Friday, August 30, 2019
Dealing with The Danger of Anger
UV 3334/10000 Dealing With The Danger of Anger
Do not even associate with a man given to angry outbursts; or go along with a hot-tempered man,
Proverbs 22 v 24
Scripture can be seen as a bunch of keys to the locks and barriers or blocks to blessings that we confront in life. Anger is one such block or lock we need to unlock with the appropriate uni-verses. Anger affects our opportunities as well as our productivity or our ability to work usefully and effectively. If used wisely, if it is controlled or regulated or diverted into productive forms and creative expressions of anger, it can be a channel of energy and power. Uncontrolled and unbridled anger, scripture says, is a snare, a dangerous trap that can ruin our health, mental and physical, our well being, our relationships, our decision making. The image we have of unbridled anger is a person who does not have the reins of self control, of what he says or does, in his own hands. He is like a wild horse that is out of control and can hurt himself and others. It is self destructive. The Bible further says that it resides in the lap of fools. Even if we get angry for it is often natural to be internally upset over something someone said or did or did not do but we should not let anger lead us into sin of bitterness, unforgiveness and folly. Instead, scripture exhorts us to be wise, calm and patient.
The solution or key the Bible offers is that we should submit our anger to the Lord, seek the help of the Holy Spirit to tame our anger and enable us to express it in creative, controlled and not in destructive or negative ways. Like the furious noon day sun cools down as it traverses the afternoon sky and becomes calm and peaceful before sun set, we should make sure we do not carry anger or its residues of negative thoughts, emotions, actions and reactions into the night or the next day. Unlike a cashier who carries over to the next day, the balance of residue of cash available with him, we should ensure we do not carry turbulent emotions into the next day. We should start emotionally on a clean slate the next day, confessing our anger to the Lord and seeking His help to tame it and resolve the issues behind it amicably or peacefully.
Very often it is the angry behavior or outbursts of our near and dear that causes us to also loose self control and become angry. We say and do things we would regret later. Wisdom of the scriptures offers us another key or solution in this regard for it asks us to overlook the offence for the glory of God by His grace. It is our ego that makes us think that if we do not react in like manner we might look weak. In fact, it is only the wise and strong who can remain calm and patient even if they are being found fault unjustly. We could wait till the other person calmed down before we point out our version of what provoked them to anger.
Thursday, August 29, 2019
A Lot Happens When God Smiles
UV 3333/10000 A Lot Happens When God Smiles
The lesson we can pick up from Adam and Eve’s fall from favour is that when we believe God and His Word we receive His favour. When we disbelieve we are deceived, defenceless and labour in vain. When we totally and completely and fully believe, He makes His face to shine upon us like the morning Sun, benign, lovely, loving and gracious. It implies He smiles at us and on us. Smile is a sign of favour of the Heavenly Father. When He smiles on us, we have peace, we are secure, we prosper in health, wealth and in strength.
When Jesus , the Son of man and the Son of God takes away our sin by our act of believing in Him, God smiles on us. His favour surrounds us like a shield, like the mountains of Jerusalem in all directions and dimensions. When we yield to the Holy Spirit so that His control becomes our self control and from that spiritual control or command center, we show the five dimensions of devotion, dedication, determination, discipline and diligence, the Lord God smiles on us.
The five dimensions of devotion, dedication, determination, discipline and diligence evidenced in the earthly life of Jesus wins us the favour of God. Our labour or efforts will no longer be in vain or for earthly gain but for eternity, infinity and immortality. Where we fall short of His perfection, He adds what we lack by His grace. This is the inner , deeper, spiritual meaning of Psalm 23 ‘s “ The Lord is my Shepherd( protector, provider, leader, defender, guide , rewarder, judge, anchor, armour) I shall not want.”
The lesson we can pick up from Adam and Eve’s fall from favour is that when we believe God and His Word we receive His favour. When we disbelieve we are deceived, defenceless and labour in vain. When we totally and completely and fully believe, He makes His face to shine upon us like the morning Sun, benign, lovely, loving and gracious. It implies He smiles at us and on us. Smile is a sign of favour of the Heavenly Father. When He smiles on us, we have peace, we are secure, we prosper in health, wealth and in strength.
When Jesus , the Son of man and the Son of God takes away our sin by our act of believing in Him, God smiles on us. His favour surrounds us like a shield, like the mountains of Jerusalem in all directions and dimensions. When we yield to the Holy Spirit so that His control becomes our self control and from that spiritual control or command center, we show the five dimensions of devotion, dedication, determination, discipline and diligence, the Lord God smiles on us.
The five dimensions of devotion, dedication, determination, discipline and diligence evidenced in the earthly life of Jesus wins us the favour of God. Our labour or efforts will no longer be in vain or for earthly gain but for eternity, infinity and immortality. Where we fall short of His perfection, He adds what we lack by His grace. This is the inner , deeper, spiritual meaning of Psalm 23 ‘s “ The Lord is my Shepherd( protector, provider, leader, defender, guide , rewarder, judge, anchor, armour) I shall not want.”
Tuesday, August 27, 2019
Inner Light and Its Great Benefits
UV 3332/10000 Inner Light and Its Great Benefits
The eye is the lamp of the body; so if your eye is clear (spiritually perceptive), your whole body will be full of light (benefitting from God’s precepts)
Matthew 6 v 22
Uni-verse is a verse by verse, precept by precept study of the scriptures. In this uni-verse, Jesus underlines for all time and all people, the importance of human perception. What the eye does not see, the mind does not know. Adam and Eve fell from the eternal state of bliss as they allowed what they saw- the beautiful fruit and allowed what they heard- the deceptive words of satan- to determine their perceptions and their choice. We are warned in this uni-verse that we should not be guided by our physical sight and led into hasty ill considered choices but our spiritual discernment based on an understanding of the Word of God should guide our physical perception and choices.
When spiritual perceptions guide our thoughts, emotions, decisions, desires, our whole being, spirit, mind and soul will be full of light. In contrast, when we allow our physical perceptions to determine these powerful dimensions of our inner being, lust and evil will dominate our life, fill our whole being with darkness, ignorance and the arrogance of ignorance. No one delights in darkness but in the light. Likewise, when we delight in learning and applying or obeying the precepts of God, revealed verse by verse in scripture, we will experience all the benefits – enhancement of our holistic health, establishment of our peace, our choices and decisions will lead us to prosperity or well being through integrity and not through the works of darkness or deception.
Jesus is not referring to our physical vision that makes the world alluring but to the eye of our heart. The eye of our heart is where reason, perception, discernment and faith meet to create a window of light. In the absence of such light being let in, we live in darkness- meaninglessness, powerlessness, purposelessness, no sense of direction. When we flail around inn such darkness, we cannot but fail. Allowing Jesus who alone in history revealed Himself to be the Light of the world to rule over our hearts will ensure every part of our being is flooded with light.
The eye is the lamp of the body; so if your eye is clear (spiritually perceptive), your whole body will be full of light (benefitting from God’s precepts)
Matthew 6 v 22
Uni-verse is a verse by verse, precept by precept study of the scriptures. In this uni-verse, Jesus underlines for all time and all people, the importance of human perception. What the eye does not see, the mind does not know. Adam and Eve fell from the eternal state of bliss as they allowed what they saw- the beautiful fruit and allowed what they heard- the deceptive words of satan- to determine their perceptions and their choice. We are warned in this uni-verse that we should not be guided by our physical sight and led into hasty ill considered choices but our spiritual discernment based on an understanding of the Word of God should guide our physical perception and choices.
When spiritual perceptions guide our thoughts, emotions, decisions, desires, our whole being, spirit, mind and soul will be full of light. In contrast, when we allow our physical perceptions to determine these powerful dimensions of our inner being, lust and evil will dominate our life, fill our whole being with darkness, ignorance and the arrogance of ignorance. No one delights in darkness but in the light. Likewise, when we delight in learning and applying or obeying the precepts of God, revealed verse by verse in scripture, we will experience all the benefits – enhancement of our holistic health, establishment of our peace, our choices and decisions will lead us to prosperity or well being through integrity and not through the works of darkness or deception.
Jesus is not referring to our physical vision that makes the world alluring but to the eye of our heart. The eye of our heart is where reason, perception, discernment and faith meet to create a window of light. In the absence of such light being let in, we live in darkness- meaninglessness, powerlessness, purposelessness, no sense of direction. When we flail around inn such darkness, we cannot but fail. Allowing Jesus who alone in history revealed Himself to be the Light of the world to rule over our hearts will ensure every part of our being is flooded with light.
True and Eternal Happiness
UV 3331/10000 True and Eternal Happiness
I have told you these things so that My joy and delight may be in you, and that your joy may be made full and complete and overflowing.
John 15 v 11
The world teaches us to be happy due to happenings. The Word (Jesus) teaches us to be happy in the Lord for it says, “Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say, Rejoice.” We need to rejoice in our relationship with the Lord God through the Saviour Jesus who as Son of man and Son of God knew what it means to be joyful or sad. Jesus delighted in the Father even as the Father delighted in Him. Joy is “delight” or the release of light or the happiness of knowing the Truth. The joy that the world gives us is partial, incomplete, limited, not that shareable and never lasting while the joy that Jesus gives is full, complete, everlasting and overflowing or contagious.
The joy the world gives comes from “having” or “becoming” or achieving. The joy the Word gives comes from being one with Him. Man’s way is joy, pleasure, happiness come before pain while God’s way is pain and sadness come before eternal pleasure. The reason is to prepare our character to receive and enjoy enduring happiness. The pleasure that man seeks is sensual and temporal or related to our six senses while the pleasure or joy the Lord gives is spiritual and eternal. The ultimate purpose of Jesus to tell or teach us “these things” is to give us such lasting joy. The promises of God fulfilled in Jesus is also to ensure that our joy is full or complete. God is therefore not a joy killer as many think but a joy fulfiller.
