Repentance From Death, To God

Reading passage: Acts 20: 17-35

Testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance to God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. Acts 20:21 RSV

The word ‘repentance’ carries more meaning in the Bible than it does in our regular use. In our past life, we turned our backs on God, not our faces. We believed that the world, money, health, relations, friends and family would give us all that we need. We toiled day and night to gain material things and maintain relations! We thought the world was everything, so, we gave our very lives for its passions. However, finally we realized that the direction was wrong. We were sorry for the past, futile, life. Then came the message of the Gospel.

Paul says it is repentance towards God. It is not just asking us to confess our sins, or even lamenting over it. It asks us to repent, leave our old ways, goals and likings and turn towards GOD! It is repentance from dead works (Heb 6:1-RSV) and repentance towards God! Now, our way becomes God, goal becomes God and likings become God! No more we dare look- or even think of the old ways and days, for help, guidance and control. We have a new goal, new help, and a new control station - God!

Why should we repent towards God? Because, it is from there that we fell! When we fell from God, we fell from life. Then on, all our doings were dead works. Jesus came to this world to restore us to the life we had lost, and, that we may have that life abundantly. (John 10:10 RSV)

We repent from our dead works and repent to God for life. We receive life, in the true sense of it, only in the presence of God, for He is the only source of life (John 1: 4).

Therefore, repentance is a restoration to the presence of God! If restoration doesn’t happen, repentance is of no value.

When we repent towards God, we enter in to life. Every life is to be lived, or it would be snuffed out. To live that life, we need faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, says Paul. That’s why he preached both repentance towards God and faith in Jesus Christ! That makes the Gospel whole.

Prayer: Lord, I repent from dead works and repent towards you. You are my only goal, delight and control station, AMEN

Further readings: Acts 2. 36- 41; Col 3. 5-14

Dead To The World; Alive To The Kingdom Of God

Reading passage Luke 9:57-62

Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the Kingdom of God." Luke 9:60 NIV

When Jesus called his disciples, at once they left everything and followed him. But here, some one is asking for time. He said he would follow, but after burying his father. His excuse seems very genuine. However, Jesus was not ready to wait. How sad! Why is our master so stubborn, not even allowing him to bury his dead father?

That is the problem. His father is not dead yet. According to the Jewish tradition, children receive their inheritance only when the father dies. This young man wanted to follow Jesus, but could find no security in following the Jesus folk. They were all poor. He thought of joining only after receiving his inheritance. Life would then be secure. For this, however, he would have to wait until his father’s burial.

Jesus said, leave the dead to bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the Kingdom of God.

The physically dead, of course, cannot bury the dead. Here, Jesus is using the same language the young man used. To him, burial of his father meant money and money meant security. In effect, Jesus was saying: Hey man, you are called to preach because you are alive to the Kingdom of God. Those people, your brothers and relatives, are dead to the Kingdom of God. Let the dead take the inheritance when your father dies. They are alive only to wealth. I need you to be dead to wealth and alive to the Kingdom of God. Go and preach the Kingdom.

Many who want to follow Jesus wait for their father to die. However, Jesus does not compromise with those who want both God and wealth. If you want to follow him, you need to die to the world.

You are either dead to the Kingdom of God and alive to the world, or alive to the world and dead to the Kingdom of God. You cannot be alive to both!

Prayer: Lord, I know following you is the most secure thing in the world. Help me to be dead to the world and alive to the kingdom of God!

Further readings Mt. 19:16-22; Luke 12:32-34

He Is Still Working On You

Reading passage. Phil. 1:3-14

“And I am sure that he who began the good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” Phil 1:5-6 RSV

Sunil was a painter. To make a portrait, he asked a small boy to sit on a chair so that he can make the sketch. After a few hours, the boy looked at the work of art and he could not figure out what the Painter was doing. He could see only some strokes on the Canvas and he was sad. “Hey this is quite absurd!” he said. “Son, please wait. I am still working on you,” said the painter.

We also are like that small boy. When God makes a seemingly unattractive stroke on our life, may be a sickness, a loss or even a massacre, we complain. We do not see any relevance in that. However, God has something beautiful in His plan. Be confident that he who began the good work in you will bring it to completion.

