Thoughts for another day

June 30, 2010

Today's verse: Dan. 2:47. The king answered unto Daniel, and said, Of a truth it is, that your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing thou couldest reveal this secret. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

Preceding this major declaration by a pagan king, is the episode where Daniel not only interprets the dream to the king’s satisfaction, but before doing it also reveals the dream itself as required. Not a mean task considering that the entire troupe of Chaldean magicians, sorcerers, enchanters and wise men were not even close to an interpretation for they couldn’t even meet Nebuchadnezzar’s challenge of telling what the dream was! By the revelation of God Almighty, Daniel won laurels from the king and also safeguarded the lives of all the aforesaid men whom Nebuchadnezzar had cast to the gallows. What’s important here is the fact that Nebuchadnezzar declares this beautiful God who is also our Father, as ‘God of gods, Lord of kings…’ a fantastic thing from the mouth of an idol worshipper.

We too strive that our God will be held in high esteem by people who don’t yet know Him. However, there’re a few pre-conditions; among them three very important ones are, 1. do we burn with zeal for God’s work? 2. Do we seek God’s glory in the work that He does through our hands or do we seek our own? And 3. Do we spend time with Him in prayer discerning His will for our lives? Essentially, I believe that if we’ve committed our lives to His work, we’ll eventually see His mighty hand in our lives and in the lives of the people we pray for and bless. Now, Daniel was fiercely zealous for the Lord and his deeds reflected that zeal. Another thing is that not all can reveal dreams, for God may not give this gift to all and if He does give that gift, He can even take it away if we’re not up to it. But if we use it correctly with humility and gratitude, God can bring about great things through our hands.

I remember another event in the Bible where Naaman the Syrian was cured of his leprosy when he obeyed Elisha and washed himself in the Jordan River. When despite his skepticism, he was cleansed; he said to Elisha with awe in his voice, ‘there is no God in all the earth except in Israel!’ A declaration like this comes when something great has been done in God’s Name and the one used by Him is just an obedient and empty mediator who He uses to bring glory to Himself. There’s no need to mention of Elisha’s zeal for God as he was easily identified as God’s man. And I can truly say it’s a thing of great joy to be used as such for there’s untold joy in the heart of the person we give God’s Word to and who experiences a dramatic miracle. In the process, we’re thrilled as the recipient of the miracle glorifies God whole-heartedly. O, bless God, Who uses us broken vessels to do such mighty things and all glory and honor be to Him alone.

Thoughts for another day

June 29, 2010

Today's verse: Titus 1:15. Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

Jesus said, ‘Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.’ How right it is because it is the pure who make this world a good place to be. When you see the pure, with unbiased eyes, you realise that they are as fresh and clean as the water that flows in a stream – crystal clear and nourishing. Their freshness is akin to that of a newly opened flower. They come through as a breath of fresh air amidst a crooked and scheming world.

I have a friend who is like this. She always sees people with pure eyes. She just doesn’t spot any guile in others nor does she think that any person is spiteful. She doesn’t know what hatred is and also what enmity is. For her every person is God’s creation and therefore to be respected accordingly. What a wonderful life she leads because wherever she goes, she beholds purity. If you look at Jesus’ life, He too displayed a purity that defied the norms of that time. Therefore Jesus could challenge them saying, ‘can any of you charge me with sin…’ Jn. 8:46. Pure people are generally forth right and don’t fear calling a spade a spade no matter what the reprisal. Jesus never shirked from calling the Pharisees, hypocrites, because that’s what they were.

The world often takes advantage of them because they are supposedly naïve and can be easily deceived. Many laugh at them thinking their purity to be foolishness and many of them suffer from the wanton hatred of people who cannot bear to see their purity and then spread malicious lies about them. Yet, I’ve seen they usually suffer in silence, waiting upon the Lord to provide a solution. It is very normal for these people to suffer but at the same time, their mind is filled with a peace that can come only from God and when you stand beside them, you can gauge their stature and understand, why Jesus said, Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God!

Thoughts for another day

June 28, 2010

Today's verse: Jer. 9:23, 24a. Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

What is the worth of the glory of man and his wisdom; of what might is the might of the man on earth or the man with the riches in heaven? Where are human wisdom, might or riches going to take the man. They will only be with him till he dies and human life is but for a few years after which he has to return to where he came from.

How beautiful is the thought that a human being can glory in the fact that he understands and knows the LORD God, the Master of the universe who is glory personified and for whom all things are possible. Apart from which He also is our destination after death. For, it is He alone who can lead us to eternal life and He alone will be with us in that life.

