Thoughts for another day

March 18, 2009.

Today's verse: Jude 1:20. But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. (NIV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

We want many things in life and most of us don’t know how to get them. Let’s take a good home, we can call our own. In most parts of the world, that can set you back by more than half a life time’s earnings. Another thing is no one will give us anything, and by no means, a home for free. So who do we go to? Who will help us? I can only think of God and so we say, God, I want this from you. But after a little while doubts creep in. Will God really grant me a home? Will He really come to my aid?

A long time back, while teaching a catechism class, I asked the children (age around 14 years) what they’d ask of God if He came there right then. Some said chocolates and some said a good rank etc. Then I asked if that’s all they expected from God. Again I asked, would anyone ask Him for a big car say, like the Mercedes Benz. Almost all said no. When asked why, all answers were typical; God won’t give such a big thing no!

That’s the level of our faith. When Jesus said, ‘Ask and you will receive’, He didn’t determine what not to ask. But we who have strayed from God have done that. So we ask expecting the minimum and that’s exactly what we get. Even I do that most of the time. So for you and I, today’s verse is apt. To realise we serve a Mighty God who’s there for us. It’s time we build up our faith, trusting Him for everything, even vanquishing those who plot against us and decree our fall. It’s also time we knew that praying in the Spirit is essential in being with the will of God. This is so that when God opens His hand and provides all the glory will be to His Name.