UNEQUALLY YOKED

II Corinthians 6: 14-16, exhorts the believers in Christ, that is the New Testament church, to stay away from 'any unholy alliance.' Whatever St.Paul told the church at Corinth, applies very well to Christians down the centuries. The passage warns the readers, of letting anything or anyone unacceptable to Christ, being let into the lives of believers and to take control, be it personal or public lives. The Christian believer, is the abode of God's Holy Spirit now, and we are expected to keep holiness our prime concern, so that we do not get defiled in spirit, soul and body.

 As I was studying Isaiah chapter 8: 1-20, I was led by  the Holy Spirit, to learn some truths which clarify our minds about the Biblical passage cited in II Corinthians. In this blog post I am sharing these. The truth revealed is much applicable to us, at this point in time also. In fact things are not very different from the historical times that are referred to in this Bible passage found in the book of Isaiah.

'EVEN IF NOT FAITH' and 'IF THEN FAITH'

While I was getting ready to share God's word among my college students, for an early morning brief devotions, the Lord taught me certain lessons, which I share in this blog. Starters in the Christian faith may find it worth reading.

In the Old Testament, we meet some people, who made strong 'faith declarations', in varying situations in their life's journey. I find two such illustrations, fitting to simply clarify our ideas and beliefs about 'faith in God.'

1.  'IF THEN' faith

One of the patriarchs of the Israelites, Jacob son of Isaac, is a case in point. He was running away from his brother Esau, whom he deceived on more than one occasion.[ I am not bringing this character for our study here.] All I want to focus, is the dream Jacob had at Bethel. We have been singing at Sunday schools over the years, about Jacob's ladder. Genesis chapter 28 narrates this incident. After he woke up in the morning,Jacob realised that the presence of his father's God was even there in the wilderness, protecting him. Only thing was that he was unaware of it .

Gen 28:20 tells the readers, that Jacob made a vow to the LORD saying, " IF God will be with me and watch over me....... THEN the LORD will be my God......"  

This is what I learnt, the 'conditional faith' which is spiritually immature, has strings attached and focuses on the gifts rather than the Giver. This kind of faith rests on the particular circumstances of life. It hopes for an immediate deliverance of God.  During the Old Testament days,  under the given set of circumstances in which Jacob lived, it might be justifiable.

[We are not bringing the Abrahamic faith, a more mature faith, as a comparison in this blog.]  

BUT, how many times, we who live under the grace of our Saviour Jesus Christ, having freely received the gift of FAITH in and through Him, still comfortably operate at this level, as 'spiritual babies'? We cannot reason it out. Our level of faith needs to mature more towards the 'even if not' faith. Those of us who are serious in walking close to Christ, have committed our lives to Him, have to aspire in growing in our faith, in Jesus, the only Son of God, who is the image of the Only God, His Father. The Holy Spirit of God is ready to teach us relevant truth. He is our resident teacher, to lead us into the full knowledge of  Jesus Christ. Amen!!

Oh, Worship the King!

Oh, worship the King, all glorious above!
Oh, gratefully sing His power and His love;
Our Shield and Defender, the Ancient of Days,
Pavilioned in splendour and girded with praise.  (Sir Robert Grant)

I have been learning quite a few things about 'worship' in the past few days, thanks to my daily devotional guide. Let me share what the Holy Spirit has been teaching me in this regard. Basically from childhood, I was raised in a staunch evangelical Christian background, with a passion for Jesus Christ. Church going, Sunday school, salvation experience, witnessing etc., were much part of the Christian disciplines, my parents and my church have nurtured me in. In recent years as a family we were 'led' by the Holy Spirit, through some changing circumstances,to enjoy the sweet communion of the Triune God, in deeper ways.

Added to our Bible teachers and pastors , one strong influence had been the morning devotional guide, we were using for over twenty years. ( Every Day with Jesus, CWR, UK). It was introduced by a close family member to us. Tremendous is the amount of sound biblical truths, we learn from it. From my personal reflections based on these truths regarding 'worship', comes this blog. It may be enjoyable to people like me, who have grown as children and youngsters, to adhere to rigid 'order of services.' in church worship . Worshiping in private and in church services have become dearer to my heart  and richer only in the past few years. Hence I am sharing!!

