Thoughts for another day

Dec. 31, 2009

Today's verse: 1 Tm. 4:4. For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving (NIV – copyright acknowledged)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

Every creature on the face of the earth has its life and form designed by the LORD God. He alone created it and given it life. Every creature is unique in itself. Even the smallest form of life, the amoeba, is so unique and distinct; there cannot be another like it. As for us human beings too, God has created us all. Tall, short, black, yellow, white, and what have you, God has created each one of us very intricately and He is very pleased with His creation. God’s creation spans the entire universe and no matter how ugly a thing might seem to us in the way it looks, it is beautiful because the Master’s hand has created it.

Our verse today derives from this perspective and also that God in His mercy has given us, His finest creation and the recipient of all His love, all things for our use. No matter what anyone might say, God has blessed everything for our use and work. When we acknowledge this and thank Him for His gift, His power comes down on that object, no matter what it be and then it becomes good for us. In our country where there’s a lot of belief of evil powers on things inanimate, for e.g. a lime strewn with red powder and thrown on the road, even if we stamp it and immediately praise the Lord, any effect it may have is immediately cancelled by the power of our God and belief in that power. If there is belief of evil power in that object, we must also believe that taking the Name of the Lord upon it cancels the evil for no power can withstand the power of God. Remember the devil cannot stand before God, leave alone his stupid power and we see that in the Gospels as he scrounges before Jesus.

Believe today, in the Name of the Lord and His awesome power and you will be redeemed of all fear and then everything sent by the Lord will seem ok.

Thoughts for another day

Dec. 30, 2009

Today's verse: Ps. 102:9. Hear my prayer, O LORD, and let my cry come unto thee. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

God has amazing power, earth shattering if I may add. He has the power to change a human being or bring into existence that which doesn’t exist. He can also implant righteousness into the most impure thing on earth. What surprises us including me is that God is willing to use that power for us. I am saying me, for sometimes even I feel God isn’t about to use His power for me. Rather inexplicable because God works on the behalf of those who are devoted to Him. He is more than willing to help them; so what makes me so special that He will not help me? The answer is in my mind where I feel that He will not help me. Besides, it’s not that God doesn’t hear our prayers when we make them. He does. His answer may take a while coming, but as sure as the sun rises in the east, His answer comes. What we need to look at is the way we pray.

Let’s take a simple illustration, when a beggar comes in front of you asking nothing, do you give? Now let’s say that this beggar puts a plea in his eyes, would you be moved? Then the beggar keeps persevering and making all kinds of painful pleas, would you still be unmoved? I bet, you will in this case remove something and give, isn’t it? Sometimes the way to pray is revealed in the most mundane things of life surrounding us and this illustration has a purpose here.

Our verse today is an eye-opener to learn how to pray. The psalmist says, hear my prayer O LORD and let my cry come unto Thee. Look at the words of the latter part carefully: Let my cry come to Thee. Is the psalmist praying like we do most of the time? Would then his prayer come to the LORD God? The way we pray is so dismal even we don’t know what we have prayed for, a few seconds later, like muttering something we can’t recall. Our prayers are so dull even we aren’t moved. In praying our body language should define our prayer. We need ask ourselves, when we want something desperately, does our body language concur with our prayer? Do we have the intensity that can move God’s heart? Is there anguish in our hearts till our prayer is answered? If our prayer is of the intensity of the psalmist and persevering, I can assure you that we will get what we are asking for… just like the beggar, whom we might not have liked, but because of his sheer perseverance and intensity we give; so too God will give us; just as the judge favored the widow, in Jesus’ narration of the unjust judge and the persevering widow.

Thoughts for another day

Dec. 29, 2009

Today's verse: 2 Chr. 16:9. For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

Comfort My people, I give you comfort, says the LORD God of the universe looking at His filthy, disobedient people. I tell you God is so gracious He even bends down in the muck we’ve created and are drowning in to save us though He had told us not to do it. Who is like our God, Yahweh, Most High, Lord of hosts and Supreme Commander of the universe and all that is within and without it.