All things of renown and glory on earth are virtually worthless for they can hardly do any good to the pilgrim soul; not that they are bad in themselves and can be rather useful if used for His glory, but they can be a hindrance to our relationship with God. They can bring about pride which separates us from Him and drives a wedge between us and His blessings. They can stand in our way when we need to decide which way we want to move – toward God or toward the world. These things are the ones the devil uses to make us move away from God. He makes us yearn for them in a manner in which we forget all else and think only of them and day and night, chase after them. But God can turn these things into mere nothing and to those who are devoted to Him, He can make them eschew these things and continue in their pursuit of Him for He loves that they understand and know Him. Thoughts for another day

June 28, 2010

Today's verse: Jer. 9:23, 24a. Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

What is the worth of the glory of man and his wisdom; of what might is the might of the man on earth or the man with the riches in heaven? Where are human wisdom, might or riches going to take the man. They will only be with him till he dies and human life is but for a few years after which he has to return to where he came from.

How beautiful is the thought that a human being can glory in the fact that he understands and knows the LORD God, the Master of the universe who is glory personified and for whom all things are possible. Apart from which He also is our destination after death. For, it is He alone who can lead us to eternal life and He alone will be with us in that life.

All things of renown and glory on earth are virtually worthless for they can hardly do any good to the pilgrim soul; not that they are bad in themselves and can be rather useful if used for His glory, but they can be a hindrance to our relationship with God. They can bring about pride which separates us from Him and drives a wedge between us and His blessings. They can stand in our way when we need to decide which way we want to move – toward God or toward the world. These things are the ones the devil uses to make us move away from God. He makes us yearn for them in a manner in which we forget all else and think only of them and day and night, chase after them. But God can turn these things into mere nothing and to those who are devoted to Him, He can make them eschew these things and continue in their pursuit of Him for He loves that they understand and know Him.

Thoughts for another day

June 25, 2010

Today's verse: Rom. 3:23. For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

When Adam was created, he was pristine in all that God in His love, accorded to Him. His nature was holy and pure. He had direct access to and could commune face-to-face with God. Then he sinned and God banished him from His Presence. Adam became a ‘pariah’ as it were; an outcaste of the Kingdom of God. But God in His mercy didn’t destroy him, keeping him alive until the day of Jesus Christ when he would again have the privilege of communing with God; because Christ through His own sacrifice bridged the gap there was between God and man.

God’s glory in all its magnificence was God’s gift to man and it was only under the condition that man would remain pure and holy in all his ways. Sadly, it wasn’t so. God wanted that His glory become the clothing of man but by sinning man unclothed himself of this glory and lost the beautiful companionship God wanted with him.
The glory of God isn’t just anything that man beholds every day. Moses entreated the Lord to show him His glory (Ex. 33:18) for he knew what it meant. It is like a beautiful atmosphere where every negative is forgotten. Every pain just melts in the warmth of love divine. Every evil thought is destroyed and washed away by streams of unceasing pleasure that emanate from the greatest lover of man: God Almighty Himself! Imagine the ecstasy and the passion one can experience in the unbounded passion of the Most High when He manifests every desirable passion to His great love – man. Alas, we’ve never understood how greatly God loves us. It’s a disgraceful thing that all of us have sinned and are short of the glory of God; but mind you, the blood of Jesus enables us to once again be lost in the glory of the Lord God of hosts and be refined by His love for us.

Thoughts for another day

June 24, 2010

Today's verse: Deut. 10:14 Behold, the heaven and the heaven of heavens is the LORD'S thy God, the earth also, with all that therein is. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

God possesses all, simply because He created it all. Men, their so-called wealth, their beautiful mansions, their cars and their all, are His. He owns them, for everything that man possesses has been created by Him. Without something which He created, noting can be made. Paul therefore says, ‘what do you have that you did not receive!’ In the larger and total context then, everything man has or has made either came from God directly or is made of raw material from God.

Today, see what the world has become. The globe has been segregated into countries and territories and unless governments permit, a man from another country cannot travel into the country in question. Segregation is important, but not that you restrict someone’s movement. When God created the earth, there were no boundaries and one could travel anywhere if he had the courage to travel. Leave aside other countries; even within our own country on public land we cannot travel without appropriate permissions as that would tantamount to trespassing. Try plucking fruit from a tree perched in someone else’s boundary; something which the person has hardly labored to produce. You may face dire repercussions. People have killed or have been killed for such things. When we look around, everything seems to be owned by men (not God) and even among them, those who are rich enough to own things.

