Move Forward by Leaning On the Lord!

“Now there were four men with leprosy at the entrance of the city gate. They said to each other, “Why stay here until we die? If we say, ‘We’ll go into the city’—the famine is there, and we will die. And if we stay here, we will die. So let’s go over to the camp of the Arameans and surrender. If they spare us, we live; if they kill us, then we die.” (2 Kings 7:3-4).

In one of Dr. Tony Evan’s books, He said this – God hits a moving stone/target. Dr. Tony Evans is a DTS graduate and the pastor of the Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship which is a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching megachurch in Dallas, Texas. 

There was a big famine in Samaria, the city of the Northern Kingdom called Israel. This happened when Joram, son of Ahab, ruled there in about 850 BC. Like his father, Ahab, he did evil in the Lord’s sight. Bible says Joram clung to the sins of Jeroboam by which he made Israel sin. Bible says God allows natural calamities because of the sins of the rulers and people of the land when they live in sin without repentance. You see, we are accountable to God for the sins we commit against Him. Famine was so severe that a donkey’s head was sold for eighty shekels of silver. A quarter of the cab of seed pods was sold for five shekels. Today’s 80 shekels price is about $420 or Rs. 30,000 to buy a donkey’s head. The famine was so great that according to verses 28-29, a woman cooked his son and ate. People did untold and never heard of atrocities in those days to survive.

Our today’s insight says during this severe famine time, there were four men with leprosy at the entrance of the gate. As outcasts of the community, they encountered more difficulties than others. They said to each other why do we stay here until we die? They decided to go over to the enemy camp. Four lepers stepped out and took the next step in desperation. They knew their condition was hopeless and that they were going to die. They said we would go into the city and surrender to the enemies, the Arameans. They knew they had nothing to lose. If they remained where they were, they would die in famine, and if they went inside the city and famine there also, they would die. However, if they show mercy to them, they would live, or we die anyway.

The camp was empty when they entered the gate, to their surprise. No one was there. God works in mysterious and miraculous ways. The Syrians (Arameans) fled from the camp, leaving their supplies and valuables, including donkeys and horses because God sent fear to their heart. Lord caused them to hear the voices of a big army, horses, and chariots, and they feared the king of Israel hired Hittite and Egyptian kings to attack them. The four leprous men entered their tents and ate and drank. They took silver, gold, and precious items and began to hide them. They went back and got more.

Then they thought what they were doing was not right because the people in the nation were dying in a famine. They went and reported to the city gatekeepers. King of Israel sent officers to check it out. All the people went and plundered the camp, and all were filled with food and sufficient resources.

Dearly beloved, you may be in a frustrating situation, or you may be in a pretty good one. However, I need to tell you this – you need to move forward and take the next step by leaning on the Lord. Four leprous men had to step out in faith to see the wonder-working power of God. They would not have experienced the hand of the Lord had they continued sitting at the city gate. God exercises your faith when you take that next step in faith. Do not allow yourself to be stuck. 

What do you think you would do next? Maybe you need to take the step now to come to Jesus Christ and accept Him as your savior and Lord if you have never taken that step- the first step and the essential step in life to reconcile with God. Alternatively, your next step could be studying the Bible and attending a Bible class and prayer group. Maybe you need to take the step to make what God put into your heart a reality- the vision that God laid on you. Maybe you need to prepare your resume and apply for a job. Maybe you need to take the step to go and talk to your neighbor about the love of Jesus Christ. God still hits a moving target. 

Got a moment for today’s prayer? “Father in heaven, I take the most important step to come to you in prayer, and I accept Jesus Christ as my Savior and Lord. God sent Him to this earth to save me from my sins. I believe Jesus died and rose again for all of my sins. I am sorry for my sins. Please forgive me and save me. Please give me eternal life in heaven with you when I die. In Christ’s name, I pray. Amen.”

“So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God that has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls”. James 1:21.

