“Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man - and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.”
“वे अपने आप को बुद्धिमान जताकर मूर्ख बन गए। और अविनाशी परमेश्वर की महिमा को नाशमान मनुष्य, और पक्षियों, और चौपायों, और रेंगने वाले जन्तुओं की मूरत की समानता में बदल डाला॥”
- Romans 1:22,23
While the world sometimes celebrate April 1st as Fool’s days by playing practical jokes and hoaxes on each other, sadly the world without the knowledge of true Almighty God has played the most cruel joke upon itself. Paul says, “Professing to be wise they became fools”, but who are they? They are those people who although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened (Romans 1:21). We are filled with so much worldly knowledge today that many of us think that we can do well without God and take no pleasure in wisdom and understanding that God has to offer (Proverbs 1:7). While a wise and godly man listen to the voice of Holy Spirit and takes wise decision, a person without God is always right in his own opinion (Proverbs 12:15). God has shown since beginning of the creation His invisible attributes, His Godhead and eternal power but mankind was always suppressing His truth in their own unrighteousness (Romans 1:18-20).
The only wise thing to do for those who know God in this hopeless situation is to let their Light shine before others, so that they (world) may see our good works and learn to appreciate our Father in heaven (Matthew 5:16). The need of an hour for a God-fearing Christian is to Honor Christ as Holy (1 Peter 3:15) and walk more in the power of Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8) and be prepared to make any defence for the hope that is in us but in gentleness and respect and be His faithful witnesses to this dying world.
Yes, it’s true that only a fool has said in his heart that “There is no God.” (Psalm 14:1-4) but have we told him that we use to think like him only in past but now “We have found the Messiah” (John 1:41) and invite him/her to “Come and see” by himself (John 1:49). This will give him/her the opportunity to see Jesus who is the author of salvation (Hebrews 5:9) and hear the gospel which is the power of God for salvation (Romans 1:16).
“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” - Jim Elliot
Have a Blessed day with God !!
“So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.”
“जब यीशु ने वह सिरका लिया, तो कहा पूरा हुआ और सिर झुकाकर प्राण त्याग दिए॥”
- John 19:30
Anyone’s last words are important and if it is the last words of Jesus then obviously it carries some unique significance. Just before He breathed His last breath, Jesus uttered the phrase “It is Finished”. Every year on the Day of atonement after offering the special sacrifice for the sins of Israelites, the High priest comes out and say, “it is finished” (in Hebrew) to the crowd that’s waiting for Him eagerly. This sacrifice symbolically placed all the sins of Israel on that lamb that was killed in their place. But Bible teaches us that this sacrificial system was temporary, imperfect and can never truly take away the sins (Hebrews 10:4, Isaiah 1:11). But when the perfect and sinless son of God died on the cross for the sins of mankind, He became the perfect and final sacrifice for all our sins. As per Hebrews 10, now we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
Our sins that created a debt to God, something that we could have never paid back on our own; when Jesus died, He paid off all our debts of sins once and for all (Hebrews 10:12-13,18). Our salvation is complete in Jesus now. If through Faith we accept Jesus as our personal saviour today, then by His Grace we will be saved (Ephesians 2:8,9). We need to imprint this firmly in our minds that our salvation has nothing to do with our own righteousness, but we need to remember that He saved us according to His Mercy (Titus 3:5). When the world remembers Christ’s ultimate sacrifice on Good Friday, we can truly honour Him by accepting Him as the Lord and Saviour of our life. Salvation is always a Personal Salvation and it was never a social or communal or even a household salvation (being born in a Christian family does not mean that you are saved). If you are struggling with a question just like the keeper of the prison (Acts 16:25-34), “What must I do to be saved?”, then the answer is simple “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” (Acts 16:31)
“As our Lord asked the sick man whether he wished to be healed, so, without our consent, He will not save us; and sinners are without excuse for not consenting to the will of the Lord and their own salvation.” - Cardinal Bonaventura
“And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!”
“और जो मैं तुम से कहता हूं, वही सब से कहता हूं, जागते रहो॥”
- Mark 13:37
Many times in Gospel (roughly 14 times), epistles and even many parts of Old and New Testament we come across the phrase “Watch”. In almost all such places where word of God tells us to “Watch” it basically points to some very crucial fact about the contemporary times, soon coming future events and above everything else a call to be Ready. “Watch,” is usually the translation of one of two Greek words gregoreuo and agrupneo which basically means “stay awake” and to “be sleepless”. It also means to be vigilant and on guard, fully awake, aware, alert and intently focused. Our Lord Jesus told Peter to “Watch and pray, lest he enters into temptation.” (Matthew 26:41) and forewarned him that temptations are lurking around the corner and ready to knock at the door. In the context of end times and soon coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, Jesus said “Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming” (Mark 13:35), telling us to be ready all the time. When we are awake enough to Watch then God’s Holy Spirit will also enable us to do the second most important thing which is to Pray and Be Ready to face the trials and temptations that awaits us.
While it is expected that the unsaved world scoffs at us because we continue to cling to this “blessed hope” that our Jesus is coming again as He promised (2 Peter 3), we must make sure that we do not get distracted by its constant jabbers. Watchfulness is also aimed at pleasing our God, hearing His loving commendation, and receiving His reward (Matthew 25:14–30) at the end. Being watchful also makes sure that we do not lose what we have worked for all our lives (2 John 1:8) by being on our guard constantly against all spiritual deceptions (Matthew 7:15) and foolishly toiling hard to amass wealth (by being greedy) & perishable treasures on earth (Luke 12:15). Are we obeying His command to watch? Do we know what Christ is commanding us to do today? He tells us to “Watch!”.
“If God gives you a watch, are you honoring Him more by asking Him what time it is or by simply consulting the watch?” - A.W. Tozer
“He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.”
“वह यहाँ नहीं है, परन्तु अपने वचन के अनुसार जी उठा है; आओ, यह स्थान देखो, जहाँ प्रभु पड़ा था।”
- Matthew 28:6
Mary Magdalene and the other Mary very early in morning (Matthew 28:1) are coming to see the tomb, without having a doubt in their mind that Jesus their Lord and master is now dead. In fact, they wondered how they would move the huge stone that blocked the entrance to the tomb. Its remarkable neither they nor any other disciples who were with Jesus did not believe in His resurrection when He had taught this truth repeatedly during His public ministry (Matthew 16:21, Matthew 12:39-40, John 10:17, 18). It’s an irony that in fact those who crucified Jesus were more concerned about the predictions by Jesus about His resurrection and it even led them to ask Pontius Pilate to secure the tomb (Matthew 27:62-64).
The tomb only contained the grave clothes still wrapped in the shape of the body and Jesus left them behind as evidence that He was alive (John 20:5–7). Because Jesus died and rose again, we shall too one day be raised to be like Him (1 Thessalonians 4:13–18). He is the resurrection and the Life and those who believes Him, even though they die, yet they shall live (John 11:25).
If Part 1 of Jesus story was about His Crucifixion then Part 2 of His Story was about His Resurrection but believe it or not, Part 3 of His story still continues, He is Coming Back (Matthew 24:44). We must not keep the resurrection news to ourselves but let us share about our Jesus and His victory over death with all around us (Mark 16:15, Matthew 28:19-20). Let us honor our Master’s victory over death, not just once a year, but every day and lets remind ourselves on this Resurrection Sunday that “Our Jesus is not dead, He is alive !
“In His life, Christ is an example, showing us how to live; in His death, He is a sacrifice, satisfying for our sins; in His resurrection, a conqueror; in His ascension, a king; in His intercession, a high priest.” - Martin Luther
“The highway of the upright is to depart from evil; He who keeps his way preserves his soul.”
“बुराई से हटना सीधे लोगों के लिये राजमार्ग है, जो अपने चाल चलन की चौकसी करता, वह अपने प्राण की भी रक्षा करता है।”
- Proverbs 16:17
The need of the hour for God’s people is to stay away from evil, and this is only possible by protecting themselves by watching what they do (what they see, hear, talk, do, where their feet takes them) and preserve their lives not just earthly lives but eternal lives too. The greatest but unnoticed form of evil that enemy traps us is the sin of rebellion against God, Bible says evil people are eager for rebellion, but they will be severely punished (Proverbs 17:11). To depart from evil basically implies that a righteous person (a disciple of Christ) must fear and worship the Lord and listen to His voice (1 Samuel 12:14-15). While living on earth our responsibility is to submit unconditionally to the order of authority God has placed us in while we live on earth. We disciple of Christ are encouraged to submit to the governing authorities (Romans 13:1-2), husbands must submit to Christ, wives must submit to husbands and children must submit to parents. Any rebellion in following this order of authority will bound to create chaos, brings unrest, and will encourage further rebellion in the downward chain of command.
