A Slice of Manna 1-Mar-2021
“Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us.”
“हे लोगों, हर समय उस पर भरोसा रखो; उससे अपने-अपने मन की बातें खोलकर कहो; परमेश्वर हमारा शरणस्थान है।”
- Psalm 62:8
Trusting God for a Christian is a heart affair. It may not require banging of drums or blowing of trumpets to show any one how much do we trust our God, but as David says “I wait for God silently” (Psalms 62:1) and then we make it more specific “I wait for God alone” (Psalms 62:5). Sometimes we all need is just a calm resolve to wait upon the Lord without any strings attached or prerequisites for our God. Its only after you and me have personally learned and seen the fruits of trusting God that we can truly encourage others as well to trust God too, just like David announces “Trust in Him at all times, you people” (Psalms 62:8).
May be many of us are going through pain beyond human comprehension, struggles that you feel at time like giving up, tears that just don’t stop flowing but in midst of all this there is a Father in Heaven, who loves you and is close to your broken heart (Psalm 34:18). Your tears for yourself, your children and your loved ones are precious for God and He keeps an account of those tears (Psalm 56:8). Trusting God all the times (not just momentarily or occasionally) prepares us for any inevitable situation in our lives (Psalm 112:7).
When we start trusting God in little things (situations/crisis) then just like David we too will eventually mature from “I shall not be greatly shaken” (Psalms 62:2) to “I shall not be shaken” (Psalms 62:6). Our jobs, health, future, kids, loved ones, careers and our very lives depends on our Lord and so we must learn to see God as our eternal hope and refuge. Our impatience, lack of Trust on God and inability to see God’s presence around us, may very well be used by devil to take us into wrong detours (hasty and Unprayerful decisions) in life that will only lead us to more pain, more struggles and often delay our personal deliverance.
Let’s all try to Trust our God at all times and let’s Pray for our those who are struggling to put their trust on God today and encourage them to run with perseverance the race marked out for all of us (Hebrews 12:1-3))
“I am so weak that I can hardly write, I cannot read my Bible, I cannot even pray, I can only lie still in God’s arms like a little child, and trust.” - Hudson Taylor
“So then each of us shall give account of himself to God.”
“सो हम में से हर एक परमेश्वर को अपना अपना लेखा देगा॥”
- Romans 14:12
One of the meaning of word “accountability” is “an obligation or willingness to accept responsibility for one’s actions.” or “willingness to accept responsibility for our own actions”, Bible kind of concur in the sense that everyone is ultimately accountable to God for his/her actions. There is a difference between responsibility and accountability in that responsibility is an ongoing duty to complete our tasks at hand while accountability is what happens after a situation has already occurred. This is very true in our Christian life as well. Paul presents many areas where we Christians knowingly/unknowingly tend to cross our lines to judge our fellow Christians sometimes on the pretext of our own Christian faith. Few of such areas are around esteeming one day above another (Romans 14:5) or eating or not eating (Romans 14:6) as apostle Paul shares in this short discourse (Romans 14). It is sometimes dangerous to build our own doctrines around matters or issues which must be left to the individual’s conscience to decide in the Lord.
The Law of liberty must be exercised with caution else it may break the weak believer and God may make us accountable for being a stumbling block to someone’s faith (Romans 14:13). Paul’s maturity as a disciple of Christ is evident when he says to be aware that this right of yours (Law of liberty) does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak (1 Corinthians 8:9-13). Even our Lord forewarns that if anyone causes the little ones (or weak ones in faith) to sin then they may be condemned to be punished (Mark 9:42). One day both strong and weak must stand at the judgment seat of Christ (for being judged for their works), and they will not judge each other, they will be judged by the Lord. (Romans 14:10,11). How does the Christian prepare for the judgment seat of Christ? By making Jesus Lord of his life and faithfully obeying Him. Instead of judging other Christians, lets judge our own lives and make sure we are ready to meet Christ at His Bema seat (Judgment seat) (Luke 12:41-48, 1 John 2:28)
“None are more unjust in their judgments of others than those who have a high opinion of themselves.” - C. H. Spurgeon
“As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.”
“जैसे लोहा लोहे को चमका देता है, वैसे ही मनुष्य का मुख अपने मित्र की संगति से चमकदार हो जाता है।”
- Proverbs 27:17
We all need friends and companions in this journey of life. Jesus said I have called you as friends (John 15:15) and He also set the utmost high standards of true friendship that there is no greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends (John 15:13). For Christians choosing the right friends is one of the most critical and often a difficult decision to take. Unlike a worldly friend (one without God) who has the capacity to ruin good morals (1 Corinthians 15:33), a Christian friend (a disciple of Christ) can encourage us and build us always (1 Thessalonians 5:11). A good friend will stir you to do good things and love one another. It is a good litmus test for us to know who our true friends are by looking at what Christian impact they have on your life. But what if friends do not agree? Solomon says, “As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend” (Proverbs 27:17), for we who are God’s children even if we disagree, we usually learn more by disagreeing than by giving in and refusing to say what we really think, we believe and practice “speaking the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15).
But there must be a slight caution here too in that we must exercise appropriate consideration and should be sensitive to each other’s feelings. When we spend too much time with others, we may eventually tend to have something called friendship fatigue. Solomon also cautions us to seldom set foot in our neighbour’s house, lest he become weary of you and hate you (Proverbs 25:17). But still just like as only iron can sharpen a dull iron, our true friends through their care, love and prayers can help us to come out of our spiritual dullness and slackness. True friends can sharpen us in the Lord again so that we can gain our cutting edge back. They can help us to be more useful for the kingdom of God again. We being a disciple of Christ let us look to encourage, coach, challenge and if need even question (bad decisions) of our friends but in love and grace.
“A true friend unbosoms freely, advises justly, assists readily, adventures boldly,
takes all patiently, defends courageously, and continues a friend unchangeably.”
- William Penn
“He gives strength to the tired; and to the weak he gives renewed energy.”
“वह थके हुए को बल देता है और शक्तिहीन को बहुत सामर्थ्य देता है।”
- Isaiah 40:29
If it’s true that each day begins with new hopes and dreams but then this is also a fact that often times the struggles of life exhaust us to the point of giving up sometimes. But for us there is always a hope that even in the deepest and darkest hour of our sorrows and pain, there is a redeemer who is with us always (Deuteronomy 31:8). Our Lord has promised that everyone who is weary and burdened if they reach out to Him then He will give them the much-needed rest (Matthew 11:28-29). Even though our comforter and a very present help (Psalm 46:1) is so close to us but still at times we struggle to put our wholehearted trust on Him for our healing, deliverance, and rest. It’s so easy to trust doctors who can only treat us but not on our heavenly Father who can heal us (Jeremiah 17:14, Exodus 23:25)
When we trust ourselves and our own wisdom then we will surely faint and fall, but if we learn to wait on the Lord by faith then we will receive strength for the journey ahead. The word renew means “to exchange” as if taking off the old clothing and putting on the new. In Christ, we exchange our weakness for His power (2 Corinthians 12:1–10). Prophet Isaiah further adds to it by saying even if youths shall faint and be weary but those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength (Isaiah 40:30, 31). The word wait does not suggest that we sit around and do nothing. It means “to hope,” to look to God for all that we need (Isaiah 26:3; Isaiah 26:30:15). It’s a privilege to trust God.
Lets carry our sins, griefs, trials, temptations, troubles, sorrows, hurts and our cares to our God in prayer everyday…
“Are we weak and heavy laden,
cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge
take it to the Lord in prayer!…”
- Extract from Hymn “What a friend we have in Jesus” by Joseph Medlicott Scriven
“Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
“इस कारण मैं मसीह के लिये निर्बलताओं, और निन्दाओं में, और दरिद्रता में, और उपद्रवों में, और संकटों में, प्रसन्न हूँ; क्योंकि जब मैं निर्बल होता हूँ, तभी बलवन्त होता हूँ।”
- 2 Corinthians 12:10
One of the most direct confessions of the greatest yet incredibly humble apostle Paul, is about his own personal weakness and how its building him in Christ. This is surely a lesson cum eye opener for us believers. Paul admits that due to exceeding abundance of revelations he may be puffed up and that pride may render his spiritual life useless (2 Corinthians 12:7) and so instead of complaining about his thorn in the flesh he has learned to be contended with his struggles. What can baffle many worldly people here is that Paul not only is learning to face his struggles gracefully but rather he is taking pleasure (finding joy or delight) in those. What an attitude for a Christian to have in midst of infirmities, reproaches, needs, persecutions, and distresses - taking pleasure in all these for Christ’s sake. God did not give Paul any explanations; instead, He gave him a promise: My grace is sufficient for thee. (2 Corinthians 12:9). We do not live on explanations; we live on promises.