The Word of God has the power to save souls forever.

We have two choices. These are those two choices. Either keep all the filth and evil in our hearts, live a bitter, unhappy life, and end up in a horrible place where there is no trace of the goodness or presence of the loving God. Or Humbly accept the Word of God presented and planted in our hearts. When we accept the Word of God as it is given to us by reading the Bible, listening to Bible teaching, preaching, or insights like today’s insight, it has the power to save your souls. The Word of God has the supernatural power to save, change and transform us. It will make a brand new person out of you- a clean and honorable vessel. All the filths of the past are gone fully and completely. God’s brush will remove all filth and evil, and we will become clean and white by its power.

Bible says in 1 Peter 1:22 says, “For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring Word of God.” Then the next verse compares the eternal and everlasting Word of God with people. It says, “all people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the Word of the Lord Endures forever. And this is the Word that was preached to you.”

Recently we lost one of our dear family members. We lost her here on this earth. But she is in the presence of the Lord at the moment of her death because she was a born-again believer in Jesus Christ. The pictures flashed on the screen reminded me how beautiful she was in her 20s and now for the last two years. Now for two years, she suffered a lot, and her beauty faded away.

Bible says all people are like grass, and all their glory and beauty are like the flowers of the field. The grass withers, and flowers fail eventually. But in contrast, the Word of God endures forever. Why? God is eternal and everlasting, and His Words in the Bible are also eternal and everlasting.

My beloved, have you been saved by the word of God yet? Today’s daily insights say, “for it has the power to save your souls.” It is through the living and enduring Word of God that we have the opportunity to be born again into God’s household. You see, you and I are born into our parent’s household. But that means only we are born Earthwise. Jesus said to Nicodemus, ‘ you must be born again.’ Jesus said to him, “Truly, Truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Jesus said you must be born again to see and enjoy heaven after your death or at the time of the rapture. Why did Jesus say, truly, truly (two times)? This means there is no other way to go and live in heaven with God once you finish your days here on earth. You must be born again! The Word of God (the Bible and its verses) has the power to save your souls eternally. And you must be born again by the eternal and everlasting Word of God.

When you hear the Word of God, the Holy Spirit of God convicts your heart and tell you this. Yes, what you heard is true. Come to Jesus Christ, the savior of the world now. Jesus came to this earth from heaven to die in your place for your sins. He paid for all of your sins on the cross. He was buried and rose again from the dead for your sake. The spirit of God invites you to accept Jesus Christ as your savior.

Wonderful and amazing! All the filth and evil will be gone because you humbly accepted the Word of God presented or planted in your hearts.

Got a moment for today’s prayer? Your soul will be saved eternally; you will become a child of God and born again into God’s household with a small prayer now.

Now, if you are a follower of Christ, then let the word of God transform you. It has the power to transform into the image of Jesus Christ. It has the power to change you to become all God wants you to be. Be a man or woman of one Book -the Bible originated from heaven, by God Himself.

Pray with me. “Father in heaven, I accept your eternal Word of God today. I understand it has the power to save my soul and transform me to look like your Son and savior, Jesus Christ. I believe Jesus Christ died and rose again for my sins. Please save me and guide me daily with your Word and its power. I thank you for saving me. In Jesus Christ’s name, I pray. Amen.”

Get connected to the source of power in this New Year!

“He (God) gives power to the weak

and strength to the powerless.” (Isaiah 40:29).

People make New Year resolutions. They decide I want to be better this year. I want to love my spouse and children more. I want to help people more. I want to obey and honor my parents. I want to do my job to the best of my abilities. I want to take care of my health. I want to concentrate on my studies and get an A+ grade. The list goes on like this.

Of course, we have good desires, wishes, and even the best plans. However, we discover later no matter how hard we do our best, sometimes we fail. We face moral and ethical failures. We face relationship and economic losses. In short, we fail in our pursuit to be the best. Many people already quit making resolutions because they discovered they failed consistently in achieving the goals they set in the past.

