Thoughts for another day

Sept. 28, 2007

Today's verse: Haggai 2:7. and I will shake all the nations, so that the treasure of all nations shall come, and I will fill this house with splendor, says the LORD of hosts. (RSV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

My friend here is a tremendous promise of God. We know that God owns the earth and therefore He owns all the wealth that this earth can provide (He also says that the silver is His and so is the gold in v 8). But what do we see today? The whole wealth seems to rest with the heathen. The pagans who worship stone and wood have the wealth that we, the children of Yahweh should have.

It is sad, yet at the same time we must know that it is possible for God in an instant to give all this wealth to us, His people. We have His promise up there in His Own Words when He says, ‘I will shake all the nations, so that the treasure of all nations shall come and I will fill this house with splendor.’ We are that house today. We are the vessel of His promise. But, there is something we need to do; we need to believe.

We must realize that the above promise is a free promise of God and He is at the threshold of delivering that promise today. Are we able to receive it? Because like Jesus queried in Lk. 18:8, ‘When God is readying to release His hand, will He find faith on earth?’

Thoughts for another day

Sept. 27, 2007

Today's verse: Hos. 11:4. I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love: and I was to them as they that take off the yoke on their jaws, and I laid meat unto them. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

We know that the Lord loves us immensely and He is there in every moment of our lives. He attends unto our every need and is aware of every hole we fall or creep into. He is concerned about us, the way no one can be.

Unto a sinful and unrepentant nation are addressed the words of today’s verse. They form the crux of God’s message to His people. What oozes out of them is the eternal love of God. A love that is able to see beyond and perceive the goodness in men and also believe in that goodness, irrespective of what those persons did earlier.

What amazes is the earlier verse (no. 3) which says, ‘I taught Ephraim (Israel) to go, taking them by their arms, but they knew not that I healed them.’ What we see of God here is the extent of His love for us. Without doubt, the perverseness and idolatry of His Own people, Israel had set Him much anguish, yet He decided to forgive them even though they repeatedly offended Him. But if there was one insult that was worse was, that they failed to understand Him and to that extent even failed to recognize His Hand working in their lives in healing them. How painful would it have been for God to undergo this. Strangely, even today, the same is happening.

Our ways toward God, are ways of folly most of the time. When He does something for us, we proclaim it as human work. We do not accept His requiring complete dependence on Him but put our trust in others and so on. In fact, most worthy Christians are guilty of this. Check into your life my friend and see, is it your case too?

Thoughts for another day

Sept. 25, 2007

Today's verse: Dt. 32:20. And he said, I will hide my face from them, I will see what their end shall be: for they are a very froward generation, children in whom is no faith. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

If there’s one thing God detests greatly, it is our lack of faith. In Capernaum and in Galilee, even on the Galilean Sea, Jesus chided those who showed no faith. For God it is like this: He stands with all His power and might and He is willing to help you, waiting for you to call out to Him. What do you do? You don’t call. Why? Because, you don’t believe. So what is God supposed to do? Obviously, He cannot answer because the kind of faith we have, cannot accept the miracle and if the miracle does happen, we attribute it to the human term called ‘luck’ thereby not giving God the glory. Where there is no glory to God, there is no manifestation of His Power.

If you recall, the Bible says that Jesus could not work any great miracle at Nazareth. Why? Because, they did not believe. Rather they reasoned, figuring out who Jesus was; and for them He was just a carpenter. Reasoning, is a major pitfall in receiving miracles. For instance, you want to buy a new home and have just 30% of the money. You pray and ask God to help and then try to reason out: 30% I’ve got, another 30% my dad will give, then 20% loan from a bank and another 20% from my uncle. After this, you think you need God’s help? You’ve solved your own problem (even if you are then burdened with huge loans to pay back) and there isn’t any room for God in it. Sadly my friend, this is the way we are. Nothing wrong with it you might say for the whole world plans it that way, no? Yes they do, but it is not God’s way. For if it is God’s way, you will not even feel the burden of the loan (if any) and God’s provision will take care of it.

Now if you read today’s verse, you will hear God saying, He will hide His face from them because they were a very forward (disobedient, stubbornly contrary) generation in whom He did not find faith. What about today? We are even more froward and modern. We rationalize miracles and works of God. Therefore, God has hidden His face from us. Understand if you may, why we don’t see miracles these days. But, let one of you stand before God and say, ‘Lord I believe in You for this thing (impossible though, it may be for you); it will be done, for the Lord God of Heaven and earth is pleased to grant it, miraculously.

