The Sincere Faith

I REMEMBER THE SINCERE FAITH YOU HAVE, the kind of faith that your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice also had. I am sure that you have it also. 2 Timothy 1.5.

Often we visit our daughter and family who live in a town a few hours away. The one thing that struck me most was the devotion the mother and father have for their three children. The saying is no more an exaggeration, “the parents live for their children!” From very early in the morning to very late at night the mother and the father attend to every need of each child. Between the father who is a surgeon and the mother, a full-time home-maker, they make a dozen trips to shuttle the children to school, tuition and music lessons! It is the privilege and duty of every father and mother to take good care of the children God has blessed them with. It is especially so with Christian parents.

Unfortunately, I have seen many a Christian father and/or mother totally disregard and neglect their duty to bring their children up “in the fear and the nurture of the Lord” as the Bible requires.

But in the light of today’s Bible text - “I remember the sincere faith you have, the kind of faith that your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice also had. I am sure that you have it also” - let me remind Christian parents, especially the mothers, to pay special attention to the spiritual upbringing of your children. Caring for the physical, mental and material needs of children and lavishly providing for everything they fancy has become the norm for families today. I see this even in Christian families.

Dear believer, the serious question is, 'are you careful enough to impart your most holy faith to your children or those under your care'? I thank God for my godly parents and grandparents. I cherish the sacred memory of my grandmother and mother who were the most instrumental in imparting their faith to me from my infancy. My grandmother even conducted a Sunday School at home for our neighbourhood children so that they too shared her faith! They passed away a long while ago, but their faith abides in most of us even today.

It is said of Susannah Wesley, mother of the famous John and Charles Wesley that she took particular care of each of her 19 children! She fed, clothed and educated all of them with the meager salary of her husband who was a cleric. But what really paid off was the time and effort she put into the life of each one of those 19 children in sharing her faith to them individually. She was particular in taking each child alone with her to do some chore in order to talk to them one-to-one and to share her faith and belief. No wonder, John became England’s most renowned preacher and Charles the equally famous hymn writer!

Dear friend, Christian father or mother, I urge you to emulate my dear mother who was so serious to see her children catch her faith that her rule was, “No Bible reading and prayer, no breakfast!” Without faith it is impossible to please God (Heb.11.6). What are you doing each day to impart your faith to your children? Are you only attending to all their other needs?

Pray and practise with me: Dear Lord, forgive me for not giving equal or more time and effort to imparting my faith in You to my children. Help me to start today! Amen.

God Can Humble The Proud

GOD CAN HUMBLE ANYONE WHO ACTS PROUDLY. I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise, honor, and glorify the King of Heaven. Everything he does is right and just.. Daniel 4.37.

As we were driving back home from the church one day, I asked my wife about a young doctor and his wife whom we know well, “Which church do they attend?” To my surprise, she replied, “They often do not go to church!” He and his wife come from good Christian families. Both are professionals. He is aspiring to be a medical specialist. They were blessed with a baby lately. Everything had gone well for them. That must be the reason why they are so independent! They have it all. They do not acknowledge God’s good hand in their lives. They do not seem to need God!

King Nebuchadnezzar of the Babylonian Empire was one such person, only much greater and mightier! At the height of his power and greatness, one day, he was walking around on the roof of his royal palace in Babylon. He said, "Look how great Babylon is! I built it as my capital city to display my power and might, my glory and majesty." Before the words were out of his mouth, a voice spoke from heaven, “King Nebuchadnezzar, listen to what I say! Your royal power is now taken away from you. You will be driven away from human society, live with wild animals, and eat grass like an ox for seven years. Then you will acknowledge that the Supreme God has power over human kingdoms and that he can give them to anyone he chooses” (Dan 4.29-32).

Nebuchadnezzar was driven out of human society and ate grass like an ox. The dew fell on his body and his hair grew as long as eagle feathers and his nails as long as bird’s claws. “When the seven years had passed,” said the king, “I looked up at the sky, and my sanity returned. I praised the Supreme God and gave honor and glory to the one who lives forever. He will rule forever, and his kingdom will last for all time. He looks on the people of the earth as nothing; angels in heaven and people on earth are under his control. No one can oppose his will or question what he does. When my sanity returned, my honor, my majesty, and the glory of my kingdom were given back to me. My officials and my noblemen welcomed me, and I was given back my royal power with even greater honor than before” (vs 33-36).

When he came to his senses after his humiliation, this is what he said, “Now, I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise, honor, and glorify the King of Heaven. Everything he does is right and just, and he can humble anyone who acts proudly”.

Oh! that God would give you the sense to acknowledge His Almighty hand in all that happens in your life and continually give Him praise and glory! Dear believer, don’t be senseless like our young doctor friend or the great and mighty king! Then, God wouldn’t have to humble you or let you be troubled before you acknowledge Him and give Him His due praise and glory.

Pray and practise with me: Dear Lord, often I am tempted to feel that what I am and what I have are by my own merit. I forget to acknowledge You or give You the glory. Forgive me and grant me the due sense to do it before it is too late. Amen.

Build Conscience On The Word

SOME HAVE REFUSED TO LET THEIR FAITH GUIDE THEIR CONSCIENCE AND THEIR FAITH HAS BEEN DESTROYED LIKE A WRECKED SHIP. 1 Timothy 1.19.

Conscience is a good thing given to us by our good Lord. It is a good guide and all must endeavour to live by it. But many people, including Christians, do not heed their conscience and hence do wrong and wreck their lives. However, your conscience must be guided by the unerring and unchanging standards of the Word of God! There are many good Christians who have had their consciences ruled by what they heard from others, however good or godly they may be!

The Bible says, “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Rom 10.17). Faith is the substance as well as the assurance of what we believe (Heb 11.1). Your tenets of faith must be founded on the WORD OF GOD ALONE! It is the revealed will of God for us. It should be what guides and rules your conscience. You must read God's Word and set your conscience right according to it. You must live by it. Every word and deed of yours must be guided by it.

We are living in the age of which the same apostle had this to say, “For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations” (2 Tim 4.3-5).

Dear believer, it is good to have teachers. You may listen to all. But be like the Bereans, “They were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true” (Act 17.11). Read and constantly meditate on the unadulterated Word of God with vigour. I just bought a 'Life application Bible' at my age of seventy plus! Let the Word be the foundation for your conscience. Follow it faithfully.

The Bible warns, "You must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies... In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up” (2 Pe 1.21, 2.1-3).

Be wary of interpretations and opinions of even the most popular teacher! Do not mistake God’s Word for men’s fancy doctrines, teachings or prophecies! Build your conscience on the unchanging Word. Do not wreck your life on rocks that others have placed before you!

Pray and practise with me: Dear Lord, help me to build up my most holy faith and conscience on Your eternal and revealed Word and not on any one's interpretation, and live by it. AMEN.

Love Our Brothers & Sisters

MAY THE LORD MAKE YOUR LOVE INCREASE AND OVERFLOW FOR EACH OTHER AND FOR EVERYONE ELSE, JUST AS OURS DOES FOR YOU. 1 THESSALONIANS 3.12.

‘Love’ is the greatest theme of the Bible. It is not surprising because God is love (1 Jn 4.8). His greatest expression of love towards us was the giving of His Son, Jesus Christ, to die for us! (Jn 3.16). Jesus said, “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments" (Mt 22.37-40).

‘Lack of love is the root of all problems!’ There are no problems that cannot be resolved if there is love! If you love God, you will obey Him. If you obey God, you will love people. Love does no harm to anyone! The world would be a more peaceful place to live in and life would be more pleasant for everyone.

‘To love’ should be the easiest thing to do but unfortunately it is not. Even the twelve disciples of Jesus had a problem loving each other. More than anything else, Jesus’ greatest concern was that the disciples should learn to love one another. He repeatedly commanded them to love each other for He saw in them continued traits of jealousy and selfishness! Jesus knew that if they did not genuinely love each other they could love none else!

That is why Jesus repeatedly told His disciples about loving each other. He said, "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another" (Jn 13.34,35). Thank God that He has not only commanded us to love each other but “God has also poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us” (Rom 5.5). By the love that the Holy Spirit has poured out in our hearts we can and should now love not only those who love us but also those who hurt or even hate us!

Our love will speak more eloquently than all our preaching and professing! It will be more persuasive than all the miracles we may perform. So let us make love our chief aim. The apostle Paul wrote, "If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing" (1 Cor 13:1,2). Think about it and begin to show the genuineness of your love!

Dear believer, “May the Lord make my love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else”. Notice, “each other” (means those near to you) must precede “everyone else!” Our folly is that we try to love everyone else before each other, those who are around us! It doesn’t work that way. So let us henceforth determine to begin where we should start – love the brother or sister whom we see - and ask the Holy Spirit to help us overcome our weaknesses in doing it!

Pray and practise with me: Dear Lord, thank You for Your greatest act of love in sending Your Son to die for me. Help my love for each other to increase and overflow so that all may know that I am Your disciple. Amen.

In Everything Give Thanks

IN EVERYTHING GIVE THANKS: FOR THIS IS THE WILL OF GOD IN CHRIST JESUS CONCERNING YOU. 1 Thessalonians 5.18

Thankfulness is not a trait we inherit. We need to cultivate it and teach it to our children to express gratitude for kindness received. It is not often that people thank God for His goodness to them. Often Christians are no exception. To thank God for everything and in everything as the Scripture commands is not followed by most. You may feel obliged to thank God for the ‘good things’ He has done but what about the apparently ‘bad things’ that befall you?

