Transition to Eternity

Today I went to the memorial service of a friend's mother. It was beautiful.. as the children and many others who knew her, recollected her life and all the significant things she did and the lives that she had impacted. Everyone mentioned that she had loved much, gave her time so selflessly to invest in others especially the young. It brought to my mind, that life is fleeting..
James 4:14
Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.

This also made me think, what would I like to be said at my funeral? How would I like to be remembered? Would I be remembered for making impact on people's lives? Would my life be worth eternally? That is why King Solomon so wisely wrote that is good to go to funerals and to reflect on life when we still have the time.
Ecclesiastes 7:2 (NLT)
Better to spend your time at funerals than at parties.
After all, everyone dies— so the living should take this to heart.

Many of us make plans - plans for a holiday, plans to marry, plans to have kids, plans to buy a home, plans for a career move, plans to even retire someday.. but do we have a transition plan for moving into eternity? Do we want to meet our Lord and Savior empty handed or do we want to walk over into eternity having done something of value for others and the Lord? Or are we living a life that has no eternal value?
Philippians 3:18-21
For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.

As the famous saying goes "Soon this life as we know it shall pass. Only what’s done for Jesus will last." It is time to reflect on the worth of what we spend our time and energy on and re-prioritise and focus on what is unseen and eternal and of lasting value..
2 Corinthians 4:18
So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Living up to our true character..

The word character literally means a unique mark or shape. Much like how letters in words are characters joined together to convey meaning, we were created by God in His image to not only exhibhit His character but also to exhibit our unique character or potential and make our mark in history! When God created Adam and Eve, He had plans for them, plans for them to live a life upto the potential that they were created for. The fall of man resulted in our true character to be marred by sin - not only robbing us from exhibhiting the character and holiness of God in whose image we were created but also robbing us from living into the full potential that we created for.

There is only one you - you are unique. You were created in this time and season to leave a particular mark in history that is not just of value here and now but also eternally in fulfilling God's purposes. That is why you have a particular personality, particular mix of giftings that makes you, uniquely you. There is no point wishing to be somebody else and coveting somebody else's gifting when all God wants you to do is to rediscover who you were created to be, working with God in restoring the true image of God back in you and uniquely being you and living out the expression of that. Esther realised the reason she was Queen was to save her people, the Jewsish people and she stepped up to embrace her destiny in God!

Esther 4: 14

For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?

God's redemptive work in us involves putting off sin and putting on the character of God through the help of the Holy Spirit.
Ephesians 4:22-24
You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
In addition to being restored to His image of holiness, we also need to be restored to live upto our true potential! The Bible tells us that God created everything with "seed in it according to their kinds." (Genesis 1:12. This means that hidden within us is a potential that is able to produce more than we can actually see and is yet to come. God paid the ultimate price, His own life to release our potential. It is upto us to work with our Creator, to understand what we were created for, to build on it and accomplish it!

We have the God given potential in us to accomplish all that God wants to accomplish with His help. The psalmist says that we need to cry out to God and seek His help in fulfilling our potential.
Psalm 57:2- "I cry out to God Most High, to God, who fulfills {his purpose} for me."
Jesus also said that the Father will give us whatever we ask in His name especially to accomplish His purposes.
John 15:16
You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.

What makes you, uniquely you? What aspects of your personality and image needs continued redemption by God? Partner with Him and embrace your destiny and calling. Don't miss leaving your unique mark in history but work together with God in living upto your true potential - the purpose that God has redeemed you for!!