Today’s verse is so comforting and strengthening, yet so awe inspiring. I’m comforted and gladdened by His promise. The spirit of joy in my senses prods me to think of the impact of His Word. See, His eyes roam around every square millimeter of the earth, to strengthen His servants and be their strength in every situation. Yes, we who trust Him and are called to do His work are to always trust Him in situations favorable or adverse for who else is there for us except Him. Who else can we depend upon, if not the Son of God who loves us and has given His life for us?

Beloved of God, take Him at His promise and live your life according to His will. He is God and yet, He loves us His children so much despite our wrong-doing and our offending Him constantly. You know sometimes, when I think of Him in my deep moments of prayer, I can feel the heaviness in His heart. I can see His anxiety when He knocks at the door of my heart keenly attuned to listen to what is my answer. Oh love the Lord your God and praise Him for ever more for even as you read this, be sure, He has prevented you from falling and saved you from a tragedy, you aren’t even aware of!

Thoughts for another day

Dec. 24, 2009

Today's verse: Judges 2:22. That through them I may prove Israel, whether they will keep the way of the LORD to walk therein, as their fathers did keep it, or not. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

There was this man who earned well and had procured for himself all things which the world defines as signs of riches. He had everything and so once when a woman from his church paid him a visit asking why he wasn’t attending church, he simply drove her away saying, I don’t need your God; I have everything and He’s given me nothing of what I have, so get lost. This was his attitude toward God and for a long time he stayed that way. One day, disaster struck – he suffered a massive stroke barely managing to survive but was paralysed totally on the right side, losing all functions. Initially his family stayed by his side. But gradually they deserted him even putting him in an old age home though he wasn’t that old, ironically with the same money he’d accumulated.

Then he remembered the woman who had talked to him so nicely a few years ago and suddenly he wished to hear her. He sent her a message and the next day, she was at his side. She told him about God’s love for mankind and all that He does for us in his mercy. Over a period of time, the man repented and accepted Jesus Christ in his heart. He learnt of God’s deep love for him and wished to know more about Him. So he started reading the Bible, even if it was difficult to read, the way he was. None from his family visited him and none bothered, but that didn’t bother him either. Miraculously, he regained use of most of his limbs and the more he recovered, the more he immersed himself into God. He also became a source of great help to the other inmates and every day, he did some of the very menial tasks in the home, although he had paid for the services. The man understood God completely and his only desire was to serve Him. His disaster had turned into a blessing and what a wonderful one at that!

From our verse today, it is apparent that God kept Israel’s enemies by their side so that every time they deserted Him, through them God could bring them back. So it is today too. God puts trials our way, not to break us but to test us to see how faithful we are to Him and how much we love Him. So, if you are in the midst of a trial, turn to Him and smile and say, ‘Ok Lord, test me and help me come out even more refined and more faithful than before.’

Thoughts for another day

Dec. 23, 2009

Today's verse: 2 Kgs. 17:7. For so it was, that the children of Israel had sinned against the LORD their God, which had brought them up out of the land of Egypt, (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

The above sad statement spells the reason for the God’s judgment upon the Jews in Northern Israel also known as Samaria. They were a law unto themselves doing whatever they desired and there was nothing that they’d not stoop down to. Every kind of sin was committed by them including the sin of idol worship which is deeply abominable to the LORD God.

God gave them a long rope, yet they never returned to Him. It was then that the King of Assyria came and conquering them, deported them. A sordid tale of human insolence against God to the extent of not even acknowledging Him in their lives and living as they deemed it right, indulging in every immorality as pleased them. God, in a way ceased to exist for them and therefore when their enemies piled up, they didn’t even raise their eyes to God – how could they when He wasn’t alive for them?

Now let’s look at our lives today; don’t we see a similar situation? How many of us can honestly raise hands and say, ‘I’m not like them Lord.’ We may not be sinning such abominations, but we have our own set of trespasses before God which are equally anathema to Him. Thereby we block His blessings and His presence and our lives are driven on like ships without sails. What is to be done… yes, it’s necessary we first learn to sit at His feet and recognize His presence in our lives. Then using the Grace that He sends our way, we strive to sin lesser and lesser, eventually ridding it from our lives totally. Learn my friend the ways of God now as you live, lest some day you stand in judgment before the throne and stare into His fearsome face, trying to justify your actions.