Life connotes a sad commentary in today’s times. The poor suffer so much lack, even for as much as a small piece of land to build a hut on. They’re packed into tiny hutments where their children can hardly stretch their legs for a good night’s sleep and on the other hand, the rich have rooms to satiate their every desire like a music room or a reading room, etc. It is a tragic irony of God’s desire of equality. And for us it’s just a reminder that someday soon, God will re-work the dimensions of the things on earth so that His people have all that He has created for them; after all, everything belongs to Him and by extension His children, who we are.

Thoughts for another day

June 23, 2010

Today's verse: Eze. 22:30. And I sought for a man among them that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

Where are the people who pray!!! I don’t know how strongly you believe in the power of prayer; but if you do, you’ll discover that the breed of ‘praying people’ is very small. I won’t be wrong in saying that the fastest dwindling ‘power resource’ on earth is nothing else but ‘prayer’. I say power resource, for prayer has tremendous power and it can move God’s hand in amazing ways. In the Bible we have so many examples of people who prayed and were able to move God’s heart and hand. It’s a fact that the kneeling Christian is the most powerful thing in the world for with his prayer, he can move God and with God all things are possible.

Look at our Scripture above; God was seeking someone to pray for the land so He wouldn’t be constrained to destroy it. Yet He found none standing in the gap! It’s a very sad reflection that we take resort to all kinds of things other than prayer when we fall into diverse afflictions, but never choose to bend our knees before the Almighty to whom all things are possible and who will do all things for us.

Now, God loves a person who prays for God see’s faith in that person. No one who has no faith can pray and no one who prays is devoid of faith. Only faith can lead to prayer and bring about mighty things by the hand of God. It’s not necessary for me to say that prayer doesn’t mean some vague mumbling. Rather, prayer is the song of the heavy heart and an affirmation that the person concerned is tuned to God. Any vain mumbling isn’t prayer and continuous chanting is no prayer at all. When the heart isn’t in the words, the words do not constitute prayer for it just cannot be prayer but meaningless gibberish. So when you pray, calm down first and then pray with your heart with the confidence that God will answer for God does and He rewards all those who come to Him with a sincere heart.

Thoughts for another day

June 22, 2010

Today's verse: Jn. 20:29. Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

Two people, one a believer and another, an atheist had an argument about the existence of God. The atheist simply said, I don’t believe in God for I don’t see Him; that’s my proof that God doesn’t exist. He continued, if you want me to believe, ask Him to manifest Himself just once and I will! This is the story of the world. Although there’re many who profess belief in God, among them are millions who actually are better off not believing and so it’s quite easy to convince them that He isn’t there.

Why God chooses to be invisible even when at times we are desperate to see Him is an enigma to me. People give various reasons, some saying, we cannot see Him and live so He doesn’t manifest Himself. There’re others who say, were God really visible or audible, we’d be numbed with shock. While that could be true, I’d still opt for God’s favor in making Himself visible to us as He did to Paul in the person of Jesus…yet He doesn’t and that’s the enigma. This much I must say that it is God’s choice whether to be visible or not to be visible and He is Sovereign – who can question Him. Another important aspect given in Romans Ch. 1 is, all the attributes of His creation speak loud and clear of His presence and therefore, why would He need to be visible or audible?

The world is suffused with the work of His unseen hand and the miracles that constantly happen, which we don’t even recognize; for example the heart-beat of all living things is proof that He exists for who if not God, can make the heart beat? So, is it too difficult to believe God exists? Only someone wanting to shun reality will dismiss this reality; no sensible person can. Jesus grants a benediction on all of us who haven’t seen Him yet, believe. My friend you and I have never seen God, but we believe. We believe also in His magnificent plan of sending us His Son, Jesus Christ as our Savior and Redeemer and we rejoice that we can call God our Father. What more does one need than the privilege that one has been given to call the Awesome Creator of the universe, ‘Father’?

Thoughts for another day

June 21, 2010

Today's verse: Lam. 3:26. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

We people in God have a piece of advice for those asking us for prayer: Please trust in the Lord and keep faith, God will help you. With that we get back to our own tasks probably saying to self that we must pray for the person who asked for prayer and who is distressed. Our prayer will then comprise a few sentences in prayer to the Lord, often times with not much fervor in entreating Him.

