Light of the world!

The world we live in is filled with darkness. Often we turn a blind eye to what is happening around us. There is often no difference between right or wrong. People fall prey to making compromises. What once pricked our conscience fails to have any effect on us now. There is no place for guilt. Many have lost God-consciousness in their life. There are little things we do in our daily life without our knowledge that hurts others and above all God Himself. 

                                               Jesus is the light of the world. We need His light to see our stains. In Him there is no darkness. A small flame is enough to remove darkness. How much more the light of the living God! Darkness cannot prevail when Jesus is the light of our life. He throws His light on places where we fall and sin. He gives us His Holy Spirit who speaks with us with a gentle voice and shows us the way we should walk in. The Holy Spirit convicts us when we do something that displeases God. John 16:13 says, "But when He the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth..."

                                                 There might be a lot of darkness in your life. You may lock yourself up within a box, refusing to come out. Caught in the trap set by the devil. Always believing his lies that you have no place in the light. He is constantly trying to hold you in the darkness of the past, fear, regret, guilt, shame, depression and loneliness. But through Jesus we have dominion over sin! Isaiah 53:4,5 says, " Surely He took our pain and bore our suffering.. He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities: the punishment that brought us peace was on Him, and by His wounds we are healed..." 2 Corinthians 5:21 says, " God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God."   

When you give your life to Jesus and believe that only He can set you free from all your bondage, sin can have no control over you. Confess and repent. Do not continue in sin. Wash yourself with the word of God everyday. The blood of Jesus will cleanse you from all your sins. Oh how we need Jesus! He fills us with the joy of salvation! He is the author of life! John 1:9 says that He is the true light that gives light to everyone. Colossians 1:13,14 says, "For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins." 

According to 1 Peter 2:9, " You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light." Let us live in His light to see us more clearly. Let us live in His light to shine His light on others. The light of God will outshine all darkness. Let us walk In the light of Jesus.

A leap of faith!

                                                Faith is being completely confident of what we hope for. Faith is believing that you receive, even before you do. Faith is believing that there is nothing too hard for the Lord. Faith is believing that God exists and rewards anyone who earnestly seek Him( Heb 11:6). Without faith it is impossible to please God(Heb 11:6). God wants us to have a child like faith. He wants us to put our absolute trust in Him. He wants us to take a giant leap of faith. There are several incidents from the bible where many have enjoyed the fruit of their faith. 

                                               She had been subjected to bleeding for 12 years. She spent all the money she had on pills and hospitals. She consulted numerous doctors. She was considered unclean. She once stood tall but now, frail. Her strength diminished day by day. Her lamp was about to be snuffed out. Her hopes of leading nothing more than just an ordinary life seemed to fade. Doctors could only feel sorry for her. They tried their best but she got worse every day. She had heard of Jesus. He restored sight. He made the deaf hear, the mute speak and even demons fled at His words!! "Surely, He could save me", she thought, "But, how will I step out? What if someone sees me? People look at me with disgust! I'm untouchable!" She was pushed to the edge of her life. She was standing between two mountains. A mountain of pain and a mountain of pure joy. There was a valley too deep in between. A valley of doubt, fear, shame and disappointment. Yet, this woman took a giant leap of faith. She was relentless. "If only I touch the hem of His garment, I will be healed", she said to herself. She gathered the little strength she had. She was afraid that someone might see her. She stepped out of her house. There was a huge crowd gathered around Jesus. How could she escape someone's eye? She got to her knees and she crawled. Like a crippled. She struggled yet persistent until she caught a glimpse of Jesus. She couldn't see His face. But, she could reach his cloak. This was the only hope she had. She knew that this was it. She knew that tomorrow will be a better day. She believed with all her heart, that she would be set free. She put all her trust in Jesus. She touched the edge of His cloak. The hem of His garment. At once, she realized she had never been so strong before. Tears of joy ran down her cheeks. She knew right away that her bleeding stopped. She was healed. She was restored. She had taken a leap of faith and landed on a mountain of joy. 

