God’s providence permeates our lives. He is intricately involved in our lives.

But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9

Those who heard about Nick Vujicic, who is well known as the “limbless evangelist” know for sure how amazing and wonderful his life story is. Nick is an Australian Christian evangelist and a motivational speaker around the globe. He was born with a sporadic disorder characterized by no arms and legs. He is only one of the seven known persons who live with this disorder in the whole world. He constantly says that he is truly blessed and much happy. It is reported that when he was small, he prayed many times for arms and legs. He cherished the inner desire for at least one arm or leg. Although he prayed, God did not answer his prayers. God used him to reach people in places like schools, hospitals, churches, prisons orphanages, and other places. He testified in his book, “Life without limits” that “God took my unusual body and invested me with the ability to uplift and encourage spirits.”

Joni Eareckson Tada is a Christian who was born as the youngest of four daughters to her parents. She lived a very active life- swimming, riding horses, hiking, and playing tennis. However, she developed quadriplegia and was paralyzed from the shoulders down at the age of 18. God used here mightly in the USA and around the world for His glory. She is a Christian author who testifies the name of Jesus Christ through various media. Her articles are published in Christianity today and in other magazines. She wrote, “sometimes God allows what he hates to accomplish what he loves.” She also said, “He has chosen not to heal me, but to hold me. The more intense the pain, the closer His embrace.” Only a person who suffered a lot and experienced the presence and love of God in the presence of adversities can say these words.

The background of today’s insight is this – Apostle Paul, who was transformed by the love of Lord Jesus Christ and was called by Him to spread the Gospel of Christ to the then known world was faced with a thorn in his flesh which hindered him constantly from continuing his ministry. We do not know for sure what was this thorn in his flesh. He described it as “a messenger of Satan.” He also said it tormented him. He knew the purpose of why it was given to him. He says, “to keep him from exalting himself” because of the surpassing greatness of revelations God has given to him. In other words, God wanted to keep him humble because he was an apostle to whom the Lord gave wonderful and marvelous revelations than any other Christ’s apostles. It could have been a physical, emotional, or spiritual affliction or all three combined. Some say it was a severe eye issue because he talked about this elsewhere, speech disability or epilepsy. However, we do not know for sure.

He implored the Lord in prayer three times that it will leave him. However, Christ told him, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” In other words, Christ told him, Paul, I am not going to take this away from you. However, I am with you and will provide you with my grace. My grace is sufficient for you. Why? The power of my grace is going to be perfected in you when you face that weakness. Paul wanted release from the thorn of the flesh which tormented him. However, the Lord said, I am going to leave it there. My child, but each time when you face that weakness, I will provide my grace sufficiently. My power is going to be injected into you so that you will be able to meet it and you will glorify me through it.

Beloved, is this not what Christ’s plan is in the lives of Nick Vujicic and Joni Eareckson Tada as well? I believe so. His grace was sufficient for them as it was to Paul and the supernatural and divine power of the Lord became perfect in their disabilities and weaknesses to achieve God’s purpose and glory.
Paul said, “therefore, I am well content with weaknesses for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.” In God’s economy when you and I are weak, then we experience divine grace and strength because He infuses his grace and power in the midst of it. Therefore like Paul can we also say this-Most gladly; therefore, I will rather boast about my weakness. Why will I boast in my weakness? Paul says, “so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.”

Beloved, what we discussed today is not natural and human. It is purely divine, I would say. However, this is God’s way. As people we do not want or like weaknesses, do we? It does not mean Paul, Nick, and Joni Eareckson Tada liked what happened to them either. However, the truth is this – We have a God in heaven whose providence permeates our lives. He is intricately involved in our day-to-day lives and He is the skilled expert in turning our weaknesses and disabilities to correctly display His tremendous and supernatural grace. Nick and Joni Eareckson along with many others are the modern-day living examples of this truth in our lifetime. Bible affirms He will give the strength through his mighty and matchless grace, and in the end that is more than enough. Paul said elsewhere “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13.

Got a moment for today’s prayer? “Father in heaven, I agree your grace is sufficient for me, and your power is perfected in weakness. Lord, I pray to fill me with your divine grace and power. I know the source of my power is the risen Jesus Christ. I accept Christ as my savior and Lord. I believe He died and rose again for my sins. In Christ’s name, I pray. Amen.”

The Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world!

“The Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world.” Revelation 13:8.

The context of the passage is the book of Revelation 13. It describes the future great tribulation that is going to come on this earth. Bible says the world is going to move into more difficulties and sufferings. Life is not going to get better but going to get worse for a God-rejecting world. That is the time the antichrist will appear and rule on this earth. It is a period of great tribulation as the name itself indicates, a time of great distress, affliction, sufferings, trials, and persecutions. Such difficulties, pain, and suffering had never been since the beginning of the world. Our today’s insight says in this horrible time “all that dwell upon the earth shall worship the antichrist, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.”

