Are you tired and weary? Do you wonder that being a Christian and by following the Lord, you have not gained anything financially? You have only seen that people have used your money and have not regarded your goodness or righteousness?
But remember, oh, child of God, that the Lord is seeing you and keeps tracks of your righteous deeds and goodness. Do not worry if people does not notice your values and attitude of being Christ-like. The Lord is watching and He will repay for all the good things you have done by being His child and follower. The Lord will bless you with all good things. As His word says,
Psalm 84:11 (NLT)
For the Lord God is our sun and our shield.
He gives us grace and glory.
The Lord will withhold no good thing
from those who do what is right.
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Sunday, November 20, 2011
The Gracious Giver
When Abraham left the land of Ur not knowing where he was going, this would have sounded strange to his people as well as his neighbors. People would have asked him where he was going? Imagine Abraham telling them, 'I don't know where I am going. God asked me to go and so I am leaving'. This may sound strange and crazy to some. However, Abraham knew when God asked him to leave, there is a reason to it and the Lord will give Abraham a better place to live.
When we do things obeying what the Lord is asking us to do, though we may not know what our future holds or destiny will be, we can be 100% sure that God knows our future or destiny because He holds our future.
As the Bible says, the Lord is able to provide all our needs according to His riches and glory in Christ Jesus.Whatever be the need, the Lord will meet it. His hand is not short that He cannot provide or take care of...
Philippians 4:19 (Message)
You can be sure that God will take care of everything you need, his generosity exceeding even yours in the glory that pours from Jesus.
When we do things obeying what the Lord is asking us to do, though we may not know what our future holds or destiny will be, we can be 100% sure that God knows our future or destiny because He holds our future.
As the Bible says, the Lord is able to provide all our needs according to His riches and glory in Christ Jesus.Whatever be the need, the Lord will meet it. His hand is not short that He cannot provide or take care of...
Philippians 4:19 (Message)
You can be sure that God will take care of everything you need, his generosity exceeding even yours in the glory that pours from Jesus.
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Unmerited Suffering
A man once said, "Why should I be cheated of my money when I am doing the right thing in the sight of God? As a child of God shouldn't I be getting for what I worked for? When I am being right, why am I wronged?"
This is agony of the soul for being right yet suffering loss. This is bad and it shouldn't be happening. Why should God allow such things to happen for His child who trusts Him wholly? Questions such as these linger in the hearts and minds of men and women of God who choose to follow His will. The question is very perplexing to the soul trying to understand the reason for an unmerited suffering.
However, the Bible has an answer. Unmerited suffering is a part of Christian life. Unless we change our notion that 'by being right we will not endure hardships and will be overflowing with blessings', we will find our souls go through a merry-go-round.
1 Peter 3:17 (NASB)
For it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong.
The Bible is very clear on this. If it is God's will, we should be ready to suffer for being right rather than suffer by doing wrong. Going through an unmerited suffering by being right before God is much more glorious than being wrong before Him.
This is agony of the soul for being right yet suffering loss. This is bad and it shouldn't be happening. Why should God allow such things to happen for His child who trusts Him wholly? Questions such as these linger in the hearts and minds of men and women of God who choose to follow His will. The question is very perplexing to the soul trying to understand the reason for an unmerited suffering.
However, the Bible has an answer. Unmerited suffering is a part of Christian life. Unless we change our notion that 'by being right we will not endure hardships and will be overflowing with blessings', we will find our souls go through a merry-go-round.
1 Peter 3:17 (NASB)
For it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong.
The Bible is very clear on this. If it is God's will, we should be ready to suffer for being right rather than suffer by doing wrong. Going through an unmerited suffering by being right before God is much more glorious than being wrong before Him.
Monday, November 7, 2011
The Special Task
Do you know that every child of God has a special role to play in His kingdom? No matter your education or your professional background, no matter your age or skills and abilities, there is a specific and unique role which God has got for each one of His child. As you grow more in the Lord and as you move close to Him, the Lord will reveal His special purpose and plan to you.
This role or vision is something that only you are destined to do and if you do not take the step it remains undone. Your role is significant no matter if it is recognized or appreciated by people or not. God will use you for His glory and He will glorify you at the same time by giving you a joy and satisfaction that the purpose of your life on earth is met. This joy and satisfaction is something that the world cannot offer you.
May you draw close to God to know His will and purpose for you. But do not expect things to happen immediately. He has His way of carrying out His plan for you. Just be sensitive to His Spirit to yield and do what the Spirit of God inspires you to do. He will carry it out as per His perfect timing and in spectacular ways.
Ephesians 2:10 (New Living Translation)
For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
This role or vision is something that only you are destined to do and if you do not take the step it remains undone. Your role is significant no matter if it is recognized or appreciated by people or not. God will use you for His glory and He will glorify you at the same time by giving you a joy and satisfaction that the purpose of your life on earth is met. This joy and satisfaction is something that the world cannot offer you.