When a person lacks Godly hope or rather have no God at all then the element of his/her earthly pleasures are completely distorted. If physical self-indulgence (living for own worldly pleasures, 1 Timothy 5:6) is dangerous then spiritual self-indulgence (living contrary to the Word of God) is more deadly for our present earthly and future heavenly life. Difference is simple, while God’s people find pleasure in encouraging others in Love (Hebrews 10:24-25), ungodly (or a spiritually weak Christian) would like to see someone fall from grace (2 Corinthians 6:3). While God’s true children find pleasure in making peace among others (Matthew 5:9), an ungodly with his/her unwise conversation will find pleasure in creating strife between two people (Proverbs 16:28). While God’s children try their best to live a holy life pleasing His master, the ungodly will continue their unholy life and continue to enjoy the passing pleasures of this world.
But there is still hope for us Christians who are still not living aptly as per God’s will, in that God is able to save us completely, the one who come to Him through His son Jesus Christ (Hebrews 7:25). Yes, it is a known fact that our salvation sometimes struggles to reach its maturity as some are saved from hell, but not from an untamed tongue; some are saved from the guilt and penalty of their sins but they are not yet saved from their worries, fear, and doubts. As we resolve today to find the right object and purpose of our pleasures, there is no harm in imitating the apostle Paul, as he is imitating Christ (1 Corinthians 11:1). Let us bring our worldly and unholy pleasures in the feet of Christ and let’s learn to rejoice and take pleasure in our tribulations, needs, infirmities and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart (2 Timothy 2:22).
“May I govern my passions with absolute sway,
and grow wiser and better as life wears away.” - Isaac Watts
“For His eyes are on the ways of man, And He sees all his steps.”
“क्योंकि ईश्वर की आंखें मनुष्य की चालचलन पर लगी रहती हैं, और वह उसकी सारी चाल को देखता रहता है।”
- Job 34:21
When we wake up in the morning and can see the wonderful world around us, we should think about God’s mercies and thank Him. Job says whether rich or poor, powerful, or weak all our lives are just transitory, he further says that in the middle of the night, the people are shaken and pass away (Job 34:20). The only hope for the godly child is that our God (our protector) who neither sleeps nor slumbers (Psalm 121:4), His eyes are always upon us and He sees all our steps. What job is saying hidden between the lines is, that God sees the course of life that each of us have chosen to follow. Sometimes our pride makes us believe that with our strength we will see tomorrow and the day after tomorrow and so on but Jesus in His parable of the rich fool (Luke 12:13-21) asks him that, “if tonight your soul is required of you. The things which you have prepared - whose will they be?”
In the light of this revelation of our fleeting lives, as Paul says we must exercise wise caution as we live and redeem our earthly time wisely, because the days are evil (Ephesians 5:16). When God says He sees, it means He sees all our steps, so be aware of our steps or ways that we think are right in our own eyes, but its end is destruction (Proverbs 14:12). He sees if our heart’s desire for Him and what are we ready to sacrifice for that humble desire. Mary had a desire to be at the feet of Christ while Martha was occupied in the busyness of her life (Luke 10:42). God sees our ambitions or goals today, if it is just to get approval of men (sometimes even at the cost of devaluating others) or approval of God (Galatians 1:10), is it to seek our own glory or God’s glory (1 Corinthians 10:31), is it to establish our own kingdom or desiring that God let your kingdom come (Matthew 6:10). Paul’s aim was to preach gospel and Joshua’s was to serve the Lord along with his family, what are our desires? God sees our steps, our desires and our ambitions, His eyes are upon you and me. No one can hide from God. His eyes see everything we do. We must give an answer to God for what we have done (Hebrews 4:13-15), so let us repent and turn back, it’s still not too late.
“If Jesus is not enough to motivate you to godly living,
you don’t know Jesus.” - Paul Washer
“Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers.”
“इन बातों की सुधि उन्हें दिला, और प्रभु के साम्हने चिता दे, कि शब्दों पर तर्क-वितर्क न किया करें, जिन से कुछ लाभ नहीं होता; वरन सुनने वाले बिगड़ जाते हैं।”
- 2 Timothy 2:14
When did we last argued with someone and we realized (even though bit late) that whether we lost or won the argument that it was not worth at all. If this is true in our normal worldly life then in Christian life its equally truer. Paul while sharing some insight and wisdom with the young pastor and his spiritual son Timothy, was telling him specifically what the servant of God needs to do and focus primarily in his ministry. Now even though it may sound like its only applicable for Christian minister but the principles mentioned by Paul are far more applicable to every disciple of Christ. The Word of God is a valuable treasure that the stewards (also disciples/servants/ministers/elders) must guard and invest. If it is the soldier’s sword (2 Timothy 2:3,4) for some, then it is also the farmer’s seed (2 Timothy 2:6,7) that grows and bring harvest of repentance and holiness in one’s life. It is also the workman’s tool for building, measuring, and repairing God’s people (2 Timothy 2:14-18) who are broken and looking for some hope. But an approved worker does not waste his time arguing about words to no profit (2 Timothy 2:14) because such arguments will only undermine God’s actual work which is changing of our hearts (inside out) and steadily transforming us into the image of Christ (2 Corinthians 3:18).
Paul is admonishing Timothy in the context of false doctrine which is dangerous, and an approved workman will not only oppose it but also try to avoid all “godless chatter” (2 Timothy 2:16). If our learning, meditating and examining the word of God is still not helping us to produce the fruits of the spirit in our lives which are Love, joy, peace, long suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23) then it is a pointer to us to humble ourselves more and bring our hearts to a point where we don’t pick and choose scriptures for arguments but rather whole heartedly submit ourselves to authority of our Triune God where Father creates, the Son redeems, and the Holy Spirit sets us apart.
“It is difficult to estimate how much of the world’s philosophy, ethics, knowledge, research, and science flow from the powers of darkness. But of one point we are certain: all arguments and proud obstacles against the knowledge of God are the fortresses of the enemy.” - Watchman Nee
“This being so, I myself always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men.”
“इस से मैं आप भी यतन करता हूं, कि परमेश्वर की, और मनुष्यों की ओर मेरा विवेक सदा निर्दोष रहे।”
- Acts 24:16
As the polish proverb goes, a clear conscience is a good pillow, for a Christian also having good conscience before God and men is the most critical element in having true spiritual and even physical rest. On the other hand, a bad conscience will keep us awake and forbids our genuine and much needed rest. Paul’s words become utmost important for a Christian here when he says, “I strive to have a blameless conscience toward God and people continually.”. Notice the word “I strive always”, for us it is a consistent hard work to make sure we have a good conscience before our God. Rest from a condemning conscience can only come when all is well in our relationship with God and with men. To make sure that all goes well with our relationship with God we need to keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight (always) (1 John 3:22). Paul in his Epistle to the Hebrews encourages church to Pray for him and boldly confirms that he has good conscience and has a desire to live honorably in all things (Hebrews 13:18).
When we lie, we defile our good conscience, when we cross moral boundaries in any relationships, we defile our good conscience and when we compromise our righteousness with God, we destroy our conscience badly (sometimes even beyond repair). To the pure, all things are pure and those who are defiled and unbelieving, both their mind and their conscience are defiled (Titus 1:15). David a righteous servant of God, when he just cut a piece of Saul’s robe, its written David had a guilty conscience (1 Samuel 24:4-6). This should be the degree of moral sensitivity to a good conscience that even a small sin should bring us unto our knees of God with tears of repentance.
