ARISE, SHINE!

In Mt 5:16 Jesus talks about our light - "Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and honor your father in heaven". In Ps 43:3, the Psalmist talks about the Lord's light - "Send forth Your light and Your truth. Let them guide me. Let them bring me to Your holy mountain". In John 8:12 Jesus says, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life."  Jesus is the light of the world and if we truly follow Him, we will also have the same light! What a beautiful thought! Every believer gets this light from the Lord.

The creation story gives us a beautiful picture in Gen 1:14. God created two l...

THE THREE RESPONSES

Three different messages were given on that very first Christmas morn. To the shepherds, the message was “Fear not, a Saviour is born” (Luke 2:10-12). To Herod, the message was, “The King is born” (Matthew 2:1-4). To the wise men the message was, "Seek him". All three recipients 'received ' the message differently.  Herod was the King of Judea at the time of Jesus' birth. When Herod was told that a king was born, he was troubled and threatened. The Shepherds were an obscure set of people about whom nobody cared. When the angels announced of the birth of a 'Saviour' in the city of David, the shepherds were filled with joy and expectation! The wise men from the east must have been lookin...

The Door was Shut!

Advent is when we remember the birth of Jesus as Savior of Mankind and prepare ourselves for His second coming as the Judge!  It is appropriate to celebrate thanksgiving around this time since we are thankful for Jesus' sacrifice assuring us of the forgiveness of sins.  Jesus prepared His disciples then and us now for His second coming.  Jesus explained His second coming through many parables. Every Parable did not cover ALL aspects of His second coming, but every Parable highlighted something. The Parable of the ten virgins stressed being ready, ready for the arrival of Christ as King. (Mt. 25: 1-11).  All the ten virgins were special. All had wedding garments on. All had lighted lamps, and all of them slept wh...

Who Is ‘Called’?

When evangelists and missionaries tell us that they received a call to be ambassadors for Christ, we feel left out.  It sounds like we are not 'called' to do anything for Christ.  It brings to our mind the question, are only certain people 'called' by God to work for Him? Many people assume that evangelistic or missionary work alone is significant before God, while other jobs are worldly. An article in my NKJV Bible says, even though work is an integral part of life, work alone cannot fully describe the significance of an individual.  There are many other aspects to being a person.  So to define oneself by one's occupation is inadequate.  I cannot but agree with that thought. It tends to place more val...

Obedience

In some cultures, including Europe, China, Africa, and North and South America the foot of a rabbit is carried as an amulet and is believed to bring good luck. Some believe hanging a horseshoe facing upwards in a ‘U’ shape will keep evil out and bring good luck.  Conversely, they say hanging it upside down will have luck flowing out!  During my college days, if I did the first examination well, then I will consider that sari a lucky sari and wear the same sari to the next five exams!  Looking back I can see the stupidity of my actions!  To get good marks one does not need a lucky sari but diligent preparation! 

When the people of Israel entered the Promised Land, the Ark of the Covenant which signif...

A Heart open to God!

Every morning we read terrible news in the papers and through the electronic media.  Sometimes it is very difficult even to watch the news.  When we read of children being raped, women murdering their husbands, families committing suicides due to debt, and the gruesome honor killings we think the society has gone down way beyond redemption.  The decline of the moral and ethical fabric of the society we live in is horrific.  What is morally and ethically wrong is celebrated and what is right is mocked.  How should we live in such a society?  Should we shout from the rooftop that what everyone is doing is wrong?

The Bible has recorded two inc...

The walls of Jericho

A friend of ours was struggling with a relationship problem between her son and her husband.  I do not know how it all started but by the time the son came to the college, they were not on speaking terms.  Any communication, if at all, had to be through his mother!  It was a burden for her and so she fervently prayed for restoration. Many discouraged her saying since her son has already entered the college, restoration of that relationship would never happen.  But she did not lose hope and prayed every day for restoration.  When her son was in the second year of his Engineering, her husband met with a small road accident and broke his leg.  After a short period of hospitalization, he had to r...

The Abundant Life!

There are many songs in which ‘crossing river Jordan’ is likened to dying and going to heaven.  A song written by the Booth Brothers says, 

Just beyond the river Jordan

There my Saviour’s face, I’ll see.
Just beyond the river Jordan                                                

A better life is waiting me.

Stepping out in Faith!

Many years back, when our elder son was studying at the University of Kentucky, I visited him during one of my official trips. During that visit, he took me to Cumberland National park in Southern Kentucky to see the beautiful Cumberland falls.  It was the time of the year when the Cumberland river was in spate and was overflowing its banks. The noise of the roaring waters made me so frightened that I still remember the fear I felt.  In India, we are not used to seeing rivers full of water!

When the people of Israel were at the Red Sea, the Lord's instruction was, "Stand still and see the salvation of the LORD…" (Ex 14:13).  But at the river Jordan, i...

Faithful in little things!

The dictionary defines faithfulness as the quality of being loyal.   A faithful person is firm in adherence to promises and steadfast in affection or allegiance.  Faithfulness is not about faith, but it is about integrity.  The Bible says stewards are to be faithful (1 Cor. 4:2). Our role on this planet earth is one of stewardship.  The Bible talks about many blessings for those who are faithful.  Psalm 31:23 says, "…  the LORD preserves the faithful, and fully repays the proud person".   Faithfulness is an important character, and it is part of the fruit of the Spirit. The Bible says, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering,...