Learning from good and bad

Our mind is always full of thought process which shape our perceptions and attitude. A large part of this attitude and perception formations is the result of our experiences and learnings in life. Though this is fine to some aspect, we need to allow most of our perceptions and attitude to be shaped from God's Word. This is due to the fact that our life experiences and learnings have both good and bad included in it. We need to have the discernment to select good experiences and learnings to shape our attitude and perceptions. At the same time also learn lessons from our bad experiences. But these lessons should make us only wise and not bitter. We need to take it in the right sense so that they do not become disruptive to us or others.

Apostle Paul also had some bad experiences in his ministry but he did not allow those experiences to make him bitter but make choices that was good for him.

Acts 15:37-39 (New International Version)

37.Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, 38.but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work. 39.They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus.

We cannot blame Apostle Paul for his attitude here. Bad experiences do teach us to become wise and careful in our decision makings.

All I need to know...

When afflictions come upon the people of God they are often plagued with the question 'Why?'. Their reasoning: When I have lived right before God why should this happen to me? Or what have I done to deserve this?

People try to reason out if their affliction is the result of some form of sin or disobedience. Though they know that it is not so, they find it difficult to digest that God had allowed unpleasant things to happen in spite of carefully taken steps and decisions through prayer.

We need to understand that God allowed such things (or even worse) to Job though he was righteous and blameless before God. Even Job was plagued with the question 'Why' but he never got an explanation from God for his sufferings. But after the trial period Job was blessed more than his first part of his life (Job 42:12).

The lesson which we derive from Job: though unpleasant things do happen in our lives, we may not get explanations for those kind of trials. We only need to know that it was allowed for a purpose unrevealed to us...

But all that we need to know is this...

Psalm 20:6 (New American Standard Bible)

Now I know that the LORD saves His anointed;

He will answer him from His holy heaven

With the saving strength of His right hand.

And not an explanation for our afflictions...

Just trust...

One of the hardest thing to understand in our life is to comprehend the ways and timings of God. It is better as God's children that we don't fight mentally to understand the way He works in our lives. Many men and women of God for ages have been troubled to understand God's silence or His non intervention in their lives during times of darkness. Yet this does not mean that God is not faithful or He is not a prayer answering God.

The scripture just tells us this...

Romans 11:33 (New Living Translation)

Oh, how great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways!

We cannot know His ways or His decisions for our life. But we know this that He is good and that He is working something good. God always works in a broader framework which includes a bigger picture. And it is difficult for us to see that from the bird's eye view (view of an eagle from high altitude). It is better just to trust believing that He knows what He is doing rather than worrying "I don't know what He is doing?"

Faith amidst storm

When things go well in our life it is so easy to celebrate our risen Lord. Praising, worshiping or even being joyful will not be difficult. But when dark clouds surround and when there seems to be a storm appearing in our life even we would shout out to the Lord like His disciples.

Mark 4:37-38 (New Living Translation)

37.But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water.

38.Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. The disciples woke him up, shouting, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?”

Sometimes when worry, anxiety or fear overwhelm us, we too might behave like the disciples and ask the Lord a question as they did. But our lord is in control and sometimes we may fail to comprehend its fullness during the times of darkness or storm.

Let us look at the way Jesus responded to His disciples,

Mark 4:39-40 (NLT)

39 When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Silence! Be still!” Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. 40 Then he asked them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

Jesus was disappointed with them, yet He did not stop from helping them of their fear. We at times due to lack of faith (that He is in control) act or make haste decisions in unbelief which at times go wrong or even sinful. We cannot learn to have such kind of faith unless we are in the storm and by grace we learn to grow in having unshakable faith.

Easter!!!

The other day I had an argument with a believer girl about Easter. She asked me "Tell me which day Easter falls?" I said "Obviously Sunday... but for me everyday is Easter as I celebrate the risen Lord". She gave such an exclamation as if I had blasphemed.

According to her observing the Sabbath, Good Friday and Easter (or even Christmas) on that particular day was of prime importance whereas for me celebrating Good Friday or even Easter did not require observation of special days but required a heart to celebrate the risen Lord on a daily basis.

We as God's children know what it means to live a life of our resurrected Lord... That He reigned over Sin and Death on the Cross to give us a powerful life in Him. We as His children celebrate Easter everyday when we live with the deep the realization that "Our redeemer Lives"

Job 19:25 (New International Version)

I know that my Redeemer lives,

and that in the end he will stand upon the earth.

Let us live like Job exclaiming everday the above scripture... "My Redeemer Lives"

Real meaning of Good Friday

Nobody can do what Jesus did for us on the Cross. But He did it (demonstrating His love for us) so that we might live. And we are to live not as somebody trying and struggling to live a Christian life...but by receiving what He has already accomplished for us. This may sound simple for many but people find it difficult to just accept it.

1. The Lord of all glory became poor on the Cross, so that we may become rich...

2 Corinthians 8:9 (New International Version)

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.

2. We need not accept and stay with disease and illness, because by His stripes we are healed...

1 Peter 2:24 (New International Version)

...by his wounds you have been healed.

3. We are freed from the sin and death (eternal)...

Romans 6:23 (New American Standard Bible)

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 6:17-18 (New International Version)

17.But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted. 18You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.

4. Jesus became a curse for us and delivered us from curse...

Galatians 3:13 (New International Version)

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.

The law in the book(Bible) requires that we follow it completely without failing even a single commandment, otherwise we will be cursed. But Jesus became that curse for us, so that the righteous requirements of the law be met. When we truly live in Him and by Him, we will not deliberately sin because our hearts and mind will be changed by grace.

5. We need to live in sorrow without hope

Isaiah 53:4 (New American Standard Bible)

Surely our griefs He Himself bore,

And our sorrows He carried;

He will always deliver us out from all our pain and sorrow...

The Lord has accomplished everything on the Cross so that we can live an abundant life in this earth. All we need to do is accept and live by it. It is not easy because the enemy (Satan) is always waiting for a chance to steal our faith and make us faint. But we need to remember that He is already a defeated foe, for Jesus defeated Him on the Cross. And we need to remember ...

1 John 4:4 (New International Version)

You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.

That is why we celebrate Good Friday and not be found sorrowful, but we have been given a gracious life in the Lord...

Standing at the Cross

Tomorrow being Good Friday, many have different ways to look at it. Some who don't even relate to Him in reality, pity that Jesus suffered and died on the Cross. Some assume that they should be sad because it was the day when Jesus was crucified ( who live a life indifferent to His death and suffering...)

But the truth is we are to stand at the foot of the cross and know deep down within the heart, that His sufferings and His ultimate death was for our sins and on our behalf.

Isaiah 53:5 (New American Standard Bible)

But He was pierced through for our transgressions,

He was crushed for our iniquities;

The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him,

And by His scourging we are healed.

If we are to really feel for what God accomplished for us on the cross, then we are to stand in awe and gratitude of what He did for us. If we are to demonstrate this gratitude and show Him love in return, then it is not by fasting or eating broth that we demonstrate that. But we make a solid determination to live a sinless and blameless life by receiving the grace He would provide. We need to truly repent and turn away from all sins and make a decision to live for Him. That accomplishes the meaning of Good Friday...

May we fall prostrate at His feet and humbly accept all that He accomplished for us on the Cross- forgiveness, healing, well-being, prosperity, deliverance, redemption and eternal life.

Prayer:

Lord, I stand in awe of you at the foot of the Cross. You died that I might live. Now this life which you offer me freely I want to receive. Forgive me of my sins and wash me with your blood. Make me new that I may be new in you and live for you by your grace.

I am gratefully yours forever

Your chosen child