Thoughts for another day

Sept. 24, 2007

Today's verse: Mt 19:14. But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

Little Jenny was sick; high fever and weakness. That morning as she arose, she realized it was Sunday and wanted to go to church. She loved to be in God’s presence, singing His praises. But she felt feverish and weak which prompted her mother to tell her to remain at home while the rest went to the nearby village church. Jenny felt bad as they left and sobbed quietly. She prayed, ‘Jesus, I want you to make me well so I can go to church and praise You. Her tears flowed gently as she kept incessantly praying.

Suddenly, she felt a light around her. Frightened she shouted out, ‘Jesus, is that You?’ A soft voice spoke, ‘Yes Jenny, it’s Me. You couldn’t go to church, so I came to you. You can praise and ask Me what you want, I’ll give it to you.’ Jenny was astonished and happy beyond words. She got up from her bed and knelt on that cold floor and put up her hands and praised and prayed to the Lord. After a long time, Jesus told her, ‘Jenny My child, your family is at the door and I need to go now. But thank you for praising Me and all that you have asked, I have granted.’ With that, the light vanished.

The door opened; Jenny’s mother walked into the room and was shocked at seeing Jenny kneeling. She took her in her arms and instinctively knew that Jenny was alright. She enquired what happened and Jenny told her. Her mother remembered the Gospel reading for the day, which had the above verse in it. How true it was. And her daughter was so blessed that the Magnificent Lord Himself had come to be with her. She could now fathom fully Jesus’ saying ‘Except, you be converted and become like little children, you cannot enter the Kingdom of Heaven.’ For God dwells in the innocence of children and on Jenny’s face she could see the smile of God.

Thoughts for another day

Sept. 21, 2007

Today's verse: Ps. 91:4. He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

Sometimes the feelings of men can so overwhelm him that the being is stirred mightily. Such was a feeling I got when I was riding my scooter to office in the morning today. It is a beautiful morning. As I was riding, the rain was gently beating down upon me. It was as if the spring wells of heaven had decided to shower blessings down on me. However, because of the wetness of the roads, there is a bit of a danger as the chances of slipping are greater. But as I was singing and praising God while riding, I could literally see the traffic-easing out in front of me and I was able to maneuver easily.

As I rode, I moved next to a bus and suddenly I became aware that the bus was shielding me from danger. I could really feel it that way and in an instant, the Spirit of God gushed into me telling me how our Heavenly Father protects us. My heart was moved and tears filled my eyes. I told Him, ‘Lord I cannot see Your brilliance so You Yourself don’t come to save, but you send your vehicles to save…You are a good God and awesome too.’

My friend, I am able to see how the Lord protects His chosen ones. Be it a bus in the form of a shield or perhaps a wind barrier that will not allow anyone to cross it. Even perhaps a huge guy standing beside you, inadvertently acting as your guard and saving you from a shady character opposite! See, God loves us and He is there for us for He has said it and He keeps His Word. Rightly therefore I can grasp the core of what the Psalmist says in His moment of revelation, ‘With His plume shall He embrace thee and under its softness shall your trust be enhanced.’ Oh, Glorify the Lord.

Thoughts for another day

Sept. 20, 2007

Today's verse: Matt. 9:13. But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

To all of us sinners and the downtrodden and the looked down upon and the forsaken, the Lord has just told that He has come for us alone. What great comfort this is to us who sin without any reprieve.

The Pharisees and the scribes and the whole cohort of the pseudo righteous order, would never have that Jesus commune with tax collectors and prostitutes. For they reckoned and believed that God was for them only. Because, they considered themselves ‘pure’, above sin. They felt that sinners had nothing to do with all things ‘Godly’. So they ridiculed the Master of the Universe with their inept thinking. But Jesus, precious Lord, had something else to give them. What He told them, shut them up for they knew that most of their actions were hypocritical and only a keeping of the letter of the Law, not its spirit. His light showed them their own filthiness and produced a guilt they were not willing to acknowledge.

But for us the hoi polloi, the cast-away, the common folk, Jesus’ words bring about a comfort for the soul. A re-assurance that God’s Kingdom is also for us. Lest there be a vessel of pride among us who believe like the Pharisees in those days, be informed that each one of us is a sinner and therefore in need of His Grace. Let us take comfort in the fact that our Lord is seeking us and is most ready to accept us, the way we are. No doubt about it.

