Peacemakers

There is no soul in this world which God cannot touch. Even the toughest person in this world, the most arrogant and the haughty head will have a soft corner which can be touched by God. As God's children, we always have a challenge with these kinds of people. Yet when confronted by the tough, the proud and the arrogant soul, all we need to do is- communicate, react and show love, calmness and silence. The love of God will certainly flow from us to others unknowingly touching their souls in a powerful way. We ourselves will be amazed by the way they change and take the initiative to communicate to us...That is the power of God.

Hebrews 12:14 (New International Version)

Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.

If we only live and do what God asks us, we will see that even the most indifferent people move towards us like a magnet that attracts iron to itself...

Inherited Syndrome

Most of us knowingly or unknowingly suffer from 'blame syndrome'. We blame others or situations for what happens to us or in our lives. This is definitely something we have genetically inherited from Adam who when confronted by God put the blame on Eve for breaking God's rule...

Genesis 3:12 (New International Version)

The man said, "The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it."

When will we as matured people learn to take responsibility for our speech, actions, behavior, choices, decisions and consequences of them in life?

Galatians 6:5 (New Living Translation)

For we are each responsible for our own conduct.

Dr. Grant. C. Richison comments that this scripture refer to the personal responsibility we need to hold before the throne of God . Each of us are responsible for the life we live, decisions we make and for the words spoken. So let us grow up and become matured enough to take responsibility for our life and well-being.

Exemplified believers

How are believers to be when it comes to speaking? We all know that more than words of high knowledge, intelligence and powerful demonstration of communication skills, what is more essential is the transparency of being, doing and living of what we speak.

Our life speaks more than our words which we may think is unseen by people. But people can read a lot from the way we display our attitude, behaviors, actions and the way we live. Unless our words match with the way we live and do things, our speech is meaningless. May we never be people who speak one thing with our mouth but has something different in our heart...May our hearts be transparent and honest enough to speak what we mean, live and do.

1 Timothy 4:12 (New Living Translation)

Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity.

Speech and Spiritualism

James 1:26 (New American Standard Bible)

If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man's religion is worthless.

The way we speak, react, behave and live has a greater impact on the faith we profess. Our speech and behavior reveal our attitude, motives and perceptions we hold. As children of God we should know how we communicate to others. If our speech does not have any Christ-likeness in it, then our faith which we profess seldom holds a good impact on the hearers.

What we speak, the way we say it and the respect we give to the hearer holds a greater value on us and our faith...

May every conversation we get into reveal that we are indeed God's children and may our faith never be deemed meaningless because of our immaturity to communicate appropriately.

Child-like heart

When we read God's word everyday, the Lord speaks to us directly many a time. Sometimes it is word a of encouragement, hope, faith, comfort, empathy, and sometimes it is words of correction, discipline and learning. When we are confronted by words of correction, discipline and change, the Spirit of God gently convicts us of our shortcoming and prompts within us a need for repentance or willingness to yield. It is at those times, our minds play the trick by justifying what we do as right.

Our mind is a powerful entity which the Lord has created us with. And the Lord has given the mind its power in forms of intellect, wisdom, knowledge, discernment and discretion. When we are convicted by the Lord through His Word and Spirit, our mind may not be ready to immediately accept it. Our mind uses all its power to justify our thoughts, actions, behaviors, motives and attitude. The reason for the mind to work this way is...

The heart is deceitful above all things

and beyond cure.

Who can understand it? - Jeremiah 17:9 (New International Version)

It is easy for our heart to accept words of encouragement, hope, faith, comfort and consolation. But it is difficult for the heart to accept correction, discipline, change and transformation.

That is why the Lord emphasized,

Matthew 18:3 (The Message)

2-5. For an answer Jesus called over a child, whom he stood in the middle of the room, and said, "I'm telling you, once and for all, that unless you return to square one and start over like children, you're not even going to get a look at the kingdom, let alone get in. Whoever becomes simple and elemental again, like this child, will rank high in God's kingdom...