Let’s Pray daily for each other, our fellow believers, our servants of God and our loved ones that they may never compromise their good conscience for the temporary passing pleasures of this fleeting life.
“If any speak ill of thee, fly home to thy own conscience and examine thy heart. If thou art guilty, it is a just correction; if not guilty, it is a fair instruction.” - George Herbert
“Do not quench the Spirit”
“आत्मा को न बुझाओ।”
- 1 Thessalonians 5:19
After giving the church at Thessalonians a very brief but a strong wake up call to be Ready for the day of the Lord (1 Thessalonians 5:1-10), Paul softens his tone a bit and encourage everyone to comfort each other and edify one another (1 Thessalonians 5:11). He then immediately presents a very short but rather critical series of exhortations (1 Thessalonians 5:12-21). Among those valuable exhortations one that often missed between the lines is “Do not quench/extinguish/suppress the spirit” (or works of the Holy Spirit). Paul knew very well he may not be physically present with the church always but as promised by Lord Jesus the spirit of God will always be available to them which Jesus promised that He will ask the Father to send us and who will help, teach and remind us always what our Jesus Christ taught us (John 14:26).
But not every Christian benefits from the presence of Holy Spirit but only those who depend on Holy Spirit to guide them. Paul’s words must be taken with extreme importance during these end days as we can indeed quench the spirit when we disobey the Word of God (John 14:15, Luke 6:46). When we pick and choose what we want to obey in the Word of God, we quench the Holy Spirit and grieves Him (2 Timothy 3:16). When we deliberately choose to live an unholy life ignoring the Word of God, we quench the Holy Spirit. Let us pray and make sure that the fire of the Spirit must not go out (must not be quenched) on the altar of our hearts today. Let us allow the fire of Holy spirit to consume our ego, pride, unholiness, self-righteousness and hatred for others today and let the fire of Holy spirit melt our hearts (join us) together with other fellow believers in godly love.
“Quenching the Spirit is a sin marked by complacency, indifference,
and being satisfied with the status quo.” - Myron Augsburger
“But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.”
“पर हमारा स्वदेश स्वर्ग पर है; और हम एक उद्धारकर्ता प्रभु यीशु मसीह के वहां से आने ही बाट जोह रहे हैं।”
- Philippians 3:20
Citizenship brings privileges as well as responsibilities. Being a citizen of any country makes us enjoy all the benefits and rights that country has to offer but we do not become citizens of any country by just visiting it or by just crossing the borders somehow. We become citizens of any nation by following a strict process laid down as per the government and proving our eligibility for the citizenship . Paul highlights that walking with our own set of rules, following our own heart and flesh will only make us enemies of the cross (Philippians 3:4, 18,19). For us Christians we gain heavenly citizenship by losing what we count as gain for our lives on earth (Philippians 3:7). We become citizens of heaven when we are adopted as His sons and daughter through our Lord and savior Jesus Christ. You and I must be hopeful and filled with more courage that even though our earthly life is coming to end soon, we will be ultimately saved and there is an eternal life kept for us who believe on Lord Jesus Christ and confessed with our mouth Jesus as their savior (Romans 10:9).
Calling upon the name of Lord Jesus requires a humble submission, receiving/obeying His word and be baptized (Acts 2:41) in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit (Mark 16:16, Matthew 28:19, John 3:5). One who is a citizen of heaven while living on earth, will never be discouraged because he knows that his Lord is one day going to return. Further when we see our Lord Jesus, we will all receive a glorified body, like the body of Christ which is free of any sickness and blemishes and it will be perfect. It will all happen in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye! (1 Corinthians 15:42–53). The fact that Jesus Christ is returning soon, should be a powerful motive for us to live a dedicated and devoted life for our God today.
“If you knew Jesus was coming tomorrow, what would you do today?
Then do it! " - Max Lucado
“And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God acknowledged them.”
“और परमेश्वर ने इस्राएलियों पर दृष्टि करके उन पर चित्त लगाया॥”
- Exodus 2:25
Our God can speak to us (My sheep hear my voice - John 10:27-28; Job 33:14), can hear us (1 Peter 3:12), can see us (Proverbs 15:3, Psalm 33:13), can even smell (Genesis 8:21, Leviticus 3:5), He has hands that creates, delivers, exalts and upholds us (Isaiah 48:13, Isaiah 41:10) and our God can walk with us (Genesis 3:8). Contrary to our God, the idols of silver, gold, wood, or mud are works of human hands and they have mouths, but do not speak; eyes, but do not see. They have ears, but do not hear; noses, but do not smell. They have hands, but do not feel; feet, but do not walk (Psalm 115:3-8). Knowing who our God is important for all of us to know what He is capable of doing for our present and future lives.
Its written when the children of Israel groaned because of the bondage, and they cried out; and their cry came up to God because of the bondage (Exodus 2:23). God heard their groaning, and God remembered His promise (Exodus 2:24). What a peace it is to know that when we cry and are in turmoil, our God hears us and sees us. When we truly humble ourselves and acknowledge Him in our lives, He will not leave us or forsake us as Bible promises (Deuteronomy 31:6, Deuteronomy 4:31). Sadly, many people spend all their lives living a lie and when all the hopes are consumed, they seek the Lord at the end. For us children of God, we must seek the LORD while He may be found and call upon Him while He is near (Isaiah 55:6). We do not know what tomorrow will bring because our lives are like a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes (James 4:14). We must have a good sense of our passing life as that will give us more wisdom to seek our God while we are alive (Psalm 90:12).
Good news is when you and me sincerely cry out to our Omnipotent, Omnipresent and Omniscient God with a sincere repenting heart, not only He will hear us but He will acknowledge our situation/crisis and will deliver us, just like God prepared Moses to deliver His people out of bondage (Exodus 3, 4). He is good, ready to forgive us, and His lovingkindness is abundant for those who call Him and call him in truth and spirit (Psalm 86:5, Isaiah 65:24, Jonah 2:2). If you call Him today, you will be Saved (Acts 2:21)
“God’s grace does not come to people who morally outperform others,
but to those who admit their failure to perform and
who acknowledge their need for a Savior.” - Timothy Keller
“Take heed to yourself that you do not offer your burnt offerings in every place that you see;”
“और सावधान रहना कि तू अपने होमबलियों को हर एक स्थान पर जो देखने में आए न चढ़ाना;”
- Deuteronomy 12:13
If worshiping Lord is our utmost need and prime reason for our own spiritual and physical existence, then there are certain requirements that God demands on how and importantly where to worship Him. In the context of Deuteronomy 12, God in a very strict words told Israelites not to follow their corrupt hearts and do whatever is right in their own eyes but rather when God brings them into a place of settlement, they must worship the Lord in the place God wants them to worship Him (Deuteronomy 12:8-11). In New Testament, Word of God has made it clear that we are the God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in our midst (1 Corinthians 3:16). So Church is not merely a building made with walls and beautifully stained glasses, but it is coming together of disciples who follow Jesus. Church is a spiritual family with Jesus as their centre and their King; its spiritual families who love God, love others and make disciples.
But the principle of Old Testament still holds its ground, we cannot offer our worship to God in an unworthy place . In New Testament the worship flows out of our hearts which are now changed and renewed by the blood of Christ , so a heart which is still polluted and not given fully to the Lordship of Christ, will never be able to offer a genuine and truthful worship to God. David says let all my inmost being praise His Holy name (Psalm 103:1), notice the word “All” not just some. The burnt offering (Leviticus 1) symbolizes total dedication to the Lord, for all of it was consumed on the altar. Our hearts (the altars) must be totally dedicated to offer praise to God, it must be holy and fully consumed by the love for God if we want our worship to be accepted by God. You and I do not need to invent anything fancy or religious today to worship the Lord. It is something that Israelites were trying to do by imitating the practices of the pagan nations. How often we too foolishly try to imitate the world around us in our worship forgetting the most important requirement that Jesus put forth which is “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind” (Luke 10:27, Matthew 22:37). Worship is certainly a serious thing, as not only it draws believers closer to God, but it also draws God’s people closer to each other . Being spiritually sluggish, forsaking fellowship regularly, getting late to fellowships and being casual (not serious in our body language and attitude) in church and often times involving in godless chatter during worship are all indications of great spiritual decay which if we are not careful has the capacity to ruin our complete standing with the Lord.
