The One Who Holds You Close!

“Even if my father and mother abandon me,
the Lord will hold me close.” Psalm 27:10

What would you do when you go through the season of abandonment? One of the severe and painful abandonment occasions is when your father and mother abandon you. Other severe painful abandonment times are when your spouse walks away, children leave you and your friend turns against you. Such times can break you down if you are not deeply rooted in God and His Word, the Bible.

David wrote psalm 27. We do not know for sure if his father and mother abandoned him, although there are a few stories developed out of it. I know his first wife, Michal (Saul’s daughter) despised and ridiculed him. (2nd Samuel 6:20). This may have led him to choose multiple wives. Bible says Michal became childless because she spoke and ridiculed David. (2nd Samuel 6:23). Even though David was a man after God’s own heart, he had to face marital problems. In spite of the problems, God was willing to work with David. The LORD today is willing to help and guide anyone who would trust and call upon him despite the past. Do not lose heart. God is willing to love and help when you turn to him for help.

On other occasions, his friends abandoned and turned against him. He said in Psalm 41:9,” even my close friend, someone I trusted, one who shared my bread, has turned against me.” And finally, his own son, Absalom, rebelled and turned against him and cunningly/forcefully grabbed the kingdom from him. Seasons of abandonment and loneliness. However, he says even in those painful times, “the LORD will hold me close.” Such was his unshakable faith and trust in God and His promises. Surely, the Lord held him close.

Beloved, are you lonely? Are you abandoned? In your lonely and time of abandonment, the Bible promises He is close to you than ever. The Bible says “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” Psalm 34:18. He will hold you up close. You do not need to be sad and depressed. Apostle Paul was lonely when he was placed in prison. More than loneliness he had to wait for his execution. In such lonely and fearful times, God was closer to him than at any other time. God used him to write several Epistles which became part of the New Testament in the Bible.

You see, instead of feeling pity, you can make your loneliness and abandonment, the best time of your life. God is willing and ready to do exactly that if you would come closer to him. In loneliness and difficulties, come close to God. God would make you grow again with tender leaves and branches. Stick with the loving Lord. Do not move away from Him. Moving away from Him is the most folly thing you could do in those times.

Secondly, did you ask the Lord, what he wants you to do in your loneliness? You have a lot of free time when you are alone. You can visit people, and encourage them. You can read and study the Bible. You can show kindness and care for those who are needy. You can be the hand and feet of God to others around you. More than all, you can become deep-rooted in him. This is what Paul the apostle did. He became deeply rooted in Christ Jesus. As a result, he became stronger regardless of his painful circumstances. Jesus said to him, “I am all you need. I give you My loving favor. My power works best in weak people.” 2nd Corinthians 12:9. True, God’s eternal and powerful word flowed out of him in his loneliness, abandonment, and weakness.

Remember, “Even if my father and mother abandon me,
the Lord will hold me close.” You can replace other names in the place of “father and mother” and claim the promise of God.

Got a moment for today’s prayer? “Father in heaven, I want to stick with you closely as I am lonely and abandoned. Even if my closest one abandons me, you will hold me close. I believe in your promise. You said, you are close to the brokenhearted and save those who are crushed in spirit. I count on you and your promises. Please save me and give me your loving companionship. I believe Jesus Christ died and rose again for all my sins. I accept him as my savior and Lord. Help me to use my circumstances to bring you glory. In Christ’s name, I pray, Amen.”

We know that in all things God works for good with those who love him, those whom he has called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28

God’s Plan Includes Your Mistakes As Well!

William Carey said, “The future is as bright as the promises of God.”

There is a promise God gave you that you want to keep near and dear to your heart. And that is our daily Bible verse today. It says, “We know that in all things God works for good with those who love, those whom he has called according to his purpose.”

If you love the Lord Jesus and if he has called you according to his purpose, this is God’s promise to you in the challenging seasons of your life. It simply means that God, by his sovereign power, works for your good in all things of your life- good and evil. 

You see, even a born-again child of God cannot live a perfect life in this sinful world. We are sinners saved by the grace and forgiveness of Jesus Christ, and we live among people who are sinners. Therefore, you and I can make mistakes, but God never makes an error, and He is able and powerful enough even to turn your mistakes for your good. He says He will if you are a believer in Christ. You can fully trust His promise when you go through trials and difficulties. 

