Prepare Him Room

Christmas is the celebration of the good news that the amazing, all powerful, omniscient God, the creator of the universe chose to come in human likeness so that we may have an abundant eternal life.
Philippians 2:5b-7
..Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
Jesus could have chosen to come to earth as a popular rich King but He chose to come in a humble way as an unknown to let us all know that He identifies with all of humanity. There was no room for the King of Kings anywhere that He had to be born in a lowly manger.
Luke 2:6-7
While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

The life of Jesus even from His birth was one of sorrow - people rejected Him or crowded Him out of their lives.
Isaiah 53:3
He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Could it be that even we who have embraced Him sometimes live our lives not esteeming Him who gave up all the joys and comforts of heaven for our sake? There are many things that possibly crowd out Jesus from our hearts and lives and leave Him with little or no room. These things could include busyness, anger, unforgiveness, bitterness, disappointment, doubt, self pity, selfishness.. When Jesus is not in the centre of our hearts, we create room for entanglements.

This Christmas, its time to clean up our hearts and lives and prepare Him room! Its time to get rid of all entanglements that draw us away from having Him at the centre and whole of our hearts and minds and lives. When we are entangled and things of this world crowd our heart, we are violating the first and greatest commandment that the Lord gave us.
Matthew 22:36-38
Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law? Jesus replied: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment.
The heart is the centre and core of our being and if we honor God with all our heart and mind, then we will have true joy! We can get rid of all entanglements and get Jesus to fill our whole hearts by reading and obeying His word, confessing sin, examining our heart, guarding what we set our affections on and living according to truth rather than feeling.
Proverbs 4:23
Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.

How is your heart this season? Is it crowded with the busyness or worry or doubt or pain or anger.. that Christ is moved to the periphery? An old medieval Christmas poem says "Though Christ a thousand times in Bethlehem be born, if He's not born in you, your heart is still forlorn". Prepare Him room in your heart this season by getting rid of all entanglements and crown Him the King of your whole heart and experience the joy of knowing and living for Him!
John 1:14
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Follow the Star!

No Christmas story is complete without mentioning the three wise men who came from afar bearing gifts to worship the new born King! The three wise men when they came to pay homage to Jesus had to make a lot of decisions - they had to start on a very long journey not really knowing the destination by just following the star, they gave Herod news that they were seeking a new born King by following a star but they also chose not to return to Herod and returned home by another way. We know this decision by the wise men was important. On the highway to decision making, we all have some processes - some decisions are spontaneous, some are intuitive, others are thought through to discern which way to choose. For some decisions, we rely on the wisdom and counsel of others and some decisions are made on what “feels” good. We can look at the story of the wise men and learn on how we should make decisions.

The three wise men were seekers - seeking and worshipping the Son of God was their utmost priority. They probably waited and longed for the Messiah king, studying the heavens for signs and decided to give up the comfort of their homes to set out on an adventurous journey making every effort to seek and worship the One who is worthy of all worship. They were able to seek and worship God because they understood in humility that inspite of their wisdom and riches that in God is the ultimate fulfillment all our seeking and longing.
Matthew 2:1-2, 10-11
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him."......When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.

The second thing that the three wise men did was to discern what God wanted them to do. Discerning what God wants us to do in life is necessary to make wise decisions and avoid unplesant compromising consequences. Discernment is the ability to think in a Godly manner about all areas of life and is indispensable to an uncompromising life. The wise men were able to discern from their dream not to return to Herod and they did the right thing and avoided any unpleasant consequence.
Matthew 2:12-13
And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route. When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. "Get up," he said, "take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him."
Knowing God will enable us to develop the gift of discernment. The wise men clearly knew who Jesus was - bringing Him gifts of gold, incense and myrrh that signified His royalty, His priesthood and His sacrifice.
2 Peter 1:3
His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.

Reflect on the kind of decisions you have made in your life. Have they been wise and Godly? Do you want to make Godly wise decisions? Make it a priority to seek God in humility and to know Him so well so that you can discern God's will. God wants to guide you just like He guided the three wise men to the Messiah child through His star. We just need to seek Him and find His star and follow it!

Fuel of Faith - Obedience!

The fundamental thing that keeps a house together is the structure - the foundation and the load bearing walls. If we can liken Christianity to a house, faith in Christ is the foundation stone and the walls that hold our house together. However, obedience is the roof over the house of faith that keeps us protected from the outside elements and attacks of the enemy. Our feelings and emotions are merely the outer cover like paint and decorations that finishes the house but alone it does not stand up! The problem with most of us is that we largely like to live our life going purely by feelings and emotions. "If it ain't gonna feel good, I am not doing it", is our favourite slogan. When we live like this, we are subject to every attack of the enemy as we have no protection because we are like a house without a roof. Obedience is central to a faith that is growing and is central to walking in God's will.

Obedience is not having a strong will but rather it is aligning ourselves with God's plan, will, call and purpose for our lives. It is surrendering of our will knowing that God's will is far superior and better as a result of knowing who He truly is and knowing that He can be trsuted implicitly.
Isaiah 55:8-9
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
It is surrendering our will so that we decrease and He increases just as John the Baptist said (John 3:30).
Throughout the Bible, God's heart is for people to come into a true relationship with Him, to come to a place of obedience resulting from complete trust. That is why in the Old Testament, though there was an elaborate system of sacrifices for sin and covering disobedience, God says that He delights in obedience rather than sacrifices.
Isaiah 1:11
The multitude of your sacrifices— what are they to me?" says the LORD. I have more than enough of burnt offerings, of rams and the fat of fattened animals; I have no pleasure in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats.

According to Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, the definition of obey is as follows: 1. To give ear to; to execute the commands of; to yield submission to; to comply with the orders of; 2. To submit to the authority of; to be ruled by; 3. To yield to the impulse, power, or operation of; as, a ship obeys her helm. The opposite of obedience is disobedience, defiance and rebellion. With these attitudes, we are moving away from God's love, ignoring His call and wanting to do our own thing. It is setting us up for a life of chaos and destruction, openly exposed without His protection.
Romans 2:13
For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God's sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous.
If we truly love the Lord and our relationship with Him is of primary importance, obedience will naturally result.
John 14:23
Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.
1 John 2:5-6
But if anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.