The Scripture teaches, “In everything give thanks!” That is a command of God! I remember reading a very long time ago an interesting small book by an army Chaplin, entitled “PRISON TO PRAISE”. The Chaplin began telling his counselees who went to him with complaints of ‘hurt in the field or by families back home’, “Come on! Gives thanks in everything!” The already hurt, poor souls were astonished and flabbergasted and asked him, “Why should we, and how could we give thanks to God when He is causing us hurt and suffering? It does not make sense!” Some had been wounded in the field, some lost friends in battle, others had bad news from home and there were those whose wives were deserting them and going after other men!

The good Chaplin replied, “It doesn’t make sense to me either! But the Word of God says so, and we must obey!” One by one the bewildered soldiers began giving thanks to God in whatever situation they were in. They didn’t exactly ‘thank God for their dead friends, sick parents or deserting wives!’ However, each one began to thank God saying, “Lord, You know my terrible situation. I thank You for it because You asked me to thank You in everything! I don’t feel like it but I do. Sometimes I feel it is crazy but still I do thank You because You have said so!” Wonder of wonders, the book goes on to tell ‘how God in miraculous ways solved many of the impossible problems of the soldiers!’

Here is yet another reason from today’s lesson for you to give thanks in everything: It is “the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you!” That sounds pretty serious, doesn’t it? God is in it, so is Christ Jesus and you too! Hey! You better do it! Let us not go against the will of God in Christ Jesus for you and me.

Dear friend, whether you are going through troubled waters and battlefields or not, begin now to obey God’s will for you in Christ Jesus - give thanks to God in everything. Then leave your troubles with Him! Like Habakkuk the prophet on the watch tower, you too may wait to hear and see what the Almighty will say or do! (Hab 2.1). God has promised and surely, He will respond!

Pray and practise with me: Dear Lord, help me to give thanks to You for everything and in all situations I find myself in, be it good or bad, for you have told me so and it is Your will for me whether I feel like it or not. Thank You Father. Amen.

Give You Thanks Forever

LORD MY GOD, I WILL GIVE YOU THANKS FOREVER. Psalm 30.12.

Once I was having a season of meditation and prayer. It gave me an occasion to think about all the good things the Lord had done for me and my family. It was also a time when I thought about all the troubles and trials that God allowed to come into our lives. For a dozen or so of ills and woes that upset us there were literally countless blessings that God had bestowed on us as individuals and as families.

Reminiscing our lives with all its ups and downs will give us much reason to thank the Lord for all His goodness. Looking back, even our troubles and sorrows will cause us to thank God for them. With hindsight, we have seen the goodness they brought about in our lives. They have caused us to depend on God. They have matured us. We have learned patience and tolerance. Whereas we have enjoyed our blessings very much, we have grown but little because of them. But the positive effects of our sufferings have made us the men and women we are today!

While we suffer or when we are in great need, we may not be in the mood for thanking God. Rather we complain and cry out. But David was different. Even when he was in great distress, we find him having an interesting mixture of attitudes and approach to God. You will find that in today’s psalm. He starts off praising and exalting God. He thanks God for His deliverances. Then suddenly he brings his petition and cry to God for deliverance from his present distress. In the midst of his cry, he sings praises to God. He also calls on others to join him and exalt God. You find him also asserting his hope in God that He will surely bring him out of all his troubles.

One may get the impression that David was confused in his misery and didn’t know what he was doing! Have you felt that way? You just do not know what to do when you are in great distress. Talk about being confused and not knowing what to do or what more to do than crying to God.

We need to have a spiritual strategy of survival or we will be depressed or succumb. Learn from King David. It is not trying your luck doing this or that! It has been tested and proved by David many times. To begin with: Praise God. Thank Him for what He has done. Cry out to God and tell Him your problems. Tell God that you will still trust Him in spite of His lack of response or delay to answer. Tell God what you have learned and experienced Him. Then be still and know that He is God and He will act!

Pray and practise with me: Dear Lord, there are times when I am so distressed that I do not know what to do, in spite of my trust, hope, prayer and cry to you. “Hear, O LORD, and be merciful to me; O LORD, be my help" (v.10). Amen.

Loving Others

MAY THE LORD MAKE YOUR LOVE INCREASE AND OVERFLOW FOR EACH OTHER AND FOR EVERYONE ELSE, JUST AS OURS DOES FOR YOU. 1 THESSALONIANS 3.12.

‘Love’ is the greatest theme of the Bible. It is not surprising because God is love (1 Jn 4.8). His greatest expression of love towards us was the giving of His Son, Jesus Christ, to die for us! (Jn 3.16). Jesus said, “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments" (Mt 22.37-40).

‘Lack of love is the root of all problems!’ There are no problems that cannot be resolved if there is love! If you love God, you will obey Him. If you obey God, you will love people. Love does no harm to anyone! The world would be a more peaceful place to live in and life would be more pleasant for everyone.

‘To love’ should be the easiest thing to do but unfortunately it is not. Even the twelve disciples of Jesus had a problem loving each other. More than anything else, Jesus’ greatest concern was that the disciples should learn to love one another. He repeatedly commanded them to love each other for He saw in them continued traits of jealousy and selfishness! Jesus knew that if they did not genuinely love each other they could love none else!

That is why Jesus repeatedly told His disciples about loving each other. He said, "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another" (Jn 13.34,35). Thank God that He has not only commanded us to love each other but “God has also poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us” (Rom 5.5). By the love that the Holy Spirit has poured out in our hearts we can and should now love not only those who love us but also those who hurt or even hate us!

Our love will speak more eloquently than all our preaching and professing! It will be more persuasive than all the miracles we may perform. So let us make love our chief aim. The apostle Paul wrote, "If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing" (1 Cor 13:1,2). Think about it and begin to show the genuineness of your love!

Dear believer, “May the Lord make my love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else”. Notice, “each other” (means those near to you) must precede “everyone else!” Our folly is that we try to love everyone else before each other, those who are around us! It doesn’t work that way. So let us henceforth determine to begin where we should start – love the brother or sister whom we see - and ask the Holy Spirit to help us overcome our weaknesses in doing it!

Pray and practise with me: Dear Lord, thank You for Your greatest act of love in sending Your Son to die for me. Help my love for each other to increase and overflow so that all may know that I am Your disciple. Amen.

Give You Thanks Forever

LORD MY GOD, I WILL GIVE YOU THANKS FOREVER. Psalm 30.12.

Once I was having a season of meditation and prayer. It gave me an occasion to think about all the good things the Lord had done for me and my family. It was also a time when I thought about all the troubles and trials that God allowed to come into our lives. For a dozen or so of ills and woes that upset us there were literally countless blessings that God had bestowed on us as individuals and as families.

Reminiscing our lives with all its ups and downs will give us much reason to thank the Lord for all His goodness. Looking back, even our troubles and sorrows will cause us to thank God for them. With hindsight, we have seen the goodness they brought about in our lives. They have caused us to depend on God. They have matured us. We have learned patience and tolerance. Whereas we have enjoyed our blessings very much, we have grown but little because of them. But the positive effects of our sufferings have made us the men and women we are today!

While we suffer or when we are in great need, we may not be in the mood for thanking God. Rather we complain and cry out. But David was different. Even when he was in great distress, we find him having an interesting mixture of attitudes and approach to God. You will find that in today’s psalm. He starts off praising and exalting God. He thanks God for His deliverances. Then suddenly he brings his petition and cry to God for deliverance from his present distress. In the midst of his cry, he sings praises to God. He also calls on others to join him and exalt God. You find him also asserting his hope in God that He will surely bring him out of all his troubles.

One may get the impression that David was confused in his misery and didn’t know what he was doing! Have you felt that way? You just do not know what to do when you are in great distress. Talk about being confused and not knowing what to do or what more to do than crying to God.

We need to have a spiritual strategy of survival or we will be depressed or succumb. Learn from King David. It is not trying your luck doing this or that! It has been tested and proved by David many times. To begin with: Praise God. Thank Him for what He has done. Cry out to God and tell Him your problems. Tell God that you will still trust Him in spite of His lack of response or delay to answer. Tell God what you have learned and experienced Him. Then be still and know that He is God and He will act!

Pray and practise with me: Dear Lord, there are times when I am so distressed that I do not know what to do, in spite of my trust, hope, prayer and cry to you. “Hear, O LORD, and be merciful to me; O LORD, be my help" (v.10). Amen.

Do Not Be Anxious

DO NOT BE ANXIOUS ABOUT ANYTHING, BUT IN EVERYTHING, BY PRAYER AND PETITION, WITH THANKSGIVING, PRESENT YOUR REQUESTS TO GOD. PHILIPPIANS 4.6.

There is a small plaque on my wall that says, “TODAY IS THE TOMORROW YOU WORRIED ABOUT YESTERDAY!” How true!

God acknowledges and the Bible addresses human being’s grave problem of anxiety. God is just like our fathers – they love us so much that not only do they not want us to suffer, they do not even want us to be anxious about anything! They will do everything possible to overcome our trouble! However, God is different from our fathers because He does not keep us from all difficulties and distresses. Rather, He allows them so that by His grace and help we would learn to overcome them and be strengthened physically, mentally and above all spiritually!

At least four times the Bible exhorts us not to be anxious, each time through a different person using different words. It is interesting to note that each time God tells you and I not to be anxious, He also gives us a valid reason for it.

God said through David, “Cast your cares on the LORD”. Then He follows it up with a reason to do so. “For the LORD will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall” (Psa. 55.22). In another psalm, David gives another compelling reason not to be anxious – “the Lord, God our Saviour, daily bears our burdens” (Psa 68.19).

The Lord Jesus Christ Himself tells us not to worry. “Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear?' For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things.” Then He gives us a solid reason not to worry – “Your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things”. Do you need any other good reason? Here is another! Jesus asked, “Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Of course the answer is none! So why the unproductive worry? (Mt 6. 27,31.32).

The apostle Paul said, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God”. Why should you do so? Because, says Paul, “the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (Phil 4.6,7).

