Passing on the inheritance...

What do you think are the best gifts parents could give their children? Of course, as every parent would know, it is a good education (not a pressurizing one) and quality time spent with them...And there is one more thing which is the responsibility of every Christian parent to give their children as inheritance...that is, teaching them the fear of the Lord.

For we may not understand now, how the fear of the Lord would help them in every walk of their life, from childhood through their adult years...It is exactly what King Abhijah gave his son Asa, and Asa to his son Jehoshapat.

Here is the account of these 3 kings

2 Chronicles 13:17,18,21 (New American Standard Bible)

17a.Abijah and his people defeated them with a great slaughter...18b....and the sons of Judah conquered because they trusted in the LORD, the God of their fathers. 21... Abijah became powerful.

2 Chronicles 14:1b-2, 19 (New International Version)

1b...Asa his (Abhijah's) son succeeded him as king, and in his days the country was at peace for ten years. 2Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the LORD his God. 19 There was no more war until the thirty-fifth year of Asa's reign.

2 Chronicles 17:1,3-4 (New International Version)

1.Jehoshaphat his (Asa's) son succeeded him as king and strengthened himself against Israel.3 The LORD was with Jehoshaphat because in his early years he walked in the ways his father David had followed. He did not consult the Baals 4 but sought the God of his father and followed his commands rather than the practices of Israel.5 The LORD established the kingdom under his control; and all Judah brought gifts to Jehoshaphat, so that he had great wealth and honor.

From the accounts of these kings, we see how the fear of the Lord was passed on as inheritance from Abhijah to Jehoshapat and the result ...Glorious!

Christ to me...

Facing life's challenges and disappointments time and again, we may feel emotionally weak and may not have the energy to try again. We will feel that we have come back to square one, where everything looks like we need to start all over again. Competition and challenges at work and life may look too big for us many a time. Though we know inwardly that we are God's children and God is on our side to help us, the current pressures of life may seem too much to bear.

While facing such challenges in life, I read a scripture (from the Bible) during my daily devotion, which not only gave me an inner strength (not an emotional lift) but also a strong determination to persevere...

1 Corinthians 1:24 (New International Version)

but to those whom God has called... Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

When Christ is for me the power of God and the wisdom of God, then surely there is no challenge or pressure in life which I cannot face through Him...

Faith-Less

Exodus 15:23-24 (New International Version)

23.When they came to Marah, they could not drink its water because it was bitter. (That is why the place is called Marah. 24.So the people grumbled against Moses, saying, "What are we to drink?"

The Israelites had a spectacular experience of the way God worked in their lives. They saw how God's hand delivered them out of Egypt, allowing them to walk through the Red sea bed while the pursuing Pharaoh and His soldiers were drowned in the sea. Their hearts were excited as they celebrated the greatness of the Lord with singing, dancing and moving forward in their journey. But suddenly they were in the middle of the wilderness without proper water to drink and they start grumbling. How quick it was for the people of Israel to forget the way God worked for them and turn to grumbling?

It looks that the people of Israel were impatient, quick-tempered and faithless not to trust God for their provision. The same God who was able to divide the Red Sea wouldn't He provide them water to drink? Of course He would...But their faith was short-lived. So is ours...Many times we are so excited when God works something in favor of us. But when other trial comes around the corner, we grumble instead of trusting His faithfulness.

Let us never grumble in times of waiting or trial. Let us learn to trust God for He who sees us is a faithful one...

Like Ruth

Ruth 4:15 (New International Version)

For your daughter-in-law, who loves you and who is better to you than seven sons,

This is the statement the Israelite women make to Naomi about Ruth at the close of the story. Wow! What a testimony of Ruth we see from the mouth of the Israelite women. We all know that Ruth stands as a wonderful example in the Bible because of her devotion to her mother-in-law. We still see an enthralling testimony of Ruth, a Moabite, coming forth from the mouths of Israelite women. And this exaltation about Ruth is something marvelous. For bible commentary says, that for a woman to have seven sons is a symbol of completeness of God's blessings. And Ruth's presence in Naomi's life is regarded higher than that.

How much more we who are called by His name stand as a testimony before others? Do people in the world exclaim the same kind of expression about us? We who are called Christians or believers ought to stand as a powerful testimony through our life and the character we display...only then we will glorify God and our Savior Jesus Christ.

The danger of complacency

Many times there is always a risk among believers who would have walked with the Lord for long years to get into a stage of complacency. This stage does not help them know that they have come a long way being self satisfied and independent (sometimes proud and arrogant of their spiritual accomplishments). They forget the truth they need the grace not only to be saved but also to sustain them in their spiritual journey. During such times their spiritual walk may slow down without their own knowledge.

But our Lord who is rich in His grace and mercy tarries for such children of His, until they come into realization of their complacency. That is why the Word of the Lord clearly explains

Ephesians 2:4-7 (New International Version)

4But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved...7in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.

