The one who knows all things is able and willing to help.

“For God is greater than our heart, and knows all things” TLV. (1 John 3:20)

The more years we live on this earth, the more we accept that we do not know our future. However, God is greater than our hearts. He knows all things – He knows our future as well. We do not know what tomorrow brings to us, do we? We do not even know what today night will bring forth. Our understanding is limited to finite knowledge, our past, and our present experiences.

A phone call during night hours, a routine doctor visit, or travel on the road or air, can forever change our future. Our knowledge is finite. 

However, God’s knowledge is infinite. He knows all things- past, present, and future. He knows the future of the earth and universe. He knows all about our individual future as well. God declares this in Isaiah 46:9-10, “For I am God—there is no other. I am God, and there is none like Me—declaring the end from the beginning, from ancient time, what is yet to come.”

You see, God does not have the limitation and restriction of time. God made time (Genesis 1). People live in the boundaries and limitations of the time now. God is eternal, and He sees and knows all- past and future – as a present. Though we do not know our future, being God, He had already seen our future. He knew it all, and He had already made a perfect plan for your future.

Today’s Bible insight says, “for God is greater than our heart, and knows all things.” when your hearts condemn, worry, afraid, we can rest on God because God is greater than our hearts, and He knows all things. Because He knows He cares and plans for us.

Remember, Job never knew in his limited knowledge that one day would bring such tide and calamities one after another and change the course of his life. However, God knew it all. God had already pre-planned well for Job, didn’t He? Beloved, the same God is our God. This is why we have to lean on God and trust Him every-day. We can grab hold of His promises in the Bible and ask Him to hold our hands into the unknown future.

Because God knows it all already, He will provide the grace, strength, direction, protection, comforts, and wisdom for us. If He already knows our individual future, will He not protect, comfort, and meet all our needs?

 Jesus said, “So don’t be anxious about tomorrow. God will take care of your tomorrow too. Live one day at a time.” TLB Matthew 6:34. God will take care of your tomorrow. He has myriads of angels at his disposal to take care of your needs. You see, God takes full responsibility for your future if you to seek Him first. This is what Jesus meant. Bible says in Romans 8:31-32, “What can we ever say to such wonderful things as these? If God is on our side, who can ever be against us? Since he did not spare even his own Son for us but gave him up for us all, won’t he also surely give us everything else?” This question in the Bible demands from us an affirmative response of faith in Him. Yes, He will Indeed give us everything else!

Beloved, Got a moment for today’s prayer? “Father in heaven, thank you for reminding you are greater than my hearts and thoughts. I believe you know all things about my future. I want to hold your eternal, comforting, and strong hand as I step into my future. Lord, help me, do not worry about tomorrow. You promised you would take care of my tomorrow. I believe because you gave up your only Son, Jesus Christ, for all of my sins, you will surely give me everything else I need. I accept Jesus Christ as my savior and Lord. Please forgive my sins, save and bless me with your love. In Christ’s name, I pray. Amen.”

Prayer is the key to open God’s favor and deliverances.

“The Israelites continued to mourn because of their bondage, and they cried out to be rescued from their oppression. Their cry for help ascended to God. He heard their pleas and remembered the covenant He made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. God saw the situation the people of Israel were in, and He was moved to take action.” Exodus 2:23-25.

Yesterday we learned how God multiplied the children of Israel in Egypt in their miseries and sufferings. Human sufferings and God’s divine plan was working out hand in hand. Chapter 1 ends with the statement of the King of Egypt’s command to throw all Hebrews boy in the Nile river. They are at the climax of their sorrows and disappointments. The very next chapter describes the birth of the deliverer – Boy Moses. The chapter describes the young Moses’ divine protection and says he became the son of Pharoah’s daughter because she saved him from the Nile river and wanted to keep him as her son and King’s grandson. The rest of the chapter gives us an idea about how God well trained the future deliverer in Pharoah’s very palace- the arch-enemy of the children of Israel. He got the best training and education available in those days. It also describes how Moses, when he grew up, wanted to identify himself with his people –the oppressed people of God. Hebrews writer said this about Moses when he grew up. “by faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He rejected the fleeting pleasures of sin and decided to go with God’s people and plan. When he thought having the disgrace for the sake of Christ has far greater value than the enjoyment of the palace. By faith, he decided to leave Egypt and its attractions because he was looking ahead for God’s reward.