The Word teaches us to delight in the Lord and His word and He will delight in us and grant us the desires of our hearts so that our joy is full to the point of overflowing and influencing, touching, impacting the lives of others around us. The pleasure the world gives is selfish or can be enjoyed by only the person experiencing it while the joy the Lord gives casues others also to rejoice in Him. The joy Jesus gives is not what the world can give. It is not just physical, intellectual or emotional though it could include these dimensions but it is spiritual, deep seated and eternal. It causes us to rejoice in all circumstances and despite happenings, not on account of it.
I have told you these things so that My joy and delight may be in you, and that your joy may be made full and complete and overflowing.
John 15 v 11
The world teaches us to be happy due to happenings. The Word (Jesus) teaches us to be happy in the Lord for it says, “Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say, Rejoice.” We need to rejoice in our relationship with the Lord God through the Saviour Jesus who as Son of man and Son of God knew what it means to be joyful or sad. Jesus delighted in the Father even as the Father delighted in Him. Joy is “delight” or the release of light or the happiness of knowing the Truth. The joy that the world gives us is partial, incomplete, limited, not that shareable and never lasting while the joy that Jesus gives is full, complete, everlasting and overflowing or contagious.
The joy the world gives comes from “having” or “becoming” or achieving. The joy the Word gives comes from being one with Him. Man’s way is joy, pleasure, happiness come before pain while God’s way is pain and sadness come before eternal pleasure. The reason is to prepare our character to receive and enjoy enduring happiness. The pleasure that man seeks is sensual and temporal or related to our six senses while the pleasure or joy the Lord gives is spiritual and eternal. The ultimate purpose of Jesus to tell or teach us “these things” is to give us such lasting joy. The promises of God fulfilled in Jesus is also to ensure that our joy is full or complete. God is therefore not a joy killer as many think but a joy fulfiller.
The Word teaches us to delight in the Lord and His word and He will delight in us and grant us the desires of our hearts so that our joy is full to the point of overflowing and influencing, touching, impacting the lives of others around us. The pleasure the world gives is selfish or can be enjoyed by only the person experiencing it while the joy the Lord gives casues others also to rejoice in Him. The joy Jesus gives is not what the world can give. It is not just physical, intellectual or emotional though it could include these dimensions but it is spiritual, deep seated and eternal. It causes us to rejoice in all circumstances and despite happenings, not on account of it.
Sunday, August 25, 2019
Heart Matters
UV3330/10000 Heart Matters
Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him, and said of him, “Here is an Israelite indeed, (a true descendant of Jacob), in whom there is no guile or deceit nor duplicity.”
John 1 v 47
Jesus knows our hearts and our character. He could read the character of Nathanael even before he came to Him. He declared him to be a true descendant of Jacob but unlike Jacob, he had no guile or deceit in him. Nathanael had an undivided heart. Surprisingly when Nathanael was told by Philip that Jesus was from Nazareth, he remarked whether anything good let alone the Messiah come from a place like Nazareth. He had pre-judged Jesus. We should draw a lesson from this and not form opinions based on prejudices and lack of genuine knowledge. Jesus in contrast sees the good in every human as He saw that Nathanael was free of guile, deception and duplicity.
Jesus welcomes people to come to Him as they are and then He transforms them from within as He did with each of the disciples barring Judas who chose to become an instrument in the hand of the enemy to betray Him. He reads our hearts and character as a man reads a book. We can therefore, daily seek His guidance, His discernment to work on different negatives or weaknesses in our character. He gives us the help of the Holy Spirit to overcome the weaknesses of our own inner nature.
If there is one thing on earth that the Lord is most concerned about – it is the human heart. The word “heart” if we notice is a reversal of the word earth, hinting that we need a reversal of our heart to be fit for the kingdom of God. The values of this world are far apart from the values of the kingdom of God. We need to invite the Lord to send His all penetrating Word and all scanning Spirit to examine our hearts every day and guide us so that we are not deceived by the world or the enemy.
Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him, and said of him, “Here is an Israelite indeed, (a true descendant of Jacob), in whom there is no guile or deceit nor duplicity.”
John 1 v 47
Jesus knows our hearts and our character. He could read the character of Nathanael even before he came to Him. He declared him to be a true descendant of Jacob but unlike Jacob, he had no guile or deceit in him. Nathanael had an undivided heart. Surprisingly when Nathanael was told by Philip that Jesus was from Nazareth, he remarked whether anything good let alone the Messiah come from a place like Nazareth. He had pre-judged Jesus. We should draw a lesson from this and not form opinions based on prejudices and lack of genuine knowledge. Jesus in contrast sees the good in every human as He saw that Nathanael was free of guile, deception and duplicity.
Jesus welcomes people to come to Him as they are and then He transforms them from within as He did with each of the disciples barring Judas who chose to become an instrument in the hand of the enemy to betray Him. He reads our hearts and character as a man reads a book. We can therefore, daily seek His guidance, His discernment to work on different negatives or weaknesses in our character. He gives us the help of the Holy Spirit to overcome the weaknesses of our own inner nature.
If there is one thing on earth that the Lord is most concerned about – it is the human heart. The word “heart” if we notice is a reversal of the word earth, hinting that we need a reversal of our heart to be fit for the kingdom of God. The values of this world are far apart from the values of the kingdom of God. We need to invite the Lord to send His all penetrating Word and all scanning Spirit to examine our hearts every day and guide us so that we are not deceived by the world or the enemy.
Friday, August 23, 2019
The Race of Grace
UV 3329/10000 The Race of Grace
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
Hebrews 12 v 1
On account of our faith, we have opted out of the rat race humanity finds itself in. We are part of the great race. In the rat race, everything depends on our efforts. The only goal is to get ahead of others in terms of position and possessions. In the great race, what matters is availing the grace of God. It is our efforts plus grace of God to remain victorious in life’s struggles. In the rat race, there is no sense of direction but only a frantic and desperate struggle to survive somehow, pushing others aside whenever required, using others to climb over hurdles, whenever possible.
We are not only part of a different race but we are called to be a separate race of humanity consisting of people of different nationalities, languages, cultures. The evidence of the faith experience of so many people who have gone before us as well as our contemporary witnesses of Jesus belonging to these different nations, languages and cultures convince and convict us of the need for changes in our lifestyle. We are saved by the word of God and the testimony of faithful witnesses- the two sides of the currency of the kingdom of God. As someone said, “when prayer becomes our habit, miracles become our lifestyle.” We are to cast away our burdens, worries, fears, anxieties, guilt, weaknesses, failures and focus on Jesus, the locus of our lives. Anything that slows us down, hampers our progress as followers of Jesus is to be thrown away as garbage in exchange for the vision and values of Jesus.
We do not expect overnight change but we are to show patience, determination, discipline and diligence in our daily walk with Jesus. We are here for the long haul. Our perspective is eternal, our reflection is internal. Trials, troubles, hostility, opposition, persecution should not discourage us. Our goal is not earthly pleasures and rewards but what we will receive from the hand of the Commander-in-Chief. We keep plodding on through good and tough times. We do not rely on our own wisdom, strength or abilities though we will be faithful in using every moment and resource the Lord gives us.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
Hebrews 12 v 1
On account of our faith, we have opted out of the rat race humanity finds itself in. We are part of the great race. In the rat race, everything depends on our efforts. The only goal is to get ahead of others in terms of position and possessions. In the great race, what matters is availing the grace of God. It is our efforts plus grace of God to remain victorious in life’s struggles. In the rat race, there is no sense of direction but only a frantic and desperate struggle to survive somehow, pushing others aside whenever required, using others to climb over hurdles, whenever possible.
We are not only part of a different race but we are called to be a separate race of humanity consisting of people of different nationalities, languages, cultures. The evidence of the faith experience of so many people who have gone before us as well as our contemporary witnesses of Jesus belonging to these different nations, languages and cultures convince and convict us of the need for changes in our lifestyle. We are saved by the word of God and the testimony of faithful witnesses- the two sides of the currency of the kingdom of God. As someone said, “when prayer becomes our habit, miracles become our lifestyle.” We are to cast away our burdens, worries, fears, anxieties, guilt, weaknesses, failures and focus on Jesus, the locus of our lives. Anything that slows us down, hampers our progress as followers of Jesus is to be thrown away as garbage in exchange for the vision and values of Jesus.
We do not expect overnight change but we are to show patience, determination, discipline and diligence in our daily walk with Jesus. We are here for the long haul. Our perspective is eternal, our reflection is internal. Trials, troubles, hostility, opposition, persecution should not discourage us. Our goal is not earthly pleasures and rewards but what we will receive from the hand of the Commander-in-Chief. We keep plodding on through good and tough times. We do not rely on our own wisdom, strength or abilities though we will be faithful in using every moment and resource the Lord gives us.
Wednesday, August 21, 2019
Three Qualities - Multiple Victories
UV 3328/10000 Three Qualities- Multiple Victories
For God did not give us a SPIRIT OF FEAR but of POWER and LOVE and SELF CONTROL
2 Timothy 1 v 7
Power, love and self discipline are the three prerequisites for both the accomplishment of human goals as well as the establishment of wholesome relationships. These are necessary for wholesome, holistic success as well as significance. The Lord enables us to blend the power of love with the power of self discipline and end the rein of sin or shortcoming or the shadow of “hamartia”. Power flows to us from the Father, Almighty God , love flows to us from Jesus and self control from the Holy Spirit. Three qualities of the Tri-une God becomes part and parcel of our lives. When the Lord reigns in our lives, we experience the joy of the “reignbow” behind the throne of God as described in the book of Revelation. We experience ROYGBIV or the full range of the colours of life, of emotions, of thoughts, of actions and reactions, of relationships with both internal victory, eternal victory and external victory. We reign by means of the salvation of Jesus, the King of Kings as a king over our own selves. We exercise self discipline- something most kings and leaders of this world historically never succeeded in exercising.