The apostle Peter is equally persuasive in asking us not to be unnecessarily anxious, “Cast all your anxiety on the Lord”. Again he too gives us a reason that we cannot discount: “Because the Lord cares for you” (1 Pe 5.7).

Dear believer, we can’t avoid circumstances that cause us anxiety but we are to overcome anxiety. So what do we do when we are genuinely anxious about the things that happen to us? I suggest 1) You go on your knees 2) Keep your Bible open at the above four portions 3) Read aloud each one for God to hear and be reminded of His promises 4) Claim them from God.

I have heard that George Mueller, that great man of prayer of a generation ago, used to do that and get his answers from God! Try it and surely your anxieties will fade away.

Pray and practise with me: Dear Lord, help me not to worry about anything but to bring all my requests to You with thanksgiving. May Your peace rest upon me as I cast all my cares on You. Amen.

Clean Up Your Lives

CLEAN UP YOUR LIVES YOU SINNERS. PURIFY YOUR HEARTS, YOU PEOPLE WHO CAN’T MAKE UP YOUR MIND. James 4.8 (Contemporary English Version).

The reason often you and I still live in sin is that we cannot ‘make up our mind’ either to make a clean break from our sins and begin to obey the commandments of God, or to continue committing sins! Cleaning up your life and purifying your heart have become doubly difficult because you are “double minded” or you 'cannot make up your minds' about it.

We love our sin! We are not quite decided whether we want to repent and turn away from our sin. So it exerts its evil grip on us. Hence, in order to succeed, we atleast need to have a determination to stop sinning.

Instead of decidedly hating our old sinful deeds, we often try to dabble in our former sin for fun and pleasure. We deliberately make occasion for them! We tempt the devil! We play with sin like a flimsy butterfly fluttering around the fire. We flirt with sin and try to see who wins! Because we foolishly go too near ‘the fire’ we get burned! How often we and even many good men have played the fool and lost!

Do you know why Paul said to young Timothy, “But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness”? (1 Tim 6.11). Timothy was being encouraged to be like the wise young man Joseph - ‘leave our clothes behind if need be and flee from all tempting situations so that we will not fall prey to temptation and sin!’ It is not in the proximity of sin that you should try to be smart and try to “stand firm and resist the devil!” It will prove to be the most dangerous thing to do!

Dear believer, how often have you and I ‘played with sin as with fire and got burned?’ You need to have a desire and a passion for holiness and purity. Like Joseph, we too must be able to say, “How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” (Gen 39.8). You should have the determination not to flirt with any sin. You should not make occasion for it or remain in such situations. Then you can have victory. You can say with Paul, “Thanks be to God! He gives me the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Cor 15.57).

Pray and practise with me: Dear Lord, help me 'to make up my mind to clean up my life and purify my heart.' Let me not flirt with sin any longer. Give me victory over sins that easily entangle me! (Heb 12.1). Amen.

Burdens To The Lord

TURN YOUR BURDENS OVER TO THE LORD, AND HE WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU. Psalm 55.22.

The other day we were discussing in our Home Fellowship the puzzling problem of, “If God loves us so much and we love Him too, how is it we have so much trouble and turmoil in this life?” Talking about troubles, listen to poor King David’s mourning, “My heart is in turmoil. The terrors of death have seized me. Fear and trembling have overcome me. Horror has overwhelmed me. I said, "If only I had wings like a dove - I would fly away and find rest” (vs 4-6). That’s real trouble!

We must realise that being a Christian is no hedge against trials and temptations. If at all, it may only increase because we have joined forces with God to fight the devil. But then, God being Almighty, why does He allow trouble to overtake His children?

Look through the Bible and you will not find an answer that satisfies our minds. Instead of finding an answer, you probably came to the conclusion that God didn’t always remove the troubles of His people, even though He had the power to do so. But when God did not remove the troubles, He gave support and strength to people to go through them.

Through the adversities, God is moulding us into maturity, leading us to perfection and fitting us into His likeness. These are God’s ultimate goals for you and me! While labouring to establish yourself in this world and hankering after material blessings, do not forget that God’s plans and purposes for you is greater and higher.

Thank God, David had made God, “my Rock, my loving God and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield, in whom I take refuge” (Psa 144.1,2). Anyone who has no God like David’s to take care of him, will crack up or commit suicide! David knew what to do in times of distress: “But I call on God, and the LORD saves me. Morning, noon, and night I complain and groan, and he listens to my voice. With his peace, he will rescue my soul from the war waged against me, God will listen. The one who has sat enthroned from the beginning will deal with them” (vs16-19).

Dear friend in distress, God is your only hope! He alone is your deliverer. He gives you strength and provides your every need. Your only escape is “to turn all your burdens over to the LORD”. As sure as His eternal promises, “God will take care of you”.

Lead a righteous life before God. “He will never let the righteous stumble”. Apostle Paul said, “the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one” (2 Th 3.3). All through the Bible times and ever since, all who have trusted Him have found Him faithful! You too will!

Pray and practise with me: Dear Lord, I thank You for Your wonderful promise, “Cast all your anxiety (burdens, cares) on him because he cares for you” (1 Pe 5.7). Help me to put them one by one on You and feel the relief and Your care of me! Amen.

Learn To Be Disciplined

WE DONT ENJOY BEING DISCIPLINED. IT ALWAYS SEEMS TO CAUSE MORE PAIN THAN JOY. Hebrews 12.11.

'DISCIPLINE AND DISCIPLINING’ are the most unpopular words in today's vocabulary. They are the least practised virtues! Indiscipline is everywhere, from families to schools to offices and even in the society! Everything starts with the young and disciplining them is of paramount importance. But, the matter of parents disciplining their children and punishing them when necessary has become a serious and controversial issue today. Even the people of God to whom this should never have been an issue or problem are more puzzled than the people of this world.

The simple reason for this is that from the beginning until the 21st century, we learned from our forefathers and through revelation (from the Creator). But now we learn from the modern theories and assumptions of secular men who do not know the Creator! God does not come up with newer principles and practices for every new generation! His Word is once and for all established in the heavens and let the people of the earth take note!

Read the Bible and you won’t miss the truth that God is a God of discipline. Today’s Bible passage tells us clearly that God disciplines us and explains why He does so and for what purpose! You and I need to know it well so that we will not object or reject God’s discipline in our lives, though painful. We who are so used to objecting discipline, whether from parents or authorities, are inclined to do so with God also.

Disciplining is God’s way of training and correcting you. God will not stop disciplining you because you complain. It ‘puts the fear of God’ in your heart and helps you to do right and stops you from doing wrong! Disciplining is also God’s prescribed way for you to train your children. God will not change His instruction because your popular psychologist says that it is traumatic to your child’s psyche! If you think that your child will become afraid and inhibited because you say ‘NO’ or because you use the rod as God demands, remember, that is exactly what God wants to achieve! They must have the fear of God and of the rod, so that they will be ‘inhibited from doing wrong!’

God commended our fathers for disciplining us. Don’t you think that God will condemn us if we do not discipline our children and train them the way they should go when they are old? (Prov 22.6). Friend, the Bible says, “All children are disciplined by their fathers. If you don’t discipline your children, you are not treating them as part of the family (but as illegitimate children or bastards – other versions!" (vs 7,8). Are you guilty of not disciplining your child? Children and adults too do not enjoy being disciplined. It always seems to cause more pain than joy. But later on, those who learn from that discipline have peace that comes from doing what is right.

As parents who did our best to train up our four children in the way they should walk, we rejoice today, seeing them stick to it by the grace of God. It makes us extremely sad to watch young parents bringing up their children today without control or any discipline whatsoever! They let them be unruly, destroy things, scream, hurt each other and even strike back! God save our children!

Pray and practise with me: Dear Lord, discipline me when I go wrong and teach me to do right. Help me to do the same with my children. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

He Shall Direct Your Paths

IT WAS THROUGH THE ANGER OF JEHOVAH THAT ZEDEKIAH HAPPENED TO REBEL AGAINST THE KING OF BABYLON. 2 Kings 24.20.

Some things that you and I do according to our own wisdom, understanding and perception may turn out for our ruin, even though we hope that good will come out of them! That is what happened to King Zedekiah of Israel. Unlike most of the kings of the southern kingdom, Judah, Zedekiah did evil in the eyes of the Lord God. He had determined to send as exiles, the king and all the people from Jerusalem. It is even more distressing to note that King Zedekiah’s ‘wise and patriotic’ rebellion against the king of Babylon was prompted by the anger of the Lord against him. Don’t make God your enemy by trusting in your own wisdom and judgment!

What the young king Zedekiah thought was the smartest move turned out to be the stupidest thing to do!’ But he didn’t know it. It was because he would listen only to the many false prophets who spoke ‘their own words to please the king’. They were not from the Lord! The king wouldn’t listen to the one and only prophet, Micaiah who dared to tell the truth as from God though it was against the king.

There are many today, like King Zedekiah, who have their own ideas and plans and who want to do things their way. They are looking for confirmation from prophets, one after the other. Sadly there are many prophets today, prophesying things that people like to hear for fame or favours! But the truth is that they are as much deceived to believe that their words are from God as those who accept them as their ‘personal prophecy’!

It is not strange that these prophets counselled Zedekiah to go and fight with the strongest empire, because that is what the king wanted to do! But Jehoshaphat, the God-fearing king of Judah asked, "Is there not a prophet of the LORD here whom we can inquire of?" The king of Israel answered, "There is still one man through whom we can inquire of the LORD, but I hate him because he never prophesies anything good about me, but always bad. He is Micaiah , son of Imlah." "The king should not say that," Jehoshaphat replied.

