Thoughts for another day

Feb. 26, 2010

Today's verse: Mi. 7:18. Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

D-day had arrived. The man was to be executed. Only a pardon from the king could save him. Even as the squad was preparing to pump in more than 100 bullets into his body, men were standing outside the king’s room with his petition seeking pardon, doubting whether he would. Just a month before, the man’s hired assassins had killed the king’s wife and three of his four sons in a bid to capture power. It surprised all because he was the king’s younger brother, loved and trusted and on whom the king had full confidence. It was a wonder the king survived; the bullets had just grazed past him even as he ducked behind the hard timber of his table while his security fired at the assassin killing him instantly.

The king felt betrayed. Anger and anguish filled him. Were it not for his father’s last request to look after his brother, the king would have got him killed instantly. He was reputed to be a fair man and very sensible. The death of his family had visibly shrunk him and as the men stood outside, his father’s death wish flashed in his mind. He was in turmoil. The aide entered his room and gave the document. The king looked at him hard. Then nodded, giving him the insignia to stamp on the pardon paper. He pardoned his brother. The aide was amazed and as he left the room, and rushed to the palace jail, there was first stunned silence among the men and then much speaking and noise. Many cried; the king was noble. He was indeed a good man they said, not being able to understand how the king could forgive. But he had just done that!

My friend, God is a far greater forgiver than the king or anyone else. Our scripture talks about Him pardoning sin and delighting in mercy. Just look at our God. He even allowed His Own Son to be killed and while this was so, looked at us with mercy, all the while ignoring the shameful and dastardly death of His Son on the Cross. All His power was hidden and He veiled His eyes so that He not look and be angry because that would destroy us instantly. Rather, His mercy came to the fore and the very death of His Son became the reason for Him to forgive us our sins and give us the inheritance which was ours from the beginning, which we had lost due to sin. Our God is truly marvelous and gracious and of course supremely noble. Boy, am I glad He is my God. Amen.

Thoughts for another day

Feb. 25, 2010

Today's verse: Lev. 25:21. Then I will command my blessing upon you in the sixth year, and it shall bring forth fruit for three years. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

In the Old Testament, we see how God gives a number of commands and wants that the Israelites obey His decrees. And if one were to really look at His commands, they’re very simple and effective for life - Simple lives to live, simple things to do and simple things to not do. Sin emanates because we abrogate these commands of His. Sin emanates because the force of evil within us creates that intense desire to find delight in the very things He has asked us not to indulge in.

Now whether we obey God or not, we need note that His blessings, the fruits of His open hands come directly upon us when we stand in obedience to His will and do that which He wants us to do. Sometimes, we see very evil people boast of worldly possessions; to us they seem to be happy. On the other hand we always seem to be hanging on a thread in various areas of our lives. We rue our own destinies and whisper, ‘if only I were in that person’s position…’ Sadly, it doesn’t often happen and we get dejected, feel low, etc. In all this we don’t even try to decipher what God is telling us and our minds are clouded with our own burdens. The root of the matter is that we equate happiness with possessions and that’s where our misery begins. Let me categorically say that riches, or having everything and more doesn’t create happiness, rather being content with what one has is what creates happiness or even having everything one needs is the route to happiness.

I can tell you today that God gives us what we need or desire. But when we obey His commands He is tremendously pleased and then He gives us even more, not just possessions but happiness. In this state we also see, all things that God has given us as being more than enough to keep our joy going throughout our lives. Truly obedience to Him can bring such joy in us that even the world will watch and say, ‘hey, I need this joy.’

Thoughts for another day

Feb. 23, 2010

Today's verse: Mt. 17:20. If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

I tend to think: what’s this thing about faith? What we keep hearing of faith and its dimensions from people who’re called ‘touched by the Lord’, is one thing and then Jesus says something about it like the above. I think faith is basically seeing the supernatural while in the natural dimension. It’s much like believing in God - God cannot be seen, yet we believe He is! This is important because I recently read a piece where someone said that he can prove God doesn’t exist – he just can’t see Him. He’ll accept our premise that God exists if we can introduce Him, just once.