When Adam and Eve sinned or fell short of the glory or greatness of God in which they were created, the spirit of fear entered them and they hid from the sight of God. It is this spirit of fear that haunts man through the generations since then, manifesting as fear of success, fear of failure, fear of death, fear of rejection, fear of dangers, fear of enemies, fear of ill health and afflictions, fear of scarcity, fear of curses, fear of the powerful, fear of punishment and so on. Cain was affected by the fear of not being accepted by God. He sought to take control of his life by taking the life of his brother. Jesus regained acceptance by God for us and thereby, all fears dissipated, the spirit of fear was exorcised from our inner being. We are no longer fearful of life, of death, of failure, of curses, of judgement or punishment. We are set free from fear to love. Jesus showed us that we gain self control by allowing God, the Holy Spirit to reign and rule in our lives which become part of the kingdom of God. He taught us love of our brother so that we become his keeper, his weeper, his supporter. We do not attempt to rule over others by fear but by love. We do not allow either anger nor envy to have a place in our hearts.
Once the power of love has come upon us, we have the ability to make the right choices consistently. Even if we were to err, we would be able to correct ourselves and put ourselves again on the path of love of God and fellow beings. Since we have an undivided heart and mind, we are able to pursue with dedication, devotion, discipline, determination and diligence the goals we set for ourselves in line with the overall vision the Lord has given us. We can also tap into the power of the name of Jesus, the power of the Holy Spirit, the power of the Word of God, the power of prayer, the power invested in fellow believers to overcome our own inner weaknesses of human nature.
For God did not give us a SPIRIT OF FEAR but of POWER and LOVE and SELF CONTROL
2 Timothy 1 v 7
Power, love and self discipline are the three prerequisites for both the accomplishment of human goals as well as the establishment of wholesome relationships. These are necessary for wholesome, holistic success as well as significance. The Lord enables us to blend the power of love with the power of self discipline and end the rein of sin or shortcoming or the shadow of “hamartia”. Power flows to us from the Father, Almighty God , love flows to us from Jesus and self control from the Holy Spirit. Three qualities of the Tri-une God becomes part and parcel of our lives. When the Lord reigns in our lives, we experience the joy of the “reignbow” behind the throne of God as described in the book of Revelation. We experience ROYGBIV or the full range of the colours of life, of emotions, of thoughts, of actions and reactions, of relationships with both internal victory, eternal victory and external victory. We reign by means of the salvation of Jesus, the King of Kings as a king over our own selves. We exercise self discipline- something most kings and leaders of this world historically never succeeded in exercising.
When Adam and Eve sinned or fell short of the glory or greatness of God in which they were created, the spirit of fear entered them and they hid from the sight of God. It is this spirit of fear that haunts man through the generations since then, manifesting as fear of success, fear of failure, fear of death, fear of rejection, fear of dangers, fear of enemies, fear of ill health and afflictions, fear of scarcity, fear of curses, fear of the powerful, fear of punishment and so on. Cain was affected by the fear of not being accepted by God. He sought to take control of his life by taking the life of his brother. Jesus regained acceptance by God for us and thereby, all fears dissipated, the spirit of fear was exorcised from our inner being. We are no longer fearful of life, of death, of failure, of curses, of judgement or punishment. We are set free from fear to love. Jesus showed us that we gain self control by allowing God, the Holy Spirit to reign and rule in our lives which become part of the kingdom of God. He taught us love of our brother so that we become his keeper, his weeper, his supporter. We do not attempt to rule over others by fear but by love. We do not allow either anger nor envy to have a place in our hearts.
Once the power of love has come upon us, we have the ability to make the right choices consistently. Even if we were to err, we would be able to correct ourselves and put ourselves again on the path of love of God and fellow beings. Since we have an undivided heart and mind, we are able to pursue with dedication, devotion, discipline, determination and diligence the goals we set for ourselves in line with the overall vision the Lord has given us. We can also tap into the power of the name of Jesus, the power of the Holy Spirit, the power of the Word of God, the power of prayer, the power invested in fellow believers to overcome our own inner weaknesses of human nature.
Tuesday, August 20, 2019
The Existential Dilemma
UV 3327/10000 The Existential Dilemma
For the good that I want to do, I do not do but I practice the very evil that I do not want.
Romans 7 v 19
The tug of war between our sinful selves and the Christ self that is in us is expressed accurately by St Paul. It is this draw of evil that is embedded in our human nature which is the cause of much misery and wretchedness in our lives. We need the power of God, the anointing or enablement of the Holy Spirit to overcome the dictates of the sinful self. By default sin rules in us and it is only as we exercise our will and bend it to obey the will of the Lord in accordance with His word, do we have victory.
Our intentions are good but the will to carry it out is weak. We can strengthen ourselves to obey the higher law of the spirit and not that of our baser selves by focusing our attention on the biblical models we have. Daniel and his friends subjected their bodies to a severe discipline, of denying themselves even what might seem legitimate in today’s world- food from the king’s table. Joseph kept himself from bitterness by holding onto the promise of the Lord received in dreams by him. He did not seek to take revenge against his brothers for the evil done to him.
If we reinforce the strength of our good intentions with prayer, the inspiration of the Word and seeking the help and guidance of the Holy Spirit, we can carry it forward into practice. Building our good intentions into our daily routine by cultivating habits is another way of practicing good and overcoming the incipient evil in us. Saturating our minds (thoughts, words, emotions, choices) with the Word which contains the higher thoughts of God and His higher ways, is an effective way to feed our inner spirit. This is the food that Jesus claimed as the food that the others did not know of, the food that the Father fed Him with constantly. When Jesus Himself faced the existential dilemma of submitting to the cross of Calvary or not, it is this spiritual food that strengthened Him to overcome the hesitation of His body to face such great suffering, securing for us the ultimate victory of absolute good over absolute evil.
For the good that I want to do, I do not do but I practice the very evil that I do not want.
Romans 7 v 19
The tug of war between our sinful selves and the Christ self that is in us is expressed accurately by St Paul. It is this draw of evil that is embedded in our human nature which is the cause of much misery and wretchedness in our lives. We need the power of God, the anointing or enablement of the Holy Spirit to overcome the dictates of the sinful self. By default sin rules in us and it is only as we exercise our will and bend it to obey the will of the Lord in accordance with His word, do we have victory.
Our intentions are good but the will to carry it out is weak. We can strengthen ourselves to obey the higher law of the spirit and not that of our baser selves by focusing our attention on the biblical models we have. Daniel and his friends subjected their bodies to a severe discipline, of denying themselves even what might seem legitimate in today’s world- food from the king’s table. Joseph kept himself from bitterness by holding onto the promise of the Lord received in dreams by him. He did not seek to take revenge against his brothers for the evil done to him.
If we reinforce the strength of our good intentions with prayer, the inspiration of the Word and seeking the help and guidance of the Holy Spirit, we can carry it forward into practice. Building our good intentions into our daily routine by cultivating habits is another way of practicing good and overcoming the incipient evil in us. Saturating our minds (thoughts, words, emotions, choices) with the Word which contains the higher thoughts of God and His higher ways, is an effective way to feed our inner spirit. This is the food that Jesus claimed as the food that the others did not know of, the food that the Father fed Him with constantly. When Jesus Himself faced the existential dilemma of submitting to the cross of Calvary or not, it is this spiritual food that strengthened Him to overcome the hesitation of His body to face such great suffering, securing for us the ultimate victory of absolute good over absolute evil.
Monday, August 19, 2019
Goal Setting and Accomplishment
UV 3326/10000 Goal Setting and Accomplishment
I press on toward the goal to win the (heavenly ) prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4 v 14
We, as believers in the finished work of Christ on the cross, should focus on what lies ahead and forget what lies behind us. We need to set goals that are tied to the higher goal of the glory of God. We need to press on toward the goal and persist day after day, filled with hope and faith. The Lord has transformed our destiny from being sinners to being winners. Our one focus is to win the crown of eternal life. Eternal life is the ultimate blessing, the greatest blessing a man can obtain.
While pressing on toward the goal of eternal life, we are expected by the Lord to set for ourselves goals that will help us excel in every area of life. A goal without a practical and specific time bound plan is only an aspiration, a wish. Our goals should be tied up with such specific plans. A plan remains useless unless we act according to it. We need to press on with implementing it hour after hour, day after day relentlessly, perseveringly. The Lord as Ebenezer helps us with His resurrection power, encouraging us with His word, inspiring us with the Holy Spirit. We experience in real time the wonders of His counsel and His grace as we persevere towards the goals set for us.
While working out the plan we have carefully prepared under the guidance of the Spirit of God, the Spirit of excellence that guided Joseph, the ruler of Egypt in a time of famine, guided Daniel , the administrator in a time of exile, we should consciously follow the principles of excellence the Word teaches us – being proactive like the maid who had enough oil till the bridegroom came, being persistent like the neighbor who kept knocking till he got the sugar he needed, going the extra mile willingly when asked by a senior or colleague or friend, redeeming time and opportunity, using every talent, ability, resource to the highest potential like the faithful servant. Once a goal is set, we should be like Jesus who set his face like flint towards the cross once it was confirmed that it was the Father’s will that He creates the possibility of redemption for all by His sacrifice. Jesus was set the greatest and toughest goal and task and He fulfilled it fully. If we model ourselves on Him, we too will accomplish whatever goal is set for us, either by ourselves or by others.
I press on toward the goal to win the (heavenly ) prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4 v 14
We, as believers in the finished work of Christ on the cross, should focus on what lies ahead and forget what lies behind us. We need to set goals that are tied to the higher goal of the glory of God. We need to press on toward the goal and persist day after day, filled with hope and faith. The Lord has transformed our destiny from being sinners to being winners. Our one focus is to win the crown of eternal life. Eternal life is the ultimate blessing, the greatest blessing a man can obtain.