Knowing well the king would accept only “yes” for an answer from God, prophet Micaiah echoed the words of the popular prophets. But when insisted, the man of God gave the unpleasant truth to the king – “you will be killed in the battle and all Israel will be scattered and taken exile!” Did the king believe the Word of the Lord? No! The Bible says, “for it was through the anger of Jehovah that Zedekiah happened to rebel against the king of Babylon in Jerusalem and in Judah, until God had put them out of His presence.”

Dear believer, it is not only the disobedient king but even the children of God who could be misguided by the popular prophets. It is even more true today when there is a restoration of the gift of prophecy. The Bible gives you one sure sign of a true prophet of God – he will not be popular or have a pleasing word all the time for you! Hunt for him if you will and take his counsel even if it is against your wish. Better still, seek God and His will from His Word and from wise and godly saints and follow it!

Pray and practise with me: Dear Lord, I am often puzzled not knowing what to do or which way to take! Thank you for Your promise, “In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths” (Pro 3.6). Amen.

Everyone Must Die Once

EVERYONE MUST DIE ONCE AND AFTER THAT BE JUDGED BY GOD. Hebrews 9.27.

A colleague of mine lately took a personal accident insurance for a million dollars. This is in addition to the adequate life cover he already has! I asked him what was the particular need for a personal accident insurance policy for him when he doesn’t travel more than 10 kilometres a day? He told me that the agent told him that statistics show that in his age group – the middle aged – the most common cause of death is by accident. In my seventy odd years, I know of only one middle-aged doctor who died in a car accident and he was drunk! It simply proves the common saying that statistics can prove anything you want it to prove!

Whether the common cause of death of the middle-aged men is by accident or not, people of all ages die everyday! In this, the Bible is absolutely right! “Everyone must die once!” My wife is a cautious woman. A dear old friend of eighty died suddenly some time ago. He died without a will. He was intending to make one at our persuasion but death caught up with him and he lost his opportunity. His family is in a quandary now. Hence, my wife told me and all our children that we should make our wills and keep them safe.

Death is common to all and it always comes unexpectedly. We are not sure of many things after death. But one thing is sure, the Bible says, “after death you will be judged by God”. The Bible also clearly states the basis of God’s judgment, “we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad” (2 Cor 5.10).

Most of us, even Christians, live lives that please ourselves and do things as though we do not have to account to anyone! If we do wrong and if we are not caught, we think that we have got away with it! No one considers that nothing escapes God’s all-seeing eyes and all their deeds are recorded by Him. Think of it, if you know that there is a camera that sees and records all that you do, would you be doing wrong? Because God’s camera cannot be seen, it doesn’t mean that it is not seeing and recording!

But no man can do right all the time in all things, even if he tries hard. You still do wrong. Thank God, He is willing to forgive you through Christ who died for you on the cross. Mel Gibson’s Hollywood film ‘Passion of the Christ’ was seen by millions across the world. When one man who saw it was asked, “Why did Jesus suffer so much and die?”, he bluntly said, “I don’t know!” Friend, Jesus came and died for your sins and mine. Today, He can grant you forgiveness of sin because He suffered and died for your sins.

Living a right life after confessing your sins also is a great problem. You will find that you need supernatural help. That is what the Holy Spirit does for you. Christ has gone to heaven. He is praying for you and He awaits you there! Therefore friend, you do not have to fear death and judgment anymore. Trust Christ and entrust yourself to Him everyday. There will be nothing to fear!

Pray and practise with me: Dear Lord, help me to live my life in the fear of God for You see all that I do and know even my thoughts and judge me accordingly. Help me do what is right, by the help of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Look Up To The Sky!

LOOK UP AT THE SKY WHO CREATED THE STARS YOU SEE? The one who leads them out like an army, he knows how many there are and calls each one by name! His power is so great--- not one of them is ever missing! Isaiah 40.29.

Many a time what I write in my devotionals are my soliloquies (solitary communion) with my God! This is particularly so when the Bible passage I am dealing with is complex and its meaning unfathomable! At other times, it is about some puzzling situation in life for which I am searching for answers from God for myself. When you feel a oneness with me as you read, it is because you are human like me and we are all in the same boat that is threatened by the storms of life. We are looking for an anchor!

How glad we should be that there is an Anchor for us in our great and awesome God, the creator and sustainer of all things! His mighty power is revealed in the Bible so clearly in many places. He manifested this in His many deeds throughout the history of peoples.

Yet, it is a great puzzle to us today as we face ‘impossible situations’ and God’s help does not arrive as we cry out! That is the enigma (mystery) of our present life of faith. Until our faith is turned to sight in eternity and our doubts vanish, we have to cling on to our Almighty God and His Word. In times of severe testing of faith, you need to reassure yourself over and over again by the unchanging Word that you are not alone. That the Lord God Almighty is with you. He is able to deliver you or take you through! You shouldn’t base your faith on your experiences. The foundation of your faith must be established on the eternal Word of God that abides forever!

In the Old Testament God told His people, Israel, “There is no one like your God, who rides on the heavens to help you and on the clouds in his majesty. The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms” (Deut 33.26,27). In the New Testament our God is described as “the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning” (Jas 1.17).

When you are buffeted by the storms of life and your faith in God is wavering and you are full of doubt, read the majestic description of our incomparably great God, in chapter 40 of Isaiah's prophecy. The words of the prophecy is most eloquent and beautifully poetic, yet extremely truthful. The Lord God knows your problems and pain and he hears your complaints and cry. Here is what He says to you, “Why do you complain that the LORD doesn't know your troubles or care if you suffer injustice? Don't you know? Haven't you heard? The LORD is the everlasting God; he created all the world. He never grows tired or weary. No one understands his thoughts” (vs 27-28).

Dear believer, the next time or maybe even now as you are sorely perplexed and puzzled over your trials and you are wavering in your faith, why not get out somewhere in the open at night and “look up to the sky! Ask yourself, ‘Who created the stars you see? The one who leads them out like an army, he knows how many there are and calls each one by name! His power is so great--- not one of them is ever missing!" Do not come away until you are convinced that 'Your God is great and He knows you and He is able to lead you', and begin to praise Him!

Pray and practise with me: Dear Lord, my problems overwhelm me! But let Your power and love amaze me and cause me to cry out, “Lord, I believe You can help me. Increase my faith. Help my unbelief!” Amen.

Don't Rely On Own Wisdom

TRUST IN THE LORD WITH ALL YOUR HEART. NEVER RELY ON WHAT YOU THINK YOU KNOW. Proverbs 3.5.

If you need wisdom, read the Book of Proverbs. Even if you do not read it daily, make it a point to read a few chapters now and then! It is bursting with wisdom – divine wisdom. Some say the wise King Solomon collected all the wise sayings of the world and made it into a book. The frequent mention of his son, suggests that Solomon wrote it mainly for his own son. However, as you read through it, you will come to the realisation that it is not merely man’s wisdom but Divine Wisdom! Look for instance at the proverb, “The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom” (Pro 9.10). No worldly wise man would admit to such a divine statement!

Much of the sayings and teachings are about seeking, acquiring and applying the wisdom of God in one’s life. Solomon was desperate in pleading with his son to listen to him and to his mother, and to learn wisdom from them. Having learned invaluable lessons through real-life experiences, and many of them through mistakes, the anxious father pleads with his son not to repeat what he encountered. The saying that ‘history repeats itself but man never learns’ is very true. But it is utter foolishness for a man to repeat his own foolishness or that of his father!

Have you ever thought why you repeat foolishness, ours or that of others? Consider today’s Bible text – “NEVER RELY ON WHAT YOU THINK YOU KNOW”. Most translations have it as, “never lean on your own understanding”. It is natural that you make your decision based on what you know or what you have heard! But the truth is that the information or knowledge on which your decision is based may be flawed or totally wrong! We live in the ‘information age’ and we get all kinds of knowledge through the media, literature and especially the internet. However, only those who are wise know that the information we obtain may be right or wrong and act accordingly.

But when you read the Book of Proverbs from the Word of God, written by inspired writers, it is distilled and pure wisdom from the mind of God and from the oven of life. It can never be wrong. Hence, listen to Solomon when he says, ”My child, don't forget what I teach you. Always remember what I tell you to do. My teaching will give you a long and prosperous life… “Never rely on what you think you know” (vs 1,2). Instead, he counsels him to “Trust in the LORD with all your heart”.

Dear believer, in an age when there are all kinds of voices calling for your attention and compliance, you need to decide on the course of action you are going to take on any issue. Never let yourself think that you are wiser than everyone, even God's Word. Simply obey the LORD and refuse to do wrong. Relying on the instruction of God’s Word and the wisdom of divine maturity will be your salvation instead of sorrow and disappointment.

Pray and practise with me: Dear Lord, help me to trust in YOU with all my heart and never rely on what I think I know! Help me to daily read and meditate on Your Word so that I will obey it. Amen.

We Are Equal

THE SHARE OF THOSE WHO GO INTO BATTLE MUST BE LIKE THE SHARE OF THOSE WHO STAY WITH THE SUPPLIES. 1 Samuel 30.24.

The text from the Bible that we are considering deals primarily with the soldiers, those on the battlefield and others in the barracks. It was a splendid principle that David set up for the army. But it has a parallel in our modern-day family and society life.

Sometime ago, I was writing the manuscript of my book on “witnessing in the market place”. The work of women in the house and mothers at home seemed to me as important or even more important than the work the men folk accomplish in the offices. But, how do we Christians consider our womenfolk who stay at home and hold that front for us? We men are out working all day and night and we leave our children entirely under the care of our wives. For long, they have been subjugated, doing supposedly ‘a menial kind of task’. They were belittled by the common name we gave them – ‘housewives!’ It is time that we Christians take a radical step toward the proper recognition of our wives and mothers.