Now what happens to the one who asked us for prayer? This person, perhaps desperate in need, isn’t satisfied by our asking him to trust God. He or she needs various assurances and much prayer and that too in their presence etc. I remember people who’d not let go of me till their particular episode ended, with or without the result they wanted. If they got what they wanted, they’d be pleased and oh you’d get the thanks of a lifetime as if you’d actually caused the thing to happen, and not God. But, the next time they were in trouble, the circle of doubt in God and extreme anxiety would play again. Frankly such is human kind and that includes me; we always expect God to answer us immediately. We know how He took care of us last time, yet we doubt Him this time and if you ask me why, I don’t really know but would like to tell you, it’s in our fallen nature to doubt God and His power.

Today’s Scripture has a wonderful message for us who are probably in a situation we’d not like to be. I too am in such a situation and God is telling me (and of course you too) that I should hold firm to my hope in Him and quietly wait for His salvation. See, God will answer. When I say this, I mean it; and I know we’re all such stupid beings that we quickly forget His mercies in the past and doubt. Rather, we must hope for hope in Him has a way. We must, having laid our petition before Him, wait in quiet and confidence, allowing Him to work our adversities to our advantage and He will do it my friend. He is God and He loves us and He will work for us. Amen; and glory to His Holy Name.

Thoughts for another day

June 18, 2010

Today's verse: Judges 7:2 And the LORD said unto Gideon, The people that are with thee are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel vaunt themselves against me, saying, Mine own hand hath saved me. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

Ever doubted the power of the Lord? Here’s something for you to reflect on. You may have read the account of the Lord’s dialogue with Gideon, one of the Judges of Israel in pre-king times. The Israelites offended the Lord and so He let them fall into the hands of the Midianites who treat them very harshly. Then Israel cries out to the Lord who hears their cry and chooses Gideon to lead their attack on the Midianites and the Amalekites and Kedemites.

But how were the Israelites rescued? Not exactly by Gideon who was merely an instrument the Lord used to free them. In our Scripture, we can gauge that Gideon had a reasonably large army. But the Lord was against the number of the men as then, they wouldn’t give Him the entire credit for the victory rather they’d have reason to say that it was by their own men they were saved. God then asks Gideon to reduce the men until only 300 of them remained and it was through these men that God gave their enemy into their hands. With God numbers do not matter. His power is amazing and it is through small insignificant things that God brings out victory; sometimes even without any human intervention.

Today, perhaps the forces of defeat have allied against you, but hold your calm. Pray intensely and wait upon the Lord. Remember all the things of old that He did and forget them not. For God loves the one who is willing to wait upon Him in the midst of his strife holding on to faith in Him. And in that situation, His power just flings the forces of evil away from your life giving you a resounding victory over the enemy. It doesn’t matter what your problem, for with God all things are possible and with even a small army, God can grant a massive victory. All glory to His Name. Amen.

Thoughts for another day

June 17, 2010

Today's verse: Gal. 3:13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

A youth Catechism teacher asked a group of youth during a recollection session: What do you think Jesus Christ means to you and what has He done for you? Most of the students to show they were smart, instantly and in a cacophony turned in answers like: He died for us. He gave us salvation. He has opened the gates of eternal life …and so on. All these answers were correct remarked the teacher, but before he could continue, one hand went up gingerly. Yeah? Said the teacher. Mary, a shy girl but intensely loyal to the Lord, rose and said, ‘Sir, Jesus Christ took our sins upon Himself. He freed all men even from the time of Adam until the end of the earth from the curse and obligations of sin. He didn’t consider Himself God; rather He underwent shame and became a curse for us as it was held that they who died on a cross were accursed.’ With that she burst into tears and quickly sat down.

The class was stunned and equally stunned was the teacher. None had expected such a profound answer and within a moment, the boisterous youngsters were transformed into an introspective group. The content of the class which would’ve been another meaningless talk about God was quickly changed to a beautiful session on the Man of Galilee. Jesus seemed real as His Spirit moved among the benches of the class and some of the ‘brave’ youngsters found their eyes moist. All this because Mary, a simple girl, really understood what the Lord has done for us human beings.

My friend, it’s time we too had a correct perspective on Jesus’ suffering and shame. I find it surprising how lightly we take His sacrifice: but imagine this, the God who fills earth and heaven came down and shrunk Himself into the body of a human being. He died a painful and miserable death and redeemed us by His own shed blood. Think if you can what it might have cost the Father to send His beloved Son, full of brilliance and Grace, among a crooked and dirty people to live among them. And then be scourged by merciless men and finally die on the Cross, the most shameful death of that time. Yet He did that for us…because His love was too great. Because His mercy blocked Jesus’ ear-piercing cry from reaching Him! Such is the God we believe in and serve. Hallelujah to His Name.