“In worship an increased power steals its way into the heart sanctuary, an increased compassion grows in the soul. To worship is To Change.” - Richard J. Foster
“And He said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” So I answered, “O Lord God, You know.”
“तब उसने मुझ से पूछा, हे मनुष्य के सन्तान, क्या ये हड्डियां जी सकती हैं? मैं ने कहा, हे परमेश्वर यहोवा, तू ही जानता है।”
- Ezekiel 37:3
How many times you have heard the phrase from others “I know”. The generation today in its pride never wants to admit that there are questions which they cannot answer. In the book of Job God asks a series of tough questions starting with “Do you know…?” (Job 37-39). Apostle John says whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and He knows everything. One thing is sure that God being Omniscient is infinitely wise and knows everything. In the context of today’s scripture, Ezekiel is presented with a very tough rather impossible situation. God brought him in a vision to a valley filled with many bleached bones scattered on the ground. The prophet must have been wondering why the Lord gave him this vision, but the Lord’s question gave him the answer, “Can these bones live?”. No man can think what God is thinking because His thoughts are not our thoughts (Isaiah 55:8-9). Ezekiel’s reply did not question the power of God ; it only expressed the prophet’s conviction that God knew what He was going to do and was able to do it.
Without even going to what happened (in Ezekiel 37:4-14), if we just bring ourselves to the place where we are facing an impossible crisis, a situation that is consuming us inside out, the struggles we are going through at present in our family, professional, spiritual, moral and even personal fronts, then we will acknowledge that many of our present situations is nothing better than the valley filled with dry bones with no hope of deliverance at all . God’s question to us “Whether the dry bones can live?” is basically about our wholehearted trust on God’s divine grace, His power to deliver us and His infinite wisdom to bring us out of our current crisis. Our acknowledging that “God You know” declares our Trust and Hope on God and for that He will never put us to shame (Romans 5:5). The good news is that in His God’s divine will for us (meaning what is best for us), promises us that nothing is impossible with Him (Luke 18:27, Isaiah 59:1). Every hopeless situation (dry bone experience) today and every area of our personal struggles where we have already bowed down thinking now there is no deliverance and no escape for us, God still asks us “Do you believe this situation can change?” and our response just like Ezekiel (with a childlike faith) should be “God You know…”. All things are possible for those who believe (Mark 9:23). We have preached and talked about God’s deliverance to others enough, now let us pray and ask God to show Himself powerful once again in our own personal lives. Let us confess to our God shunning all our pride that, “You know Lord God…”
“God is looking for those with whom He can do the impossible – what a pity that we plan only the things that we can do by ourselves.” - A. W. Tozer
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”
“इसलिये कि सब ने पाप किया है और परमेश्वर की महिमा से रहित हैं।”
- Romans 3:23
Its not merely about place (where), not about method (how?), it is not about time (when?) and it is not about nature of sin (what kind of sin, big or small?), but it is about the fact of sin that we humans have to deal with. Bible teaches us that if by one man’s rebellion, sin (followed by death) came into the world then through Jesus Christ the son of God, we receive abundance of grace, the gift of righteousness and eternal life (Romans 5:12-20, John 3:16). Sin is basically a failure in missing the mark or target (as per Greek and Hebrew translation in relation to hitting the target to receive the gold medal), for us Christian it is something like missing our mark of living in a virtuous manner where our target is God’s righteousness. Adam’s rebellion brought sin into the world so that everyone is born into sin, therefore, all sin and fall short of God’s standard for us. But the good news for us today is that if we confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in our heart that God raised Him from the dead, we will be saved (Romans 10:9).
This salvation through Christ is for all and not for just few. All men need to be saved. There is no difference between the Jew and the Gentile when it comes to condemnation. We cannot afford to miss the greatest gift of Salvation which is free, but it is not cheap. Three words express the price God paid for our salvation: Propitiation, Redemption, and Blood. (Romans 3:23-25). We all need Christ in our lives and if you have not yet accepted Christ in your lives then if today you hear His voice then let us not harden our hearts but receive Him as our personal savior and redeemer (Hebrews 3:15). All our inherited sins, imputed sins, and personal sins have been crucified on the cross of Jesus, and now by faith in Jesus Christ as the Savior “we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace” (Ephesians 1:7). If we walk in the light, as He is in the light (Jesus) then rest assured the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all our sins (1 John 1:7). It is not too late for any of us, we can make a decision and begin today with our Savior.
“There’s some task which the God of all the universe, the great Creator, your redeemer in Jesus Christ has for you to do, and which will remain undone and incomplete until by faith and obedience you step into the will of God.” - Alan Redpath
“But you, are you seeking great things for yourself? Do not seek them…”
“इसलिये सुन, क्या तू अपने लिये बड़ाई खोज रहा है? उसे मत खोज;…”
- Jeremiah 45:5
Bible teaches us that the sin of the Pride is one of the most subtle yet most deadly sin for our spiritual lives . It can manifest itself in many ways and one of lesser-known ways it manifests itself is in seeking glory for ourselves which we are not worthy off or which is not God given. Baruch to whom this very short chapter is addressed choose to identify with Jeremiah and do the will of God rather than when he has all the opportunity to get a good position in the king’s palace and live a comfortable life. He assisted Jeremiah (by writing his message) so that the prophet can do his God assigned work. But looking at trouble of his people during those times, Baruch reached a point of extreme discouragement and hence the word of anguish, “Woe is me now! For the Lord has added grief to my sorrow.” (Jeremiah 45:3). Our God not only encouraged him for his good work but also cautioned him that when we are serving the Lord and His people, we never want to seek great things for ourselves . The only important thing is that God’s work is accomplished, and God’s great name is glorified.
The Lord Jesus, in His condemnation of the Pharisees recorded in Matthew 23, plainly forbids His followers from either giving or receiving honorific titles. Jesus very strongly spoke to people that not to call anyone on earth as our father; for one is our Father, He who is in heaven. And He forbids us to be called as teachers; for one is our Teacher, the Christ and whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted (Matthew 23:8-12). It is sad that in today’s Christian norm of life, we exercise and display so many characteristics that Jesus clearly said, “Not so among you” (Mark 10:41-45) but sadly its more prevalent among us Christians these days than among the worldly people. The thumb rule of Christian discipleship is very succinctly put by John the Baptist which is “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30). The little instruction given to Baruch is so critical for us and almost for every Christian leader today that “Do not seek great things for yourself…” rather seek to glorify God and live a God fearing, God exalting and God seeking godly life always.
“Daniel gave all the glory to God; he took none of it for himself. There is no limit to what God will do for the believer who will let God have all the glory.” - Warren W. Wiersbe
“The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run into it and are safe.”
“यहोवा का नाम दृढ़ गढ़ है; धर्मी उस में भाग कर सब दुर्घटनाओं से बचता है।”
- Proverbs 18:10
Among many wisdom pearls in Proverbs 18 which revolves around what is sound wisdom, perils of gossip, slandering others, exercising partiality, uncontrolled words, Pride (and many more), the one promise which is often scarcely used by modern believers is “Name of the Lord is a strong tower”. For any seen or unseen dangers, a worldly person will immediately seek a shelter of a strong structure like a strong building or a tower but even any such strongly built structures can never give a guaranteed safety (Tornadoes ripping through buildings in US and killing many is not an uncommon incident). But in the spiritual realm the Word of God tells us that we can run to our God and stand strong behind the power of His name always. Physical towers/structures/houses can sometimes become our false sense of security or even a source of pride like it happened to people in Genesis 11 who foolishly tried to make a name for themselves by making a tower (tower of babel) that reaches heaven.