While pressing on toward the goal of eternal life, we are expected by the Lord to set for ourselves goals that will help us excel in every area of life. A goal without a practical and specific time bound plan is only an aspiration, a wish. Our goals should be tied up with such specific plans. A plan remains useless unless we act according to it. We need to press on with implementing it hour after hour, day after day relentlessly, perseveringly. The Lord as Ebenezer helps us with His resurrection power, encouraging us with His word, inspiring us with the Holy Spirit. We experience in real time the wonders of His counsel and His grace as we persevere towards the goals set for us.
While working out the plan we have carefully prepared under the guidance of the Spirit of God, the Spirit of excellence that guided Joseph, the ruler of Egypt in a time of famine, guided Daniel , the administrator in a time of exile, we should consciously follow the principles of excellence the Word teaches us – being proactive like the maid who had enough oil till the bridegroom came, being persistent like the neighbor who kept knocking till he got the sugar he needed, going the extra mile willingly when asked by a senior or colleague or friend, redeeming time and opportunity, using every talent, ability, resource to the highest potential like the faithful servant. Once a goal is set, we should be like Jesus who set his face like flint towards the cross once it was confirmed that it was the Father’s will that He creates the possibility of redemption for all by His sacrifice. Jesus was set the greatest and toughest goal and task and He fulfilled it fully. If we model ourselves on Him, we too will accomplish whatever goal is set for us, either by ourselves or by others.
Sunday, August 18, 2019
Do Not Mix the Old with the New
UV 3325/10000 Do Not Mix the Old with the New
But no one puts a piece of unshrunk ( new ) cloth on an old garment; for the patch pulls away from the garment, and worse tear results.
Matthew 9 v 16
In this uni-verse, Jesus is asking us not to mix our old beliefs, values, habits, reactions with our new ones. We are saved to be transformed and not transformed to be saved. The “ new wine” that is poured into us for such transformation is the Holy Spirit who aids, directs and speeds up the process of constant renewal. We should discard our old garments and wear the pure white new clothes that Jesus has provided for us in the form of salvation. The Word contains the new information meant for our transformation. We need to imbibe it, drink it like wine, allow it to enter our innards and begin the transformation from deep within our souls. We cannot live a life of contradiction or inconsistency with some worldly and some “wordly “ attitudes.
Our perspectives and priorities are the first things to be transformed. We are not living to fill our bellies or satisfy our physical needs but our physical needs are to be met for a greater and higher spiritual purpose- to live the new life marked by love, faith and hope. Love of self is to be replaced entirely by love of God and love of others. We need to love the latter as much as we formerly loved ourselves. We need to trust the Lord as much as we trusted our “sight” before, our sense and senses. We need to hope about things that cannot be perceived and are not limited to the ability of our senses to perceive them.
We need to give up on our ‘self will’ or ego and allow Christ to rule in us, rule over our thoughts, emotions, desires, decisions, efforts, plans. While earlier we lived in pursuit of success, we live now in pursuit of godly significance. We see everything from an eternal perspective. We do not rely on our own wisdom, knowledge, abilities but the leading, guiding, correcting, providing hand of the Lord. While earlier, we wanted to prove ourselves, vindicate ourselves, avenge ourselves, we now leave it in His hands. The Lord does not do a patchwork or repair here and there in our lives but He sees us as a whole and not in parts. He does a deep work in our inmost being and that leads us to being a new or transformed creation.
But no one puts a piece of unshrunk ( new ) cloth on an old garment; for the patch pulls away from the garment, and worse tear results.
Matthew 9 v 16
In this uni-verse, Jesus is asking us not to mix our old beliefs, values, habits, reactions with our new ones. We are saved to be transformed and not transformed to be saved. The “ new wine” that is poured into us for such transformation is the Holy Spirit who aids, directs and speeds up the process of constant renewal. We should discard our old garments and wear the pure white new clothes that Jesus has provided for us in the form of salvation. The Word contains the new information meant for our transformation. We need to imbibe it, drink it like wine, allow it to enter our innards and begin the transformation from deep within our souls. We cannot live a life of contradiction or inconsistency with some worldly and some “wordly “ attitudes.
Our perspectives and priorities are the first things to be transformed. We are not living to fill our bellies or satisfy our physical needs but our physical needs are to be met for a greater and higher spiritual purpose- to live the new life marked by love, faith and hope. Love of self is to be replaced entirely by love of God and love of others. We need to love the latter as much as we formerly loved ourselves. We need to trust the Lord as much as we trusted our “sight” before, our sense and senses. We need to hope about things that cannot be perceived and are not limited to the ability of our senses to perceive them.
We need to give up on our ‘self will’ or ego and allow Christ to rule in us, rule over our thoughts, emotions, desires, decisions, efforts, plans. While earlier we lived in pursuit of success, we live now in pursuit of godly significance. We see everything from an eternal perspective. We do not rely on our own wisdom, knowledge, abilities but the leading, guiding, correcting, providing hand of the Lord. While earlier, we wanted to prove ourselves, vindicate ourselves, avenge ourselves, we now leave it in His hands. The Lord does not do a patchwork or repair here and there in our lives but He sees us as a whole and not in parts. He does a deep work in our inmost being and that leads us to being a new or transformed creation.
Friday, August 16, 2019
Our Expression of Gratitude - A Worthy Life
UV 3324/10000 Expression of Gratitude- A Worthy Life
So I, the prisoner for the Lord, appeal to you to live a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called (that is, to live a life that exhibits godly character, moral courage, personal integrity, and mature behavior- a life that expresses gratitude to God for your salvation.)
Ephesians 4 v 1
Paul declares himself as a willing prisoner of Christ. He had given his heart, mind, thoughts, emotions, decisions, desires, preferences in captivity to Jesus who had called him out of darkness, sin, ignorance into the light, symbolically blinding him for a short period after the call. Thereafter, he began to live a life that was disciplined by the Holy Spirit, surrendering every organ to the Lord, using every moment and opportunity to know Him and make Him known. He exhibited godly character, courage, integrity in financial and other matters, maturity as a way to express his gratitude to God for his salvation.
In this uni-verse, St Paul challenges each one of us to likewise live a life that is worthy of Him, to express our gratitude to God for so great a salvation at so little cost to us. Like a prisoner or slave, we need to submit ourselves to the Lord. He will direct our steps. He will gently correct us. He will give us the inner strength to bear the inner fruit of the Spirit. The good fruit should follow the “good Root” or people will doubt whether we are connected at all in anyway with Jesus. Our lives should show that we are followers of Jesus. It we take pride in our autonomy, the sovereignty of our personal wills, it will create a dichotomy in what our lives speak to others. We are no longer free to do and say or decide whatever we want. We have been freed to be His. When we live a worthy life, we show thereby that we are not taking for granted the grace of God expressed to us in Christ.
Every thought, word, expression of emotion should be submitted to the examination of the Holy Spirit. If He stamps it “worthy of Jesus”, we have passed the quality control test and then go ahead. When we speak, we should ask if the words we are about to speak will add to the glory or spread the truth or grace or power of Christ. If not we should prefer to remain silent. The more we yield to the Holy Spirit working in us, the more our spiritual yield.
So I, the prisoner for the Lord, appeal to you to live a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called (that is, to live a life that exhibits godly character, moral courage, personal integrity, and mature behavior- a life that expresses gratitude to God for your salvation.)
Ephesians 4 v 1
Paul declares himself as a willing prisoner of Christ. He had given his heart, mind, thoughts, emotions, decisions, desires, preferences in captivity to Jesus who had called him out of darkness, sin, ignorance into the light, symbolically blinding him for a short period after the call. Thereafter, he began to live a life that was disciplined by the Holy Spirit, surrendering every organ to the Lord, using every moment and opportunity to know Him and make Him known. He exhibited godly character, courage, integrity in financial and other matters, maturity as a way to express his gratitude to God for his salvation.
In this uni-verse, St Paul challenges each one of us to likewise live a life that is worthy of Him, to express our gratitude to God for so great a salvation at so little cost to us. Like a prisoner or slave, we need to submit ourselves to the Lord. He will direct our steps. He will gently correct us. He will give us the inner strength to bear the inner fruit of the Spirit. The good fruit should follow the “good Root” or people will doubt whether we are connected at all in anyway with Jesus. Our lives should show that we are followers of Jesus. It we take pride in our autonomy, the sovereignty of our personal wills, it will create a dichotomy in what our lives speak to others. We are no longer free to do and say or decide whatever we want. We have been freed to be His. When we live a worthy life, we show thereby that we are not taking for granted the grace of God expressed to us in Christ.
Every thought, word, expression of emotion should be submitted to the examination of the Holy Spirit. If He stamps it “worthy of Jesus”, we have passed the quality control test and then go ahead. When we speak, we should ask if the words we are about to speak will add to the glory or spread the truth or grace or power of Christ. If not we should prefer to remain silent. The more we yield to the Holy Spirit working in us, the more our spiritual yield.
Tuesday, August 13, 2019
Victory in Struggles of Life
UV 3323/10000 Victory in Struggles
For You have rescued my life from death, my eyes from tears, and my feet from stumbling and falling.
Psalm 116 v 8
This single uni-verse contains triple blessings of the Tri-une God. God the Father rescues us from death, Jesus, the Man of Sorrow as He was called for embracing all of our woes and sorrows, wipes every tear from our eyes and keeps us from further sorrow, the Holy Spirit counsels and comforts us so that we do not despair, lose hope or fall when we fail or face adversities of life. Jesus also rescues every human from inexorable death by His promise of resurrection by faith in Him. When we cease to struggle against the Lord, cease to disregard His word and His will, the Lord ends our struggles of life. When we find peace with God through Jesus, the Lord commits to defend us. He rescues our lives from death. I have experienced such grace several times in my life so far in near death and dangerous situations and this promise is literally true. It is a statement of fact as well as a promise at the same time. The enemy lays a snare to trap us in a variety of ways but the Lord rescues us every time.
