Thoughts for another day

July 29, 2011

Today's verse: 1 Tim. 4:4, 5. For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.  (KJV)

(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

All of God's creation is good.  He created each thing from the depth of His great creative intelligence and gave it a form and substance that's best suited for it. The best illustration is man himself.  Though man is really feeble and wanting in spheres of strength and power than most animals, he's able to subject each and every animal to himself, for God gave him intelligence; and application of intelligence, makes him who's weaker than them, more mighty.  Among men too, you have all kinds – tall, short, black, white, yellow, fat, thin and so on.  We despise them according to our 'aryan' tastes and fancies and we also brand some with disgusting names; yet, we're all beautiful because each of us is unique and can work some purpose of God.

What I've said above is a build-up for explaining our Scripture today, in the context of food and appreciation of all of God's creation in the larger context.  But coming back to food, let me say, every item we'll be eating (and not eating too) is also made by God and is not to be refused when we thank God for giving it to us.  Think about what some people eat in desert places – ants and mice and other things we puke at.  But for them it's food.  So too if we're stranded in a deserted place, it may just be that we'll be willing to eat anything that's flesh or any wild berries, leaves, etc. so long as we feel they'll nourish us.  And I've invoked the Name of God on some foodstuff and eaten it and while doing it I remember this Scripture which tells me that when God's Name is invoked on any food in prayer, God is able to make even that which is un-edible, eatable.  Just believe it to be that way and you'll be blessed with the ability to consume some of the most bitter stuff you may need to eat to survive.

Thoughts for another day

July 28, 2011

Today's verse: Heb. 4:16. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.  (KJV)

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God's invitation of Grace always stands, no matter if we don't accept or belittle it in our lack of knowledge of things that're beyond our control; things like the blowing of the wind, wherewith we know not where it comes from or where it might go.  God's offer of saving help is lost on us, an unfaithful generation for whom the only thing worth achieving is human fame and money. 

Lost completely in the plethora of inane activities we indulge in, is the one thing we need to do and that is to sit at His feet and behold the Majesty of His countenance.  It's like salve for our souls and refreshing water for our thirst.  Yet, we're slave to temporary desires and other things of which we're serfs and it's quite difficult for us to be detached from them.  The Lord calls out again and again but we can't hear Him for our world is but a cacophony of earthly things that do not nourish our souls.  Then one fine day we discover, we're down.  Yeah, very down and realization dawns upon us that the things we were running after cause no more pleasure to us;, they are like thorns in our eyes now.  We also realize that our only thirst is for God, but will God accept us?  We're hesitant to even call out His Name loud for we fear, 'could God ever answer after the way we've treated Him, denied and slandered His awesome Name?'

But, that again is human thinking for we just need to turn our gaze to our Scripture today where we learn of Jesus Christ our God and Lover who for our sakes, was firm in taking up the Cross and going and dying a miserable death.  He is the High Priest who stands before God the Maker of the universe and all in it and He pleads for us and His prayer is answered for God always answers Him.  He, our Lord is waiting for our return to Him; so let's get up and come boldly before our God, the Throne of Grace, to obtain mercy and His Grace by which we're helped.

Thoughts for another day

July 27, 2011

Today's verse: Is 33:2. O LORD, be gracious unto us; we have waited for thee: be thou their arm every morning, our salvation also in the time of trouble.  (KJV)

(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

You are the Rock of our salvation oh God; the rearguard of the core of our beings.

The stronghold of our lives in whom we have come to depend.  You are the water in our lives giving our sinews the strength to move and live. Indeed we live and move and have our being in You.

You, oh Lord have become the sure bank of the rivers of our tribulations on Whom we depend when the waters threaten to wash us away.

Oh mighty God, be gracious unto us for we have waited long for You.  Oh God be Thou our arm every morning and our redemption in time of distress; for our souls cry out to You, really Lord, even from the depths do our souls crave to have Hand stretched over us. 

The wicked seem to be completely sheltered from the trials that beset Your people and they gallop like stallions, gaily flitting with the wind. 

But Your people Lord are bent beneath the weight of the enemy; we're like the parched earth which knows not how to come alive but only wait for Your rain.