The Supremacy of Christ

Jesus Christ is the most unique person in human history - there was no one like Him and there will not be anyone like Him ever. He is the image of the invisible God and the fullness of God's deity dwells in Him. If we want to know God, we need to know Christ. Christ is the manifestation and true representation of the invisible God. That is why, Jesus said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6)

Paul understood that the nature, character and very being of God is found in Christ. That is why he writes to the Colossian church about the Supremacy of Christ.
Colossians 1:15-20
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

Jesus Christ is supreme - He is the alpha and the omega, the beginning and the end, God Himself. He has supremacy over everything. He has supreme authority, supreme power, supreme creativity, supreme love, supreme grace, supreme wisdom, supreme knowledge, supreme goodness and faithfulness, supreme Holiness, supreme justice, supreme humility and so on. Jesus is the epitome of supreme perfection and beauty and everything our beings long for. Though there is no one superior to Him, He does not force Himself upon us and wants us to choose Him. He lays his life down for us, in such dehumanising manner because He loves us and chose to serve us and save us. God has forever exalted him to the highest place in the universe!

Philippians 2:5-11

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,to the glory of God the Father.

Jesus, the most Supreme waits patiently at the door of your heart, waiting to be let in. He doesn't want to just be in your heart but He also would like to demonstrate those supreme qualities in our life and for this we need to allow Him to be supreme in our lives? Will you give Him the supremacy in your life and crown Him the Lord of your heart and life? Examine what areas in your life you are holding back? Let's yield and enthrone Him in all aspects of our life because He deserves nothing less from us.

Revelation 3:20
Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.

Live by Faith!

The Bible describes Faith in Hebrews 11:1 as "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see". Faith is trusting in God's ability and moving ahead knowing that He will act! I am reminded of the story of people gathering to pray for rain and the drought to be broken. No one had come expecting God to act except for a little boy who had come prepared with an umbrella!

We ought to live our lives expecting God to act! God has already revealed to us so much of His heart and will in His word that we need to obey. When we move ahead in obedience trusting in God, we are ushering in His will and God will move on our behalf and we will see victory and progress in our lives! Often times we do not act and hence we do not see God work. God cannot bring promises in our lives to pass if we are not stepping out in faith and moving in the direction He has called into. When we step out in faith, God then works out the supernatural element as we continue to fix our eyes on Him! Faith is obedience in action. God expects us to move first and then He will act. Peter could walk on water because He stepped out of the boat overcoming his fear and trusted Jesus to make it happen!

Matthew 14: 25 – 32

Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.

But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”

“Come,” he said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

Saul and Jonathan were facing a dire situation at the hand of the Phlistines. The Israelite army did not have a spear or sword except for Saul and Jonathan as there were no Israelite blacksmiths. However, Jonathan decided to move ahead along with his armor bearer because He knew that God was able to act on his behalf and it did not matter whether there were many or few with him. God moved on Israel's behalf and they won the battle! That is faith in action!
I Samuel 13:22 14:6
So on the day of the battle not a soldier with Saul and Jonathan had a sword or spear in his hand; only Saul and his son Jonathan had them.
I Samuel 14: 6
Jonathan said to his young armor-bearer, "Come, let's go over to the outpost of those uncircumcised fellows. Perhaps the LORD will act in our behalf. Nothing can hinder the LORD from saving, whether by many or by few."

Are you in a place wondering why some of the promises that God has given you not come into pass yet? Is there an element where you have not stepped out in faith and taken some action? Ask God to show what you must do to step out in faith and obedience! Like Peter and Jonathan did, when we step step out trusting God, He will act on our behalf and we can expect the supernatural hand of God!

Our story or His Story?

The Bible is about God's story. The essence of God's story is that God created man for fellowship and He is in the process of separating out a people from every nation, tribe and language as His own! This is the end of history - God separating a people unto Himself! History is His Story!
Rev 7:9-10
After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice:
"Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne,
and to the Lamb."

Often we live life oblivious that we and our lives are part of the story of God! We run our lives without realising that everything in our lives is part of a bigger story, a bigger narrative of redemption. We need to understand that everything we do - our birth, our growing up, our study, our careers, our marriage, our kids, our calling and everything we do until the time we die, is to be lived in the context of God's story of God redeeming a people to Himself into the kingdom of God! This gives us a larger context, the larger perspective and purpose in not going about our lives in poursuing our own purposes but also intersecting the lives of others in a way we together cause God's purposes are established! What an impact that would have if we go about unlocking potential and purpose in the lives of others around us by serving one another and have our lives intersect! When we do this, we find our own purpose and potential is unlocked and together we are building the body of Christ!