So though God is invisible to us, we profess to believe; because maybe we really believe or perhaps we just like to believe or we feel comfortable to think in our mindscape that God exists. Frankly for me, God exists and I’ve genuinely felt His presence. As to the fact we cannot see Him, we know He is far more brilliant than the sun and were we to see Him even for a moment, we’d be destroyed. In Jesus He gave us the connect once which helps us believe. In any case since He created us, it’s His prerogative to assign what He wants to assign and He being Sovereign, who can question Him.

As to miracles, they're closely congruent to believing Him. Really, our faith being so little we cannot understand the working of a miracle. Our communion with God is negligible and our being one with Him is non-existent. Hence, when it comes to definition of a miracle, we compromise even equating God’s ‘sustenance’ as a miracle. For e.g. a nun I know once said, ‘that we are alive, isn’t that a miracle?’ I don’t agree because then everything is a miracle. Every creature is made distinctly and every day is different. So why then did Jesus talk about faith and lifting the mountain into the sea?

My friend, I have a lot to say about the supernatural realm. God operates in the supernatural and those who are privy to this realm can see God’s power to the full. Jesus operated in it and could raise the dead to life even after four days. Nothing seemed impossible to Him and nothing is impossible to God. I’d only pray that as you read, you are led to look at that sphere where actually God wants us to be and see His ‘Awesomeness’. You’ll certainly be blown away.

Thoughts for another day

Feb. 22, 2010

Today's verse: Lk. 5:12. … Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further.) Thanks

The man took the letter in his hand and pondered for a long time. Taking out a check book, he wrote a huge amount on it and asked his servant to express send it to the address he gave. The servant looked at the name and asked him, ‘Sir, are you sure?’ The man nodded, went and sat on his favorite chair and immersed in thought. The addressee was his only daughter who a year ago had eloped with a man from the slums around their home despite his will. Before she had done that, they had an altercation and he mentioned how her life would be miserable with the man; not because he was poor, but because he was lazy and good for nothing.

The girl hadn’t listened and had done the unthinkable. It was unbearable. He thought of all the trouble he and his wife had gone thru’ raising her up and doing for her everything they could. In fact, they’d placed her requirements above their own, dreaming she’d be a pillar of strength in their old age. Alas, it was not to be. And even as she ran away, he knew she would come to the state she had. Her letter recd. by him a few mins. ago was heart rending. The man had reduced her to the state of a servant and a prostitute. He and his alcoholic friends had created havoc with her chastity and despite her working to make ends meet, he never bothered to help her in any way. Now, they were evicted from the little hole she stayed in and literally lived on the streets. There was a lot more besides. The man was moved to tears. Though angry and saddened, his heart melted within him.

My friend, our God too is such. We have gone too far from Him by our own doing. Yet, He is always near us. He loves us and takes care of us and yes, if we ask the question that the leper asked of Him, He is always ready to receive us to Him and say, ‘Yes, I wish; let it happen with you as you desire.’

Thoughts for another day

Feb. 19, 2010

Today's verse: Jer. 14:22. Are there any among the vanities of the Gentiles that can cause rain? or can the heavens give showers? art not thou he, O LORD our God? therefore we will wait upon thee: for thou hast made all these things. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

At the time, Jeremiah writes this, there was great shame in Jerusalem. The people grievously insulted the LORD God of heaven and mocked Him to scorn. Judah’s destruction was imminent. Jeremiah is pained in the prophecy that God gives Him to declare to the people of Judah; that of a total and thorough rampage in a place where the Temple of a Holy God existed. In the place where God had met His people in the past and assured them of His faithfulness and love. But now things had changed; and how!

The people of Judah had committed the worst calumnies against a Holy and Faithful God. They had heaped insults on Him and had now come under the judgment lens of God and they knew it was frightful. Then God asks Jeremiah to speak and today’s scripture comes from there. And, how true it is, as an incantation of praise to our God, who is so mighty and powerful.