And Lord, we know our iniquities ride before us, mocking You as it were, but listen Lord, they do this for we don't know what we do, in offending You again and again, wantonly causing You grievous hurt and offending Thy infinite goodness. 

Yet, Lord, we cast our miserable glance upon You, seeking pardon; for who on earth or in heaven can pardon the iniquities we cast on Your breast but You alone Lord?  See, Lord, we're thrown to the ground and there we implore You to turn Your eyes upon us; wretched we may be but aren't we the work of Your hands, the product of Your immense love? 

Oh, God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, we now hear the rustle of Your mighty hand, and we see it move in a Word of command and we know we're restored, revived to be like fully fed cows of Bashan.  And here and now we promise You our Redeemer, our Salvation to do Your bidding and even as you make us fly with wings as eagles, we will soar and therein, proclaim Your greatness on earth and in the heavens, in a grand symphony with the heavenly host singing Your glory; for the earth must know that You alone Oh God of Jacob are God of the earth in whom all nations are sustained. 

Thoughts for another day

July 26, 2011

Today's verse: Sir. 34:14. Whoso feareth the Lord shall not fear nor be afraid; for he is his hope.  (KJV)

(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

The Bible says, 'The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom' and it is so true, because when a man fears God, he does things according to what God tells him to do and what God has set as right, is right forever under any circumstance and never changes no matter what the situation is.  God's laws are a light to the feet of men and direct His ways in an orderly and successful manner for they advise man in the right way. 

In the laws of God there is no provision for any wrong for God does not tolerate wrong.  When a man fears God, and when I say fears God, I mean is in awe of God, then he refrains from doing anything that isn't right.  Intrinsically, he adopts God's nature which is forceful and true.  Besides, when you keep God's Word, the whole power of God is with you for He loves you and talks about you as a righteous man, when you obey His laws.  A man learns in life that when he obeys God, God works out all things for him sometimes even in the most difficult situations, for God knows how to write straight on crooked lines.  God's blessings dwell with that man and His eye of protection is always on him and his people; didn't God protect Lot, Abraham's nephew, because of Abraham? 

When we fear God, fear of anything else is obliterated from our lives for God reigns supreme in us and in that we see how Awesome He is and how He can make any of our enemies bite the dust even if they as much as cast an evil glance upon us.  Yeah, when God rules in us, after we harbor awe for Him, things though seemingly unfavorable or out of control, are turned in our favor by God and He gives us perfect control with the reins of our lives leading us to be happy and contented in whatever we think and do and everything we touch finds success.

Thoughts for another day

July 25, 2011

Today's verse: 2 Kgs. 3:16, 17. And he said, Thus saith the LORD, Make this valley full of ditches. For thus saith the LORD, Ye shall not see wind, neither shall ye see rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water, that ye may drink, both ye, and your cattle, and your beasts.  (KJV)

(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

One great aspect of our God that always rings clear in my ears is, 'Is there anything impossible for the Lord to do?'  We human beings have many things we can't do which we extrapolate to God too. This I'll propose in a classic illustration.  Once while taking catechism class for 14-year olds, I asked about God and what He could do.  I began asking, do you believe God can give you a big chocolate?  All put their hands up.  Then I asked whether they felt God can give them the toys they always wanted, now a few hands stayed down.  I then progressed to more expensive things and with each progression, more hands stayed down.  Finally I asked whether they believed God will give them a huge car like a Mercedes Benz; not a single hand went up. 

Then I asked the kids how they felt God would answer their prayers and they answered, through that uncle, or aunt, or an elder sibling, etc.  This made me see that all along they equated God's greatness to how fond their friends and relatives were of them and what things they felt they could get from them. It doesn't need much thinking on my part to deduce that they had brought God down to the level of humans.  Now, how did these children, answer this way?  Obviously, under influence of their parents, priests, pastors and other influencers in their lives.  They were conditioned to believe God can do only so much and not more.  That's the sad story of most Christians, in whose lives God has become nothing but what their imaginations want Him to be.  I remember asking a physically challenged colleague whether she believed God can make her whole and she just shut me up saying she's happy the way she was and that she believed was God's will for her and therein I saw how impotent a caricature she had made of God.  And it's sad how we shun God's power by thinking such a way as to make Him a human like us, bereft of His great power and awesomeness. 