Is your faith fuelled by obedience? Does your house of faith have a roof of obedience or are you only concerned with the paint and cosmetic effects without a roof? Come into a true love relationship with Him and know that He can be trusted implicitly at all times.
1 Samuel 15:22
But Samuel replied: "Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD ? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.
1 John 2:17
The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.

Break Up the Fallow Ground

Farmers clearly know that nothing grows in fallow ground. Fallow ground is a field that may have yielded much fruit in the past, but has been left unworked for a while or ground that has never been used. As a result, it becomes hard and yields nothing but weeds. The ground needs to be tilled, fertilized, watered and prepared in order that plans can take root to grow. Often times, we allow parts of our lives to lie dormant and is not fed by the Spirit and we do not grow in grace as a result. We keep parts of our lives hidden from God and sometimes from ourselves. Past hurts lie buried like the rocks in a farmers field that discourage strong, healthy growth. Relationships become strained because of weeds that are allowed to grow in the gardens of our lives. The call of God through Hosea is break such fallow ground if we are to be productive.
Hosea 10:12
Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the LORD, until he comes and showers righteousness on you.

Jesus is calling each and every one of us to sow in righteousness and reap in mercy. He calls us to plant our fields with His good works. He asks us to dig up those rocks and pull out those weeds. He tells us to break up our fallow ground for it is time to grow. Life will become a rut if we neglect the garden of our soul and just rush about attending to the things that we need to. So where do we begin? The first step and responsibility to break up the falow ground lies with each of us.
2 Timothy 2:15
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.
What can we do? Our repsonsibility is to plow the ground with prayer and break the clods by coming to Him with a broken humble spirit.
Colossians 4:2-4:
Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.
Psalm 34:18
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

Once the ground of our heart is open to the Lord in prayer in humility, we are then ready to sow the seed of God's word. As God shows us righteousness from His word, we need to obey and walk away from unrighteousness. When we do this, the weeds do not choke the word of God but the word of God will start producing fruit and the Holy Spirit will Himself water our souls!
2 Corinthians 9:6
Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.
John 7:37b-39a
..If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive..

Is there a part of your life or heart that has become fallow ground? Are there weeds and rocks hindering the garden of your soul? Break up your fallow ground with prayer and coming back to His word and allow the Holy Spirit to water your soul and walk in righteousness. Seek the Lord with your whole heart, soul and mind! Then along with David you can truly say, "He restores my soul, my cup runs over."

Are You Ready for the Bridegroom?

The parable of the ten virgins in Matthew 25 is story of great drama, intrigue, romance and adventure. In it we see a wooing, a calling into deeper devotion to God but is also is a warning to us that we should be prepared to meet with the Bridegroom.
Matthew 25:1-13
"At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep. "At midnight the cry rang out: 'Here's the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!' "Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps.The foolish ones said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.' " 'No,' they replied, 'there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.' "But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut. "Later the others also came. 'Sir! Sir!' they said. 'Open the door for us!' "But he replied, 'I tell you the truth, I don't know you.' "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.

The arrival of the Bridegroom is expected. His Holy Spirit, which represents the oil has been provided ahead of time ensuring eternal light and joy to the bridal party. Even at the midnight hour in an hour of deep darkness, the bridal party are ready to go out to meet with the Bridegroom. The wise virgins are clearly different from the others as they have taken the time to prepare knowing fully well that a period of darkness awaits before joining the Bridegroom. The foolish ones experience "burnout" and eventually miss out on joining the bridegroom. The extra oil thus represents the spiritual preparation ahead of an anticipated time of darkness required for persevering and enduring just before meeting the Bridegroom.
2 Corinthians 11:2
I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him.

The overall thrust of the parable is that Christ will return at an unknown hour and that His people must be ready. Being ready means preparing for whatever contingency arises in our lives and keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus at all times while we eagerly await His coming. Saving faith in Jesus Christ will need to manifest itself in every aspect of our lives and the fruit of the Spirit needs to be produced. A desire for greater holiness and less sin should be apparent and a consistent looking for His coming will mark our lives. Paul's letter to Titus sums this well in the below verses:
Titus 2:11-14
For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.

Are you prepared to meet the Bridegroom? Ten virgins had intended to go out and meet the Bridegroom, however only five of them did. This is the high drama which unfolds in the storyline. May we not be found “going away to make the purchase” when Christ returns. Take the time now to fill your lamp with oil and take extra along. See that you are not asleep and unprepared but instead keep preparing, waiting and watching for His return with joy and anticipation!

United We Stand

The disciples when they were with Jesus before His death and resurrection, constantly quibbled among themselves as to who was the greatest and who would get the most prominent position in Heaven and so on. There is little evidence of unity among the disciples. Jesus when He prayed for the disciples, He prayed for one thing - that they may be one as He was one with the Father and the Holy Spirit. He prayed for unity.
John 17:11
I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name—the name you gave me—so that they may be one as we are one.
John 17:20-21
My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.

The message of the Gospel is a message of reconciliation, a message of unity, to bring all things together under Christ. The writer of the epistle to the Ephesians sums up the gospel thus:
Ephesians 1:9-10
And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment—to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.
From the foundation of the world, God had a plan and purpose for all of us and this is unity of all things under Christ. This process of unification is already started with the coming of Christ. This unity is radically all inclusive!
So it is imperative that we demonstrate this unity in the way we interact with one another, especially with other believers in the Church.

What does this unity mean? Unity means reflecting the fruit of the Spirit outwardly.
Ephesians 4:2-6
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called— 5one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
Being humble is that disposition which makes us not easily provoked or offended, an ability to forgive. When we are humble, we are able to be patient and forbearing in love and we will be able to reflect the unity of Christ and maintain the bond of peace. The emphasis may not always be to have common convictions but to demonstrate common care and concern and love for another.

Do you reflect the unity of Christ in your relationships? Do you emphasize more on the differences and minor points of faith or do you really maintain unity by demonstrating care and love? Let us work with the Holy Spirit to demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit to others in Christ. Let us be reminded again that the Lord wants us to be in unity just as He is one. Let us reflect Him!