Romans 12:4 – 8

For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

Paul describes us as living epistles or letters that tell a story that points to God! Letters carry messages that are meant to be read. Every day, we perhaps write a page and over a season a chapter with our lives! Ever wondered what sort of message we are putting out there for the body and the world to see? Are they messages of love, hope, service and encouragement to others that build others up for the kingdom of God or do they tear down and point to a kingdom of darkness instead? Let's ask the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of the Living God to help write pages, letters and books of our life that truly point to God!
2 Corinthians 3:2-3
You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everybody. You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.
St. Francis of Assisi said "Preach the gospel at all times and if necessary use words."

Do our lives testify to the character of God and point others to the bigger picture of His Story in history? Let us live our lives conscious that everything we do is part of the bigger story and has impact on the people that God is gathering to Himself! Let us become tools of the Spirit of the Living God that partner with Him in the bigger purpose of redeeming a people for the Kingdom of God!

His Compassions Fail Not

A popular saying goes, "People do not care how much you know until they know how much you care." There is truth in this. When we go through trials and deep sorrow, no amount of knowledge is going to comfort us, we really want the love, support, care and compassion of people around us. The same is with our relationship with God. We need to know that God is with us when it hurts, when our lives are full of sorrow, pain and grief. He cares and He understands.

The Bible tells us that our God is merciful, gracious, anxious to forgive, slow to anger and full of loving kindness and compassion. He does not treat us as our sins deserve. Every time we are down, we need to remember the past faithfulness and compassion of God towards us! This is our hope! Like dew every morning, His compassions are new every morning and they will never fail us!
Lamentations 3:20-26
I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me.
Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope:
Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.
They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
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.

Jesus is not out of touch with our reality. He understands the path we take and He identifies with our struggles and pain. This is because He has walked the very path we walk and has felt every emotion that we face and yet He was able to overcome. When Jesus was on earth, we read often in the scripotures that Jesus was moved by compassion and He intervened on behalf of His people. Even as Jesus is in Heaven, He continues to be moved by compassion for us and He is forever interceding for us and offering us grace and mercy! That picture of Jesus interceding for me constantly for me to get through what I am going through, truly touches me and help me to rise up and overcome with His strength!

Hebrews 4: 14 - 16

Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, 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 empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Yes, we can hold firmly to the faith we have even when it hurts, even when things are not going great. God is compassionate and He will make a way for us! In fact, He is already working at it, interceding for us and we need to together partner with Him and recognise and receive His mercy and grace for our situation. The writer James says that even in Job's situation, the Lord was full of compassion and mercy and brought about restoration.
James 5: 11

As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.

It is because of God's loving kindness that we can trust Him! He is faithful and will never fail us! We have reason to hope in Him and as we hope, He is good to us! Let us persevere!

Psalm 145: 8 - 9

The Lord is gracious and compassionate,
    slow to anger and rich in love.

The Lord is good to all;
    he has compassion on all he has made.

Metamorphosis

Change when driven by God in our life is beautiful! Have you looked at a caterpillar transforming itself to butterfly - it is an extraordinary change, the characteristics of the caterpillar are totally gone and a new creature, totally beautiful and free appears! Every aspect of the Christian life should involve the same metamorphosis or change - irreversible and totally transformational.

The first Christian experience of repentance and conversion is a change, the daily process of sanctification of being renewed in the likeness of God is a change, and the final eschatological tranformation into Christ's likeness when we meet face to face with Him is a change! Change in the Christian life is inevitable. While our God is unchanging because He is perfect, we need change as we are imperfect and we need to be transformed more into His likeness!
2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
Romans 6:4
We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

Yes, once we are saved, it's a new start! Once saved, we are on a continual journey of being changed every day, bit by bit to be more and more like Christ through a process called sanctification. We start to be directed by Christ increasingly as we realise that the old self with it's selfish sinful nature has been nailed to the cross and has no power over us. We begin to develop a love for God and pursue God's desires, plans and purposes. We are no longer slaves to sin but free indeed to live to bring glory to our Lord!