But is God that?  No way, for God is the awesome, mighty and powerful God Who knows no impossibility.  A Word and the greatest can happen.  God is above every difficulty and we see in the part prior to our Scripture today, where the kings of Judah, Israel and Edom have run out of water and through the prophet Elisha, God works the marvelous deed of filling the ditches with water, with no rain or wind whatsoever!  Similarly if we give a free rein to God in our lives believing He can do the impossible for us, sooner or later, God will stretch His magnificent hand and make possible that impossibility we always thought was possible with God.  Amen.

Thoughts for another day

July 22, 2011

Today's verse: Lk. 24:45. Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,  (KJV)

(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

God has spoken to His people in various ways:  through men, through visions, through direct talk with certain people, etc.  For us in today's times in addition to these according to His will, God speaks through His Word which has not only enabled us to know Him personally, but also knowing Him, enabled us to have communion with Him and live in His Presence.

For many Christians around the world, reading the Bible is matter of speaking, a chore, a task that's got to be done and over with, asap.  You may be surprised at what I am saying, but it's a fact and pardon me for saying this, check your own life and you may surprisingly discover it is your situation too.  If it is not, blessed are you for He has opened your understanding and the eyes of your inner man to understand His Word and thereby get to know Him in His brilliance and glory.

Remember, understanding God's Word is not the privilege of all for many of us have our ears closed to His Word and our minds shut to His Law, the way we find it in Isaiah 44:18, as we are not from the beginning of the world found to be worthy and be saved by Him.  It's our duty then to fiercely request the Lord to give us the deepness of knowing Him and His Word so that we are able to fully recognize the God we serve, whose children we are and then realize the riches of the glory of His inheritance in us, His people.   This will mean a world of difference in our approach to Him, both here and eternally.

Thoughts for another day

July 21, 2011

Today's verse: Ps. 16:11. Thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. (KJV)

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In the Lord there's life which He grants us.  And He expects us to live it fully.  If you look around, you'll find a number of people living; but if you delve deeper, you'll discover many people don't live a life that's first of all fulfilling and then peaceable.  In most people who live like this, you'll notice an outward show of great joy, excitement, perfection, etc.  But when this person goes to sleep at night, there's fear and insecurity that's unbelievable. 

I knew a man who you could say, lived like this.  On the outside, everything was perfect.  Perfect job, perfect family – wife and two kids, perfect kids – one studying to become an engineer and another, chartered accountancy!  The wife was adorable and sweet and when you went to that home you'd leave, envying that man for what he had.  But if you're perceptive, you'd notice that the children had everything they needed, but, knowledge of God, for in their false notion of tranquility, there wasn't any space for God!  Ah, that's where the problems started.  The façade one day crumbled, the man left his wife and ran away with another woman.  The wife went and cut her wrists and one of the children in this situation tried buying his exam question paper and got caught!  The entire dream home came crashing down.  Their story is pretty long, but you know the gist of it now. Perhaps you too are aware of such happening families around you.

On the other hand, in a man who respects God and keeps space for Him in his life you may not find all hunky dory in his house; there may be things seemingly difficult, but let me tell you, over a period of time they work out.  They do because God shows this man the path of life.  The man sits in His Presence and experiences fullness of abundant joy which overflows and he dwells in, incomparable pleasure that lasts and lasts.  The only reason for this is God's Presence.  Yes, my friend God's Presence, the regular speaking out of His Name, is bound to keep your doors free from the marauding pestilence at all times.  Worries may be there; trials may abound, but victory is guaranteed and I can say this with certainty for I've experienced God's hand in my life – it is more real than the problems I have and the way God brings you out of difficult situations is simply remarkable.   Don't take my word for it, live your life in Him and learn yourself.