We children of God must realize our strong tower is the name of our Lord God. The action we need to take when we need some real protection is “Run to God” and not people, leaders, or those around us. While they all can probably help us, but they have their own limitations (and even struggles) but when we “Run to God in Prayer”, He will never fail us and He will keep His Word and Promises to us (Joshua 21:45). As simple as it may sounds, but so often it is easy for us to forget where to run to when we are in need and we foolishly explore rest all avenues which are unable to help us. “The name of the Lord” signifies all the glorious attributes of our Almighty God. Because of who He is and what He is, those who trust Him don’t have to worry - because He is always their refuge and strength (Psalms 46:1). Not to forget that there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved (Acts 4:12). Our salvation and deliverance are only in the name of our Lord. Our Lord Jesus prayed to God for His disciples “to keep through His (God’s) name those whom He have given Me (Jesus)” (John 17:11). We must have an audacious courage like David to look on our own Goliaths today and boldly say, “You come to me with a sword, a spear, and a javelin, but I come to you in the Name of the Lord of hosts.” (1 Samuel 17:45)
“Persistent calling upon the name of the Lord breaks through every stronghold of the devil, for nothing is impossible with God. For Christians in these troubled times there is simply no other way.” - Jim Cymbala
“Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted.”
“धन्य हैं वे, जो शोक करते हैं, क्योंकि वे शांति पाएंगे।”
- Matthew 5:4
Though there are many direct and indirect commands for one to rejoice and situations in which one should rejoice, Jesus in sermon at mount, considered that those who mourn are truly blessed and one of the reasons why they are blessed is because they will be the ideal candidates or sometimes in front line to receive God’s heavenly comfort. The good news is God will never abandon us during our times of our grief - He will always provide us with love and hope we need. But the greater truth that revolves around “Blessed are those who mourn” is not about who mourn the loss of their beloved ones, or mourning the loss of physical, financial or material blessings but mourning here what Jesus referred is much deeper and often neglected and ignored aspect. It is the mourning of a child of God (a disciple) for his sins, for his sinful nature, his indwelling sins that keeps working in him, and is a continual grief of mind to him. We must learn to mourn over our sins and truly despise those hidden sins. We must nurture the habit of seeing sin as God sees it and learn to treat it in the same way as God does, which is “Hate it” (Proverbs 6:16-19, Psalm 97:10, Proverbs 8:13).
The one who tries to cover or defend his/her sins before God (and men) certainly have the wrong attitude and will not prosper (Proverbs 28:13) and truth is not in him (1 John 1:8-10). It is not that we should not only mourn over our sins and just feel sorry about it and do nothing, but we must meekly submit to our God and repent for our sins instantly (Psalm 32:5). When David sinned and was admonished by God through Nathan, he came to his senses and repented instantly (Psalms 51). David did not lose his first love for God. This mourning also applies aptly for those who mourn for the sins of others, for the sins of the world, the profaneness and wickedness that abound in this world and more importantly the sins of fellow Christians. This mourning is the precursor for such children of God, to humble and pray for themselves as well as for others sincerely. It is such a blessed feeling to know that those who mourn will be comforted by the God of all comfort through His son, Jesus Christ (the comforter) and by the word of God itself that is been given for our ultimate consolation and guidance in such times. Let us not be far too hospitable with our sins. When was the last time we looked our sins in the mirror and came away broken? When was the last time we felt the gravity of our sins as betrayal against a holy God?
“Lord, break my heart, teach me how to mourn over my sin, show me that true blessedness, true happiness comes through the comfort that comes because you forgive the sin over which I grieve.” - John Mac Arthur
“…So he awoke from his sleep, and said, “I will go out as before, at other times, and shake myself free!” But he did not know that the Lord had departed from him.”
“…तब वह चौंककर सोचने लगा, कि मैं पहिले की नाईं बाहर जा कर झटकूंगा। वह तो न जानता था, कि यहोवा उसके पास से चला गया है।”
- Judges 16:20
The most pitiful, lamentable and even distressing reality that can ever hit a Christian, is that he/she does not have the same presence of God with them as before. Looking at the life of Samson who was chosen, separated and even divinely anointed servant of God, because of his series of dopily careless decisions towards his calling and anointing left him to the mercies of mortal men and resulted in his tragic and uncalled-for end (Judges 16:21-31). Christians today end up committing most serious spiritual blunders that leads them to heavily compromise with their testimony before others and standing with God. Not to mention that few of such careless decisions or attitudes may look harmless in the beginning but are the recipe for sure spiritual ruin if one is not careful. Being unequally yoked with unbelievers (2 Corinthians 6:14), falling for wrong gospel (Galatians 1:8), acting contrary to our calling in the Lord (James 3:1), unable to test and discern the situations and spirits (1 Thessalonians 5:21, 22), speaking carelessly and resorting to use idle words (Matthew 12:36) and finally listening but not obeying the Word of God (Luke 6:49) are just few of the areas where Word of God teaches us to be more careful and take timely spiritual precautions to address these.
Our Lord is coming soon, we cannot afford to be careless in our spiritual destiny by not being prepared like those five virgins who forgot (rather were careless) to take enough oil for their lamps (Matthew 25:1-13) and were rejected by the bridegroom when He arrived. So, let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober (1 Thessalonians 5:5-6). We must also make sure that we pray, admonish and help wake up those around us who turned back from the ways of God and are falling into spiritual complacency (that has the capacity to destroy them).
“Many a barren church owes its present sad estate to its inconsistent behaviour, and many a barren Christian has come into this mournful condition by a careless, unsanctified walk before the Lord. Let not saints who are now useful run the risk of enduring the loss of their mercies but let them be watchful that all things may go well with them.” - Albert Barnes
“Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.”
“हे भाइयों, यदि कोई मनुष्य किसी अपराध में पकड़ा भी जाए, तो तुम जो आत्मिक हो, नम्रता के साथ ऐसे को संभालो, और अपनी भी चौकसी रखो, कि तुम भी परीक्षा में न पड़ो।”
- Galatians 6:1
Bearing and sharing burdens of others without expecting anything in return and with the intent of seeing the person reconciled to God, is the character that only belongs to a born again Christians who have Christ in their hearts. Paul urges believers to seeks a personal interview for restoration of those are led astray (Galatians 6:1). The whole chapter Paul specifically requests the believers to bear each other (Galatians 6:1-5) and to be generous and try to do your best in doing good (Galatians 6:6-15). The mark of a true believer and his greatest achievements as a peacemaker, is his/her burden, capacity and desire to bring others closer to God through God’s word, or teaching word of God sincerely or by helping them to be reconciled God again when they are side-tracked or gone astray from their faith or spiritual calling (James 3:18).
Another sensitive and rather critical thing to be cautious about is that in doing so we must be aware of our own faults and learnings so that we are not judgmental as we observe the faults and failings of others. In Mathew 7:3-5, our Lord Jesus reminds us soothly that almost every time we tend to criticize other of some failures or sins, then we unconsciously criticize them for those things of which we ourselves are sometimes guilty. The legalist is always harder on other people than he is on himself, but the Spirit-led Christian demands more of himself than he does of others that he might be able to help others. A believer living by grace realizes that no man is immune from falling. “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.” (1 Corinthians 10:12). He has an attitude of humility because he realizes his own weaknesses.
“The first question which the priest and the Levite asked was: “If I stop to help this man, what will happen to me?” But the good Samaritan reversed the question: “If I do not stop to help this man, what will happen to him?”” - Martin Luther King, Jr.
“Now therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts: “Consider your ways!”
“इसलिये अब सेनाओं का यहोवा यों कहता है, अपनी अपनी चाल-चलन पर ध्यान करो।”
- Haggai 1:5
God brought Israelites out of Babylonian captivity under the leadership of Zerubbabel (Ezra 1-6), Ezra (Ezra 7-10) and Nehemiah (Nehemiah 1-7) which is covered in the narratives of Ezra and Nehemiah. When the foundations of the temple were laid in Jerusalem in the year 536, the younger men shouted for joy while the older men wept (Ezra 3:8–13). But it does not take long for that starting zeal to cool and God’s people to grow apathetic, especially when opposition began for Jews and the work of building the temple lay unfinished from 536 to 520 roughly.