Prepare for World Impact

Guess most of us would love to make a significant impact in this world. We all long for significance and this is not necessarily fame or wealth but knowledge that we have lived our lives to the maximum potential and impacted others. Jesus had probably the most important mission in the world, a mission that will impact every human and history. The impact of a person's life is often in direct proportion to the quality of preparation. Let us have a look at the life of Jesus and learn how He prepared for significant impact.
Luke 3:21-22
When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased."

We can draw a few lessons from the event of baptism.
Total Surrender: Jesus totally surrendered to the will of the Father. He was the Son of God, Creator of the world. He was totally sinless and there was no need to be baptised as John was preaching a baptism of repentance. However, Jesus chose to surrender absolutely to the will of the Father and this is demonstrated in His life - from baptism, continuing daily, all the way to the Cross.
Philippians 2:5-8
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross!
Like Jesus, when we surrender to God's will, we will lead significant lives.

Relationship with the Father: Jesus had a strong relationship with His Father. If anyone knew the Father intimately, it was Jesus and yet He spent quality time inspite of his hectic schedule or tiredness and made this a priority. The strong foundation of Jesus' ministry was based on His identity, acceptance and approval out of a deep intimate relationship with the Father. When we have a strong intimate relationship with the Father like Jesus, we will not give in to fear or rejection or performance pressue but be able to carry out His will secure in the knowledge of His love.
Ephesians 3:16-19
I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Empowerment by the Spirit: Jesus lived by the Spirit allowing the Holy Spirit to direct and empower Him each day to execute the will of God as He walked in obedience. His dependence on the Holy Spirit was not occasional but continual. When we live like that we need not strive by ourselves, as the Holy Spirit will help us.
John 14:26
But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
1 Corinthians 2:4-5
My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power.

Do you desire to live a significant life that has powerful impact according to God's plan and purposes for you? If so, reflect on which of these three aspects you need to improve and prepare and build on these so that your life can have maximum impact. Our mission is to impact the world around us!
Matthew 28:19-20
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

You Will Sing Again..

The book of Joel was written around 5 BC when Israel experienced a plague of locusts. This plague of locusts was devastating for Israel as every crop was destroyed and the lives of the Israelites were at stake as they faced famine and hardship. Joel records the plight of the Israelites with these words:
Joel 1: 10-12
The fields are ruined, the ground is dried up; the grain is destroyed, the new wine is dried up, the oil fails. Despair, you farmers, wail, you vine growers; grieve for the wheat and the barley, because the harvest of the field is destroyed. The vine is dried up and the fig tree is withered; the pomegranate, the palm and the apple tree— all the trees of the field—are dried up. Surely the joy of mankind is withered away.
Sometimes in our lives, metaphorically we too can feel as though locusts have eaten away years of effort. Sometimes, we can face hardship after hardship and not see a breakthrough and wonder whether we will ever be restored and whether we will ever sing again.

We can take encouragement today that Joel did not stop just describing the plague and its devastation and leave us without hope. He goes on to record, the promise of God that He will restore the years that the locusts have eaten! We need to understand that the devastation of the locusts does not last just a few days or even months, the devastation can last years. Notice that God's promise is not just to restore weeks or months but whole years, all the wasted years!
Joel 2:25a-27
I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten.....You will have plenty to eat, until you are full, and you will praise the name of the LORD your God, who has worked wonders for you; never again will my people be shamed. Then you will know that I am in Israel, that I am the LORD your God, and that there is no other; never again will my people be shamed.

Between the locusts eating up and complete utter devastation, and the promise of restoration, there is an act that causes God to relent and have compassion on His people. This act is repentance, a complete 180 degree turn to walk in the way of righteousness and away from unrighteousness. God wants our hearts to be restored to Him and sometimes the difficulties are a way to awaken us to come back to Him.
Joel 2:12-13
"Even now," declares the LORD, "return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning." Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity.
Our God is a God of compassion and He is faithful. He is in the business of restoration - of making whole of broken things. We just need to draw near to Him...
1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
Hebrews 4:16
Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Do you feel like that which has been lost will not be found, that which is broken will never be repaired? Do you wonder when you will sing again? Take hold of this message from Joel that God wants to restore you for all the years that was lost and build you up, as you draw near to Him in repentance! You will sing again because He is faithful and He is a restorer! Return to Him!
Joel 2:21a
Be not afraid, O land; be glad and rejoice.

God's Masterpiece

God's creation is beautiful.. every little flower to the starry hosts in the sky, from the birds in their splendid colors to the beauty of sunsets, from the waves of the ocean on the shore to the mighty thunderstorms...our heart does not tire as we gaze at the wondrous things that the Lord has made. Just yesterday, I was gazing of the window admiring the beauty of the trees swaying in the wind and the rain and the changing beauty of the scenery as the light danced and dimmed throughout the day. There is no greater artist that the Lord and what's even more amazing is that He does not consider any of this, His masterpiece. The God of the Universe, the Creator, the ultimate Artist considers you and I as His masterpiece! He delights over us!
Zephaniah 3:17
The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.
Psalm 139:13-14
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

The Lords says that we are the Apple of His Eye!
Zechariah 2:8
For this is what the LORD Almighty says: "After he has honored me and has sent me against the nations that have plundered you—for whoever touches you touches the apple of his eye.
We are the object of His unending love and He continues to pursue us by loving us even when we were far away from Him! Yes, no one can love us the way the Lord loves us!
Romans 5:6b-8
Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

We cannot grasp the immense value that God places on each and every one of us! He seeks after each and everyone of us individually and His heart longs for communion and fellowship with each of us. It blows my mind that God, the Creator - the Omniscient and Omnipresent Great God loves us so much!
Matthew 18:12-14
What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost.