It says there is a clear distinction between people who dwell on the earth in those days. The people whose names are written in the book of the Lamb and those whose names are not written in the book of the Lamb. Bible says in Revelation 21:27 there is a reservation book or a roll book in heaven, and it means only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book will be there in that beautiful heaven. All people whose names are not written in the book of the Lamb that was slain from the foundation of the world will accept Antichrist as their leader and worship him during the great tribulation period. But the sad thing is this – later when the door of heaven opens up, they whose names are not found in the book of the Lamb, the reservation book of heaven, will not enter into heaven. You see, heaven is not reserved for good people. Why? Nobody is good enough to come to heaven and live with God because all are sinners. Bible says heaven is reserved for forgiven people by the blood of the Lamb of God.

Beloved, the Lamb that was slain from the foundation of the world is none other than Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Bible says before the creation of the heavens and earth, before all began, before the creation of Adam, and before his first disobedience and original sin, God knew that man would disobey God and fall into sin. God in his foreknowledge planned the perfect Lamb of God, the Son of God, who would incarnate into this sin-bound earth and provide the perfect and complete sacrifice for all of our sins. In other words, God in His foreknowledge had a pre-determined plan for our salvation and rescue though we fell in sin and lost the fellowship and friendship with Him.

God temporarily made a sacrifice in the Garden of Eden and took the skin of an animal to cover the shame of the nakedness that resulted from the original sin. Adam and Eve understood the seriousness of sin and what would need for the forgiveness of sins. God later gave a temporary arrangement of animal sacrifices for the forgiveness of sins. The book of Leviticus describes all about it. He asked the nation Israel to bring a lamb or another prescribed animal and slaughter them for the forgiveness of their sins. Bible says “without the shedding of the blood there is no forgiveness” (Hebrews 9:22). However, all these sacrifices of lambs with no blemishes were the shadows of God’s perfect and permanent plan for the once for all solution of sins by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. In those olden days, each time when they sinned, they had to bring a lamb or a prescribed animal to the altar, but now with the fulfillment of the shadow in the person and the work of Christ Jesus, Bible says we have a permanent and eternal solution and forgiveness for our sins.

Bible says in John 1:29 this about Jesus, “ Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” This was the fulfillment of several old testament prophecies. One of which is Isaiah 53:7 which says about the coming Christ almost 2800 years ago. It says, “He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.” Jesus was the lamb of God who was sacrificed for all our sins. Bible says in 1 Peter 1:18. It says, “It was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.” Marvelous and beautiful verse, isn’t it? There is no way we can be redeemed, rescued, or saved even with gold and silver which are also eventually perishable. However, we can be perfectly, fully, and wholly redeemed, rescued, and saved by the precious blood of Jesus Christ, who is the perfect lamb with no blemish or defect.

Beloved, our rescue, redemption, or salvation cannot be achieved by anybody else or anything else. No religious leaders or gurus can or will do it. Jesus Christ is the only savior of the whole world. There is no other way out there. Why? Because He was the Lamb of God, who was sacrificed to save all of us. There was nothing like this ever happened in human history. Christ, the Son of God, came to this earth, carried our sins and sorrows, died in our place, buried, and rose again on the third day. He did it victoriously for our sake. He is the savior and Lord. He said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Bible says Jesus Christ was slain from the creation of the world. It means our salvation in and through Jesus Christ, the lamb of God, was God’s predetermined eternal plan in His foreknowledge. As we progress our days on this earth, Bible says people’s hearts will be more hardened and darkened, and the way is opening up as the Bible predicts for the appearance of the antichrist who is the agent of the devil. God says “in the time of my favor I listen to you, and in the day of salvation, I helped you. I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.” 2 Corinthians 6:2. Please do not postpone it for tomorrow or another time. Tomorrow may never bring God’s favor on you if you harden your hearts again.

Got a moment for today’s prayer? “Father in heaven, I know I am a sinner. I need Jesus Christ, the lamb of God for my salvation. I know when I accept Christ as my savior, my name will be written in the book of the lamb in heaven. I believe in Jesus Christ, the lamb of God that was slain in my place for all of my sins. Thank you for calling me today. I come to you Lord and accept Christ as my savior. Please help me to live for you every day of my life. Thank you for saving and granting me eternal life. In Jesus Christ’s name, I pray. Amen.”

 

Always remember who is in charge!

“Then Jesus said to his followers, “If people want to follow me, they must give up the things they want. They must be willing even to give up their lives to follow me.” Matthew 16:24 (NCV).

Many people are stressed out these days. One of the reasons, I believe, we are stressed is because we do not want to let things go in God’s way. There is a saying that says, “let go and let God.” You would find peace and rest when you let it go and let God work out things for you.