A good principle to apply could be borrowed from the rule that David prescribed for his army. We Christians are in the Lord’s army. While the men are on the battlefront our women are holding the fort for us! They are not only the keepers of our belongings but more importantly they are the keepers and trainers of our children. They must be given equal status and more respect than ever.

The duties they perform, the responsibilities they carry and the blessings they are capable of bringing are enumerated in the excerpt from my book given below: “There are few places as strategically important to us as our homes where mothers work. It is their workplace or ‘marketplace’. Hence they form more than half of the world’s workforce. It is there that the lives of our future generations are moulded and their destinies settled for this world and for the next! If only the world had never coined that belittling name ‘housewives’ for that noble and honourable profession of ‘mothers and homemakers”, we would have given them more respect and mothers would have had more self-pride.

Homemakers or mothers should be proud of their profession for it is their divine calling! They should consider their homes their God-ordained domain and thank God for it. Every member of the family is a gracious gift from your Father in heaven to be loved and cherished with utmost care. It is the mother’s divine duty to pray for, feed, clothe, guide, train and help each one to develop to his or her highest potential in God. Together with her godly husband, she must accomplish this.

When her worldly, non-Christian counterparts swear and curse at every chore they have to do, the godly mother must view each task as a deed done unto God and a divine duty performed for the welfare of the members of her ‘home church’. The Lord has made her ‘the lady bishop or pastor’ of her little flock and she must give God an account for each one. In the measure of the gravity and responsibility with which she accepts and discharges her God-given duties, she will be respected by her family members, her church and the society, and richly rewarded by God!”

Pray and practise with me: Dear Lord, You created us man and woman and gave us our separate functions to perform. Help us to mutually respect and equally share our rewards. Amen.

God Will Forgive

I WILL FORGIVE THEIR SINS AND FORGET THE EVIL THINGS THEY HAVE DONE. Jeremiah 31.34.

I came to know the Lord as my Saviour as a small boy through my mother and grandmother who were godly, praying women. Naturally, there weren’t many 'so-called great sins' that I had committed before that! But there were enough bad things I had done! I was a child of God and I knew as a child of God, I shouldn’t sin. But I had just started my life as a boy and I knew that I was going to confront all kinds of temptations and sins one by one. So I always prayed to God to keep me from sin. When I did sin, I quickly asked for forgiveness. I know that God has forgiven all my sins, since my youth upwards!

I am particularly glad for God’s promise in today’s text: “I will forgive their sins and forget the evil things they have done”. Remember prophet Micah saying, “You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea” (Mic 7.19). God Himself said “I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more” (Isa 43.25).

That is what God in His grace, mercy and forgiveness has done with the sins we have confessed to Him. But, do you ever remember some of your worst sins against God? I do. It always makes me sorry. But never should I feel guilty because God has done away with them!

God’s Word says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 Jn 1.8). See, God not only forgives the sin that we confess but He goes ahead to purify us from everything that is not right in us! How good it is to confess whenever we sin! Unfortunately, seeking God’s forgiveness doesn't seem to be a priority with you and I. We assume that it is God’s duty to forgive when we sin. But only when you ask are you forgiven!

There are Christians who are in the habit of going back often and resurrecting their past sins which God has buried and doesn’t care to remember. If you are one of them, then you must stop doing it! It is an affront and insult to our God. The Scripture says, “Who is a God like you? You forgive sin and overlook the rebellion of your faithful people. You will not be angry forever, because you would rather show mercy” (Mic 7.18). However, if you happen to remember and feel sorry, it's alright. But you do not have to ask forgiveness for them nor keep remembering them anymore!

Pray and practise with me: Dear Lord, help me to keep rejoicing because You have forgiven and forgotten all my sins from my youth up! Help me to keep short accounts with You daily. Help me to forgive others as You have forgiven me. Amen.

No More Curse

NO LONGER WILL THERE BE ANY CURSE. THE THRONE OF GOD AND OF THE LAMB WILL BE IN THE CITY. Revelations 22.3,4.

It is a terrible thing to fall under the curse of man and worse still that of God Almighty! Have you heard people say, “There is a curse on that family!” or “That place is under a curse!” It is not an uncommon remark by people, “That man is under a curse. Whatever he does, does not prosper!” People fear the curses of others. I have heard parents curse children, and do it lightly! It is wrong to curse children, even if you do not mean it! It may never happen but it could affect the behaviour of children.

But when pushed to the extreme people do curse! It was what Adam and Eve did. They made their God curse them. God had created them. He put them in a beautiful garden to live and enjoy its fruits. God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground” (Gen 1.28). God frequented them and they had wonderful evening strolls daily.

It was their greatest folly to have antogonised such a Maker, their Lord God and friend. He was no tyrant! There was only one thing God commanded them: “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die” (Gen 2.16,17). Satan deceived Eve and told her not to take God’s warning seriously but to go ahead and do what pleased them! They did!

Disobedience brought a curse instead of blessings from God. To Adam God said, “Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life. It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return” (Gen 3.17-19).

From that fateful day, all men and women have begun to experience the effect of the curse of God – pain, toil, thorns, thistles, sweat and eventually death! All of us are smarting under the curse of God on our sins. But the Bible says, "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us" (Gal 3.13). Hence, dear believer, don't be afraid of any curses, whether God's or man's! Go to Jesus and He will remove all curses! You do not have to find another mediator!

The book of Revelations give us this wonderful news of a coming day! “No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him.” Let Jesus remove your curse and set you free to serve Him in this life and reign with Him in the next.

Pray and practise with me: Dear Lord, help me to stop listening to the devil and bring God's curse and punishment on me. Help me to obey You and start experiencing Your blessings instead of the curse! Amen.

Resist The Evil

PLACE YOURSELVES UNDER GOD’S AUTHORITY. RESIST THE DEVIL, AND HE WILL RUN AWAY FROM YOU. James 4.7.

There are many ‘good Christians’, and even mature ones, who struggle with sin! They cannot get rid of it. The writer of the Hebrews calls it, “sins” that easily “beset us”, “clings to us so closely”, “easily ensnares us”; “easily entangles us” (Heb 12.1 various versions). Sounds familiar? There are many new Christians also who cannot overcome their sinful habits. Why can’t we get rid of our sins?

At the same time, we hear astounding testimonies of criminals and crooks, the immoral and the perverts. They tell of their wonderful stories of “instant salvation of their souls and also from the sins that kept them captives!” The drunkard vomits at the smell of liquor as he passes by a pub! The chain-smoker wretches at the puff of cigarettes! The sex maniac hates the sight of the brothels he frequented! Everything happened all at once when they accepted Jesus Christ as their Saviour.

What then is our problem? The problem is “US”. You love your sins and hold on to your bad habits and wrong desires. You don’t want to give them up! It is said of the Lord Jesus Christ, “You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions” (Heb 1.9). The crooks and sinners who get miraculously converted experience salvation from sin and from their love for sin. This is because God anoints them with His Spirit and the bondage and slavery to sin is instantly broken!

I remember counselling a young drug addict brought up in a Christian family. He had tried many times to stop his habit but failed. Rehabilitation centres couldn’t do him any good. Then, I found out his problem. He wanted to run his own life! He didn’t want to submit to God’s authority. Dear believer, you cannot win alone. You need God. You need the help of the Spirit of God, which is freely available.

The Word of God says, “Resist the Devil and he will run away from you”. I get ‘unwanted visitors’ at our clinic sometimes. I have told my nurses to drive them away. They manage to do that fairly well. But there is a tough ‘drug addict’ who never leaves. Every time they have to call me to drive him away! He taught me a wonderful lesson. Now I know why the devil doesn’t run when I try to drive him out by myself! He is not afraid of me. So I do what my nurses do, “I Call the Boss!” I am like that small boy who said, “When the devil comes knocking at my door to tempt me to steal the jam, I ask Jesus to open the door! Immediately, he scoots off!”

While you must 'resist the devil', there are times when you must flee from him and his temptations and escape! "Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart" (2 Tim 2.22). Remember, that is what the brave young man Joseph did when sorely tempted to commit adultery with Potiphar's bewitching wife! That cigarette, that alcohol, drink, that drug, that bad habit, whatever it may be - they are temptations from which you better 'run once and for all'. You cannot get rid of them little by little.

Pray and practise with me: Dear Lord, help me to hate sin and love righteousness. Deliver me from evil and the evil one! Set me free from the sin that clings to me. Amen.

Careless Talker

BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU SAY AND PROTECT YOUR LIFE. A CARELESS TALKER DESTROYS HIMSELF. Proverbs 13.3.

It is a good practise in many churches to have altar calls for prayer. The leader invites members to go forward to be prayed for. My aged mother was fond of going to receive prayer for fresh blessings from God! One Sunday, I remember praying for two youngsters, a boy and a girl. Each asked me to pray specially for family unity and peace.

I emphasised to them the importance of ‘forgiveness’ for unity and peace in the family. Two parties at least are involved in the issue of

‘forgiveness’ - you and the other person or persons. As far as you are concerned, it could be as simple as to “Just forgive”, if you are serious about it! Don’t make it a big deal. Through Christ, God has forgiven whatever wrong you have ever done.

Dear believer, therefore you are obliged to forgive others. Even if you do not want to, you have no choice. Jesus equated 'God forgiving you' to 'your forgiving others!' He taught us in the Lord’s Prayer, “Forgive us our sins as we forgive others their sins!” He went on to emphasise the imperative need of forgiving others by saying, “If you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins” (Mt 6.14,15). It is natural that when you have forgiven someone, in due course he may begin to respond. Make sure that you don’t keep irritating the person by giving lectures on ‘your great act of forgiveness!’

I counselled the youngsters: “Once you have forgiven your family, you must be careful how you talk to them and what you say!’ The tongue is the major culprit in causing strife and division. The apostle James calls it a “fire” among the members of the body! He says, “no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison” (Jas 3.6,8,).

