“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.” (Romans 12:1)

Worship is more than attending a church to praise and thank God. Of course, attending a Christ-honoring and Bible teaching church to praise and worship God is vital. God instructed us to do so in the Bible. However, worship is more than open worship in a building where the church gathers.

In Isaiah 1:13-14,  the LORD said to the worshippers who brought sacrifices to Him these words, “Stop bringing meaningless offerings! Your incense is detestable to me. New Moons, Sabbaths, and convocations- I cannot bear your worthless assemblies. Your New Moon feasts and appointed festivals I hate with all my being.” You come to worship and sacrifice, but your hands are full of blood. Wash and clean, take your evil deeds out of my sight; stop doing wrong. He also said, Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the LORD.“ Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.” True and proper worship comes from a transformed person with a renewed mind.

Our today’s insight says what motivates you to worship, what is the manner of worship, and what is true and proper worship.

Your motivation to worship the Lord is His mercies and kindness toward you. When you remember God’s grace and mercies, you are motivated to worship the Lord. God’s mercies are all the things He gave to you that you do not deserve. God’s love, salvation, his favor, eternal life, hope, justified by Christ’s blood, receipt of God’s righteousness, forgiveness, reconciliation, peace with God, peace of God,  loving-kindness, goodness, spiritual and physical blessings, Holy Spirit, Christ’s intercession on your behalf, protection, deliverance, health, well beings and the list goes on. Especially in the context of the book of Romans, God’s mercy is His salvation that Christ died for you while you were still a sinner and paid in full all your debts that were owed to God. Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Apostle Paul says ‘Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy. Because of the varied and manifold mercies, you received from the Lord is the motivation to worship Him.

Secondly, what is the manner of worship? In view of manifold mercies of God, you offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God. There is a connection between this verse and chapter 6:13 and 19. 6:13 says, “ Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have a new life.” So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God.” In view of the mercies of God, give yourself completely to God. Although it says to offer your bodies, the meaning is to offer the whole of you- body, mind, soul, heart, hands, legs, face, and all to God.

When you offer your bodies it does not mean you sacrifice your body like the animal sacrifices on the altar in the old testament. Hence the usage of a ‘living sacrifice. You live and offer your bodies. Not by taking away your life. Your body and life belong to God. He has a definite purpose and plan for it. You must continue living even if life gets tough and show forth your life as an offering to God. God will help and empower to do it.

Secondly ‘holy’. Holy means set apart for God. You as a believer saved by God are different from other human beings of this world. You are set apart for God’s purposes and God’s kingdom. You are otherly, and you do not belong to the present world system, and its standards and thought process. Colossians 3:1-4 says, “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.  When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.” You progressively become more like Christ. Certain things you liked and enjoyed in the past, you would start hating as you set apart for him in holiness.

Thirdly, pleasing to God. You should not try to please the men around you. You are called to please God. You can not please men and God at the same time. (Galatians 1:10). Many believers try to please others. The question is, are you trying to get the approval of men or of God? Pleasing God means you have the mind of Christ. Christ is full of grace, love, compassion, kindness, goodness, humility, patience, and long-suffering. Christ loved all with no bias of their backgrounds. He did not discriminate, and Christ reached out to sinners with love and compassion. Do not be life Pharisees who hated the forgiveness and grace of the Lord. Do not be like the elder brother of the prodigal son who did not like the coming back of his lost brother. He would not even enter his father’s house because of his hypocritical opinion about his own brother- your worthless son who spent your money on prostitutes. However, the father loved his coming back because his eyes were always on the horizon every day waiting for his son’s return.  Be like Father and Jesus Christ. Forsake Pharisee mentality. God hates the pharisaic attitude. He would not please such worship. Only if you got an understanding of the fullness of grace in Christ and Father, you would be able to behave like Jesus Christ. Your whole life must be based on the basis of mercies and graces you received, and may these free outflow from you as it did from Jesus Christ.  This is how you would please God.

Beloved, worship is more than just attending Sunday or mid-week services, though they are essential. Worship is the dedication of your whole being in the presence of the Lord every day of your life in view of mercies you received from Him.  Do you want to do true and proper worship? Offer your whole being as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God.