Paul writes this letter from the Roman prison. Is not the imprisonment of God’s faithful missionary a hindrance to the advancement of Gospel? In human terms, yes! However, Paul says it is God’s design. “…what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole praetorian guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ; and most of the brethren have been made confident in the Lord because of my imprisonment, and are much more bold to speak the word of God without fear.” Phil 1:12-14 RSV

We are God’s workmanship (poíeema-G) (Eph 2:10). It is the work of a weaver. He is working on a few bundles of thread. But he has a design in his mind. We are also like that raw thread. He will not let you fail but finish his work in you. Wait patiently to see how He does everything beautiful in His time.

Some thing beautiful; Something good
All your confusion He understands
All you have to offer Him is brokenness and scrap
And He will do something beautiful in you.

Prayer: Lord, Help me to wait patiently to see your work in me. I am confident that you will fulfill what you have begun. AMEN

Further reading: Eph. 2: 8-10; 1. Cor 3. 5-9

There I Will Give You My Love!

Reading passage: Song of Solomon 7: 9- 8:4

There I will give you my love. Song 7:12 RSV

Song of Solomon has been interpreted in many different ways. Of course, it portrays the physical expression of the love of a husband and wife. However, its best expression is found when it is illustrated as the love relation between Christ and His Church.

In this book, we see a shepherd boy who is the lover and a Shulammite, his beloved. In addition, we see a king in the scene, who wants to mug the love of the Shulammite. The king brought her to his chamber and the city girls (daughters of Jerusalem) describe the majesty of the king and his love for her. Even the king describes how he loves her. However, the Shulammite reserves her love just for her beloved.

In Chapter Seven, the Shulammite is a captive in the king’s chamber. Either the city girls, or the king himself describes her beauty (VV 6-9). But many Bible translations make a division for verse 9, including NIV, NKJV and NASB U. Half of it is spoken by the king and the rest by the Shulamite herself.

THE KING SAYS… 9 And the roof of your mouth like the best wine.
THE SHULAMITE SAYS: The wine goes down smoothly for my beloved, Moving gently the lips of sleepers. 10 I am my beloved's, And his desire is toward me. Song 7:9-10 NKJV

The shulamite hears the king’s description, but she said, “the wine goes to my beloved, not to the king. I am my beloved’s, and his desire is for me!”

When the world tries to distort our love, remember, your beloved’s only desire is for you! “Come, my beloved,” says the Shulamite, “Let us go forth to the villages… There I will give you my love.”

She somehow wants to escape the vanity of the city. Her soul longs to be with her beloved in the serenity of the village! “There I will give my love,” she says.

We all should keep this kind of resentment towards the conceit of the modern world. Only in solitude, can we pour out our love to our beloved.

Prayer: Lord, help me to be discontent with the vain splendor of this world. Let me be alone with you, and I want to pour out my love towards you! Amen!

Further readings: Psalms 27: 1-6; Phil 3: 7-11

Exalted By God

Reading passage. Joshua 3: 1-17

And the LORD said to Joshua, "Today I will begin to exalt you in the eyes of all Israel, so they may know that I am with you as I was with Moses. - Josh 3:7 NIV

Moses, who led the people of Israel for forty years in the wilderness, is now dead (Deut 34:5-7). Joshua was commissioned by God and appointed by Moses, to lead the people to the Promised Land (Deut 34:9-12). He was a little fearful as he knew he was nobody compared to Moses. But God encouraged him and said, Joshua, today onwards, I will begin to exalt you, and all Israel will know that I am with you as I was with Moses.

Remember, God exalts Joshua, so that the people may know that he is in partnership with Him. The act of exaltation is not to show how strong you are, but to demonstrate God’s presence in your life!

God fulfilled His promise on the same day. As soon as the feet of the priests touched the water's edge, the upstream stopped flowing. The people crossed over through the dry land! (Joshua 3:9-7) That day the LORD exalted Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and they revered him all the days of his life, just as they had revered Moses. (Josh 4:14)

However, it is possible that when God exalts us, we become proud. We may think that the reverence we get is for our endowment. An imaginary story says that the colt that Jesus rode to Jerusalem was elated and thought it is for its admiration the robes were spread. While it’s way back, it saw the launderer spread robes to be dried. The colt thought it was spread in its honor, and proudly walked over the cloth. There is no need to say how severely it was beaten up! We are exalted because Jesus is riding upon us.

It is God, who is with us, that exalts us. People should see God and not selves, His act of exaltation. You are exalted not because you are great, but because you bear a great God!