                                            Mark 9:23 says, ".. Everything is possible for one who believes" The world may say believe in yourself and you can do it. Faith in God does not mean that you believe in Him, 90% and believe in your own strength, 10%. No!! Phillipians 4:13, says" I can do ALL THINGS through Christ who strengthens me". I'd like to interpret it this way. " I can do nothing without Christ who strengthens me!" Therefore put all your trust and hope in Jesus. That only He can help you overcome your battles. 

                                           Finally, John 20:29 says," Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." All those promises you received from God, your situations may tell you it's impossible. But God says, "Everything is possible for the one who believes!" Take a giant leap of faith today.

Commit and confess!

       

The moment you realise your sins, don't dwell in regret but run into the arms of God. When the world deserts you, calling you names, Jesus is right there by your side. None of your past mistakes determine your destiny with Him. There is power in the name of Jesus. There is salvation in the name of Jesus. There is no other name on heaven and earth greater than the name of Jesus.

                       Look at yourself in the eyes of God. Do you think God is pleased with you? 1 Peter 1:13 says, 'but just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written:"be holy, because I am holy"'. It could be something as small as your words. Do your words build or break? Are there secret sins? We think no one's watching but God is. Every second of every minute. It pains him to watch you hurt yourself. Lately did your peers talk you into addiction? You're so deep into it that you feel there's no way out. But the good news is, you can be set free. Confess your sins before God. Never repeat them. That's all it takes. Commit your life to God. Proverbs 28:13 says,' whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.' 

                         The sins that we've committed, stop God from working in our life. But when we confess and let it go, at that very instant God forgives us. Isaiah 1:18 says, "though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as Crimson, they shall be like wool." Not just that! He purifies us. He redeems us back. He cleanses us from all unrighteousness. He is faithful. He is just. He is slow to anger. He is rich in mercy. He is abounding in love. There's nothing too hard for Him. Don't remain in sin but remain in God. John 3:9 says, "no one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God".  

                     Don't let regret rule over you. Don't let your confidence in Christ be crushed. The devil might say you are doomed to destruction. But Jesus says 'believe in me and you will be saved' !! He didn't come to condemn you but to save you. John 3:17: ' for God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.'

John 9:28 says," so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for Him."

                     Heaven is so real! And so is hell! The one ticket to heaven is accepting Jesus Christ as your personal saviour. To believe in the truth that only He can free you from the clutches of sin and death. By doing exactly what He wants us to do. There is no other way but Jesus. The only way that leads to eternal life. A beautiful mansion is being made ready for u. Are u ready for it? Mathew 25:13 says, 'therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.' Jesus is coming back again! Let's live a life that's pleasing in His sight. Commit, confess and elude condemnation on the day when Jesus comes back ! Not as a lamb but as the lion of Judah. As a judge to save those who put their trust and faith in Him. To separate sheep from goats! To take you back with Him to heaven. To spend eternity with you. 

Trust In the Lord!

Trust. A word so often broken. You've been through so much in life and let down so many times that you're afraid to trust anyone, anymore. Maybe someone you held close to your heart. Someone who you thought would always be there when you needed them. Someone you could count on. Someone who promised to be with until your last breath. But then, one day, you realized they were but words. They disappeared from your life. You were left all alone. By yourself! Without a shoulder to lean on! Without a hand to hold! Without a shade in the sun! Without a roof in the rain! You were betrayed!

                            This is what happens when you trust in man(or woman). Broken promises. Empty words. You promise yourself not to trust anyone. You think you need nobody. You shut yourself to the world. You pretend to be strong outwards. Independent. But inside, you're a bruised reed. A smoldering wick. A dying flame. About to lose hope in life. And that is exactly where God finds you. He stretches His hands and takes you out of the deepest pit in your life. He pulls you out of this little box you're in. From the unstable shack you've built for yourself.           

                          Jesus says, 'Sweetheart, I'm right here for you. You can totally trust me. I'll be your refuge. I'll be your shelter. I love you more than words can express. My love ran red on the cross. Just for you. I left my kingdom on heaven and came to the earth just to save you. Trust me to trust your relationships. When you trust me, do you think I'll let anyone break your heart? Your trust? See, I made you. I know what's best for you. Leave it to me. Let me take the driver's seat. Trust me with all your heart, and I'll always be there to hold your hand. I'll walk with you till eternity. Haven't you heard? I'll never leave you nor forsake you. I won't let you go. Trust me, will you?' 

