Thoughts for another day

October 28, 2008.

Today's verse: Mk 12:24. And Jesus answering said unto them, Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of God? (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

Leading a spiritual life needs reassurance on many things. We know it’s not physical things that trouble the most but things in the realms of words and thoughts. For eg, if you slap someone it may be possible to take it, but a verbal insult will be remembered. To comfortably journey in the Spirit life Jesus has called you, reassurance on many matters is needed. But, even as you walk with Christ, questions arise which aren’t satisfactorily answered. Take for example the Orissa situation. I know many well meaning and staunch believers are troubled by the happenings there and wondering why God hasn’t shown His hand. Besides, here who else can help, but God! Yet, He chooses to remain silent which gives rise to our own plausible reasons which far from satisfying create further difficulties.

Frankly if you ask me, the most difficult questions are those concerning the nature of God, how He will act in a given situation and His methods concerning anything. Yet we know that His ways are very different from us, remember, Is. 55:8, ‘My thoughts are not your thoughts, My ways, not your ways?’ We shy away from pain but He takes us through it and keeps us safe. The question then is, why the pain? We don’t understand.

Jesus was posed the resurrection question: one woman being wife to seven brothers. Human curiosity demanded to know whose wife she’d be at the resurrection; a question arising obviously from the shrewd analogy the Sadducees use. But Jesus unfazed, bluntly tells them they neither know scripture nor God’s power! Ironically only He, the God of the universe knew. In our eagerness to second guess God, we provide logic to many things we come across relating to our friends, relatives and neighbors particularly when they’re grievously ill. Our answers may or may not satisfy, but is our thinking aligned to God’s ways? My friend, its necessary we seek to know God’s will in every situation. In this process, God will reveal many secrets to us as He Himself says, ‘Call to me and I will answer you. I will tell you great things beyond reach of your knowledge’ Jer. 33:3.