It is essential to know this -This is only a promise for some people. This is for whom God calls and those who love the Lord. If God calls you to his salvation that is available in Jesus Christ by his death, burial, and resurrection for your sins, and you love the Lord, you can claim the promise. It’s personal for you.

It means you don’t need to get worried and depressed. Children of God also can make mistakes, and bad choices, as many old testament faith warriors’ life history proves. However, they had a big, sovereign, and powerful God who knew their mistakes even before they happened (because God is all knowledgable), and His best plan included even their failures. Say it Noah, Abraham, Jacob, David, Samson, or Peter, God who called them and, because they loved Him, knew how to fit the failures for their good and His glory. You are also trusting in the same God. 

Say to the Lord in prayer. “God, I love you because I know you loved me by giving your only begotten son, Jesus Christ, to save me from my sins. I want to live for you and your purposes. I believe Jesus died, was buried, and rose again in my place to save me and grant me eternal life. I know I am capable of making mistakes. So I pray for your help every day. I surrender my life to you.” 

As you give your life in prayer to the Lord, His promise works in your life. NKJV translates the verse this way, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” 

God’s divine providence is in your life because it says, “all things (good and bad) work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”

Remember, Your future as a believer in Jesus Christ is bright because your life is covered by His promises. 

Keep today’s promise near and dear to your heart every day!

You Never Lose If You Choose God First!

“The Lord said to Abram after Lot had parted from him, “Look around from where you are, to the north and south, to the east and west. All the land that you see I will give to you and your offspring[a] forever. I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if anyone could count the dust, then your offspring could be counted. Go, walk through the length and breadth of the land, for I am giving it to you.” Genesis 13:14-17.

This is what the LORD God said to Abram after Lot, his brother’s son, separated from him. God called Abram from beyond the Euphrates river when he and his father were idol worshippers. God asked Abram to make a clean separation from his idol-worshipping family and friends. God wanted Abram to follow Him, the living God of heaven, and go to the land He would eventually show him. Abram obeyed. However, Lot for some reason admired and liked his uncle and wanted to go with him to the land that God would show to Abram.

Now, as a result, God blessed both of them. Lot, his nephew who went with Abram was also blessed beyond measure with flocks, herds, and tents. Verse 6 says, “But the land could not support them while they stayed together, for their possessions were so great that they were not able to stay together.”

You see God knows how to reward us when we obey him and go with His plan. The blessings would be beyond measure. However, due to quarrels between Abram’s and Lot’s servants they had to separate from one another. Abram was not selfish. He gave the right to choose the land to Lot. Lot looked around and saw that the whole plain of the Jordan toward Zoar was well watered, like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt. He loved the beauty and resources of the land and parted company. He looked around but did not look up to the LORD when he made this choice. He chose what the world could offer him and ended up losing all in the end. Instead, Abraham chose God and looked forward to what God could offer him. That was a better choice, indeed!

Now after Lot made his choice, LORD appeared to Abram and said our today’s insight. “Look around from where you are, to the north and south, to the east and west. All the land that you see I will give to you and your offspring[a] forever. I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if anyone could count the dust, then your offspring could be counted. Go, walk through the length and breadth of the land, for I am giving it to you.”

Beloved, Remember, you and I will never lose when you choose God first. Abram did not look like a winner initially because Lot already chose the watered and beautiful land. However, God said to him; He would give all the land of promise to Abram. Look north and south, east and west. All God would provide to Abram.

Moreover, although Abram left his family and household, God promised his offspring would be like the dust of the earth, unable to count. Always keep in mind, in the end, you will not lose but gain much more than you imagined and expected when you have the Lord in your life. Temporary setbacks could happen. You will have your share of sorrows, sufferings, and problems. However, in the end, God will reward you. Jesus said, “A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will be poured into your lap.” Luke 6:38.

Dearly beloved, do you have Lord in your life as of yet? Abram obeyed God. Will you obey God? God is calling you to come to Jesus Christ, His Son, who died and risen again for all of your sins. Mark it! When you have Lord Jesus in your life, you have it all. You will lack nothing. First, you seek and come to Him, then all will be added unto you. All your needs will be provided by a good measure from the doors of heaven. Ephesians 3:20 says, “God is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.”