A ransom for many!

From the minute He came out of Mary's womb he needed oxygen to live. He needed food to get through the day. He needed water, when thirsty. He needed sleep, when tired. Jesus was Human to the very last detail!

                      The king of kings, the One who is the truth, the way and the life, chose to come down in human form. Jesus didn't chose to be a supernatural being. Like an angel with wings. His aim was not to be a superhero. He didn't want all the glam. He did not expect to be treated as a celebrity. He did not desire the high places among the honorable men in town. He did not want a throne. He didn't seek fame.

                      He came to seek those who were lost. To bring us out of darkness into light. He came to die like a mere mortal. Jesus sacrificed Himself on the cross just for you and me. He willingly gave Himself as an offering to atone for our sins. In Him we have the assurance of eternal life. Through The power of His resurrection at work within us we have the power and authority to overcome our weakness. 

                     He came just to serve us. Not to be served but to serve. He could've taken just the saints with Him to heaven 2000 years back and destroyed every sinner in the world. He could've created a new earth with just the holy people. But there was something that stopped Him from doing that. Something called love. Something called grace. Something called compassion. Yes. He came down not for the saints but for sinners like you and me. He doesn't want you to die. He longs to be with you. For eternity. He came down so that He may win you back. Jesus truly, deeply loves you! Serve Him now with all your heart, mind,soul and strength!

Find Life.

Mathew 16:24-27
24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. 26 What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul ? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? 27 For the Son of Man is going to come in His Father's glory with His angels, and then He will reward each person according to what they have done."

                       When Jesus came down to earth, although He was the Son of God Himself, He was human in every way. He never forgot the reason why He was sent. He went about doing His Father's business. When the soldiers came to arrest Him, He had all the power in Him to consume them by fire. He could've sent a great earthquake to swallow them up. But as a lamb is led to its slaughter, Jesus gave Himself to be sacrificed. He took up His cross. He died. So that you and I will not die, but have everlasting life.
                                       God doesn't expect us to physically sacrifice ourselves, rather, He wants us to be a living sacrifice. He wants us to start with little things. It could be giving up our spot in the queue for someone who needs it more than we do. To know the difference between our needs and wants. To put a smile on another person's face. To forgive. To be compassionate. To love. To be kind. There is a dearth of such people in this world. God wants you and I to be like that. To be like Jesus. We need to follow Jesus. Don't just stop with being a follower but take up your cross and be a disciple of Jesus.
                                        Let us set our eyes on what is above. Only when we do, we realize our purpose. Fix your eyes on Jesus. When you lose something for the sake of God, God will restore your losses in double measure. Forgive others because you are forgiven. Help one another, because your help comes from the Lord. Love one another, because Jesus loves you. Pray for one another, because Jesus continually intercedes for you. Put others before yourselves, because Jesus put you before Himself. Remember, your reward is in heaven!
                                       What does it mean to lose your life? Does it mean that you sell everything you own and give it to the poor and go on a pilgrimage? Perhaps. But not necessarily. There is an underlying meaning. It is the random act of kindness that you show to one another. To value others more than yourself. It is to reflect God's love in your life. We run behind something everyday. We chase our dreams. We struggle to have a good life. We strive to make ourselves happy. It's always about me, my family, my dreams. While running this race we forget about God's purpose for us. We forget God's plan for us. We work so hard in fulfilling our dreams, yet, without our knowledge, become less of God's dream for us.
                                        Living a life without Jesus, doesn't make sense. Without Jesus, even though we live, we are dead. You may have everything in this world, but deep down in your heart, there is a void that no one can fill. A hole deeper and darker than any black hole. A God shaped vacuum. Only Jesus can fill your heart. Only He can give you peace that is permanent. Only he can make you smile at the storms. Laugh at tomorrow. Jesus came so that you may have life and have it abundantly! Find Jesus. Find life! 
                 

