so that you may be able to bear it.’1 Cor. 10:13.
Yes brothers and sisters when a trial comes, remember this. How you approach the trial will determine what results God gives you. About three years ago, I was called to pray for a lady who had a problem with her lungs and had to use oxygen continuously to breathe. Believe me, she had the pipe stuck to her nose constantly and the cylinder followed her wherever she went – to the kitchen, the living room, the bedroom, the toilet, etc. According to her, it was a necessary accessory. I spoke to her and told her to just throw it out. She wouldn’t. This was a trial she was willing to go down under. God’s Grace approached in the form of His Word yet, this woman refused to believe. Result: She is dead. Unfortunately, the trial ended in sorrow for God was not sought to be glorified.
On the other hand, I heard a testimony of a father of a girl who was just 9 years of age and had a fully developed malignant tumor in her liver, the size of a man’s fist. Doctors verdict: The girl has one month to live. Allow her to die peacefully. The father did not bow down to the trial. But rather He used the Grace of God to overcome it. Result: the little girl lives completely fit today. And everywhere the man goes, He glorifies God. When I hear such things, I remember the words of Christ above and my heart exults as would yours too. For really His Spirit moves powerfully when the Father is glorified. Now about your trial, is it going to end in Glory to Him or…?
November 1, 2006
Today's verse: Jn 11:4. This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby. (KJV)
A few days ago, I was reading about a lady who was suffering from cancer and how she survived it and today is completely alright. In that article she wrote about all that she had done to get out of it and all that the medicines, the doctors and others had done so that her life was saved. In it she glorified everybody including herself. But to the one who holds everybody’s breath, there was no glory! Sad.
My beloved in Christ, God sends us trials so that something good may come out of it. The best that can happen is what Christ says in today’s verse, which is; the trial is so that God will get glory out of it. Rest assured, God will not send you a trial you cannot bear. His Word says, ‘No trial has come to you but what is human. God is faithful and will not let you be tried beyond your strength; but with the trial He will also provide a way out, so that you may be able to bear it.’1 Cor. 10:13.
Yes brothers and sisters when a trial comes, remember this. How you approach the trial will determine what results God gives you. About three years ago, I was called to pray for a lady who had a problem with her lungs and had to use oxygen continuously to breathe. Believe me, she had the pipe stuck to her nose constantly and the cylinder followed her wherever she went – to the kitchen, the living room, the bedroom, the toilet, etc. According to her, it was a necessary accessory. I spoke to her and told her to just throw it out. She wouldn’t. This was a trial she was willing to go down under. God’s Grace approached in the form of His Word yet, this woman refused to believe. Result: She is dead. Unfortunately, the trial ended in sorrow for God was not sought to be glorified.
On the other hand, I heard a testimony of a father of a girl who was just 9 years of age and had a fully developed malignant tumor in her liver, the size of a man’s fist. Doctors verdict: The girl has one month to live. Allow her to die peacefully. The father did not bow down to the trial. But rather He used the Grace of God to overcome it. Result: the little girl lives completely fit today. And everywhere the man goes, He glorifies God. When I hear such things, I remember the words of Christ above and my heart exults as would yours too. For really His Spirit moves powerfully when the Father is glorified. Now about your trial, is it going to end in Glory to Him or…?
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