We need to have a child-like heart to accept words of correction, discipline and change. Younger children do not justify for their wrongs. They are simple and straight forward. They accept and learn more readily than adults.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, give me a heart like that of a child. So that I accept every word that you tell me whether of correction or encouragement in the same manner. I am willing to go back to square one. In Jesus name. Amen.

Adding to our faith - 7

2 Peter 1:5-7 (New American Standard Bible)

5.Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge,

6.and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness,

7.and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love.

The the final thing that Apostle Peter sums up in this scripture asking God's children to possess is - love. The whole gospel is summed up in this... Every child of God knows about the unconditional love that the Bible talks about. We as God's children have experienced this agape (unconditional) love from God and know the depth of it. Yet to walk in that love as God's child among people is often a challenge. The whole world knows that the main attribute of anyone who claims Christ is love and yet the world fails to see that love in Christians.

Why? The challenge for us is to show the love to those who are indifferent to that unconditional love. We know that the Lord asks us to love our enemies and to love our neighbor as ourselves. We may read these scriptures time and again. And know deep within us that it is difficult.

It is difficult, yet not impossible. Though at times we may fail to express that unconditional love of God to those who may be indifferent to us or talk bad about us, we can for certain pray for them. And it is only the love of God (flowing through us) which can truly make people respond to our love...

Adding to our faith - 6

2 Peter 1:5-7 (New American Standard Bible)

5.Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge,

6.and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control,perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness,

7.and in your godliness, brotherly kindness

Brotherly kindness is the warmth, care and concern which needs to be shown to the household of faith. Many believers in Christ hesitate to show acts of help, provision and care to other believers because of being cheated or taken advantage of, by others. There are many instances, where men and women of God have moved to do good to believers in Christ and have had bitter experiences. These kind of instances do happen in Christian circles. However, a believer should not be disheartened to show acts of brother kindness to fellow believers.

Many of us need to understand that we need to indulge in acts of brother kindness when moved by the Holy Spirit rather by emotions. It is quite challenging to differentiate between emotions and the Holy Spirit's prompting. During such times it is always better to pause, pray and seek the Lord's guidance to decide on things to be done. We need to ask the Lord for discernment, so as to minister to genuine needs rather than fake ones...

Galatians 6:10 (New American Standard Bible)

So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.

Prayer: Lord, help me to have the discernment when I need to move with the acts of brotherly kindness. For what I do should result in edification of others and bring glory to your name. In Jesus name. Amen.

Adding to our faith - 5

2 Peter 1:5-6 (New American Standard Bible)

5. Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge,

6. and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness,

We all know that godliness is not putting on a mask of piety, rather it is having Christ-likeness in us. The very image of the Lord brings to our mind the meaning of the word godliness. For love and piety was something that reflected on His face, His speech, actions, behavior and attitude. Godliness cannot be developed in us. It has to be imparted. It will be imparted only when we become more of Him and less of us...

Many of them think that they are godly by doing a lot of spiritual things such as ministry, spiritual talks, fasting, being prayerful, etc. However, these are outward things which cannot sanctify a human heart. Sanctification comes when we yield to the discipline and changes that the Lord brings within us. It is an inside out transformation...And it can happen only when we are ready for such a process...

Prayer: Lord Jesus, help me become more of you and less of me. More of you in the way I think, react, speak and behave. Help me yield to a change required in me. I am willing now...In your precious name. Amen.

Adding to our faith - 4

Peter 1:5-6 (New American Standard Bible)

5.Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge,

6.and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance,

The Amplified version of the same scripture denotes 'steadfastness (patience, endurance)' for the word perseverance. Patience and endurance are two characteristics which mark the image of a matured person. As we endure various kinds of trials and temptations in this Christian life, we need to work on to develop these two attributes in us. And again patience and endurance cannot be developed by our own self-efforts, but with the help of the Holy Spirit. As we learn from our mistakes by accepting correction and discipline from the Lord, these two characteristics will develop in us...

