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.

Down the Via Dolorosa

Via Dolorosa (Latin for "Way of Grief") is a street in the Old City of Jerusalem. Traditionally, it is held to be the path that Jesus walked on the way to his crucifixion, although this is uncertain. It is marked by nine of the fourteen Stations of the Cross. The last five stations are inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. It is a focus of pilgrimage. Whereas the names of many roads in Jerusalem are translated into English, Hebrew, and Arabic for their signs, the name Via Dolorosa is used in all three languages. Sandi Patti sings an awesome song with that exact title. Here are some of the lyrics:
Down the Via Dolorosa called the way of suffering
Like a lamb came the Messiah, Christ the King,
But He chose to walk that road out of
His love for you and me.
Down the Via Dolorosa, all the way to Calvary.

Crucifixtion on the cross signified the loss of everything, utter humiliation. Jesus did not die any death but was "given up for us all" in a very cruel and contemptible way.
Galatians 3:13-14
Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree." He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.
Here Paul quotes from Deuteronomy explaining that Christ Himself bore the curse which was ours to bear. Man deserves to die because He doesn’t measure up to God’s holiness, yet Christ bore upon Himself the curse which should have been ours along with the penalty of death. This is the significance of the cross, that our curse could be exchanged for an eternal blessing because Christ bore our curse by being hung on a tree.

Through the cross, we are given freedom:
- Freedom from the law
Romans 7:6 - But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code.
- Freedom from being slaves of sin and passions
Romans 6:6-7 - For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin — because anyone who has died has been freed from sin.
- Freedom from being enslaved by death
Romans 8:1-2 - Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.
- Freedom to overcome the world and the evil one
1 John 5:4-5 - For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.
With this freedom, we are to be slaves of righteousness, slaves of Jesus Christ. He died for us so we may live for him (2 Cor. 5:14-15). This is how we should respond to the love of God shown to us in the cross of Christ.

When we consider the cross and all that Christ has done for us, we have to be encouraged and not grow weary and lose heart. Let us not sit on the sideline but instead take claim to the abundant and victorious life that He has given to us!
Hebrews 12:2-3
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.

Poverty - God's Cry for Justice

Justice is something that is very close to God's heart. Throughout the Bible, God's cry has been that the poor and widow and the orphans are not left out but looked after. We first must love the Lord our God with our entire being. Then, we are equipped to pursue loving our neighbor as ourselves through the pursuit of social justice. Over and over the law instructs Israelites to remember the foreigner, the orphan and the widow — those most vulnerable to hunger and poverty.
Leviticus 23:22
When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Leave them for the poor and the alien. I am the LORD your God.

Other laws provided for sharing one-tenth of the harvest with immigrants, orphans and widows (Deut 14:28-29), for lending at no interest to those in need (Ex 22:25), and for the cancellation of debts every seventh year (Deut 15:1-2). Every fiftieth year was to be a Year of Jubilee during which property was to be returned to the family of the original owner so as to prevent the concentration of wealth and make sure that each family had the means to feed itself. The prophets too picked up on this theme and cried for social justice.
Isaiah 10:1-3
Woe to those who make unjust laws, to those who issue oppressive decrees, to deprive the poor of their rights and withhold justice from the oppressed of my people, making widows their prey and robbing the fatherless.

Jesus when He walked the earth ministered to the bottom and most vulnerable people in the social pyramid. Jesus made it clear that when we minister to hungry or the sick or the stranger, we are really ministering to Him.
Matthew 25:37-40
Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? hen did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'. The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'
Social justice is the necessary extension of a true relationship with God as revealed through Jesus Christ. Through discipleship with Jesus, we receive the divine mandate to oppose structural sin and oppression and are given the sustenance of the Holy Spirit to do so.
Romans 15:26
For Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem.

How is your heart towards the poor and needy? Are you moved into action to help those who are not as fortunate as you? It is important that we do our part and be the good Samaritan for the needy around us and stand up against structural sin in the community we live in.
James 1:27
Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.
Let us not be deceived into thinking that we are walking in God's righteousness if we turn a blind eye to the needy...
Isaiah 58:6-10
Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter— when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard. Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I. If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.

Freedom from Sin in Christ!

Sometimes we can feel that we are unable to get out of a bad habit or sin. We can feel that there is only wickedness in us and that we are always confessing sin but going back to doing it all over again and feel like sin has mastery over us. Is that true that even Paul struggled with this after he became a Christian when he says?
Romans 7:18-20
I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.

Paul here is talking about the life before Christ when sin has mastery over us. He is presenting a case for life before Christ when we live as slaves to sin and says that we are wreteched to live this way. But there is a solution for sin through Jesus Christ.
Romans 7:21-25
So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God's law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!

Yes, thanks be to Christ who has broken the mastery of sin over us! Paul expounds in Romans that our old self was crucified with Christ and therefore sin and death have no mastery over us! In fact, we are dead to sin!
Romans 6:6-10
For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— because anyone who has died has been freed from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.
Yes we are dead to sin! However, it does not mean that we no longer sin at all. Even after we become new people in Christ, we still sin once in a while and we still need to confess those sins. A new person who is in Jesus Christ and who has a change of heart is not a "slave to sin". There is a difference.


What sin are you struggling with? Now, reflect on what is your theology? Are you holding onto the verses where Paul states that he struggled with sin, as a basis for your sinfulness without realising that Paul was talking about life before Christ? Jesus Christ has set you free and you are no longer a slave of sin! Ask God to help you understand the freedom He has given you and walk free from sin!
John 8:31-36
To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?” Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed."

You Have Got Mail!