Yes! No natural man can control his tongue. But the spiritual man, the renewed and regenerated man could and should by the Holy Spirit who abides in Him. Once, I attended the wedding of a young man with a chequered past. At the wedding dinner, two members of his family began yarning about his sad past! But they were not careful to observe that the bride’s sisters were also at their table. What problems and family turmoil this unwise wagging of tongue would have caused is anyone’s guess!

You need to be careful of what you say about others. It could destroy them. But as the wise King Solomon said, it could destroy you too! “Be careful what you say and protect your life. A careless talker destroys himself”. No one has ever got into trouble by 'not' telling tales! It is good not to say anything evil about any person! If you have something good to say, say it! If you have nothing good to say, “Shut up!”

The Bible says, “How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity! For there the LORD bestows his blessing, even life forevermore” (Psa 133.1,3). Dear child of God, to God it is important that you live in love and harmony with your brother and sister and family members. It is a good testimony before others.

Pray and practise with me: Dear Lord, help me to think before I talk about others. Let me tell only things that contribute to peace. Help me say only things about others that the Lord would approve. Amen.

Just Be Faithful

THE ONE THING REQUIRED OF CHRIST’S SERVANTS IS THAT THEY BE FAITHFUL TO THEIR MASTER. 1 Corinthians 4.2

It seems very funny to me now that when my grandfather encouraged me to become first in my Standard One class, I retorted, “Grandpa, but isn’t that being selfish?’ I have ‘become a man’ and having imbibed the values of the world, there is no end to my dreams and greed too! Whereas, when young I didn’t ‘aspire to be anything’, today when I see a champion, - we see plenty of them on TV - I want to be him! I haven’t been to a Formula One race – I hate the heat, the traffic jam and the crowd. But I wouldn't mind replacing Michael Schumacher on the podium! And of course, if I had just listened to the greatest preacher, evangelist or even singer (I can't sing for nuts, as they say!), I still cherish a secret desire ‘to be them!’ I have a feeling you too have such secrets! We are human! We should have some dreams anyway!

Friend, God has raised simple saints and made them great. He still can and will do it, if He wants to and if you will give yourself unselfishly to Him. The Word of God reveals that ‘we could and we should aspire to be ‘bishops’ (overseers, elders, leaders and deacons) in God’s Church. Do you know that you are encouraged to do so? “The saying is true: whoever aspires to the office of bishop desires a noble task” (1 Tim 3.1). I trust you will. But note that 'the office and the designation' call for the work and the responsibility and not just the seat and cassock (attire)!

Dear believer, for a moment forget about your dreams and aspirations, good or bad or extreme. Think about the talents that God has already given you, according to your ability! Listen, “We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully” (Rom 12.6-8). There is a vast variety of gifts. Do you have any of these? You MUST have at least ONE!

The other day, I heard a thrilling story of a disappointed and disillusioned ‘gospel tract writer’ escaping suicide. It put sense into me. May it do the same to you. This poor servant of the Lord envied the glare and glamour of platform preachers! He pitied himself and stopped writing tracts for 15 years because ‘no one knew’ him, a simple tract writer. One day, a man stopped him from jumping off a ferry boat on a raging river. It so happened that this man was a famous evangelist who had been ‘saved’ by a tract! It was this disappointed man who had written the tract but had thrown the stack away into the river in disgust and disappointment 15 years ago! The evangelist had kept the tract in his pocket and was looking for the writer!

“The one thing required of the servant is that he be faithful to his master with his talent”. Are you? It is your faithfulness that counts and not greatness! Commendation from God is greater than the recommendation of men!

Pray and pratcise with me: Dear Lord, the Bible tells me that You have given me a talent to use for You and others. Help me to recognise it and use it faithfully. Amen.

Labour For The Lord

CHRIST HAS BEEN RAISED FROM DEATH, AS THE GUARANTEE THAT THOSE WHO SLEEP IN DEATH WILL ALSO BE RAISED. 1 Corinthians 15.20.

ONCE I gave the message at the funeral service of a very dear old friend and fellow servant of the Lord. He was only a few weeks away from his 85th birthday!. At the age of 50+, he took optional retirement and began serving the Lord and the church ‘full-time!’ Relentlessly, he laboured ‘almost single-handedly’ and built one of the finest churches in the land, in membership and building. It was heartening to hear from the younger leaders of the church how this man had brought up and moulded each of them from their Sunday School days!

None of us who spoke or testified about this man expressed any disappointment at his passing away into the presence of the Lord in glory. Our reason was solid, “Christ has been raised from death, as the guarantee that those who sleep in death will also be raised”. We had the assurance that our dear brother will rise again in the last day when “the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first” (1 Thes 4.16).

The immortal words of that soldier of the Lord, Paul, were quoted by some, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day--and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing” (2 Tim 4.7,8).

Easter was just round the corner. The message of the resurrection of our Lord and Saviour was already in the air. As we lowered his mortal remains into the grave, we were looking up into the cloudy sky wishing, “Come Lord Jesus. Come soon bringing all Your saints with You. Come and take us too, to be with You!”

Fondly remembering my dear friend Henry's faithfulness and arduous labour for the Lord and the people, I had only one last thing to do. I did it. Quoting the words of the apostle Paul I encouraged all his friends gathered in the chapel, “So then, my dear friends, stand firm and steady. Keep busy always in your work for the Lord, (like dear Henry) since you know that nothing you do in the Lord's service is ever useless” (v.58).

Dear believer, ‘No labour for the Lord and His kingdom, no lasting gain!’

Pray and practise with me: Dear Lord, however busy I may be in my daily life, help me to seek first Your kingdom and do what is right, laying up treasures in heaven, which will not be lost! Amen.

Have You Found God?

IF YOU SEEK HIM HE WILL BE FOUND BY YOU. 1 Chronicles 28.9.

No one can understand the heart of a father when he gives his son some significant counsel, unless he too is a father! Here King David was giving his son, Solomon, the king-designate, the command to build a temple for His God. It was David’s one great desire to build it for His God whom he loved with all his heart. Great was this one man’s love and devotion to God in spite of all his fallen man’s human traits. When the LORD sought out a man after his own heart to appoint him leader of his people, the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY said, “David is a man after My own heart!”

The only desire the dying king David had for his son Solomon, the new king of Israel, was that ‘he would come to know his father’s God and be faithful to Him!’ I know the heartache of many a godly father whose sons and daughters did not follow their footsteps of seeking God and loving and serving Him faithfully.

We were delighted to welcome to our home once, the evangelist son of a good friend, a great Indian evangelist and ardent church planter. The boy did take an excursion into the world of sin in spite of his background. But the gracious Lord brought him back from his unbelief as he sincerely sought after Him.

Dear friends, that is God’s precious promise to you. Read carefully today’s text from the mouth of a man like David, who knew and experienced what he said, “If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever”. What David told his son Solomon was the same thing the Lord Almighty has promised, “When you look for me, you will find me. When you wholeheartedly seek me, I will let you find me, declares the LORD” (Jer 28.13,14).

How do you seek God? ‘Seeking God’ is a common cliché among Christians. It can mean anything from attending church; praying sometimes; reading the Bible occasionally and that may be all! Or it could be, and of course it should be, as David said, “My son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts”.

Dear believer, ‘it is time that you make a break from your mediocre Christian life. It is time to seek your God with the desperateness of David!’ It is time you begin to serve Him will all your heart. Whatever you will achieve or accumulate in the world will all be lost and forgotten when you are gone! Only one life and ONLY what is done for Christ will count! David is not remembered for his kingship but his love for God.

Dear friend, if you haven’t found God yet, or you haven’t found Him satisfying, it is because you haven’t sought Him and searched for Him with all your heart. Why not seek Him NOW?

Pray and practise with me: Dear Lord, You called me saying, “Come to me and I will give you..!” Lord, I come with all my heart. Fill my inmost being with You and let it overflow to others too! Amen.

Their Eyes Were Open

THEIR EYES WERE OPENED AND THEY RECOGNIZED HIM, BUT HE DISAPPEARED FROM THEIR SIGHT. Luke 24.31.

My wife and I often get upset as we witness the dire need of the people in the Church and in the world around us. We get depressed when we recognise our sheer impotence as Christians to rise up and meet those needs in the mighty name of our risen Lord Jesus. Didn’t He send us into the world to be His witnesses in the power of the Holy Spirit? (Acts 1.8). He said, “As the Father has sent me so have I sent you into the world” (Jn 20.21). Jesus said, “The works I did and even greater works than these you will do!” (Jn 14.12). The last words of the risen Lord to us was, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations” (Mt 28.18).

Each Sunday, thousands of us worship the Lord in our churches singing and shouting to the Lord with a loud noise, making melody to Him with our musical instruments. I honestly believe we are seeking the presence and power of the Almighty One to be manifested among His people.

I pray to God, “Lord God, we are doing our very best to exalt You and give You all the glory. We can do nothing more. But now it is up to You to rent the heavens and come down in power and mercy and visit us in our low estate. Let Your glory fill this place as You did it for Israel. O! that Your outstretched arm and mighty hand may once again begin to work for us as it did for them. Come Lord! Touch each one of us at the point of our need and restore and satisfy us!”

Often as we break the bread and drink of the cup of communion, we sing longingly, “If now, with eyes defiled and dim, We see the signs, but see not Him; O may His love the scales displace, And bid us see Him face to face!” (C H Spurgeon 1866).

But how wonderful and satisfying it would have been if, 'Jesus sat down with us, took the bread, and said the blessing; then broke the bread and gave it to us. Then our eyes will be opened and we will recognise him, and he will disappear from our sight!' But He had said, "I will not part take of the wine until I come in My kingdom". But think of it, if He drops in and does for us what He did for those two disciples, what a day it will be! What a dream come true!