Jesus said to the followers this critical statement, “if people want to follow me, they must give up the things they want. They must be willing even to give up their lives to follow me.” The message Bible says the verse in this way, “Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You’re not in the driver’s seat; I am. Don’t run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I’ll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self.”

Many of us want to lead life our way even after becoming his followers. It does not work that way. Listen! it only adds stress to your life. KJV says the verse, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” What do all these mean? If you are a believer and follower of Jesus Christ, you are called to “die to yourself.” It means dying to self desires. It also means giving the captain or pilot seat to Jesus by taking your hands off the wheels. Let him drive you. It means complete and absolute surrender to Him and His plans.

You must God drive your life. Two people cannot sit in the driver’s seat and drive. If that happens, driving won’t look good. It may even look scary. Often, when things go against our plans and will, we complain and fight instead of giving over the situation to the Lord. He can safely drive your life and accomplish His plans through you.

Every day, every hour, and every minute, we must remember who is in charge? If the Lord is in control, you do not need to sweat over many of your issues and problems. He is the sovereign Lord who can providentially and safely drive you to desired destinations. 

“Father in heaven, Help me to remember every day, every hour, and even every moment the fact that I am your follower and you are the driver of my life. Would you please help me trust you and fix my eyes upon you as you drive me through difficult places with your providential, sovereign, and all-powerful hand? I surrender all of my life and its choices to you, Lord. Use me and my circumstances to bring glory to you. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.”

There are only two kingdoms.

“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” Matthew 3:2. Again Jesus said, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” (Matthew 4:17). It is quoted Jesus said, “the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel. “Mark 1:15

The kingdom of God and the kingdom of heaven are used simultaneously with the same meaning. Our today’s insights assure us this -repentance paves the way to step into the kingdom of God with all its blessings. I see repentance like this – I was walking in one direction. I heard this path leads me to destruction and ruin. I felt genuine sorry inside that I walked in that bad path and changed my mind with determination and started walking in another direction. When I was sincerely sorry and changed my mind, God’s power came along and helped me with the divine strength I need to walk in a new way. The old road was in the kingdom of darkness, and the new path is in the kingdom of God.

You see, there are only two kingdoms in existence. Either people are in the kingdom of darkness, which is the kingdom of the devil or they are in the kingdom of God. According to the Bible, there is no third kingdom. We do not create our kingdoms. Either we are in God’s kingdom, or we are in the kingdom of darkness.

You see, At the time of birth, we are all automatically born into the kingdom of darkness. This is why we do not need to teach any children to say lies. We do not need to show them to break the law. We do not need to teach selfishness and self-centeredness either. However, we need to teach them diligently, to tell the truth, and to avoid breaking laws.

From the day we are born, as we grow up into old age, many sins have already been committed knowingly or unknowingly by each person. This is why Jesus offered entrance into the kingdom of God by believing in the gospel, which is the good news. The people who spent their life so far in the kingdom of darkness knowingly or unknowingly performing unrighteous deeds have the option to enter into God’s kingdom of His beloved Son Jesus Christ. Jesus said, “kingdom of God has come near.” What does it mean? King of the kingdom of God is standing next to them, very near to them. Jesus is the Savior and king we all need. He is the savior of the whole world and its need. He is bidding us come into His kingdom.

You see, Jesus was in a rescue mission when He came into this world from heaven. While we were all under the influence of darkness and the ruler of darkness, the devil, God sent His son Jesus Christ in a massive rescue mission. We needed rescue and deliverance by a powerful deliverer who would go into the territory of the kingdom of darkness, confront the enemy of our soul, conquer him and get us freedom and liberty from his slavery and bondages. Jesus rescued us from the kingdom of darkness by paying with his blood that was poured out for all of our sins. Bible says Jesus bought us with His own blood (Acts 20:28(c). Galatians 3:13 says, “Christ bought us with His blood and made us free from the Law. Christ did this by carrying the load (of our sins) and by being punished instead of us. This is the good news called the gospel. The good news offers us help to come out of our darkness and enter into God’s kingdom of light. We do not need to be under the slavery of the devil. We do not need to obey him anymore who only wishes to destroy us eventually. We can step into the kingdom of God by repenting of our sins and be accepting the gospel. We can get freedom and liberty from the bondage and slavery of the devil. The gospel is Jesus died, buried, and rose again in our place for our sins. He paid it all. He released us from the power of evil and darkness. Come out and step into the kingdom of God by repenting about the past sins and accepting Christ as your savior. It is that simple.

Bible says, “For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”
Jesus Himself said another result of repentance is “there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.” Luke 15:7. Jesus said again, “I tell you there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” Do not get upset because the Bible tells the truth that all are sinners. We all are. Truth sometimes hurts. However, acknowledgment of the truth grants us freedom. Do not need to be ashamed about it because it is the truth about all. Not about some people. However, all have sinned. However, for some people, it is difficult to repent of their wrongdoing and sins. However, when we do, we will step into the kingdom of God, and there is more rejoicing in heaven and among the angels of God. There are big joy and merry parties in heaven when one person repents.