At this moment in history, God through His prophet Haggai gave four admonitions to the leaders and to the people to encourage them to get back to work and finish rebuilding the temple. The very first and the main one was “Put God First in Your Lives” (Haggai 1:1-5). The words “Consider your ways” if it was to be taken seriously at that time then it must be taken more seriously today as well. The comfort of living in our furnished (Paneled) homes, security of a job for living, enough to spend on our wants (going above our needs), presence of our near and dear ones around us and sometimes even having more than enough to eat on our tables, has made all of us spiritually and even morally complacent. We forget so easily that God who gave can also take it away from us (Job 1:21). Our excuses that it is not the time to build the house of Lord, or we do not have time or enough resources to do anything for Lord now or even time to think about our eternity, are all nothing but simply foolish and wildly vague excuses. Comparing the current times with the signs of end times in Bible, what more evidence do we all need to discern that coming of the Lord is very close. How can we doubt that it is not in God’s will to work for His House or rebuild the broken walls (spiritual and moral) and to restore the true worship even in these end times (just like in the days of Haggai)?
Jesus said “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things [food, clothing, shelter] shall be added to you”, (Matthew 6:33). People in Old testament times (or even the congregation Haggai’s is speaking to) may never have heard of this great promise, but the principle behind Christ’s words was still engraved into their laws which is “Honor the Lord with your possessions, and with the first-fruits of all your increase;…” (Proverbs 3:9–10, Deuteronomy 16:17). Its time to “Consider our Ways and repent” before Lord will come and remove our lampstand from its place. (Revelation 2:5 )
“We need a sweeping revival where people confess their sins and get right with God, where folks turn out in bigger crowds at the church house than they do at the ball game, and where the old-time religion still gets top priority!” - Shelton Smith
“Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus.”
“जब उन्होंने पतरस और यूहन्ना का हियाव देखा, ओर यह जाना कि ये अनपढ़ और साधारण मनुष्य हैं, तो अचम्भा किया; फिर उन को पहचाना, कि ये यीशु के साथ रहे हैं।”
- Acts 4:13
While worldly definition of boldness may be daring or courageous but biblically boldness is generally attributed to an attitude that is based on our strong confidence in God chiefly to talk, share and work for our God without fear. The Greek and Hebrew definitions also add frankness, bluntness and without ambiguity as well in the root meaning of this phrase. When we know our God and our Christ personally, then there is no ambiguity or doubts whatsoever about whom we Preach and Teach. In our passage while addressing the Sanhedrin (The supreme judicial and ecclesiastical council of ancient Jerusalem), its written Peter filled with Holy Spirit (Acts 4:8, this is the key for their boldness) preached boldly about Christ to these dignitaries even without fear of their own lives and it greatly amazed the Sanhedrin when they saw the boldness.
We may be insignificant in the eyes of the world, we may be untrained, uneducated, unqualified or even undeserving of doing anything worthwhile but let me encourage you that if you can carry the cross of Christ daily, walk with Holy Spirit every moment and Trust your God unconditionally in every situation, then the world around us is going to be marvelled not only with your boldness but also with the Love and Grace of Christ that we present (through your lives) to this morally dying world.
This God granted boldness is the key that Peter and John even when they were beaten and were threatened point blank about not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus (again in Acts 5), they all the more rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name (Acts 5:41). If we think we lack the courage to share about our redeemer boldly then only thing we need to do today, is to Pray just like the disciples who prayed for boldness (Acts 4:23-31) and their sincere prayers resulted in all of them being filled with the Holy Spirit, and they all spoke the word of God with more boldness.
It just does not take head knowledge but a brave heart in Lord today to confess and proclaim that “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12). Are you all game today like these uneducated apostles who were not ashamed of the Gospel (Romans 1:16) and were ready in season and out of season to Preach the word (2 Timothy 4:2)?
“There’s a difference between knowing God and knowing about God. When you truly know God, you have Energy to serve Him, Boldness to share Him, and Contentment in Him.” - J.I. Packer
“For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning.”
“और जब वे प्रभु और उद्धारकर्ता यीशु मसीह की पहचान के द्वारा संसार की नाना प्रकार की अशुद्धता से बच निकले, और फिर उन में फंस कर हार गए, तो उन की पिछली दशा पहिली से भी बुरी हो गई है।”
- 2 Peter 2:20
When it comes to ongoing conflict with Sin and Satan’s then one thing we must realize that we are not alone and every true Christian goes through this experience. The struggle, the fight and the spiritual warfare is a constant part of a Christian’s life but what we need to realize is that this excuse should not be taken for our spiritual laziness. We must be sober and watch carefully (and not sleep) and resist our enemy who is prowling like a roaring lion always to devour us (1 Peter 5:8-9). We must obey what the Holy Spirit says as only that can help us to stand firm and save us from submitting again into the yoke of slavery (Galatians 5:1). After having the knowledge of Christ once in our lives, if we keep listening to the worldly voices, depending on men (worldly friends) rather than God, giving voice to our fears and anxieties then these all looks subtle but are sure avenues that has capacity to entangle us in snares of sins again.
Entanglement needs a sure human effort; we do not get entangled again into sin by chance but by deliberate will. If we have been walking with Holy Spirit, then rest assured we will hear His voice not to go forward on a particular path as He knows the snares that enemy has kept for us on that path. But it is unfortunate that a spiritually naive person (and the one filled with self-pride and over confidence) sees the danger but still goes ahead and suffer for it (Proverbs 22:3, Proverbs 27:12). To avoid this entanglement we need to trust on the grace of God every moment and Pray so that we can truly deny every ungodliness and worldly lusts, and live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age (Titus 2:11, 12). We need to remember that sin always promises freedom but, in the end, brings bondage. It promises life but instead brings death. Freedom does not mean “doing your own thing” or “having it your way”. That attitude is the very essence of sin. The freedom that Jesus Christ offers means enjoying fulfillment in the will of God.
“If, after having renounced all, we do not watch incessantly,
and beseech God to accompany our vigilance with his,
we shall be again entangled and overcome.” - John Wesley
“Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God?””
“यूसुफ ने उन से कहा, मत डरो, क्या मैं परमेश्वर की जगह पर हूं?”
- Genesis 50:19
Our God is sovereign and no purpose of His can be thwarted. Our afflictions, troubles, success and even blessings will never account sufficiently for what was hidden in the knowledge and purposes of God. In our foolishness at times, we explain or try to define our circumstances by defending our little understanding of God when instead we should have humbly submitted to God’s sovereignty. In the account of Genesis 50, Joseph reassures his brothers (Genesis 50:15-21) who were afraid if Joseph will do them any harm for all the wrong, they have done to their brother in the past. But Joseph who has already gone through extreme struggles, treated unfairly, faced injustice at hands of Potiphar, and gone through extreme trauma and mental agony in his life for roughly 13 years since his brothers has sold him, has now become more seasoned, humble and more God dependent in his life. Though he was the 2nd most powerful person in Egypt but his words “Am I in the place of God?” reveals that he acknowledges His God’s sovereignty in his life.
His Words that “you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good” (Genesis 50:20) is the bold declaration of his trust that God’s plan was to save them and to give them all hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11). How does God assure His children that He has indeed forgiven them and forgotten their sins? The same way Joseph assured his frightened brothers: God today speaks to us from His Word and comfort us through His Holy Spirit. Just like Joseph who not only forgave his brothers, but he also assured them of his constant care (Genesis. 50:21), our God also promises that He will never leave us nor forsake us. (Deuteronomy 31:8, 1 Chronicles 28:20, Hebrews 4:16).
“Evil by its very nature opposes the purposes of God, but God, in his sovereignty, can make even this evil serve his purposes.” - David F. Wells
“But My servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit in him and has followed Me fully, I will bring into the land where he went, and his descendants shall inherit it.”
“परन्तु इस कारण से कि मेरे दास कालिब के साथ और ही आत्मा है, और उसने पूरी रीति से मेरा अनुकरण किया है, मैं उसको उस देश में जिस में वह हो आया है पहुंचाऊंगा, और उसका वंश उस देश का अधिकारी होगा।”
- Numbers 14:24
While having a godly Christian testimony about yourself from others is commendable but having a testimony about you from Lord is in reality truly praiseworthy. There are chances that your testimony about yourself and even from others may change with time and circumstances, but the testimony that Lord gives (if God gives) will not change. We see many servants of God in Bible like Moses, David, Job, Caleb etc. about whom God has testified something good and that testimony persisted (even after they are long gone). Here God begins with “My servant Caleb”, well that itself is a huge testimony when our God considers you and me as His servants. Next God testifies that since Caleb has a different spirit (he is not like the others) and followed me fully (Wholeheartedly - focusing on God alone, with a loyal heart and consistently) , God will allow him to cross into Canaan and his descendants will possess it.