Look at the words my friend, carefully, and see what the prophet is told to tell as a repentance prayer. To invoke God and remind Him of His power: ‘Are there any gods of the gentiles who can cause rain? Or can heaven give showers by itself?’ And then there’s the affirmation so grand it kindles my soul; it re-iterates to the Lord our knowledge that He is the LORD our God of old and that we wait upon Him, for He has made all things. I’d also like to add, it is by His making and sustaining that all things are, that are, and the earth runs by His dictate. No man can ever do anything to even shake a leaf without His nod and to Him will all things belong; always. Believe in this and declare it; someday, the God of Heaven will bend down to you and lift you up.

Thoughts for another day

Feb. 18, 2010

Today's verse: Gal. 4:9. But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God… (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

The above scripture is very important in understanding ‘relationship with’ God. If you read the verse carefully, you’ll notice, ‘or rather known of God’ as happening after ‘you have known God’. This is a little out of place because we know that God knows everyone. So how does Paul say ‘known of God’, when God already knew us, even before we were created, and at a time we obviously couldn’t know Him? There’re many profound words in the Bible which at first glance seem common; but when understood in the Spirit’s light, we realise they have a deeper implication; and ‘known’ in our verse today, is a similar word.

It suggests greater knowledge: A deep intimacy, a full experience, and passionate communion. Let’s take an e.g., Genesis 4:1 says, ‘…Adam knew his wife Eve.’ See it’s not that Adam came to know her at that time, but he entered into a relationship, becoming one with her, a passionate communion in which he came to know everything about her. Were I to equate it to a relationship in our times, it would be that between a man and his wife. Only such a relationship is complete in a sense because the spouses know each other well. And that is what Paul refers to when he says, ‘known of God’.

The greatest privilege you can have in life is to be known by God in the manner I’ve mentioned above. A deep union, which God is able to have with you. This happens when you crave an intimate passion with the Lord; to make Him your first love, in which your whole demeanor is to spend time with God and enjoy the preciousness, warmth and gentleness of the moment as with a lover for whom you have intense desire. I know and understand it’s difficult to establish such a relationship with God as the world has ideas that differ and there’s too much pressure on us to comply with the world. But then, if only you take a step toward Him, He will approach you like His lover and then set things right for you and ‘know’ you. Interested, just call God today!

Thoughts for another day

Feb. 17, 2010

Today's verse: Hos. 11:9. I will not execute the fierceness of mine anger, I will not return to destroy Ephraim: for I am God, and not man; the Holy One in the midst of thee: (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

The foundation that God has built us on is love. When we were not even formed but just present in the mind of God, He envisioned each one of us, whether in the past, or now, or in the future. For God everything is current as He operates outside of time. He sees us constantly and knows everything about us. At the time He created us, He could only make a commitment to Himself that HE would love us constantly – whether we loved Him in return or not. And though we sin, we still are under the covering of His love and therefore, safe.

What has happened since the time God created us is there for all to see. Because of the free will He gave by which we have our own identity and character, God doesn’t enter our lives forcibly, though He can, to put an end to our sin. Of course He does when we request Him but not in the way we’d think or imagine. God’s manner is gentle and un-overwhelming. Its impact doesn’t cause us pain because God understands pain; we cannot undermine this as Jesus Christ, God Himself, came down as a human and lived a frail life and died a shameful, miserable and blood curdling death. So we can’t say He doesn’t understand us!

Our sins have taken humungous dimensions and have severed any relationship we have with our God. Today, God is very distant from us and to most people; He’s as good as not being there. We sin and sin and sin and therefore deserve every punishment He can give us; yet our scripture says something beautiful about our God. He is Holy, yet His fierce anger will not burn against us. Although we’ve hurt Him hard, He says, He won’t return to destroy and this because He is God and Holy. His Holiness appropriates life for us and forgiveness. Thank God for His Holiness.