Thoughts for another day

Sept. 19, 2007

Today's verse: 2 Cor. 4:4. In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

You will agree with me when I say, we are all believers, right? So now, what kind of believers are we? No matter what denomination we belong to, all of us make the confession of belief in God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. But is mere confession enough? Is there something else we need to do?

My friend, the above verse is pertinent to us if we, as Paul says, ‘believe not’. It is very easy to tell and declare too that I believe in Jesus Christ. But what is more important is, do I live that belief? For it is clear that you will live what you believe in and in case your life is far removed from the character that your belief promotes, then your belief is to no avail because it has no substance.

I always exhort friends and other people that one must believe in God totally. When you come to the throne of Grace, your whole being must display complete trust and confidence in God. God who looks at your inside knows, here is one who I cannot turn away. If you remember, when Jesus walked the earth, there was one thing He could not do, turn back those who believed. In fact, He even marveled at the belief in people like the centurion whose servant was sick or the woman who had an internal bleeding for 12 years. In the midst of the din and noise on the road to Jericho, Jesus clearly heard the heart of Bartimaeus who cried out to Him.

My friend let your belief be complete and truly I tell you, the light of the only Son of God will shine into your life and you will live life abundantly. That’s His promise. Take Him upon it.

Thoughts for another day

Sept. 18, 2007

Today's verse: 1 Thess. 5:18. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

Not everything in life is to our liking and comfort. Life is a mix of both the good and the not so good, a bundle of joy peppered with streaks of sorrow. God gives both so that we become balanced individuals. If we sit and reason out, we will understand that, too much of only one kind of thing can’t be too good. If the sun shone all the time, what would happen to this world?

The question is how do we react to the not so good. It is this reaction that shapes up our whole attitude to life. You see, our perspective is very important in determining what kind of life we will lead. Sometimes we find people with loads of problems yet, there is an effervescence on their faces which belie their situation. At other times, there are some who whine and cry at even the bite of an ant.

God wants us to be aware that He is there. If we become aware of this, then we will display a confidence that our bad situation is temporary and will pass. That is why Paul exhorts us in the above verse to give thanks in all things. Not only that, but Paul also says that it is the will of God that we do so in Jesus Christ.

From personal experience, I can say that it is not easy to stand and sing a song in the midst of despair but yet when the umbrella of the Almighty is over us, then we can sing and dance no matter how much rain pours down upon us, for He gives a strength we cannot fathom. Everything becomes a step to climb in our upward movement and He becomes the Anchor of our lives.

Thoughts for another day

Sept. 17, 2007

Today's verse: Rom. 8:28. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

Many of us have read this verse time and again and have also heard it being proclaimed and urged for us. This verse and the Word in it are as fresh today as they were when Paul wrote to the Romans. The core message is that every situation and everything that concerns us, who love God, are meant to work for our good.

Now while gathering the import of the message, some may ask, ‘How does cancer work for my good?’, ‘How would my lost investment work for my good?’... Yes, I might say, when we look at the tribulations we face, it may seem the situation cannot lend itself for good in our lives; and how can it be? A divorce, a death of one so young in the family and other such seemingly meaningless occurrences surely cannot work for our good no? Human wisdom seems stumped with such thinking because the brain cannot fathom beyond the ramifications of human knowledge and understanding.

With God however, all ‘finiteness’ ends. Someone once said, God can write straight on a crooked line. Imagine if you will the power in this understanding. God can work marvelously with broken lives and broken pieces. As a tack to our understanding, let’s take broken pieces of colored glass (particularly of bangles), what use could we possibly have of them other than feeding the bin? But when you put the same pieces of glass and use them in a kaleidoscope, wow…what brilliant patterns emerge!

So it is with anything put into God’s hands. Lives thrive; wisdom enlarges itself to include the incomprehensible and so on. Understand my friend that even before the foundation of this world, God had you in mind. He saw your dedication and faithfulness then and He knew you loved Him. He purposed events in your life to keep the faithfulness and dedication intact and you never did understand. Yet, deep within, you knew, God would work the tribulation for your good, so you persevered. And as you persevered, you grew in faith.