You see, I am not against having resolutions and good plans. Because if you do not have a plan, you are lost and do not know what to do. However, the best of our plans come short, and we sometimes end up in regret and disappointments. This is a fact of life.

Now, one of the reasons for our failure is simply because our goals are not achievable. Make reasonable and achievable resolutions. Do not place unrealistic expectations. Secondly, we fail because we try to achieve our goals in our strength. We are disconnected from the source of all power that enables us to fulfill our goals.

Our insight says, “He (God) gives power to the weak

and strength to the powerless.”

When you come short and do not meet the bar you placed for yourself this New Year, do not forget to turn to God and seek His help. Do not forget to agree with him about your moral failures. Do not fail to humble yourself in front of the almighty God and confess to Him your shortcomings. You see, this is the solution to all of our failures. Run to God and do not run away from Him. Draw near to Him. Get connected or re-connected with the strength the Lord gives. 

Apostle Paul, who understood this truth, wrote this in Philippians 4:11-13, “I have learned this secret, so that anywhere, at any time, I am content, whether I am full or hungry, whether I have too much or too little. I have the strength to face all conditions by the power that Christ gives me.” GNT.

You see, you need the strength and power to achieve your plans. You need strength to do all that God asks you to do, don’t you? You need the power and energy to take care of your family, children, work, ministry, and a hundred other things. 

Where do you get the required power? Jesus Christ gives the power you need as you come to Him. Say it with me, “I have the strength to face all conditions by the power that Christ gives me.”

None of us can expect our life to be smooth with no roadblocks and issues this coming year. However, when it does hit roadblocks, you need the ever-present help of God available in Jesus Christ. I know that Jesus gives me power when I am weak. He gives me strength when I am powerless. The power of God is available in Jesus Christ. Commit your plans to the Lord in prayer, lean on His strength every day by acknowledging, “I can do all things, and I can face all conditions by the power that Christ gives me.”

Do you have this assurance?

If not, you need to get connected or reconnected to Jesus Christ, the source of your power. He supplies what you lack to achieve Godly goals in your life. May I give you an opportunity to come to the living God in Jesus Christ? Jesus is the savior of the whole world because he carried your sins and shortcoming on his divine and sinless body and went to the cross and paid the penalty for you. The blood of Jesus is the ransom paid for your salvation, forgiveness, and eternal life. Jesus died and rose again for you. He has the all-sufficient and never-ending power to help you in all of your needs.

Bible says Jesus stands and knocks at the door of your heart. Invite him to come into your life and begin the New Year with his divine strength, help, and indescribable joy.

Pray after me. “Father in heaven, I believe Jesus died for my sins, buried and rose again. I want to get connected to you and your blessings by accepting Jesus as my savior and Lord. Please forgive my sins. Allow me to have a brand new life on the first day of this year. Thank you for coming into my life. In the name of Christ, I pray. Amen.”

We belong to the Lord, whether we live or die.

“If we live, we live for the Lord, and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.” Romans 14:8. CJB.

We learned in yesterday’s insight that you belong to the Lord because He created you. Not only do you belong to the Lord, but the Bible also says He owns you. Psalms 24:1 says, “the earth is the LORD’S and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein.” As the creator, He is undoubtedly is your owner as well. God is the creator and owner of all the earth and universe, including you as an individual.

Our today’s insight takes us to the next level of understanding. It says, “If we live, we live for the Lord, and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.” Amazing divine truth. Simply stated, when we live, we belong to the Lord. When we die, then also we belong to the Lord. Death does not change the ownership claim of God over us. Listen to what God said in Isaiah 26:19. He said, “Your dead will rise; my corpses will rise.” We do not want to be near a dead body for a long time, do we? Of course, we bury them the same day or in a few days. In the USA, the dead bodies are taken out of the home immediately after the death and funeral home arrangement. However, the Lord God claims this way, “My corpses.” Therefore, if we live, we live here now for the Lord, and if we die, we die for the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. (CJB).