Romans 6: 11 - 14
In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires.Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness. For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.

Saul who was persecuting Christians underwent such a dramatic conversion once he encountered Jesus on the road to Damascus. We see in his life, the process of transformation as he read the scriptures in a new light, spent time in prayer, partnered with the Holy Spirit and lived in discipleship and fellowship with like minded people. The Saul we first encounter who was legalistic and a terrorist undergoes a complete metamorphosis by becoming a true servant of the Gospel and brings about transformation to whole communities and nations!

Galatians 2: 20

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Ephesians 4:22-24
You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

God is not only interested in our own personal change but also in changing the situations, the communities and nations around us! He not only wants us to change but He wants us to be agents of change and be a change maker! What are the changes you need to make? Embrace change that is directed by God because God is making something beautiful out of the transformation! Ask God to make you a change maker by bringing His transformation to the world we live in!

Be Bold, Be Strong!

Be bold, be strong for the Lord your God is with you.
I am not afraid, I am not dismayed
Because I'm walking in faith and victory
Come on and walk in faith and victory
For the Lord your God is with you!
These words from an old song are ringing in my ear today! Boldness is a virtue! Our God asks us not to be fearful of anything except Him. When we are fearless of man and situations, we are free to walk according to God's ways and we can walk in faith and victory. When we fear God and not men, we are able to say:
Hebrews 13:6
We say with confidence,
 "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.
 What can man do to me?"

If we fear man, then we are most likely to live a life of compromise as we are busy safeguarding ourselves and our position. We will end up serving whom we fear. If we fear God, we wil serve Him. If we fear man, we will serve man. We have a choice to make and our choice will determine our destiny! People who feared God were never put to shame! Think of Daniel who was cast into the furnace with his friends and who was thrown into the lions den, all for his refusal to dishonor God! We know that God delivered Daniel from the fire and the mouth of the lion and restored his honor before men! Think of Joshua and Caleb who had a different report to what the other ten spies had, that the Israelites could conquer the "giants" in the land! We know that the Lord delivered the land of Canaan into the Israelites hands!

Think of David who conquered Goliath on his own and brought victory to Israel because He feared no one but only God. He did what a trained military could not do. David stepped out in boldness and faced Goliath because he had the confidence that he will not be ashamed but that God will deliver this "Goliath" as the battle belongs to the Lord!

I Samuel 17: 34 - 37

But David said to Saul, “Your servant has been keeping his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it. Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.”

 I Sam 17: 45-47

David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.”

Daniel, Joshua and Caleb are heroes because they chose not to fear men but only to fear God! When you stand up in boldness for God, you will not be let down by God but you will succeed!
Proverbs 14:26-27
He who fears the LORD has a secure fortress,
  and for his children it will be a refuge.
The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life,
  turning a man from the snares of death.

Fearing God is giving Him the reverential respect, honor, glory and preeminence that He alone deserves. Fearing God is telling God that nothing else matters to us and nothing else comes closer to knowing God and obeying Him! Have you made your choice today against the "Goliaths" you face today? Our destiny depends on whom we fear and honor.
Psalm 31:19
How great is your goodness,
which you have stored up for those who fear you,
which you bestow in the sight of men
on those who take refuge in you.
Be bold, be strong and fear God and you will surely walk in faith and victory!

When I consider the heavens..

Can you imagine the dark nights that David was on pastures along with the sheep and looking up at the starry hosts, pondering on the vastness and beauty of the universe and greatness of God? The days and nights David spent alone with the sheep in the pastures helped David understand the greatness of God and he became a worshipper. David also recognised that he was someone very precious in God's sight. These periods allowed David to develop a strong relationship with God and he communed with God because there was no one else he could communicate with.