Finally, repentance restores our relationship with God and one another. It is true that when we repent and accept the gospel, our broken relationship with God is fully repaired. We become the children of God at the moment of our repentance and acceptance of Christ as our savior. In addition to this, can you imagine how many broken human relationships would be restored and repaired by our repentance? Repentance is a God-given privilege, and it does marvelous and beautiful things in the presence of God and people. When the prodigal son who went far away from his loving father repented and came back home, what a joy the father and son experienced? The father said to his servants, ‘Quick, bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let us have a feast and celebrate. For this son of man was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.”

Got a moment for today’s prayer. “Father in heaven, I come to you and pray for your help in my life. I repent of my sins. I am sorry for my sins. I believe Jesus Christ shed his blood to release me from the bondage and punishment of my sins. I accept Him as my savior and Lord. Thank you for coming into my heart. In Jesus Christ’s name, I pray. Amen.”

Repentance is not old-fashioned. It actually is the key to all good and perfect things God has in store for us.

“He commands all people everywhere to repent.” Acts 17:30

Our today’s insights say to us, God commands all people everywhere to repent. Repentance is not an old-fashioned word, as some people think. Toba Beta is an author of Indonesia, a writer of a roman fantasy novel, and a poet who wrote, “An arrogant laughs at repentance.” Ted Chiang said, ” Nothing erases the past. There is repentance, there is atonement, and there is forgiveness. That is all, but that is enough.”

Beloved, repentance is the key to all good and perfect things God has in store for our lives. However, these days people, even the Christian teachers and pastors avoid the word ‘repent’ because they think it would hurt people’s feelings.

At the same time, they are eager to talk about other people’s faults and mistakes, but when it comes to their faults, they try to hide it or ignore it. When something bad happens to others, we sometimes think it is because of their wrongdoings, sins, and mistakes that caused it. However, we conveniently ignore our errors, sins, and mistakes.

When the people reported to Jesus about a tower that collapsed and eighteen people died instantly, He grabbed the opportunity to remind them about the vital need for repentance. Jesus said, “I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.” Luke 13:3

According to the words of Jesus, there are only two alternatives – repent or perish. You see, repentance opens up the way to all good things God has for us, and the absence of repentance opens up the road to destruction and ruin. God does not want us to perish, and therefore He lovingly calls us to repentance.

Did you see our insights today say He commands all people everywhere to repent? First of all, repentance is the command of God. Secondly, it has to be obeyed by all people everywhere. There is no distinction for repentance. God commands all to repent. Rich, poor, strong, weak, white, black, brown, educated, uneducated, urban, rural, civilized, and uncivilized all are called to repent. We can not say to God that I do not need to repent. Why? Bible says the truth about all people everywhere and that truth is this “There is no one righteous, not even one;” Romans 3:10. Bible also says, There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23. In other words, there is no difference between nations, people groups, colors, and races. All have sinned. No exception, Period!

Hence, He commands all people everywhere to repent. It is the dire necessity of all people everywhere. Believers in Christ also should repent and turn to God on a going basis because if we claim we have not sinned, we are making God a liar and His word is not in us.” (1 John 1:10). Repentance is a marvelous, excellent, and beautiful opportunity and privilege to enjoy all God’s best here on earth and throughout eternity.
Repentance is a beautiful privilege. Think if we did not have the opportunity to repent. How pathetic our condition would have been? We would be lost and go on the way of destruction. No one to help and save us. Praise and thank God, He lovingly and graciously calls us to repentance, and He promises He will forgive our sins, wash us and cleanse us from all our unrighteous actions if we repent and turn to God in repentance.

Remember on the cross one of the criminals during the last moment of his life on that cross heard Jesus Christ saying this, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” Immediately, he turned to Jesus and repented about His sins and said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” In effect, he was saying Jesus I heard what you just now said, I am sorry for my crimes, I repent and remember me and help me. Immediately Jesus said, “truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Can you imagine what peace, joy, and blessings covered his guilty heart in the last moments of his life?

Jesus died on the cross for our sins. You know cross has two main parts – one part going up and the other part going to two sides. He gathered the repentant criminal on the one hand and joined his sinful hand to the hand of the holy God in heaven. Only Jesus can do this for you and me because Jesus shed His sinless and divine blood for our sins. Jesus says come to Me. Will you listen to His loving call, repent your past life and run to Him? He will take you in His arms and join you to God the Father in heaven. You will become a child of God and will be with Him in paradise the moment you die. Bible says this about the one who dies after accepting Jesus Christ as the savior in 2 Corinthians 5:8, “away from the body and at home with the Lord.” The next moment when the criminal died this was true about him.  Away from the body and at home with the Lord in heaven.