Got a moment for today’s prayer? Pray after me. “Father in heaven, I seek you and want to become your child today. I know if I have you in my life, I have it all. I accept Jesus Christ as my Savior and Lord. I believe He died and rose again for all of my sins. Please forgive my sins and save me. In Christ’s name, I pray. Amen.”

“Share your plans with the Lord,
and you will succeed.” Proverbs 16:3

Danny L. Deaube said, “God’s will is like a jigsaw puzzle, you won’t be able to see the whole picture until all the pieces are together.” CEV.

A smart and wise counsel is this- Include God in all your plans. I mean talk to him and share all your plans with Him. Not just a few here and there. All your plans. This means you have ongoing communication with the Lord God all through the day. Excellent! You are on the way to success beyond your expectations. Out insight today promises this to you.
You may ask why should I do it. My counter-question is – why shouldn’t you do it?
In Jeremiah 29:11, God says He has plans for you. Not only He has plans for your personal life, but he also says He knows well the plans He has for you. The verse continues to say how good his plans are. The Lord God Himself declares His “plans are for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” (TLB).

Are you a school/college student? Are you wondering about your future? Are you looking for a job and do not know what to do? Are you middle-aged? Or are you a retiree? God says He has plans for your life.

Bible also says in Proverbs 19:21, people may have a lot of plans. But only the purpose of the Lord will prevail. Great news, right? Like it or not, only His plan going to prevail in the end. If he has a good plan that avoids evil, includes a good future and hope, and again if only His plan is going to prevail in the end, it is only a prudent practice to share with God all your plans and allow him to direct and straighten your ways and paths. He uses His plan and your plan and then makes it all good in the end. Discuss with Him.

Lesson 101. God is God. We are not.
God is omniscient. That means all knowledgeable. He knows the past, present, and future. He knows the end from the very beginning. Therefore He can take into consideration all the possible consequences/outcomes and give you the best plan. Our knowledge is very limited. We do not know the future. Yet, he sees all your future today.

God is omnipotent. This means He is all-powerful. If he is all-powerful, he is able and powerful to make things happen to you so easily.

He is omnipresent. This means God is present everywhere at the same time. This means when you travel in your car, airplane, ship, or walk on the road, workplace, in classrooms, facing issues, he is present with you. He can protect you from all harm and dangers and guide you to succeed.

Beloved, don’t you know you have to depend on others in your everyday life? You must depend on your car to take you to work. Then you need to depend on your boss for his approval or disapproval of your requests. If you think about it all, we have to depend on others anyway in our everyday life.

The better and the wisest route is this –More than you depend on others, why don’t you fully depend on an all-powerful, all-knowledgable, all-present, loving, merciful, and gracious God who has a perfect plan for you? Because God is sovereign, all-powerful, all-knowledgable, and all-present, He is in total control of all people and events.

Our daily insight says, “Share your plan with the Lord, and you will succeed.” Try it out! Then taste and see the Lord is good. When you share all your plans with the Lord, you will succeed no matter what happens. God is in the driver’s seat and you are in the backseat. When everything is said and done, it won’t be bad in the end. It will come out good and successful. An amazing deal, right?

Bible talks about people who do not include God in his plans in James 4:13-17. They make a plan without sharing God or including him in it. They say today or tomorrow we would go to a certain city, stay there to do business, and make a lot of money. However, they do not know what his life will be like tomorrow. He does not understand he is fully dependent on God even for his next breath. They do not think their life is like a puff of smoke that can disappear at any moment. However, they boast about themselves and proudly make a plan for the future without discussing it with God.

On the contrary, sharing all your plans with God is the safest and smart way to live here on this planet earth that guarantees success. Bible says to submit all your ways to the Lord God. If you do so, He will make your path straight and successful. (Proverbs 3:6).

Beloved, the Bible also says you can’t approach God (1 Timothy 6:16) because He is unapproachable light, and holy and we are not. However, God made a way to come to Him in the person of Jesus. Jesus paid for all of our sins on his divine body, by his blood. Now you can boldly come to God in the name of Jesus Christ. There is power in the name of Jesus Christ. Big and heaven-sized things are in store for you when you share your plans with Him and submit to his sovereignty.