May you draw close to God to know His will and purpose for you. But do not expect things to happen immediately. He has His way of carrying out His plan for you. Just be sensitive to His Spirit to yield and do what the Spirit of God inspires you to do. He will carry it out as per His perfect timing and in spectacular ways.
Ephesians 2:10 (New Living Translation)
For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Abraham's Example
Hebrews 11:8 (New Life Version)
Because Abraham had faith, he obeyed God when God called him to leave his home. He was to go to another country that God promised to give him. He left his home without knowing where he was going.
What faith Abraham had? If it were to be a believer of our times, he would have asked God a thousand questions and finally concluded that it is not rational to think that God spoke to him. Manytimes God speaks us through His word and the conviction of the Holy Spirit regarding what He wants us to do. It would be distinctively clear. Yet we would not want to believe it so easily. We would want to rationalize it, think it over critically and operate it surgically. We will do all that we can especially when the Spirit of the Lord is directing us to take the first step required for consecration.
Abraham faced a similar situation in his life. He was to leave his home country and go to another place. He did not ask questions to God. He believed in the incredible wisdom of God and acted in obedience. May we learn to trust and obey God like Abraham when He speaks to us through His word and conviction. Believe me obedience has a better reward than rationalization which can only lead to confusion.
Because Abraham had faith, he obeyed God when God called him to leave his home. He was to go to another country that God promised to give him. He left his home without knowing where he was going.
What faith Abraham had? If it were to be a believer of our times, he would have asked God a thousand questions and finally concluded that it is not rational to think that God spoke to him. Manytimes God speaks us through His word and the conviction of the Holy Spirit regarding what He wants us to do. It would be distinctively clear. Yet we would not want to believe it so easily. We would want to rationalize it, think it over critically and operate it surgically. We will do all that we can especially when the Spirit of the Lord is directing us to take the first step required for consecration.
Abraham faced a similar situation in his life. He was to leave his home country and go to another place. He did not ask questions to God. He believed in the incredible wisdom of God and acted in obedience. May we learn to trust and obey God like Abraham when He speaks to us through His word and conviction. Believe me obedience has a better reward than rationalization which can only lead to confusion.
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Battle of the Soul -2
What do we do when heaven looks blank on us and we have a great battle in the soul. It is definitely difficult to sit idle especially when things don't work out the way we expect. Though hope and faith may seem difficult, we can repeat with this word of God in our minds.Instead of fighting our soulish battle with limited strength, it is worth replacing every thought with this word. The word of God says in,
Isaiah 64:4(NLT)
For since the world began,
no ear has heard,
and no eye has seen a God like you,
who works for those who wait for him!
So let us wait believing that God will surely do something more than we can ask or think. May His Spirit give us strength. Amen.
Isaiah 64:4(NLT)
For since the world began,
no ear has heard,
and no eye has seen a God like you,
who works for those who wait for him!
So let us wait believing that God will surely do something more than we can ask or think. May His Spirit give us strength. Amen.
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Battle of the Soul
Faith and patience are two things that are quite challenging in a Christian life. Mind becomes the toughest battle ground when heavens seem to be closed for a soul. While faith commends us to hold on and patience says that its loosing its string, it is a great distress for the soul that has to wait on God alone. It is this time that the mind is facing the battle between the flesh and the spirit. The Spirit of the Lord reminds us of the promise of God while the carnal mind insists that it goes on its way to find its own resources and strength. Indeed this battle is difficult especially when the soul knows very well that nothing spectacular is going to happen immediately and that the Lord will intervene in His own way and time. So the need to wait with patience and in faith is a great call for the soul...
What do we do in such situations. There are many ways to respond to this situation. One way that the Psalmist chose can be found in Psalm 31:7-
I will rejoice and be glad in Your lovingkindness,
Because You have seen my affliction;
You have known the troubles of my soul,
To know that God sees and understands the troubles of the soul brings relief that we are not alone in this soulish battle. Secondly, God not only understands he also empathizes with our mental struggle and instability. He is not indifferent to our emotional struggles. This brings a calm assurance to our hearts. No matter how silent the heavens may seem, there is a reason to it and the Lord will meet us soon with glad tidings.
What do we do in such situations. There are many ways to respond to this situation. One way that the Psalmist chose can be found in Psalm 31:7-
I will rejoice and be glad in Your lovingkindness,
Because You have seen my affliction;
You have known the troubles of my soul,
To know that God sees and understands the troubles of the soul brings relief that we are not alone in this soulish battle. Secondly, God not only understands he also empathizes with our mental struggle and instability. He is not indifferent to our emotional struggles. This brings a calm assurance to our hearts. No matter how silent the heavens may seem, there is a reason to it and the Lord will meet us soon with glad tidings.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)