Beloved repentance rewards us with countless blessings from God. The most important one is your salvation and eternal life in heaven. How can we ignore such a great salvation? You can repent and come to Jesus right now in a small prayer with me. I will help you.

“Father in heaven, I know the sins I have committed against you. I need your forgiveness. I repent of my sinful life and actions. I believe in Jesus Christ, the savior of the whole world, who died and rose again for my sins. I accept Him as my savior and Lord. Thank you for granting me forgiveness, salvation, and eternal life. Amen.”

The reasons why you don’t have it!

“You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it.  And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure.” James 4:2-3

Remember Jesus told us the Father in heaven wants to give good gifts to those who ask Him. Keep in mind God is a loving God who wants to give good and perfect gifts to us more than a loving human parent would give to their children. Listen to what Jesus said, “If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” (Matthew 7:11).  In this understanding, let us think about today’s insight.

Our daily insight today is like a sandwich. A sandwich is two buns and a slice of meat and pickles inside. Let us discuss these three sections.

Number one we badly want we don’t have. Instead of praying for it, we scheme, quarrel, and even use force to get it. We take action with our own hands without seeking the loving God in prayer. We are determined to get it by force and smartness. The reason is we are jealous that others have but we cannot have what they have. We are not happy that they have what we do not have.

Then it says one of the reasons why we do not have. It says “you do not have what you want because you do not ask God for it”. You see we never prayed to God certain things and that is the reason why we do not have it. Is this not a solemn thought? We have time for fighting, envy and schemes and hatred, and so forth. But did we take to the Lord in prayer? Then we complain to God by saying, God, you did not give me. Then Lord asks – did you ask me for it? Bible says in certain cases, we do not have it because we never asked for it. We tried with your force and will, but we never leaned on the Lord in prayer.

You see, the Bible says certain things we do not have simply because we did not pray for it. When a child of God prays in the name of Jesus Christ, that prayer gets the supernatural attention of heaven. I imagine this way – the doorbell in heaven rings loud and loud and there is an announcement in heaven “a prayer request came in.” There are many things we do not have because we never prayed for them. Moreover, it does not mean all of our prayers will be answered either. Jesus gave us a promise, “And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” He says He will do whatever we ask in the name of Jesus Christ, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 1 John 5:14 says, “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.”

Beloved, three conditions emerge from these verses. We can pray for whatever in the name of Jesus Christ and if it brings glory to Christ and secondly if it is according to His will, and thirdly if we pray in the name of Jesus Christ, God will answer that prayer. Heaven’s doorbell rings loud and loud when you pray in the name of Jesus Christ. No other name would ring the doorbell of heaven. Only the name of Jesus Christ! Now the question is how do we know if it is God’s will or not?  Now the more we know God personally, the more we know how to pray according to His will. Then we also know better how to pray so that His Son would get glory through it. This knowledge of God can be obtained by the study of the Bible and with the help of the Holy Spirit’s guidance in our lives.

It is like children asking their parents. I have small children and so I know this very well. If they do not ask,  what is the chance they will get from me? Even if they ask, they may not get all their requests. If that is the case, what is the chance to get if they do not ask? Very slim or no chance. But when they come and ask, parents grants the requests, provided it is good for them and it brings joy to our heart, right? The same is with the heavenly Father. He wants to give good and perfects gifts to His children more than we give to our children. God is a loving Father. He hears when you pray in the name of Jesus Christ, and when the matter brings glory to His Son and meets His will. Then you got an answer to your prayers.

The third point in today’s insight is sometimes we ask, but we do not get it because our motives are wrong. If our motive is just to indulge in pleasure, then we do not get it. Check what is the motive in our prayer requests. Is it to indulge in pleasures? The Lord looks to our hearts and he can see the motives of our hearts.

Questions that help: 1. Did I pray to God what I want instead of being envious and quarreling? 2. Is my prayer matter brings glory to His Son? 3. Is it according to His will? 4. Did I pray in the name of Jesus Christ? 5. Is my prayer matter is to indulge in my pleasures?

Beloved, Got a moment for today’s prayer? Are you a child of God yet? You can become a child of God now. Then you can pray in the name of Jesus Christ. God wants to meet all your needs by providing for you every day. He will provide and guide you every day and will take you to His heaven the day you die here.  Pray with me:

“Father in heaven, I come to your holy presence in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ, who died and rose again for my sins. I believe Jesus Christ is my savior who will save me from all my sins. I accept Him as my savior and Lord. I pray to meet my wants and needs according to your riches in glory. (you can pray your specific prayer request now). Thank you for hearing me. I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.”

 

They knew but did not fully understand!

“This salvation was something the prophets did not fully understand. Though they wrote about it, they had many questions as to what it all could mean.” I Peter 1:10.