Got a moment for today’s prayer? “Father in heaven, I submit all of my plans to you. I will discuss all my plans with you because I know you can see the future, you are all-powerful and all-present. I know I can come to you in the name of Jesus Christ. I believe Jesus died and rose again for all of my sins. Please save me today and lead me into your good and perfect plans. In the name of Christ, I pray. Amen.”

You Need Unshakable Faith In Terrible Times!

“He was amazed at their lack of faith.” Mark 6:6

Lack of faith is not just a modern phenomenon. Lack of faith was there all through history. However, the Bible says absence and lack of faith in God will abound more as we approach the last days. Absence/lack of faith in God makes the last days terrifically horrible. The results of abandoning God and lack of faith in Him are daily observed on TV channels as a glimpse of the evil future dawning on us.

Jesus began to teach in a synagogue and many who heard him were amazed at his teaching. They said -where did this wisdom come from, is he not a carpenter? Is he not Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas, and Simon? Aren’t his sisters with us here? Jesus did not do many miracles there because of the absence of faith in them. Jesus was amazed at their lack of faith in Him. Jesus asked on one other occasion this question- When the Son of Man returns, how many will he find on the earth who have faith? This predicts the seriousness of the lack of faith in Him as the world approaches his second coming.

Yet beloved, listen carefully- all your blessings are directly linked to your faith in God. God wants to bless you with all his choices and best blessings – spiritual and material. However, your lack of faith in Him is the only reason that holds back your best blessings from Him. Your blessings will be according to the measure of your faith in Him. It is that simple and truthful a notion that the Bible reveals.

Jesus said to the woman in Luke 7:50, “your faith has saved you; go in peace.” She was not welcomed in the community. She was not welcomed in Simon’s house. Yet still, she came to Simon’s home with an alabaster jar of perfume, stood behind Jesus weeping and began to wet His feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them, and poured perfume on them. This reveals her huge faith in Jesus Christ. She went home saved and in full peace receiving forgiveness of sins from Him. Her life was completely changed because of her faith in Jesus.

On another occasion, a large crowd followed Jesus and pressed around him. A woman who had been bleeding for twelve years and no doctor could heal her came behind the crowd and rushed to reach him through the crowd. She said in her heart, “If I can just touch his clothing, I will be healed.” Sure enough, with her faith in Jesus, as soon as she touched his clothes, the bleeding of twelve years suddenly stopped and she understood it. Jesus realized immediately that healing power had gone out of him and he asked who touched my clothes? His disciples said to him, what do you mean who touched you? This big crowd pressing all around you and you ask who touched me? The woman got afraid and fell at the feet of Jesus and told him all about her. Jesus said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, healed of your disease.” Luke 5:24-34.

You see, your faith in Jesus can bring massive benefits, deliverances, and blessings for you. Matthew 15:28 records -Jesus said to a Canaanite woman, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment.” This is an exciting incident. Read about this in Matthew 15:21-28. In Luke 23:39-43 records the worst criminal in Jesus’s time miraculously delivered from his future consequences and punishments when he expressed his faith in Jesus Christ even during the last moment of his life. He said to Jesus, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

Due to limited time and space, I can’t illustrate other examples. Your faith in Jesus brings in good tidings of blessings for you and your dear ones. When you put your faith in Him, he releases his divine love and power on you. You and your household will experience God’s blessings around you. Bible says, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved-you and your household.” Acts 16:31

Beloved, you and I live in a world that is hostile to faith in the living God. The world became more secular and day by day it is filled with selfish, prideful, and egocentric people. You and I are called to be God-centric individuals who keep our faith in Him no matter what happens around us or inside us.

Our faith in God must abound much more in these evil last days amid severe and harsh testing, before the second coming of Christ.  Bible says God gives faith (Ephesians 2:8). It is a gift of God and He can increase our faith. The apostles asked Jesus to increase their faith (Luke 17:5). Romans 10:7 says, “Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.” So it is a gift of God. Faith can be increased and the means by which we increase our faith is by hearing the word of God- the Bible’s messages about Jesus Christ.