He not only rescues us from premature death but He also keeps our eyes from tears. He turns our sorrows into joy, our curses into blessings, our defeat into victory, our failures into success, our weaknesses into strengths. It is impossible for man to have a holistic view of leadership, life, management without factoring in the G Factor or God Factor. The G Factor is what integrates the disparate elements or the parts of our life’s struggles and experiences into a meaningful pattern with purpose and power.
It is His grace that keeps our feet from stumbling and falling. For He upholds, sustains us, guides us with His wise counsel. He delivers us from the consequences of our blunders and mistakes. He does not allow guilt to haunt or weaken us. His word is our rudder to give us perfect balance and His Holy Spirit is our radar. Our attitudes of heart and mind are the sails that catch the wind of the Holy Spirit and keeps us moving regardless of how troubled or placid the water is.
For You have rescued my life from death, my eyes from tears, and my feet from stumbling and falling.
Psalm 116 v 8
This single uni-verse contains triple blessings of the Tri-une God. God the Father rescues us from death, Jesus, the Man of Sorrow as He was called for embracing all of our woes and sorrows, wipes every tear from our eyes and keeps us from further sorrow, the Holy Spirit counsels and comforts us so that we do not despair, lose hope or fall when we fail or face adversities of life. Jesus also rescues every human from inexorable death by His promise of resurrection by faith in Him. When we cease to struggle against the Lord, cease to disregard His word and His will, the Lord ends our struggles of life. When we find peace with God through Jesus, the Lord commits to defend us. He rescues our lives from death. I have experienced such grace several times in my life so far in near death and dangerous situations and this promise is literally true. It is a statement of fact as well as a promise at the same time. The enemy lays a snare to trap us in a variety of ways but the Lord rescues us every time.
He not only rescues us from premature death but He also keeps our eyes from tears. He turns our sorrows into joy, our curses into blessings, our defeat into victory, our failures into success, our weaknesses into strengths. It is impossible for man to have a holistic view of leadership, life, management without factoring in the G Factor or God Factor. The G Factor is what integrates the disparate elements or the parts of our life’s struggles and experiences into a meaningful pattern with purpose and power.
It is His grace that keeps our feet from stumbling and falling. For He upholds, sustains us, guides us with His wise counsel. He delivers us from the consequences of our blunders and mistakes. He does not allow guilt to haunt or weaken us. His word is our rudder to give us perfect balance and His Holy Spirit is our radar. Our attitudes of heart and mind are the sails that catch the wind of the Holy Spirit and keeps us moving regardless of how troubled or placid the water is.
Monday, August 12, 2019
The Two Edges of Knowledge of the Lord and His Word
UV 3322/10000 The Two Edges of Knowledge
Let the high praises of God be in their throats, and a two-edged sword in their hands.
Psalm 149 v 6
The Lord has beautified our lives with His salvation. He has paid the ransom or final payout for our eternity, for redeeming us from a sinner’s death, for giving us new life in Christ, for healing us of all diseases, for keeping us from the grave, for turning our sorrows into joy, for giving us hope and a future. The praises fitting for so great and comprehensive a salvation plan for man should always resonate from our throats. Even when we are silent, it should be meditation or the food that our minds munch on. When we do so, our throats will no longer be “graves” or what pours out sarcasm, death, bitterness on others by means of our tongues. Our communication is the life giving river that flows from our hearts through our throats and mouths.
The Word of God is the two-edged sword that we should always arm ourselves with. It has two edges, one edge to impact the speaker, the other to impact the listeners. One edge that causes judgement and death and one edge that causes freedom and eternal life. We should ensure that the latter is always operative in our lives by applying the truths, principles, values we learn from the Word. Knowing the Word thoroughly is having it always at hand, ready to use, apply, teach, impart, learn from. What we learn from the Word is able to strengthen us and lead us to victory in life. What we learn is called knowledge, what we apply is called wisdom. What we know gives leaders the edge but what we apply obtains for us the favour of the Lord.
Praises on our lips and the Word always in our hand implies that we are kingdom- focused individuals. Our focus is not the external but the internal – the other two edges of the sword. The focus should always be the internal for the internal leads to the eternal and infinite – unlimited in time and scope while the external is temporal, limited in time and scope. When we focus on the internal, the external will follow suit for the word says, “ Seek first His ( internal and eternal) kingdom and His righteousness and all these (external) things will be added (by the Lord) unto you.”
Let the high praises of God be in their throats, and a two-edged sword in their hands.
Psalm 149 v 6
The Lord has beautified our lives with His salvation. He has paid the ransom or final payout for our eternity, for redeeming us from a sinner’s death, for giving us new life in Christ, for healing us of all diseases, for keeping us from the grave, for turning our sorrows into joy, for giving us hope and a future. The praises fitting for so great and comprehensive a salvation plan for man should always resonate from our throats. Even when we are silent, it should be meditation or the food that our minds munch on. When we do so, our throats will no longer be “graves” or what pours out sarcasm, death, bitterness on others by means of our tongues. Our communication is the life giving river that flows from our hearts through our throats and mouths.
The Word of God is the two-edged sword that we should always arm ourselves with. It has two edges, one edge to impact the speaker, the other to impact the listeners. One edge that causes judgement and death and one edge that causes freedom and eternal life. We should ensure that the latter is always operative in our lives by applying the truths, principles, values we learn from the Word. Knowing the Word thoroughly is having it always at hand, ready to use, apply, teach, impart, learn from. What we learn from the Word is able to strengthen us and lead us to victory in life. What we learn is called knowledge, what we apply is called wisdom. What we know gives leaders the edge but what we apply obtains for us the favour of the Lord.
Praises on our lips and the Word always in our hand implies that we are kingdom- focused individuals. Our focus is not the external but the internal – the other two edges of the sword. The focus should always be the internal for the internal leads to the eternal and infinite – unlimited in time and scope while the external is temporal, limited in time and scope. When we focus on the internal, the external will follow suit for the word says, “ Seek first His ( internal and eternal) kingdom and His righteousness and all these (external) things will be added (by the Lord) unto you.”
Friday, August 9, 2019
Rejoice in the Strength of the Lord and Repent of Our Weaknesses
UV 3321/10000 Rejoice in Strength of the Lord, Repent of Our Weaknesses
Then they will sweep by like the wind and pass on. But they will be held guilty, they and all men whose own power and strength is their god.
Habakuk 1 v 11
Men ought not to worship their own power and strength for eternal strength and power belong only to God Almighty. We are lent a little strength and power for a period of time. God is sovereign and can take it away anytime. Even if we have the strength of a giant, we should not use it like one. We should humble ourselves by being acutely aware of our vulnerabilities- our proneness to sin, lust, pride, deceit. We should not rely on our own strength but ask the Lord for wisdom. Wisdom comes from reverence for the Lord, to be in awe of His strength and power.
We need to rejoice in the Lord or delight in His wisdom, strength and power. We acknowledge that whatever strength we have comes from Him. He gives us grace to overcome, counter and transform our weaknesses into strength. He is strongest when we are weakest for His grace abounds at such times of crisis, failure, loss , sickness, troubles, persecutions. Our power or strength can never save us. He is our confidence and our strength. He lends us the stability of an anchor, the sense of direction of a rudder and the forewarning power of a radar.
The current management thinking that six strengths are enough to ensure a man’s success in life is erroneous. Such thinking asks us to ignore our weaknesses and only play from our strengths. The Word of God corrects such an imbalanced and unreal perspective by asking us to be aware of our vulnerabilities and weaknesses. We need to equally work on developing our inherent strengths and in reducing, eliminating, converting our weaknesses for the word says, “ Cling to what is good, let go of what is evil.” We need to cleave to our natural or God-gifted strengths, use all legitimate power invested with us and leave all evil intentions, plans, methods, habits, actions, thoughts and reactions. We need to rejoice over and over again or without ceasing,in the salvation of the Lord, the hope He gives us in Jesus, the ultimate and eternal victory He gives us. When we do so, the enemy cannot find the chinks in our armour for we are protected from head to feet, teeth to tail by the grace of the Lord.
Then they will sweep by like the wind and pass on. But they will be held guilty, they and all men whose own power and strength is their god.
Habakuk 1 v 11
Men ought not to worship their own power and strength for eternal strength and power belong only to God Almighty. We are lent a little strength and power for a period of time. God is sovereign and can take it away anytime. Even if we have the strength of a giant, we should not use it like one. We should humble ourselves by being acutely aware of our vulnerabilities- our proneness to sin, lust, pride, deceit. We should not rely on our own strength but ask the Lord for wisdom. Wisdom comes from reverence for the Lord, to be in awe of His strength and power.
We need to rejoice in the Lord or delight in His wisdom, strength and power. We acknowledge that whatever strength we have comes from Him. He gives us grace to overcome, counter and transform our weaknesses into strength. He is strongest when we are weakest for His grace abounds at such times of crisis, failure, loss , sickness, troubles, persecutions. Our power or strength can never save us. He is our confidence and our strength. He lends us the stability of an anchor, the sense of direction of a rudder and the forewarning power of a radar.
The current management thinking that six strengths are enough to ensure a man’s success in life is erroneous. Such thinking asks us to ignore our weaknesses and only play from our strengths. The Word of God corrects such an imbalanced and unreal perspective by asking us to be aware of our vulnerabilities and weaknesses. We need to equally work on developing our inherent strengths and in reducing, eliminating, converting our weaknesses for the word says, “ Cling to what is good, let go of what is evil.” We need to cleave to our natural or God-gifted strengths, use all legitimate power invested with us and leave all evil intentions, plans, methods, habits, actions, thoughts and reactions. We need to rejoice over and over again or without ceasing,in the salvation of the Lord, the hope He gives us in Jesus, the ultimate and eternal victory He gives us. When we do so, the enemy cannot find the chinks in our armour for we are protected from head to feet, teeth to tail by the grace of the Lord.