You see, God was multiplying the children of Israel to build a nation out of them. He was also preparing a deliverer who would rescue them out of Egypt’s slavery and take them to the promised land that was already promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the book of Genesis.

Now, the right time appeared in God’s clock, when the Israelites moaned and cried out to God in prayer. Out insight says, the children of Israel groaned to because of their bondage, and they cried out to be rescued from their oppression. As a result of the cry out to God, what happened? Their prayer ascended to God. The next verse says four things God did. He ‘heard’ their cry, ‘remembered’ the covenant He made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. God ‘saw’ their situation. He was ‘moved’ to take action. God heard, remembered, saw, and moved to take action.

Beloved, do you see how vital our cry of prayers to God is in fulfilling His overall plan in our lives? God in heaven has open ears for your cry and prayers. Bible says your prayer to God in the name of Jesus Christ (John 14:13-14; 16:24) ascends to heaven. As a result, he will hear, remember, see, or look at your condition and move with the action. Why pray in the name of Jesus? Jesus is the only mediator between God and people, and no one else is qualified for the task of intercession. Why? God has not appointed anyone else. Bible says Jesus is the only mediator, and he is the only one who gave himself as a ransom for all people so that they can approach Holy God. (1 Timothy 2:5-6).

Did you notice God’s responses based on the prayers of Israel’s children are described in terms of anthropomorphism? It is a literary form attributing our familiar human qualities to God. The term later referred to animals and nature as well. God is spirit (John 4:24), and he has no physical form. He is present everywhere at the same time, and everything is present for Him. He does not have the restriction of time like we do. How do we explain the divine works of God, who is spirit? This is why the Bible writers used anthropomorphism to make Him understandable and relatable to human beings. It is a frame of reference to know God and his actions by our experimental and familiar knowledge. For example, God does not need to be reminded. Our passage says He heard, remembered, saw, and move with action to make us familiar and understand the almighty, omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent, holy God who is separate from us.

Your miseries and sufferings could be a place of birth for God’s eternal plan to unfold in and through you. The question is, are you ready to pray and cry out to God in the name of Jesus Christ? God waits for your prayer to hear, remember, see your condition, and move with action in favor of you. The one thing that must happen is your cry out and prayer to God. God has thousands of ways to help and deliver you from your miseries.

“Father in heaven, I understand how my miseries could give birth to the fulfillment of your purposes and plans. As you the Bible instructs, I pray in the name of the only mediator, Christ Jesus, for salvation and deliverance. I believe Jesus died and rose again to reconcile me to you. I accept Him as my savior and Lord. In Christ’s name, I pray. Amen.”

A thanks giving day filled with gratitude.

“The sacrifice that honors me is a thankful heart.” Psalm 50:23(a).

Today is celebrated in the United States as the Thanksgiving holiday. Thanksgiving day is a day that people spend time with their family. Family come together and remember the goodness, mercies, and benefits they enjoyed from the creator, sustainer, and provider God. The Bible says in James 1:17, “very good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”

We understood the great value of the free air we breathe, especially in this worldwide pandemic time. We do not pay for it, do we? However, when we go to the hospital with breathing difficulties, we understand how costly is the machine helps us to breathe. Thousands and thousands were on a ventilators due to breathing problems. Did we ever stop and think about our internal organs’ value that allows us to breathe easily. We do not even think about it, do we?

Health and well being is another gift of God. How much would you pay for it? People are willing to pay for the whole life saving for their health. However, without the kindness of God, none of us would live healthily.