We all receive so much mail and it is hard to keep up and respond. In this world of over-communication like email, sms, facebook messages, instagram and twitter etc, it becomes difficult to pick up our mail from God! Yes, mail from God! God sends us mail or rather messages all the time, in various ways and it is up to us to pick them up. He always communicates because we are His beloved. If we are tuned into His frequency and seeking Him, He will speak to us. Recently, I was in a season in my life where I needed to make a major decision. I was out in the street walking towards my appointment at the hairdresser and was in conversation with God asking him, "Do I have your grace to take this step?". Just a few seconds later, I saw a truck pass by with just the word "Grace." on it! God is constantly speaking to us in various ways.

God communicates to us through nature, through everything He has created for us. The psalmist, King David said "When I look at your heavens, the work of your hands, the moon and the stars which you created - who are we that you should be mindful of us, that you should care for us?" - Psalm 8:1-91.
Paul also records that God has revealed His presence and power through nature.
Romans 1:20
For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.
C.S. Lewis stated that God has chosen to use nature to allow us to connect, if only in a limited way, with the glory of God - "Nature is only the image, the symbol; but it is the symbol Scripture invites me to use. We are summoned to pass in through Nature, beyond her, into that splendour which she fitfully reflects."

Yes, God has communicated to man beyond nature. He has been constantly speaking to man through His prophets and He also spoken through His son Jesus Christ.
Hebrews 1:1-3
In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe.
It is God's nature to communicate but due to our fallen nature, it is difficult to perceive God's voice as He speaks to us in His small still voice.

There are ways to hear His still small voice. Here are some of them:
-- Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:16 - All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
-- The Holy Spirit speaking to our heart: Hebrews 8:10-11 - This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, 'Know the Lord,' because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest.
-- Godly counsel: Proverbs 11:14 - For lack of guidance a nation falls, but many advisers make victory sure.
-- The peace of God: Colossians 3:15 - Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace...
-- Circumstances and God's Timing: Acts 18:1-3 - After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. There he met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them, and because he was a tent maker as they were, he stayed and worked with them. Circumstances led Paul to meet with Aquila and Priscilla and they partnered with Paul in spreading the Gospel.

God is constantly speaking to you. Even as you pick up all your mails and messages, are you picking up the messages that He has left you. Pray that you hear His voice clearly...Seek Him and you will find Him!

Easy to Get Along

I guess all of us can agree that it is easier to show kindness to people who are kind than who are not. The truth is that kindness is to be extended to all people, not just those who deserve it, else it is not kindness! God extended His kindness to us by loving us and not condemning us.. It is this goodness and long suffering patience of God that caused us to repent.
Romans 2:4
Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads you toward repentance?

How much more then do we need to show kindness to people around us even though they may not deserve it? We can reflect the goodness and mercy of God when we do not treat people as they deserve but display kindness. We need kindness if we are to be easy to get along with and live at peace with others.
Romans 12:14-19
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord.

The Lord says that payment comes from Him. God will not only take care of our enemies but also of us! When we try and take matters in our own hands and repay people in unkindness, then we will reap the same and we limit God from working in our lives. The Bible says that He will give us double honor if we let God take care of our shame and disgrace! When we respond in kindness, no matter how we have dealt with, we are truly reflecting the character and nature of our God.
Isaiah 61:7
Instead of their shame my people will receive a double portion, and instead of disgrace they will rejoice in their inheritance; and so they will inherit a double portion in their land, and everlasting joy will be theirs.

Are you the sort who is easy to get along with and showing kindness to all even though they may not deserve it? Reflect on God's unconditional loving kindness and mercy towards you and you will be moved to reflect His love and mercy to others even if you may not initially feel like it. Don't take matters in your hands when you have God who wants to take care of our shame, disgrace and hurts and turn them around in our lives!
Colossians 3:12-14
Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

When in Rome, Do as the Romans do?

The world is much smaller than ever before and travelling and changing or acquiring new citizenships are much more common than ever before in history. The world says "When in Rome, do as the Romans do". But is that how we are called to live? We were born as citizens of this world and the Bible tells us that following the ways of this world and living according to our sinful nature will bring God's wrath.
Romans 8:5-6
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. The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace.

As Christians, we are reminded that we are pilgrims passing through this world and our final and lasting citizenship is in Heaven! We need not live as a slave to our sinful nature as it has been conquered by Christ.
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.

If we are living with the perspective that we are just earthly citizens, then our mind is set on earthly things. Like the rich fool of Luke 12 in Jesus' parable, you would believe that life consists in the abundance of the things that we have in this life and look for satisfying our lust and greed for wealth, success or image. On the contrary, if we live with the perspective that we are citizens of heaven, then we are not so enamored by the world but by what is eternal and we pursue God and all the values that His kingdom represents and this will bring us life and peace.

The Holy Spirit has been given to us to live as citizens of the Heavenly Kingdom by renewing our minds! We need to replace every faulty thinking that is of this world with Kingdom thinking. This renewal our minds happens as we engage and respond to God through the reading of His word, in prayer and fellowship as we respond to the Spirit's leading. Right thinking will lead us to right living that is pleasing to God as citizens of the Heavenly Kingdom.
Romans 12: 2
Do not conform o the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will. 
Colossians 3: 1-2 
Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on earthly things. 
What more, when we live this way and seek God and His kingdom first, everything else will be added to us as well and we will not miss out on God's goodness and purposes for us.
Matthew 6:33
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 

"Everyone may do what he wants so long as he doesn't hurt anyone else." That would be the code of a citizen of this world. What is the code that you are living under - as a mere citizen of the world or as a citizen of heaven? Let's work in partnership with the Holy Spirit in renewing our minds and ultimately our lives to reflect our citizenship in heaven. Remember that we are called and purchased by the blood of Christ and we need to live as citizens of heaven reflecting Christ in our thinking, saying and doing than doing everything that the Romans do when in Rome.