“Father in heaven, I dedicate my whole being as living, holy and acceptable sacrifice to you for your purposes and plans. Use me fully and totally for your name. May the grace and mercy you heaped upon me freely flow out of me. May I never try to please men around me? May my goal is to please you through my life filled with grace, mercy forgiveness. I pray in the name of Christ, Amen.”

“Surely your goodness and loving-kindness will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.” Psalm 23:6

David ends the beloved Psalm with today’s insight. By looking back into his life, he penned these words from his experience. He says ‘surely’. That means he is convinced and there is no doubt in his mind. “Surely your goodness and loving-kindness will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.”

David experienced two vital things from the good shepherd, the LORD. They are the goodness and loving kindness. Goodness does not mean the absence of problems and issues. As we all know, David had a significant portion of sufferings in his earthly life. However, the LORD’s goodness was always present with him in the middle of his painful circumstances. In short, he never left or deserted David. In the fearful years of his life, in his loneliness, in his hunger and even when he lost all including his kingdom, God’s goodness was with him. Not only God’s goodness was right there in the middle of his crisis and sufferings, but also David would testify to you that it was the LORD who delivered him from all his troubles and fears. He says in Psalms 34:4 (b) “He (The LORD) delivered me from all my fears.”

You see, the goodness of the LORD does not exclude troubles. Bible says in Psalm 34:19 that a Godly person, on the contrary, may have many troubles. His goodness means the LORD is right there with you, as he was with Joseph in all his sufferings. His obvious/manifest presence is with you even in the hottest flames of fire like He was with Daniel and his friends.  The LORD  will not leave you nor forsake you. It also means the LORD delivers you from all troubles, as he delivered Joseph, Daniel, and his friends. Such is the quality of the goodness of the Lord.

There is a big difference between those who have LORD as their shepherd and those who do not have Him as their shepherd. Tragedies and troubles hit ungodly people. They are bend down to ruin and destruction. They are destroyed in a moment. Sudden terrors swept them away forever — no coming back. Roots and leaves are dead. But not you if you have LORD as your shepherd. The LORD delivers from all your troubles and fears. You spring forth leaves and new growth again from the root.

Secondly, LORD’s loving kindness follows you. Those of us who are fathers know we always remember our children with a love that is mingled with kindness. David wrote these words about God the Father in heaven in Psalm 103. Listen, “ As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;  for he knows our frame;  he remembers that we are dust.” He has compassion for his children because he knows our true frame. He remembers we are made out of dust. Therefore he has goodness and loving kindness on his children.

Beloved, if the LORD is your shepherd, aren’t you glad you have two escorts behind you always? And they are his goodness and loving kindness. Because we are fragile and needy, we need His goodness. Because we are prone to sin and live among sinful people and the world, we need His loving kindness. We need these two every single day. Did you notice these two escorts –goodness and loving-kindness of the Lord- follows you not just some days of your life or most of the days, but it follows, pursues or chase you all the days of your life?

David also says, “And I dwell in the house of the LORD forever.” Of course, David expressed his desire to live in the house of the LORD (temple) all the days of his life in Psalms 27:4. “One thing I ask from the LORD, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD,  all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple.”

He desired to worship his good shepherd along with other believers all the days of his life because of the comfort, care and rest He provides. Moreover, because of the guidance and protection, he gives in the deep dark times of life. Additionally, because of the two permanent followers of his life-goodness and loving-kindness of the LORD.

Beloved, understanding the greatness of the good shepherd, don’t you also want to worship him all the days of your life? I do!  There is another embedded meaning in this verse. His desire to be in the house of the LORD (heaven) forever. His desire to spend eternity with the good shepherd in heaven, when his life draws to an end here. He was looking forward to that beautiful day all through his life here on the earth.