Our ability and skill to work and earn money for living expenses are gifts of God. Our job is God’s gift. I remember I was simply an average student in my school days. However, God gave me the motivation to college studies and ended up with four master’s degrees. An average student in school days now ended up as a Vice President in a prestigious worldwide bank is truly a gift of God in my life.

God gave me a family- wife, and four children-3 boys and a little girl recently are gifts of God. During this pandemic time, God guarded all of us safe thus far is a gift from God. More than all these incredible benefits, God helped me to believe Jesus Christ as my savior and Lord. He gave me His Holy Spirit inside me to comfort, teach, guide, and remind me is a fantastic gift of God. God gave me salvation, forgave my sins, granted me eternal life in Jesus is indescribable gifts from Him. The opportunity to study the Bible to pray is a fantastic privilege.

From 2017 onwards, God gave me the privilege to reach out to the world with Bible messages with the help of the board members of teachbible.org was God’s plan. We are not worthy in ourselves to do this service to the Lord. Our worthiness comes only from God and His kindness. He asked me to do it. God gave us thousands and thousands of listeners and readers worldwide was a perfect gift due to His grace, mercy, and undeserving compassion. It was another gift.

Beloved, think through your lives. You will come across numerous gifts the good Lord granted you – very good and perfects gifts from above. If we try to write all those down, it will amaze you.
What can we do on this Thanksgiving day?
Our today’s insight says, “The sacrifice that honors me is a thankful heart.” Did you hear what God says? He does not ask anything else from you. He says ‘a thankful heart’ is a sacrifice that honors Him.” Say a thank you to God this morning from the bottom of your heart. You honored God with the words of thanksgiving, which is a pleasing aroma and sacrifice to Him.

Beloved, God loves you. How do you know it? God gave His one and only Son, Jesus Christ, and allowed him to die in your place for all of your sins and mistakes. God wants to reconcile you to Himself by the shed blood of Jesus, which covers all your sins. More than all that we discussed above, this one thing that God gave His one and only Son for you deserves a high note of gratitude from us. Jesus loves you. He willingly went to the cross, died a cruel and shameful death in your place for your sins. He was buried and rose again on the third day.

May the 2020 thanks giving day be a day that you truly come home to God, His love  and accept His gift of Jesus Christ. You can be saved, forgiven, and receive eternal life. The surpassing grace God,  that has been given to you in the person and work of Jesus Christ,  is the unspeakable/indescribable gift. Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! (2Corinthians 9:14-15)

Would you pray after me? “Father in heaven, I believe You gave your Son, Jesus Christ, for me. Jesus died, buried, and rose again for my sins. I repent of my sins and call upon the name of Jesus. Please save me today and bless me with forgiveness and eternal life. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen

Ask, seek and knock is the way God’s economy works.

“Give us this day our daily bread” Matthew 6:11

When the Bible talks about daily bread, it gives at least three meanings. We all need daily bread, which means food for our physical sustenance. Secondly, daily bread also means spiritual food for our inside man-spiritual health and nourishment. Thirdly, to our amazement, God put the bread we all need in a person.

Today’s insight is, “give us this day our daily bread.” We all need bread every day, don’t we? God wants us to pray for it. Why should we pray? God wants you to ask Him like children ask their parents. God loves when people ask in prayer. Certain things you don’t have because you never prayed for them. The Bible says you do not have because you do not ask God. (James 4:2(c). Just think about it.

However, God does not want you just pray for it only and sit in your house, expecting God would drop it from heaven in a magic way. Jesus said, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” Did you see the progression here-ask, seek, and knock? Pray, seek, and knock at the doors. This is the way God’s economy works.

The Bible says Proverbs 14:23, “Hard work always pays off; mere talk puts no bread on the table.” (MSG). The Bible says in 2 Thessalonians 3:10, “For even when we were with you, we would give you this order: if anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.”  The LORD God Himself said in Genesis 3:19, “By the sweat of your brow, you will eat your food until you return to the ground.” Work is God’s purpose for your life. Therefore pray to the Lord for daily bread, step out, seek diligently, and knock at the doors. The door will be open for you and then do your best work.