Thoughts for another day

July 20, 2011

Today's verse: Sirach 10:23. Great men, and judges, and potentates, shall be honoured; yet is there none of them greater than he that feareth the Lord. (KJV)

(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

Aren't there many men great in the world; some wise and dignified; some of high nobility, some pompously famous and so on.  Each person has put his or her stamp on the higher echelons of society and thereby become people others look up to.  They've much to give people and when they speak, their sound bytes are soaked in like water by a sponge.  Yes, they're the crème-de-la-crème, most of us want to emulate.  They're honored and wield a lot of power and their status is pitched high.  Men can only reach them by prior intimation and so on.  They're the top guys, and inspire the aspirations of many.

But our Scripture today says, there's none of them greater than he that fears the Lord.  Hard to believe isn't it.  Look that poor old grandma staying in that dilapidated house in the ghettos with a huge family, desperately struggling to make ends meet, yes, this woman has the fear of the Lord.  She's in great awe of God who is her Hope and her Guide.  She spends hours before Him in prayer.  To the extent possible, though her children and grandchildren hardly listen to her, she tries to bring on the path to God.  At times she's insulted and side-lined not only by her family, but by neighbors and others too – yeah, she's old and who's got the time for her and for her God?  But, she never misses her prayer come hail or shine and she never stops praying for her family and her friends and relatives and even the whole world.

Is she great?  Not for the worldly, she isn't for she doesn't possess anything.  But for God she's priceless.  God listens to her prayer and although they don't know it, her family is in ship shape despite problems because she's on her knees praying for them.  The community is safe, for with tears in her eyes, she prays for them.  The world is safe because the Almighty is seeing her there and not destroying it for He cannot destroy her.  She's the block between the disaster and men; yea, none knows it, but God knows.  No other person before God, among the high and honored among men, is more beautiful than this old grandma with her withered face and hands and her wobbly gait.  And she also has this promise that she'll meet the Shepherd of souls, when she reaches up there.  Now how many are great enough to be assured an appointment with the ultimate Royalty?

Thoughts for another day

July 18, 2011

Today's verse: Ps. 84:12. O LORD of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

The greatness of God is, so that man will realize it and then come into His bosom and share in it as God always intended it that way. We saw yesterday, how the Lord God is an awesome God and adorned with all glory and power that's beyond the comprehension of us, human beings.


Today, Scripture tells us that blessed is the man who trusts Him. From the experiences of people known to me as well as my own experiences, I can say it's really tough to trust God in crunch situations. Sometimes, our lives are so designed that things happen; things that do not please us. Then it goes from bad to worse and redemption seems a far cry. Our souls sigh in the misery that engulfs us and truly life is a saga of pain after pain in our hearts. Then comes God's Word asking us to trust Him and you know what, we don't even know whether God has really spoken, for this thought entered our minds and we seem to lack clarity on the issue. We want to believe but every feeling within us decries our desire to believe and steers us to take recourse to man's ways.

At this time what is the remedy? Even through the trial that I go through I can still say, believe in God and trust Him. Remember, that they who trust Him shall never be forsaken by Him. There're plenty of testimonies we have today to prove this and the Bible also talks about many people who trusted God and God never let them down, Abraham being a prime example. I believe God takes us through fiery times to not only tell us He can pull us out of any situation but also to prove to us that He can also make us tough. Yes, it's so true and real that I'll advise you, if you're going through a difficulty, just trust Him, yes TRUST HIM. And in time, you will see His mighty hand in action even as you gain victory.

Thoughts for another day

July 18, 2011

Today's verse: Is. 47:4. As for our redeemer, the LORD of hosts is his name, the Holy One of Israel. (KJV)

(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

Our God is great in splendor, great in might and great in presence.  His Name is above all names and His greatness is so awesome, it requires another vocabulary to describe it, which we don't have.  God's splendor is not known to us explicitly except for those who've been allowed into His realm by His mercy and those who've experienced it are too awe-struck to even describe it as it makes the follicles of the hair rise and also the senses to become dull, lifeless yet energized.

A glimpse of heaven is tremendous and we get to see it briefly in Isaiah and Revelation and mind you, both Isaiah and John are so overwhelmed by the experience of a God so beautiful and Majestic, that they quiver in His sight even as the heavenly host raise their voices to His 'Holy Being' and fall prostrate and worship Him day and night.  Somehow, we humans on earth are just not able to digest the greatness of God nor fathom it for we have nothing within us to grasp the meaning of 'The Almighty'.