Beloved, may I ask you this question? Do you have this good shepherd in your life? The good shepherd who gave his life as a ransom for all of your sins and shortcomings- the LORD Jesus Christ-is knocking at the door of your heart. Would you pray and accept Him as your savior and Lord today? If you have gone astray from this good shepherd, do not stay far from him anymore. Turn around and come back now. Please admit your desire to come back to him in prayer. He will restore you upon your prayer.

“Father in heaven, Thank you for the good shepherd, Jesus Christ, who gave his life to deliver me from the power of devil and his kingdom. Thank you LORD, you promised two escorts all the days of my life-your goodness and loving kindess. I repent of my sin and call upon the name of the good shepherd, Jesus now. Please save me. Please restore me to your love and kindness. I want to serve and worship you all the days of my life and I want to come to your house, heaven, and live with you forever. Please bless me with your enduring love. In Christ’s name I pray. Amen.”

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I fear no evil, for You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You have anointed my head with oil;
My cup overflows.” (Psalm 23:4-5).

 

Psalm 23 is undoubtedly one of the best masterpieces of literature ever penned in the history of humankind. Out of all Psalms written by King David, this Psalm stands out clearly in comforting hurting, grieving and sorrowful hearts. Christian ministers often use today’s Bible verse at the time of funeral services or at the time a person is nearing death. It is very comforting to the ears and souls of people who experience various types of pains and difficulties.

It says, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.”

In many people’s opinion, “valley of the shadow of death” may not be the right translation from the original text. Many other translations like NIV, NLT, HCBS, TPT, NCV, TLB, and GNT uses the phrase darkest valley, deepest darkness instead of “valley of the shadow of death.” The original Hebrew word used here is sal-ma-wet, and that means “darkness” or “dark shadows.” However, the Hebrew word has the same root for ‘death.’ This could be the reason some translators used the term ‘death.’

In the context of a shepherd and sheep, we know animals, or specifically sheep do not think about the concept or possibility of death. However, they sense when they enter into valleys where the steep and narrow slopes are dark, the danger is ahead and get afraid. Even though a good shepherd always leads and guides his sheep in the paths of righteousness or the right path, it could contain narrow and steep valleys where is sunlight is hidden and darkness present. Such deep valleys are dark, and sheep get afraid in the absence of the presence of a good shepherd. However, in our scenario sheep does not need to get frightened because their good shepherd’s presence is with them. Shepherd is right there with them in the deep and darkest valleys. Even in the darkness, they could feel the rod and staff of their shepherd who walks with them and guides them. Rod is a thick pole made out of wood that shows shepherds supervision. It is used to count the sheep and protect them from dangers. The staff, a long and curved one is used by the shepherd to guide and lead them properly. It is also used to support them when they need help. There is one another reason for no fear. Did you notice it says “even though I walk ‘through’ the valley of the shadow of death”? Valley of darkness or darkest shadow is not a permanent place. Sheep is just going through it for some time. They are not going to camp there, only passing through. They will be out of the gloom and doom eventually when shepherds lead them out. The shepherd’s presence, transitory nature of the darkness, his rod and staff gives them reasons to get courage instead of fear even in dangerous places.

David takes the imagery to apply his relationship with the LORD God in heaven and lays the foundation to shake off fear from our hearts. It appears David was facing the deepest darkness experience in his life when he wrote this psalm. Due to thick darkness in his path, he was afraid. The reason could be because of his enemies who want to destroy his life. This thought is because of the next verse that says the Lord prepare a table before me in the presence of his enemies. Also, God has already anointed his head with oil. God anointed his head with oil or already appointed him for the divine task ahead is the reason why the LORD prepares a table for him before his enemies, and his cup overflows.

Beloved, you may be in the darkest valley now. Maybe a recent doctor reports make you afraid. Maybe your spouse died or left you. Maybe you are in a financial crisis. Perhaps you are lonely and depressed. Or you may in the shadow of death. In our fallen world, all these and many other sorrowful possibilities are there. However, remember, the good shepherd, your savior, Jesus Christ, who sacrificed his life to save you, is with you, no matter what you are facing now.  He has perfect and powerful tools to guide you through the darkness victoriously. Beloved, remember darkest valleys are not permanent. It is a pass-through experience only. You don’t make a camp and stay there forever. You will come out of it and gaze the face of the LORD who delivered you and worship Him.