When God made us alive in Christ while we were still sinners, how much more after having come to Him? He shows the richness of His grace by pulling us out of our complacency, thus helping us to walk our spiritual journey by grace alone...

When doing His will...

There are times when we would have done something believing it to be God's will and face negative outcomes instead of positive results. Those times we may even wonder why did we have to face such negative results in spite of doing God's will.

God asks Moses to go to Pharaoh and instruct him to let the people of Israel go. But when Pharaoh hears this for the first time, he gets very angry and imposes more burden on the tasks that people of Israel do. When Moses hears this news, he implores with the Lord his burdened heart.

Exodus 5:22-23 (New International Version)

Moses returned to the LORD and said, "O Lord, why have you brought trouble upon this people? Is this why you sent me? 23 Ever since I went to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has brought trouble upon this people, and you have not rescued your people at all."

Thinking in human ways Moses expected that doing God's will would yield positive outcome. He was not able to see that God has His own way of fulfilling His plan. It look a long time for Moses to understand that the plans and purposes of God cannot be thwarted.

So it is in our case many times. We do not understand that God has His own way of fulfilling His promises in our lives. And He does that in His own terms and ways and not ours...

God's silence

Isaiah 18:4 (New International Version)

This is what the LORD says to me:

"I will remain quiet and will look on from my dwelling place"

There are times when God chooses to remain quiet says author Mrs.Charles.E.Cowman. This does not mean that the Lord is passive about the complaints and situation of His people, but has a definite purpose to accomplish. We see that even in the story of the Exodus. The people of Israel suffered at the hands of Pharoah for almost close to 400 years. When we read that passage a question arises in the heart of the reader why did the Lord not intervene for so long years?

Exodus 2:23-25 (New International Version)

23 During that long period, the king of Egypt died. The Israelites groaned in their slavery and cried out, and their cry for help because of their slavery went up to God. 24 God heard their groaning and he remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac and with Jacob. 25 So God looked on the Israelites and was concerned about them.

The Word of God says that 'God looked on the Israelites and was concerned about them'. Rev.Selwyn Hughes says that "this doesn't mean that God did not notice them before or were less concerned about them." This passage signifies that it was the time God chose to intervene. God had a plan and purpose for His chosen people. And in appropriate time He delivered them at the hand of Moses.

In the same way, God sometimes chooses to remain silent to accomplish His purposes and plan in our lives.We should never mistake that as passivity or lack of concern.His plan and purposes for us is always perfect.

Confessing what we believe

There was once a man who lost his job and walked on the streets not knowing what to do. He had applied in many of the companies he knew and was waiting for some job to come through. As he walked he remembered the Word of God in Hebrews 13:5 (NIV)

because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."

The man kept consoling his anxious heart by repeating the same verse. It didn't seem to have any effect on him. Finally he stood at the bus stop and prayed, "Lord, I know that by just repeating this scripture is not going to work like a magic for me. I believe this word, because it is something you have spoken. And you have spoken to me. Even in this situation you are with me and you will not forsake me. You will give me a job so that I can provide for my family and be happy". Saying so he boarded a bus, though he didn't know where exactly to go.

A passenger seated next to him on the bus casually chatted with me and asked what he was doing. When the man said he was looking for a job, the passenger offered the man his card and asked the man to meet him at his office the next day...The man went to meet his bus acquaintance the next morning and got a job in his company.

Saying bible verses as a norm will not work things for us like a magic. But true confession of what we believe as per God's Word is what is real faith is and God is always moved by such faith...

When He Speaks...

Luke 24:32-35 (New American Standard Bible)

32They said to one another, "Were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us on the road, while He was explaining the Scriptures to us?" 33And they got up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found gathered together the eleven and those who were with them.34 saying, "The Lord has really risen and has appeared to Simon."35 They began to relate their experiences on the road and how He was recognized by them in the breaking of the bread.

When the men of Emmaus walked along with Jesus, their eyes were prevented from recognizing Jesus. The Lord did this to test their hearts. Yet when Jesus explained the scriptures to them, something was happening. Their hearts burned, meaning they were convicted of the truth; a revelation of the truth that applies to their lives directly.

Similarly during our prayer times, the Lord speaks to us through His Word. When the Lord opens His truth to us through His Word, it is not for knowledge gaining. It is the truth which speaks directly to our hearts for life application...Many a time even we would feel like the men of Emmaus, the Lord speaking to us directly to our heart with conviction through His Word. We need to be careful not to take such convictions light but apply it in our life with prudence.

Men of Emmaus

Luke 24:13-17 (New American Standard Bible)

13. And behold, two of them were going that very day to a village named Emmaus, which was about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14. And they were talking with each other about all these things which had taken place. 15. While they were talking and discussing, Jesus Himself approached and began traveling with them. 16. But their eyes were prevented from recognizing Him. 17. And He said to them, "What are these words that you are exchanging with one another as you are walking?" And they stood still, looking sad.