ABIDING IN

Sometime back I was preparing for a message on John Chapter 15, and the Lord taught me certain things from the first half of that chapter. Let me share these glimpses I received, in my blog of today.

Lord Jesus was telling the disciples about who He was, in a way they would understand.He had told them the 'Great I AM' sayings. I have learnt that of the SEVEN such sayings given in John's gospel, the last one is found in 15:1; I AM the true vine. I believe that all the sayings bring forth the fact that Lord Jesus revealed that He was the LORD GOD appeared in human form.Therefore in each of them a 'covenant relationship' is brought forth which spreads from time to eternity. He would do certain thing and in turn His children are prompted by His love, to respond in a particular fashion. I was attracted by this fact.

v.4,5 ... abide in me, and I in you. (The vine and the branches)

What happens? Since we abide / remain in the 'person' of Jesus, we bring forth 'much fruit'. There is abundant harvest when we remain steadfastly in Him. For every obedience, Jesus returns to us 'a full and overflowing measure.'He never sends His disciples, friends as He terms, empty handed. Our love for Jesus enables us to respond and He comes to us in ways we cannot comprehend. We give 'much fruit', tells me that we bloom to the fullest measure of our destiny in Jesus. In short, the reason why we live is justified.

v.7... abide in me, and my words in you.

The promise : Ask what you will,and it shall be done to you. Since we remain in Jesus, He remains in us, as 'The Word' and it is able to create answers for our prayers as it was 'in the beginning'/creation. Our emptiness is filled by His bounty.When we abide in Him, we ask according to His will and purpose and He guarantees 'answered prayers'.

v.8 ... In all the above, Father God is glorified. This confirms that we are the 'disciples of Jesus'. We seek the Father's glory, as Jesus did.

v.9,10 ... Remain in my love, Jesus said. Jesus loved us, as the Father loved him.

How do we reflect? We keep Jesus' commandments to us. It is not, (to me) that I am saved by grace to live as I please; but to obey my Savior in all I think, say and do.Jesus loved me while I was unworthy of His love. He bestowed His grace on me; I am constrained to obey His rules, by his love that enables me to love Him, as much as I could. 

        v.11 ... His joy remains in me, and my joy is full. That is why Jesus is asking me to remain in Him, His words and His love.

How wonderful is Jesus? 'What a wonderful Savior is He?' What else do I need?

My heart sings along with the writer of this hymn which I learnt , as a teen aged student in Lady Doak College, Madurai during the years 1966-1969 :

 'I've found a friend, O such a friend,He loved me ere I knew Him.
  He drew me with the cords of love, and thus He bound me to Him.
  And in my heart still closely twine, those ties which naught can sever,
  For I am His and He is mine forever and forever.'   

Hallelujah!! Amen!!

Mary and Martha

 In my morning devotions the Lord brought some things afresh to me. Let me share it with friends: 

Rev. Ch.2:1-7 has a corollary with the Bethany family, friends of Jesus. The church at Ephesus was DOING a lot for Christ. He still says it lacks the LOVE demonstrated at the start of their Christian walk. Martha was all DOING/ SERVING and Mary her sister was all DEVOTION. The risen Lord demands from His church a delicate balance of 'Martha' and 'Mary'. 

The energy we spend in working for the advancement of God's kingdom must be replenished equally by the time we spend in devotion at the feet of Christ every day, failing which we get burnt out!! 

We need to be both 'Martha' and 'Mary' like two sides of a coin. 

Without one side the coin  will still be not 'TRANSACTION worthy'. 

AMEN.

What do you have?

·        

God asked Moses, 'What's in your hand?'..... Moses replied 'a rod'.... God used it to part the red sea.

Jesus asked the disciples,'How many loaves of bread do you have? They replied 'five loaves'..... Jesus used it to feed over 5000 people. 

·         Peter's empty boat was given for the Master's use and it was returned to him, as two boatloads of fish. How?
Peter LISTENED to Lord Jesus' voice and OBEYED in spite of his experience in fishing business, that told him it will not work!!

What do you and I have, for the extension of the kingdom of God? Let us bring it to Him and He gives it back to us to bless that in need, physically, financially, materially, emotionally and SPIRITUALLY. Be it so....