Thoughts for another day

Feb. 16, 2010

Today's verse: Mt. 10:33. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

In the world today, it’s become fashionable to make statements that Christ means nothing in our lives. Recently, a female Hollywood actor, while accepting the Academy award criticized others who while receiving it, thanked God. She said, Christ has no place in her life and it was definitely not due to Him that she won! This gives rise to a discussion primarily because one’s thinking may suggest that Christ may not be involved in giving an award for a Hollywood film and I beg to differ because this thinking is flawed, for God allows things to happen across the universe and without His nod, nothing can happen. But, it isn’t this we’re talking about. It’s the very idea of discounting Christ from her life that is to be noted. Why did she say what she said? It’s because she felt it necessary to mention obliquely that Christ wasn’t needed in her life; to deny Him as it were, of His deity.

Closer home, when it comes to the grind, what do we do when asked about our relationship with Christ. Are we willing to declare we’re His and our life is a result of His giving and sustaining us? Are we proud to take His Name at all times in our lives? We Catholics have a custom; whenever there’s an occasion to celebrate, we call someone a little mature in the Lord to pray. And if the poor person goes beyond a little time, the people get jittery. Do you know why? Because today, Christ has become inconvenient; He interferes in our time you see! In our fierce ambition to conquer the world and gain recognition and fame, we’ve discovered that Jesus Christ is certainly inconvenient.

On the other hand when I see people of other faiths, no matter if they serve no gods, so vociferous when it concerns their gods, I begin to think about our own celebrations. Consider this, don’t the Hindu people have loud celebrations all over during their festivals in India? But our celebrations, well, there’s no joy and it’s because we’ve not known our God. Forget about loudness, there is no customary clapping too. In fact people wonder why the Charismatics and Pentecostals have to praise so loudly. Is God deaf, they ask? It’s not about God being deaf, but about our praising Him and the language our body speaks when we praise Him. Praise to God is the real reason why we’re here on earth and today’s scripture serves a warning from God Himself. Think and introspect.

Thoughts for another day

Feb. 12, 2010

Today's verse: Ex. 4:11. And the LORD said unto him, Who hath made man's mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the LORD? (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

Reading this scripture, you may be mildly shocked or perhaps think there’s another meaning to it as some so called scholars think, while believing they’re defending the actions of a loving God, saying you shouldn’t take what’s written in the Bible literally; and they also try to rationalize most miracles saying the writer of the Bible, meant something else or the incident was written according to folk lore and that it didn’t actually happen. But barring a few occasions, the Bible is true in what is written whether it shock us or not; even if it means, God does make some deaf or dumb or blind.

It pertains to the sovereignty of God: God is Sovereign. He Himself says, ‘I will show favor to whom I will; and I will grant mercy to whom I will.’ Isn’t He the Creator of the universe and all therein? In the story of the landowner (Mt. 20:1-16) that Jesus tells, doesn’t He mention the landowner as saying, ‘Am I not free to do as I wish with my own money?’. So you see, the owner has the right to do as He wishes to what He owns. God similarly has every right to do as He pleases with what He creates and He does ask this question clearly in Jer. 18:6, ‘O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel!’

So you see my friend, God has the supreme authority to create as He wants. We must consider ourselves blessed that He has given us proper bodies in which there’s no blemish. Look at those who have some blemish, they too are His children and only He knows why He has made them that way. The Divine mind is far too complex for us to even understand a bit. But it’s enough for us to leave it to Him who knows all and does all things for our good. We have to trust that when we put our belief implicitly in Him, He is there to guide and guard us and keep us till the end.

Thoughts for another day

Feb. 11, 2010

Today's verse: Ps. 40:16. Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: let such as love thy salvation say continually, The LORD be magnified. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

God’s work (and our work too) must be done His way. Then a man can, like it is in the Bible, sit under his own fig tree and enjoy the work of his hand – which means, be content. Looking around today, do you see contentment? Scarcely do we witness it and jokes apart, I usually witness it in people who the world terms as ‘mad’ or with a learning/understanding disability and they’re really content with not a shred of worry, isn’t it? Apart from this, I don’t see contentment. And why go far; were I to look at self, I’d honestly not be able to say I’m content.