Thoughts for another day

Dec. 22, 2009

Today's verse: Ez. 7:23. Whatsoever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be diligently done for the house of the God of heaven: (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

Here in our verse today, we have an exhortation that whatever is commanded by God, be done diligently for His house. And in the time of Ezra, they followed his command perfectly. Today morning I was reading about Moses, the Tabernacle and the various things God commanded Moses to do and Moses did each thing exactly the way God commanded him to do. God is perfection and His work is all perfect when viewed from His perspective for He is able to traverse all of time in a single moment and He sees all work begun and finished right away and He knows that what He does is perfect.

After the coming of Christ we have become the temple of the living God so perfection is needed in us because the Holy Spirit chooses to dwell in our hearts. It is our great privilege that God chooses to dwell not in houses made by human hands, rather in humans themselves because God has consecrated all believers as the body of His Son, Jesus Christ and so He dwells in us who believe.

On our part, it’s not sufficient that we just know this fact, but also work in accordance with God’s will in purifying ourselves and being holy so that God finds us worthy vessels to dwell in. We must strive to attain to the perfection God requires of us, being aware of the tremendous exaltation He provides us in His desire to dwell in us. It’s difficult to be holy, but not impossible for even for people like us, it’s so difficult to only do that which pleases God; but we believe that by the Grace He provides us, what may seem impossible is certainly ‘do-able’ and therefore it’s possible to be what He wants us to be.

Thoughts for another day

Dec. 21, 2009

Today's verse: Ps. 113:4. The LORD is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

Human beings on earth have seen glory, but that is a glory which is passing by. A temporary glory that has some luster but fades over time, still, they revel in it and enjoy it and fight for it and do all kinds of things to attain it! Strange one might think, but so true. A life-time is spent in seeking irrational glory.

On the other hand, let us look at a glory which is forever. Unfading, unalloyed, untarnished. Whose luster cannot be compared or which shine gleams as no other thing that gleams has ever shone. That is a glory that’s incomparable and we don’t attain to it. It is a glory which belongs to the super King of the universe. The Mighty One who Himself is incomparable and glorious beyond our every imagination. Whose shimmer we cannot ever bear to see with our eyes else we become blind or turn to dust the moment we do. This is the glory of God who rules over all nations and whose glory is so vast that it fills the earth and is far above the heavens.

Sadly however, we still treat our God so disdainfully. We never have time for Him. If someone invites us to a session where we can be enriched in His knowledge, we behave like lords saying, ‘oh I cannot come for I have a wedding to attend or a party to go to.’ Ah the insults we heap upon this glorious God when we don’t even give Him the sanctity due by sitting in a respectful manner before Him when we are supposed to be in prayer - what kind of prayer that is, needs to be checked for if we are before the Greatest seeking Him in prayer and we know it, then how can our heads not be bowed in reverential awe?.

My friend, for long have we tried our Lord taking Him for granted, but now let us come before His throne of mercy and plead with Him seeking His forgiveness and blessings on our lives while giving the honor due to Him.

Thoughts for another day

Dec. 18, 2009

Today's verse: Mt. 8:26. Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

The devil has a very powerful tool by which he can control the life of men; that tool is ‘fear’. All he needs to do to destroy men is to put fear in their hearts and in a sense the person is automatically destroyed because fear has this tendency of eating us from inside and tearing us into bits.

Jesus today is asking you, ‘why are you fearful. Don’t you have faith?’ For Jesus does the exact opposite of the devil. He is there to cast away fear and make us live full lives. Therefore, Jesus will always ask you, ‘why do you fear?’ Now fear could be of any type. Any fear for wrongdoing is valid because it is the fear of repercussion or an expected reaction to the wrong that one has done. But that is not the only fear we have experience of. The usual fear is not the fear for having done a wrong; but the fear of something that may happen because of our vulnerability.