It is my prayer (it has always been!) and I believe it would be the prayer of all His people, to give us an all-transforming experience of that of the two disciples on the way to Emmaus. Their eyes were opened and they recognised the risen Saviour Jesus Christ! Think of them before they saw the Lord, and after He met with them and they recognised Him.

Dear believer, that is what will happen to you when you have a personal encounter with the risen Lord! There will come a power from the Lord that will take you past your sorrow, pain, disappointment and disbelief to unspeakable joy in knowing that He is alive and with you! God is your refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble (Psa 46.1).

Pray and practise with me: Dear Lord, every time I enter Your holy temple, let me come with a passionate desire for my eyes to be opened that I may see Your presence and power! Amen.

Reconciled To God

GOD HAS RESTORED OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM THROUGH CHRIST, AND HAS GIVEN US THIS MINISTRY OF RESTORING RELATIONSHIPS. 2 Corinthians 5.18.

I know of a woman who said about her sister-in-law, “She never wanted her brothers and sisters and family members to live in harmony! For herself, if she was friendly with some, she was against the others!” It is sad when people and families do not want to live in peace and harmony, loving and helping one another.

This chequered relationship with one another began with our broken relationship with God. It all started at the very beginning of man’s history. Adam and Eve had a wonderful relationship with God. But when they disobeyed God and sinned against Him, that relationship was broken. But God has restored your relationship with him through Christ.

Cain offered a sacrifice which pleased him – the best of his crops, instead of offering a sacrifice from the flock, as God had shown him. “On Cain and his offering God did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast. Then the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry? (Gen 4.5-6).

Friends, sin breaks your relationship with God. You suffer the consequences of your sin. It doesn’t end there. You become angry with your brothers and neighbours. That is what happened to Cain. He got angry with his brother Abel. Abel didn’t do any wrong to Cain. Yet out of jealousy, Cain picked a quarrel with him. It led to the murder of Abel.

By dying on the cross, Jesus Christ has reconciled us to God. The apostle Paul says, “God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation”. Now, you are to do your utmost to live in harmony with your brothers and neighbours. You are to be reconciled with everyone. You also have the ministry of reconciliation to help others to mend their broken relationships. You are to make every endeavour to bring reconciliation between people, in families, the neighbourhood, society, nation and the world. The Word exhorts us, “Make every effort to live in peace with all men” (Heb 12.14). The Lord Jesus Christ said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God” (Mt 5.9).

Dear believer, you need to live in a vital relationship with your God. In today's ultra-busy life, you must make every effort to read God's Word daily and keep in touch with Him in continuous prayer. If you do not read regularly and know God's Word you will not know how to live a righteous life. You will disobey God and live in a broken relationship with Him. It will lead to wrong dealings and relationships with others.

True relationship with God can grow and mature only by keeping in continuous contact with God through His Word and prayer. Then, you will be a peacemaker in your family, neighbourhood and church, and not a 'peacebreaker'.

Pray and practise with me: Dear Lord, keep reminding me that You have reconciled me to God by dying for me on the cross! I am given the ministry to reconcile others to God and one another and not to quarrel or create strife. Amen.

Two Criminals Beside Jesus

THEY CRUCIFIED CHRIST, THE CRIMINALS ALSO, ONE ON HIS RIGHT AND THE OTHER ON HIS LEFT. Luke 23.33.

Have you tried to picture the scenes in your mind when you read the Scriptures? It is a good thing to do. The people and places and events will become vivid and focused. Everything sticks in your mind and you do not easily forget.

I can easily visualise the crucifixion scene as I read the Bible because in 1972 we had the rare privilege of standing on Mount Calvary. The locals called it ‘the place of the skull’ for, from a distance, the hillside has the semblance of a skull. Try imagining the scene in your mind. It will do you good to picture in your mind what you are reading. It is interesting as well as helpful for understanding and remembering! See the huge wooden cross at the centre. The Lord Jesus Christ was nailed to that tree. See His mangled body, blood-stained all over by the scourging and the piercing of the nails on his hands and feet. Water and blood gushing forth from His side when the soldier thrust his cruel spear! His thorn-crowned head hung over his bruised shoulders that carried the cross!

Suddenly you hear these words from a criminal hanging on the cross on his (right) side, “Don't you fear God at all? Can't you see that you're condemned in the same way that he is? Our punishment is fair. We're getting what we deserve. But this man hasn't done anything wrong”. Turn around and you see that he was speaking to another criminal who also was crucified on the other side of Jesus. This man speaks up again, this time to Jesus, “Jesus, remember me when you enter your kingdom.”

We can never forget the scene. Three crosses on Calvary. Jesus hung between the two criminals. But the truth is that one died still a criminal for he never repented but only reviled the Saviour. The other admitted his fault and sought forgiveness from Jesus. The response from Jesus was immediate, “I can guarantee this truth: Today you will be with me in paradise.”

Dear friend, the Bible says, 'we are all like the two criminals' beside the cross of Jesus. But 'It is up to you to be like the one you choose to be!’ You can acknowledge Christ who was crucified for you as your Saviour. You can let yourself be with Him 'now and day by day'. You can let Him live in and through you moment by moment. It will be like paradise on earth now, and in the hereafter!

Once the apostle Paul pictured himself beside the crucified Lord and said, “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Gal 2.19,20). The choice is yours – reckon yourself to be crucified with Christ and be with Him here on earth and after life in paradise. Don’t forget the other thief. He never repented of his sin; never called on Christ. Though he too was by the side of Christ, yet he died and went to hell!

Pray and practise with me: Dear Lord, I too have to take sides like the two criminals crucified beside You. Let me repent and die with You to my wicked ways of the world. Let me live in the power of Your resurrection. Amen.

Bear Jesus' Cross

A MAN NAMED SIMON FROM THE CITY OF CYRENE ..THE SOLDIERS FORCED HIM TO CARRY JESUS' CROSS. Mark 15.21.

We find fault with the disciples because they left their Master to suffer alone the ridicule, the persecution and the crucifixion. How could they have thought only of their own safety? Why didn't they stick with their Master in His darkest hour of suffering? At least Peter, who had a little earlier told the Lord, “Though all become deserters because of you, I will never desert you", should have remained with Him! (Mt 26.32).

The disciples were not with Jesus on that fatal night of trial and the terrible day of crucifixion. Had they been with Jesus there would have been no need for the soldiers to force an alien, Simon from Cyrene, to carry the cross for Jesus! They could have easily helped the poor exhausted Master to carry it along. They could have wiped His sweat, blood and tears. They could have comforted Him. Probably the soldiers would have scourged and flogged some of them, which would have reduced the number of stripes Jesus received! Peter, John and James, who were the closest to Jesus, could have been there to bear the cruel cross under the weight of which their Master fell again and again. Jesus had already warned them of the terrible things that would happen and they could have braced themselves up to be with their Master and even dared to die with Him! What a privilege it would have been!

There were no disciples when Jesus needed them. What a blessed opportunity the disciples missed because they left Jesus and ran away for their own safety! A foreigner, Simon the Cyrene, had to carry the cross for Jesus. Some say that he and his two sons, Rufus and Alexander, were among the disciples! If they were, what a distinction and divine privilege Simon had to be ‘the co –bearers of the cross of the Son of God!

Today, you may not be called to bear Jesus’ cross but there are many brothers and sisters of ours who are burdened with their heavy crosses. Dear believer, don’t be misled by the preaching and teaching that God's plan for you is 'health, wealth and happiness in this life!' 'Terrible times will come' in some measure for every child of God. If you are not in it now, you only have to see the suffering of your fellow believers and the reality of life will strike you!

There are many in great need and they are struggling along alone. Jesus expects you to go alongside and lend a helping hand in whatever way you can. The Lord once said about certain people, "They will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?' "He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me' (Mt 25:44,45).

It may be said to the shame of the affluent Christians of today that the 'Unbelieving' business people are the greatest aid-givers to the three quarter of the world's billions who are starving and suffering! They are taking the place of Simon the Cyrene which you and I should! It is time that you begin to ACT!

Pray and practise with me: Dear Lord, what a great privilege Simon had to bear Your cross. Today, we are given the privilege to bear one another’s burden. Help us to follow Simon’s example and help them out as doing to You. Amen.

You Ask & Will Receive

JESUS SAID, “I TELL YOU TO ASK AND YOU WILL RECEIVE. SEARCH, AND YOU WILL FIND. KNOCK, AND THE DOOR WILL BE OPENED FOR YOU.” Luke 11.9,10.

Many Christians do not take these words of the Lord Jesus Christ as a literal promise! I am afraid, you and I also take these words of the Lord with ‘a pinch of doubt!’ Probably we are not to be totally blamed for it! Many of our prayers have gone ‘unanswered!’ How then, can we really believe ‘the blanket offer’ of the Lord to ‘hear all our prayers?’

If Jesus had qualified His promise and said, ‘Some of the things we ask for, we will receive’, we could have easily believed! But Jesus makes a categoric offer with no bars or limits! According to that promise, you and I have asked for many things, fully believing that we would receive them. But we haven’t! So not to shake out faith too much, we take the easy way out. We pray for whatever we want. If we get them, we thank God for them. When we do not receive what we ask for, we are sad and disappointed and try to forget about it! But we slowly lose our faith in the promise. We faint and we do not persist in our prayers. We no longer have the faith to do so.