As I’ve understood it, contentment or happiness is often found within, and that’s why wisdom urges us to find it there. Referring to the Almighty I’d say, happiness is being content in God; assured of His support and providence and praising Him for it. Our scripture today embellishes this. When we seek the Lord, we need to rejoice and be glad in Him even as we seek Him. It’s pertinent to realize that God grants our wishes and needs, no matter what they are. And if one’s imagination and wisdom are truly inspired by God and in this state one asks something of Him, He will grant it.

Often I wonder why there’re no miracles today and I’m constantly led to think there’s no corresponding faith to defy the natural and embrace the supernatural. Rather there’s a rationalizing like, even being able to do day by day chores is nothing short of a miracle and that’s the great lie of the devil. God is the Sustainer maintaining all things; and within the ambit of this power of God we are able to do our daily activities. A miracle is surely granted to the person who’s willing to take the supernatural in his stride as normal. To substantiate this I’d say, whether we believe or not, our God is a miracle working God. It may be a miracle for us but for God it’s just normal! Were we to tune ourselves to His dimension and look at things with the eyes of faith, believe and rejoice that the thing we’ve asked for is already given us, then we shall receive the very thing, re-affirming our faith. Sometimes it may take time, but remember, what He has ordained, must happen. He said it Himself, ‘Heaven and earth will pass away, but My Word will remain.’

Thoughts for another day

Feb. 10, 2010

Today's verse: Jn. 18:6. As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

We take our Lord Jesus Christ very lightly. Some poke fun at Him. Others malign Him by writing so called semi-fictional books about His supposedly secret life which they claim was known to some of His disciples and they wrote about in secret codes, which of course they’ve come to know of, etc. Then there’re others who apparently sit in prayer like Lords as if they demanded He come and massage their legs. Truly if you’re witness to all these and more, leave alone what some youth say about Him being ‘uncool’, you’ll understand today’s world treats Him in a most pedestrian manner. Perhaps you may mull and say, ‘so what’s new’ they did it then too! Yes, sad; imagine the Son of God, God Himself who left all His glory behind, treated worse than a slave!

But then who do you think Jesus is? I love to say this and I say it from the bottom of my heart; Jesus is a Glorious, Glorious, Glorious God and there’s nothing more glorious than Him. He shares the same glory as the Father and the Holy Spirit. We humans are privileged that He took our form and came down to commune with and tell us that He is our God and He is eager we be with Him.

There’s no doubt that Jesus is Glorious and Awesome and we read in today’s scripture how the men who came to arrest Him fell to the ground even as He said, ‘I AM HE’. The Gospels tell us that the water quieted down at His command, that diseases just vanished at His demand. The devil hastily retreated at His Word and fishes came of their own, landing in the nets of the fishermen! Awesome, Awesome, Awesome is our Lord for Whom all things are possible. His single glance can bring meaning in our lives. His countenance of glory can melt our every fear and His Words, well they are the bulwark of our great lives. And He Himself is God and remember, one day He will come down on the clouds in all His glory and He will be seen from one end of the sky to the other; even if the earth is round He will be seen and all men shall fall before Him and worship Him, even the One who was long ago born as a helpless babe in very humble conditions in a cattle-feed trough in Bethlehem.

Thoughts for another day

Feb. 9, 2010

Today's verse: Job 12:15. Behold, he withholdeth the waters, and they dry up: also he sendeth them out, and they overturn the earth. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

See the mighty power of our God. Is there anything beyond His control? He holds the earth on the tip of His little finger and by His mere Word, orders things to be and they are. With God there’s no impossibility except it’s impossible for Him to not love and care for us. Even the one who offends Him most is cared for by Him; Jesus says clearly, ‘He sends His rain on the good and the evil.’ It’s because God understands that without His sustenance, man will cease to be. Sadly however, we haven’t been able to understand this.