For Good.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28(NIV)

When you love God with all your heart, all your mind, all your strength, then right from the smallest thing as silly as not waking up because your alarm did not go off, to the most painful and bitter experience in your life, has all happened together for your own good! There is a higher calling! A greater purpose! Remember, Jesus went through excruciating pain for you and me. It was you and I who deserved to be on that cross. He loves us and considers us too precious to be bought by silver or gold. That is the reason He bought us by shedding His own blood down to the last drop. That is how much He loves us.
                                         Often we ask,''Why has God let this happen to me?'' We may not have wronged anyone intentionally. We may have a good heart and be at peace with everyone around us. Yet, we get wounded. We get hurt. Life hits us hard. Let me remind you something. As long as Jesus was on earth, He went about doing good. Made the blind, see. Deaf, hear. Dumb, speak. Lame,walk. Dead, live. He restored healing. He set the captives free. He preached and lived a life of love. Yet, men spat on His face. He was humiliated. He was given a crown of thorns. He went through a death that even the greatest sinner was spared of. You and I would've been on that cross. Instead,it was Jesus. The sinless lamb of God!
                                         Through all of this He was not angry with God. He never complained. But thanks be to God, that because of the death of Jesus and the power of His resurrection you and I eluded our spot on the cross. Through Jesus, we have become more than conquerors, a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession. Whatever that has happened to you so far in your life, is going to work out for your own good at the end. You may not see it now. But there is a God above who is putting all the fine pieces of the puzzle together. You are being sculpted into a beautiful masterpiece! Your life is scripted by the Author of our Salvation!

Beauty of Grace!

8 1-2 Jesus went across to Mount Olives, but he was soon back in the Temple again. Swarms of people came to him. He sat down and taught them.

3-6 The religion scholars and Pharisees led in a woman who had been caught in an act of adultery. They stood her in plain sight of everyone and said, “Teacher, this woman was caught red-handed in the act of adultery. Moses, in the Law, gives orders to stone such persons. What do you say?” They were trying to trap him into saying something incriminating so they could bring charges against him.

6-8 Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger in the dirt. They kept at him, badgering him. He straightened up and said, “The sinless one among you, go first: Throw the stone.” Bending down again, he wrote some more in the dirt.

9-10 Hearing that, they walked away, one after another, beginning with the oldest. The woman was left alone. Jesus stood up and spoke to her. “Woman, where are they? Does no one condemn you?”

11 “No one, Master.”

“Neither do I,” said Jesus. “Go on your way. From now on, don’t sin.”

-John 8:1-11 (The Message Version)

They whisper to one another. They call you names. Sometimes in your face but often behind your back. Self righteous, Hypocrites, A brood of vipers, is what Jesus calls them(Matt 23:33). They lurk behind the corners, waiting to see you fall. Waiting to see you make mistakes. They are quick to judge. Unhesitating to condemn.They look at a speck in your eyes but are blinded to the plank in their own.

                    In this incident, the woman is a prostitute. Was she forced into it? No one knows. Why did she take it up? There are no answers. Did she do it for pleasure or was it for survival? They seldom cared. All they did was shame her in public. Cause her disgrace. They waited for this moment. They’ve rehearsed the lines. They hid near her house and waited till she let into her house, a man who was not her husband. The moment had finally arrived. She opened her house. She was caught in the act. Red-handed. They felt proud. A bunch of religious fanatics.

                    From young to old. They dragged her to Jesus. They knew the law. She must be stoned. To death. Each was waiting with a stone, ready to throw at her. Ready to heap accusations. The man she was with, walked free. Was he was one of them too? Was he was the bait? Did he lead them to her? Maybe. These men must have had a rush of adrenaline. They wanted to see what Jesus would say to all of this.How would He react? Will he obey the law of Moses? Will he let them have the pleasure to throw the stones at her? Will he let her bleed to death? Will he let them have a reward for their extremist behavior, for the sake of their religion?

            They questioned Him. They could wait no longer. But Jesus, was silent. He bent down and was writing in the dirt. They wouldn’t stop. They kept at it. Heaping accusation upon accusation. Condemnation upon condemnation. They kept on questioning Him. He went about doing good(Acts 10:38), what would He do now? In Him there is no sin(Gal 5:21), will He put up with this woman? Shouldn’t He rain down fire and consume her for what she has done. Shouldn’t He kill her right away? Why wait? They kept retelling her offence. The woman went through excruciating pain. She was sure she would die. She trembled with fear. She couldn’t take her eyes off the stones. She cried. Her hands covered her face. Between her fingers, her eyes  moved between the stones and Jesus. Fear gripped her. Everyone, from young to old, kept saying, “Stone her!!”.