Got a moment for today’s prayer? “Father in heaven, give more measure of faith in me. Create in me a heart to listen to more messages and teachings about Jesus Christ. I know Jesus Christ is the Son of God who came to this world and died in my place for my sins. I believe he rose again from the dead on the third day. I believe in Lord Jesus. Save me and my household as you did to the Jailer in Acts 16:31-34. I call upon the wonderful and matchless name of Jesus. Thank you for saving me. In Christ’s name, I pray, Amen.”

God recycles life experiences for the benefit of someone else!

“Now keep this in mind: it was you, not your children, who saw and experienced firsthand all the lessons the Eternal God taught you. You saw how He demonstrated His majesty and His overwhelming power.” Deuteronomy 11:2 (The Voice). 

Your life experiences with God are the valuable assets you have in life. They are not liabilities on the balance sheet of your life. They are true assets. You have experienced God’s hand in a unique way different from others. God taught you who He is in and through your bad and good experiences, didn’t He? God allowed you to go through certain situations and provided divine help in those times so that he can use you later to help someone else who goes through the same situation. 

There is a beautiful verse in 2nd Corinthians 1:3-4. It says, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort,  who comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” Apostle Paul shared his life experience in these verses. He elaborates in verses 8-10, “We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about the troubles we experienced in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.  He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again.” Even after almost two thousand years, these words still guide us in our difficulties, doesn’t it?

Beloved, God does not waste any of your experiences. God is the best recycler. He recycles your good and bad experiences to teach and help someone else. All your life experiences are divinely designed for some higher purpose if you allow God to use them for his glory. “Were all your experiences wasted? I hope not!” (Galatians 3:4, NCV). You must write down your good and bad experiences with God. 

Elsewhere in another daily insight, I encouraged you to keep a prayer journal. I think we must keep an experience journal also. Who knows how wonderfully and triumphantly the almighty God would use it?

Do not shy away from the bad and painful experiences of your life. You should not and do not need to live on your past because you need to move forward in God’s wonderful plan. However, you need to talk about it and teach others how great and good God is. 

Our today’s insight reminds us of this -your firsthand experiences gave you lessons about who God is and how He works in our lives. Your children or other people around you do not learn those unique lessons in their life as of yet. You have seen and experienced God’s majesty and overwhelming power in your unique situation. Use those experiences to witness the greatness of God. Share your story to bring others to Christ. He was with you and delivered you in the past so that He can use you in another person’s life. 

After the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, before his ascension to heaven, he gave a command to his disciples. He said, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” In this post-modern society, you can share your wonderful testimony with the whole wide world because of the power of the world-wide-web. May the Holy Spirit who is in you give you the illumination and power to do it. Your children, your friends, your neighborhood, your community, your nation, and the world need to hear your story of God’s love, redemption, and deliverance. Listen, God wants you to share it. 

Got a moment for today’s prayer? “Father in heaven, I thank you for the good and bad experiences you gave me in my life. When I look back I learned the lesson of how great and faithful you are. I worship you. You comforted me in all my troubles so that I can comfort those who are in trouble with the comfort I received from you. You said your presence is always with me. I thank you for giving your only Son, Jesus Christ, for my sins and shortcomings so that I can get forgiveness and fellowship with you. I accept Jesus as my savior and Lord. Please save me and guide me. In christ’s name, I pray, Amen.

 The knowledge of the truth produces well-built convictions.

“For those whose senses have been trained to distinguish between good and evil.” Hebrews 5:14 (b).

Our nation and the whole world are divided than ever before in history. In such dividing ideologies, how do we get strong convictions? Without convictions, we will be a group of people tossing around with different opinions and ideas. Strong convictions are the characteristics of people based on their acquaintance with the truth.

You see, many people believe there is no absolute truth. Because of the absence of the awareness of truth, they side with and make decisions with the majority’s opinions or ideas. No wonder there is an absence of convictions these days. The awareness of truth is the source of strong convictions. Truths are not embodied in suggestions or opinions. It displays in unshakable convictions. Until we have steady knowledge of the truth, we will not hear or experience convictions.