Thoughts for another day

June 16, 2010

Today's verse: Ps. 147:11 The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

God loves His own people and rewards them because they do His bidding and walk in His ways. Other people wonder what to do to win God’s favor and delight in His blessings but are utterly confounded in understanding them leave alone appropriating them. Unless one does things the God directed way, one cannot partake in the Lord’s feast and taste His wholesome goodness.

His people of course know what to do in various situations. A key thing that’s needed to win God’s favor is to approach Him praying constantly: it proves you believe in Him and also trust Him to work out your thing for you. God is delighted when a man does this for He loves to see that we acknowledge all might in our belief of Him. Whoever does this comes under God’s circle of Grace, his Spiritual eyes are opened and he’s able to see God and thus glean His benefits. So communion with God is important.

Another thing that helps keep on the right side of God is trusting Him when the chips are down. No matter what despair we face, our eyes must be focused on Him, for He at times, tests us to see if we fully trust Him. If we can go through this test successfully, God is pleased to bless us even more than at first. So be patient in your trial and keep faith in Him. I know it’s easier said than done because the pain is tremendous and human help seems easier to get simply because we can see men but God we can’t. And it’s very easy to break faith as we sink further into trouble. But, the fact of God’s presence is far greater than the fact you’re breathing now, for were He not there, you’d not be breathing. And He who is your Father will come to redeem you; He will joy in you because you believed in Him.

Thoughts for another day

June 15, 2010

Today's verse: Wis. 16:21. For thy sustenance declared thy sweetness unto thy children, and serving to the appetite of the eater, tempered itself to every man’s liking. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

God’s sustenance comes upon every human being as he lives for God never abrogates His responsibility. He has created us and has borne the responsibility of nurturing us for life. Never is there a day, when God’s sustenance is not there for a man rather day by day God sustains us in our lives and deals with us in His particular way.

His sustenance declares His love immense for us and as Scripture says above, His sweetness unto us who are His offspring. Yes, for God we are very dear and precious and He yearns to do good for us. It is our iniquities that keep Him away from us and also keep His blessing from reaching us and then we are starved and in lack. But the moment we make up with God, we are back under His Grace.

His Grace is available to us throughout our lives. His Son has guaranteed that for us by winning His favor through His obedience and sacrifice. God never wants us to be outside the ambit of His Grace, rather God wants us to be close to Him and enjoy the plenty that comes from His hand. A very surprising thing as also mentioned in our Scripture is that Grace comes to us in the flavor we need it and savor it. It tastes different to different people as each person’s needs and desires are different. God tailors His gifts to us in the best fit as we need and it works for us as it is ‘tailor-made’. We need to reflect on this graciousness of our God and thank Him for His concern for us and of course, His immense love.

Thoughts for another day

June 14, 2010

Today's verse: 1 Chron. 21:26. And David built there an altar unto the LORD, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings, and called upon the LORD; and he answered him from heaven by fire upon the altar of burnt offering. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

Some men and women; and their ways of life, stand as testimony to God’s work among them and it is proper to learn about those men and women, particularly from the Bible, to see what pleased God so much about them such that they came to be called His people. What was it about their prayer and their ways that God answered their prayers and helped them on their way?

Among these men and women, one person who stands very tall is David the king. He is a man of whom God said, ‘a man after my own heart’. Isn’t it amazing that God who is so great and awesome, would mollycoddle a man of dust and say such a thing about him? So what did David have that we should and must emulate. Looking at all references to David in the Bible rather clinically, I’ll opine that David loved God and walked the right path before Him. David understood the significance of God in his life from his childhood. He knew God’s heart well and he also learnt to please God by constantly doing His bidding. Many times in his life David faced uncertainties and dangers, yet he never went against God’s ways. He always sought God’s advice and did accordingly. Even as king, David never left the habit of seeking God’s advice. He also obeyed the instructions that God gave very diligently.

Besides, David spent a lot of time with God gazing at His loveliness… pss. 27, 84 and 139 will tell you about it. David’s life was an ode to the presence of God and a celebration of God’s gifts to him. But lest we think this is about David, let’s turn our focus to the wonder of our God. You know, the mere act of worshipping Him makes Him love us so much and He works such wonders in response to our small acts of obeisance and faith. See, in our Scripture today, just a simple prayer of David and his obedience to His directions makes the Lord turn back His face upon him in answer and He sends down fire upon the offering on the altar. My friend, taste the Lord’s goodness and see how wonderful He is. Count on His mercy and love in time of trouble and you’ll see His presence in your difficult moments.