                  But,Jesus! He finally broke His silence. He looked up. “The one who is without sin, go ahead. Throw the first stone at her”, He said. The woman was thunderstruck! Those who passed judgement on her, dropped the stones, the moment they heard these words from Jesus. First the elders, then, the young. Until no one was left. Except Jesus and the woman herself. Among all of them, the only one who had all the authority, the all holy, the one in whom no sin or blame or guilt is found was Jesus. But Jesus,with his finger in the dirt, continued to write. I could imagine him writing this word: GRACE. He looked at her and said, “Neither do I condemn you, from now on do not sin.” She was forgiven.

                Sure, she deserved death. All of us do. You and me. We all have sinned. We all, have fallen short of God’s glory. There is no one who does good. No. Not even one(Romans 3:10-12). But Jesus, does not condemn. He does not accuse. He does not remind you of your mistakes.

               Romans 8:1,2 says,”Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.” 

Jesus does not condemn you and me. When we are in Jesus, sin has no control over us. We are set free. It is no longer by law that we are saved. Not by our righteous acts. But by His grace. That is beauty of grace! Jesus can set you free from your secret sins. Jesus can take them all away. Lay your baggage of sins at His feet. The mistakes of your past will not haunt you anymore. Jesus won’t condemn. He won’t criticize. Jesus loves you!

I John 1:9,10 says, “9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.”

Proverbs 28:13 says, “Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.

The absence of our condemnation doesn’t mean the approval of our sins. Let us confess our sins and find grace from God. He bore the punishment for our sins. He took our place. We are set free in Christ! Let us leave our sins at His feet. He is faithful and just to forgive them and lead us in a life free from sin and death. An eternal life awaits you in Jesus Christ today! The Beauty of Grace!

Your strength over my weakness!

My Prayers, unanswered.

My Hope, so frail.

My Strength, decreased.

Yet, Your love never failed!

My dreams, crushed.

My joys, lost.

My pain, increased.

But, my battles, you fought! 

My trust, broken.

My heart, wounded.

My life, shaken.

Now, my burdens, you've taken! 

Joy, inexplicable.

Love, eternal.

Peace, unending. 

In Jesus I found, In Him forever!  

Not forgotten!

The God who made the heavens and the earth, the one who knew you when you were in your mother's womb, the one who gave you the breath of life, promises to never forget you. You are always on His mind. He loves you and even before the creation of this world He chose you. Jeremiah 1:5 says, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,Before you were born I set you apart.."

 A mother constantly thinks about her child. Are you a mother? Do you recall those sleepless nights? Or the nights when you fell asleep with the baby still in your lap? Sometimes you tried so hard to stay awake but you just couldn't. It's human. We're burdened by the worries of the world and caught up in our busy life that we tend to forget the ones we call our own. 

 The ones whom we love in this world, have no time for us. Sometimes because they don't care anymore. But Jesus, even for a moment promises never to take his eyes of you. You're all He could think about. He who made the heavens and the earth, who set the stars and the planets in its place, who made a boundary for the seas, who created every living creature, the macroscopic and the microscopic, the seen and the unseen, from the gravitational force that holds the planets together to the nuclear forces that keeps atoms intact, from the biggest galaxies to smallest known quarks, is thinking about you this very second.From the time you were formed in your mother's womb till eternity.

He has engraved you on the palms of His hands. When the soldiers took the hammer to drive the nail through His palms, blood gushed out of His hands. Unbearable pain overtook Him. He cried and writhed in agony. He was human after all. He couldn't take it anymore. But then in a split second of moment He saw something. That moment when He with His own hands took the clay from the earth and made something beautiful. When He put sinews on you, made flesh grow on you and cover your body with skin and put the breath of life in you. That moment when you came alive! (Ezekiel 37:6) It was you that kept Him on the cross! It was His love for you. That you may not perish but spend eternity with Him. That is the reason He took your place on the cross. That you may not die but live with Him eternally. For infinity and forevermore!