Secondly, daily bread also means nourishment for our inside man. It means our spirit inside us needs food as the body needs nourishment. People have bodies and spirits. Jesus said, quoting from Deuteronomy 8:3, “It takes more than bread to stay alive. It takes a steady stream of words from God’s mouth.” MSG (Matthew 4:4). Here Bread is the symbol of the Word of God – the Bible.

Along with physical bread, you need spiritual bread — spiritual food to make you strong and healthy internally- spiritually. The Word of God is the lamp to your feet; it provides guidance and direction; It gives strength and encouragement; It comforts and gives you new opportunities and visions; It gives hope for the future and enriches you with divine and heavenly blessings.

Beloved, finally, God in heaven embodied the Word of God, your spiritual food in His incarnate Son, Jesus Christ, who lived, died, and rose again for all of your sins. Listen to what Jesus declared. He said, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” (John 6:35). A person who comes to Jesus and accept Him as his savior and Lord will never go hungry. Moreover, whoever believes in Him will never be thirsty. Jesus is the bread of life, the bread of eternal life. If you have not decided to come to Jesus Christ, I am sorry to say -you are still a big loser. You do not need to be a loser. You can have all God had pre-planned for your life.  I can get you connected to the bread of life, the bread of eternal life, in a small prayer now. How amazing! What a beautiful day would be today in your life. The day you will never forget.

“Father in heaven, as I come and pray for my bread, I understand you can meet not only my physical needs but also give your abundant and overflowing life and eternal life inside me. I believe Jesus is the bread of life, and He died and rose again for all of my sins. I am sorry for my sins. I confess my sins, and  I believe and accept Christ as my savior and Lord. Thank you for blessing me today. In Jesus Christ’s name, I pray. Amen.”

At the end of the day, the only person you can trust is God and His promises.

“God is not a man, so he does not lie.

He is not human, so he does not change his mind.

Has he ever spoken and failed to act?

Has he ever promised and not carried it through?” Numbers 23:19.

We can one hundred percent count on God. The reason is that God is not a man. God does not lie. He is not human, and therefore He does not change his mind. If He promised, He keeps His word no matter what happens.

People have difficulty believing and trusting God’s promises because they have seen people make promises and break them. We see violations of commitments all around us. However, remember that God is not a man. He is not human. Therefore He does not change His mind or alter His promises and words. You can bank on it.

Bible asks this question. Has God ever spoken and failed to act? Has He ever promised and not carried it through? It is a rhetorical question demanding a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answer. No, He never has. Whatever He has spoken, He acted. He promised, He faithfully carried it through. The hundreds of fulfilled prophecies in the Bible are proof of the faithfulness and trustworthiness of God. Joshua testified this in Joshua 21:45 after they reached the promised land. He said, “Not a single one of all the good promises the LORD had given to the family of Israel was left unfulfilled; everything he had spoken came true.”

Beloved, when everything turns around you constantly, you need something in your life that never changes. That is God and His promises. We have unpredictable children, parents, spouses, friends, relatives, and even co-believers. We have unpredictable weather. We have unforeseen events in life. However, amid all this unpredictability, we have God, His word- the Bible and His promises as to the anchor of our souls, to keep us safe from the dangerous winds and tides.

Moreover, the Bible affirms, “Even in your faithlessness, He remains faithful because He can not disown Himself.” (2 Timothy 2:13). In a turbulent and uncertain world, God promises His love, grace, forgiveness, salvation, provisions, hope, security, and eternal life, which no human would or could offer. All these are wrapped in the person and work of His one and only Son, Jesus Christ. Those who have Jesus in their life have all these wonderful blessings. When God promises, He fulfills it with no shadow of a doubt. 

You can receive all God’s goodness right now and start living a brand new life -forgiven all your past failures, excited, hope-filled, and secured future with a small prayer with me now. God loves you, and Jesus calls you right now. 