The highway of upright is the notion that means that a sincere disciple of Christ will make sure to keep a distance from every appearance of evil like living a lifestyle of sin, refusing God’s calling deliberately, trusting himself rather than trusting in the Lord, being unforgiving, and many more like this. They who keep their ways will rejoice wholeheartedly in walking daily with their Lord Jesus Christ and be always led by the Holy Spirit. By doing this they preserve their eternity. We need to evaluate our spiritual standards strictly through the word of God and in accordance with God’s Holy Spirit to see what is good for us in a specific day to day situations and avoid traps and sins that drains our spiritual anointing. We cannot have a specific thumb rule always that we can cookie cut and apply in all our situations. If it was the loss of his hair that caused Samson’s defeat (Judges 16:17), then it is probable that Absalom’s thick hairs caused him to trap his head in the tree branches, where Joab found him and killed him (2 Samuel 18:9-17). If the temptations are different for different people then the way of escape (1 Corinthians 10:13) that God provide for them is also different. But be careful that today if you hear His voice, then do not harden your hearts as Israel did when they rebelled (Hebrews 3:15). Listen, Obey and Preserve your Souls.
“We stumble and fall constantly even when we are most enlightened. But when we are in true spiritual darkness, we do not even know that we have fallen.” - Thomas Merton
“Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?”
“तू अपने दास को अपनी प्रजा का न्याय करने के लिये समझने की ऐसी शक्ति दे, कि मैं भले बुरे को परख सकूं; क्योंकि कौन ऐसा है कि तेरी इतनी बड़ी प्रजा का न्याय कर सके?”
- 1 Kings 3:9
The greater the responsibility that God puts in our shoulders, the greater is our need for God’s wisdom and an understanding heart to execute those tasks successfully. In 1 Kings 3, we can see King Solomon who took the charge of ruling the nation of Israel from his father David, is now faced with a massive responsibility of not only leading people of Israel but also to build the house for the Lord which his father could not do. When He admits in 1 Kings 3:7 that He is just a little child, it does not mean that he was young in years but it was a humble admission of his inexperience. Solomon’s prayer was brief and to the point, and it was spoken with true humility, for three times he called himself “your servant”. Sadly, many Christians including contemporary leaders and servants of God who are well advanced in years but still acts foolish like a little child without wisdom when it comes to understanding God’s will and knowing how God wants us to achieve something or do something for His kingdom as well as in our personal lives too. We may say that God’s Holy spirit is there available to us a counsellor and advisor but how many of us really consult this great helper every day?
Today we feel bit awkward to use phrases like calling ourselves as servants, admitting our serious need for wisdom, asking for an understanding heart, and most importantly ability to discern between right and wrong or good and evil. Sometimes we ask and do not receive, because we ask amiss, that we may spend it on our own pleasures (James 4:3), Solomon asked and it is written that his petition pleased God (1 Kings 3:10) and because he asked the right thing, he even got what he did not asked for himself (1 Kings 3:12,13). Solomon asked God to give him “an understanding heart,” because no matter how smart the mind may be, if the heart is wrong, all of life will be wrong. “Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life” (Proverbs 4:23). What are we asking God today? Let us ask the right thing to our Father today, something that pleases Him and is in His will. [James 1:5-8, John 15:7, 1 John 5:14-15]
“Nowadays Christians appear to treat prayer as a means to accomplish their aims and ideas. If they possessed just a little deeper understanding, they would recognize that prayer is but man uttering to God what is God’s will.” - Watchman Nee
“For this cause everyone who is godly shall pray to You, In a time when You may be found; Surely in a flood of great waters, They shall not come near him.”
“इस कारण हर एक भक्त तुझ से ऐसे समय में प्रार्थना करे जब कि तू मिल सकता है। निश्चय जब जल की बड़ी बाढ़ आए तौभी उस भक्त के पास न पहुंचेगी।”
- Psalm 32:6
Once in a while it is not only good but actually its vital to have a serious contemplation/reflection of our spiritual lives, our moral integrity and our current godly stamina. In Psalm 32 David while expressing his Joy of forgiveness is explaining his readers the process through which he got that joy and peace. When David acknowledged his sins and iniquities to the Lord (Psalms 32:5), he receives the forgiveness of his sins. Many times, our unconfessed sins take away our joy, peace and believe it or not it physically cripples us too. David says when he kept silent, his bones grew old and he lost his strength (Psalm 32:3, 4). Therefore, he urges his readers to turn back to God and acknowledge not only their sins but more than that their need for God to sustain them through all temptations.
If we seek the Lord our God and then we surely will find Him, but the condition is we need to seek Him with all our heart and with all our soul (Deuteronomy 4:29). Prophet Isaiah admonishes us in almost same words as David to call upon the Lord while He is near and encourages wicked to forsake his evil ways and return to the Lord wholeheartedly so that our compassionate God can abundantly pardon his sins (Isaiah 55:6-7). If seeking God for sinner is critical then seeking God for a godly person (who obey His commandments), is the norm of life or rather we should say a lifestyle. When Godly seeks the Lord, it will hide them from the day of anger of Lord (Zephaniah 2:3). We must be diligent to examine ourselves daily on the scales of how much we sought our God and how much did we run behind the world and its passions. What we seek today will define what is our present lifestyle. If the Word of God, prayer life and thinking about your eternity daily are missing from our daily life routines then beware that we will not be able to survive the day of the Lord. We need to be awake, seek and Pray to God so that we can survive the flood of great waters. When David turned back to God, he exchanged hiding his sins for a hiding place in the Lord. God not only removed his troubles but also put a wall of protection around him. After David was forgiven and restored, he went to the sanctuary to worship the Lord (2 Samuel 12:15–23) and there with the other worshipers, he was surrounded by “songs of deliverance,”. That is exactly what David wanted to hear and perhaps today we need to hear too.
“God doesn’t seek for golden vessels, and does not ask for silver ones, but He must have clean ones.” - D.L. Moody
“By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace.”
“विश्वास ही से राहाब वेश्या आज्ञा ने मानने वालों के साथ नाश नहीं हुई; इसलिये कि उस ने भेदियों को कुशल से रखा था।”
- Hebrews 11:31
Faith on God not only changes our future destiny but has the capacity to change our testimony from that of a victim to a Victor. It can also miraculously suck the sting out of our past and wash the deep stains that our sin caused in our souls. Rahab which Bible records as a common sinner, yet she was saved by grace, through her faith on Living God. She may be living in a deep spiritual darkness among people who were idol worshipers and what is more she was a destitute rejected by her society, but she was loved by God. She heard what great things Almighty God has done in the lives of Israel and how God avenged the enemies of Israel (Joshua 2:10,11). She believed what she heard and that leads to her confession about Living God “I know that the Lord has given you the land…” (Joshua 2:9). How true is that true Faith comes by hearing (Romans 10:17). Many in Jericho have heard about the God of Israel and His power but it was only Rahab that believed in Him and she trusted Him. Her Faith was demonstrated by how she hid the spies (Joshua 2:1,4,6) and later sent them away in peace (Joshua 2:16). It was not only her confession of Faith but the steps she took once she believed and scarlet cord (Joshua 2:12, 18) was the “sure sign” that she believed the word of the spies.
You may have heard about Jesus somewhere or perhaps may be born in a Christian family but still you may have no personal relationship with the Lord your God. It is time to remind ourselves that it is not enough to hear but believe what you heard and it must be followed by your Trust which has to do with your hearts. Then, after believing in with our hearts, we must confess Him with our mouth and in our lives too (Matthew 10:32-33). When those in Jericho did not believed and were perished, Bible says Rahab’s faith not only saved her but also brought her into a position of great honour where she become the part of our Lord Jesus’ lineage by becoming mother of Boaz who was the great-grandfather of King David (Ruth 4:21-22, Matthew 1:5-6 and 16). The glorious, good news of Jesus Christ is that you and I can change. It is God himself who can sanctify us today (1 Thessalonians. 5:23) and bring true lasting change by changing our hearts.
“Faith is like radar that sees through the fog-the reality of things at a distance that the human eye cannot see.” - Corrie Ten Boom
“When Esau was forty years old, he took as wives Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Basemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite. And they were a grief of mind to Isaac and Rebekah.”