Those who have strong convictions based on the knowledge of the truth are those who make things happen. They are the ones who change the world for the better. As we discussed, the knowledge of the truth is the basis of strong convictions that lead to the right moral decisions and changes. Such people are the paradigm shifters for good amid bad and evil incidents. In a culture of relativism and political correctness, how do we come across absolute truths? Jesus said, “you will know the truth, and the truth shall set you free.” John 8:32

For many, the truth has not set them free as of yet. How do I know the truth? How do we distinguish truth from falsehood? Good and evil? How do we know what a person speaks is true or not? There are absolute truths. You and I must see the truth to experience true freedom and distinguish good and evil.

You see, truth is not merely heard sayings. Truth is not merely a few ideas handed down to us through generations. We will know the truth only from the creator who created us. There is the only source of truth. God, who created us, gave us the truth of it all in the Bible. The Bible is the owner’s manual that reveals all the truth about life and the future. You see, when we buy a toy for our children, a table for our office, the owner who created it gives us a manual to read and understand the truth about how to fix it. It also provides troubleshooting methods. Only the creator of that item knows the truth about his creation. By reading the owner’s manual, we get convictions.

The same is with God, who is the creator of all. To distinguish good from evil, to know the truth from falsehood, to know the original from duplicates, we need God’s book that He gave to us for daily life. It is called the Scripture-the Bible. On the Bible has this claim- “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.” 2 Timothy 3:16. Jesus said in his intercessory to the Father in heaven, and it is recorded in John 17:17, “Sanctify them in the truth”. In other words, separate them by knowing the truth. Then He said how we know the truth, “Your Word is truth.” Your (God’s) Word – the scripture (the Bible) is the truth.

As we get to know the Scripture-the Bible, we will have a strong conviction developing from the truth’s affirmation. We will learn how to distinguish between truth and false. We will understand who tells the truth and who says things based on falsehood. God’s eternal principles revealed in the Bible is the body of truth. Without knowledge of those truths, we will never have convictions. We will have opinions. However, such thoughts and ideas are like waves of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. The result would be double-mindedness and instability.

One more point before I close: Apostle John said this about Jesus in John 1:14. He wrote, “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. If you and I want to know the truth, in addition, to get acquainted with the Bible, take a look at Jesus Christ by reading the four Gospels in the New Testament section of the Bible. Jesus was not only full of grace but also full of truth. The more you know Jesus personally, you will see the truth, which would result in unshakable convictions.

Got a moment for today’s prayer? “Father in heaven, fill in me the truth about you, life here on this earth, and future. I understand Your word – the Bible – is true. Help me to read and train myself in truth. I also know that Jesus is full of grace and truth. I want to know Jesus intimately. I believe Jesus died, buried, and rose again to save me from my sins and wrongdoings. Please forgive my sins and save me now. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.”

Christ Is The Best Acceptor You Would Find!

“Therefore, accept each other just as Christ has accepted you so that God will be given glory.” Romans 15:7 NLT

God is the best acceptor you would ever find. He accepts people with spotty and messy backgrounds. If you start reading the gospels and watch the activities of Jesus, you don’t need to spend far longer time discovering this truth. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, left heaven and incarnated into this world to accept us, welcome us to a friendship with Him. He accepted us into his kingdom regardless of our past.

You see God accepts despite the messy backgrounds, wrong actions, motives, hardened hearts, rebelliousness, and unthankfulness. This is how you became a child of God because God accepted you. Based on this truth, our insight says, “therefore, accept each other just as Christ has accepted you so that God will be given glory.” You are to accept others regardless of their messy or fallen backgrounds because God accepted you with all your messy and fallen backgrounds. When practice this what is the result? Our passage says, “God will be given glory”. God gets glory in and through your acceptance of others, just as Christ did to you. You do what Christ did. You become his emulator.

You see, beloved, without acceptance, reconciliation becomes very, very hard. Restoration and recovery would not happen without acceptance. The believers in Christ are called Christ’s ambassadors in 2nd Corinthians 5:20. It says there, “We are Christ’s ambassadors. God is using us to speak to you: we beg you, as though Christ himself were here pleading with you, receive the love he offers you—be reconciled to God.” The definition of reconciliation is ‘the restoration of friendly relations.” Those of us who are engaged in reconciliation efforts know acceptance of another person is the basis of reconciliation.