In yesterday’s insight, we studied the origin, implementation, and culmination of the salvation God planned in the eternity past before He created the earth and the heavens. We studied yesterday God chose a group of people and set them apart in His foreknowledge, and pre-destined them to receive salvation in time by the convincing work of the Holy Spirit as God’s agent, resulting from what Jesus Christ would do to fulfill the eternal plan. The triune God-God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ), and God the Holy Spirit are all involved in the salvation of humankind.

We also learned the salvation God sent results in these benefits -the new birth (into God’s household as his children), living hope (in contrast to dead hope), inheritance in heaven that are incorruptible, imperishable and never fades away, and an inexpressible joy and rejoicing of eternal life.

Today’s insight says the people who lived in the old testament time knew about God’s marvelous eternal plan to save people from their sins and the resultant wrath and judgment of God. The salvation of people that God had planned is the main subject of the old testament part of the Scriptures. It began with God’s promise given to our first parents upon their original rebelliousness and sin. The promise is recorded in Genesis 3:15 that says the seed of the woman will crush the head of the devil, and he will, in turn, strike the heel of the woman’s seed. Who is this expected seed of the woman who would crush the head of the devil and, consequently, be struck on the heel? There are numerous other prophecies about the future fulfillment of this original promise in the subsequent pages and books of the Bible in the Old Testament Scriptures. You see, the prophets of the old testament period searched and searched to understand the details about it. However, they did not fully understand. They wrote about it because the Holy Spirit of God illuminated their heart to remind and record people about God’s promise. Verse 11 says they wondered what the Spirit of Christ was talking about it inside them because He (Holy Spirit) told them to write down about it. The Holy Spirit of God revealed to them the suffering of the messiah (the seed of the woman) and His great glory afterward. (Isaiah 53). They wondered when and how all this would happen, and they were unable to put the puzzle together.

They were also told by the Spirit of Christ that these things would not occur during their lifetime. These events would happen only in later years. At last, the Good News of the fulfillment of God’s promise is announced to all of us. The Good News of the Gospel that Jesus Christ, His death, burial, and resurrection is the fulfillment of God’s promise given in the old testament scriptures for humanity’s deliverance was preached to us in the power of heaven. Peter says in 1:18-20 that you are redeemed not with perishable things like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ because He was sent as God’s lamb without defect or blemish. Verse 20 says Jesus was chosen before the foundation of the world for the work of our salvation. Even though God promised Him (seed of the woman-Jesus Christ) and His work in the Old Testament time and prophets searched about the promise and wrote about it, He was revealed only at the end of the times and God raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory for accomplishing salvation for you. Now God sends His agent Holy Spirit to speak to the people about the person and the work of Jesus Christ for their salvation. The later part of verse 13 says that the fulfillment of the promise of people’s salvation in Jesus Christ was so wonderful that even the angels in heaven are desirous and eager to look into it. Bible elsewhere in Hebrews 1:14 says who the angels are- they are spirit sent to serve those who are going to receive salvation. The angels are not only excited about God’s eternal plan of humanity’s salvation but are sent by God to serve you and me who would receive God’s salvation.

Hebrew writer in the book of Hebrews calls the promise of salvation that is revealed, fulfilled, and completed in Jesus Christ this way- “so great a salvation.” It is so precious and magnificent that he asks, “how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?” Hebrews 2:3. The question demands an answer from us. The answer to be answered is this – if we neglect so great a salvation announced to us, we will never escape from God’s judgments on sins. There is no other way to escape God’s judgment.

Beloved, let us praise and thank God for the promise, fulfillment, and revelation of so great a salvation in the person and work of Jesus Christ. According to God’s promise in the Scriptures, the good news is that Jesus was sent for our salvation. Jesus died, buried, and victoriously rose again to save us permanently from our sins if we turn to him and accept the salvation freely offered to us today.

Got a moment for today’s prayer? “Father in heaven, I believe you promised salvation, the forgiveness of sins, and eternal life and faithfully you fulfilled all these promises in the person and work of Jesus Christ. I know You are calling people to come to Jesus for salvation by the agency work of Your Spirit- the Holy Spirit. I come and accept Jesus as my savior and Lord and please save me. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray, Amen.”

You are set apart by the Holy Spirit in the foreknowledge of God!

“To the temporary residents dispersed in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, chosen  according to the foreknowledge of God the Father and set apart by the Spirit for obedience and sprinkling with the blood of Jesus Christ.” 1st Peter 1:1-2.

Being a temporary resident on this planet earth can be a matter of short-term joy but would not give a lasting one. The temporary residency away from home by the dispersion did not give anything other than continuous suffering and persecution for these suffering people in the first century. 

However, Peter has something to remind them amid their trials and sufferings. 

Today’s Bible verse is the first verse in the first chapter of the first letter written by Apostle Peter.  Peter wrote his letter to the suffering Christians dispersed in various regions of the northern province of Rome.