What we have is our knowledge of Jesus our Lord and Savior Whom we know and worship and it's enough for us to know Jesus for in knowing Him we know the Father.  Sometimes in our prayer, Jesus reveals Himself to us and it is such a magnificent moment that tears stream out of our eyes and our whole bodies seem so taut and lifted up.  Yes, He is our Redeemer, even He who was crucified on the Cross, reviled by men and deemed no man in appearance as Isaiah says in his 53rd chapter.  Jesus is God, the Lord of Hosts and even though they didn't know, He is the Holy One of Israel and someday when we are caught up with Him in heaven, He will reveal Himself to us and we shall behold the glory of our God.

Thoughts for another day 

July 14, 2011

Today's verse: Mk. 14:38. Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak. (KJV)

(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

As a committed Christian, devoted to doing God's work, I've distilled the nature of our Scripture above and found it to be so true.  I maintain the devil always attacks you in your domain of sinful interest and makes it seemingly impossible for you to resist them and you find yourself, melding into his cauldron of trickery and evil.  Yes, he always sways you through the things you crave, for example, if you love chocolate he ensures you're gluttonous to eat more of it, gorging on kilos of chocolate, even undergoing a physical metamorphosis making you look like a gorilla.  If you love gold and other such condiments of external attire, he ensures you persist in this dressing up so that eventually, you end up looking like a gilt-edged cosmetic box.

Yes, his temptations are so sensible it's not surprising we fall into them.  You can imagine Jesus' hunger after His fast and the devil tempted Him, knowing here was Someone, who could if He wanted, turn stones into bread, so he approaches the Lord accordingly, but Jesus quotes Scripture and sends him packing.  So it's clear that when he tempts us, we too need to have a tool to show him the door.  To this end the Bible is our best mechanism for both defense and offense.  But, do we know the pages of the Bible?  Have we gone through this love letter of God Word by Word to be familiar with its nuances so as to be equipped on the day of trial?

My friend it's not difficult to resist the devil, no matter how shrewd and opportunistic he seems to be.   Yes, as Scripture says above, our spirit is willing and ready but the carnal flesh is weak, even then, it's only a matter of sitting at the feet of the Lord just communing with Him which will give us the strength to defray the devil's barbs and strike him with the same barbs he throws at us.  Just pray and pray and believe; all will be well with you.

Thoughts for another day

July 13, 2011

Today's verse: Wisdom 2:23,24. For God created man to be immortal, and made him to be an image of his own eternity. Nevertheless through envy of the devil came death into the world: and they that do hold of his side do find it. (KJV)

(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

When God created us it was with much love and care.  He created us in His own image, unsullied and pure, ready to dwell with Him, to converse and sup with Him; unhindered by any obstacle or wall.  He created us 'unique' and to have dominion over the rest of His creation with no exception whatsoever.  He created us as eternal beings not temporal like we are now.  Then we disobeyed God and we know what happened to us, His choicest creation: we were shunted out of Paradise.  Our bodies, taken from dust and transformed into eternal, incorruptible bodies, were changed into temporary and corruptible bodies.  The curse of disobedience to God destroyed all the blessings that Adam at his creation was blessed with by God.

The devil came to take control of man who God had created to be above the angels in heaven, of which lucifer was the chief; yet, because of his pride he fell.  With this began the saga of the travails of man and his going away from his Father in heaven.  But in time, Jesus Christ, the Anointed Savior, came to redeem man so that they who would believe in Him would receive redemption from their sins and gain eternal life.  So, all who accepted Christ as God and Savior are redeemed in Him.

On the other hand, the devil has also earmarked others who he knows will do his bidding and they who grasp his hand are the ones who will find death as our Scripture says today.  They are the ones who shun the Light of the world and in doing despicable things ultimately wither away into oblivion for that's where they belong with the devil.  But not, so the children of God who have held His hand and walking with Him have discovered eternal life in the Lover of souls, Jesus Christ, my Lord and my God.