How do you feel about yourself and how do you value yourself? You need to understand that God places immense value on you - you are His apple of His eye, the object of His eternal everlasting love that He died for you. Never ever forget your true worth - you are purchased by Jesus' blood paid by Him through His suffering on the cross. You are His masterpiece, His workmanship.
Ephesians 2:10
For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Living with Constancy among Shifting Shadows

We live in a world that is so transient, things are always changing - fads, trends, technologies, the way we live life, moral values, stock market.. basically everything. In a year or less, we will see so much change that perhaps in the centuries past people saw in their lifetime. How do we maintain our stability in our lives when everything is changing like shifting shadows around us?
James 1:17
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
The Bible says that our God is One who does not change like shifting shadows. Just like how children feel secure with parents of consistent behaviour, we too can feel secure knowing that the God we worship is constant and unchanging! Let us look at some unchanging immutable charcateristics of God!

God is unchanging in His character: God is always present; His knowledge is always complete; His power is always unlimited. His justice is unchanging, for He is righteous in everything He does. He requires holiness of his people because He Himself is always holy. The Bible affirms that God is good, that His faithfulness endures to all generations and that He loves His children with an everlasting (immutable) love and He continually pours out his mercy upon humankind.
Malachi 3:6
I the LORD do not change.
Hebrews 13:8
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
He is the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last because He is unchanging!

God is unchanging in His purpose: Just as God's nature is immutable, so are His plans and purposes. The Lord has promised to bring people into relationship with himself. In the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ we see the fulfillment of this plan so that people have a way to come back into relationship with Christ. The Lord’s unchanging purposes are also personal.
Psalm 138:8
The LORD will fulfill His purpose for me; Your love, O LORD, endures forever— do not abandon the works of Your hands.
While we are free to make choices, God still accomplishes His own intentions and can work out all circumstances for our good according to His purposes!
Proverbs 19:21
Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails. 
Romans 8:28
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.

God is unchanging in His promises:God’s nature is consistent, it follows that His promises are also consistent as He does not break his word. Rather, his immutability necessitates fulfillment of His promises.
Numbers 23:19
God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should change his mind. Does He speak and then not act? Does He promise and not fulfill?
2 Corinthians 1:20
For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ. And so through him the "Amen" is spoken by us to the glory of God.

How do you feel when situations around you change? Do not be afraid, instead trust in Him and rest in His constancy as He is unchanging. Rely on His Unchanging Character, Purpose and Promises! Let Him be the Everlasting Rock upon whom you can stand! The better we know Him as the immutable God, the more we shall be able to trust Him and hold on to Him for stability and strength when everything around us is changing.
Psalm 18:2
The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

Fitting God in or Fitting into God?

Very often we try fitting God into our life and busy schedules by doing our customary bit by attending church, perhaps even attend a fellowship, serve and even maybe read the Bible and pray where possible. The real centre and focus on our lives still continues to revolve around our priorities, our schedules and our conveniences, postpoing the call of God in our lives. When we live like this continually, we can easily become frustrated and disillusioned and we wonder why we don't experience God in a fuller measure in ou rlives. We need to understand that God is too big for Him to just fit into our lives. We can only live a life of full measure and be satisfied, if we learn instead to fit into Him and give Him the first place and allow Him to dictate our priorities!

This was a similar predicament that Haggai faced. The Jews has just returned from exile from Babylon to Jerusalem and they wanted to rebuild the temple of Jerusalem. They faced some opposition and instead of pressing forward, they became discouraged and gave in to disillusionment and abandonment of the call of God. They instead foucssed their lives and energy on themselves, their own interests and building comfortable houses and settling down forgetting the bigger call of God. In such a contect, God had a message for His people through the prophet Haggai:
Haggai 1:2-8
This is what the LORD Almighty says: "These people say, 'The time has not yet come for the LORD's house to be built.' " Then the word of the LORD came through the prophet Haggai: "Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?" Now this is what the LORD Almighty says: "Give careful thought to your ways. You have planted much, but have harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it." This is what the LORD Almighty says: "Give careful thought to your ways. Go up into the mountains and bring down timber and build the house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored," says the LORD.

If we really want the pleasure of God in our lives, we need to put Him first and fit into Him and His plans for us. We are so often like the people in Haggai's time - we are not overtly saying 'No' to God's work and His plans for us, instead we just postpone it as we do not have the time or the convenience to focus on Him now. We instead focus on ourselves and our priorities. We need to understand that we are missing out on God's best for us and settling on less when we don't honor God and please Him. When we put God's kingdom and His work first, He promises to look after every aspect of our lives!
Matthew 16:24-25
Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life[h] will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.
Matthew 6:30b-33
...O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

I believe God's message to Haggai is the same to us today - He wants us to consider our ways. Are you fitting God into your life where possible and living below what God has for us or are we fitting into Him giving Him the first priority? It is time to evaluate your life and rearrange your priorities. When the Jewish people rebuilt the temple of God, they could see the glory of God and they felt His pleasure. Consider Him and live your life so that you feel His pleasure!

Taming the Tongue

We live in a culture that considers it 'cool' to swear and use strong colorful language. Perhaps for most Christians, this is not a real problem. However, there is a more subtle way of how we use our tongue and this could be tiny white lie, a little insinuation, a clever belittling retort, a small bit of information that we inadvertently let on and so on. The tongue has the power of life and death (Provers 18:21a), and we can use this God given ability for good or harm.
James 3:5-8
Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

The Bible says that it is important to use the power of the tongue for good if it were to go well with us.
Psalm 34:12-13
Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies.
We need to be purposeful in our conversation and speak carefully chosen words that will not only produce victory and blessing in our own life but in the lives of others as well. Our words have power as demonstrated by how Jesus used his mouth to curse a fig tree that failed to produce its fruit in season and how Jesus used his words on many occasions to heal and forgive. As a rudder controls the direction of a ship, our tongue controls the direction of our life. We are our own prophets - what we say today impacts our tomorrow! So it is important to confess the blessings and promises from the Word of God over our life than give in to negative self-talk. The Word of God is Spirit and Life and these words will guide us!
John 6:63
The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.