Got a moment for today’s prayer? “Father in heaven, Thank you for your presence and perfect tools to protect and help me amid my darkest valley experience. I know this is only a pass-through experience and you already gave me victory over it. I believe Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who died and rose again for my sins is the good shepherd. I know He promised his presence with me. I call upon the name of Jesus Christ, the savior of the whole world.  Save me, Lord. Help and deliver me. In Christ’s name, I pray. Amen.”

 

 

“He makes me lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul;
He guides me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.” Psalms 23:2-3

David being a shepherd noticed the traits of a good shepherd. A good shepherd is concerned much about the welfare and comfort of his sheep by providing rest in rich and green fields. He leads them not beside the rushing water but besides the still and quiet waters so that they can drink without fear. Rich and green grass and still and quiet water refresh them by removing the fear inside and soothing them with comfort. A good shepherd leads and guides his flock on the right path. He will not guide them in a crooked and wrong path that would lead to destruction. They know the way they are traveling is the right and safe path. A good shepherd restores his fearful sheep. He restores the strayed away sheep.

David is a good shepherd, and he takes the imagery to his intimate relationship with the LORD in heaven. He says the LORD makes him lie down in green pastures and leads him beside quiet waters. The LORD personally gives rest and peace to him.  Not only he gives rest and peace; the LORD also restores his soul when he is afraid and goes astray.

Beloved, the right rest, peace, and restoration are found only in the LORD. As we studied in yesterday’s insight, Jesus, the good shepherd who sacrificed his life for you is the source of rest, peace and restoration.  There is no other good shepherd out there who would grant these precious comforts. Jesus said, and it is recorded in Matthew 11:28, “ Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” A good shepherd knows his flock need rest after a weary and burdened day. Jesus knows you need rest because you became weary and heavy laden by the cares and worries of life. The good shepherd calls you to Himself by promising he will give you rest for your souls.

Jesus also said in John 14:27, “ Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give peace to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.” You see,  you will find the green pastures and quiet waters for your rest and refreshment in the person of Jesus Christ- the good shepherd. His peace, rest and restoration remove fear from your heart and grants comfort in you.

Then David says the LORD leads and guides him in the right way. Sheep can go astray in the wrong way if not guided in the right path. A good shepherd would not lead them in the wrong way that leads to destruction. Beloved, David experienced LORD’s good leading and guidance even in the very rough and challenging times of his life. He had to leave his home and family fearing King Saul because he tried to kill him many times. On one occasion, David got a rare chance to kill his adversary Saul in a cave, so that he can become the king of Israel. God promised through Samuel that he would become the king and Samuel already anointed his head with oil to become King. However, even at that convenient time to kill King Saul, he did not do it. He dealt with his adversary kindly and honorably because he honored the LORD in heaven. He said, “the Lord forbid that I should lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed.” David knew that Saul would be dealt with by the LORD in His time and he was forbidden to do such a sin against the LORD. You see the Lord helped him to choose the right path for the sake of His name. In another occasion, he was about to kill Nabal, Abigail’s husband, because of his wickedness. However, God spared him from doing the bloodshed based on the kind words of Abigail.

There are other times David acted wrongly based on the desires of his flesh. However, David would testify to you that the merciful Lord restored his soul when He sought him in repentance. (Psalm 51).

Beloved, the good shepherd, Jesus Christ gave his life for you to save you from predators. He bought you with the price of his divine and sinless blood. The LORD will not forget and forsake the covenant of blood He made with you. He is the good shepherd. He will provide everything you need in your life. He is concerned about your welfare and comfort. He makes you lie down on rich and green pastures and lead you to quiet waters to drink.  In Christ, you have rest, peace and restoration. The good shepherd, Jesus Christ, directs and guides you in the right way. Bible says in Isaiah 30:21, “whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”

Dear one, If you have already gone astray from this good shepherd, may I tell you He wants to restore you to his loving and blessed relationship right now? Please admit your sins and shortcomings and call now for his forgiveness. He restores your soul. He restored David’s soul from the dirty sin he committed in his fleshly desires. Beloved, He will wash and cleanse you. He will make you pure like wool again when He restores you.