We Christians must come to reality today that until and unless we resolve to follow Lord wholeheartedly today, we may not enter our promised Canaan which is Heaven. Believing that walking half-heartedly, or with half loyal heart (towards God), is alright for us (since God knows our weakness) and then hiding behind those excuse many times, is the most insidious deception that enemy traps us in. While knowing that we are weak and need God’s grace all the time is important but we must constantly remember to pray like David too “Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me” (Psalm 51:11). Except for four men - Moses, Aaron, Joshua, and Caleb (Numbers 14:5,6), the entire nation rebelled against the Lord and failed to claim the land He had promised them. The Lord could bring them out of Egypt, but He could not take them into Canaan.
Struggling today with your faith on God and having some doubts is not uncommon, if you can pray also without miss like, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24,). Our good God still seeks to encourage the doubters and help them believe if they pray and come into His presence like His disciples (Luke 17:5-10), but all He can do with rebels is bring them into judgment. Being a sincere doubter who turns to Lord in prayer is still better than being a rebel and perishing on the way to Canaan. Let’s Pray that God’s Holy spirit may infill us today so that we too can do as Caleb did - wholly, fully, follow our glorious Lord!
“Should I worship Him from fear of hell, may I be cast into it. Should I serve Him from desire of gaining heaven, may He keep me out. But should I worship Him from love alone, He reveals Himself to me, that my whole heart may be filled with His love and presence.” - Sadhu Sundar Singh
“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.”
“प्रेम निष्कपट हो; बुराई से घृणा करो; भलाई में लगे रहो।”
- Romans 12:9
After calmly urging the church to be a living sacrifice which is holy and pleasing to God (Romans 12:1,2), apostle Paul reminds everyone to serve in the body of Christ by humbling ourselves avoiding pitfalls of pride and self-glory, considering others same as ourselves (without partiality) and using gifts that God has given with prayer and with a godly intent of serving others only in the Lord (Romans 12:3-8). This groundwork was further intended to point the believers to one of the important and critical aspects of Christian life and that is “Love in action”. Apostle Paul begins with “Love must be sincere”. The word sincere is a loaded term which signifies open, genuine; not deceitful (or hypocritical) and characterized by a firm belief in the validity of your opinions about a person, place, or belief. Applying all these trivial adjectives to the “Christ’s Love” we are told to grow, we must examine ourselves if it passes the test of being open, genuine, and not deceitful. We must not forget that Love is the circulatory system of the spiritual body, which enables all the members to function in a healthy, harmonious way.
Sincere Love will not operate in isolation, but it will be marked by a strong hatred or intense dislike to evil in every possible form and areas of our lives. King Solomon adds that “The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil” (Proverbs 8:13), trying to Love others as Christ commanded and at the same time living in harmony with all sins by adjusting in every comfort zones of our weakness, is nothing but deceiving ourselves only, which if not repented immediately will invite God’s judgment. While we are to love sinners and hate sin, but we need to be extra careful that we do not become partners with them (sinners); for at one time, we were darkness, but now we are light in the Lord so we must walk as children of light (Ephesians 5:7-9). There is no partnership of righteousness with lawlessness or light with darkness (2 Corinthians 6:14-15). Trying to be adventurous and venturing into unchartered territories of sinful life because you are unequally yoked with unbelievers, will pronounce doom for your own spiritual lives and then later turning back to God will be a very long, painful and at times next to impossible journey for some. Sincere Love if it hates evil then it also progresses in doing good. Love and Loyalty are two faces of same coin. Loyalty to our Master demands that we do not grow weary in doing good (Galatians 6:9).
“None can hate [sin] but those that love the law of God; for all hatred comes from love. A natural man may be angry with his sin, but hate it he cannot; nay, he may leave it, but not loathe it; if he did, he would loathe all sin as well as any one sin.” - Abraham Wright
“Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel.”
“हे भाइयों, मैं चाहता हूं, कि तुम यह जान लो, कि मुझ पर जो बीता है, उस से सुसमाचार ही की बढ़ती हुई है।”
- Philippians 1:12
The greatest hindrance for a Christian is not the chains and physical persecution always but in today’s context it can be that dropping the plow happens because there is no support from others and the loved ones around them. Apostle Paul is counting himself privileged that his chains have advanced the gospel. The prime reason he mentions for this continuation of work is the support. love and prayers of his co-workers, overseers, deacons, and fellow believers (Philippians 1:1, 3, 4). He is thankful to God whenever he remembers them because during his time of chains his brothers and sisters were there with him, a privilege which many contemporary servants of God truly miss at times. But this should not fill us with ingratitude towards God or bitterness towards those around us as whatever happens to us will turn out for our deliverance and believe that it will serve to advance the gospel. If we can continue to serve our Lord even in midst of lack of support, our troubles, chains, or persecution then rest assured it will bring confidence in others as well and dare them to serve the Lord more faithfully (Philippians 1:14). You may be standing alone today in the vineyard of Lord; sometimes you may want to go to fields as preacher but instead you may go like a prisoner and to many, you may look like an utter failure but to your God you are still precious and useful (and you will be till the last breath of your life). Let us not find our joy in ideal circumstances; but let us rejoice in this that we are still standing in our Faith (even today!) and have a desire to preach gospel and win others for Christ.
God sometimes uses strange tools to help us pioneer the gospel, it can be our struggles from inside (family, near and dear ones) or persecution from outside but if you still hold on to God somehow then all these circumstances will gloriously promote the furtherance of the gospel.
“To keep our hand on the plow while wiping away our tears - THAT is Christianity!”
“The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all;”
“धर्मी पर बहुत सी विपत्तियां पड़ती तो हैं, परन्तु यहोवा उसको उन सब से मुक्त करता है।”
- Psalms 34:19
This Psalm of David has come in times of deep pain when he suffered shame (sometimes even in the hands of its own), fear, evil and even death. In midst of life’s never-ending struggles, David the righteous servant of God (a man after God’s own heart) not only puts his confidence on God that He will deliver him from all his troubles (Psalms 34:17) but also shares life’s most crucial lessons (sometimes he learned along the way) and principles that pertains to one’s righteous standing with God. David knows that the eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, and His ears are always open to their cry (Psalm 34:15) and that is the reason for his bold and confident declaration that even though righteous may have many troubles, but Lord delivers him from them all.
But who is righteous? Paul says, “There is none righteous, not even one; there is none who understands, there is none who seeks for God.” (Romans 3:10-11). The deliverance and blessings that God has to offer is something that only a Righteous person can claim. What makes us righteous before our Almighty God? Paul again says, “Awake to righteousness, and do not sin” (1 Corinthians 15:34) and even Jesus in His sermon at mount said “Blessed are those who hunger. and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled.” (Matthew 5:6). Righteousness means rightness of character before God and rightness of actions before men. Both qualities are based on truth, which is conformity to the Word and will of God. Bible says that our righteousness is only found in Christ (Philippians 3:9) and He Himself is our righteousness. And this righteousness of God through Christ is attributed to us (unworthy sinners) by our wholehearted and consistent confession of Faith on our God (Romans 1:17). It is not just the forgiveness from our sins that we need today but we need to be made righteous before our God. Forgiveness is like taking a bath but Righteousness on the other hand is like putting on the new and clean clothes. We take a bath that we might be cleansed from all our impurities, but we put on clothes (to cover our shame) that we might be properly dressed to appear before others. If God’s forgiveness cleanses us, then God’s righteousness (in us) help us to stand before God’s throne of Grace and Mercy (Hebrews 4:16) always and claim all His promises for us His righteous children. No doubt that God will save, deliver, heal, provide, and bless His Righteous children. But remember the only kind of righteousness which is acceptable to God is a perfect righteousness and He does this by putting us IN CHRIST (1 Corinthians 1:30).
“God never alters the robe of righteousness to fit the man. Rather He alters the man to fit the robe.” - John Hagee
“Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and He relents from sending calamity.”
