Outstanding in the house of God or out standing from the house of God…?

Let’s read Luke 15:25-32 (NIV) & Psalm 27:4 (NIV) in tandem

“Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’  “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’“‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”

“One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple”

When the younger son came to his senses and decided to return to the father, he did not expect the father to accept him back as his beloved son. He wanted to work for his father and remain as a servant. But, because the father loved his son unconditionally, he accepted him back as a “son” and not just as a “servant”. The father did not hesitate to give his son the “best”, even after his terrible past of arrogance and extravagant spending.  The father called for a huge celebration and wanted his repentant-son to look and be “outstanding” from all the rest within the household, because this son who was once dead is now alive, who was once lost is now found. The younger son humbly melted into his father’s priceless embrace and accepted the free gift of re-birth and the spirit of sonship.

On the other hand – the elder brother never understood his father’s love, though he was with him all this while. The father had his “best” instore for both his sons. But, the elder brother was not humble enough to align with his father’s line of thinking. So he (the elder brother) became angry and refused to go in….! What an irony that the elder brother was even ready to forego the fellowship with his father so easily succumbing to pride and selfishness.

Who do you identify yourself with today?

Are you like the younger son who had lost all hope? – come to your senses, choose the way of humility and true-repentance and be sure to be accepted by your loving Heavenly Father through Christ. Seek to dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of your life…!

Are you like the elder son who failed to be in unison with his father’s mind & heart? – humble yourself and cry out for wisdom & understanding (Proverbs 2:3-5) and in your relationship with your fellow brother/sister have the same mindset as Christ Jesus (Philippians 2:5-11).

A YEARNING for LEARNING…!

Let’s read Luke 2:41-52

Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom. After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. Thinking he was in their company, they travelled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends.  When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.” “Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” But they did not understand what he was saying to them. Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.

How many of us really like to learn?

Learning involves humility and commitment. Humility to accept the fact that the teacher is placed higher than us in terms of knowledge. Commitment to spend our time and reasoning in understanding that which is being taught or imparted.

Jesus, the Son of God was an obedient student first and then a teacher. Firstly, a student of His heavenly Father, then of the teachers and His elders.

Child Jesus had the option of spending some playful time with His friends and relatives but He chose to spend time at the temple courts listening and asking questions. He amazed the teachers with His understanding and His answers.

It was a delight for Jesus to be in His Father’s house. The Psalmist expressed this yearning of a child of God without any exaggeration “Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere” (Psalm 84:10a). There is joy in the Father’s house. There is peace in the Father’s house. There is learning and wisdom in the Father’s house…!

Jesus did not let His wisdom and understanding puff Him up with pride. He joyfully chose to be humble and obedient. He cheerfully chose not to settle down with what He already had but to grow in wisdom.

He grew in favour with God & man because of His humility and His readiness to listen, learn & obey.

Are you passionate about spending time in your Heavenly Father’s house just as Jesus was? Do you yearn to learn from the power-house of wisdom (the Word of God / Bible)?

“I WISH YOU WERE HERE…NOT OUT THERE…!”

Let’s read Genesis 2:7, 8; Genesis 3: 22-24; Luke 15: 17-24 & Romans 8:14-17 in tandem

“...the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. Now the Lord God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed”

……man sinned (Genesis 3)

“...the Lord God said, “The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever.” So the Lord God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken.  After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life”

“When he (younger son) came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’  “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.

“For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.  The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory”

God’s original plan for man was to keep him in the custom-made garden which He himself had planted. A garden full of good, pleasant and satisfying things. And most of all, a garden where God himself was ever-present to have fellowship with man.  The same God had to eventually banish man out of the garden as a direct result of his disobedience & Sin.

The way to the tree of life was blocked by a flaming sword flashing back and forth. Man’s “knowledge of good and evil” is nothing but knowing what is right and what is wrong through self understanding / self-righteousness. Man cannot reach to the tree of life (eternal life through God’s sonship) unless and until he chooses to die to his self-will, self-understanding and self-righteousness by letting the flaming sword (Word of God and the Spirit of God) pierce through him/her.

Our heavenly father awaits our homecoming, just as an earthly father would wait for his son/daughter to return. He wishes you to be with him at home (fellowship the Him) and not away from Him (fellowship with the world).

Man’s knowledge of good and evil does not allow him to logically understand the concept of dying to self-will and living to God’s will. But, those who are led by the Spirit (and not just by the intellect) are the children of God…!