“जब ऐसाव चालीस वर्ष का हुआ, तब उसने हित्ती बेरी की बेटी यहूदीत, और हित्ती एलोन की बेटी बाशमत को ब्याह लिया। और इन स्त्रियों के कारण इसहाक और रिबका के मन को खेद हुआ॥”
- Genesis 26:34-35
We are living in a generation that is self-willed and seldom seek guidance and wisdom of the elders, parents and those who have vast experience to actually help the generation Z (iGen or centennials) to make a wise decision for their lives. It’s written the decision of Esau not only troubled his family but also brought a great burden on the whole family. It’s not only marrying a pagan woman (Hittites were a heathen people who did not worship the one true God) but it is written he married two of them (later one more). Polygamy is not something that is approved by God. Just because it is recorded in scripture it does not mean that God approves that or is pleased. When sin entered the world, the most critical institution called Marriage too was affected and we see the repercussions of that even today. A rebellious generation can cause tremendous grief to their parents, even to the point of affecting the health of the parents.
But we may need to learn something from God here, as our God does not give up on us the most rebellious and disobedient people, He expects us also to bear our children and continue (even if it is hard) to discipline and admonish them. They are still your children, and we need to continue training them on how to live the right way, which they will remember all their life (Proverbs 22:6). If we trust God today and ask God to guide us in disciplining our kids in the right way then Bible says that our children will be taught by the Lord, and great shall be the peace of your children (Isaiah 54:13). Today you may be struggling like “Isaac and Rebekah” or perhaps like Samson’s parents (Judges 14:1-3) feeling helpless and hopeless in your spirit but believe it or not, you are not alone because God knows what you are going through. God wants you to continue to discipline them in the Lord even if it is hard at times. Do not forget that the rod and reproof give wisdom, but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother (Proverbs 29:15). We need to discipline our kids according to the offense and something that is apt according to the age of child. We do not discipline a toddler in the same way we may discipline a teenager or an adult child. Do not give up and just like God dealing with us, lets continue to give our children grace liberally, teach, and guide them truly in God’s love. Make sure that you continue to draw your strength, wisdom and grace from God and His Word because you cannot give to your kids what you do not already have. Many parents are big failures in disciplining their kids today because they themselves are struggling to walk and live with their God in their personal lives. If you stand a yard away from God today, you may see your kids standing a mile away from God tomorrow.
“You may speak but a word to a child, and in that child there may be slumbering a noble heart which shall stir the Christian Church in years to come.” - Charles Spurgeon
“Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am He.””
“यीशु ने उस से कहा, मैं जो तुझ से बोल रहा हूं, वही हूं॥”
- John 4:26
There is a great difference between knowing what is going to happen and expecting it to really happen in our lives. Jesus as He talked with the Samaritan woman near Jacob’s well opened her inner eyes to see who the Messiah is. What is significant here that even being a gentile and in today’s context a non-believer, she still knows what is going to happen if we carefully scan her words in John 4:25 that “I know that Messiah is coming” (who is called Christ). “When He comes, He will tell us all things.”. Many of us know about the coming judgment, many of us know Jesus is coming soon to gather His saints and many of us even know that Jesus will make those who overcome, the kings and priests to our God and we shall reign on the earth. (Revelation 5:10). But question is not about knowing but is about how much we believe our Almighty God and that His Word is true. And if we really believe then what impact does it have on our present life as we prepare for these future events.
Another important aspect of Samaritan women that reveals the bondage she was in is mentioned in her words when she says “Are You greater than our father Jacob” (John 4:12) and then later “Our fathers worshiped on this mountain” (John 4:20). If we understand both the statements it shows the deep traditional bondage, she was in, that was stopping her from knowing her need for a living Messiah and even recognizing the Messiah who is standing before her. How many of us still make this assumption and linger on with our rituals, practices and beliefs saying our forefathers used to do like this and have confined the Lord God and His worship to mere idols and even buildings or structures with stained glasses. Before Jesus revealed to her that He is the Messiah, He opened her understanding about the true worship which is “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in Spirit and Truth” (John 4:24). Mere going to Sunday gatherings or masses and trying to do what everyone is doing without even knowing whom we worship and why do we worship Him, is the sure sign of our current Spiritual bondages and to some extent even our moral decline which we must come out before it is too late. It is time for us to come to our spiritual senses and escape from the snares of the devil that has held us captive for long and stopped us from obeying our God (2 Timothy 2:26). Let us Repent and turn to God so that our sins may be wiped out and times of refreshing (which many of us long desperately today) may come from the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 3:19)
“We ought to be living as if Jesus died yesterday, rose this morning, and is coming back this afternoon.” - Adrian Rogers
“Men shall clap their hands at him, And shall hiss him out of his place.”
“और उस पर ऐसी सुसकारियां भरेंगे कि वह अपने स्थान पर न रह सकेगा।”
- Job 27:23
The book of Job records some of the magnificent description of a righteous person or a godly person and it even records some of the lamentable details about a hypocrite and a wicked person. In chapter 27 while Job tries to maintain his integrity, he gives his friend Bildad (and others who were listening) an apt understanding of the fate of a hypocrite and an ungodly person. After declaring that he will hold fast to his righteousness and will not let it go, he declares to them the fate of a wicked person or a hypocrite. From Job 27:8-23 there are some direct questions and some unimaginable consequences mentioned about the wicked. Sometimes to have a true understanding of God’s grace and His Loving mercy we must have an idea of the judgment of wicked or the ultimate consequences of sin such as hypocrisy. It is like to ward off people from smoking government sometimes must put on cigarette packets some distasteful and even loathful images of those who suffer cancer from smoking. Sometimes God must show us a slight glimpse of what lies ahead if we disobey to help us realize the grace of God and importance of His forgiveness to us sinners today. In Job 27 we can see the wicked person will be cast out from presence of men and even ultimately from presence of God too (if he fails to repent). When God casts down a man, there is no flying from, nor bearing up under His anger. Righteous will clap hands as token of joy on removal of a wicked who tried to rule and subdue a righteous person till now. The wicked will finally be hissed out of his position, fame, strength, glamour or beauty as a token of detestation and derision. Remember, the time is short and if the wicked fails to flee into the arms of God which are always stretched out to receive Him then sadly, he will not be able to flee God’s wrath too which is very soon going to be stretched out to destroy him. Ponder upon Jesus words “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?” (Mark 8:36-37; Matthew 16:26). Let us Pray and Repent for the coming of our Lord Jesus is at hand (Matthew 3:2,3; Matthew 4:1).
“Eternity to the godly is a day that has no sunset; eternity to the wicked is a night that has no sunrise.” - Thomas Watson
“In return for my love they are my accusers, But I give myself to prayer.”
" मेरे प्रेम के बदले में वे मुझ से विरोध करते हैं, परन्तु मैं तो प्रार्थना में लवलीन रहता हूं।”
- Psalms 109:4
It is not uncommon for anyone suffering from the verbal attacks of others cannot but help notice the frequency and seriousness with which this particular struggle is treated in the Psalms. Besides none other than David can explain the gravity of such verbal accusations who has suffered unjustly in the hands of his own brothers, Saul whom he served so faithfully, his enemies and even his own son Absalom who rebelled against him. This Psalm is David’s plea to God for judgment of false accusers. Interestingly the unnamed opponent (may have been King Saul himself) here seems to be outwardly religious (Psalm 109:7) but hated David (Psalm 109:3,5), falsely accused him (Psalm 109:1–2, 4) and even cursed him (Psalm 109:17–19). David’s attempts to return good for evil failed (Psalm 109:4–5), and the man showed him no mercy (Psalm 109:16).
Many of us today gets terribly discouraged when those whom we love, respect and honour, turn against us unjustly but we must remind ourselves that its Satan who is the real accuser (Revelation 12:10) and the adversary of believers (1 Peter 5:8), and he will always use people to accomplish his purpose. When Satan used the high priests, pharisees and Jews to falsely accuse and later crucify our Saviour, then little did he knew that his plans are going to backfire and serve the greater purpose of God in bringing salvation to the whole mankind through the sacrifice of His son Jesus Christ on the Cross. As a disciple of Christ, when we are falsely accused, we must try to maintain a good conscience, so that, when we are slandered, those who revile our good behaviour in Christ may be put to shame (1 Peter 3:16). If we really believe what Jesus said “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.” (Matthew 5:11) then we will not get discouraged when others accuse us. We must stay tuned to God’s will, bear our own cross daily and wait for the Lord to fight for us, as we hold your peace.” (Exodus 14:14). David loved his accuser; we too must love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us (Matthew 5:44).