Thursday, August 8, 2019
Agenda of Grace, Not Glory
UV 3320/10000 Agenda of Grace, not Glory
Nebuchadnezzar the king made a gold-plated image whose height including the pedestal was sixty cubits (ninety feet) and its width six cubits ( nine feet). He set it on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon.
Daniel 3 v 1
It is not an external grandeur or glory that we should seek but external simplicity and humility that comes from reverence to the infinite, all knowing, all powerful compassionate God. But right through history rulers like Nebuchadnezzar were attempting to glorify themselves by building grand monuments, statues, edifices in the pursuit of immortality or eternal life. Lesser mortals who were not rulers attempted to glorify themselves by attempting to amass wealth to be the richest, or knowledge to be the smartest, or beauty to be the most admired. Daniel shows through his life, testimony and record of history of Babylon that in vain did the rulers pursue an agenda of projecting their image in a larger than life, glorious way. He left no monument or statue to be remembered by and yet Daniel continues to inspire faith, integrity, courage in the face of extreme adversity and threat to life, wisdom and humility.
We need to have an internal focus and not an external focus to win the admiration of people. The fundamental question we should ask ourselves is whether we are living a life pleasing to the Creator and the Redeemer. The Creator designed us fearfully and wonderfully and the Redeemer paid the full price of redeeming us to eternal life. We no longer have to strive hard to impress others. Our focus should be to manifest the nine attributes of Jesus and exercise the nine gifts of Jesus- the nine fruit and the nine gifts of the Holy Spirit. Our focus should be to display the glory of God working in us.
We are a race made, a special species to enjoy grace and not to aspire for glory. As scripture says, “Let not the rich man boast of his riches or the wise man in his wisdom or the powerful man in his power. If you should glory, glory instead in that you have a personal relationship with the Lord God, Almighty” through His Son Jesus. Our intimate and personal relationship with the Father through Jesus should be our chief joy, our chief pride, our chief source of power and wisdom and enablement. We do not have an agenda of glory for ourselves but we do have an agenda of grace.
Nebuchadnezzar the king made a gold-plated image whose height including the pedestal was sixty cubits (ninety feet) and its width six cubits ( nine feet). He set it on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon.
Daniel 3 v 1
It is not an external grandeur or glory that we should seek but external simplicity and humility that comes from reverence to the infinite, all knowing, all powerful compassionate God. But right through history rulers like Nebuchadnezzar were attempting to glorify themselves by building grand monuments, statues, edifices in the pursuit of immortality or eternal life. Lesser mortals who were not rulers attempted to glorify themselves by attempting to amass wealth to be the richest, or knowledge to be the smartest, or beauty to be the most admired. Daniel shows through his life, testimony and record of history of Babylon that in vain did the rulers pursue an agenda of projecting their image in a larger than life, glorious way. He left no monument or statue to be remembered by and yet Daniel continues to inspire faith, integrity, courage in the face of extreme adversity and threat to life, wisdom and humility.
We need to have an internal focus and not an external focus to win the admiration of people. The fundamental question we should ask ourselves is whether we are living a life pleasing to the Creator and the Redeemer. The Creator designed us fearfully and wonderfully and the Redeemer paid the full price of redeeming us to eternal life. We no longer have to strive hard to impress others. Our focus should be to manifest the nine attributes of Jesus and exercise the nine gifts of Jesus- the nine fruit and the nine gifts of the Holy Spirit. Our focus should be to display the glory of God working in us.
We are a race made, a special species to enjoy grace and not to aspire for glory. As scripture says, “Let not the rich man boast of his riches or the wise man in his wisdom or the powerful man in his power. If you should glory, glory instead in that you have a personal relationship with the Lord God, Almighty” through His Son Jesus. Our intimate and personal relationship with the Father through Jesus should be our chief joy, our chief pride, our chief source of power and wisdom and enablement. We do not have an agenda of glory for ourselves but we do have an agenda of grace.
Wednesday, August 7, 2019
Learning Resilience , Renewal and Constructive Craftiness from the Serpent
UV 3319/10000 Learning Resilience and Renewal from the Serpent
Now the serpent was more crafty (subtle, skilled in deceit) than any living creature of the field which the Lord God had made. And the serpent (Satan) said to the woman, “ Can it really be that God has said, “You shall not eat from any tree of the garden?”
Genesis 3 v 1
Though the serpent brought about the loss of innocence of man, Jesus asks us to be shrewd as the serpent and gentle as the dove. We are to learn to be wise so that we are not deceived again. We are to be clever enough to identify the pitfall of temptations and avoid the snares of the enemy. We too can learn resilience and renewal from the serpent. Jesus does not want us to be naïve and gullible even as we believe every word that proceeded from His mouth and handed over to us in the written record. The serpent misquoted scripture to ensnare the first woman and man. We should be wise enough to learn and understand and apply scripture accurately, aptly and precisely like a skilled worker knows how to use his tools diligently.
A leopard cannot change its spots or its skin but a serpent can and does change its skin periodically. Like a serpent sheds it skin, we need to identify the attitudes, actions, habits of our lives that need to be changed and appropriate the help and grace of Jesus and of the Holy Spirit to shed or get rid of these. Like the serpent moves on from the spot where it sheds its skin and does not return to that place,we need to move on.
Like the serpent makes hissing noises to warn and fend itself against any potential threats, we too by our words and body language, can save ourselves a lot of uninvited trouble and keep our enemies and opponents at bay or at a distance. We are not to be crafty or cunning to harm others but we are to be crafty and cunning to keep ourselves from harm. It requires knowledge of the ways of the enemy and the sensitivity to pick up cues and signals of movements in the spiritual realms even as a serpent lies close to the ground and as it crawls, its nerves pick up the vibrations of movement of any other creature in the vicinity.
Now the serpent was more crafty (subtle, skilled in deceit) than any living creature of the field which the Lord God had made. And the serpent (Satan) said to the woman, “ Can it really be that God has said, “You shall not eat from any tree of the garden?”
Genesis 3 v 1
Though the serpent brought about the loss of innocence of man, Jesus asks us to be shrewd as the serpent and gentle as the dove. We are to learn to be wise so that we are not deceived again. We are to be clever enough to identify the pitfall of temptations and avoid the snares of the enemy. We too can learn resilience and renewal from the serpent. Jesus does not want us to be naïve and gullible even as we believe every word that proceeded from His mouth and handed over to us in the written record. The serpent misquoted scripture to ensnare the first woman and man. We should be wise enough to learn and understand and apply scripture accurately, aptly and precisely like a skilled worker knows how to use his tools diligently.
A leopard cannot change its spots or its skin but a serpent can and does change its skin periodically. Like a serpent sheds it skin, we need to identify the attitudes, actions, habits of our lives that need to be changed and appropriate the help and grace of Jesus and of the Holy Spirit to shed or get rid of these. Like the serpent moves on from the spot where it sheds its skin and does not return to that place,we need to move on.
Like the serpent makes hissing noises to warn and fend itself against any potential threats, we too by our words and body language, can save ourselves a lot of uninvited trouble and keep our enemies and opponents at bay or at a distance. We are not to be crafty or cunning to harm others but we are to be crafty and cunning to keep ourselves from harm. It requires knowledge of the ways of the enemy and the sensitivity to pick up cues and signals of movements in the spiritual realms even as a serpent lies close to the ground and as it crawls, its nerves pick up the vibrations of movement of any other creature in the vicinity.
Tuesday, August 6, 2019
Overshadowed, Overjoyed, Endowed with Gifts
UV 3318/10000 Overshadowed, Overjoyed, Endowed with Gifts
And He has filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom and skill, with intelligence and understanding, and with knowledge in all areas of craftsmanship.
Exodus 35 v 31
This uni-verse describes the gifts of the Spirit manifested in a man called Bezalel, who was the chief craftsman who built the Tabernacle, the sacred dwelling of Jehovah as instructed by Moses. The name Bezalel means “Overshadowed by the Holy Spirit”. When we are overshadowed by the Spirit of God, we become a sacred dwelling or tabernacle of God. When we become a tabernacle of God, we overflow with joy. We have extraordinary gifts of wisdom, skill, intelligence, understanding, knowledge in all areas of craftsmanship. In short, the Holy Spirit invests the versatile genius of God so evident in the diversity of nature in ordinary humans like us. Bezalel was not only skilled but he had the overwhelming desire to build a worthy temple for the Lord. He had the willingness to work as teams and to teach or train others in his skills.
The materials that Bezalel used and crafted to design the tabernacle are symbols in the new covenant tabernacle: the gold that was smelted into different shapes and beaten into thin sheets is symbolic of our faith. Our faith needs to be refined like gold, tested in fire, moulded to suit our different contexts. The purple and velvet curtains hanging from rods and hooks of gold and fixed in sockets of gold are symbolic of the applications of faith and the word in our daily lives so that we walk in righteousness. We like Bezalel need to design, plan , execute things to make our lives, our very bodies and minds a veritable temple of God. However grand we make our life designs, we need to rely on the presence of God in and with and for us even as the Shekinah glory of the Lord manifested in the cloud over the tabernacle.
Every day we are building the temple. Unlike Bezalel we cannot say our work is over till our last breath. We need to give our best to this ongoing work of our lives. It is not something we do part time but it is our full time passion, purpose and plan. The Spirit of God will stir in our hearts to take up different tasks, projects, work in order to use our supernatural as well as natural gifting for the greater glory of the Lord. The Spirit of God releases the nine spiritual gifts in us to use on a constant basis- gifts of healing, teaching, deliverance, discernment, word of knowledge and word of wisdom, leadership, prophecy and interpretation. The living tabernacle is characterized by nine gifts, nine fruit and nine offices or vocations in which the nine gifts and fruit are manifested on a continual basis.