Jesus made the clear connection between the heart and the mouth. Basically Jesus said, GIGO - Garbage in, Garbage out. If we are to speak more wholesomely, there is no substitute than to put in more of God's words into our hearts.
Matthew 12:34b-37
For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.
When we do this, our conversation will be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, and we will know how to answer everyone (Colossians 4:6).
Ephesians 4:29
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

How do you use your tongue - as intruments for good or evil? Remember that the Lord has given you the ability to talk so that you can declare His promises and blesings over your life and those of others. Confess any talk that is negative, coarse, harmful or bends the truth and allow the Holy Spirit to lead you to speak wholesome words as you feed on His word.
Psalm 19:14
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Overcoming a Critical Spirit

It is very easy to see the faults in others and even criticize them for it than to see our own faults and accept it. It is very important to understand that a critical spirit hinders our faith and can even block the power of God being demonstrated in our own lives as we end up condemning ourselves when we condemn others.
Matthew 7:1-5
"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.
Romans 1:2
You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things.

A critical spirit is negative, willing to condemn, criticize and tear down a person and is likely due to pride or self-righteousness or unforgiveness. A critical spirit imitates Satan, the accuser. This is exactly what the the Pharisees and onlookers were like when a woman caught in adultery was brought before Jesus. Jesus asked those who did not have any sin to cast the first stone against her and no one did!
John 8:7-11
When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?" "No one, sir," she said. "Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin."

We need to realise that just like us, others are also a Work in Progress and God has not finished with all of us yet. We need to strive to be a positive witness for Christ who came not to condemn but to save the world. Jesus, the rightful Judge Himself is always positive and restorative and we need to reflect Him! What then is the cure for a critical spirit? It is Grace. We need to reflect on the grace God has bestowed on us, setting us free when we deserved judgement and death. We need to give this grace to others and extend the mercy we ourselves have received.
Matthew 10:8b
Freely you have received, freely give.
James 2:12-13
Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!

Are you a fault finder? If you are reflect on why you are one. Confess your sin before God and accept His grace in your life and pass it on to others! Overcome by doing good to them practically and praying for them! Ask the Holy Spirit to help you get rid of the critical spirit so that you can live freely without condemning yourself.

Self-Control..

Self-control is not something we hear outside of the Christian circle. We live in a #selfie culture that prods us to be indulgent and to fulfill our every whim and fancy while we celebrate ourselves. The only time self-control is popular is with regard to dieting and exercise to have a great physical image. Is this the kind of self-control that God wants us to exercise? Yes, maybe as God does not want to be gluttons who do not look after our physical being. However, the message of self-control in the Bible is more than that - it is to say 'Yes' to God and 'No' to anything that hinders us from walking closely with God.

When viewed by the world, self-control, especially when linked with self-denial and self-sacrifice seems to be essentially negative. However, when confronted with a true understanding of what human nature produces, we can see that the fruits of self-control are entirely positive. Lack of self-control is destructive as a person without self-control has no rule over themselves and is defenceless and is controlled by externals.
Proverbs 25:28
Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control.
The greek word for self-control includes the notions of having good sense, sober wisdom, moderation, and soundness of mind in addition to controlling our passions and apetites. Paul urges us to lay aside every 'weight' that hinders us from running the race that God has set for us. Self-control includes even throwing off 'weights' from our lives that are time and mind consuming, not necessarily sin by themselves but that which prevents us from running light and with vigour the full length and course that God has called us to.
Hebrews 12:1 (NKJV)
Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.
Self control is absolutely essential if we are achieve our potential.

Self-control is listed as one of the fruits of the Spirit. Self-control is not produced by our will and determination alone but it is achieved by obeying and living in co-operation with the Holy Spirit.
Galatians 5:22-25
..the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.
The Holy Spirit has been given to us so that we can live as over-comers and God pleasers, sober and sensible, not as people who are defeated and controlled by externals and living with blind passion and governed by the flesh. With the help of the Holy Spirit, we can fan into flame this gift!
2 Timothy 1:6-7
For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.

What are the areas in your life where you think you could do with more self-control and discipline? Bring them to the Lord in prayer and rely and co-operate with the Holy Spirit to help you overcome these and live a life of discipline. Remember that a life of self control is saying 'Yes' to God and will help you live to the highest calling and purpose that God has for you. Why settle for less when God wants the best for you?

Appreciation of Life

A new driver for an interstate trucking company was having a difficult time. He found the long cross-country trips extremely tiring. The older driver who traveled with him, however, seemed to thrive on those long trips. He always seemed to look as fresh at the end of the ride as he did at the beginning. One day, the young man asked the older what his secret was. “Well, it’s really all in the way you look at it,” he replied. “While you went to work this morning, I went for a ride through the country.” Isn't that amazing? Just the focus and appreciation that we have on the same situation, can change our perspective and our experience! That is why the Bible says:
Proverbs 15:15
All the days of the oppressed are wretched, but the cheerful heart has a continual feast.

Cheerfulness is hard especially in this world when life is full of disappointments, frustrations and difficulties. However, the Bible says that though a righteous man will have troubles, the Lord will deliver him!
Psalm 34:19
A righteous man may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all.
John 16:33
In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.
How we look at the troubles we face makes all the difference in the world! If we focus only the problems and create a mountain out of a molehill and have an attitude of despair, we are only compounding our problems. If we instead put on an attitude of cheerfulness with the knowledge and expectation that God will intervene on our behalf and deliver us, we are choosing to appreciate life and enjoy it, no matter what!

If we reflect on the reasons why difficulties occur to a righteous person, it is mostly for one of these reasons - that God may be glorified, to perfect our faith and character, to correct our sinful ways or as a consequence of our foolishness for bad choices. If we consider these wisely, they are all for our benefit even if it is not comfortable! God's glory should be our constant goal; growth in faith and character is a great blessing; correction is proof of God's love for us and is for our profit; and consequences from foolish choices drive us to wisdom. So we can lift up our heart and rejoice! That is what Paul was able to do when he was afflicted - able to be cheerful and rejoice!
2 Corinthians 12:9-10
But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.
1 Thessalonians 5:16
Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

What are you worried about that is robbing you of your appreciation of life? Get your perspective right! Remember that God is your future and there is no future greater than that! What's even better - there are benefits from all the troubles that we face and God will deliver us from it all for His glory! Choose an attitude of cheerfulness over despair and change your perspective and live a full abundant life rather a defeated life! The kind of life you have is your choice...
Proverbs 17:22
A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

Purpose in the Storm

There is pretty much nobody who has not faced problems or pain or one kind or another. We see it in our own lives, in the lives of others and in the world. If we are going through tough times, it helps to know why, and what we should do when we are in them. If not we can become frustrated and disillusioned. In King David's life, we see the dificulties he faces time after time and yet we see David still trust and obey God through it all. While problems and pain are the result of a fallen world, God uses these opportunities to develop us. However, it really depends on us - whether we co-operate with God and allow adversities to shape and build us or allow the difficulties and circumstances to overcome us.