“If you take care of yourself and walk with integrity, you may be confident that God will deal with those who sin against you. Above all, do not give birth to sin yourself; rather, pray for those who persecute you. God will one day turn your persecution into praise.”
- Warren Wiersbe
“Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.”
“प्रभु के साम्हने दीन बनो, तो वह तुम्हें शिरोमणि बनाएगा।”
- James 4:10
James the apostle says the source of all wars, fights and contentions in the world is primarily due to the desire for pleasure that dwells inside us (James 4:1) and due to the worldliness that is rooted in us due to our lack of humbleness before God. The pride that springs out inside us due to this, not even makes us double-minded (James 4:8) but also is the prime reason why we step into judging others too often. The cure the apostle suggests is simple and it is to humble ourselves under the hand of God. But this humbleness must be attested by our Lament, mourning, and our crying out in the presence of God with a broken heart. It must be genuine. It is possible to submit outwardly and yet not be humbled inwardly.
In very simple words Holy Spirit tells us that selfish desires are dangerous things. They lead to wrong actions (“ye kill, ye fight and war,” James 4:2), and they even lead to wrong praying (“When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures” James 4:3). How hard it may be to believe but one of the marks of true humility is facing the seriousness of sin and dealing with our disobedience. “A broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise” (Psalm 51:17). It is still better to fall in the hands of God than in hands of men, as David prayed when he sinned (2 Samuel 24:14). The purpose of prayer is not to get man’s will done in heaven, but to get God’s will done on earth.
“If you plan to build a tall house of virtues, you must first lay deep foundations of humility.” - Augustine
“Even if these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they would deliver only themselves by their righteousness,” says the Lord God.”
“तब चाहे उस में नूह, दानिय्येल और अय्यूब ये तीनों पुरुष हों, तौभी वे अपने धर्म के द्वारा केवल अपने ही प्राणों को बचा सकेंगे; प्रभु यहोवा की यही वाणी हे।”
- Ezekiel 14:14
When a nation, land or an individual falls under Persistent unfaithfulness then it pushes itself to the verge of undeniable judgment. The biggest act of any unfaithfulness is deeply rooted in our idols and God through His prophet Ezekiel has given them the very clear reason of their defeat before enemies and even moral failures. God says, “these men have set up their idols in their hearts and put before them that which causes them to stumble into iniquity.” (Ezekiel 14:3). The dilemma is even having these idols in their hearts they still came to seek the living God and His counsel (Ezekiel 14:4, 5).
The responsibility of each person before God is a key subject in the book of Ezekiel. There is no concept of “borrowed Faith”. Even though faith of Noah saved him and his family by the flood, faith of Daniel saved him from the lions’ den, and faith of Job saved him by painful trials from Satan but the faith and righteousness of these three men could not be accredited to others. We may have been born in Christian families, we may be going to a Church too but if you are still not saved through your Faith and personal confession of Christ as your saviour then none of the righteousness of your parents, your loved ones or your mentors or pastors can save you. If God does not punish people because of the sins of others, then God will not accept the righteousness of others to compensate for the wicked deeds of sinners. Only those who received Him (Jesus) and believed in His name, He gave the right to become Children of God (John 1:12)
“Faith cannot be inherited or gained by being baptized into a Church. Faith is a matter between the individual and God.” - Martin Luther
“Then these men assembled and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God.”
“तब उन पुरूषों ने उतावली से आकर दानिय्येल को अपने परमेश्वर के सामने बिनती करते और गिड़गिड़ाते हुए पाया।”
- Daniel 6:11
When God’s people by the grace of God are able to distinguish themselves above those around them then there is an obvious malicious attempt by enemy to find some charge against their character or good standing before God. When God’s people walk and dwell with Holy Spirit daily then the forces of darkness will work constantly against them too, but it can never prevail against a truly Godly person. Even those against Daniel could not find any error or fault in him just because he was faithful (Daniel 6:4). The only way enemy can sometimes try to trap God’s people is to tempt them in their righteousness and testimony before God and men. The plot that Daniel’s enemy planned was very shrewd as it was against his spiritual life but using his professional life as a bait. Many times, when God’s people are faithful in their walk with God then enemy can very well use his personal weaknesses, family struggles, professional conduct or even his social life to distract him from his walk with God. But Daniel life has a great lesson to teach all of us here. His principle in life was to be consistent, and to keep doing what he always used to do for his God (Daniel 6:11) even when his professional life and his own life were at risk. He knew one thing that this risk of losing favour with men is nothing compared to losing favour with God.
Had he not been a man of faith and courage, Daniel could have easily compromised and found excuses for not maintaining his faithful prayer life. A man like Daniel feared only the Lord; and when you fear the Lord, you need not fear anyone else, and it is something that we can agree with apostle’s declaration as well “We ought to obey God rather than me” (Acts 5:29). What kind of risk are we taking for our Lord today? What part of your life God sees today? The most important part of a believer’s life should ideally the part that only God sees, our daily private time of meditation and prayer. For us Christians our outlook determines our outcomes, and when we look to the Lord for His guidance and help each day and every moment then we know that all our outcomes are in His hands and so we have nothing to fear.
“God knows our situation; He will not judge us as if we had no difficulties to overcome. What matters is the sincerity and perseverance of our will to overcome them.”
- C.S. Lewis
“Surely the Lord God does nothing, Unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.”
“इसी प्रकार से प्रभु यहोवा अपने दास भविष्यद्वक्ताओं पर अपना मर्म बिना प्रकट किए कुछ भी न करेगा।”
- Amos 3:7
God through His prophet speaks about two prime truths to the children of Israel which is basically around the authority of God’s message by His chosen and faithful prophets and secondly about the punishment of Israel’s sins such as forsaking God’s commandments and their inherent pride. Prophet asks a series of seven questions (Amos 3:3-6) in which one of the questions was “Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?”, which is basically a question that challenges the strength and depth of any relationship either with our God or even with others as we live in this world. Amos is also an encouragement to all believers who feel they are inadequate to do the work of the Lord. He was a layman, not a graduate of a prophetic school. He was not self-taught but rather God-taught; and he was willing to share with others what God had said to him. People around him may be asking what kind of authority that this uneducated farmer has to preach God’s word or claim to be God’s prophet. The seven questions were obvious facts that any logical person can acknowledge, and prophet Amos used those arguments to declare that if an untrained rustic farmer is preaching God’s Word, then it means God has called him. Because he was walking with God, he knew God’s secrets. What caused Amos to preach God’s Word? The call of God on his life. If it is God who calls someone to be His servant or prophet then it is God alone who will reveal the required and needed secrets or counsel through him for His people. The one who fears God will know the secrets of God and He will make them know His covenant (Psalm 25:14)
“A popular evangelist reaches your emotions. A true prophet reaches your conscience.”
- Leonard Ravenhill
“For there is one God, and there is one mediator for God and man, the man Christ Jesus.”
“क्योंकि परमेश्वर एक ही है, और परमेश्वर और मनुष्यों के बीच में भी एक ही बिचवई है, अर्थात् मसीह यीशु जो मनुष्य है”
- 1 Timothy 2:5
A mediator (aka negotiator) is the person who mediate or Act between parties with a view to reconciling differences. Our iniquities have made a separation between us and our God, and our sins have hidden His face from us so that He does not hear (Isaiah 59:2) but good news is that God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8) and now we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 5:1). Apostle Paul says for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant (Hebrews 9:15). God hates sin, and sin stands between all of us and Him. No amount of good works or law-keeping makes us righteous enough to stand before a holy God (Isaiah 64:6, Galatians 2:16). Without a mediator, we are destined to spend eternity in hell, for by ourselves salvation from our sin is impossible. Yet there is hope! “For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:5).
While there can be people who can Pray for you but no one can mediate for you before God but Christ alone. Giving place of Christ to any mortal man is nothing but absolute sacrilege (and believing a lie of enemy that can even deprive us of our eternity). Since there is only one God, there is need for only one Mediator, and that Mediator is Jesus Christ. No other person can qualify. Jesus Christ is both God and man, and In His perfect life and substitutionary death (Matthew 20:28), He met the just demands of God’s holy law, therefore, can be the “umpire” between God and man, someone that Job dearly missed and even complained to God (Job 9:33). Jesus is the one and only mediator who can restore the damaged relationship between God and us humans.