Monday, August 5, 2019
Humility - the Path to Greatness
UV 3317/10000 Humility – The Path to Greatness
Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 18 v 4
The child Jesus called to His side is the epitome of simplicity, innocence, humility, goodness. He pointed out to His followers the path to greatness is through such simplicity, the absence of guile. The child obeyed Jesus implicitly and neither hesitated nor doubted nor asked questions why Jesus was calling him to his side. He trusted Jesus completely. We too need to trust Jesus completely and render unquestioning obedience to whatever He asks of us. A child-like innocence should characterize all our actions, reactions and communications.
However, mature, knowledgeable, clever, accomplished we become, in comparison with the wisdom, power and knowledge of God, we are mere children. As Paul writes, “ We see in part, we know in part.” However, strong and powerful we might become in the sight of the world, we are weak and vulnerable before the Lord. Our sense of awe of the might, infinite power, the absolute holiness of God ought to make us always humble before Him. We cannot be egoistic or boastful in His presence and His presence wraps us up all the time.
The child did not consciously humble himself but was naturally humble. But as grown up as we have become, we should get rid of our past conditioning that tends to make us proud, stubborn, unbending and insensitive. We need to consciously humble ourselves, day after day, degree by degree, comprehending the grace of Jesus. We need to be grateful towards Jesus for manifesting His love towards us. Humility, unlike the natural humility of the child, is in us a supernatural grace obtained by walking in close fellowship with the Holy Spirit. It comes from continual submission and obedience to the Word of God.
Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 18 v 4
The child Jesus called to His side is the epitome of simplicity, innocence, humility, goodness. He pointed out to His followers the path to greatness is through such simplicity, the absence of guile. The child obeyed Jesus implicitly and neither hesitated nor doubted nor asked questions why Jesus was calling him to his side. He trusted Jesus completely. We too need to trust Jesus completely and render unquestioning obedience to whatever He asks of us. A child-like innocence should characterize all our actions, reactions and communications.
However, mature, knowledgeable, clever, accomplished we become, in comparison with the wisdom, power and knowledge of God, we are mere children. As Paul writes, “ We see in part, we know in part.” However, strong and powerful we might become in the sight of the world, we are weak and vulnerable before the Lord. Our sense of awe of the might, infinite power, the absolute holiness of God ought to make us always humble before Him. We cannot be egoistic or boastful in His presence and His presence wraps us up all the time.
The child did not consciously humble himself but was naturally humble. But as grown up as we have become, we should get rid of our past conditioning that tends to make us proud, stubborn, unbending and insensitive. We need to consciously humble ourselves, day after day, degree by degree, comprehending the grace of Jesus. We need to be grateful towards Jesus for manifesting His love towards us. Humility, unlike the natural humility of the child, is in us a supernatural grace obtained by walking in close fellowship with the Holy Spirit. It comes from continual submission and obedience to the Word of God.
Sunday, August 4, 2019
The Best Part of Life
UV 3316/10000 The Best Part of Life
But only one thing is necessary for Mary has chosen the good part that which is to her advantage, which will not be taken away from her.
Luke 10 v 42
Jesus commended Mary though he did not condemn her sister Martha for having chosen to spend time at His feet, hanging on every word He spoke, listening intently and storing it as treasures in her heart. Martha in contrast was busy with the kitchen, the caring and the cooking. These were essential part of hospitality if the guests were not to go hungry. But Mary’s spiritual hunger prompted her to overlook her obligation to help her sister with the household chores. Indeed the best part of our lives, the best part of every day is the time we spend at the feet of Jesus, experiencing His love, tasting of His goodness, enjoying His blessing.
When we have spent enough time at the feet of Jesus, enough time in fellowshipping with the Triune God, the needs of our spirit, minds and bodies are met by Him. As we seek Him first and seek Him with all our hearts, He will reveal Himself to us and add to our lives such things that we need. Martha was weighed down with the cares of life while her carefree sister had her burdens eased by taking in the word, the water of life, the eternal truth of salvation. Mary had chosen the most perfect thing to do for any human to discover the purpose of life and to go ahead and fulfill it.
The best part of life is to be intimate with the Lord, to relate with Him, to communicate with Him, to learn from Him, to absorb His wisdom. It is the greatest opportunity, the most empowering and enabling time of our lives. We cannot squander it on matters of lesser consequence, however urgent or important. We should relish and cherish it when the Lord Himself nourishes us. We live on every word that proceeds from the mouth of Jesus as conveyed, illustrated, interpreted to us by the Holy Spirit. We cannot allow any distractions or disturbances but with whole hearted and single minded focus absorb like a sponge every word and phrase spoken by the Lord. It does not mean we abdicate our responsibilities in this world but by soaking in His grace, we are better able to do it.
But only one thing is necessary for Mary has chosen the good part that which is to her advantage, which will not be taken away from her.
Luke 10 v 42
Jesus commended Mary though he did not condemn her sister Martha for having chosen to spend time at His feet, hanging on every word He spoke, listening intently and storing it as treasures in her heart. Martha in contrast was busy with the kitchen, the caring and the cooking. These were essential part of hospitality if the guests were not to go hungry. But Mary’s spiritual hunger prompted her to overlook her obligation to help her sister with the household chores. Indeed the best part of our lives, the best part of every day is the time we spend at the feet of Jesus, experiencing His love, tasting of His goodness, enjoying His blessing.
When we have spent enough time at the feet of Jesus, enough time in fellowshipping with the Triune God, the needs of our spirit, minds and bodies are met by Him. As we seek Him first and seek Him with all our hearts, He will reveal Himself to us and add to our lives such things that we need. Martha was weighed down with the cares of life while her carefree sister had her burdens eased by taking in the word, the water of life, the eternal truth of salvation. Mary had chosen the most perfect thing to do for any human to discover the purpose of life and to go ahead and fulfill it.
The best part of life is to be intimate with the Lord, to relate with Him, to communicate with Him, to learn from Him, to absorb His wisdom. It is the greatest opportunity, the most empowering and enabling time of our lives. We cannot squander it on matters of lesser consequence, however urgent or important. We should relish and cherish it when the Lord Himself nourishes us. We live on every word that proceeds from the mouth of Jesus as conveyed, illustrated, interpreted to us by the Holy Spirit. We cannot allow any distractions or disturbances but with whole hearted and single minded focus absorb like a sponge every word and phrase spoken by the Lord. It does not mean we abdicate our responsibilities in this world but by soaking in His grace, we are better able to do it.
Saturday, August 3, 2019
The Vocabulary of Power Versus Love
UV 3315/10000 The Vocabulary of Power Versus Love
Now the whole earth spoke one language and used the same words (vocabulary).
Genesis 11 v 1
People speak the language of power- to build, to reach the heavens, to unite, to achieve. But Jesus alone spoke the language or vocabulary of love, of peace, of truth, of justice and mercy. The whole earth even today speaks the vocabulary of power. Nations aspire to be a super power. Individuals aspire to be powerful leaders. People build powerful inventions and technologies that takes man’s footprint to space, to the bottom of the sea. People are always exploring new frontiers of science. Google has become the Babel of our age where we can seek any answer to any question. The lesson of biblical history is that those who seek power lose it, those who unite to expand or maximize power are scattered like dust by the four winds to the four corners of the earth.
But the Lord has said, “ We may speak the language of angels and see visions but if we have no love, it is in vain.” We need to speak the vocabulary of love, the language of Jesus. The power of love rather than the love of power should characterize our thoughts, words, actions and relationships. Jesus did not do great miracles like feeding the multitude or healing the diseases of people to demonstrate His power but to manifest His love for the affected people. He washed the feet of His disciples for humility and service are the language of love. He could have brought down legions of angels at one word of command to destroy the soldiers who came to arrest Him but He yielded without resisting, chiding those among His followers who wanted to resist. The language of love is not the language of weakness but of true, inner, eternal, spiritual, godly power.
The Lord wants the whole earth today to speak the vocabulary of love. We need to speak the language of blessing each other, not cursing or swearing. We need to speak the vocabulary of forgiveness. Our tongues are not to issue forth with both poison and honey, bitterness and sweet words. The Lord wants rivers of life giving and enhancing water or the nine fruit of the Spirit to flow from our heart into our minds and from our mouths. We are not to consider ourselves superior to our fellow men but be always ready to serve them. We are not to seek positions of leadership that we might be better served or to benefit our supporters but to better serve those who need it most.
Now the whole earth spoke one language and used the same words (vocabulary).
Genesis 11 v 1
People speak the language of power- to build, to reach the heavens, to unite, to achieve. But Jesus alone spoke the language or vocabulary of love, of peace, of truth, of justice and mercy. The whole earth even today speaks the vocabulary of power. Nations aspire to be a super power. Individuals aspire to be powerful leaders. People build powerful inventions and technologies that takes man’s footprint to space, to the bottom of the sea. People are always exploring new frontiers of science. Google has become the Babel of our age where we can seek any answer to any question. The lesson of biblical history is that those who seek power lose it, those who unite to expand or maximize power are scattered like dust by the four winds to the four corners of the earth.
But the Lord has said, “ We may speak the language of angels and see visions but if we have no love, it is in vain.” We need to speak the vocabulary of love, the language of Jesus. The power of love rather than the love of power should characterize our thoughts, words, actions and relationships. Jesus did not do great miracles like feeding the multitude or healing the diseases of people to demonstrate His power but to manifest His love for the affected people. He washed the feet of His disciples for humility and service are the language of love. He could have brought down legions of angels at one word of command to destroy the soldiers who came to arrest Him but He yielded without resisting, chiding those among His followers who wanted to resist. The language of love is not the language of weakness but of true, inner, eternal, spiritual, godly power.