The Bible says death is simply a separation. The separation of our spirit to the presence of the Lord if you are a believer in Jesus Christ and the body goes to the grave. The Bible says in Ecclesiastes 12:7, “the dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.” Death is not the end of our lives.

God says your dead are “My” corpses. He takes full ownership and responsibility for the dead bodies. The reason is He will raise them up in the future. He makes sure they all rise from the dead. However, the Bible says the spirit of those who accepted His salvation offered through Jesus Christ will be translated into His presence immediately upon death, although the body goes to the grave until the resurrection day. The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 5:8, upon the death of a believer in Jesus, he or she will be absent from the body and present with the Lord.

All who are dead will rise from their graves in the future. Those who would not accept Jesus, the only savior of the world, would also rise, stand before the white throne judgment, and be judged according to their works on the great judgment day. (Revelation, 20:13). While those who put their trust in Jesus, the only savior, who died for their sins would not be judged by their works, those who did not accept God’s way of gracious and free salvation on the merit of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus on their behalf, would be judged according to their works because they haven’t accepted the gracious free offer of salvation.

Listen! the Bible also declares no one would be saved by their good works. Romans 3:20 says, “by the works of the Law, no flesh will be justified in His (God’s) sight.”. Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.”

“Father in heaven, the moment of my death, I want to be present with you in heaven. I accept the free and gracious offer of your salvation. I believe Jesus died, buried, and rose again for my sins, and he paid for my sins with His divine and sinless blood. I accept Jesus as my savior and Lord. Please forgive and save me today. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.

Know Who You Belong to!

“Acknowledge that the Lord is God.
He made us, and we belong to him.” Psalm 100:3. NET

You may have a beautiful house and a car. You may have a highly-paid job. You may have more beauty than others around you. You may be taller than your friends, or you may be a millionaire. You may be proud that you are a self-made man or woman. None of these things makes you precious.

What makes you valuable or precious is understanding who you belong to. The Bible says God made you, and therefore you belong to him. Several years ago, my son made a simple toy with his hands. He told me the toy he made was His. Of course, he is correct. He made it. Just because he made it, it is his. It belongs to him.

The Bible says because God made you, you are His. You belong to Him. That awareness makes a big and good difference in your life. You belong to God. You are His masterpiece. The Bible says in Psalms 139 that God created your inmost being. You are knit together in your mother’s womb by God. He fearfully and wonderfully made you. It also says you are woven together by Him. Therefore, our insight says to acknowledge that the LORD is God. He made you, and you belong to him. Accept the fact and acknowledge it in your heart.

This awareness that God made you fearfully and wonderfully makes your heart filled with thanksgiving to God. You are the masterpiece of God. Our insight says to enter his gates with thanksgiving. Give Him thanks. Praise His name. Does it also say why you should thank and praise Him? Because the LORD is good. His loyal love endures forever. You see, God’s love is loyal. It will last forever and ever. People may leave you. They may hurt you. You would not see loyal love in these dark days. However, mark my words -God is the only loyal love you experience on this planet. He would never leave you because He loyally sticks with you. Not only is His love loyal and enduring forever. His faithfulness lasts through all generations. He will be faithful to you no matter what you do or whatever happens to you. Things may look bad and humanly uncontrollable. However, the one who loves you loves you loyally and faithfully; his loyal love and faithfulness endure or last forever. You build your life on that loyal love and faithfulness of God.

Face life and its challenges with this beautiful knowledge. God made you. You are His masterpiece. He knitted you together in your mother’s womb. God expects you to give him thanks and praises. His love is loyal and last forever. His faithfulness toward you lasts or endures forever. You will find loyal love only in God.