Today’s scripture is a stark pointer to the great power of God. We call Him Omnipotent and so He is. Look, the massive waters on the face of the earth are tuned to do His bidding. He holds them back and the land is starved and there’s drought. He sends the waters and they flood the earth. What is water to God? He can create water in the desert and dry the rivers. We learn of His awesome and magnificent power in the Bible when we read that God flooded the earth at the time of Noah pelting it with rain for forty days and forty nights. Barring Noah and his family, all perished. At another time, as the Egyptians chased the fleeing Israelites, God separated the waters of the Red sea, creating firm ground for His people to walk on and cross the sea, but when the Egyptians tried it, the waters came back and drowned them!

God’s awesome or shall I say fearsome power is witnessed in all the elements He created on earth and one of the greatest of them is water. Funny, we never think man cannot create water; only God can do it and He gives it for free. Man can only dig ponds, lakes and other cisterns to hold rain water but even when he makes these structures, they wouldn’t hold water, unless it rained! You know, with the devil’s governance of the earth, it’s proper for God to just hold back the rain, yet in His mercy, He doesn’t do it. He sends this elixir of life sufficiently for all of creation, no matter what the size of the population on the face of the earth; and rarely does man lack water. See, how magnificently God does things that we do not even think of. He is our God Most High and as I read this, I bend my knee and say, ‘Thank You Abba, because You are my God.’

Thoughts for another day

Feb. 8, 2010

Today's verse: Ps. 119:49, 50. Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope. This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

We believe God exists and we are sure He exists because His Word says so. We know His Word is true because whoever reads His Word, with the desire of knowing Him, has something moving in him whereby his inner being is stirred and he gets a deeper understanding of God and His ways. This happens only when you read the Bible for only the Bible is inspired by the Spirit of God who has moved men of old into writing what He wanted them to write as Words from God Himself.

The Bible is different from all other books in the sense that no other book can inspire human beings as much as the Bible, because it alone is the Word of the living God and complete in all sense, such that the book of Revelation warns that no man shall add to it or subtract from it. God speaks to us in the Bible. In today’s scripture, the psalmist is telling the Lord to remember His Word by which God has caused him to hope. And the psalmist further says that this hope is his comfort when he is in trouble because he says God’s Word has caused life to spurt in him in full measure.

My friend, when you read His Word with the pure intent of meeting Him your life is quickened or shall I say, wells up as a fountain. The joy of the Lord is your body language and His strength, your guard. There can be no fear or sorrow when you discover God which only His Word helps you do. Reading the Word with sincerity, guaranties you will find Him, because He says it Himself. God loves us immensely and only when we read His Word can we find His love and learn that He wants us to reciprocate it. A good understanding of God’s Word can do wonders in our lives. Read it and you will know.

Thoughts for another day

Feb. 5, 2010

Today's verse: Nu. 21:8. And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

On reading our scripture today, we get the message that God provided a solution for the Jews with the same thing He had provided an affliction. Were you to think, you’d probably wonder why? And what would be the significance. I believe the message God wants to give us through the symbolism of the above is that when there is a problem of a particular type, and you look at the problem, aware of God’s presence, then the same problem becomes a solution.

Once a lady came to me for counseling and told me about the bad things that were happening because of her daughter in law. I advised her that what seemed to her a problem would also be her solution. She shook her head and went away. A few days later she came back and told me she’d gone for a retreat; something she was planning for years but only now did! She also told me that she had peace in her mind because in the retreat she had decided to do a few things and she was ardently doing them.

I again reminded her that her problem had been the solution she had been subconsciously looking for, for a long time. A solution, which would provide her peace and fulfillment. And that’s exactly what happened. My friends I’d like to tell you also the same. You have a problem, look at it as a solution if you’re in the Lord for soon through the very thing that you call a problem, you’ll find the solution you’ve been looking for all your life. God has a weird way of doing with us what He always meant to do - which in our disobedience, we ran away from. But He doesn’t abandon us, rather He creates a situation which seems uncomfortable and eventually, when we remain true to Him, He provides the solution which leads us to the place He wanted us to be, to commune and have fellowship with Him. I for one would love a ‘problem’ like that, wouldn’t you?