When you accept others, you and they (both) would become free to talk about their struggles without embarrassment or fears. This opens the way for reconciliation, healing, and restoration resulting in big rewards in your ministry.

The basis of accepting one another is the truth that the Bible declares- every person is made of the image of God. (Genesis 1:27). The sin, of course, tarnished our image along the way. However, it was not eradicated. Still, we are God’s image-bearers. Therefore, God asks us to look beyond our mistakes and faults to see who they are.

Many times I observed even in certain Christian circles, people do not want to accept others the way Jesus accepted. I have seen people building walls knowingly or unknowingly with their own pharisaical, superior thinking. This is, of course, a sin in the sight of God and they would be accountable to God for such attitudes. Suppose something bad happened to you. Such people would do everything possible to alienate you from their inner circles. Such organizations are playing church. The church is the divine and serious work of Jesus Christ. Jesus said, “ I will build my church..” Do not play church and think you can escape. The outcome of such an attitude is no real ministry of reconciliation happens. God does not get the glory. God moves with people groups who are willing to move with His agenda sincerely and faithfully.

Our today’s insight is a very cardinal one. “Therefore, accept each other just as Christ accepted you so that God will be given glory.” Many times we think God does not get glory from people’s messy backgrounds. On the contrary, that is exactly what brings glory to him. Do not shy away or feel ashamed when you deal with people who have spotty pasts. Be honest and truthful to God’s calling. Let God get glory by accepting each other as Christ has accepted you.

Got a moment for today’s prayer? “Father in heaven, I believe you are willing to accept me to your heaven based on what Christ did for me. I believe Jesus died and rose again for all of my sins and shortcomings. I accept him as my savior and Lord. Please accept me into your loving family. Please forgive all of my sins because of the blood of Christ that is poured out for me. Help me Lord to accept others as you accepted me and do your work in your way. In Christ’s name, I pray. Amen.”

Your future well-being swings on the hinges of two choices.

“Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.” Galatians 6:7-8.

We all come across hundreds of choices every single day, don’t we? When you go to shopping malls you will see hundreds of options there. You want a shoe- many choices. You want to eat – many choices. You want clothes –many choices. Our recently installed modern instant coffee machine at work has many flavors of coffee and tea. You name what flavor, you got it. You check out an online store- you can spend hours there looking at different items and several choices.

The scripture has hundreds of examples of people’s choices and how they impacted the rest of their lives. In a nutshell and from a broader perspective, we come across mainly two choices on a daily basis. Either we lean on the flesh or on God’s Holy Spirit. All other hundreds of choices we make a swing on the hinges of the above two.

Adam did not take God’s command seriously. When an opportunity was presented by the devil to disobey, he silently allowed himself to be disobeyed, which resulted in God’s curses on Adam and Eve, their posterity, and this earth. Cain allowed his natural bend of jealousy.  It destroyed his future by becoming a murderer of his brother living his life away from the care and presence of the loving God. He had the opportunity to turn to God in repentance. In fact, God came to talk to him. He did not choose repentance to make things better.

In contrast, Noah stood for the truth of the word of God, although the whole world mocked and ridiculed him because he preached an impending judgment of God on people’s wickedness and rebelliousness. He prepared an ark for his and his family’s salvation because no one else would listen to his preaching. He chose to stick with what God asked him to do. That was his choice. He and his family were saved from worldwide destruction.

God talked to Abram and asked him to follow Him by breaking apart from his pagan family and culture. He became the father of many nations and received unconditional promises that made him unique in history. Moses chose to leave the fleeting pleasures of being the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He wanted to associate with His fellow Jews and help them. The immediate result was a few errors and sufferings for several years. However, once he was trained properly in God’s curriculum, he was called for a lifetime of ministry to fulfill God’s plan for Israel’s nation.

Joseph had a choice to obey God or yield to the temptation to sin against God. However, He chose to live in purity and honor God. David had a choice to fight against King Saul’s evil intentions or wait for God’s calendar and time. He chose the latter one and became the great king and a prophet in whose earthly lineage the promised seed of the woman –Jesus-who would destroy the devil came into this world.