Prayer: Lord, Thanks for choosing me to be your partner. Every honor and glory belongs to you, O God, AMEN

Further reading: I Tim 1:15-17; Rev. 5:9-14

See Yourself In The Light Of God

Reading Passage Isa. 6:1-8

So I said: Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, The LORD of hosts. Isa. 6:5 NKJV

In Isaiah’s vision, the seraphim could not stand or even look at the holiness of the Lord of hosts. If such strong beings like the Seraphim could not stand before God’s holiness, how can I, a man of unclean lips? Isaiah was doubted whether he was alive. He was the prophet of the Lord, and always pronounced woe to others. In his eyes, he was a better person than the people around. But, he was always seeing himself in the light of others. Now, for the first time he is seeing himself in the light of God and he was discontent. We will know who we are only when we see ourselves in the light of God. When Peter saw himself in the light of the Lord, he cried: Depart from me, for I am a sinner, Lord! Luke 5:8

Even though Isaiah was a prophet of the Lord, he was ready to admit his sins. He confessed his sins. Woe to me! I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, he cried. (Isa. 6:5. NIV). His confession turned everything upside down. One of the mighty angels flew over to the altar and with a pair of tongs picked up a burning coal. He touched his lips with it and said, Now you are pronounced ‘not guilty’ because this coal has touched your lips. Your sins are all forgiven. (Isa 6:6-7 TLB)

If Isaiah were reluctant to confess his sins, he would never have been forgiven. But he could not afford not to do it. Many of us are content with ourselves. We fail to see God, or see ourselves in the light God. We never see our guilt. We are reluctant to confess our sins.

Therefore, we live an unforgiven life.

Prayer: Lord, let me see myself in your light. I confess my sins. Touch my mouth, eyes, hands and my soul with the Fire from the altar. Let my guilt be burned in that fire-Amen

For Further readings: Lev. 20:26; Luke 5:6-10

Set Your Minds.

Reading Passage: Col.: 3.1-17

Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth - Col 3:2-3 RSV

A watch repairer noticed that a man came every morning and set his watch according to the master clock in the shop.

When asked, the man explained: I am the one who blows the siren in the town and I set my watch according to your master clock and I blow the siren according to my watch!”

The watch repairer started laughing loudly. Hey, I set my clock hearing your siren, man! said he.

We cannot set our watch according to just any clock. We need to set it to a standard time. Likewise, we cannot give our mind to be set to any trivial pursuit. We belong not to this world, but to Christ (Col. 3. 1). We need to set it according to the heavenly standard. We do not live according to the worldly standard. Men of this world will say, that is normal, everybody does it. May be everybody is doing it, and they find nothing wrong with that. However, we can do only the things that Jesus would do. So, at every juncture, ask: “What Would Jesus Do” (WWJD)?

Paul here exhorts us not only to be cautious about deeds, but also not to put our mind on things that is not at par with Jesus! When a worldly thought comes to us, our mind should not respond to it. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God Col 3:3. A dead man does not respond! When you are offered deceptive gain, unshared comfort, undue respect, your mind does not rise up to receive it! You abstain from those things, not just because they are forbidden. You resent it. That is a natural indignation, since your mind is not on that. However, when you see the things that make heaven happy and delight Jesus, you are overwhelmed with joy, for your mind is set on heavenly things!

Prayer: Lord, I do not look for the gains of this material world. I know, I am called to live with a heavenly standard in this world. I set my mind on heavenly things - on You. AMEN.

Further readings: Hebrews. 3:1; 11:13-16; 12:1-3

Share Life, Not Just Words

Reading Passage - I Thess. 2:1-12

So, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God, but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us. I Thessalonians 2:8 NKJV

Paul had to suffer severely in Thessalonica. But that was insignificant compared to his sufferings in Philippi (1 Thess. 2:2 cf. Acts 16:16-24). Paul could spend only three weeks in Thessalonica but won many Jews and devout Greeks for the Lord (Acts 17.1-5) However, the new believers were ready to risk much for Paul in Thessalonica. Jason, who opened his home for the missionaries, was dragged and put under custody, because he helped them (Acts 17. 5- 10).

What was Paul’s attitude when he was in Thessalonica? Our reading passage says many things. They- Paul and Silas- were God pleasers, hard working, with the gentleness of a nursing mother and the affection of a father! However, he says, he was there not just to preach the Gospel, win souls and retreat! Of course, he wanted to see souls redeemed. But he did it because he loved them. In fact, he said, he was reluctant to leave Thessalonica because of the persecution. He was saddened to see the authorities persecute Jason, who gave him a home to stay. He says, he would have given his life for him.