In the following psalm David writes about how great God is and how small in comparison we are. However, David writes about how God has made us only a little lower than Himself! We are precious in God's sight even though we are very small and powerless in comparison to God!
Psalm 8:3-9(NLT)
When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers—
  the moon and the stars you set in place—
what are mere mortals that you should think about them,
  human beings that you should care for them?
Yet you made them only a little lower than God
  and crowned them with glory and honor.
You gave them charge of everything you made,
  putting all things under their authority—
  the flocks and the herds
  and all the wild animals,
  the birds in the sky, the fish in the sea,
  and everything that swims the ocean currents.
O Lord, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth!

Why do you think that David wrote what he did - that we are precious to God, made a little lower than Him and crowned with glory and honor?! David wrote this because even though he knew and understood the surpassing greatness of God, he really communed with God and had a real relationship with Him. David was just awed that an omniscient, omnipresent, all powerful, great God loved to commune with Him! The reason that God is able to commune with us is because we are made in His own image! Being created in God's image means that we have the communicable attributes of God like reasoning, speaking, making choices, have emotions, have a moral character, have a desire for love, realtionships and values like faithfulness, mercy and justice. Non-communicable attributes of God are the characteristics that make God, God. God made us in His image intentionally so that He can relate to us unlike anything else in creation!
Genesis 1:26-28
Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground.”
So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. Then God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that scurry along the ground.”.
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.

He wants to commue with us because He created us in love and loves us deeply and fully. He loved us unconditionally and loves us inspite of ourself. Even though we are sinful ever since Adam and Eve first sinned, He had a plan to redeem us. The redemption plan cost Him - death of His own son Jesus and He paid the ultimate price so that we can continue in relationship with Him. This is what defines human value and worth - not where we are born, our race, our skin color, wealth, looks, fame or any earthly parameter.

John 3: 16

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

1 John 4: 10

This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 

1 John 4: 19

We love because he first loved us.

Even now, centuries later, we can relate to David's psalm. We should feel a greater sense of awe than David did when we understand more of the universe with the help of modern technology and begin to comprehend the vastness of all that He has made. We also now live in a time we can have a personal relationship with this amazing God because of what Christ did on the cross for us and we have the Holy Spirit living in us! The same God who communed with David is now waiting to commune with you because you are precious to Him. Let's not keep him waiting becasue we are too busy. Let's grow in our relationship and understanding of this powerful awe-inspiring God who loves us so deeply than we can begin to fathom.

Fellows together..

When God created Adam, he was the only human on earth. God immediately said that it was not good for man to be alone and created Eve! The first human community was born. Ever wondered why Christians gather together in church, in home groups and various other small groups to study God's word?

The word for meeting together is fellowship and it comes from the greek word koinonia which means "sharing in common". It means assimilation into a family, a people that God is separating to Himself, His family. We were created for community - to be in communion with our Creator and to be in communion with one another. If we claim to have fellowship with God, we need to have fellowhip with one another. We are not meant to be Christians in isolation but asked to be in community with real authentic relationship with one another.
1 John 1:6-7
If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

Why is fellowship so critical? The first one is for each of our personal growth. When we meet together in fellowship, we encourage one another and in the process we grow in Christ.
Romans 1:11-12
I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong—that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith.

Hebrews 10: 24 - 25

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

The second reason for fellowship is so that the world knows about us. It is only when we meet together that we are able to show our love for one another. Love cannot be shown in isolation! It is by our unconditional love for one another that the world can come to know of the unconditional love of the Father for them!
John 17:22-23
I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

Another reason is that we really belong to each other as members of One body, the body of Christ. Being in community together reflects our unity and oneness in Christ and we are able to minister to one another using our giftings.

Romans 12: 4 - 8

For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your[a]faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

If you are involved in a fellowship in a church or a small group, you are embracing the key value of God - to be in community! Continue to show your commitment for the people you are in fellowship with that is based on God's unconditional love and share the love of God! When you are in fellowship, you are reflecting God's heart!!

Joie de vivre!!!