Got a  moment for today’s prayer? “Father in heaven, I know I can fully trust in your care and provisions. I know you can grant me rest, peace and restoration to my troubled soul. I know you will direct my paths in the right way. Please restore my soul today, Lord. I am sorry I went astray from your presence. Please restore me. I admit and confess my sins and shortcomings. Save me now with the blood of Jesus Christ. In Christ’s name, I  pray. Amen.

Grace continues to triumph over legalism

“For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace.  For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.” John 1:16-17

When we look at Christianity today, there are two groups of people inside it.  Those who still want to live under the Law- do’s and don’ts system. The second group is the people who got a grip with the wonderful term ‘grace.’ The grace people have a ‘yes’ face written all over their face.  I believe Jesus, having the fullness of grace,  has that ‘yes’ face on him. The legalist has a ‘no’ face written all over. They live in a world of no’s and don’ts still struggling under the yoke of the slavery of the law. I see grace face in Jesus when I read the Gospels. Just a few examples are the account of the woman caught in adultery in John 8 and the sinful woman of the town in Simon’s house in Luke 7:36-50 and Peter’s restoration in John 21:15-25.  I am sure the above two women, Peter, John, and other apostles had seen the ‘yes’ and ‘grace’ face in Jesus. They became the true apostles of grace later. The sinful woman of the town was not even afraid to come to Jesus when He was a guest in Simon, the Pharisee’s house. Jesus had a wonderful grace-filled and welcoming face. And Pharisees hated it to the core because of their legalistic hearts.

Apostle Paul wrote in Galatians 1:6 about the legalists that distort the truth of the grace of Christ in these words. He wrote, “I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel.” Paul then said the manner of life he had in Judaism before the knowledge of the grace of Christ. He says he was advancing in Judaism beyond many of his contemporaries. He was zealous for the parental/ancestral traditions. He says but God who set him apart from his mother’s womb called him through His marvelous grace to reveal His Son. God called him through His grace not based on his works.

Beloved, Paul whose name was Saul before was the most religious in his city. However, all his law-keeping zealousness did not change a bit until he came to terms with the grace of Jesus Christ. The more legalist he became, the more meticulously he tried to follow the way of the law of Moses, the more angry and cruel he became. He was on a murdering parade killing innocent Christians. He persecuted women and children and arrested them and persecuted them.  He was more and more thirsty for the blood of honest, truthful, and helpless people.

But one day on the road to Damascus, when Jesus, who is filled with grace appeared to him and grabbed hold of his life powerfully, he understood how wrong he was all those past years. He looked inside and figured out how narrow and small his thinking was. He realized how bad he was inside though he was a law keeper, a man of no and don’ts.

Paul wrote in Galatians 3:3-4 and listen carefully to his words.  “How foolish can you be? After starting your new lives in the Spirit, why are you now trying to become perfect by your own human effort? Have you experienced so much for nothing? Surely it was not in vain, was it?”

My beloved, if you know Jesus, this is not what you would learn from Him.  You would become more gracious and loving. You would put the picked-up stone down instead of hurting others with it. You will stop bruising and hurting others with your legalistic mentality undermining the grace of the Lord. When the grace of Christ triumphantly marches, the growth of legalists has already been arrested by the Lord of Grace and love. People were thirsty for grace in Jesus’s day. People are still thirsty for grace today. No one else in this world would offer grace to people other than true Christians who are being transformed by God’s grace.

Our today’s Bible verse is thought-provoking. For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace.  For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.” Out of Christ’s fullness of grace, you have received grace upon grace. Now you turn around and demand legalism from co-believers? The false teaching Paul addressed in the first century is still around us in our midst. They will not put their weapons down unless true Christians stand firm in the grace and truth of the Lord Jesus Christ. You started your Christian life based on heaped upon grace Christ crowned on you, don’t you?  Now you want to perfect and finish your race with your own best efforts? How foolish such an outlook, the Bible reminds. Moses gave the Law. However, more importantly, grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ. Christ is the fulfillment of the Law.