Would you pray?

Got a moment for today’s prayer? “Father in heaven, I come to you, and I place my trust and believe in you. I know all changes around me constantly. But I know your word and promises never change. I know you sent your Son, Jesus Christ, for all of my sins. He died, buried, and rose again for me. I accept Him as my savior and Lord. Save me and bless me today with your wonderful words and promises. In Christ’s name, I pray. Amen.”

Have you considered the indescribable gifts in Christ Jesus?

“Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.” (Romans 8:17).

I recently read about two homeless brothers who inherited 100 million Euros. Zsolt and Geza Peladi were so poor that they did not have a home. But lived in a cave outside Budapest, Hungary, and sold scrap they found on the street for pennies. They lived in the streets without knowing of their immense fortune. They knew that their mother came from a wealthy family. However, she was difficult to live with and severed ties with her children and their father. Now they live in the USA with all the comforts because of the huge inheritance they received from their mother.

Beloved, the Bible says you are hundreds and thousands of times more blessed when you accept Jesus as your savior and Lord. God gives you His Holy Spirit inside you. You do not live in a fear-based on your life circumstances because you are the heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ. You become a child of God, and you have the freedom to call Him “Abba Father,” a very dear, intimate, and loving name. We can call God like we call our earthly father.

Moreover, the Bible says you became a citizen of heaven. (Philippians 3:20.) I live in the USA and a citizen here. To get citizenship in the USA is not easy. However, do you know what? The USA is not even remotely comparable to the most wonderful place, called heaven. You became a citizen of heaven when you accepted Jesus as your savior. All the legal and paper works for your heavenly citizenship were completed and awarded the title ‘citizen of heaven’ at the moment of your prayer to accept Jesus in your life. Jesus Christ paid all the cost of the filing court work fees by His divine and sinless blood. Nothing would get wash away your sins and shortcomings to become a citizen of heaven—only the blood of Christ.

Besides, you are granted all the fortunes and inheritance of heaven because you are now adopted to God’s household in and through the merit of Jesus Christ. It is a done deal.

You see, not only you are a child of God, a citizen of heaven but also the decision to give you all the ‘inheritance of heaven’ was also settled in the heavenly court even before the foundations of the world. (Ephesians 1:3-6), Bible says in 1 Peter 1:4, God calls you into the inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This heavenly inheritance is kept personally for you in heaven.

This is a matter of great joy and rejoices while living on this earth and facing various trials and difficulties. Your sufferings based on your acceptance of Jesus as your savior and various other sufferings as a Christ-follower make you more and more eligible to share in His glory in the future. 

Oftentimes, we are afraid about our circumstances, and we think we do not have enough resources or helps. However, keep in mind that God has all resources for you at His disposal. Bible says all greatness, power, glory, majesty, splendor belong to Him. It also says everything in heaven and earth belongs to Him. (1 Chronicle 29:11). And you are a child of God and therefore the inheritor of all God’s inheritance. You are not just a believer or decreed saint of God based on the efficacy of the blood of Christ, but also you have all heaven’s blessings at your disposal because you belong to God’s family and are His child.

Dearly beloved, slowly read today’s insights. Because you accepted Christ as your savior, you are heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ. 

Now the billion-dollar question is this – did you accept Jesus Christ and acknowledge Him as your savior and Lord as of yet? Listen! God sent His only begotten Son to this world and allowed Him to die on the cross for all of your sins to reconcile you with Him and grant free entrance into heaven and His inheritance. Not based on your merit. But based on the merit of Jesus Christ. Remember, you become the heir of God and co-heir with Christ. If you have not made the most important decision for eternity in heaven and God’s wonderful inheritance, I will help you to come to Jesus and become a child of God in a small prayer. It does not matter how far you are away from God. God loves you. You may think you are not worthy to come to God because of your past. Satan may tell you are not good or worthy. However, the truth is this – God loves you so deeply, and that is why He gave His Son, Jesus Christ, for you. Jesus loves you, and that is why He died for all your sins and shortcomings. You are more valuable than the whole world in the sight of God. (Mark 8:36).