How many of us would love to have more joy in our lives? How many of us would love to live life feeling joyful inspite of the circumstances? This is actually how we are called to live!
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

What is the key to feeling joyful? Is it really possible to be joyful even in difficult circumstances? Yes, it is possible and the key to true joy is thankfulness. Thankfulness is the position of the heart that is grateful to God for who He is and what He does for us. Since the focus of our thankfulness is God who is never changing, we can be thankful always. Joy is therefore not dependent on our situation but on our attitude of heart, a heart of thankfulness!

Paul was falsely accused and in jail, held for two years without trial when he wrote the letter to the Philippians. Yet, it is one of the most joyful epistles that Paul has written.
Philippians 1:3-6
I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
Notice how Paul begins. He starts by thanking God for the Philippian believers. Paul found a reason to thank God. No matter how dire the circumstance, there is reason to thank God! A thankful heart is a heart that honors God as there is no room for self pity and whinging about our circumstance. A thankful heart helps us to take our eyes off ourselves and help us to look toward God, our source of true joy!

What is your reason to be thankful to God today? Give thanks to God who is never changing. He is worthy of all our thanksgiving. Give thanks and you will soon find true joie de vivre despite your circumstance!

Build your house on the Rock!

There is a lovely kid's praise song that has so much wisdom in it. It is based on a parable that Jesus said - not to build your house on sandy land but on a good foundation. Here is how it goes:
Don't build your house on the sandy land,
  don't build it too near the shore.
Well, it might look kind of nice
  but you'll have to build it twice,
  oh, you'll have to build your house once more.
You've got to build your house upon the rock,
  make a good foundation on a solid spot.
Oh, the storms may come and go,
  but the peace of God you will know.

And here is the parable:
Luke 6:46-49
"Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say? I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice. He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete."
You usually never hear people say "You have got a great foundation". Instead People notice and appreciate what can be seen, that is the beautiful house. However the beautiful house will last through rains and storms only if it has a solid foundation. Each of us is building the house of our lives and we are doing it on a foundation we have chosen. Jesus is concerned about the foundation we are building our lives on as the storms and floods that will come are a certainity. The foundation of our lives is unseen and invisible but it will be revealed when the storms of life come upon us.

We can choose to build our lives on family or career or wealth or fame or even church and religious trappings as a foundation. However, all this is like building on sandy ground and our lives will crumble when a storm hits. The only lasting foundation on which we can build our lives confidently is on Jesus Christ, the eternal rock. Notice that in the parable, Jesus starts by saying why we are calling Him Lord and not doing what He says. Salvation in Christ is not sufficient to ensure that we are building our lives on a solid foundation. We need to walk in daily obedience and in dependence and submission on God. We cannot expect to be protected from the storms that come against us unless our lives are in complete obedience to God. So that means, we need to obey God in all areas of our life - the way we interact with one another, the way we raise kids, we way we treat our spouse and marriage, our businesses, our careers, our ministry. Yes, everything has to be built on teh foundaton of Christ and in on-going obedience to Him!
1 Corinthians 3:11-15
For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.

Let's commit afresh to building our lives on the sure foundation of complete obedience to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

For such a time as this..

Have you ever wondered why you are born at this particular time in history, in a particular place, in a particular setting that is uniquely yours? Perhaps we can understand something from the story of Esther.

Esther was a young Jewish girl living in exile. She won a beauty contest and won the favour of King Xerxes of Persia and was crowned his Queen. However, all the Jews in the land came under a death sentence and faced annihilation due to the scheming of wicked Hamaan. Mordecai, her uncle who raised her urged Esther to do something to save her people.
Esther 4:14
For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?"
Esther, decided to make her supplication to the King even though her life was at risk as she was not invited into the King's presence.
Esther 4:15-16
Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: "Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish."
Esther's bravery and action at the right time helped save all the Jews and to this day, the festival of Purim is celebrated to mark this deliverance.