At a particular point, your faith helped others and their faith in the Great Master grew. Did you know this? No, you didn’t. All you held on to is that if you trusted God, the good would emerge from the troubled situation. You were right. People were saved and came to God. You became in turn a honored vessel in God’s hand. Your reward is your eternal address in God’s Mansion through His goodness and that is your ‘good’.

Thoughts for another day

Sept. 13, 2007

Today's verse: 1 Chron. 16:12. Remember his marvelous works that he hath done, his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth; (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

Our brain is the storehouse of all that we have seen, did, and heard or whatever, throughout our lives. Cumulatively, it’s called memory. I call to you today to delve deep into your memory and remove from the rear and bottom, the work that the Lord has done in your life and bring them to the fore.

Why do you need to do this? Because, your own experiences speak to you far more loudly and clearly of how good God has been and will be in the future too. We know that God is the same yesterday, today and forever (Heb. 13:8) and that He never ceases looking down upon us to protect us, for our Guardian never sleeps nor slumbers. He will still do what He has done, 10, 20, 200, maybe 5000 or even 2000 years ago.

When we recall instances where people have done us a kind deed and think of them, we feel so good no? Then what about God? He has been around from the time we came out from our mother's womb with that first sharp cry from our throats. He has nurtured and maintained us. Seen us grow and move in life. His hand has been with us when we fell, even though we could not see it. His protective wings clasped us in our every move, every venture at all times and even more. Do you remember when distress visited, how He sat with you and comforted you. When you were alone, how He moved from the shadows and gave you company…

My friend, God loves to do all these things to us even today. But see, He is gentle and mild and will never arrive unless you invite Him. Therefore, I tell you, remove the cobwebs that shut out your memory of the works of your Father and remember with pride how He was there in that situation; call out to Him now too as you did then. For of a truth I tell you, He is there (He will always be there) and He will come to your aid.

Thoughts for another day

Sept. 12, 2007

Today's verse: 2 Chron. 20:17 Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

In the largest battles of life and even the smallest, if we put our trust in God, we can rest assured we aren’t alone. The best thing is, apart from not being alone; we aren’t needed to do anything. For, if God is the emblem of our safety, He fights our battles.

You and I may not trust this, but experience tells me it is so. Many think that in our battles, we need to do our best, right? Some even think it is preposterous to imagine that we relax when besotted by a difficult situation. Get up they might say and talk to this one and that one and try to solve your problem. But we find God telling us that we need to stand still. It is so because only then will we not interfere in His work.

One to bear in mind; when we trust God for something, we must wholly surrender the situation to Him. Then expect God to something about it because God is not the one to sit on a situation like us humans. Sometimes the answer may take time coming but that’s because God knows that we aren’t ready to accept the answer yet. But as soon as He prepares us to accept His will, He sends the answer. Usually I have seen that His answer is the best. Because only He knows what is best for us.

If you have a problem and are groping among the heads of men to find a solution, just leave that alone and wait on the Lord. Stand still (which means put your self into meditating on Him and sitting at His feet) and await your redemption. He will, I repeat, He will, lift the clouds of despair around you and strength and comfort you, giving you what you want.

Thoughts for another day

Sept. 11, 2007

Today's verse: Job 34:21. For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

Like we reflected yesterday, God is invisible to us, except that we can perceive His Presence if we seek Him with all our heart. But God is aware of all that we do and say. He is an Omnipresent God and all around know Him and His ways, except the miserable wretch, that is man.

When we have this knowledge, we could react in two ways, one, be glad that He is aware of all our goings on and that He is aware of the problems we face and we know that He cannot bear our grief, particularly of His children who trust in Him. Two, fear that knowledge because even when we do wrong He knows of it. We fear because we do the wrong and are scared of His retribution. We may hide the wrong from the whole world but it is exposed in His sight for His sight sees all.

As children of His, we are all privileged to have this information because we are comforted by the knowledge that our God though not seen is present. When people revile us, we know He is there; when our colleagues are unjust with us, we know He is there. When the warps of life, engulf us in their evil designs, He is aware. And we can trust in His mighty Hand to soon ward off the evil and bring redemption. For that is His nature and He loves to be true to His nature. His nature also reveals that He loves us tremendously. So aren’t you glad that he sees all things? Rest assured, He will rush to help you when you are down.