We do not know what exact time Paul became an arch-enemy of legalism after being raised and taught in that system. The grace of Christ changed him completely and totally, and he became a warrior of grace and love rather than hatred, anger, and murdering spirit coming out of legalism. He may have changed on the road to Damascus when Christ appeared to him, or it could be later when he was in Arabia for three years, upon pondering what Jesus’s appearance meant to him. (Galatians 1:17-18).

I am glad the truth of the marvelous grace of the Lord is revealed to us in Scriptures through this man, who was once a bloodthirsty law keeper. Is this not a solemn awakening for all of us today?

One distinguishing fact of the faith warriors.

“Then Ananias went to the house and entered it.” Acts 9:17.

Theodore Roosevelt said, “Obedience of the law is demanded; not asked as a favor.” Nations would change over the years. Many of the powerful kingdoms of the past disappeared from this world. The laws of the land would also change over time. However, it is true that obedience to the law of the nations is demanded, isn’t it? It is not asked as a favor from you.

Beloved, you may have known many people of great faith around the world, don’t you? Each of such great men and women of faith was different in their looks, styles, colors, languages, and how they present their topics. Every one of them was different from others. Additionally, take a look at the faith warriors described in Hebrews 11. Abraham, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Gideon, Samson, David, Samuel, Rahab, Jeremiah all were different from each other.

However, did you notice one thing common in all of them? When God asked them to do certain things, they stepped out and did it without hesitance. This is the one distinguishing trait that differentiates them from ordinary people.

The things they did could be small or big. But God asked, and they did it without hesitance and delay. Our today’s Bible insight says, “Then Ananias went to the house and entered it.” Ananias was an ordinary disciple who believed in Jesus. Paul later says in Acts 22:12 about Ananias that he was a godly man, devoted to the law and regarded by all Jews. Lord Jesus called Ananias in a vision and commanded him to “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying.  In a vision, he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.”  Ananias, because he heard many bad things about this cruel man who persecutes and kills the Christians, said to the Lord that he heard a lot of bad things about him and how Saul came there to arrest all who believe in the name of Jesus. Then Jesus said to Ananias, “Go! This man (Saul, who became Apostle Paul later) is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and the people of Israel.  I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.” Acts 9:13-16

Now Ananias went to the house where Saul was and entered it. He placed his hands on Saul and prayed for Him. He said to Saul that the  Lord Jesus sent him so that he may get his eyesight and filled with the Holy Spirit of God. Immediately something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and baptized and regained his strength.

Beloved, Saul was on the wrong path breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. On the road to Damascus,  with his authority from the Chief Priest, he would arrest the believers in Christ and bring them as prisoners to Jerusalem. Suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. Saul fell to the ground and lost his eyesight. He lost his strength. Saul heard a voice when he fell, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” Saul asked, “who are you, Lord?” “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied.  “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” This was a command from the Lord. Saul obeyed immediately and went to the house of Judas on Straight Street. Lord Jesus arranged this poor disciple Ananias to go and see him and pray for him.

Beloved, both Saul and Ananias instantly obeyed the command of the Lord. May I ask you, what is the Lord asking you to do? If he asks you to do something, will you step out and do it? If the nation’s law is demanded, not asked as a favor, how much more the command of the King of kings and Lord of lords-Jesus Christ-demands our obedience? His eternal kingdom endures forever, and His kingdom rules all from His throne in heaven. Lord is not proposing a favor from you. He commands what he wants you to do for him. Do not delay. Do not procrastinate. Step out and do it as the great men and women of faith did it in the past.

“Father in heaven, Help me to do what you ask me to do without delay. Lord, help me to lean on you for divine strength and wisdom. I want to walk my faith by obeying your commands. Most of all, I know you want me to get saved by believing in Christ Jesus as my savior and Lord. I believe Jesus died, buried, and rose again for my sins. I invite Jesus into my life. Please forgive my sins and purify me and help me to take baby steps of faith in obeying you. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray.”