Dear friend, instead of losing faith in the Lord’s precious promise to answer your prayers, you must fully believe it. Don’t make your faith dependent on your experience. Rather, put your trust in a faithful God and His unchanging promises. Jesus laboured to explain the need for you to believe and persist in prayer in order to receive answers to your prayers. In order to emphasise it, He described prayer by three different terms: Ask; Seek; Knock. It is not mere repetition. He was telling that you could and should increase the intensity of your prayer. He then reassured us by saying, “Everyone who asks will receive, etc.” Jesus encourages you to brace yourself up in prayer and go ahead and keep asking, seeking and knocking!

So persistent was Jesus in His insistence that you should ask and keep asking. Hence, He also added a simple example from everyday life. He told 'how a sleepy, reluctant man' would get up at midnight and give you, his friend, whatever you asked and much more, because you kept asking and knocking!

The Lord could have stopped with that story, but He didn't! He knew you and I needed more convincing arguments that touched our very skin! He said, "If your child asks you, his father, for a fish, would you give him a snake instead? Or if your child asks you for an egg, would you give him a scorpion? Even though you are evil, you know how to give good gifts to your children. So how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit (good gifts) to those who ask him?” (vs 11-13).

Instead of losing your faith in prayer, you need to try and understand ‘why your prayers are not answered!’ It is because you think that your prayer is answered ‘only when you get what you asked for!’ You need to keep believing that ‘God keeps His promise and answers ‘all’ our prayers’. God’s answer could be ‘Yes to what you asked' or 'Yes the way He thinks it good for you in the final count' or 'Wait'. God cannot say ‘No!’ Do not take ‘Wait’ for a ‘No’. Keep praying! He will always give something better in His reckoning! If God does not keep His promise, He cannot be God!

Pray and practise with me: Dear Lord, help me to believe that You always keep Your promise and answer my prayers. Help me to keep on praying and not faint. Amen.

Walk With God Daily

EVEN THOUGH I WALK THROUGH THE DARK VALLEY OF DEATH, BECAUSE YOU ARE WITH ME, I FEAR NO HARM. Your rod and your staff give me courage. Psalm 23.4.

We have become a generation of 'X-TREMES' (even EXTREMISTS!) in everything and every way! During my recent trip to the UK, I happened to see a copy of an 'EXTREME YOUTH BIBLE' in a church I attended! Hollywood is inventing 'the extremes' but God is Lord over even the 'extremes!'

Notice the 'EXTREMES OF LIFE' that could confront God's people as described in today's well-loved and well-known Psalm! The Psalmist David says, "Even though I walk through the dark valley of death, because you are with me, I fear no harm. Your rod and your staff give me courage. Another translation has it: “Even if I go through the deepest darkness, I will not be afraid, LORD, for you are with me. Your shepherd's rod and staff protect me”.

Dear believer, it is good for you to be ‘PRE’-PARED for all 'extremes!' It will help you through if you ‘PRE’-LEARN how to overcome and outlive the most difficult situations when they come! But you need to know the Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ, the Son of God. You need to make him YOUR Good shepherd. You need to let him lead and guide you day-by-day. You need to walk with Him through the green pastures. Have you ever walked through a beautiful park with lush green grass and tall verdant (luxurious leafy green) trees and ponds with lilies, golden carps and cascading fountains? Have you strolled along with your Guide and Companion sharing your exquisite delight? Your soul is refreshed. Your mind is renewed. You feel like a new person. That is what the Good Shepherd will do for you, if you will let Him!

You need to learn to 'daily walk' with your Lord. You can do so in a park or garden, however small, or on the balcony of your apartment! Perhaps, you could take ‘a ride with Him’ in your car on the way to work or taking the children to school or going to the market. If nothing works, try ‘walking with Him through the Scriptures’ as you read your daily devotions! You have to make a start and learn to spend some quiet time with Him. You need to do it deliberately. Our days are getting busier and we are always surrounded by people, work or noises from the radio and TV, with no rest or quietness for our souls and spirit!

Dear believer, you need to experience walking with the Lord all the more because your good days will most certainly be overtaken by bad ones. None will escape them. They could be as bad as the psalmist says, “the valley of the shadow of death”. Some are still in that valley and smarting! The fire is on, the flames are rising, the furnace is hot. It is beyond your ability to handle. There is none to help or able to deliver except the Shepherd. The first SMS I received as I landed at the KLIA airport was from a desperate brother whose father is in his terminal state of cancer!

But if you have learned to walk side by side with the Good Shepherd all the way and have known His constant presence, then you will be sure that He is with you even when you walk through the darkest valley. You may fear the evil that has overtaken you. But imagine the Good Shepherd with His rod and staff in His hand walking beside you. Imagine Him using His rod to ward off the evil that surrounds you. Picture Him putting out His long curved shepherd’s staff to protect you from all evil. It may be a valley of shadows that will last for a time. He will comfort you. He will protect you. He will take you through. Or, it may truly be ‘the valley of death’ for you or for a dear one. Still the Good Shepherd will not leave you. He will comfort you with His presence and staff, in your agony and pain and carry you to ‘the other side’ safely! Make the LORD YOUR GOOD SHEPHERD today, and everyday!

Pray and practise with me: Dear Lord, be my Good Shepherd. Let me walk with You daily in green pastures and the darkest valleys, knowing that You are with me to comfort and carry me through. Amen.

Walk In Your Commandments

Make me walk in the path of your commandments, for I delight in it. Psalm 119.35

This has been my prayer from my younger days – that was over 6 decades ago! It still is my prayer everyday! For I have found that with all my desire and determination, it still is difficult to obey the Lord, especially when on every side I am tempted by every kind of temptation!

When I got saved, I began to like and love God’s Word. I knew it was good teaching and it was profitable. There is much wisdom in it for right living which pleases God and wins man’s approval. I realised that it is ‘a light to my path and a lamp to my feet'. But reading everyday and meditating on it ‘day and night’ as God commanded did not come to me easily or quickly (Jos 1.8). Keeping the instructions of the Word was yet another matter! If reading the Bible was difficult, obeying the commandments was a constant struggle. It is so even today!

I felt like the apostle Paul during his early Christian life. “For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out…For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do--this I keep on doing. …When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God's law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. What a wretched man I am!” (Rom 7.14-24).

Do you know that the psalmist King David too knew the power and pull of sin. He experienced the disobedience, defeat, the consequent judgment of God and the tragedies that dogged his life. He realised that there had to be a solution, a deliverance that came only from God, the Giver of the Law.

But he knew that it had to start with a deep and passionate love for God and His law. It led him to delight reading and meditating on it day and night (Psa 1.2). When we constantly read, then the Holy Spirit who inspired the Word will make it ‘the sword of the Spirit’ which can fight 'the tempter and the temptation' and give us victory (Eph 6.17). Jesus did it!

Dear friend, King David makes a desperate plea to God, “Make me walk in the path of Your commandments.” When we delight in God’s Word and pray like David prayed and cry like Paul did, God will fulfill His promise. The Lord said through the prophet Ezekiel, "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put my Spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes, and you will keep my judgments and do them” (Eze 36.26,27). DO IT LORD!

Pray and practise with me: Dear Lord, thank You for Your Word. Help me read it daily and to memorise it in my heart. Thank You for giving me Your Spirit. Let Him make me walk in the path of Your commandments. Amen.

For Those Who Trust In Him

But I will bless the person who puts his trust in me. Jeremiah 17.7.

Did you notice that the above promise of God starts with a “BUT”? The Bible is full of the promises of God for every occasion and all needs. BUT, all of God’s many promises for blessing are conditional! There is no blanket offer for everyone. God is good BUT He offers His blessings only to those who trust and obey Him. Even life eternal is offered to all freely BUT it is only to those who trust and keep trusting in Jesus Christ, God’s Son, our Saviour.

BUT there are many who are more anxious for His blessings than having a deep commitment to God. They blindly hope that because God is merciful and gracious, they too will receive all His blessings. Yes! The Bible says, “God causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous” (Mt 5.45).

BUT the ‘blessings that matter, that are real, that cannot be taken away from us or lost, that make us spiritually rich and cause others to be blessed by us and those that bring glory to God Himself’, are only for those who trust in God. The prophet Jeremiah describes one such person, “He is like a tree growing near a stream and sending out roots to the water. It is not afraid when hot weather comes, because its leaves stay green; it has no worries when there is no rain; it keeps on bearing fruit (v 8).

There are many ‘fair weather Christians’. When everything is going well, they trust in God. BUT when the sunshine is gone and the weather is not fair, they stop trusting in God because of the trials of faith. There are even those who, because of God’s rich blessings, begin to trust in them and stop trusting and depending on God. They even leave God and go after the blessing He has given them.

BUT God knows those who trust Him fully. They trust God not because He blesses BUT because HE IS GOD! God blesses them because they trust Him at all times. Sunshine or cloudy, rain or draught, they still keep trusting in God. In today’s text, God promises to bless such ones. Are you such a believer? You and I could be!

You and I need to decide to grow near the RIVER THAT FLOWS FROM THE THRONE OF GOD. It is full and overflowing with LIFE-GIVING WATER. BUT you must put your roots deep into the river of God by READING THE WORD OF GOD. You must make time to swim in the river and drink deeply THROUGH PRAYER. Be like prophet Ezekiel who at first was like the others playing in the shallow, ankle-deep water. BUT he decided to go deeper to knee depth, then to the waist until he was in the deep waters of the river which carried him afloat! (Ezek 37). Is that the picture of our spiritual lives?

You and I could be like the ‘Sunday Christians’, satisfied and PLAYING CHURCH in the shallow banks of the RIVER OF GOD. BUT, you can go deeper and deeper through decision, determination and discipline. Then, you will know the blessings of God. Friends, I am not talking about earthly blessings – like health, wealth and pleasure. God will give those and more. I am talking about ‘spiritual blessings’ which many do not know of!

Pray and practise with me: Dear Lord, I will always trust in You. Let Your blessings flow over me. I thank You for You have promised “goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever (Psa 23.6).