More than all these, the Bible says God showed his ‘great’ love for you by sending His one and only Son, Jesus Christ, to die for us while we were sinners. The Bible says we have been made right with God by the blood of Christ’s death. He loves you, although you may feel far away from Him. God wants you to be reconciled to Him by coming to Jesus, whom He sent for the forgiveness of all your sins and salvation.

“Father in heaven, I acknowledge that I belong to you because you made me. I also understand your loyal love and faithfulness endure forever. I know you showed your ‘great’ love by allowing Jesus, Your Son, to die for my sins. I believe Jesus died, was buried, and rose again to save me. I accept the facts you showed me today. I invite Jesus to come into my life and save me today. In the name of Jesus Christ, I  pray. Amen.”

Begin Again!

“I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” Isaiah 43:19 (c).

If the Lord in heaven is not a begin again God, I will not reach out to you through teachbible.org. If I can begin again, you can begin again too. Bible is full of people who began again.

Be it Adam, Moses, David, Job, and the list goes on. Our loving God is the God who allows you to begin again and again and again. Do you like to begin brand new again? What stops you from beginning again? Made bad choices in the past? Reaping consequences? Lost your career? In debt? Face with health issues? Did the spouse walk away? Children turned against you? Friends cheated you?

Beloved, God of the Bible says, “I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” This promise is not from any human being. You heard it from the LORD in heaven. The King of kings and the Lord of lords. It means the living God in heaven says he makes the impossible possible for you. I want you to leave your doubts and worries and embrace and claim God’s promise today. Bible says our today’s Bible Insight in Isaiah 43 to a discouraged, depressed, and hopeless people. They did not have any hope for the future. They made their own grave by disobedience and rebelliousness to the loving God. They turned their back on God and forsook God. So, as a result, He sent them to exile in Babylon to reap the consequences of their sins. Psalms 137 describes their plight.

“By the rivers of Babylon,
we sat and wept
when we thought of Zion, our home, so far away.
On the branches of the willow trees,
we hung our harps and hid our hearts from the enemy.
And the men that surrounded us
made demands that we clap our hands and sing—
Songs of joy from days gone by,
songs from Zion, our home.
Such cruel men taunted us—haunted our memories.
How could we sing a song about the Eternal
in a land, so foreign while still tormented, brokenhearted, homesick?
Please don’t make us sing this song.” (Vs 1-4) The Voice translation.

However, in the midst of hopelessness, God says do not brood over the past. Do not spend your time on something you cannot change now. What is done is done. However, God says, move with my plan now. I am doing a new thing in your life. The new growth has already sprouted in you, can’t you see? God wants to move in and make a way in your wilderness and rivers in the desert for you. He knocks at the door, promising a blessed future again. You see, our God is loving and compassionate. When we turn to him in repentance and confess our sins, He gives us second, third, and fourth chances. If this were not true, none of us would remain in fellowship with Him today.

God says in Romans 8:28 He can cause all things to work together for good in your life. Whatever happened, He says He can cause all those things to work together for good in the end. Aren’t you excited about God’s beautiful and wonderful plan? When we come to Jesus Christ, His son and the savior of the whole world, Bible promises you to become a brand new creation by God’s divine grace and power. (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Beloved, Got a moment for today’s prayer? “Father in heaven, I come to you with a heavy and broken heart. My only hope is in you, Lord. Please remember me. You promised you would make way for me in my wilderness and rivers in my desert. Please do this for me, Lord. I am sorry for my sins, bad choices, and mistakes. I believe Jesus Christ, your Son, died for my sins and rose again to forgive me and grant me eternal life. I accept Him as my Savior and Lord. In the name of Christ, I pray. Amen.

Try To See The Heart Before Writing Off!

Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. “It is written,” he said to them, “‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it a den of robbers.’ ” Matthew 21:12.

Why did Jesus do what He did? He overturned the money changers’ tables and the benches of those selling doves. He said to them, “It is written, “My house will be called a house of prayer, but you are making it a den of robbers.”