Jesus is unchanging for all times. He can do the same thing to all of us.
What should we do? LUKE 5:4, 5

'Launch out' ….. Get out of the daily din and noise

'into the deep'…. Live in a deeper relationship with Christ

'and cast down the net'…. Give up the past disappointments/ failures which we are holding on to            

AS WE  LISTEN TO THE MASTER'S VOICE AND OBEY in spite of the discouraging circumstances,  TWO BOATS ARE ON THE WAY, FILLED WITH A BIG CATCH OF GOD'S PROVISIONS, JUST   FOR US!!!

The Sower

·      

  As I was meditating on the parable of 'The Sower' told by Lord Jesus I learnt something new. May be it will be of interest ... to some friends!!

Seeds fell in various locations. This showed me variety of hearers' responses:

 Seeds which fell on the....

                    Wayside  ...        Indifferent

                    Stony ground.... Impulsive. 

(                  Thorny place...  Indecisive 

(                 GOOD soil....   Internalized responses that yield harvest.

 I love to internalize the WORD of GOD every time it addresses me!!!

Psalms and Psalms

    

 Let me share some interesting aspects of Psalm 1 which I have come to learn: It is the ' preface psalm' to the Book of Psalms, the Prayer book in the Bible. It forms the BASIC TEXT for the whole of Psalms, a 'divine sermon.' Starts with "Blessed", just like our Lord's Sermon on the Mount starting with "Blessed". I have coined three commands from this psalm.... WALK NOT ... STAND NOT.... SIT NOT...

What else to do? 'Meditate on God's word habitually'. Let our roots go deeper (unseen) enabling us  to  live  fruitful lives. (Seen by others of course)... LIKE IT?

No one strays away from Christ just like that. I understood it happens in stages. I was preparing for a study on Psalm 19 sometime back. My eyes were opened to this fact! 

    v.12, 13.. 'Slipping down into the mire stage by stage'. I wish to term it.

•   .  ERRORS..
•   . HIDDEN FAULTS.
•   . WILLFUL SINS...
•     GREAT TRANSGRESSIONS.

King  David speaks from his experience. May the Holy Spirit of God/Jesus help us to check our ways when we are in the process of ERRING so that we are lifted up by Him before it starts hurting very badly?

Viewers are invited to take a look at my slideshow on Psalm 91. I have shared the lessons I learnt from a study of this psalm. May click on the URL given :
http://www.slideshare.net/kalaneethy/shadow-of-the-almighty

Top of Form

Bottom of Form

Out In The Wilderness

 

I am following recently a devotional, which is exploring the deliverance of Israel from Egypt. I learnt somethings new . It may be of interest to some of you!

Here it is:

God led the Israelite slaves out from bondage, by 'the much longer route' since He did not want them to be discouraged by war on the 'shorter route to freedom'.

 May be the journey of life today seems long and strenuous for me and you. We may long for ‘quicker solution’ for life’s challenges. Let us remember that God always has our 'best' in mind and leads us with 'the best of intentions.' However long the route seems to be the Glorious Presence of God is going to stay with us all through.

Come on; Cheer up my friend!!

The Amalekites came to battle with Israel and Moses went up on the mountain, along with Hur and Aaron. They both helped Moses to keep his hands upheld throughout the battle atop the mountain. "This represents the posture of prayer and the mighty act of parting the red sea with his staff uplifted. The people got strengthened by looking at it and won." 

For us: "The cross and the Savior's outstretched arms are reminded of, by this posture of Moses." Let us lift our hands in praise to the Lord Jesus, for winning our battle on Calvary's cross. 

Come let us worship Jesus the Victor!! The sound of 'trumpets' brought the walls of Jericho down along with the praise of the people!!

Degrees of Faith

We find Jesus talking about different stages of 'faith' in the gospel books of the Bible. As I studied the Bible, I found these challenging my faith. 

 As  we read the list below, may we always strive towards the highest level Jesus commends?

1 Mk 4:40 ... 'no faith’... fear rules...disciples

2. Mt 14:31...'Little faith'... doubt arose... disciples

3. Jn 19:27 ... 'doubt and faith'... walking by sight...Thomas the disciple

4. M.t. 17:20 'mustard seed faith'..(I consider this as a living, growing faith)..mountain  moving.

5. Mt 15:28  ...'great faith'... prayer granted... gentile woman

          6. Mt 8:10 ... 'such great faith'... healing by the Word of Jesus...
                              Centurion who stood proxy for his  helper... 
                              Jesus commends this degree of faith