Thoughts for another day

Feb. 4, 2010

Today's verse: Lk. 12:50. But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is completed! (NIV – copyright acknowledged)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

God’s people are different. The reason being, they’ve great fervor to do His work. There’re many people out there who know they’ve been called by God to do His work. Now to just begin doing His work, without His setting you to, is easy because anyone can do some things He is pleased with for e.g. feeding the hungry, assisting the poor, visiting the sick and for that matter even preaching in small ways. Many even start doing these things for they feel they’ve been called to do His work and also because they believe that since they’re called, they must act immediately. But, growth doesn’t happen and frustration sets in. Then they settle for whatever little growth they have thinking that that’s all there is to it and God has a limited Ministry for them! In this way, they lose out on a big Ministry; why? simply because they were hasty.

One thing I’ve realised is that when God assigns you a Ministry to serve Him, He needs you to both wait on Him and wait for Him. For years you may see nothing yet you need to hope in wait. Look at Moses, perhaps the greatest servant of God apart from Christ (even Christ had to wait 30 years to go out when He could certainly have gone out at 18; didn’t He know scripture well and wasn’t He quite wise even at 12?) even he had to wait 40 years to begin His work. Someone once said, the longer you wait for God to begin your Ministry, the greater it is going to be. Don’t worry thinking during the wait, your interest might flag. It won’t if you’ve kept your hope in Him and lay hold of this scripture, ‘He who has called you is faithful and He will accomplish it’ 1 Th. 5:24.

You may have this burning desire each day to go out and do the work, but you need to hold back and keep the hope. Today’s scripture defines the great inner desire to move for His work and not be at rest till, you go and complete it, yet you need to wait and when in God’s time you go out, you will bear great fruit and your Ministry will grow geometrically and bring many souls to Jesus for His glory alone.

Thoughts for another day

Feb. 3, 2010

Today's verse: Pro. 14:27. The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

God is truly awesome and magnificent. His countenance creates awe and fear in even those who do not see it (for those who see among men do not live to tell) and we can gauge this because His mere speech can instill fear in the heart, leave alone other attributes. Our God is so great that were I to try describe His greatness, I’d fall woefully short for the dictionary of man has no word to describe God because our dictionary has words that can only comprehend the human realm.

Although we know this, it’s funny we do not ascribe the honor that has to come with the Name. We don’t stand in awe the moment we sense His Presence neither do we acknowledge His Name with reverence. God has just become the next door neighbor to us by which our whole behavior toward Him is just as it is with our neighbor. Sometimes I wonder, we who show so much respect to a human dignitary, be it just a senior government official, hardly have any respect stored in us to give God! Why? I honestly, don’t understand. I know we don’t see Him. But yet, we know He is there. And we also know that He is the highest Ruler with authority over every other power, then why do we not give Him what His status demands?

I think it hinges on the ‘Fear of the Lord.’ It’s the key ingredient of a man’s life by which the quality and essence of his life is known. Today’s scripture says the fear of the LORD is the fountain of life. It’s true because when we have the fear of the Lord in us, there’s no wrong we’ll do as God Himself directs our every move and guides our every step. When we honor God in our beings, He honors us too. Additionally, He takes care of our lives. Regrettably, the world has come to the conclusion that ‘Fearing the Lord is stupid’ and so ceased to honor Him and that’s the reason we see such chaos in our world. But I say this, as for me and my family, we shall fear the Lord and give Him the honor due His Name. And I am sure you will too. Amen.