God uses problems for various purposes. Here is a look at some of them:
- For Direction
Sometimes God must light a fire under us to get us moving! Problems often point us in a new direction and motivate us to change.
- For Introspection
There is a saying that people are like teabags, you drop them in hot water to see what they are made of! Problems should help us to introspect - to see the strength of our character and to produce patience and even joy despite circumstances.
James 1:2-4
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
- For Correction
God uses problems to correct us. We sometimes are able to reach out to God and listen to Him and correct our course when in pain.
Psalm 119:71
It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees.
- For our Protection
A problem can sometimes be a blessing in disguise. In Joseph's life, we see how God used the problems that he faced to take him to a place so that he could be a blessing to an entire nation!
Genesis 50:20
You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.
- For Perfection
God ultimate aim is to perfect us, to be like Christ. God is not as much concerned about our comfort as He is about us our character.
Romans 5:3-5
..but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

How do you see the storms that you face - as opportunities for growth and betterment or as a crisis and setback? Reflect on how God can use adversity to shape your life and learn to find joy and comfort in the midst of the problem and gleen the lessons of maturity that God wants to impart to you. Life is full of problem solving opportunities and if we co-operate with God, we will come out stronger and better for it!
Romans 8:28
We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

So Near Yet So Far...

It is quite well known that for most Christians there is a big knowing - doing gap. We all know far more than we ever put to practice. Yet we run around, trying to listen to the messages of the greatest preachers trying to gain more knowledge. We can be in church and surrounded by truth and yet let the truth have no impact in our own lives. Truth needs to be put into action for it to change our lives. There are sad consequences when truth is not applied personally as can be seen in the lives of Gehazi and also that of Ananias and Sapphira.

Let us look at the tragedy of not applying truth in one's own life from the life of Gehazi, a servant of Elisha. Elisha had cured Namaan of leprosy and sent him on his way taking nothing in return for the healing. Gehazi on seeing that Elisha took no gift followed Namaan and asked for a gift lying that it was not for himself but for two other visiting ministry of prophets. Here is what happened when Elisha questioned Gehazi on his return.
2 Kings 5:25-27
Then he went in and stood before his master Elisha. "Where have you been, Gehazi?" Elisha asked. "Your servant didn't go anywhere," Gehazi answered. But Elisha said to him, "Was not my spirit with you when the man got down from his chariot to meet you? Is this the time to take money, or to accept clothes, olive groves, vineyards, flocks, herds, or menservants and maidservants? Naaman's leprosy will cling to you and to your descendants forever." Then Gehazi went from Elisha's presence and he was leprous, as white as snow.

This is so similar to what happened with Ananias and Sapphira in the Book of Acts. They sold a piece of property and they agreed to keep back part of the money but brought the rest and put it at the apostles' feet lying to them that it was the whole money. Here is what Peter told Ananias.
Acts 1:3-4
Then Peter said, "Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? Didn't it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn't the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied to men but to God."
Ananias heard this and dropped dead. Sapphira came in a little later and not knowing that Ananias was judged by God, lied that all of the money was brought to the apostles feet and she too died immediately and fear fell upon the whole church.

What is similar to Gehazi, and Ananias and Sapphira is that they lived in a context of truth, so near to the truth and yet so far from it themselves. They heard the ways of the Lord, they saw it applied in the lives of others so close to them and yet they chose not to apply it in their own lives. I believe that Gehazi, Ananias and Sapphira did not fall into greed on a particular day they chose to seek after money and lie to possess it, but they had made a habit of ignoring the still small voice of God and failed to practice truth in obedience. We are deceiving ourselves if we think we can ignore the voice of God and procrastinate our obedience to Him.

Are you applying the truth that you know in your life? Do you know more than you practise? Bridge the knowing - doing gap and learn to apply truth in obedience. Not applying the truth but professing the faith might deceive a few people but never God.
Luke 11:28
He (Jesus) replied, "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it."

I Am Not Ashamed of the Gospel

Have you ever felt ashamed of the Gospel? The world does not value the Gospel - the good news that Jesus Christ is our Saviour and the world mocks at the things we believe considering it religious mumbo jumbo, a fairy tale and even thinking that we are believing something that is not true to use as a crutch for our weakness. To the world, a crucified Savior is obviously an oxymoron, a contradiction and is foolishness. The Gospel message is a counter intuitive message - a message that does not come from our wisdom but God's.
1 Corinthians 1:18-21
For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written: "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate." Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.

What we need to understand is that we did not come to the knowledge of Christ through our own understanding or wisdom but through Christ's power working in us. The problem is that human beings want to be seen as self-sufficient, independent, able to take care of themselves and do not want to be seen as weak, as needing someone outside of themselves to save them. Paul tells us that he is not ashamed of the gospel message because it is the power of salvation for those who believe!
Romans 1:16
I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith."

Paul faced a situation when people were deserting the faith because they were ashamed of the Gospel. Paul is in prison and under fire because the government sees him preaching a new heresy about a different king. He writes to Timothy to continue in the faith and not to be ashamed of the suffering that comes with following the Gospel because we have believed in the person of Christ who is our salvation prepared for us even before the beginning of time!
2 Timothy 1:8-10,12b
So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, who has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel..... Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day.

Do you feel ashamed of the Gospel especially that is contrary to the world's wisdom? You are right, it is contrary to the world's wisdom and rightly so because it is God's wisdom and power. So there is no need to feel ashamed. Be bold because your faith is based on the person of the Jesus Christ.

Our Image of God

Most of us probably have known people who are demanding, who always seem to want more than they give. We feel manipulated to be in such relationships and come away after each encounter feeling drained. Sometimes we can be demanding and manipulative in our relationship with God. We can treat God like a giant cosmic vending machine or even as a fool proof insurance policy. We expect God to pander to our every request and when things don't go our way, wonder why God is not concerned about us!