Today’s situation in life is pretty complicated. Life poses many challenges and these challenges are rather frightening. Take the issue of raising a family and there’s only one earning member in the family and that member is facing the prospect of losing the job. Then again there are elderly people living alone in their homes for whom every night is a fearful prospect, what with robbers and evil elements prowling around. There are other kinds of fear induced by our actions. Take for example a situation where our children go and fight with children of people who are vicious and known to be bad. The fear will be a fear of repercussion.

No matter what the fear I am to tell both you and me, that Jesus is there. He is available for us at all times of the day or night and He is there to deliver us of any fear that we may have. Jesus is the king of the universe and faith in Him gives us the power to shed our fears and live our lives in wholesomeness. Praise be to Him.

Thoughts for another day

Dec. 17, 2009

Today's verse: Ps. 37:23,24. The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

Goodness is a precious quality in the eyes of the Lord. He Himself is a good God and He loves it when His people are good or strive to achieve goodness. A good person sees good in all things and never has a situation where he will falter or be found wanting in character. He is led by God into doing the things that please Him and God lifts him up before others.

For the person who is good or to define it clearly, right in God’s sight, His choicest blessing overflow abundantly. He may have problems for there is none who doesn’t go through the dark alleys once in a while. But God upholds him in those times and guides his footsteps everywhere. Never does God allow the upright to perish wantonly.

The book of Proverbs tells us that the evil bow before the good and the wicked at the gates of the upright, Pro. 14:19. This is the doing of the Lord whereby the good man never need fear anybody when He is in the right for the power of God is with Him. Now is it really difficult to be good? Yes it is, but not impossible for goodness comes from the fountain of God’s Grace and anyone who drinks of this fountain does good before Him and God then takes care of everything in his life.

Thoughts for another day

Dec. 16, 2009

Today's verse: 2 Chron. 26:16. But after Uzziah became powerful, his pride led to his downfall. He was unfaithful to the LORD his God, and entered the temple of the LORD to burn incense on the altar of incense. (NIV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

God gives. He makes us powerful and gives good health, all the material possessions we need & desire and keeps us in comfort. All the while that He’s doing this, we’re on our knees, praying and pledging that even when in plenty we’ll always be devoted to Him, pray and keep Him at the center of our lives. A good example is Uzziah in the above verse.

Time goes on and then we forget God for a day. We feel bad; we go back the next day, pleading His mercy and love. Later, we forget Him for two days; but now, we don’t beg for forgiveness in the same intensity. We feel God understands we can’t be with Him in prayer everyday because we hardly have the time. Our work to upgrade our wealth takes all our time and we’re so busy. We say, isn’t He a God who understands and after all He’s given us all this wealth so we will increase it no?

Gradually, we forget God for a week, a month, a year and slowly He’s totally removed from our lives. We’re happy and reconciled with the fact that He’s an understanding God. We hardly pause to reflect on what we must be doing to keep up our relationship with Him. We even tend to think that by giving us wealth, He hasn’t done a big favor, reasoning that He gives wealth even to unbelievers so what’s the big deal. By this time, God is nowhere for us. Pride takes over and our insides become roughened. We believe we’re gods (that’s what happens with Uzziah too).

Does this story seem familiar? I counsel many people and often I see the same story. At times the move away from God is funny as I recently witnessed: a lady has been well endowed and got a good apartment and all that. After all this comfort, she is discomfited by the neighbors on the top floor shifting their chairs or tables and by so many other inane things. So she’s upset with God! At other times, it could be just the feeling of not needing Him. This is the story of our lives too. It’s time we cognize who God is and allow Him to work out our lives and not our circumstances work Him out!

Thoughts for another day

Dec. 11, 2009

Today's verse: Job 34:14 If he set his heart upon man, if he gather unto himself his spirit and his breath; All flesh shall perish together, and man shall turn again unto dust. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

Sometimes I think, what if God were vindictive? I dread at what He would do to us who sin all the time trying His patience every moment and making Him weary with our stupidities. Let’s consider us humans, if we have a toy (perhaps a robot) and if the toy misbehaves and doesn’t do the things we want it to do, wouldn’t we destroy the toy? But when it comes to God, although we do all that displeases Him, we still expect to be untouched and not be punished.