“Don’t ever think that there are many ways to the Divine. Jesus is the one qualified mediator, the only qualified sacrifice, and the only qualified savior.” - Erwin Lutzer
“Therefore comfort one another with these words.”
“सो इन बातों से एक दूसरे को शान्ति दिया करो॥”
- 1 Thessalonians 4:18
There is no greater comfort than having The Comfort of Christ’s Coming, for the child of God or a true disciple of Christ. Apostle Paul, after a brief plea for living a pure and holy life (1 Thessalonians 4:1-7) and then exhorting the church to grow in brotherly love and strive to live an orderly Christian life (1 Thessalonians 4:9-12), he closes the chapter with the most important hope of a Christian life which is “about coming of our Lord Jesus Christ soon”. Paul says “the Dead in Christ will rise first” and then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet our Lord in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17). The culmination of this great even for us Christians is that “we shall always be with the Lord” thereafter. Now this is the great truth that comforts us who are alive and waiting for our Christ’s return.
While we struggle hard to keep up in our earthly life, gets discouraged and lose our hopes immensely when we fail ourselves in our family, professional and even our spiritual lives, then the hope of our Christ’s return is our only anchor that keeps us going. Paul says comfort each other with this great hope, exhort one another, and continue to build each other up (1 Thessalonians 5:11). David too in midst of all adversity encourages his readers to “be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord.” (Psalms 31:24). Our hope of Christ’s return can enable each one of us to be even patient at times in midst of all tribulations and help us to engage constantly in prayer too (Romans 12:12). When relationships get sour, professional goals are not met, we miss our opportunities to excel spiritually & personally constantly and enemy constantly shows us our weak self, then believe it that it is the hope that our Christ is alive and He is coming back soon, is the only encouraging element in midst of all the negativities around us that can still keep us on our feet. No wonder it is hard to stumble when you are on your knees (in presence of your God). Whether we Christians live or die, we have nothing to fear because Jesus will come either with us or for us! The fact of His return is a comfort to our hearts.
“How sweet is rest after fatigue! How sweet will heaven be when our journey is ended.”
- George Whitefield
“There is hope in your future, says the Lord, That your children shall come back to their own border.”
“अन्त में तेरी आशा पूरी होगी, यहोवा की यह वाणी है, तेरे वंश के लोग अपने देश में लौट आएंगे।”
- Jeremiah 31:17
Being captive under enemy and losing your self-esteem, glory and even freedom to worship the Lord is an experience that Israel knows very well especially when subjected to the terrible trials at the hands of the Babylonians and bearing the yoke of slavery which they themselves have put on due to their sins. But God’s promise was that He will restore them, heal all their wounds, break the yoke of bondage, and bring the peace they wanted desperately. When we look at life of Israelites, their rebellion (Ezekiel 20:8), their sins (Hosea 9), their captivity (2 Kings 17) and their subsequent return to Jerusalem then it should be an eye opener and a urgent spiritual lesson for all of us (New testament believers). God will save His remnant always and will do new things for them as we see happened in the life of Israelites.
When parents (the current generation) decide to repent, cry out and turn back to God with all their heart and seek the face of the Lord (Jeremiah 29:13) while there is still time then God will surely make a way of escape and provide a God centred future for their children (next generation). When we carefully read these promises in Jeremiah 31 there is a powerful revelation hidden between the lines especially the emphasis on singing, praise, and joy. Why? Because God will comfort them and make them (and us) rejoice ultimately. When we come before God, think about His promises for us and our children what else a grateful heart must do but to rejoice and sing praise to Almighty God. He who has called you is faithful, and He also will do it for you and your generations (1 Thessalonians 5:24). If we can sow in Tears today, then we will surely reap with Joy in future (Psalms 126:5). Most importantly, we need to pray that God can enable us to raise more Jeremiah’s and Josiah’s because if today’s contemporary leaders and servant of Gods can be really like Josiah and Jeremiah, then not only the nation but our future generation will also surely be saved. Let us pray and work hard so that we do not fail our God and our children now.
“Not to walk in the straight and narrow way yourself, is to give the devil the biggest kind of a chance to get our children.” - Billy Sunday
“Prepare your outside work, Make it fit for yourself in the field; And afterward build your house.”
“अपना बाहर का काम काज ठीक करना, और खेत में उसे तैयार कर लेना; उसके बाद अपना घर बनाना॥”
- Proverbs 24:27
While Bible is the “Basic Information Before Leaving Earth”, it does have some valuable and much needed wisdom on how to live on this earth too. One of the less considered areas is around Godly money management that Bible speaks in many areas. What Solomon shared in Proverbs 24:27, is something that many of modern thinkers and even so-called spiritual giants fail to understand at times is “why preparing and planting the field” is more critical and holds more priority than building the house itself. While many Christians tries to hide their slackness and lack of zeal to work hard behind a fake pretence of having faith to face future, they forget that it is the author and finisher of their faith Jesus Himself said that if one wants to build a tower, won’t he first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? What if he begins but unable to finish it and then everyone will ridicule him (Luke 14:28-30)? We must learn to set priorities with our financial blessings and make sure to be good stewards of money that God gives us.
We must prayerfully need to make sure that we save enough to cover our essentials needs to survive and able to work before we choose to spend money on creature comforts. In other words, set aside money to pay all the bills, rent, mortgage and even to put food on the table (which are our needs) before you spend any on new clothes or luxuries (our wants). Joseph was a God-fearing person, and it was God’s divine wisdom and grace that enabled him to interpret Pharaoh dreams and later even to plan for the great disaster and store up grain during the seven good years and use that stored grain to get the country through the seven hard years to follow (Genesis 41:34-36). When we try to understand the parable of Jesus in Luke 14:28-30, we can see that many costs that we expect do not always come up the right way, so we need to plan ahead for them or in simple terms make a budget that aligns with our good conscience in Christ, our income, expenses and most importantly helps us avoid any debts (Proverbs 22:7). For us Christians it is as simple as to give what belongs to God (Tithes/Offerings), then save some for future and use the rest for our daily and future expenses. Remember 10-10-80 rule by John D. Rockefeller (one of the richest man who ever lived) where he mentioned that 10% of income should be dedicated to God, 10% towards savings and the final 80% should be used for our living expenses. And Yes God will provide for all your needs according to His riches and glory (Philippians 4:19, Philippians 4:6) but at the same time there is no harm learning a lesson or two from an Ant and consider its ways and be wise too (Proverbs 6:6-8).
“If a person gets his attitude toward money straight, it will help straighten out almost every other area in his life.” - Billy Graham
“Lord, make me to know my end, And what is the measure of my days, That I may know how frail I am.”
“हे यहोवा ऐसा कर कि मेरा अन्त मुझे मालुम हो जाए, और यह भी कि मेरी आयु के दिन कितने हैं; जिस से मैं जान लूं कि कैसा अनित्य हूं!”
- Psalm 39:4
If something the current pandemic has taught the world then it is to grasp the reality of our fleeting lives. Death is not a respecter of anyone’s social status, bank balance, physical strength, or even moral standing. How much so ever we deny it, but the truth remains that the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it (Ecclesiastes 12:7). Many times, when we face various tragedies, we do become bitter, angry, and frustrated at people/world around us and even at God too but when we look to God in these times and turn to His word then we will find a new perspective, comfort and even a divine reassurance as we grapple with the loss of our loved ones. While this is true that no one in the world can ever realize the pain and grief you are experiencing in these sorrowful moments but rest assured God’s comfort as David prays “even when I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no danger because you are with me. Your rod and your staff, they protect me.”, is always there with us (Psalm 23:4).
During these hard times, our Christ encourages us not to let our hearts be troubled but instead believe in God and believe in Him (John 14:1-4). We need to learn to look at our fleeting life just like David who knew that his life was short and that the days would pass swiftly; he also knew that he was frail and that one day he would die. He began to measure his days (Psalm 90:12; 119:84) and understood that they were nothing but a hand breadth (four fingers) and his age nothing in God’s sight. (Psalm 90:1–11). For us who believe in Lord Jesus the promise of God is that we will live forever (John 11:26) and one day our Lord Jesus will destroy the last enemy which is Death (1 Corinthians 15:26) and its (death) sting will be rendered useless and ineffective (1 Corinthians 15:55-57). While the world around may teach you that life is short so enjoy it but Bible reminds us eternity is long, prepare for it because one who believes that Jesus died and rose again, then in the same way one day through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep (1 Thessalonians 4:14).