If we consider God to be a giant vending machine, then prayer is our currency. We think God will answer every prayer and we only need ask. If God answered every prayer, what a disaster this world would be! He knows better than we do.
Isaiah 55:8-9
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
We need to understand that God is sovereign, omniscient and He knows what is best and has our best interests in His heart, even more than we do! Sometimes, He answers, “No,” just as a good parent does. When our prayers are not answered the way we expect it, we need to understand that God has not disappointed us, but the image of God that we have has disappointed us.

Another image that we can have of God is that of God as a fail proof insurance policy. We think that we just need to go to church, tithe, pray everyday and as long as we do what a good Christian will do, that God owes us to keep us out of trouble. Another image that we can have is of God as a Superhero who will swoop down and rescue us in the nick of time when we are in trouble. Though there is an element of truth in each of these characters, just building our image of God solely on any of these images, is setting us for disappointment. We need to understand that God is always there for us - through the bad and the good times, in the stable times and the storm, in the joy and the pain.
Hebrews 13:5
...God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."
Matthew 28:20b
..."And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
At no time has God left us to our own devices. At no time have we been forsaken. God has always been present, whether we felt God or not. In short, God has never disappointed us but only our image of God has.

Are you disappointed with God? Reflect on what your image of God has been. If you have been thinking of God as a vending machine, an insurance policy or a SuperHero - you have set yourself up for disappointment. God is there for you, He knows what is best for you. Reflect on God's answer to Job when Job was disappointed with the image of God he had in his mind.
Job 38:3-11
Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me. "Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation? Tell me, if you understand. Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it? On what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone- while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy? "Who shut up the sea behind doors when it burst forth from the womb, when I made the clouds its garment and wrapped it in thick darkness, when I fixed limits for it and set its doors and bars in place, when I said, 'This far you may come and no farther; here is where your proud waves halt'? .... (read Job 38:42)
Correct yourself like how Job corrected himself and have a real understanding of who He is.
Job 42:3,5-6
Then Job replied to the LORD : "I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted.... My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes."

Am I my Brother's Keeper?

Perhaps one of the most poignant questions asked in the Bible is when Cain asks the Lord "Am I my brother's keeper?". This was in response to the Lord's question as to where his brother Abel was.
Genesis 4:8-9
Now Cain said to his brother Abel, "Let's go out to the field.". And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him. Then the LORD said to Cain, "Where is your brother Abel?" "I don't know," he replied. "Am I my brother's keeper?"
This is a question we would do well to ask ourselves today. Cain's attitude was flippant towards his brother and ours may be the same too. Are we our brother's keeper? Do we have a responsibility to watch out for and care for one another?

The Bible says that we are to love our brothers and even our enemies. The Bible clearly tells us that love is to be demonstrated - through action, through works. It is not enough to have a fluffy warm feeling in our heart and just pray, but love is to be demonstrated.
1 John 3:11-12,16-17
This is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another. Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother's were righteous.
1 John 3:16-17
This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?

We are not to be our brothers' keeper for the proverbial pat on the back, or for that medal, or for any other recognition or egotistic reward. We are to bless and help our brother in need, because we love them.
1 Corinthians 13:3
If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.
We love because He first loved us and while we were still sinners, died for us. If we refuse to help our brother in need, the Bible tells us that God's love is not in us.
1 John 4:19-21
We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.
Our love for God is to be demonstrated by our love for His people.

Are you your brother's keeper? Yes, you are. God will hold you accountable for the people around you, those you could have helped. Our relationship with Christ is not just a personal relationship but also a social and communal one. We are in grave danger of living as an hyper-individualistic Christian if we forget that we are our brother's keeper.

Guarding our Minds

Have you seen an icicle form? Dripping water when frozen, one drop at a time, results in an icicle. If the water is clean, the icicle is clear and sparkles brightly in the sun; but if the water is even slightly muddy, the icicle is cloudy and its beauty spoiled. Our character is formed in like manner. Each thought or decision we make adds its influence and contributes its part. Everything we allow into our minds and souls - impressions, experiences, images - helps create our character. At all times, we must be aware of the "droplets" we allow to drip into our lives. That is why Jesus warns us to be careful of what is in our hearts and minds.
Matthew 15:19
"Don't you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body? But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man 'unclean.' For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.

Solomon advises us to "Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life" (Proverbs 4:23).. In other words, it means "Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts." The heart is the starting point of the activities of life; it determines the course of life. We have the duty of guarding our hearts and minds. The eyes and ears are the gateway into what enters our minds and we need to be careful to what we take in through these two senses and also what we say with our mouths as it is powerful. We cannot open our lives to every influence but we need to discern between the good and the bad and train ourselves to be Godly.
1 Timothy 4:7-8
Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives' tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.

The Psalmist says that I will set before my eyes no vile thing. The deeds of faithless men I hate; they will not cling to me (Psalm 101:3). This means that we should be careful of what we watch with our eyes - even television and movies. Are we exposing ourselves to wickedness daily and deceiving ourselves into thinking that it is not reality? Jesus says that the eyes is the lamp of the body!
Matthew 6:22-23
"The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
The Word of God says that faith comes from hearing (Romans 10:17). What are we listening to - the words of Christ or the words of the world? We need to hide God's word in our hearts so that we do not sin against Him (Psalm 119:11).

Are you guarding your mind or do you let every whim of thought and imagery into your mind? Remember that what you think determines the course of your life. Choose to spend your time wisely and meditate on God's word and exercise Godliness and you are choosing a whole life.
Romans 8:5
Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.

Silence of the Lamb

Have you ever been accused falsely? Perhaps like me, you have also experienced that the motivation to defend and speak out for ourselves is very strong under such circumstances. Let us look at Jesus, who was falsely accused and had evidence that was falsely fabricated against Him. The intent of the accusers was not to know the Truth but to get their will done which was to crucify Jesus. In the midst of all the false accusations, Jesus remained silent. The only time Jesus answered anything was when He was asked who He was. Jesus could not deny Himself, His own identity.
Mark 14:55-62
The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death, but they did not find any. Many testified falsely against him, but their statements did not agree. Then some stood up and gave this false testimony against him: "We heard him say, 'I will destroy this man-made temple and in three days will build another, not made by man.' " Yet even then their testimony did not agree. Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, "Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?" But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer. Again the high priest asked him, "Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?". "I am," said Jesus. "And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven."