Here today is a Word of God that should strike fear in our hearts. Very simply it tells us that if God were to focus on us (He would obviously see us in our sins, having no belief in His Son too) and were He to take His Spirit and His breath away, we would all perish and again convert into the dust from which we’re formed. What a perishing thought that is for those of us who rebel against Him not obeying His commands.

This truth, of God taking away our breath has lingered in His domain since the creation of man. Yet God has never exercised this option because He is One who likes to give us a long rope; He is long suffering to the extreme. No matter how big a man be in the world, before God he is nothing. All worldly arrogance arrayed against God is as nothing to Him who is all powerful and even if a man is big and rebels with God, he can be made to perish in the twinkling of the eye. God is awesome and all powerful and His power extends as far as creation extends, besides, God is eternal and so His power is eternal and His intricate knowledge of each one of us is before Him always. Therefore, we need to be careful what we do lest God destroy us. But for us who believe in His Son and strive to live our lives according to His dictate, there is hope that we though, away from this earth will live forever in His presence.

Thoughts for another day

Dec. 10, 2009

Today's verse: 1 Cor. 15:49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

How does the body look after the resurrection? This is a subject of much debate and incredulity. Incredulity as we can’t accept that we will inherit a body after we die, since our earthly bodies will be buried and rot away being corruptible in nature. So the question of a body after resurrection doesn’t arise.

To get an insight into the body after resurrection, let’s look at the body of our Lord after He rose from the dead. While it may be a little outrageous to say our bodies will be like His, it wouldn’t be wrong to refer to it being in similar form as exposited by our verse today. Paul says, on earth we have borne the image of the earthly i.e. the fallen body of Adam and also adds that just as we bore that on the earth we shall in heaven bear the body of the heavenly. And we follow our Lord who is the first fruits of the resurrection of those who have died (1 Cor. 15:20). While it’s a mystery as to what our bodies will be like after resurrection, referring to Paul we can assume we’ll be like our Lord.

Jesus gives a cue of this kind of body when He speaks to the Sadducees on the issue of the woman who was the wife of seven brothers. He says after resurrection we’re like the angels in heaven. I would of course infer from this that we will be angelic in many respects. And it’s clear, our bodies will be resplendent in the glory He clothes us with to declare to all that we’re children of a magnificent, awesome and splendor filled God. Therein shall we worship Him and glorify Him all days of our lives.

Thoughts for another day

Dec. 9, 2009

Today's verse: 1 Sm. 17:45 Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

When I read such verses, I cannot but marvel at the wonder and power of these Words which show such amazing faith and confidence in God! When the Israelites saw Goliath, they were real scared. Their eyes beheld a man who held a spear that would shame the beam a weaver weaved his thread with in the past or the spindle of a loom in today’s times; and they fled at his presence.

Not so David. When David saw him, he did not consider the stature of the man. He rather looked at him with the eyes of faith in God. Therefore, he didn’t see the man as a threat, yet it was the same man who produced so much fear in others. I must say that there’s something in genuine men and women of God that births so much faith in others. The reason is they see the real essence of God which the world isn’t able to see. In that they see His awesomeness and amazing power and they realise nothing is impossible with God. In doing that, they too believe in impossible things and are able to do them although in the natural world they don’t seem ‘doable’.

My friend the things Jesus said like, ‘Ask and you shall receive’, ‘seek and you shall find’, etc. are definite because Jesus knows all is possible. Jesus also said if we had mustard-seed-sized faith, it would be possible for us to move the mountain into the sea. Jesus didn’t just say it but did because He knows it’s possible. We humans have been bestowed with so much power but our sins keep us away from it. But the Good News of God tells us that it’s all possible. The only condition is that we keep away from sin and seek His glory and then His power will hit us in way’s we’ve never experienced and like David we’d also see giant opponents as a blades of straw.

Thoughts for another day

Dec. 8, 2009

Today's verse: Eph. 5:17. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

There’re many Christians out there, who have the tag of Christian but their actions and deeds don’t in any way spark the presence of Christ in their lives, except for their speech where they show extra zealousness for Him. If we were to peep into our own lives, we may discover that we’re much like them or close to their way of life.