At the first outset, we may think Jesus got angry suddenly without thinking properly- a sudden lash at the people and tables. Those who cast their lot with the movement of political correctness would undoubtedly come up with such a conclusion. Such people look at the words and are not bothered to understand the feelings behind them.

Many times we also do not look beyond the words and actions of good people. We must genuinely consider the feelings and zealousness of Jesus for the temple and what it must do in people’s lives. If you do not want to make mistakes, you need to learn to look beyond people’s hearts’ outward expressions. When people feel very strongly about their good and Godly convictions, they try to look beyond mere words and actions. If so, you can better relate to and profit from what is said.

Sometimes people say certain things not because they hate, disrespect, or despise. Their words may be the result of the pain they felt inside. If you do not see it, then you missed the point. You also lost great learning or improvement opportunity.

Of course, Jesus was concerned about the temple’s purpose in the people’s lives. The temple is meant for prayer, sacrifices, and worships. However, people in those days mixed these divine expectations with their selfish market interests (buying and selling) of animals and birds. The right and righteous anger of Jesus aroused inside Him. This is the reason why He did what He did.

I believe there is a lesson for us to learn here. We must understand what is going on in other people’s minds before labeling them out of tune or outcasts. To arrive at such a mindset to honestly figure out the hearts and intentions takes humility and active listening skills.

Got a moment for today’s prayer? “Father in heaven, I am sorry I failed to see the hearts and good intentions behind the words and actions. I understand I need to figure out people’s intentions without declaring them out of tune or caste. I am sorry for my sins in this matter. Help me, Lord, to learn from other people. Please help me to develop humility by actively listening than becoming judgmental. I know Jesus was silent when he was accused, and He carried my sins and then died in my place to save me. Please forgive my sins and save me today. I pray in the name of Jesus Christ.

The Steadfast Love Of God!

“Yet day by day the Lord also pours out his steadfast love upon me” Psalms 42:8.

Bible does not just say God loves us. It says God is love. (John 4:16(b). It means God pours out and fills in His love for people. God’s love is steadfast. Steadfast means resolute, unwavering, loyal, faithful, devoted, dedicated, dependable, constant, and solid.

David, the King of Israel, says in this Psalm that even though he is faced with tough, severe trials and troubles, day by day, the Lord also pours out His steadfast love upon him amid his difficulties. You see, God’s love, which is steadfast, is strong enough to face all the challenges of our lives.

Do you know the reason why we can love one another? Bible says, 1 John 4:19, “We love because He first loved us.” We would never have understood love unless we knew how much God loves us. Those who experienced the love of God have received the greatest gift of all. Nothing can compete for this gift of love. Because “God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” (Romans 5:5).

How do I know God is love? The one unique way He expressed His love toward us is by giving His only Son for our sins to die in our place. One of the most loved verses in the Bible is this – “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” God gave His only Son, Jesus Christ, and placed all the curses and punishment of our sins on Him, and He became the sacrificial lamb to remove the guilt of sins from us. This way, He reconciled us to Him in a loving fellowship and relationship. Human minds would not imagine such love—however, this is how God loved you, my dear friend.

Another Bible verse I love is this -“the steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Aren’t you glad about this verse? His steadfast love never ceases. People’s love ceases. But his love never. It never comes to a stop signal. It never ends. On top of all these, God’s love is new every morning. His love starts fresh every day. It is not a leftover love. It is fresh and new every morning. God guarantees it in Lamentations 3:22-23.

Beloved, Don’t you crave such love? Here is what God says to you, “For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, “Fear not, I am the one who helps you.” (Isaiah 41:13). You will never get much love from anybody on this earth. God promises He can pour out His love in your hearts. I sincerely hope you will receive His offer of love today.

Got a moment for today’s prayer? “Father in heaven, I need your steadfast, constant, faithful, never-ending, and always fresh love. Please pour your love into my heart. I believe You sent your Son, Jesus Christ, and allowed Him to die and rise again for all my sins. I accept Him into my life. Please save me and bless me with your love. In Jesus Christ’s name, I pray. Amen.”