I want to bring to your attention certain eternal truths from this verse. First, he reminds them, they were chosen by God even though they were suffering. Listen, God chose them according to His foreknowledge. The foreknowledge not only includes the ‘prior knowledge of all in His Omniscience but also includes His ‘pre-determination or predestination’. Secondly, God chose them, who would come to Him, in His pre-determination or predestination for salvation. 

Now the goal of predestination is also explained in our passage. It says the aim is to set them apart by God’s Holy Spirit. The word ‘sanctified’ used in some translations means, set apart.’ God set them apart from others in the world. Now the question is set them apart for what? It says God set them apart by His Holy Spirit for obedience and sprinkling with the blood of Jesus Christ. 

The fact that you came to God in obedience and consequently allowed yourself to be sprinkled with the blood of Christ is proof that you were chosen and predestined by God for His salvation, heavenly inheritance, and eternal life. 

The moment you believed Jesus died and rose again for your sin and accepted Him as your savior, you are declared chosen, predestined, set apart for obedience to God, and sprinkling with the blood of Christ. 

These two verses highlight the role of the triune God in your salvation. God has chosen and predestined you. The Holy Spirit is the agent by whom you came to God in obedience. It is the person and the work of Jesus Christ, which accomplished the eternal salvation for you by the shedding of his divine and innocent blood.

  The verses after this (vs. 3-9) explain the results of your obedience for sprinkling with the blood of Jesus Christ. They are- new birth, a living hope, inheritance in heaven that are the unfading, imperishable and incorruptible, and inexpressible and glorious joy of eternal life with God in heaven. 

The question is this- Did you obey God by coming to Jesus Christ and allowing yourself to be sprinkled with the blood of Christ yet? The blood of Christ cleanses you from all sins and makes you a brand new creature to stand in front of the holy God in heaven eternally. If you haven’t come to God in obedience to accept Jesus Christ as your savior and Lord, the spirit of God, the Holy Spirit is bidding now to come to Him. Now, when you come to Jesus, you would be declared chosen, predestined, born-again, heir of the heavenly inheritance, and inexpressible joy and rejoicing. 

Would you come? I will help you to accomplish this in a small prayer with me right now. 

“Father in heaven, I understand you have chosen and predestined me to enjoy your salvation’s inexpressible joy. I come in obedience and accept Jesus as my savior and Lord. I believe the blood of Jesus can save me, forgive me, and grant me eternal life in heaven. Please save me now. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.”

“The LORD says, “do not harden your hearts as you did at Meribah,
as you did that day at Massah n the wilderness” Psalms 95:8

Have you ever seen a person who professed Christ as his savior and even testified Him in front of many? However, then suddenly something bad happened in his life. All disappeared in a flash– his faith is gone, stopped testifying God, and even stop attending church. I have seen people like that in my life. As long as life is good they love God. When life gets harder, they walk away. We wonder whether that was a genuine faith or not, don’t we? Beloved, our hearts should not be rocky soil that gets withered away by the onslaught of trials and testing.

The writer of the Hebrew epistle also used this quotation in his writing in chapter 3:15. The readers of the epistle of Hebrews were Jews who professed their faith in the Lord Jesus, but due to persecutions and trials, they were pondering to go back to the old Judaism where they thought they enjoyed persecution and trial free life. Shrinking back from the truth and attempting to backslide also would result in hardening hearts to God and His truths.

You see it is easy to harden our hearts when trials and testing hit our life. The reason is we do not have the big picture that God has in His mind. Nobody is exempt from trials and testing. Someone said there are only three positions in life. You just came out of a trial, you are in the midst of a trial or you will get into another trial very soon. Now we may think we are alone in the trial. But the truth people have various trials in their life, and no one is exempt from trials. Being a Christian and a true believer in Christ does not ensure you free of trials. In fact, the Bible indicates the believer in Christ will face more trails as Jesus Himself cautioned the disciples in John 16:33 that “in this world, you will have trouble.” He told this in advance so that they may have peace in Him. He also said, take heart! You have peace in Him because He has overcome the world. I John 4:4 says, “the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.”

The historical context of our insight today comes from the history of Israel in Exodus 17. The LORD God had delivered the children of Israel from the slavery of Egypt. He delivered them when their back was against the wall with no hope. Their enemy king Pharoah and his strong forces were behind them, and the red sea was in front of them. Humanly there was no way they could escape apart from the mighty hand and help of the LORD. They were stuck in danger. They were terrified. However, God said to them do not be afraid, stand still and look up to Him for deliverance. They did, and He miraculously delivered them. God divided the red sea, and they walked through the dry ground in the middle of the sea. Their enemies followed them but the wheels of their chariots got jammed, and they could not ride smoothly, and they were all drowned in the sea because God made the red sea flew back again.