The intersection of your desire and God’s perfect will could be the outcome of persistent prayers.

But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” Genesis 32:26.

Persistence is challenging but rewarding. It means to keep on seeking, asking and knocking, until you get the answer.

In the most nervous and critical time of his life, Jacob wrestled with God all through the night. He was afraid, confused, left alone. After wrestling all night, the man said to Jacob, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.” The man who wrestled with Jacob was none other than God because Jacob said in verse 30 after the whole night wrestling, “It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared.”

Beloved, God wants us to wrestle in prayer. God likes persistent prayers. Jesus gave two parables to highlight the need for persistent prayer, and they are recorded in Luke 18 and Luke 11. Luke 18 shows the example of a persistent widow, and Luke 11 the example of a persistent friend. Both have the same lesson. The need for perseverance in prayers. Jesus gave these parables to teach them they should always pray and not give up.
Beloved, do you know, persistent prayer or wrestling in prayer achieves God’s plan and our best satisfaction in the end. Beloved, you may have been praying for a matter for a long time. Still, God has not answered your prayer the way you wanted. You see, if God always instantly answers your prayers, the whole process is not different from Mcdonald’s drive-thru experience. You only think about your hunger and the burger. You neither think about the work goes behind the window nor the cook. You are concerned only about your hunger. God wants you to think about Him, who approves your prayers.

The one who blesses is more important than the blessings. When you do not get answers to your prayers, God wants to pray always and not give up. Persistent, wrestling prayer focuses the attention on God. Not just on the matter, you are praying. God wants you to focus on Him.

Secondly, God wants to answer your prayers, but you are not ready for what you ask. If God answers your prayer before you are prepared for it, it will not only not do good for you but also could harm you. Furthermore, God’s purpose would not be fulfilled. When you are persistent in prayer or wrestling in prayer, God eventually makes you ready for the answer. It may take time to make you prepared for what God has in mind in answering your prayer.

Thirdly, Persistent prayer prepares you internally for spiritual growth. It transforms you for God’s callings and purposes. When you are persistent and wrestle in prayer, and as you eagerly wait for his answer, you are going to understand more about God and his desires. This is amazing. You pray for your specific needs. In the process, you know God and his desires better, resulting in your transformation and preparation for God’s will. Is this not what happened to Jacob?

Beloved, what was the last time you prayed like Jacob? “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” Wrestling took all night. However, in the process, Jacob was transformed into a brand new person. He became the person whom God wants him to be. The deceiving, lying, manipulating life became his history. Through it, Jacob said he saw God face to face. Your persistent wrestling prayer has the same potential – to see God face to face. Jacob was stepping into God’s high calling in the eternal plan. The man asked him, “What is your name?” “Jacob,” he answered. Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel.” Once a deceiver changed into the prince of God.

Your prayers not answered yet? Continue your persistent prayer, always pray, not give up. Do not lose heart in it. In both of Jesus’s parables of persistent prayers were subsequently answered because they continued knocking and did not quit. Your prayer will not go unanswered. However, in the process of persistent and wrestling prayers, most probably, may I tell you God has a bigger, wider, and better answer than you ever imagined in your life. Jacob wrestled because he was fearful and nervous of his brother, Esau. He did not know how to face his brother. However, God had a bigger, broader, and better plan in His mind. A nation, Israel, birthed out of his name while he wrestled with God and continued with it by saying, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”

Ephesians 3:20 says this about God, “him who 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? “Father in heaven, I believe you have a bigger, wider, and better plan that I can not fathom in my mind. As I continue seeking you in prayer, may I know you and your desires are better and deeper in fashion? Lord, as you are getting ready to answer my prayer, transform me to your will and plan so that your will and my desire will intersect and bring glory to you. In Christ’s name, I pray. Amen.”

Take time to rest!

It was done, it remains done today, and it will always remain done all through the future.