Thoughts for another day

June 11, 2010

Today's verse: Jer. 14:22. Do any of the worthless idols of the nations bring rain? Do the skies themselves send down showers? No, it is you, O LORD our God.Therefore our hope is in you, for you are the one who does all this. (NIV – copyright acknowledged)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

O Lord God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, are You not the God we have recourse to? Are You not the God whose Holy Name is on our lips day and night? In our prayer Lord, we come to You in distress and difficulties. We look to Your face Lord for our distress is deep and our despair is upon us as a noose. In this time and season O Lord, we see not the work of Your hand. All we see is evil upon evil, people intoxicated by the idols of the world, seeking and searching for the joy the world gives and honestly, we too are beset with the things of the world with scant regard to what You want from us. Yet, Lord we beseech You, despise not us O God, but listen to our prayer.

Look Lord, we are weary and we seek rest. We remember Jesus You said, come to Me all you who are tired and heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Lord, we are so tired that we cannot even get up and come. We need Your help Lord for this desert of our existence is taking our lives out of us. Can we ask O Lord, do any of the worthless idols of the nations bring rain? Lord, do the skies themselves send down the showers? No, Lord, our God, it is You and You alone. Therefore, O LORD God, we place our hope in You, for You alone are the One who can help us. In You alone is our redemption.
O Lord, guide today our paths. Fill us with the wisdom You want us to have and lead us on the way. Lord remember the blood of Your beloved Son Jesus Christ which we have applied on ourselves and have mercy. Hold our hands O God, and lead us out of this existence that’s causing much strain in our lives and our despair seems to take us toward quicksand about which Lord if You do nothing, we’ll just sink. Lord remember Your promises in Your Word which we’ve read and have come to know and base our lives on. O Lord God, we know You are true to Your promises and therefore, Lord even if the tunnel of our sorrow seems to be dark, harsh and long, we hope in You. Yes, Lord we hope in You and we know…You will never, never despise our prayer. Jesus You are our God. In You we trust. Amen.

Thoughts for another day

June 10, 2010

Today's verse: Gal. 3:3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

Walking the Christian way is one very difficult walk and I know it by experience. I’m sure you’ll agree with me for I know you too are in the same way, which walk is called by some as the ‘Pilgrim’s progress’. In this walk, there’re many times when we fall; sometimes very hard. We know not what to do at such times for getting up seems so difficult and lonesome. Though the Grace of God comes to us at such times we don’t even recognize it and ignore God’s helping hand. I guess the reason for this is, we love to wallow in the filth of the pit for our nature is such. As also evinced in Adam’s sin – rather intriguing – for why would Adam ever do such a thing when he had everything going for Him under God’s tutelage, except that he yet craved for more.

That one moment of fleeting sinful pleasure at times seems more exquisite than the refreshing eternal company of God. Paul asking the question in our Scripture today is sheer exasperation of a man surrendered to God with the zeal to do His work. For him it’s utter foolishness to move to flesh having begun in the Spirit. Think about it… why would someone who has tasted the good things of God want to re-explore the imaginary pleasures of the world? Yet, we do.

Blessed are we if we’re able to reflect on the erroneous ways of our lives and change to fit God’s way. You know, it’s so easy to stray from the right path; so difficult to walk the narrow way. Jesus said, ‘Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad the way, that leads to destruction, and many go in there: Because strait is the gate, and narrow the way, which leads to life, and few find it.’ Mt 7:13,14. My dear saint of God, no matter what the world says, eschew the effervescent mirages of panacea provided by the world, rather look at the Cross for though it seem difficult when one looks at it, know ye that the Lord Himself will give you the strength to bear it and lead you to eternal life of rejoicing and jubilation.

Thoughts for another day

June 9, 2010

Today's verse: 1 Chron. 5:20 And they were helped against them, and the Hagarites were delivered into their hand, and all that were with them: for they cried to God in the battle, and he was entreated of them; because they put their trust in him. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

What’s the one thing that can move the heart of God the most? I’m sure you know it, and even if it’s not on top of mind right now and you came to know later, you’d say, ‘oh, deep inside I always knew it’s that.’ Well, it’s ‘FAITH’. There’s nothing like faith that can move God’s heart immensely; and trust in Him can salvage any situation of fear or destruction.