An Invitation- Come Near to Him! He Will Draw Near to You!

“Come near to God, and He will come near to you.” James 4:8.

I know some people are afraid of God. They think God is angry at them and scared God will punish their shortcomings and sins. Hence, they keep the Lord at a distance because they do not know the truth about God. Because of their fear of God, they try to do so many good things and visit holy places imagining doing these things would somehow appease God’s anger toward them.

The thought that God is angry at you is far from the truth. It is a lie that the devil place in your hearts and minds. Many bought into his lie.

God is not angry at you. Immanuel was the name given to Jesus. Immanuel means “God with us.” Why? God was wrapped in the flesh in the person of Jesus Christ. The Lord God had said hundreds of years ago in the Scripture, “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). Isaiah 7:14 and Matthew 1:23. Not even on one occasion was Jesus angry at sinners. Jesus said, “It is not healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” Luke 5:31-32. Jesus did not come into this world for people who think they are already correct and proper. He came into this world seeking people who messed up their lives with bad choices and sins. He searched after them.

On another occasion, Jesus again said why He came into this world, and it is recorded in Luke 19:10. It says, “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” (Luke 19:10). Friend, the God, do not seek people who think they are fine and ok and do not need His help. Did you do something wrong? We all do wrong things unintentionally or intentionally because the Bible says, “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23). Did you break laws? Do you cheat? Do you steal? Do you live immorally? Or whatever. Jesus, the Immanuel, God with us, came seeking such people who are lost in their sins. All hated Zacchaeus because he cheated people by charging higher taxes. Jesus sought after him and spent time with him on the road and at his home. Nobody would go to Zacchaeus’s house. However, Jesus did. Zacchaeus became a new man from that day. He never forgets the day he experienced the divine touch and love of Jesus Christ. (Luke 19:1-10).

Jesus made a divine appointment with the Samaritan woman who had five husbands and then lived with another man. Jesus sought after her. She was transformed inside out and ran from Him, leaving the water jar there and announcing to all in the town about Jesus, the Messiah. People from the city came and believed in Jesus. (John 4).

Do not be afraid to come near to God. He has only love, mercy, kindness, and compassion toward you. Do you know how people blamed Jesus? They said, “He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner.” Luke 19:7. “This man (Jesus) welcomes sinners and eats with them.” (Luke 15:1-2). Why does He (Jesus) eat with tax collectors and sinners?” (Mark 2:16(c).
Beloved, God did not send His Son (Jesus) into this world to condemn you, but to save you through Him (John 3:17). You see, God demonstrated fully His love toward us (not His anger) because while you and I were still sinners and doing wrong things, Jesus Christ came and died for us. (Romans 5:8). Jesus paid for our sins and shortcomings with His blood. So come freely for his mercy, kindness, and deliverance, and accept Him as your savior and Lord today. He paid it all for you anyway.

God says come near to Me, and I will come near to you. It merely means this- My friend, if you choose to come to Him, the Lord is willing and ready to draw you into a closer and loving fellowship with Him forever and ever.

Bible says in Psalms 145:18, “The Lord is near to all who call on him.” Who is he near? Did you notice “all who call on him”? No one is out of His scope. Whatever your background-color, nationality, race, language, gender, age, social status, your history- the Lord is near to you and will deliver you by forgiving all your sins and wrongdoings if you call on him. It does not matter what you did in the past and where you have been. You are going to begin brand new when you come to Jesus. Remember, He is just a prayer away.

Got a moment for today’s prayer? “Father in heaven, I know you care about me and love me. You gave me your only begotten Son when I was a sinner. That much you loved me. Jesus died in my place for all of my sins to forgive all of my sins. I accept Jesus Christ as my Savior and Lord. I call on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Please save me. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.”

God’s Purpose and Your Crisis!