Jesus had come to fulfill a mission - to pave a way through His subsitutional death for us to reconcile man to God. He could have answered His accusers and not taken the path of the cross but He did not choose that path because He had us in His mind and wanted to save us. He fulfilled the prophecy that Isaiah made - that as a sheep before her shearers, Christ will be silent as He is led to His sacrificial slaughter.
Isaiah 53:7
He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.
We wonder and marvel and find it difficult to accept Jesus' silence because it is not easy to accept our own weakness and our own suffering and to forfeit our control if we are silent.

Scripture teaches us that if God is our portion, then we need to wait in silence for His salvation! Our rebuttal and vengeance in such situations will show our lack of trust in God. When we retaliate, we forfeit the blessing and reward that suffering is meant to bring. It shows that we lack the confidence we ought to have in God's ability to make things right in His own time, which will include clearing our name and bringing all things to light.
Lamentations 3:24-26
I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him."
The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.
Peter too clearly says that we are to model Christ in this aspect, especially when we are falsely accused.
1 Peter 2:19-23
For it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God. But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. "He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth." When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.

Are you currently going through a situation where you are wrongly accused? Do you feel compelled to talk to others or confront others so that your name is cleared? Reflect on Jesus' silence when He was accused falsely and ask God to give you wisdom to know whether you need to wait quietly and trust in Him instead of taking the matter into your own hands.

Broken and Poured Out - Wasteful or Beautiful?

As Christians, one of the sacraments we celebrate as a community is the Lord's Supper. The Lord's Supper was instituted by Jesus at the last Passover dinner he had with his disciples the day before he was crucified. He was pointing to the disciples that He was going to die as a sacrifical Lamb, as a perfect offering for the sins of the world. His broken Body was to be represented by the bread and His innocent blood that would be poured out was to be represented by the wine. Jesus' loving sacrifical act as our substitute through His broken body and poured blood paved the way for humankind to be reconciled back to God and to freed from the hold of sin and death!
Mark 14:22-25
While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take it; this is my body." Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, and they all drank from it. "This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many," he said to them. "I tell you the truth, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it anew in the kingdom of God."

In our lives, we often don't like being in a broken state and wonder what good can come out of a state of brokenness. When we reflect on Jesus's death on the cross - His broken body and poured out blood, we realise that it was a beautiful noble thing! The lady who annointed Jesus prior to His death with the expensive perfume clearly understood this. That is why, she had no problem breaking the beautiful alabaster jar to pour out the perfume which was worth a year's wages and anoint Jesus with it! While many questioned her act as wasteful, Jesus commended her heart and said it was a beautiful act!
Mark 14:3-6
While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head. Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, "Why this waste of perfume? It could have been sold for more than a year's wages and the money given to the poor." And they rebuked her harshly. "Leave her alone," said Jesus. "Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me.."

To be broken and then poured out is the secret of spreading the fragrance of the Lord through our lives. Many a time we can't be poured out and be effective because we are not willing to be broken. Each one of us has 'perfume'- the presence of the Holy Spirit inside our jars of clay. Our inner jar of selfishness and self-centredness must be broken, if the sweet fragrance of the perfume is to be released and poured out. This brokenness can be the result of repentance from sin, the acceptance of circumstances in our lives like hardship or the willingness to offer to the Lord that which is very dear to us inorder to obey Him. The result will be that a sweet aroma will flow into our own souls and through it to people around us because it is Christ's life at work in us!
2 Corinthians 4:7-12
But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body. So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.

What are the hardships and brokenness in your own life? Take heart and be encouraged today as a state of brokenness is not a wasteful thing but a beautiful thing in the Lord's hands! He will use it to allow His fragrance to be poured out through you.
Psalm 51:17
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

The Race of Life

It is important not just to start but to finish well! in the Bible, Christians are likened to athletes - more marathon runners rather than sprinters and definitely not as people going for an aimless stroll in the park! There is something that marathon runners need to finish the race and that is perseverance or endurance! Today, I am encouraged from Hebrews chapter 12. Let me share a few thoughts from these incredible verses!
Hebrews 12:1-3
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

We are encouraged by God to throw off everything that hinders us from completing the race. As we run the race, we are surrounded and encouraged not only by God but also by all the faithful witnesses who have gone before us! If we were to view life as lived out for God's glory, what do you think are some of the distractions that come before you? Pre-occupation or living in the grip of past sins and patterns, daily temptations that face us, anxieties of life and the lure of wordly fame and wealth and success will be certainly some of the things we can run towards instead of running the real race!

If we were to watch a marathon race on television and see a few runners just going off on a different route rather than towards the finish line, would not we laugh and pity them? But that's exactly what we sometimes do! We get distracted and instead of running towards Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith we run after the little distractions. The only way we will continue to run the endurance race of life in the right direction is we fix our eyes on Jesus and look to Him for guidance along the way and live based on His wisdom and His ways!
1 Corinthians 9:24-27
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air.No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

Running an endurance event is not easy because we can just get discouraged and weary. Thankfully, we do not have a God who is at the finish line but we have a God who too ran the race of human life! He understands and sympathizes with our weaknesses and endured all the pain and suffering and even overcame all the distractions that entangles us!
Hebrews 4:16-16
Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
When we consider Him, really reflect on Him as our example, we too can run with passion and determination, being confident that we too can finish well!

How are you running the race of life - as a sprint, marathon or a stroll in the park? What is the goal or finish line for you? If it is anything other than eternity and Jesus Christ, then most likely you are satisfied with the little distractions rather than the True Signifance and Meaning of life. You are in a race, don't sit down or turn back but instead run with endurance. If you are weary and discouraged, consider Him who ran the same race on the same road as you and you will be encouraged to finish well and meet Him at the finish line!
2 Timothy 4:7-8
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.