These days, we hear many success stories from various mission fields. Millions heard the gospel, thousands accepted Jesus, hundreds were baptized and so forth. Good, but come to think of it, why do we share the Gospel?

Paul loved those to whom he preached the gospel, more than his very life. Do we have that kind of love for people we minister to? What motivates us to preach the Gospel? Is it the burden of the great commandment, or the urge of pure love that we have towards people? One thing is for sure, we fail many times because we do not love people more than our lives. Remember, if you do not love a person, you have no right to share the gospel with him.

Prayer: Lord, many times love for people is not the motivating factor in my sharing the gospel. Help me to understand that I become your disciple, only when I love. AMEN
Further readings: Acts 16. 16-22 ; Acts 17. 1- 10

Sit Down First And Count The Cost

Reading passage: Luke 14:25-35

“Suppose one of you want to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it?” Luke 14:28-29 NIV

Ramu was born poor. He had a small job in a grocery shop. All his life, he dreamt of making a house of his own. He bought a piece of land with all his savings. With the money borrowed from many sources, he laid a foundation for a three-bedroom house. However, when the foundation work was over, he did not have money to carry on the work. He fell into utter poverty as he lost his job in the meantime. His wife and children were starving. As he failed to pay rent for many months, he had to leave the house he was staying in! Finally, he had to move to a tent near the “foundation” he laid for his dream house; and that too with the help of some good people. Those who were passing by looked at the tent and whispered; “How sad, this man did not sit down and count the cost before he laid the foundation!”

Becoming a disciple of Jesus is like building a tower, or a house. You need to lose bricks, cement, wood and sweat to make a house. Likewise, you need to lose many of your comforts, possessions and positions to make your eternal home a reality.

Jesus said, “If you would follow me, sit down and consider the cost you have to pay. Your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters may leave you because of your faith in me. I want to see that you are putting me first, not your parents or spouse or siblings! (vv 25&26). Likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be my disciple (v.33).”

You need to bear these costs if you want to be a disciple of Jesus. Nothing can be built without losing something. However, it is worth it! What is lost is nothing when we compare it with what we stand to gain.

Prayer: Lord, I decide to take up my cross, deny myself and follow you. You are my Lord. You are my everything. Help me to understand that the things I lose here is an eternal investment… AMEN

For further reading Mt. 10:32-39; Luke 19:1-10.

Making The Most Of Our Time.

Reading passage: Col. 4:2-6

Conduct yourselves wisely toward outsiders, making the most of the time - Col.4:5 RSV

What is the most precious gift of God, other than Jesus, of course? It is time! Money, if lost today, could be re-gained tomorrow. Anything material can be regained, except time. You are given only a fixed amount of time, equal to your life span. So, spending time means spending life. You cannot afford to lose it through laziness or mismanagement. We must make the most of our time!

Paul asks us to continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving (v.2). While in this world, we get the most from time spent in the presence of the Lord! When time is spent on silly talk, slander, watching vain things on the TV or surfing useless sites on the internet, we lose time that could have been spent with the Lord. We lose it for ever!

Another way to make use of time is to spend it for the lonely and the neglected. Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble. James 1.27. What they need most is not our money, but our time. Visiting orphans and widows in their affliction needs time, but God honors it. He who is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will repay him for his deed. Proverbs 19: 17.

So, making the most of your time means spending it in the presence of God and also giving it away to the needy and the poor. The remaining time, if any at all, - should be spent wisely. The Wise will speak only gracious words that are seasoned with salt (v.6). When we use harsh words, people are offended. Then again, we need to find time to mend our relations. So, if we are not wise, we are not only losing the time spent for quarrel, but also the time spent on reconciliation!

Prayer: Jesus, help me to make the best use of my time by spending it with you and also with the afflicted. AMEN
Further readings: John 9:4-5; I Cor. 7:24-34

A Cloud Of Witnesses

Reading passage: Hebrew 11:1-12:1

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. Heb 12:1 NIV

Imagine you are assigned to run a lengthy race with lots of hurdles in between. Looking at the target that seems so unattainable, you fear you would never make it. Here comes somebody who encourages you. He reminds you that you are not a pioneer. Many have already finished the race faithfully. He urges you to look at the gallery where those pioneers are seated and watching you run. The author of Hebrews is that kind of an encourager.