“But you, O LORD my God, brought me back from the depths alive.” Jonah 2:6 (B)

The consequence of Jonah’s sin of disobedience was very severe. It is tough even to fathom Jonah’s crisis experience for all of us. The sailors had to throw him into the sea depths to save their lives. He understood it was his sin that caused the severe and violent storm. He suggested throwing him into the sea to get calm from dangerous storms. He went down into the sea. Then, he ended up in the stomach of a big and huge fish. Jonah 1:17 says, “Now the LORD prepared a huge fish to swallow Jonah.”

Someone asked me, do you believe this incident? Friends, I believe it with all of my heart. This is not a fairy tale or a human-made story. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, validated this incident, which is recorded in Matthew 12:39-41. Moreover, Dagon, a fish god worshiped, was common in the Mediterranean. Dagon is mentioned many times in the Old Testament. What do you think is the reason for the miraculous repentance of Ninevah when Jonah proclaimed, “Forty more days and Nineveh will be overthrown.”? The unusual appearance of a man omitted by a great fish on the beach got the people’s attention, and the news even came to the king’s attention. He covered himself in the sackcloth and sat down in the dust. He announced mandatory fasting in the whole country to repent.

You see, even Jonah, a prophet of God, can disobey God. However, God teaches us some lessons through this incident. The Lord does not abandon His people in the midst of their crisis experiences. He is there at the bottom of the sea and even in the belly of the fish. More than that, God can even use the disobedience of Jonah to accomplish His divine purpose. The appearance of a bleached white man due to digestive acids inside the stomach of the great fish and people who watched the fish attempting to omit him on the beach all contributed to the city’s big roar to get the people’s attention and king. Praise God!

“Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable his judgments
and his paths beyond tracing out!
“Who has known the mind of the Lord?
Or who has been his counselor?” Romans 11:33-34.

Now listen to how Jonah prayed from the depths of the sea. Carefully look or read all the words that came out of him in this hopeless situation.

“In my distress, O LORD, I called to you… From the deep in the world of the dead, I cried for help, and you heard me. You threw me into the depths, to the very bottom of the sea, where the waters were all around me, and all your mighty waves rolled over me. I thought I had been banished from your presence and would never see your holy Temple again. The water came over me and choked me; the sea covered me completely, and seaweed wrapped around my head. I went down to the very roots of the mountains, into the land whose gates lock shut forever. But you, O LORD my God, brought me back from the depths alive. When I felt my life slipping away, then, O LORD, I prayed to you, and in your holy Temple, you heard me. Those who worship worthless idols have abandoned their loyalty to you.
But I will sing praises to you; I will offer you sacrifice and do what I have promised. Salvation comes from the LORD!” Jonah 2:1-9.

Jonah’s crisis was a unique one. The fear and terror he experienced in the depth of the sea and then in the belly of such a huge fish is often unimaginable for all of us. Our crisis would also be unique, out of which God accomplishes His purpose in His unique way, and our faith gets ignited and energized. When Jonah called upon the Lord for help and deliverance from the bottom of the sea, the LORD heard his prayer in His holy temple up in heaven. The Lord commanded the fish to spit Jonah up immediately on the beach. It did obey God! Even sea creatures, animals, and unexpected people would extend their help when God commands.

Beloved, I do not know what unique crisis you are facing now. Most probably, yours won’t be horrible like Jonah’s, I presume. At least you are not in the depths of the sea and the stomach of a huge fish. However, whatever it may be, I can point you in the right direction for help. Bible promises if you pray to the Father in heaven in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ, the only savior of the whole world, He will answer your prayer. Jesus also said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. (John 16:23). When you pray in the name of Jesus Christ, an alarm goes off in heaven, and God listens. You will have a testimony to share with others, as Jonah had. Do not be ashamed to share your unique testimony. Hearing your unique and divinely designed testimony would encourage many in their trials and problems. Your unique test results in testimony and brings glory to the Lord.