Thoughts for another day

Feb. 2, 2010

Today's verse: 1 Jn. 2:27. But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

Anointing was and is done by application of oil either by self or by someone as seen in the Old Testament where Aaron and his sons were anointed as priests. But in the application of oil too, the presence and power of the Holy Spirit is seen and those that were anointed, were dedicated to God’s service to do as He wanted them to. As examples we have, prophets (1 Kings 19:16; 1 Chron 16:22), priests (Exod 28:41; 29:7; Lev 8:12, 30), and kings (Saul-- 1 Sam 9:16; 10:1; David-- 1 Sam 16:1, 12-13; 2 Sam 2:7; Solomon-- 1 Kings 1:34; Jehu-- 1 Kings 19:16) who were anointed.

The New Testament re-enforced its meaning by referring it as being anointed totally by the Holy Spirit. Jesus is called Anointed by His Name ‘Christ’. Jesus was anointed with the Holy Spirit, by the Father Himself and sent down to earth for a purpose. His disciples which includes us, through union with Him, are anointed with the Holy Spirit as well (2 Cor 1:21; 1 John 2:20).

John refers to this anointing in our scripture. When we receive the anointing of the Holy Spirit, first of all we’re separated for God and since we’re His, we’ve got to do His work. Obviously, men don’t usually know the work of God and even if someone tells us, it may not be what God wants of us. Therefore, it’s God Himself who teaches us what we need to do. Again, God will not only teach us what we need to do but give us complete knowledge in terms of know-how, etc. And that’s what John is telling us. In our state of anointing we will know all things of God. As personal experience let me tell you, the moment my lips open to praise God, automatically my slippers get off my legs and my body goes into worship mode and exalting God. This is the fruit of the anointing. Check it out yourself, if you’re conscious of God’s anointing in your life (it perhaps needn’t be dramatic as the hair rising or your body becoming still as we think) your body will be in servitude to Him. And in this state, you’re taught by God and needn’t have anyone teach you. That’s why I tell people when they ask a difficult question (of which were I provide an answer it may cause division or dissension) to seek it from God by sitting in His presence and asking His Holy Spirit because in the anointing of God wisdom in sent into your bosom and knowledge becomes a part of your baggage.

Thoughts for another day

Feb. 1, 2010

Today's verse: 2 Peter 2:9. The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished: (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

There’s a thing inside a man, which God gives as free will. It’s this free will which makes one person distinct from another in the sense that man uses his free will to behave in a particular manner or use a particular thing in a particular fashion or even react to any given stimulus in a certain way. The nature of man or shall I say character, is defined by the exercise of his free will. God doesn’t impinge on or influence man’s free will, allowing him to do as he pleases. It means therefore that free will, given to man is God’s gift and we need to treat it with respect. Sadly, that’s rarely the case and we misuse our free will. Yet, God understands us as being foolish and knows our hearts are tuned to Him. He knows how to deliver us from various temptations. He frees us from our urges because He understands that despite what we do, our hearts are always seeking Him.

I was listening to a woman who’s simply incredible. She was a mother at 17, a drug addict and what have you. But at 23, she became a millionaire and gradually went on to become a financial guru and one who expounds the values of Christ and brings people to Him. Now although this woman was far gone as the world considers even before she became an adult, God rescued her situation and brought her to Him. And today she’s well known and active in His service as well as raking in millions a year.

That’s the way God operates. I’ll confess the business I started some months ago, seems to be not successful the way I saw it as I’ve not earned a penny since inception; rather I’ve spent precious money on the business and in my lone moments I wonder why God isn’t doing something, particularly because it’s sort of a Ministry and a good one at that which will provide a spiritual experience for people just probably the way a retreat does, yet… But this I know, and see by the eyes of faith that the business will grow, the moment God injects it with His power and He will do it. Amen. Yes, failure and being brought low by sin are experiences of many individuals. But the Supreme God above is there, watching and waiting. And just as I trust and expect Him to, one day He will turn the tide and then on, we will move from strength to strength, bringing glory to His Name and raising up a Kingdom of His Own, even as we keep trusting that He rescues His Own out of all temptations and reserves the unjust for the day of punishment.