When I read this above passage from the Bible, I wondered why was the eyes of these men were prevented from recognizing Jesus and later were remarked by Jesus as slow of believing?

This incident happens on the day Jesus resurrected. Many of them had heard the Lord speak of His suffering, crucification and resurrection. Yet it was difficult for them to really believe it. At least some believed after seeing the empty tomb like the women who were assisting the Lord's work. The men who walked down the road of Emmaus, had heard about the empty tomb from the women and the disciples (Lk 24:18-24), but they did not to believe it. They heard the news but had lot of doubts in their hearts.

The Lord wanted to test them of their faith and help them see the truth. That was the reason why their eyes were prevented from recognizing Him. And the Lord implores them with a simple question and they testify about what they heard from the women and the disciples. These men did not believe in the words of Jesus (which He spoke before all these came to pass) nor from the witness of the women and the disciples. That was the reason why the Lord remarks at them as foolish and slow of heart.(Lk 24: 25)

It the same with many of us, today. We have seen how the Lord had worked in our lives, we have read His words of promise, hope, and comfort for us. Yet we fail to believe that He can really keep up to it. Oh! how slow of heart we become to believe. May we never react like the men of Emmaus, but take God at His Word, believing that He is faithful to keep it...

Never Failing Word

There are times in our lives when things can be just opposite to God's promises and in spite of praying and claiming God's Word, nothing may seem to change. At such times when we coincidently get to read a promise of God (which we might be faithfully holding on), we may feel like sarcasm. The devil will use our minds to make us feel that the Word of God is mocking at us. He will make us believe that all that we are believing and holding on is a lie.

But we need to remember one thing. That the devil is the father of lies since his existence. The Word of God can never become a sarcasm or mock at us. It is the devil, who is the mocker and the accuser.

We need to believe only one thing, that the Word of God stands forever,

Isaiah 40:8 (New International Version)

The grass withers and the flowers fall,

but the word of our God stands forever.

God never failed those who held on to Him and His Word. We need to be careful not to fall for the devil's deceptions or our current trials, for God's Word will surely come to pass no matter the time...

Foundation for faith

Psalm 13:5-6 (New American Standard Bible)

5.But I have trusted in Your lovingkindness;

My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation.

6.I will sing to the LORD,

Because He has dealt bountifully with me.

It is so very easy to get disappointed, frustrated and angry when things don't go the way we expect. Having walked the Christian life for years, we may expect our prayers to be answered instantly and when there is delay, we can easily fall for negative feelings and sometimes even rebellious attitude.

But look at the way the psalmist reacts to his hopeless situation. The first 4 verses of Psalm 13 is full of despair and hopelessness. However, the ending note of the psalmist is something appreciable. In verse 5 and 6, we can see that his trust in God is based on God's character because of which he is able to have consolation. He also recollects how the Lord dealt with Him in the past, which enables him to have hope. God's faithfulness and His lovingkindness is the sure foundation of the psalmist faith and so shall be ours.

Fearing God

Exodus 1:16-17 , 20-21 (NASB)

16.and he said, "When you are helping the Hebrew women to give birth and see them upon the birthstool, if it is a son, then you shall put him to death; but if it is a daughter, then she shall live."

17.But the midwives feared God, and did not do as the king of Egypt had commanded them, but let the boys live. 20.So God was good to the midwives, and the people multiplied, and became very mighty. 21.Because the midwives feared God, He established households for them.

As we read from the above scriptural context, the cruel Egyptian Pharaoh asks the Hebrew midwives to kill the newborn Hebrew boys, when he sees that the Hebrews multiplied increasingly. He dares such an act assuming them as an internal threat. But the Hebrew midwives fearing God does not do so. The scripture says that God was good to them and He established their homes. What a wonderful outcome for fearing God.

Here we need to clearly understand what it means by fearing God. It is not just believing Him or being scared of doing wrong. The right understanding of fearing God is- doing things which is right in the sight of God, doing things that please God. Upholding justice, righteousness and integrity even in times of difficulty or trials. When we do so, the world may fail to see that. But our God sees it and He will reward us accordingly. The proof of this which is seen in the above scriptures.

People may say that justice, righteousness and integrity are dead in this world. But we as the children of God, can exhibit these attributes with a sure reward.

Understanding from my redemption

We will not completely appreciate God's plan and purposes for our life if we don't really know the depth of God's adoption of us into His family as His children. If we have a very insignificant view about our redemption, then we will live our Christian life with regrets, long-suffering and gloom rather than joy, hope and gratitude.

How are we to know the full value of our redemption, our selection into God's family? We need not search the whole Bible, but just understand depth of the following scripture...

1 Peter 1:18-19 (New International Version)

18.For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, 19.but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.

If God could go to the extent to shedding His most precious and imperishable blood to redeem a sinner like me, what more do I need as a prove about His passionate love for me? How can I afford to think of He giving me anything less or doubt His dealings in my life?...