In the book of Esther, not once is God mentioned. The book is pivoted around the central character Esther and what she did. Like Esther, you are specially chosen for such a time as this, placed in a unique position to reach the people that only you can reach. It is a wonderful thought to know that there is no one else like you in history and never will be. Like in the book of Esther, God is counting on you to do your part to bring hope and deliverance. Prayer alone is not sufficient to change a situation. Esther fasted and prayed along with the all the Jews but she also acted. There are times specifically when God expects us to act. God will never do something that we can do ourselves.

God trusts you and is waiting for you to act. He has a purpose for you. You are chosen for such a time as this... The question is, will you act?
Ephesians 5:15-17
Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is.

Against All Odds

Are you facing an impossible situation? Are you thinking that there is no way out of this one because the odds are so stacked against you? Well, as followers of Christ, we should eagerly anticipate such situations because such impossible situations are the point of intersection between our inability and God's ability, where God can supernaturally intervene to raise us up against all odds! Our God specializes in making the impossible, possible. Nothing is too difficult for Him!

God had told Abraham and Sarah that they would have children as numerous as the stars in the sky and they did not have a single child and they were too old. For God, this was not an impossible situation and they went on to have a child against all odds.
Genesis 18:13-14
Then the LORD said to Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh and say, 'Will I really have a child, now that I am old?' Is anything too hard for the LORD ? I will return to you at the appointed time next year and Sarah will have a son."
The whole world was against Joseph including his own flesh and blood who sold him as a slave, and against all odds , inspite of wrong accusations and imprisonments and being forgotten, God raised him up to be only next to Pharoah in a foreign land!

The next time we are faced with a difficult or impossible situation, let us rise up in faith and look forward in anticipation of what God will do next. Let's remember that God loves us and that nothing can stand against what God has planned for His children!
Romans 8:31-39(The Message)
So, what do you think? With God on our side like this, how can we lose? If God didn't hesitate to put everything on the line for us, embracing our condition and exposing himself to the worst by sending his own Son, is there anything else he wouldn't gladly and freely do for us? And who would dare tangle with God by messing with one of God's chosen? Who would dare even to point a finger? The One who died for us—who was raised to life for us!—is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for us. Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ's love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing, not even the worst sins listed in Scripture:
They kill us in cold blood because they hate you.
We're sitting ducks; they pick us off one by one.
None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us. I'm absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God's love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us.

Christian life is a life of adventure.. We don't know all the details of the journey and where we are headed but we know that the One we are following can be trusted and that come what may, we will rise up against all odds!
2 Cor 4:8-9,13
..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....It is written: "I believed; therefore I have spoken."With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak, because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in his presence.

Overcoming Temptation

A troubling addiction. A betraying thought. A compromising situation. These are the sort of things that comprise the various temptations that come to us. Temptations make us focus on the fleeting pleasures of sin and aims to take our eyes of God and His ways. Temptation is not sin but it is not to be taken lightly, as the way we respond to temptation determines whether we live in sin or live victoriously.

We cannot say that God is bringing the temptation to us. It is our own lustful desires that tempts us and leads us to sin. What we give authority to will have power over us.
James 1:13-16
When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

How do we overcome sin? The way to overcome temptation is not a program but a person - the person of Jesus Christ. We can overcome temptation by standing firm on authority of God's word and living in the leading and power of the Holy Spirit. God will always provide a way out for us in every situation.
1 Cor 10:13
No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

We need to learn to resist the devil and come under the authority of God's word and Spirit every time we are tempted. For every negative, wrong or evil thought that the enemy sows into our mind, there is a positive, right and good thought from God's word that we can ask God in prayer, confess with our mouth and tell the devil in reproof just like how Jesus did when He was tempted in the desert. We can overcome evil with good (Romans 12:21)!
James 4:7
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Let us remember that the devil has been destroyed at the Cross. The enemy has no power or authority over us. The only power or authority that the enemy has over us is the power of influence. Let us not give into the deception of the devil and settle for the temporary pleasures but let us put on the armor of God and resist the devil and live victoriously!