In the previous chapter, he was describing the lives of those saints. He starts with Abel, goes through Noah, Abraham and David and does not finish the list because they are numerous. And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets. Heb 11:32. NIV. Enduring sufferings, despising and shame, they all stood for God. They ran a good race and fought a good fight. Their stories are written in the Bible for our encouragement. The author not only tells their stories, but also tells us that they are watching our race with much eagerness to see our victory. They are on the gallery. When we are weary, they rise up and encourage us with their testimony. When we think we are alone and there is nobody on God’s side, Elijah would stand up and tell us his story of being taught by God about God’s remnant. When we think the problems are like mountains before us, Joshua would rise up and describe the fall of the Jericho fort. Nehemiah would say about the building of the wall while Daniel would describe his night at the lion’s den.

Prayer: Lord I thank you for the cloud of witnesses, of the Bible times and also of this age, who encourages me in running the race. I understand, the target is not unattainable, even though it is not easy. Help me to run my race faithfully. AMEN

For further reading: Rom.4:18-25; 2Cor. 5:6-10.

Repentance From Death, To God

Reading passage: Acts 20: 17-35

Testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance to God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. Acts 20:21 RSV

The word ‘repentance’ carries more meaning in the Bible than it does in our regular use. In our past life, we turned our backs on God, not our faces. We believed that the world, money, health, relations, friends and family would give us all that we need. We toiled day and night to gain material things and maintain relations! We thought the world was everything, so, we gave our very lives for its passions. However, finally we realized that the direction was wrong. We were sorry for the past, futile, life. Then came the message of the Gospel.

Paul says it is repentance towards God. It is not just asking us to confess our sins, or even lamenting over it. It asks us to repent, leave our old ways, goals and likings and turn towards GOD! It is repentance from dead works (Heb 6:1-RSV) and repentance towards God! Now, our way becomes God, goal becomes God and likings become God! No more we dare look- or even think of the old ways and days, for help, guidance and control. We have a new goal, new help, and a new control station - God!

Why should we repent towards God? Because, it is from there that we fell! When we fell from God, we fell from life. Then on, all our doings were dead works. Jesus came to this world to restore us to the life we had lost, and, that we may have that life abundantly. (John 10:10 RSV)

We repent from our dead works and repent to God for life. We receive life, in the true sense of it, only in the presence of God, for He is the only source of life (John 1: 4).

Therefore, repentance is a restoration to the presence of God! If restoration doesn’t happen, repentance is of no value.

When we repent towards God, we enter in to life. Every life is to be lived, or it would be snuffed out. To live that life, we need faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, says Paul. That’s why he preached both repentance towards God and faith in Jesus Christ! That makes the Gospel whole.

Prayer: Lord, I repent from dead works and repent towards you. You are my only goal, delight and control station, AMEN

Further readings: Acts 2. 36- 41; Col 3. 5-14

Share Life, Not Just Word

Reading Passage - I Thess. 2:1-12

So, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God, but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us. I Thessalonians 2:8 NKJV

Paul had to suffer severely in Thessalonica. But that was insignificant compared to his sufferings in Philippi (1 Thess. 2:2 cf. Acts 16:16-24). Paul could spend only three weeks in Thessalonica but won many Jews and devout Greeks for the Lord (Acts 17.1-5) However, the new believers were ready to risk much for Paul in Thessalonica. Jason, who opened his home for the missionaries, was dragged and put under custody, because he helped them (Acts 17. 5- 10).

What was Paul’s attitude when he was in Thessalonica? Our reading passage says many things. They- Paul and Silas- were God pleasers, hard working, with the gentleness of a nursing mother and the affection of a father! However, he says, he was there not just to preach the Gospel, win souls and retreat! Of course, he wanted to see souls redeemed. But he did it because he loved them. In fact, he said, he was reluctant to leave Thessalonica because of the persecution. He was saddened to see the authorities persecute Jason, who gave him a home to stay. He says, he would have given his life for him.

These days, we hear many success stories from various mission fields. Millions heard the gospel, thousands accepted Jesus, hundreds were baptized and so forth. Good, but come to think of it, why do we share the Gospel?

Paul loved those to whom he preached the gospel, more than his very life. Do we have that kind of love for people we minister to? What motivates us to preach the Gospel? Is it the burden of the great commandment, or the urge of pure love that we have towards people? One thing is for sure, we fail many times because we do not love people more than our lives. Remember, if you do not love a person, you have no right to share the gospel with him.

Prayer: Lord, many times love for people is not the motivating factor in my sharing the gospel. Help me to understand that I become your disciple, only when I love. AMEN

Further readings: Acts 16. 16-22 ; Acts 17. 1- 10