“They, then, who are destined to die, need not be careful to inquire what death they are to die, but into what place death will usher them.” - Augustine
“Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled”
“सब से मेल मिलाप रखने, और उस पवित्रता के खोजी हो जिस के बिना कोई प्रभु को कदापि न देखेगा। और ध्यान से देखते रहो, ऐसा न हो, कि कोई परमेश्वर के अनुग्रह से वंचित रह जाए, या कोई कड़वी जड़ फूट कर कष्ट दे, और उसके द्वारा बहुत से लोग अशुद्ध हो जाएं।”
- Hebrews 12:14, 15
God has given us the free gift of His grace through our faith in Jesus Christ’s sacrifice and His shed blood on the cross (Romans 3:24) without which we all would die in our sins and will miss our eternal life with our God in heaven. When we humble ourselves and turn from our sin then we get access to God’s divine gift of His grace. But we as Christians must be careful that after we receive grace of God and we live in His grace daily, we must examine our lives every day to see if there are any unrepentant sins that we might have done but not yet sought forgiveness of God. This can be the reason why Paul says we may fall short of grace of God. Paul further qualifies that any anger or hatred (bitterness) which is not yet repented of can very well defile our inner conscience and further deprive us of our privilege to stand in the grace of God. Many of us are not even aware at times that our bitterness and unnecessary anger towards our fellow brothers, sisters, servants of God, our loved ones and other fellow beings has already drained out the grace of God from us. We bargain our Peace with God to satisfy our own outer man, its worldly desires and feed his insatiable ego at times. We become like Esau who sold out his future for the pleasures of the present.
But we need to understand that any of us could easily fall from grace. Paul says even he could fall too (1 Corinthians 9:25-27) and he encourages us to continue to stay close to God, being humble, pursue peace deliberately with others (fellow Christians, pastors, neighbours, colleagues, friends and even your near and far relatives) and be obedient to God unconditionally (Hebrews 6:4-6). We many times tend to forget and turn our blind eye to what Jesus taught us (disciples) in His model Lord’s prayer which is “forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us” (Luke 11:4). How foolish we will be thinking that God will forgive us our sins if we deliberately try not to forgive and forget other’s sins and trespasses, Jesus said “if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you” (Matthew 6:14,15). We must remember the hidden warning for us (believers) in Jesus’ parable of unforgiving servant (Matthew 18:21-35) and His ending words in that parable “so My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.”. As Martin Luther King Jr said, “Hate cannot drive hate, only Love can”, we must take care that we forgive, forget the hurts and trespasses from others and continue to live in peace with others and thereby be in the grace of Christ. If you think you lack the grace to forgive others today, then good news is that God will help us to do that (to grow in that grace if we pray) because He is the one who has begun a good work in you and will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ (Philippians 1:6). Do not allow yourself to fall from Grace of God.
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all today and forever.
“Growth in grace is growth downward. It is the forming of a lower estimate of ourselves. It is a deepening realization of our nothingness. It is a heartfelt recognition that we are not worthy of the least of God’s mercies.” - A.W. Pink
“And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”
“और इसी कारण परमेश्वर उन में एक भटका देने वाली सामर्थ को भेजेगा ताकि वे झूठ की प्रतीति करें। और जितने लोग सत्य की प्रतीति नहीं करते, वरन अधर्म से प्रसन्न होते हैं, सब दण्ड पाएं॥”
- 2 Thessalonians 2:11, 12
Paul in one of the most strong vocabulary talks about the great apostasy that is going to be revealed during the end days and he encourages the church at Thessalonica to stand fast and hold on to biblical teachings/principles/Godly traditions taught by word of God and epistles (2 Thessalonians 2:15). Paul very clearly tells the church (you and me) that let no one deceive you by any means (wrong teachings, false doctrines, external glory, manmade theologies or even false prophetical dramas in the name of end time revival). The main reason Paul explains is that people are still more inclined to believe signs and lying wonders (which Satan will show in abundance during these end times) and most importantly people are deliberately not willing to receive the love of the truth, that they might be truly saved. We must carefully heed what Jesus said in Matthew 24:24 “For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.”. It is not only the unbelievers who are at risk of being deceived but even God’s chosen people are at equal risk of being misled and deceived by the above-mentioned reasons and means. At times due to our persistent hatred for fellow beings, pride on our lilliputian knowledge of God and even our lack of discernment (about false teachings, doctrines, ungodly leaders, and false prophets), God may allow us to fall into these delusions of Satan.
Satan has false ministers (2 Corinthians 11:13) who preach a false gospel (Galatians 1:6-9). There is even a “synagogue of Satan” (Revelation 2:9), which means a gathering of people who think they are worshiping God but who are really worshiping the devil (1 Corinthians 10:19–21). God gave miracles to verify His message (Hebrew 2:1–4) and with an intent to bring people closer to God in their hearts. God’s chosen apostles used miracles as their credential to prove they were sent by God (2 Corinthians 12:12). However, miracles alone never prove that a man is sent from God: his message and his character must also be considered. John the Baptist was “a man sent from God” (John 1:6), yet “John did no miracle” (John 10:41). When people get driven by mere prophecies and prophets, they must understand that prophecy is not about declaring the words of blessing and sharing soothing words to please men. But instead, prophecy is to see things in black and white through God’s Holy Spirit and sharing boldly with others for their honest edification. The ultimate intent and purpose of prophecy is to encourage people to genuinely repent of their personal Sins, assert spiritual discipline and avoid getting ultimately driven out from the presence of God. Let us not be condemned on judgment day for rejecting the truth of God and believing a lie that can cost us our eternity.
“If the Lord’s people will humble themselves by admitting that deception is quite possible to them, they will be the less deceived.” - Watchman Nee
“…he (Samson) turned aside to see the carcass of the lion…”
“और वह उस सिंह की लोथ देखने के लिये मार्ग से मुड़ गया?”
- Judges 14:8
Man always had a desire to inquire and venture into unseen areas possibly even taking risks. But this attitude of taking risk with sin or venturing into unseen territories (by falling into various temptations) is deadly especially for an ungodly and an unwise person. Solomon says, “A prudent man sees danger, and hides himself; but the simple pass on, and suffer for it” (Proverbs 22:3, Proverbs 27:12). Eve saw the fruit and it seemed pleasing to her (Genesis 3), David remained in Jerusalem when he should be in battlefield and fell into the most heinous sin of his entire life (2 Samuel 11:1), Lot’s wife looked back and became the pillar of salt (Genesis 19:26) and here we see that Samson turned aside to see the carcass of the lion that he killed sometimes back. As a Nazirite when he should have taken utmost care to keep himself holy, he chooses to defile himself by touching a dead body (Leviticus 5:2, Leviticus 21:11, Numbers 19:11) and even eating the honey from the lion’s carcass. He broke the law of God just to look at his trophy and perhaps gloat over his victory (of killing a mighty lion). We may have killed Goliaths, we may have achieved mighty victories by God but if it leads to pride and bowing down to the “Lust of eyes” or “Pride of life” (1 John 2:16), then believe it or not we are already on a dangerous slippery slope. Many contemporary Christian leaders present their achievements as if that is some measure of their heavenly rewards, many take pride and boast about their worldly or social connections (even when they preach God’s word), many looks at the empire they have established and boast about it like Nebuchadnezzar “Is not this great Babylon, that I have built?” (Daniel 4:28-33). Repent and Better cry out before our sin of pride consumes us wholly and we miss our eternal life and rewards. Remember Jesus’s words “I Never Knew You, depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!” (Matthew 7:21-27)
Many Christians have the inherent tendency (still) to rebel or to do things against the godly norms or principles of the Word of God. In the process they ruin their whole testimony before God and men. Many try out methods and means in their Christian life, worship and even fellowships that do not comply with the word of God. Many follow customs and traditions that are completely against the Word of God and is purely based on human wisdom or wrong interpretation of the word of God. As A. W. Tozer puts it “One compromise here, another there and soon enough the so-called Christian and the man in the world look the same”. When we fail to understand the will of God in our lives and when we fail to apply the Word of God in our own lives first then just like Samson we tend to “live by sight and not by faith”. We lose respect for our families, our fellow believers and even our spiritual mentors, just like Samson lost respect for his parents (Judges 14:1-4). God admonished Joshua by saying “Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left…” (Joshua 1:7-9). When we turn aside from the narrow path that Jesus told us to walk (Matthew 7:14), then just like Samson we break our Christian vow to live a Holy and Separated life, we lose control of our tongues and gradually we loose our temper and in the process loose our Christian testimony too. What are we turning aside to see today? Beware !!