Thoughts for another day

July 12, 2011

Today's verse: Lk. 5:31,32. And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.  (KJV)

(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

Among men we find many kinds vis-à-vis God and religion. Among them there are two distinct types.  One, the humble type, who consider themselves nothing and they'll believe everything you tell them about God for they aren't learned about things concerning God and are illiterate in Scripture.  The next are the ones who think they know everything about God there is to know.  Their pride looks down upon all others and makes them feel exalted and lofty over the others who they consider as not worth wasting their time upon.

The former is like the publican, of the parable Jesus said about the Pharisee and the Publican.  One who considers himself so low as to not even look up before God.  These are the people who God favors; which Jesus mentions about in that parable.  They're the ones because of whom many times God doesn't send disasters upon the earth, for they pray in whatever simple ways they know for deliverance and when God saves them, the others too get saved.  What's most striking about them is humility and their considered nothingness before God which stands them in good stead before their  Maker and He hears and gratifies them.

The latter are the 'Pharisaic' types who think no end of themselves because of their practices of prayer, sacrifice and self denial in small ways.  They harbor pride to think they're superior and in the inner chambers of the 'God circle' and tend to look down upon the others for they find them obnoxious and too small for God's kingdom.  They also think they're the ones who should frame rules regarding God's kingdom.  Eventually, God calls their bluff and they're thrown out of their calling and their ministries before God.  Our Scripture today comes as a warning to all these type of people who exalt themselves.  Since they, by their behavior think they don't need God, He moves away leaving them alone; for God is very clear, only those who seek Him with all their hearts will He reach out to, not for them who think they own the world.

Thoughts for another day 

July 11, 2011

Today's verse: Pro. 30:5. Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.  (KJV)

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Sometimes I wonder; is what God says true?  Will He fulfill all that He has said?  What about His promises in His Word on which I've shaped the plan of my life?  When will I see them fulfilled? 

These and many such like questions come to my mind often and result in a bone of contention between my Lord and me; particularly because I've not seen the effect of His hand on my life, the way I'd expected it and the way I prayed it will.  So, today's Scripture verse comes to remind me that yes, every Word that proceeds from the mouth of God is pure and will come to be if it already hasn't been; for who are we talking about?  Not a mere man, but God Almighty in whom rests awesome splendor and power and glory and He is the emblem of protection to all those who trust Him completely.

God's will and purpose for our lives are nothing but a reflection of what He has put in our minds long before we were even born; and when our being is tuned to Him these things come to the fore.   If we're having ideas beyond our capacities to make them real like let's say, running a humungous business, then let me tell you, they didn't just come there, nor are they a part of our hearts just like that.  Somewhere deep within, God birthed them into our hearts and in time to come, He will morph them into reality.  God is able and very very powerful and He works all things in us provided, we will give Him alone all the glory and when He finds that our hearts are fully ready to accept His way in our lives, He opens the doors of heaven and floods us with His blessings that turn all that we have in our minds into reality.  What we need to do is wait and mind you, you will never be shamed when you wait upon the Lord.  Just go about doing your normal thing and having in mind God's presence in your life and soon, He will work in your favor, for there is nothing more He likes than a man's heart bowed to Him in trust and expectation and confident in Him, even when everything around is crumbling.

Thoughts for another day

July 8, 2011

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)

Why, you must have wondered, do you suddenly face problem after problem when you've turned your life to God?  Why do things you used to so easily get, now seem so difficult to lay hands on?  This line of thought belongs to many Christians who've turned from their old ways of life and surrendered their lives to the Lord for suddenly life seems to move into the 'pain' arena.

The clue to this is in our Scripture today.  God has a test for everyone who renounces the world, so to say, and embraces Him ready to live a life for Him and in the process maybe die also for Him, if He desires.  God's test is continuous, it never ceases, but it keeps our lives of sin in check.  In the context of our Scripture, the Israelites, despite God telling them to entirely wipe out the nations they were to occupy, didn't do that and as a result succumbed to worshipping the gods of those nations and adopting their practices.  If you read the verses before our verse, you will also know that the generation to whom this verse is addressed, made themselves more corrupt than those which had passed away because of their wanton practice of emulating the nations they now lived with.