After this incident, they became hungry, and God gave them manna from heaven. Now they are thirsty, and there was no water when they camped in Rephidim. They have seen all these miraculous works of the Lord in their lives. Now when they did not have water, what did they do? Did they seek the LORD in prayer remembering His goodness to them in the past? No. Bible says, “So they quarreled with Moses and said, “Give us water to drink.” Moses said to God what I am to do with these people? They are almost ready to stone me.?” And Moses called the place Massah and Meribah because the Israelites quarreled and because they tested the LORD saying, “Is the LORD among us or not?” Moses called that place Massah, which means ‘a test’, and Meribah, which means ‘a quarrel.’
When trials and testing come to our lives, remember not to backslide like newly converted Jewish Christians were thinking, do not quarrel, and doubt the Lord as the Israelites did. They asked, “Is the LORD among us or not?” Bible says in 1 Corinthians 10:11, “These things happened to them as examples for us. They were written down to warn us who live at the end of the age.”

Beloved, two things that can harden our hearts. One is unexpected trials or testing. We never expected it, but God allowed something to happen that we did not like and we end up hardening our hearts toward the LORD. You see when unexpected or unpleasant things happen, the Bible advises us God who allowed it to happen to have a different better plan for His glory through it. Do not doubt the faithfulness and the presence of the Lord right in the midst of our unexpected incidents. Lord says in Isaiah 55: 8-9, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the LORD. “As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

Secondly, unconfessed sins can harden our hearts to LORD. When we do sin, we should immediately confess to the Lord in prayer. Unconfessed sins have the potential to harden our hearts more. You see when we do sin, we know we sinned. The red light goes on. Immediately without any delay agree with the Lord and seek His forgiveness. This way we can keep good consciousness with the Lord. Repentance and confession of sins are the two keys to God’s blessings in our life. Let us thank God for the privilege of repentance. It is not a burden, and it is a beautiful privilege. The opportunity to repent is a great blessing.

Got a moment for today’s prayer? “Father in heaven, thank you for talking to me today through your Word that I should not harden my heart. Soften my heart with your Spirit Lord. I believe Jesus Christ died and rose again for my sins. I am sorry for my sins. (go ahead and confess to the Lord now). I know the blood of Jesus can make a brand new person again. Please give me the joy and happiness of your forgiveness and salvation today. I thank you for saving and forgiving my sins. In Jesus Christ’s name, I pray, Amen.”

“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28).

We hear people saying all things will work together for good, don’t we? This became an automatic and casual statement when people comfort others in their problems and pains. However, the Bible does not say God causes all things. Certain things happen due to our actions and other people’s actions. We can not blame God for all. Also, the Bible does not say all things work together for good by itself. It does not happen automatically.

First, someone beyond us should cause all things to work together for good and our today’s insight says it is God who causes all things to work together for good, although He does not create all things happening in our life.

Secondly, who are the beneficiaries? It says “to those who love God and to those who are called according to His purpose.” Beloved, do you love God? Most importantly, how do you know if we love God? The acid test of whether we love God or not is based on our response to His Son’s invitation. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who came to this earth, lived here, died, buried, and rose again for our sins. 1 John 4:10 says, “He (God) loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” As a result of His love, God sent His son Jesus Christ to this world, allowed Him to die in our place for our sins. This is how God manifested His love for us profoundly and deeply. God loved us and sent His Son means we should love Him back by accepting His gift, Christ Jesus, as our savior and Lord.

Secondly, God causes all things to work together for good to those who are called according to His purpose. Jesus said in John 6:44, “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent me draws them.” You see it is the Father in heaven who draws you and me to Christ to believe in Him as our savior and Lord. Therefore, you came and accepted Christ as your Savior means you were called according to His purpose for sure.

If the above conditions are true– if you love God and if you are called according to God’s purpose- then God causes all things that happened in the past in your life and things going to happen in future for good. God may not have caused it in the past. We may have created it, and others may have produced it. However, the truth is this – God is mighty and willing enough to work all things – errors, mistakes, evil things, bad things, self-caused, and others caused-all ultimately for our good. He did exactly this in Abraham’s, Jacob’s, Joseph’s, Moses’s, and many others lived in the past, didn’t He?  He will do it for you as well.

Beloved, the cardinal question is, do you love God? Did you accept Jesus Christ whom God sent for your forgiveness of sins, salvation, and eternal life? If not yet, you can do it with a small prayer with me now. I will help you. Then you will know for sure that God called you according to His eternal purpose. Give your past failures, heartaches, disappointments all to God. He will take the bad and good things from your life and make it all good for you.

Dearly beloved, got a moment for today’s prayer? “Father in heaven, I thank you for talking to me today through your Word. I accept Christ Jesus as my savior and Lord. I believe He died, buried and rose again for all of my sins. Please forgive me and make me your child now. I give all my problems, issues, and failures into your hand. Take my past and please work together for good for me and your glory. I pray in Jesus Christ’s name. Amen.”