I know most of us lack faith or the kind of faith one needs to have in God. We know Him a little but this knowledge when put to the test quickly crumbles because it’s not solid. It isn’t solid because 1, we never experienced God’s hand in our lives (that’s probably because we never want a trial) and 2, because we don’t spend time with God getting to know and love Him. All our affairs with God if you realise, are instant affairs – we have instant prayer – just 2 minutes demanding and expecting great things. Some people disguise their lack of faith in God in receiving their needs and desires by the excuse, ‘what is God’s will, will happen!’ Ah, the various ways in which we couch our not fulfilling necessities in relation to God; in fact God should give us an award for inventing excuses to circumvent what He needs from us!

When someone puts his trust in the Lord, His mighty arm moves and he or she is granted solace by His firm hand as is seen in our Scripture today: when some of the Jews warred with their enemies, they were helped of the Lord because they trusted Him. Yes, trust delivered and trust always delivers. In life’s most excruciating moments, ponder not on human deliverance, rather trust Him who can deliver you from any situation and in your unwavering trust you’ll see the bright hand of the Lord, cutting through the black of your storm, rushing to aid you with power and glory. With this in mind I feel, if I don’t trust Him, who else will I trust?

Thoughts for another day

June 8, 2010

Today's verse: Jer. 2:5 Thus saith the LORD, What iniquity have your fathers found in me, that they are gone far from me, and have walked after vanity, and are become vain? (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

When God created us He would have thought so joyously about us. He tended to each aspect of our care so lovingly. And so beautifully He brought us forth… a reading of Ps. 139, says this, and He had such marvelous thoughts toward us. God wanted that we be obedient to Him, cling to Him and love Him passionately as He desired to love us passionately too. Oh, you can say God had so many things in store for us…beautiful and good.

Then Adam sinned and we drifted away. One is so bewildered: why did Adam sin when He had all things going for Him - a beautiful atmosphere, a delightful companion in Eve and God as His Father; with all things found for His existence. Why did Adam commit such a gross sin which cost him God’s Presence? We’ll never know except that the devil was so shrewd and cunning that He gave Adam an illusion of far greater satisfaction than what he had in God. Even when I sin sometimes, I wonder, what was the lure of the thing I sinned for? A mere mirage and in retrospect, it was hardly worth it.

In Scripture today, God is asking a sort of similar question. What wrong did the Israelites find in Him that they forsook Him? How had He erred that they chose to go after vain things offering nothing? My friend when I read this, I feel a sense of awe and an ache in my heart that a God so mighty might want to know from mere ‘wisps of fog’ His own fault! Fog, that’s blown away by just a semblance of the wind. Oh what may have been in the heart of the Almighty when He uttered through Jeremiah, these words that laid bare His heart and His pain? Look at the immense hurt we’ve given Him. We must pledge in our lives, we’ll try to comfort Him by our own faithfulness and delight Him in our ways.

Thoughts for another day

June 7, 2010

Today's verse: Is. 40:18. To whom then will ye liken God? or what likeness will ye compare unto him? (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

Yes, as our Scripture says today, to what shall we compare God; to what shall we liken Him or say He is similar to? Is there anything in the ‘see-able’ realm that we can point to and say, ‘yeah, here is something or someone who is equal to God?’ Banish the thought for there’s none.

Show me one who has the might of the Lord. At His Word, the world came to be and He set the earth on its foundation. At His single command, the universe came to be with the sun and the moon to provide light for those whom God ordained to live on earth. At His Word, mighty mountains and seas appeared. Their might and their magnificence were created by Him to give us a glimpse into His might and power. By His own authority, He created rules that apply to earth and all things on the earth and universe. Day and night alternate each other, never outdoing the other or being absent; for when they will be absent then will life perish. God’s rules apply to the entire expanse of the universe, even to the distant stars and the wide galaxies that adorn the canopy of the sky.

To those on earth, God gave free will so they’d think and act as they deemed right. God controls all things on earth and the universe and there’s nothing beyond Him or outside His Sovereignty. His Lordship (funny we use this term for mere men too!) has dominion over everything with breath and even that without breath. By His power even that which doesn’t have breath can live by His mere breathing into them; for by His breathing life originates even in dead stuff! For God there’s nothing impossible. He sees all things as possible. And even beyond all this, we could with our heart say that God has something so precious for us that without it, we’d be dead: that is His love and mercy. Were it not for them, I’d not be alive to write this and you wouldn’t be reading it. From my heart I can say, our God is an amazing God and never is there one who can compare with Him nor will there ever be.

Thoughts for another day

June 4, 2010

Today's verse: 1 Sam. 8:7. Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

In Ministry we come across many kinds of people. There’re those who profess to do much for God and stand in His behalf. There’re others who claim to have a close relationship with Him. Wow, you might say upon hearing this; but then you discover that what they said is far from the truth!