God is a faithful God and He wants us to be with and live with Him.  Sometimes the attractions of the world cling to us and we crave them in our spirit and in the process lose our connect with God.  But then He intervenes and sends us a test so we'll again remember and come to Him.  You may say God is unjust and instead of helping us, makes our test even more difficult.  But all of us who've gone thorough God's test have realized that God does it for our own good.  When we don't listen to His voice of reason, He has to pull us back to Him via a trial even if it is painful.  For God knows that only in that way will we gain eternal life and mind you, the pains of this life are nothing compared to the pleasures of that one and it is eternal.  Accept God's trial and learn from them.  He has a truth in it that could transform your life into something pleasing to Him.

Thoughts for another day

July 7, 2011

Today's verse: Job 5:22. At destruction and famine thou shalt laugh: neither shalt thou be afraid of the beasts of the earth.  (KJV)

(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

Richard looked up at the sky; it was well beyond two months since the rains were to begin, but this year, there was no sign of those dense clouds that plod the sky during this time.  The crops at the beginning of monsoons had failed for lack of water and things looked grim.  Yet, Richard, a farmer in a small hamlet near Nagpur, a city in central India, did not lose hope.  He had read the above Scripture verse and was confident God would do something.

Another month passed by with just minor drizzles and each day for the farmers was like an age.  The government had declared drought and started offering assistance.  But it was very meager.  Every eye was turned on Richard, who was like a priest to the villagers for he always encouraged them no matter who they followed, telling them about Jesus Christ, the only God and always praying for them.  He told them from the beginning that they'd have a good monsoon as He was praying daily for the rains; yet, there was no rain. 

Richard was a little pained by all this but his faith didn't dwindle.  He got again on his knees and prayed, 'Sovereign Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, where is Your mighty hand which worked wonders in Egypt?  Where is your favor on mankind which You showed Isaac when he sowed and reaped a hundred fold in famine?   Where Oh, Lord is that amazing love for us which sent Jesus Christ to the cross? 

In all this Richard never lost hope and on the 8^th day of the 4^th and last month, a little downpour happened; then the rains intensified.  In a week it had rained as much as it did in more than 80 days.  The village ponds and wells were full, and the lush crops, despite the earlier failure now in fullness rose out of the earth swaying to the lashing rain.  Yes, once again God had looked with mercy on His people.  Richard once again remembered the Scripture we have today and cried:  what a wonderful God he served and tears streamed out of his eyes, marveling at God's goodness and love.

Thoughts for another day 

July 6, 2011

Today's verse: Pro. 16:33. The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the LORD.  (KJV)

(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)                                                                                    

You must have heard the story of the Macedonian king, Alexander the Great, the story of a man desiring to conquer the world and make everyone stoop before him.  He was one of the greatest military geniuses the world has ever had; a man obsessed with the need to win in battle; a man who was an inspiration to other conquerors who came after him – they drew motivation from him and they ruled the world of that day.  He was undefeated in his conquests and instilled a fear that chilled the innards of the rulers of kingdoms around the world. 

But even after succeeding in conquering some of the greatest kingdoms of that time like Greece, Egypt, Persia, etc. he never enjoyed the fruit of his labor and you know why?  Because, he died at age 33.  Yeah, the lot was cast for his greatness and authority for a long time, yet the dice didn't exactly favor him for the outcome of the twirling numbers of the dice, belongs to the hand of God.  No matter which way the dice turns, the number to show up, at times intriguingly, isn't the number we expected even until the last turn! 

The whole world is under the authority of the only Authority, the only Potentate, the only Sovereign ruler of the universe, God Himself, the Father of all humanity and He makes us what He wants us to be.  Every man's freewill is known to Him even before the foundation of the world, for that was when our names were written in the book of life and He thus knowing what our response to His call will be, also draws up the game plan for our lives.  In all this we may think that we're in charge but remember, it's easy for God to alter the plans we make or the ideas we have, even at any time, for He has the power to do it and He does it to save us, not to disappoint or humiliate us.  We may at times fall down and be low for He wants us to learn, but soon He lifts us up and puts us on a pedestal and that's the time when we sing out glory to His Name and that's when our little life on earth touches 'perfection' in its connect with heaven.