Got a moment for today’s prayer? “Father in heaven, I come to you and accept Jesus Christ as my savior and Lord. I believe Jesus died, buried, and rose again for all of my sins. I invite Him to my life. Please forgive my sins. I turn from my sins to you now. Thank you for giving me eternal life and all your inheritance in heaven. In Jesus Christ’s name, I pray.”

 

 

Do you know one thing God opposes? (part 2)

“God resists the proud,
But gives grace to the humble.” 1 Peter 5:5 (b)

As we know, pride can get into individual lives. Alternatively,  pride can get into the way of effective and servant type of Christian leadership Jesus modeled.  Peter of course remembered what Jesus highlighted in his private teaching of the disciples. I believe the teaching of Jesus made tremendous influence in his life that later he wrote our today’s insight,  “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” The teaching of Jesus in this topic is recorded in Matthew 20:25-28, “Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—  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.”

Understanding the possibility of pride nature and behaviors, the Bible says in 1 Peter 5:3 says a solemn warning to elders, “Not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.” Humility, love, care, discerning, understanding, feeding the flocks are true characteristics of all leaders. This must certainly apply to Christian leaders. Peter wrote that leaders and all people in congregations must clothe humility toward one another (1 Peter 5:5(b). Youth to leaders and leaders to youth.

The leaders with the absences of Bible training can become blind and arrogant in their false imaginations and speculations. The tendency of arrogant pride is typically seen in leaders who do not value proper Bible training. I understand much Bible knowledge also can puff up people. However, there is a difference seen consistently. The pride that enters into one who does not have appropriate Bible training is more dangerous than the pride of those who have proper Bible training. Moreover, the correct interpretation of the Scripture and ongoing feeding of the Bible truths would also lack in such an environment.  It is cardinal to get trained at least for some time before being recognized as a spiritual leader in a local church. The absence of such formal training is like driving a car without proper training or flying an airplane or any machine without adequate training.  Imagine the danger a person who does not have a balanced and systematic training of the whole Scripture can bring to people around them and the congregation.

In the olden days, there were not many opportunities for getting proper training in the Bible. The days are different now. Suppose a person wants to serve in a leadership capacity in a church or para-church organization. In that case, if he or she cares about God’s calling, there are several opportunities to get adequately trained first. If formal training is not a possibility the at least formal Bible education is needed for Christian ministries. Formal education means seriously studying the Bible for some time, along with several sermons, books. Although it can never take the place of formal training, it can certainly help. The skill needed can also be attained by learning from someone who formally studied the Bible and willing to impart the skills to you for some time.  KJV says in 2 Timothy 2:15, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

The whole scope of the Christian leadership can be summed up in this way- “equipping the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ.” (Ephesians 4:12). Two things are here -equip the believers for the work God called them in to. Stand with them, promote them, pray for them, support them, and in short, equip them to become all God wants them to become in a local church setting, for His glory. Listen the second scope a true leader is “building up the body of Christ to attain the unity of faith and the knowledge of the Son of God, to  make the congregation more and more mature in this knowledge of the truth so that they may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.” Ephesian 4:13-14.

For such a gigantic task, a leader must be equipped first by Christ given gift and then by formal education of the Scripture.

In addition, formal training or formal education in the Bible can help avoid the pitfall of dangerous pride in leadership. Without it, a leader simply would not adequately be equipped to equip the believers for the ministry God uniquely called them for. Alternatively, without it, a leader might be prone to dangerous pride as he gets more opportunities to influence people. Finding ways to feed the flocks with the Bible’s undiluted truths and thus equipping them becomes a secondary concern. God’s primary scope of “equipping the saint’s ministries in the congregation and building up the church in the knowledge of the Son of God” becomes a remote reality.