“Temptations, when we meet them at first, are as the lion that roared upon Samson; but if we overcome them, the next time we see them we shall find a nest of honey within them.” - John Bunyan
“The Lord is good, A stronghold in the day of trouble; And He knows those who trust in Him.”
" यहोवा भला है; संकट के दिन में वह दृढ़ गढ़ ठहरता है, और अपने शरणागतों की सुधी रखता है।”
- Nahum 1:7
While we may boast on our little knowledge of our God but the fact is many of even struggle to know the very basic nature and character of our loving God at times. While Nahum the prophet records his God given vision about Nineveh declaring to them about God’s mercy and judgment, he also presents lots of God’s unseen or even unheard character traits. Among other things where he mentions is that God is slow to anger and great in power (Nahum 1:3), He will not acquit the wicked (Nahum 1:3), He has His way and controls the creation (Nahum 1:3-5) and then he asks few questions such as “Who can stand before His indignation?” (Nahum 1:6). But all these account about God ends with one of the most soothing and heart strengthening promise of God that “The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; And He knows those who trust in Him.” (Nahum 1:7).
Our God is good and His mercy endures forever and His truth to all generations (Psalm 100:5) but we must remember as Asaph reminds us, that our God is good to those who are pure in heart (Psalm 73:1). Nahum also reminds that only God is and God will be our stronghold in the day of our calamity. Our trust on princes, leaders, our financial backup, our investments, our health, social status and even on our loved ones can be utterly useless when we are faced with life’s most daunting personal struggles. More importantly God will be a stronghold for those who are oppressed (Psalm 9:9) and burdened psychologically or mentally. God will rise against those who swallow the needy, oppress the poor and exploit the downcast (Amos 8:4). What a peace it is to know that the God is a jealous God who is angry at sin (Nahum 1:2), but He is also a good God who cares for His people (Nahum 1:7). He knows who trust in Him and those who Trust God they will be surely helped by God in God’s right time. God’s favor upon them will bring great joy to their hearts and they will praise God with a new song (Psalms 28:7). If our God is a refuge for those who trust Him (Psalm 46:1), then He is an “overwhelming flood” to those who are His enemies (Nahum 1:8).
A question that we need to ask ourselves today honestly is that, “Are we really sure that we Trust Him”? If yes, then rejoice you are in safe hands of God (Isaiah 59:1-3, Isaiah 49:16)
“Where does your security lie? Is God your refuge, your hiding place, your stronghold, your shepherd, your counselor, your friend, your redeemer, your saviour, your guide? If He is, you don’t need to search any further for security.” - Elisabeth Elliot
“Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.”
“परन्तु जब कभी उन का हृदय प्रभु की ओर फिरेगा, तब वह परदा उठ जाएगा। प्रभु तो आत्मा है: और जहां कहीं प्रभु का आत्मा है वहां स्वतंत्रता है।
- 2 Corinthians 3:16-17
A veil is used to obscure or conceal something. Like women covering their faces with veil and in some cultures, men covering their head and faces too. Spiritually speaking a veil makes things undecipherable or imperceptible since its obscures or conceals the reality of someone or something. Paul says Moses had to put a veil over his face as children of Israelites could not behold his face because of glory on his face after he came down from Mount Sinai. But a question to ponder here is the glory that Moses face reflected was a passing away one (it was temporary) but the ministry of righteousness exceeds much more in glory and this glory remains (2 Corinthians 3:9-11). This is the glory of new covenant. When we turn to God the veil that blinds our hearts, and our minds is taken away. We may jump the queue and judge other sects and religions that due to spiritual veil covering their eyes it blinds them to the truth about Jesus, but truth is that today there is a greater veil blinding the eyes of many believers too.
Paul says that for this spiritual blindness from our eyes to be removed, we must turn to the Lord (2 Corinthians 3:16). We must admit that sometimes the course we take or path we choose to follow only brings us disappointments and despairs. The choices we make in dark will only lead us to more darkness. Son (Jesus Christ) is the source of all Light, turning to Son brings us the Light and fills us with His Glory so that we can walk in light and never stumble. It’s important to keep our eyes focused on Christ for this constant supply of spiritual enlightenment because the moment we turn back from Christ or turn to left or right from His way, there is a greater probability that we may begin to get spiritually blind again. Sadly, just like Jews who did read the Old Testament, but their spiritual eyes were blinded, and they could not see the truth about their own Messiah (first advent, first coming of Christ). Today many believers are spiritually blind and just like Jews who did not see and believe the first coming of Messiah, many of us today live without believing the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. When Ananias prayed for Saul (Paul) then immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized (Acts 9:10-19). When we turn to our Christ and obey the Word of God then every veil that blinds our spiritual eyes and hearts will be removed (scales from spiritual eyes are removed). It is miracle to see that those who are born again and receive Christ as their personal saviour, how their minds are open to the scriptures there after.
“Self is the opaque veil that hides the Face of God from us. It can be removed only in spiritual experience, never by mere instruction.” - A.W. Tozer (The Pursuit of God)
“for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
“क्योंकि मनुष्य का पुत्र खोए हुओं को ढूंढ़ने और उन का उद्धार करने आया है॥”
- Luke 19:10
On this day in 1810 Ludwig van Beethoven composes his famous piano piece “Für Elise”. But he never published this piece of music. Instead, it sat in a drawer. It was only in 1867, 40 years after Beethoven’s death, that a musicologist named Ludwig Nohl found the piece of music and published it and then it became the most famous melody ever written. Many of our lives were lost in anonymity, were useless and at times had absolutely no meaning or purpose but when Christ found us, just like Jesus found Zacchaeus, our whole lives were changed and rather it won’t be an exaggeration that few of our lives are completely turned upside down. When Jesus finds us, it increases our worth from dust to diamond not only in this world but also in heaven. Bible says, “there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.” (Luke 15:7). When we were lying in the dust and our God found us, He made us into the vessels that can be useful for Him and for all (Jeremiah 18), the only thing we must do today is that we should not “strive with our Maker and our God” but obey Him with all our hearts (Isaiah 45:9). When God comes seeking us, let us not hide from Him (Genesis 3:8, 9).
We can all pretend to be honourable, worthy and all sufficient in ourselves thinking we do not need God at all but we all just like Zacchaeus, are a bankrupt sinner who needed to receive God’s gift of eternal life, the most expensive gift in the world. Also, we must understand that Zacchaeus was not saved because he promised to do good works. He was saved because he responded by faith to Christ’s gracious word to Him. What a beautiful picture of Jesus coming and knocking on the door of our hearts wanting to come in our hearts and dine with us (Revelation 3:20). Who knows that today may be the day that your saviour comes seeking you, take you out of the slimy pit of sin, out of the mud and mire of worldliness and set your feet on a rock (called Jesus)? Who knows a forgotten life like yours, just like Beethoven’s “Für Elise”, in the hands of His master will become the most beautiful symphony for everyone to cherish? Let us not forget to cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills His purpose for you and me (Psalm 57:2)
“God has a purpose in every life, and when the soul is completely yielded and acquiescent, He will certainly realize it. Blessed is he who has never thwarted the working of the divine ideal.” - F.B. Meyer
“But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!”
“पर यह जान रख, कि अन्तिम दिनों में कठिन समय आएंगे। क्योंकि मनुष्य अपस्वार्थी, लोभी, डींगमार, अभिमानी, निन्दक, माता-पिता की आज्ञा टालने वाले, कृतघ्न, अपवित्र। दयारिहत, क्षमारिहत, दोष लगाने वाले, असंयमी, कठोर, भले के बैरी। विश्वासघाती, ढीठ, घमण्डी, और परमेश्वर के नहीं वरन सुखविलास ही के चाहने वाले होंगे। वे भक्ति का भेष तो धरेंगे, पर उस की शक्ति को न मानेंगे; ऐसों से परे रहना।”
- 2 Timothy 3:1-5
Perilous times are identified by perilous men. If anyone has even an ounce of doubt if they are living in End Times, then they should just open their eyes and look around at the degrading state of the world and moral corruption of men around (including themselves). If even after observing what is happening around one is still not ready to believe on Lord Jesus and His second coming then as someone said “It is perhaps easy to wake up a person who is sleeping but it’s hard to wake up someone who is pretending to be asleep”. As Paul says such people operate under the guise of religion, “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof” (2 Timothy 3:5). They are “religious” but rebellious!