I often think why are we like that? Why do we speak of Christ, but find it difficult to follow Him? Why do we like His Word, but don’t keep it? And so on… When we look at what’s needed of us to be real Christians we find a great deal is demanded from us. Let’s take a few common things: Lying - for most of us lying is skin-deep and a habit; but when we come to Christ He tells us not to lie. The next, talking ill of others; we belong by and large to small groups where character assassination is the major time-pass! Not of anyone in the group (of them we do when we’re in another group and that person isn’t there) but of someone we all know. And mind you, adding spice to rumors is a very creative task and we want to be extra creative; but Jesus forbids that. Let’s take another thing we do individually… when we see a person who’s our enemy, we curse that person in our minds and even pray something bad happen to that person and the Lord says this is not to be!!!

You know when we come to the Lord we need to shed this behavior completely and you and I know it’s inconvenient, isn’t it? But the Word of God is clear about what our actions in life should be. Today’s verse is an exhortation to understand that we’re to be wise and seek the will of God in our lives. Inconvenient though it be, God’s Word is categorical that we need to know what God wants of us and walk in a manner pleasing to Him and that alone is the way to eternal life.

Thoughts for another day

Dec. 7, 2009

Today's verse: 1 Cor. 3:7. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

Often man thinks that he is the master of destiny. Yes, with the progress that science has made, it may work in his mind that he can do anything and everything. This pride has gone deep into the psyche of man. So much so that there are many who are fighting to comment that God isn’t there. Last week I read a short quip written by a lady who was so pompous that it was amazing. She was fighting the case and arguing out that God is redundant and one shouldn’t spell God with a capital ‘G’ which we use to respect Him and hold Him in awe.

Now no matter what man does, the fact of the matter is that God has created the universe as I have been always arguing here, because I can see no alternative way by which the world has come to be created and it is He who runs it. No one else can do what He does. Man can only destroy it as we see him doing it but cannot restore it for he lacks the power to do that. At Copenhagen when the talks on environment start, the discussions will only focus on the extent of degradation of earth and how each one must try to do their bit to save it. But none will be able to touch the issue of restoration for they can’t! But remember God can.

Recognizing the immense power and ability of God, Paul writes this brilliant assessment which actually touches upon the planting of the Gospel and the conversion of man to God, which is the most difficult thing to do, because no man, however much he desires can convert even one soul. He can only plant the gospel and wait for the conversion and thereby the increase can be only from God, just as the farmer can only plant the seed, but for the plant to grow, man has to depend on God. This is so that none may boast about his own capability but that they may give glory to God for His kindness and mercy, by which, He unceasingly gives us the increase despite the fact that we are sinners and do not deserve it.

Thoughts for another day

Dec. 4, 2009

Today's verse: Gen. 4:7. If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it. (NIV copyright acknowledged)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

In the sight of God, sin is devastating. Adam sinned and the shameful saga of man began, where he started doing all the things that displease God. The knowledge of good and evil came into man for he ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil which God had forbidden. The sense of right and wrong came into him. Therefore, when he did something that was evil, it became his sin.

In our verse today, God tells Cain that if he did the right thing, he would be accepted. But if he did the wrong, then sin which was now pervading in his genes would desire him and conquer him. But God also tells Cain that sin must be mastered. In bringing sin into the world, Adam in effect created a monster. God is telling us today that it can be conquered and mastered. However, we’re so ingrained in sin that we don’t consider many of our sinful acts as sin. In the Catholic Church, we have venial sins which are deemed as lesser sin. The church fathers of course realize that any sin before God is spiteful to Him and He hates it, yet, the church followers wantonly commit the lesser sin without even giving it a thought and with no remorse. Lying for example has become so common that it is considered no sin, particularly a ‘white lie’ as they call it.

My friend, note today that any sin you commit is sin and detestable to God. Even if you ‘take’ that pen from your office into your home or make personal phone calls from your office, they’re sins and detestable to God. Let me tell you that avoiding them will not cost you much. A pen costs only Rs. 5, a fraction of a $ - US and so too the other things. Won’t you spend your own money rather than invoke the wrath of God? Try each day seeking God’s Grace to slowly but surely do away with these sinful things and you will become sin’s Master, not its slave.