Jesus Christ is the only Way, through which you and I can reach the tree of life. Jesus Christ is the only Truth, by which you and I are set free from all bondages (including the bondage of the “knowledge of good and evil”). Jesus Christ is the only Life, which is real and eternal. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 

What is your current Spiritual address? At home with your Heavenly Father - living in righteousness, peace and Joy or Out there serving the deceiver (Satan) – dying in sin, shame and hopelessness….??

We work blunders while He works wonders…!

Let’s read Exodus 3:11, 12 & 16, 17(NIV); Matthew 11:28-30(MSG); Philippians 1:21(NIV) & Romans 6:23 (NIV)

“…Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” 

And God said, “I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain.”……“Go, assemble the elders of Israel and say to them, ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob—appeared to me and said: I have watched over you and have seen what has been done to you in Egypt. And I have promised to bring you up out of your misery in Egypt into the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites—a land flowing with milk and honey.’

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

“….to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain”

“….the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord”

Did you ever wonder what our primary calling is as Christians? Simply to REST. Yes, sounds controversial, but true. Some ideas if left unexplained or even explained in part result in being blasphemous, hence let me explain. The original Hebrew word for “rest” used above (Matthew 11:28-30) is “NUACH”, which means “to guide or lead another into a place or state of rest”. This does not mean a place or state of being lazy or sluggish and “do nothing” but a place or state of total reliance on His all-sufficient grace.

Moses thought for a moment that God was asking him to do the mammoth task of bringing the Israelites out of Egypt all by his own human strength and might. But God clarified Moses’ misunderstanding instantly by saying “I will be with you (Moses)….. I have watched over you (Israel) and have seen what has been done to you in Egypt. 

And I have promised to bring you up out of your misery in Egypt”. Moses eventually testified of God’s faithfulness thus – “…The Lord your God, who is going before you, will fight for you, as he did for you in Egypt, before your very eyes, and in the wilderness. There you saw how the Lord your God carried you, as a father carries his son, all the way you went until you reached this place.” (Deuteronomy 1:30 & 31). God asked Moses to partner with Him but as it is the case ALWAYS – God did it all by Himself but used Moses to exercise His grace, to perform unbelievable miracles and to glorify His name.

The opposite of “rest” is to “work”. And the opposite of “gift” or “inheritance” is “wages”. One does close-to-nothing when it comes to accepting a gift or inheritance. But one needs to work in order to receive wages.

If you feel like you are working unbearably hard (burdened with a heavy yoke) in your walk with God then you are most likely all by yourself trying to bear the yoke all alone on the wrong way, the way of Sin(not following His commands correctly) which leads to death.

Which is easy? To accept His “gifts”, “inheritance” and “total-support” freely and “rest”? Or to work on our own for a pay-cheque of death??

Let us take the example of Moses or even better the example of Jesus in letting God our Heavenly Father take full control of our lives and “rest” in His blessed assurance and unfailing hope for Him to live in and through us for His eternal glory…!

HE provides, HE clothes & HE shelters – through CHRIST…!

Let’s read Deuteronomy 31:6(NLT), Psalm 91:2-4(NLT) & Isaiah 61:10a (NIV) in tandem

“…be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.”

 “This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust Him. For he will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease. He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armour and protection”

“I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness…….”

Strength and Courage are attributes of the brave. Fear and Panic are symptoms of the cowardly. If left alone in unpredictable circumstances, even lion cubs fear and panic. Who goes ahead of us determines our level of strength, confidence & courage. On whom we rely for safety & security determines our sustenance & hope.

A child’s hope of tomorrow’s provision and protection remains in the trust he has on his parents. A responsible father/mother takes whatever measures he/she can to protect their children and provide for their needs. Similarly, our Heavenly Father protects and provides for us, who are His children.

There are 3 basic requirements which everyone in any part of this world would need – food, clothing & shelter. Similarly and much more importantly even in the spiritual realm there are 3 basic requirements – Life giving Word (food), God’s spot-less righteousness (clothing), Spiritual refuge/fortress (shelter). Our Heavenly Father has provided us with these and much more through His son Jesus Christ.

1.      Jesus Christ is the Word who became flesh and made his dwelling among us – John 1:14

2.      Jesus Christ is the Righteousness of God given to us(all who believe) through faith - Romans 3:22

3.      Jesus Christ is our Lord, whose name is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe - Proverbs 18:10

Are you receiving His daily bread (nourishment through the Word)?