Some of the choices had drastic consequences. Adam’s choice led his posterity into alienation from God. Esau’s choice resulted in losing his birthright for great future blessings. Saul’s choice led to losing his kingship and his and his family’s lives. Solomon’s choice led to the breaking up of the nation Israel into two –southern and northern kingdoms. Jude’s choice led him to hopelessness and suicide. Hymenaeus and Alexander’s choices led to the shipwreck of their faith life and ended up in Satan’s hands. (1 Timothy 1:19-20).

You see, God cares about our choices. Although He gave us free will to make choices, he expects us to make good choices that would not destroy our future. I understand sometimes we would make the wrong choices. When it happens, agree with God in prayer that you made the wrong choice and seek His forgiveness and help to rectify the issues. Some of the consequences may not be reversible in this world. However, with repentance, God would continue helping you amid the bad consequences and enjoy God’s love and kindness. Remember, God favors and helps a repentant heart. His grace would not be available when non-repentance is the nature of our life. When you make mistakes and make wrong choices, God in his love wants to talk to you to forgive you and guide you again. However, only a fool would disregard God’s calling for repentance. King Saul was a fool because he never showed a sign of repentance.

Our insight says, do not find fault with God. Do not try to mock God when we face the consequences of bad choices. A man reaps what he sows. What you sow is important. If one sow to please your flesh and its desires, he or she will eventually reap destruction. However, if you sow to please the Spirit of God, you will reap blessings and eternal life. Whom would you serve? Flesh or God’s Spirit and His word. Your future well-being swings on the hinges of two choices-choice by flesh or choice leaning on God’s Spirit.

Your capacity to choose by God’s Spirit begins with the choice of God’s Son, Jesus Christ, whom He sent for your forgiveness, salvation, and eternal life. This is the first choice that makes other choices by God’s Spirit possible. When you accept and believe in Jesus Christ, God gives His Holy Spirit inside you to indwell in you,  who will help and guide you to make good choices. Without the presence of the Holy Spirit, we are left with only one mechanism- the flesh, which can lead to destruction.

“Father in heaven, I want to lean on your Spirit to make choices. I understand how important my choices are. It can make or break me. I want your Holy Spirit in my personal life. I know I am a sinner. Please forgive my sins. I believe Jesus died for my sins, was buried, and rose again. I accept Him as my savior. Thank you for granting me your Holy Spirit inside me to live on this earth to fulfill your plans. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.”

God Has A Purpose In Your Suffering!

“God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. The more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ. Even when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation! For when we are comforted, we will certainly comfort you.”

There is a divine purpose for your severe trials and troubles. When you are suffering, remember God’s promise that He comforts you in all your problems, if you give it all to him in prayer. The ultimate purpose of your sufferings is that God expects you to comfort those who face the same type of trials you faced. The reason is this – God comforted and delivered you in all your troubles and you in turn become the channel for others to experience the wonder-working power of God.

Take a moment and recollect the worst experience you had in your life. It is not your power or ability that helps others, but the sharing of your bad experiences and how God comforted and delivered you. Share your lowest points of life with others and let them be comforted in knowing there is a God who specializes in turning weakness into victory.

Your story becomes their story, and they enter into it and experience God’s comforts and deliverances.

Our verse also says the more we suffer, the more comfort God will shower us. The Bible says in 2nd Corinthians 4: 17, “For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!” Listen! Our present troubles divinely produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! The beautiful promise of God that you can claim when you are under trials and difficulties.

Even when you think you are weighed down with troubles, God says it is for your comfort and salvation. And the comfort and salvation you received become the pathway for another person in this world who goes through the same type of trial you experienced.

Keep in mind, God wants to use even your seemingly shameful things happened to help others to know God’s comfort and deliverance. Don’t hide it in your private life. May God gets glory out of it, and it produces glory that outweighs and lasts forever.

When you think about it, Jesus’s sufferings produced the greatest glory that outweighs all. By the voluntary death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus for all of your sins, God comforts and forgives you the moment you come and accept Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord. There begins the ministry of comfort for you and to others through you.

God loves you and wants to make you His child, not by your meritorious works or deeds, but by the merit of what Jesus did for you on the cross by dying in your place to pay for your sins and resultant judgments. God comforts and delivers you through the sufferings of Jesus. God has the purpose to comfort and deliver others through your painful experiences as well.