“It is finished!” John 19:30 

I heard and read many well-known people’s last words. However, people always wonder at the last seven words (or phrases) Jesus spoke when He was dying on the cross. The last words of Lord Jesus Christ on the cross before his death speaks volumes for us. 

Listen to what John recorded in chapter 19:28-30. “After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I thirst!” Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there, and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth. So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.

Jesus said, “It is finished” just before his death.” Then he said, “Father, into your hands, I commend my spirit.” (Luke 23:46). The Greek word used is ‘tetelestai’, which is translated as ‘it is finished, which is a unique perfect tense. Tetelestai means ‘brought to a close, completed or fulfilled fully. The Greek has this unique perfect tense which we do not have in English grammar. The perfect tense in Greek combines two Greek tenses- the Aorist tense and the Present tense. It combines both aorist’s effect, which means something happened, completed or fulfilled once in the past, and the present tense in a sense it remains completed now and forever. The powerful use of the perfect tense signifies why Jesus said what he said. The usage shows he completed once in the past when he died on the cross, and the result would continue as finished or fulfilled forever in the future.

Jesus made clear the purpose of his coming before His death. These are the purpose statements of Jesus.

Luke 19:10, Jesus said, “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

Matthew 20:28 and Mark 10:45, Jesus said, “just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

John 17:4-5, Jesus said to Father in Heaven, “I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do.” Then he said, “And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with your before the world began.” Jesus was with God before the world began, and He was God. (John 1). Jesus came in a rescue mission to save sinners like you and me, to shed His divine and sinless blood, then die and rose again, to pay for all of our debts of sins, iniquities, and trespasses we owe to God. God the Father sent Jesus as a fulfillment of over 300 prophecies in the Old Testament. He came and finished the task given to him to do even before the foundations of the world. According to the eternal counsel, this was an agreement or covenant made by God the Father and God the Son even before the creation of the world. (Psalms 40:6-7, Hebrews 10:5-10 and 13:20).

When Jesus uttered the last words, “it is finished, what did he mean? It is like an artist drawing/painting a picture. After several days of hard work on it, he completes it, and then he says it is finished. It means nothing more to do with it. It is done, completed, and finished. Jesus fulfilled the eternal agreement/covenant he made with God the Father to come to this earth and become the perfect sacrifice for humanity’s sin. All the old-testament animal sacrifices came to an end because all those were shadows of the perfect sacrifice of Jesus. (Isaiah 53). Jesus, by his death, conquered and paid for people’s sins once for all the time and by his resurrection brought victory to humanity’s death problem. The work is finished—nothing more to do. Listen!

It was done, it remains done today, and it will always remain done all through the future.

Hebrews chapter 10 says all the animal sacrifices were shadows of good things that are coming. Those sacrifices could never make people perfect, although repeated year after year. Those were pointing to the perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross for people’s sins. Bible says in Hebrews 10:14 this vital statement about the sacrifice of Christ. It says, “For by one sacrifice He (Jesus) has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.” This is the essence of ‘tetelestai’. By one perfect sacrifice, Jesus has perfected forever those who would come to Him. 

Those who would come and accept the gift of salvation, He makes them perfect forever. This perfection is not based on your works but solely based on what Jesus has done for us on the cross, and it becomes yours when you pray to him. “God makes people right with himself through their faith in Jesus Christ. God sent him to die in our place to take away our sins. We receive forgiveness through faith in the blood of Jesus’ death.” Romans 3:22 and 25). NCV.

I hope the Holy Spirit of God now opens up your eyes to see the truth of God. By inviting Jesus into your heart and putting your trust in what he has done for you, He saves you forever and perfects you, and gets you ready to live before God in heaven all through eternity. Nothing else would save you forever—no other way is given by God for your salvation.

 Got a moment for today’s prayer? “Father in heaven, I believe you make me right with you when I place my faith and trust on your Son, Jesus Christ. I believe you sent Jesus to die in my place to remove my sins and grant me forgiveness and eternal life. I call upon the name of Jesus Christ. Please save me now. In Jesus Christ’s name, I pray. Amen.”