Are you clothed in His ever-glowing robe of righteousness?

Are you eternally secure under the shelter of His wings, standing firm on His rock-solid promises and dwelling safe in the unshakeable name of Christ?

HOPE in Christ’s glory – a shock absorber…!

Let’s read 1 Peter 4:12-19 (NIV)

Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler.  However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. For it is time for judgment to begin with God’s household; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God?  And, “If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?” So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.

Throughout the Bible there is no mention of God ever being in a state of “shock” or “surprise”. Why? Because He is omniscient (read Job 37:16). Similarly, Jesus Christ the Son of God was never “startled” or “shocked”. He knew the end from the beginning; hence He endured patiently & submissively.

In the above scripture portion the Apostle Peter is encouraging us to imitate God especially in our reaction to circumstances of “unexpected” suffering. As sons & daughters of God in & through Christ, testing and suffering should never be strange to us. On the contrary, we are to rejoice in the righteous suffering with the hope of Christ’s future glory.

In saying this, Peter mentioned two distinctive types of suffering – a sinner’s suffering & a Christian’s suffering. Knowingly or unknowingly a sinner suffers constantly with perils of the soul such as unclear conscience, unforgiveness, guilt, fear of punishment etc. Whereas, a Christian suffers (unlawfully) as a result of or in the process of bearing the fruit of the Spirit - love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (read Galatians 5:22-23).

Everyone knows what suffering is (to one degree or another). Let us ask ourselves these 2 questions:

1.      What kind of a suffering/testing/fiery ordeal am I going through?  A sinner’s suffering or a Christian’s suffering?

2.      What is my reaction to my suffering/testing/fiery ordeal? JOY through the Hope of Christ? Or SORROW/SHOCK & SURPRISE, because of hopelessness, guilt & fear?

Rest in the eternal Love of God and know that in all things He works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28)

I ONCE WAS BLIND, BUT NOW I SEE…!

Let’s read Luke 18:35-43(NKJV), Hebrews 11:6(NKJV), Proverbs 8:17 & Matthew 5:8 in tandem

Then it happened, as He was coming near Jericho, that a certain blind man sat by the road begging. And hearing a multitude passing by, he asked what it meant. So they told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. And he cried out, saying, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Then those who went before warned him that he should be quiet; but he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 

So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be brought to Him. And when he had come near, He asked him,  saying, “What do you want Me to do for you?”He said, “Lord, that I may receive my sight.” Then Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he received his sight, and followed Him, glorifying God. And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.

“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him”

“I love those who love me, 

and those who seek me find me”

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for

they will see God”

There are three noticeable things about the blind man from the first scripture portion above (Luke 18:35-43). He was blind; He was on the roadside; He was begging. He was on the roadside (unable to follow Jesus) because of his blindness. He was begging (unable to earn his living) also because of his blindness.

Just as physical blindness in this physical world can make you confined and dependent, spiritual blindness can also cause similar consequences. Firstly, a spiritually blind person can never follow Jesus – he/she is always on the “roadside”, carried away by the worries of this world (read Matthew 6:31-34).  Secondly, he/she is dependent on others (not on God) for his existence. In other words, he/she is totally dependent on man’s limited mercy and not on God’s unlimited & ever new mercy.

How would you know if you are spiritually blind?? If you say “Yes” to any of the questions below, it is highly likely that you are spiritually blind..!

1.      Do you feel like you are confined (imprisoned) to any of the man-made limitations? (Examples: ritualistic/religious practices, denominational exclusivity, family traditions, regional/caste-based exclusivity). With all their attractive and convincing gimmicks, these roadside street-hawkers stray you away from following Jesus.

2.      Do you feel like you are dependent (partly or solely) on men for your spiritual nourishment and survival? Depending on bible-teachers, pastors & preachers without reading the Word of God yourself and without letting the Holy Spirit God speak to you personally can at the most make you know “about God” and not “know God” as a real & loving Father.

How to overcome spiritual blindness??

Once you identify the area/areas in which you are spiritually blind, simply do what the blind beggar did –

a.       Cry out loud (pray with a pure heart) for God’s mercy & grace.

b.      Receive your spiritual sight (wisdom & understanding) through faith.

c.       Leave the “roadside” to follow Jesus with wide opened eyes & outstretched arms glorifying God.

d.      Diligently seek Him and be His witness among others.