“अपने वस्त्र नहीं, अपने मन ही को फाड़ कर अपने परमेश्वर यहोवा की ओर फिरो; क्योंकि वह अनुग्रहकारी, दयालु, विलम्ब से क्रोध करने वाला, करूणानिधान और दु:ख देकर पछतानेहारा है।”
- Joel 2:13
While sometimes it is easy to participate in any religious ceremony, tear our garments and lament, but it is quite something else to really humbly confess our sins and bring to God a repentant heart which He cannot miss to acknowledge (Matthew 15:8–9, Psalm 51:17). Prophet Joel after giving Hear, Wake, Mourn and Fasting calls (Joel 1), was able to get people’s attention to hear the most crucial proclamation about the forthcoming disaster. Many times, we by intent tend to ignore the repeated calls of our God to Hear and Wake up. The most dangerous state for any child of God is when due to his/her repeated disobedience God gives them to their stubborn hearts that want to follow its own counsels (Psalm 81:11-12).
Instead of tearing our clothes, or even changing them, prophet Joel is pleading with us to do the same with our heart, our very being which is to Rend them. It is a call for all of us to repentance. If Repentance involve Confession “I acknowledged my sin to You” (Psalms 32:5), then it must involve Turning away (turn around) from all sins - Anything less is not real repentance. Repentance means changing your heart, and a complete change of heart requires more than just a partial surrender. It needs to complete unconditional surrender to God. We can find comfort in knowing that our God is indeed “Gracious and Compassionate, slow to anger & abounding in love”, and so it must motivate us to seek His face always.
Peter wept over his sins and repented, while Judas admitted his sins but never really repented. Judas experienced mere remorse, not repentance. Feeling sorry of our sins is not enough today we must turn back to our God. Our time is short on earth and is swiftly passing away. Let us all be ready, for our Lord Jesus Christ is coming at an hour we do not expect (Matthew 24:44). Further we must be careful, or our hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on us suddenly like a trap (Luke 21:34)
“Repentance, as we know, is basically not moaning and remorse,
but turning and change.” - J.I. Packer
“The fire must be kept burning on the altar continuously; it must not go out.”
“वेदी पर आग लगातार जलती रहे; वह कभी बुझने न पाए॥”
- Leviticus 6:13
One of the seldom heard and often neglected aspect of our devotion to God is that He wants our devotion for Him to influence and direct the way we live (today and tomorrow). When God through Moses gave the laws to Priests about Burnt Offerings (Leviticus 6:8-13), He told them specifically at least in 3 instances that Fire on the altar must keep burning. It was a command means that an immediate response is expected. The priests (Aaron & his sons) are not only to begin the practice but must continue in it. We who are the Royal priests of the New testament (1 Peter 2:9) are to do the same. Our heart is the altars where fire of Holy spirit must keep burning always. This fire should never go out to make sure that the fire of passionate devotion for our God will also burn continuously in our hearts. Remember that to keep this fire burning Priests had to burn the wood on altars every morning which is like our constant imploring (pleading) to our Loving Father in Heaven, every morning-noon-night just like David did (Psalm 55:17, Psalms 51:11) to help and enable us to keep this fire burning always in our hearts. Only when this fire was burning that the offering was consumed on altar (Leviticus 6:10) which basically means our worship and praise have no effect if it is offered without the fire of Holy Spirit. When Noah offered the burnt offering on the altar, Bible says the sweet aroma of sacrifice pleased the Lord (Genesis 8:20-22).
Even though the fire on the altar of burnt offering was a divine gift from the Lord Himself having been lit by Himself (Leviticus 9:24) it was the duty of priests to keep this fire always burning on the altar (Leviticus 6:13). When we accept Jesus as our personal saviour and obey Him in water baptism then God gives us the gift of Holy Spirit but it is our responsibility to never grieve the Holy spirit and make sure that we allow Holy spirit to create a continuous passion for our God in our Hearts and make us more and more Holy so that we can see our God clearly.
“To keep a lamp burning we have to keep putting oil in it.” - George Macdonald
“Circumcise your hearts, therefore, and do not be stiff-necked any longer.”
“इसलिये अपने अपने हृदय का खतना करो, और आगे को हठीले न रहो।”
- Deuteronomy 10:16
In Old testament times, the practice of circumcision showed separation and submission of children of God to their Almighty God. Unfortunately, the principle and practice of Separation has never been popular. It was not popular for Israelites, and it is certainly not popular for Christians today as well, yet it is a crucial factor in living for God with a devoted heart. God’s children are commanded in the Bible to be primarily SEPARATED from the world in their beliefs, in fellowship, in conversation and in our everyday lifestyles by not conforming (or staying away) to the world’s standards/practices (Romans 12:2). In Deuteronomy 10 God through Moses asks them (and us) to walk in obedience to Him, to love Him, to serve Him with all our hearts and with all our soul, and to observe the Lord’s commands and decrees (Deuteronomy 10:12,13). The fear of Holy and loving God should guide and lead us to Obey Him, Serve Him and Honor Him in our lives always.
The crux of the matter is only the pure in hearts will see the God (Matthew 5:8) so we must cleanse and separate (circumcise) our hearts with all diligence and thereby allowing springs of life to flow in abundance out of it (Proverbs 4:23). Sometimes just like our pride (or self-centered attitude) comes in the way of our reconciliation with our loved ones on earth, in the same manner the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life (1 John 2:16) makes us stiff-necked and aliens to the love of our God. Circumcision was not a guarantee that every Jewish man was going to heaven (Matt. 3:7–12). Unless there was a change in the heart, wrought by God in response to faith, the person did not belong to the Lord in a vital way. We need to let our Lord God circumcise your hearts and do a lasting spiritual work of the Holy Spirit in our hearts today (Deuteronomy 30:6, Colossians 2:9–12).
“Separation to God, separation from the world,
is the first principle of Christian living.” - Watchman Nee
“And you shall set the showbread on the table before Me always.”
“और मेज़ पर मेरे आगे भेंट की रोटियां नित्य रखा करना॥”
- Exodus 25:30
If it was Fire that was commanded to be kept burning on the altar continuously in Leviticus 6:13 then in the Holy Place where altar of incense and gold lampstand is present, God specifically told Moses to make sure to set the showbread on the table before Him always. The table of showbread served as a symbol of God as the provider of food. The lampstand served as a symbol of God as the Light that was the guide for the children of Israel during the Exodus. Showbread was a type of Christ, the Bread of Life (John 6:35). While coming into the presence of most Holy God, we all must understand that the entrance to His Presence (the most Holy place) is only through His Son who is our true Light and the Bread of Life (only through the Holy place in tabernacle). There is no other way or shortcut for anyone to reach almighty God either in Old Testament or even in the New Testament. Our Lord Jesus Christ is the Door (John 10:9) that allows us the access to the Presence of our most Holy God (our Father in Heaven).
Sadly, there is not much life in many of us because we are feeding too much in the World today and not in the Word. If Jesus is the Bread of Life then lack of spiritual life is the sign and symptom of our constant rebellion to our Lord Jesus Christ. We all are dry because we fail consistently to draw our daily strength from our true Vine (in which we are grafted) Jesus (John 15:1,5). We consider it to be hassle to abide in this branch that is the source and sustainer of our Life on Earth and for eternity. Like a Good shepherd (John 10:11,14) our Lord Jesus comes so many times seeking us when we were lost in wilderness of sins, but many of us are so foolish enough to think it as sign of His weakness instead of the abundance of His grace that He still comes seeking us, the wretched sinners. Even in earthly relationship we struggle to take the first step in restoring any relationship (marital, friendship, family, professional etc.). The one who takes the first step towards the other in restoration of any broken relationship shows the sign of grace and not necessarily the sign of his/her weakness. Many times the pride that stops us from taking first step towards God, also stops us taking first step towards each other as well in mending any broken and bleeding relationships.
The solution is let the showbread be always present before us; the more we see, comprehend, adore, admire and Love our Lord Jesus, We can come close to each other and most importantly get closer to our God in Heaven.
“Jesus is not one of many ways to approach God, nor is He the best of several ways;
He is the only way.” - A.W. Tozer