Thoughts for another day

Sept. 10, 2007

Today's verse: Nahum 1:7. The LORD is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him… (NIV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

God is invisible to us and times are when the tempests in our lives, make it impossible to perceive His presence in our environment. Yet, He remains like a rock around us and we know this and believe it because, many are the times we can feel Him and communicate with Him. His Word says, ‘He is an ever present help in trouble…’ (Ps. 46:1). And we who wait upon Him can feel that presence in our lives.

If you are sitting today with worry looming around you because of that impending problem dogging you or threatening to break up your family or you yourself, then the Good News is that God cares for you.

When His Word says ‘cares’ it means bringing you into His safety net completely. God can and will look after every aspect of the one who has surrendered himself. It is like, God will watch over your kitchen and your living room and every other corner you let Him access to. You may go through your problems and difficulties yet; you will experience a peace as if you have no problem. Your face will never display anxiety for anxiety cannot touch you. Pressures of the world that can ruin others will become mere thistles to be trampled upon.

Every seeming danger will want to drown you in its wake, but when they behold your Guardian, they quietly slither away. Believe my friend that God loves you dearly and cares for you. Surrender to Him and be filled with His Grace and Power that you may testify and tell all how good God is.

Thoughts for another day

Sept. 7, 2007

Today's verse: Mt. 18:20. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

Yesterday evening instead of doing my usual thing of going to the Prayer Room to pray, I went to a friend’s place. The whole idea was to get information about a person she and I are ministering to. Because of work and other things I am not able to keep in constant touch, but need to, because through our ministering God worked a tremendous miracle in that person’s life. After I got the information, we started speaking about God and the way He is working in people’s lives. How He touches so many and heals them.

Then we moved toward the deeper things of God and as usual, we started leafing through the Bible and the pages came alive. The anointing of the Holy Spirit was so powerful that we could sense the very presence of Jesus. In this we could feel His love. A love, that has no bounds and, knows not our sins. A love, that covers us with His warmth and brings peace to our souls.

While sitting this morning on beginning the reflection and as I remembered yesterday evening, God gave me the connection. I realized that we were discussing Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God yesterday and Jesus led me to this verse and told me that when He uttered the Words of the verse, this is exactly what He meant. When we gather in His Name, He will make Himself present there!

My friend, when we join together and reflect on the Name of Jesus, Jesus comes down to be with us. It’s an experience to cherish. It’s so sublime that words cannot describe it and the heart doesn’t have enough emotions to hold a meter to qualify and measure it. Such is the presence of Jesus. Many times in the Bible, we see the apostles who are tuned to Jesus and marvel at His Presence. It is full of peace and promise. It is heaven.

I urge you today my friend, yearn to be in His Presence. Walking through life will be the easiest thing to do when you put your hand in the hand of the Man from Galilee.

Thoughts for another day

Sept. 6, 2007

Today's verse: Lam. 3:25. The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

Oh taste and see that the Lord is Good, says the psalmist out of the depth of the experience of His heart with his Divine Father, the God of Abraham, God of Isaac and the God of Jacob; because of the mercies that God had extended toward him. God had made Himself more than real to David, a mere shepherd boy, exalted to be king over all Israel.

And of all people, David was given experiences with God, he could cherish. David had seen God at close quarters particularly when Saul was out to murder him. God defended him and built a wall of protection around him, as it were. Not only that, God also shamed Saul, on two occasions when David could have killed him (for God had surrendered Saul to David) but David did him no harm. In a way David did the will of God in saving Saul, for Saul was anointed by God and David was reluctant to touch the anointed of God.

It is sufficient for us to grasp, David’s heart vis-à-vis God. Our experiences with God have been myriad, but can we respond in the way like David did? Day by day, God’s mercies and love wash our lives in their wake. His loving kindness besets us with His favors and His wings spread around us as a cover in the dark. There are so many things God does and we don’t know a thing about it; He defends our lives and our dear ones when we don’t even know that we face threats. That is why we could from the depths of our beings sing out today’s verse. It is a great thing for us to seek Him and wait for Him. He satisfies the longing of our souls that we may sing, ‘How good is the Lord.’

Thoughts for another day

Sept. 5, 2007

Today's verse: Mic. 6:3. My people, what have I done to you? How have I burdened you? Answer me. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

Hello. Are you listening? This is your God speaking. Will you please tell Me, why you have no time for Me? Why do you run away from Me, when you need to run toward Me? Why are you bent down under your heavy load when I can easily free you from it if you approach Me?