Thoughts for another day

Dec. 3, 2009

Today's verse: Rev. 17:14. These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

The forces of evil are lined up against the Lord and His people. They will use all the might they can to subdue them. People devoted to the Lord all over planet earth will have to face immense trials and tribulations which the Lord will allow so that they will be strengthened in Him and their faith will take a new form of fortitude which will stand firm even in the midst of all the tribulations the evil one will plunge them into.

Yet, remember, the One who died for us, the Holy Lamb of God, will not allow us to be troubled for long. It is only for a while that He will set us at the mercy of the devil, but soon He will come and rescue us. These forces, which have tremendous power over the elements of earth, will in their arrogance, think they can win over the Lamb and in their conceit, war against Him, but they will be beaten and humiliated. Their pride will be tossed into the furnace of destruction. They will be annihilated completely and cast away.

And the Lamb of God, who is Lord of lords and King of kings will be with His own. His own, who are chosen and called by Him and who have endured much for His sake will be comforted. They are His faithful who have eventually got their opportunity to remain with the Groom, the God of the Universe; and then they will sit at His feet and worship Him. He will comfort them and heal them. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes and they will taste of Him and confirm that He is good.

Thoughts for another day

Dec. 2, 2009

Today's verse: Lk. 17:33. Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

In life you might have discovered that we want to do everything other than the will of God. We want to safeguard ourselves and also make all arrangements needed to lead secure and promising futures, not only for selves, but also for our children, etc. So what do we do? We work and work (slave, shall I say) to earn that little extra so that we can achieve the security we seek.

Look at some families today. The husband works late into the night. They come home at late hours and move out the next day early in the morning. Now what contribution can he make in the lives of his children! The wife is on her own trip. If she is working, then the children are kept at crèches or with neighbors or care-takers, etc. These grow up like weeds and look at the parents as ATMs. If the wife is not working, then also she complains at her situation seeking sympathy. The worst is her fear of her husband gallivanting with other women and sometimes her worst fears come true.

This is not something out of the figment of my imagination but everyday experiences in families. People striving to do all they can and even what they can’t to achieve impossible financial targets. Parents push children into careers not meant for them as they promise to bring prestige, etc. Children masquerading as know-alls and then falling into vicarious ditches and wrong company etc. All this is aimed at being secure and living the good life. Nothing but a complete re-hashing of God’s way of seeking His Kingdom. That is why Jesus has the above to say. He says that whoever intends saving his life will lose it and the ones who will lose their lives for Him will preserve it. Which means that only those working for the kingdom of God will finally inherit eternal life.

Thoughts for another day

Dec. 1, 2009

Today's verse: Num. 14:42. Do not go up, for the LORD is not with you; (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

We have a quote: Man proposes, God disposes. Don’t know who penned that, but whoever did, knew the fact that if God is not in something, then that thing won’t work out. Moses and the Israelites knew that. When you read the verses before and after our verse today, you learn of the sin of the Israelites in constantly disbelieving Him, though they had witnessed His awesome power before their very eyes.

What God did before and for them was a great example of His awesome might, His omnipotence as it were, yet, seeing this what did they do, resort to disbelief at the least opportunity! They were on the threshold of the land God had promised them, and Moses selected twelve men to go and reconnoiter the land to see it for themselves. But when they came back all but two, Joshua and Caleb, mentioned that it was a land flowing with milk and honey, but that it had fierce people in it and thereby sowed doubt and fear in the hearts of the Israelites. This despite the fact that God had promised to give them the land and He Himself was to deliver it into their hands.

This disappointed God terribly and He told Moses that He would withdraw from them. It was a sad day; a day of shame for those, who having seen God’s hand, refused to accept His power in their lives. This happens so often in our own times and our lives too. God demonstrates His presence so often, but we don’t want to accept it. Rather, we see the obstacles and cringe with discomfort. Thus we mock God and sure enough, if we are perceptive enough, we soon find that He isn’t with us. He has left us and we are now subject to the powers that can bring us down.

My friend if this is your state, isn’t it time to wake up and resort to Him who can make the seas calm before you or create things out of nothing for your sake. Just believe Him and exalt Him.