Paul mentions roughly 18 characteristics of men during end times and if observe carefully the most dreadful characters are marked by “what they love”, like “lovers of themselves”, “lovers of money” (covetous, greedy), “lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God.”. The outcome of when someone love himself (and many even worships themselves and requires others to worship them) then the result is “Pride”. Satan told Eve that you will be like God (Genesis 3:5) and today Satan still offers people of this world that you do not need God but rather you can be God yourself. Hence the Truth of God is exchanged for a lie and Creation is worshiped rather than Creator Himself. Let’s look at our lives today and honestly ask ourselves “What do we love?”. Sadly, this rebellion and disobedience to God is naturally manifested in disobedience to Parents too. When parents fail to obey God and fail to teach their kids to obey God in every walk of their lives, then they should not be surprised if their heart is broken by their children’s disobedience to them. Also, people today will despise (look down on with disdain) on everything and everyone who is trying to do good. Tell them the lies (fake news, gossips, vulgar talks) and they will listen it for hours but tell them the word of God or tell them to be in the presence of God and it will be a life’s greatest struggle for them. Many of us who claim to be religious and want to pull down the strongholds of Satan in our zeal, sadly do not have even enough strength to turn off our TVs or log out of social media? Lovers of pleasure is when enemy substitutes the godly joy with the worldly entertainment. Men today are headstrong which means they are reckless (in behaviour), rash (in their words), acting without careful thought (they think they are always right). In words of Paul such men still consider them to be religious but it is a religion without reality. May God give all of us the wisdom to obey our Lord, Repent and be converted, so that our sins may be blotted out and times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord today in our lives (Acts 3:19)
“All men will be Peters in their bragging tongue, and most men will be Peters in their base denial; but few men will be Peters in their quick repentance.” - Owen Feltham
“And Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers, and read it; and Hezekiah went up to the house of the Lord, and spread it before the Lord.”
" इस पत्री को हिजकिय्याह ने दूतों के हाथ से ले कर पढ़ा। तब यहोवा के भवन में जा कर उसको यहोवा के साम्हने फैला दिया।”
- 2 Kings 19:14
We all wish and are eager to find out the current events that are happening around us, so that we are updated and informed about the things that may or may not affect us. When we check the news, we are all dismayed to see all sorts of bad and unpleasant things happening around the world and especially in our vicinity. With all the bad news circulating around us, in the media, radio, papers and the Internet, how should a Christian respond? How hard it may sound to believe but the fact is that the greatest dilemma for a modern-day Christians is, to seek the face of the Lord in times of adversities such as we face in these days. In our Bible portion today, we can see how king Sennacherib threatened, king Hezekiah. His threats were not only demeaning to them as individuals, but it was against the living God too. Today Satan just like King Sennacherib try to distract us from our faith on God by his words “Do not let your God in whom you trust deceive you” (2 Kings 19:14) when indeed its Satan who is trying to deceive us.
One of the simplest but profound steps to be taken in such times of adversities is what King Hezekiah did, Hezekiah went up to the house of the Lord, and spread the letter from enemy before the Lord. It may sound philosophical and bit impractical today, but how many of us professing Christians, when we receive that report from doctors regarding our health/disease, the bank notices about our debt we are unable to pay, the letter from employer about our redundancy and many such news, take that in the presence of God and spread it before God just like Hezekiah and pray with tears. Sadly many of us will resort to our human wisdom first instead of God’s divine guidance in such times. We all need to learn a lesson or two on how King Hezekiah dealt with life threatening tragedies in his life. We can see the prophet Isaiah had already told him that God would deliver Judah and defend Jerusalem for the sake of King David (2 Kings 19:5-7), so Hezekiah had a great promise to believe. God has given numerous promises to us as well that He will take care of us, save us, deliver us from enemies and provide for us (Matthew 6:25-34, Philippians 4:6-7, Isaiah 41:10, 2 Corinthians 12:9). God’s people do not live on explanations; they live on promises. Hezekiah looked beyond his own throne and the throne of the great king Sennacherib and focused his attention on the throne of God instead. He could not enter the Holy of Holies as he was not the High priest but we the New testament believers can come before God without any need of any High priest because God has removed that veil between us and Him through His son Jesus Christ’s sacrifice on the cross (Hebrews 4:16, 1 Peter 2:9). Just be aware that coming into the presence of God only when we face problems and issues will not guarantee an immediate resolution from heaven. King Hezekiah was a man who always sought the Lord and God’s blessings for the people of God. Stop treating God like an ATM machine to use Him only when we need Him. When we are no strangers to the throne of grace then we can be truly confident of deliverance from God and guidance of Holy Spirit always in our lives. When we focus on the Lord and see how great He is, it helps to put our problems in perspective. Let us Pray for each other that God may enable each one of us to reach to Him in Prayer when we are hit by life’s hardest tragedies.
“A true prayer is an inventory of needs, a catalog of necessities, an exposure of secret wounds, a revelation of hidden poverty.” - C. H. Spurgeon
“But he (Rehoboam) rejected the advice which the elders had given him, and consulted the young men who had grown up with him, who stood before him.”
“रहूबियाम ने उस सम्मति को छोड़ दिया, जो बूढ़ों ने उसको दी थी,और उन जवानों से सम्मति ली, जो उसके संग बड़े हुए थे, और उसके सम्मुख उपस्थित रहा करते थे।”
- 1 Kings 12:8
I always used to wonder when God through Moses among various set of Moral Laws given to Israelites, told them “You shall rise before the gray headed and honor the presence of an old man, and fear your God: I am the Lord” (Leviticus 19:32), was it a mere physical form of respect God demanded or is there something more deeper into that command. Bible says if the glory of young men is their strength, then the splendour of old men is their gray head (Proverbs 20:29) which basically points to the tremendous amount of life’s experience that an aged person possess. In our Bible portion today, after Solomon, when Rehoboam took reigns from his father, one of the advantages he enjoyed was to have a lot of an experienced filled group of elders who had joined ranks of his father and knows very well how to deal with any adverse situations. Well Rehoboam initially did well to ask these elders what he should do when Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam (1 Kings 12:6) but due to his lack of maturity, wisdom and in his egotism, he failed to consider what the elders advised and favoured to follow an unwise and utterly dumb advice of his young friends which led to the revolt against Rehoboam and later even led to the division of the whole nation into Israel also known as Northern kingdom (10 tribes) and kingdom of Judah also called Southern kingdom (2 tribes).
Sadly, generation today assume that they know everything since they have all the resources or wisdom to make any decisions. What they forget is that they are blessed by God who provided them with parents, mature relatives, pastors, and even elderly church members whom they can consult and then Pray to make a wise choice in their lives. Good judgment comes from experience and experience comes from bad judgments. The advantage youngsters today have is that they have elders who are experienced enough to help them to avoid most of the bad judgments in their lives. But still, they fail to exploit their vast experience because of one simple problem called submission which Paul says in “Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders, clothe yourself with humility…” (1 Peter 5:5). The generation today compared to the previous generations, struggle a lot to humble themselves or subject themselves to their elders. Enemy uses the surge of information, resources, and fake sense of achievements to misguide them in believing that they do not need anyone to guide them or help them make decisions that pertains to their own lives. Well, this would have been true if generation today were filled with Holy Spirit and sought the Word of God and God’s will every moment like Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego but in that case as well their humbleness before God would have made them even more humble before an elderly person as that is what God demands. If God in old testament commanded “Honor your father and your mother” (Deuteronomy 5:16, Exodus 20:12) then in New Testament God extends that to “Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.” (1 Peter 2:17). Honouring is not just external act but it is an attitude of heart that can make generation today truly seek the wisdom and experience of elders around them in Love and with respect. Well one final reason I would like to give to “Gen Z” today to honour their elders is that they actually made it through school and university without Google or Wikipedia :-).
Let’s all Pray that our youngsters come more closer to God in these days, Be filled in Holy Spirit, listen to their parents & elders, Pray and in the process make themselves an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity (1 Timothy 4:12).
“What we call wisdom is the result of all the wisdom of past ages. Our best institutions are like young trees growing upon the roots of the old trunks that have crumbled away.”
- Henry Ward Beecher