The Message translation uses the word 'passionate patience' for perseverance. Passionate patience is a rare virtue and it can develop in us only when we allow sovereign control of our lives in His hand. And to do thus in times of storm is a challenge. May we never weaken or quit to develop this virtue in us.

Prayer: Lord, I see that you will never be satisfied unless you develop in me the qualities that mark me as your follower. I too decide this day to persevere in this goal. In your precious name. Amen.

Adding to our faith - 3

2 Peter 1:5-6 (New American Standard Bible)

5. Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge,

6. and in your knowledge, self-control,

The next attribute we are asked to add to our character is 'self-control'. According to the world self-control is an attribute which requires self-effort to attain it. But as per the spiritual law, self-control is the fruit of the Spirit. As we seek diligently in prayer asking the Spirit of God to build this fruit in us (or any other fruit for that matter), we will see that the fruit will become a natural part of our being. We will realize by our daily experience that we are able to have self-control in the areas of life where we lack self-control, such as in expression or outburst of anger, gossip, back biting, slander, accusation or judging. Self-control is also an attribute required for preventing indulgence in sensual and sinful habits.

Self-control cannot be attained by efforts alone, it requires the Spirit of God's help to bring changes and transformations in us. And for this to happen gradually we need to diligently seek and pursue the fruit, until it wholly takes root, grows and manifests in us...

Prayer: Lord Jesus, may the Spirit of God build self-control in me, so that in areas where I lack self-control I may be more of a Christ-controlled person. In your precious name Jesus. Amen.

Adding to our faith -2

2 Peter 1:5 (New American Standard Bible)

Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge,

As we continue meditating on this scripture, Apostle Peter exhorts us (believers in Christ) to add knowledge to moral excellence. What exactly is the apostle referring here as knowledge? Is it a biblical knowledge, knowledge of God or knowledge of good and evil. Though it may refer to all this, it also refers to the knowledge or realization of our fallen self before God, the significance of our salvation, the kindness of God towards us and the continuous faith and patience the Lord has on His children...

Sounds a little introspective isn't it? Yes, it is. After we are saved, the Lord looks at us as righteous children, he looks at us as saints (under sanctification), he looks at as His heirs. Yet, many a time, we fail to be His children...by being or behaving worldly, unlike Christ in attitude or thought process. All this does not nullify He being our Father. His kindness towards us does not change. His faith and patience in us does not falter. And His love unchanging...

A deep knowledge and realization of this truth develops in us a deep desire to be like Him. It drives our heart to know Him more, love Him better each day and please Him by our life and being. Walking in this knowledge or realization is what Apostle Peter is exhorting here...

The more we get to know Him, we have a clear picture of His holiness and clear image of our shortcomings before Him. We get to realize how small we are before this awesome holy God and we get to know the price He paid the Cross. A true knowledge of the Cross makes us linger more at the Cross saying..."Lord, you cross is my glory. It is where I need to stay till I come home".

Prayer: Lord Jesus, help me to grow more in you. Not in just biblical knowledge or with regard to my service to you. But to know you more passionately and your love for me. In your precious name Lord. Amen.

Adding to our faith -1

2 Peter 1:5 (New American Standard Bible)

Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence...

Our faith will shine before the others, only if people can see moral excellence in us. Moral excellence is something which every human being is aware of. Since the first man Adam, man has gained knowledge of good and evil and knows the difference between right and wrong as clear the difference between the right and the left.

Apostle Peter, exhorts us to add moral excellence to our faith. The English synonyms of the word 'moral excellence' is 'virtue' or 'integrity'. Writer Jon Quinn calls it as 'strength of character'.

Our faith is pure because our God is Holy. And when exhibiting our faith in Christ i.e when we claim ourselves as Christians, our character should exhibit moral excellence. If people accuse our faith in spite of being a good character, then it is a honor for us. Hence let us make every effort to add moral excellence to our faith, so that we bring glory to our God, and for the faith we profess...