Why are you scared to draw near, when many times that is the only option you have? My child tell why this behavior when I have clearly told you that I have loved you with an eternal love and that you can cast every burden upon Me. Each day, I send the sun to warm you and I send you rain that you may have water to drink. I have provided choice trees that you may have food in abundance; the blue canopy of the sky and the shimmering blanket of the sea so that you may behold and know that all these I created and found good for you. In all this, can’t you discern My eternal love for you? When you look at them, you see My power and honestly My beloved, it is available for you.

Well, I must also add that each day in the morning, I send my fresh mercies toward you because you sin so much and I just can’t bear sin. Besides, when you cover yourself with the Blood of My Son, how can I not wash you white as snow? I wait for the fragrance of your prayer to reach My nostrils, as I watch you from My Throne in Heaven, that I may stretch My hand toward you; but you know, I find them so futile, mere movement of your lips, whereas you are elsewhere. How bad I feel you know. What would you do if you were in My place?

Come now, My child, its still time for you to look toward Me. Return to Me that I may return to you. Long have I waited for your coming, now do not disappoint Me. I have done everything that you may come to Me; My only Son did I send to die, even when it broke My heart to see Him and His torn Body hanging in such pain on the coarse wood of the Cross. Whenever you behold the Cross, remember He raised His eyes and asked Me to forgive you and it was My pleasure to do it. If you still are angry on Me for some reason, tell Me why My child. What have I done to you. How have I hurt you, who are precious and carved on My palm. Answer Me.

Thoughts for another day

Sept. 4, 2007

Today's verse: Jer. 50:25. The LORD hath opened his armoury, and hath brought forth the weapons of his indignation: for this is the work of the Lord GOD of hosts in the land of the Chaldeans. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

If you have read the prophetic books speaking of the vindication of God towards Israel, then this verse will surprise you because it speaks of His vengeance on Chaldea (Babylon). We know that because of the many sins of Israel particularly idolatry and moral decay, God ordained punishment for them. At the same time, He sent His people the prophets who repeatedly proclaimed that the punishment of God is imminent unless they repented. Yet, the Israelites went on sinning and God was forced to send calamity upon them through his vessel Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. But now we read that God has brought forth the weapons of His anger into the land of Babylon.

Understand this if you may for it shows the greatness of God’s mercy toward His people. Reflect on what might have happened in the heart of God when He went about the destruction of first, the northern kingdom and then Judah. His countenance would have drooped and He would have brought the sword upon them with a heavy heart because He loved them so much. In fact, they were known as His inheritance (Dt. 9:29). But still God went through it because He had to.

There are times in life you undergo something unpleasant because it is necessary. Because, the result is greater than the process, of your suffering. Take Jesus’ example. He suffered miserably and died. That was the process. It needed to be done so that the whole world could be saved. In your family, maybe someone landed in the hospital for some time. That was because he needed chastening from his erratic ways so that he could be saved a whole lot of trouble later.

This brings us to today’s message, which is: when tribulation strikes us for whatever reason, let our gaze be on our Father. Remember, He does not like to see us bent under trouble. Trusting in Him will break the yoke that binds and the very thing that troubled will have to bear His anger which is awesome, particularly if you have been an obedient child of His. In such a situation, accept your tribulation, wait on His Word and know that your redemption is near.

Thoughts for another day

Sept. 3, 2007

Today's verse: John 7:30. Then they sought to take him: but no man laid hands on him, because his hour was not yet come. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

There is something very deep and significant about the world and the ages. Time. It doesn’t strike you if you take just a cursory look, but think deeper and you will realize that all things are linked to time. Your waking up, your going out, your coming in, your sitting down, and your sleeping. Everything is bound with time and to time.

This then means, that time brings with it joys, sorrows, victory, defeat and other things in life. Time brings birth and death and maturity. When our time, as decreed by God even before the foundation of the world, to be born arrives, we arrive into the world and when our time to go away arrives, we move away. Ancient philosophers understood this well when they articulated this thought in their writings. In the Book of Ecclesiastes (3:1-8) we have the well known paragraph: For everything there is a season, a time for everything under heaven…

This will help us understand the above verse, which says, His hour had not yet come. Everything is harmonized by God with time. Let us therefore be aware that all our problems are there but for a while just as our great moments. When we are faced with a problem, it’s best to surrender that time to God and know that He will make that time to be memorable, just as when the hour of Jesus came, it went by too but God made it so memorable that today, we have redemption and eternal bliss because of that time.