The Lord wants the whole earth today to speak the vocabulary of love. We need to speak the language of blessing each other, not cursing or swearing. We need to speak the vocabulary of forgiveness. Our tongues are not to issue forth with both poison and honey, bitterness and sweet words. The Lord wants rivers of life giving and enhancing water or the nine fruit of the Spirit to flow from our heart into our minds and from our mouths. We are not to consider ourselves superior to our fellow men but be always ready to serve them. We are not to seek positions of leadership that we might be better served or to benefit our supporters but to better serve those who need it most.
Friday, August 2, 2019
THE Practice of Righteousness
UV 3314/10000 The Practice of Righteousness
Little children (believers, dear ones, do not let anyone lead you astray. The one who practices righteousness ( the one who strives to live a consistently honourable life- in private as well as in public- and to conform to God’s precepts is righteous, just as He is righteous.
I John 3 v 7
God is absolutely righteous and His Son Jesus manifested the same righteousness on Earth during His sojourn here. We who believe Him ought also to practice righteousness earnestly, rigorously and consistently. We honour God when we live according to His law or His precepts and principles. To live according to biblical principles taught and practiced by Jesus is the way to live a life worthy of Him. He is the perfect model of our faith and we will do well to imitate Him in all aspects of our lives.
When we habitually obey a principle, it becomes in due course our nature. To follow or obey a principle is not easy as it involves a personal cost that we need to pay. But the Lord offers us support, grace and the power to practice the principles. He strengthens our inner spirit and gives us the courage and verve to hold onto the principles that are often in contrast to the values espoused by worldly people. He gives us His precious promises that supply what we need in order to obey the Word. He also gives us the Holy Spirit to encourage, edify, enable us to practice righteousness.
When we practice righteousness, we declare to the enemy and to the world that we belong to the Lord, that we are a peculiar people with peculiar values. Very often the forces opposed to us become more aggressive and hostile towards us on account of our beliefs and principles. But Jesus exhorts us to be strong and courageous as He has overcome and we too will overcome the world. The practice of righteousness will prove that we belong to the Lord, that we give priority to doing His will. We are no longer mere hearers but doers. We are not like the foolish man who ignores the foundation of rock that is Jesus and builds on sand. We are not like the man who takes a good look every day in the mirror and forgets what he looks like. We are conscious of our weaknesses, threats and potential in Christ and take practical steps to overcome the former and realize the latter.
Thursday, August 1, 2019
Four Dimensional Love
UV 3313/10000 Four Dimensional Love
Be fully capable of comprehending with all the saints ( God’s people) the width and length and height and depth of His love (fully experiencing that amazing, endless love;
Ephesians 3 v 18
Four dimensions of God’s agape love in Christ that we experience are width- the discrimination-free love of Christ that accepts us as we are, the length- the extent to which He goes to redeem, help, bless us, the height- the endless possibilities of His love towards us and how He expresses it, the depth of meaning and purpose of His love. The attributes described by St Paul in I Corinthians 13 is all about the love of Christ. His love patiently endured suffering, pain and shame on our behalf. His love is to be treasured above all other blessings and gifts we receive. His love is not jealous or envious. His love does not boast and is humble and gentle. His love is not rude, self seeking, not easily angered or provoked. He does not keep a record of wrongs or none of us will be able to stand before Him.
Yet, the love of Jesus does not compromise with untruth or injustice. He rejoices when truth is vindicated. His love causes Him to bear all things, believes the best for each of us, hopes for the best for us. He does not desert us in our difficult times but He stands by us closest in our crises and rescues us. His knowledge of us and of the world is complete but He does not use it to condemn us. We need to model our love on Jesus and emulate Him in big and small ways.
We need to widen our love for Jesus and all people including believers. We need to go to extra lengths or miles to help and bless others we encounter in the course of our lives. We need to heighten or intensify our faith, hope and love into full flame. We cannot be superficial in our faith and its expression of love but deepen our love relationship with God and His Son Jesus. Understanding the love of God manifested in Christ is a key step in becoming mature in our faith and becoming productive for Him. More important than signs and wonders executed to demonstrate the power of God is the quiet love we manifest towards Him in our thoughts, words, actions and reactions.
Be fully capable of comprehending with all the saints ( God’s people) the width and length and height and depth of His love (fully experiencing that amazing, endless love;
Ephesians 3 v 18
Four dimensions of God’s agape love in Christ that we experience are width- the discrimination-free love of Christ that accepts us as we are, the length- the extent to which He goes to redeem, help, bless us, the height- the endless possibilities of His love towards us and how He expresses it, the depth of meaning and purpose of His love. The attributes described by St Paul in I Corinthians 13 is all about the love of Christ. His love patiently endured suffering, pain and shame on our behalf. His love is to be treasured above all other blessings and gifts we receive. His love is not jealous or envious. His love does not boast and is humble and gentle. His love is not rude, self seeking, not easily angered or provoked. He does not keep a record of wrongs or none of us will be able to stand before Him.
Yet, the love of Jesus does not compromise with untruth or injustice. He rejoices when truth is vindicated. His love causes Him to bear all things, believes the best for each of us, hopes for the best for us. He does not desert us in our difficult times but He stands by us closest in our crises and rescues us. His knowledge of us and of the world is complete but He does not use it to condemn us. We need to model our love on Jesus and emulate Him in big and small ways.
We need to widen our love for Jesus and all people including believers. We need to go to extra lengths or miles to help and bless others we encounter in the course of our lives. We need to heighten or intensify our faith, hope and love into full flame. We cannot be superficial in our faith and its expression of love but deepen our love relationship with God and His Son Jesus. Understanding the love of God manifested in Christ is a key step in becoming mature in our faith and becoming productive for Him. More important than signs and wonders executed to demonstrate the power of God is the quiet love we manifest towards Him in our thoughts, words, actions and reactions.
A Victim of A Victory
UV 3312/10000. A Victim of A Victory
So he said, “I will do this. I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods…”
Luke 12 v 18
The tragic death of the founder of the Café Day empire is a reminder about the parable narrated by Jesus. Corporate success is often a Pyrrhic victory, a victory acquired at great cost, a victim of a victory. The man who grew in terms of assets in this world had invested too little in his own soul. He had laid up treasures for himself as far as this life was concerned but was not rich towards God. He was unmindful of where he would spend eternity and gave too little thought to it. God said to him, therefore, “Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?”.
The tendency of the worldly wise to over leverage on their abilities, opportunities and assets to expand beyond what is necessary or advisable often lands them in such crisis situations from which it is difficult to disengage or withdraw or downsize. The rich and powerful provide in abundance for their physical comfort and security but do not provide for the needs of their souls and spirits. What we need in life where the invisible and intangible plays such a great part is not bodyguards but “soul and mind guards”- the presence of the Lord and His angels that guard us from dashing our feet against a stone or from self inflicting damage and injury upon ourselves on account of our unrestrained ambition fed and fuelled by the meaningless or vain desire to acquire more and more, to save up more and more for a future we are not sure we will ever have to enjoy. We should realize the weight of this spiritual law that beyond a point all gain is in vain. We need to invest in exercises and practices that would add profit to our souls.
We need to down size our ambitions, our great plans for conquest and understand what and how much is “enough.” Beyond this point called ‘enough’ every incremental effort or investment produces a diminishing return on human satisfaction and fulfilment. Instead of the exhausting efforts of logistics of increasing our earthtly treasures, we need to invest in “logostics” or ( logos- the word) the study of the word in order to overcome in this world and overcome the world. Logos or the Word of Christ will teach us what are the treasures we need to lay up for ourselves in the eternal realms that neither moth nor rust nor thief can destroy or remove. We will find that the ROI on our spiritual capital and investments is limitless and abundant, enough to see us through every crisis or challenge or problem we confront in life.
So he said, “I will do this. I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods…”
Luke 12 v 18
The tragic death of the founder of the Café Day empire is a reminder about the parable narrated by Jesus. Corporate success is often a Pyrrhic victory, a victory acquired at great cost, a victim of a victory. The man who grew in terms of assets in this world had invested too little in his own soul. He had laid up treasures for himself as far as this life was concerned but was not rich towards God. He was unmindful of where he would spend eternity and gave too little thought to it. God said to him, therefore, “Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?”.
The tendency of the worldly wise to over leverage on their abilities, opportunities and assets to expand beyond what is necessary or advisable often lands them in such crisis situations from which it is difficult to disengage or withdraw or downsize. The rich and powerful provide in abundance for their physical comfort and security but do not provide for the needs of their souls and spirits. What we need in life where the invisible and intangible plays such a great part is not bodyguards but “soul and mind guards”- the presence of the Lord and His angels that guard us from dashing our feet against a stone or from self inflicting damage and injury upon ourselves on account of our unrestrained ambition fed and fuelled by the meaningless or vain desire to acquire more and more, to save up more and more for a future we are not sure we will ever have to enjoy. We should realize the weight of this spiritual law that beyond a point all gain is in vain. We need to invest in exercises and practices that would add profit to our souls.
We need to down size our ambitions, our great plans for conquest and understand what and how much is “enough.” Beyond this point called ‘enough’ every incremental effort or investment produces a diminishing return on human satisfaction and fulfilment. Instead of the exhausting efforts of logistics of increasing our earthtly treasures, we need to invest in “logostics” or ( logos- the word) the study of the word in order to overcome in this world and overcome the world. Logos or the Word of Christ will teach us what are the treasures we need to lay up for ourselves in the eternal realms that neither moth nor rust nor thief can destroy or remove. We will find that the ROI on our spiritual capital and investments is limitless and abundant, enough to see us through every crisis or challenge or problem we confront in life.
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