There’re others saying, please come and pray for me my life’s in a mess. So you go pray for them and give some simple instructions to follow. Yet, when they call you again and you ask whether they’ve done the simple things, their answer is, I tried, but wasn’t successful. Funny, when a man is thirsty, he will walk to the source of water wherever it is, but here! Ah, so many are the dim-witted ideas of people, I get sick of them. They’ll do all the things they want to, except those which are beneficial for them. I know it because I have experienced these things.

The first casualty in the people heading towards destruction is God. They prefer not to talk to God but will ask, rather plead you, to pray for them! Then trusting God we give them His ways to follow for remedy but yet again, they don’t do it giving stupid reasons for their behavior; it’s just amazing. Like our Scripture says above, the Israelites wanted a king rejecting God as their king, so too, people want a counselor rejecting the Most Gentle, Most Kind Holy Spirit who can soothe the insides of a human being and bring the peace of Jesus Christ in him. They want human interface when it’s clear they have to go to the Lord rather than man. How sad I feel when I see people running here and there but refusing to run to God. Imagine what God might be feeling when He sees this nonsense. Sometimes in prayer I ask God why we don’t see miracles now and the answer is obvious. But today, God is asking us to make a choice: Him or the world. Where do you lean?

Thoughts for another day

June 3, 2010

Today's verse: Job 11:7 Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection? (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

Can you search God out? A question some great theologians and philosophers have tried answering and failed miserably in. God is Spirit and there’s no way one can reach God in intellectualism or knowledge. God is timeless and ethereal and man knows no way of pinning Him down.

The quality and nature of God is completely determined by Him for His own sake and His own purposes. He is not drawn by anybody nor does He submit or surrender to anyone. At the most a human being by constant meditation and communion with Him can be blessed by His presence which is not even a form but invisible. God is Sovereign and therefore no one can use any force on Him nor bring Him to account. Neither can anyone having an issue with God force on Him his terms and conditions for, terms and conditions don’t apply to God. God isn’t under any banner of authority nor is He subject to anyone’s false whims and fancies. Were I to challenge anybody, let’s say for the sake of proving that God is real, invoke Him in the presence of people so that they will see Him and believe, even this God isn’t to be held responsible for, if He doesn’t appear.

God’s ways are His own and to be pleasing to Him, humility and subjection to His rules are of utmost importance. He is usually felt and seen (may I say) by those who have total dedication to Him and obey His commands. To be close to Him is to be concerned about Him, His work, His Name and His laws. If that happens with a person, then God doesn’t keep Himself from him and reveals Himself. To every diligent seeker, God is visible, though not visible in the way we term visibility. Everyone has the opportunity to be with God, provided He does it God’s way and in this He is blessed by God and assured of His companionship, mercy and constant care.

Thoughts for another day

June 1, 2010

Today's verse: Eccl. 5:1 Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider not that they do evil. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

We go to God’s house (temple, church, chapel, prayer room, etc.) sometime or other. How do you see it? When you go there, are you compelled to bow down in worship or led to pray? Or you’re not touched at all? Does it seem like any other place only less populated? Yes, how do you see it? I read of a lady going with her young daughter to an old chapel nestling in the woods at her native place. As soon as the girl went there she experienced the silence with the seeming presence of the Lord, she couldn’t help but quieten down and bow in worship. There was a kind of sanctity there which literally forced them to bow in silent worship. Mind you, this sanctity is also partly due to the intent devotion of the people in that place, not just the silence there.

Contrast this with our modern places of worship: chapels or churches; they have literally no sense of sanctity or purity, call me critical if you wish, but that’s the situation in most places, if not all. People go there with their sacrifices and gifts, feeling they’ve done their bit. Sometimes I sit in the prayer room attached to the church and see people bring in beautiful floral offerings. They merely keep them there, bow for a moment and then leave. In their minds they must be happy they’ve offered God a gift, perhaps a thanksgiving… but is God interested in it? I must tell you, they have no connect with God at all, just an act of false devotion.

Scripture today says God is more interested in speaking to and communing with us than receiving our foolish sacrifices like flowers, monetary offerings, etc. God wants us to come and sit peacefully before Him so He can give us valuable insights and advice and tell us how much He loves us. Problem is, we don’t have time. Another thing, in church we suddenly remember we have to tell the people we meet so much, that we can’t seem to hold the words till we’re outside. We want to tell them all right there and then. What an insult to God that can be, but who’s concerned? I trust you are; and so will just follow the advice in today’s Scripture.