“Father in heaven, I understand you want  me to first study to show myself approved to God. Help to spend a period of time in studying and getting formally prepared for the gigantic task you are planning in my life. I submit myself for the fulfillment of your plans. I want to know you more. I want to know Jesus more. I want to  know Holy Spirit more. I want to know the Word more. Forgive if I ignored this need for the huge task ahead of me. I submit my life to you. Use me for your glory. Lord make me more humble. As I study the Bible may be more firm in your truth and at the same time help to fight against the tendencies to become prideful and ignore other people who also have a major role in your kingdom. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.”

Do you know one thing God opposes? (part 1)

“God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” James 4:6

Bible has much to talk about the dangers of pride. The first sin originated in the universe was nothing other than pride. God opposes the proud behaviors at all levels but gives grace to those who are humble.

The Bible speaks about this in Ezekiel 28 and Isaiah 14:12-18. The pride of Lucifer, who was the signet of perfection. He was full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. Every precious stone covered him, the sardius, topaz, and diamond, beryl, onyx, Jasper, sapphire, emerald, carbuncle, and crafted in gold. He was the anointed guardian cherub. He was in the holy mountain of God. As a worship leader, he was all musical instruments in himself. However, his heart became proud because of his beauty, wisdom, and splendor. Due to pride in his heart, he said he would ascend to heaven and set his throne on high and make himself like the Most High God. God punished him and brought down to Sheol, to the far reaches of the pit. The dangerous pride entered into the heart of Lucifer. It caused him much. God threw him down, and he became the devil, and a group of his loyal angels followed him, and they became the demons. Here is the beginning of the devil and demons, the Bible reveals.

Then the devil was in the garden of Eden, pumping pride into our first parent’s hearts. He said they could become like God. As he injected pride into their hearts, the first parents and their posterity fell in sin. He still pumps pride into people’s hearts and leads them to destruction.

As I alluded before, the Bible has much to talk about pride. Listen to some of the warnings of this grievous sin that God hates.

“Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” (Proverbs 16:18).
“One’s pride will bring him low, but he who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor.” (Proverbs 29:23).
“I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.” (Proverbs 8:13)
“God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” (James 4:6)
“The LORD detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished.” (Proverbs 16:5)
“Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight.” (Isaiah 5:21)
“Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.” (Proverbs 26:12).

Beloved, the Bible uses strong languages against pride. Why? It elevates self and dishonors God. God hates it. Do you know God becomes an enemy of a prideful person because the Bible says God opposes the proud and arrogant people? God is looking for humility and humbleness to provide His wonderful grace, mercy, and blessings lavishly. 1 Peter 5 instructs to clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, just because God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. Then it says Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, cast all your cares on Him, because He cares for you. If we are prideful, God opposes us and does not care for us. However, if we humble ourselves and long for His grace and mercy, He lavishes these and exalts us because he cares for the humble.

In today’s culture around us, we daily witness pride and arrogance: prideful talk, prideful look, prideful talk, prideful lifestyles. Devil injects pride in people because he wants to get as many people in his group as and drive them to eternal hell, which God had already prepared for Him. He knew his future is in hell, and he wants to get as many people with him on the way.

Beloved, pride comes at a high cost. Pride prevents the man from acknowledging God, His word, admit their sins and wrongdoings, and thus becomes impossible to receive God’s love, mercy, grace, and forgiveness. Pride destroys families, friendships, and businesses on an everyday basis. Choose humility and grace instead of pride. God offers forgiveness, mercy, and love in and through His Son, Jesus Christ, who died, buried, and risen again for all of our sins. Shake off the pride and choose God’s grace and mercy in humility. Jesus said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.”

Prideful talk, actions, and behavior of the spiritual leaders are especially detestable in the sight of the Lord. We will see more in the next daily insight.

The good and most rewarding thing is this- the Lord offers forgiveness when we confess this dangerous sin in our life. Those who would not confess this for whatever reason would be accountable to God. Saul, the first king of Israel, gives an example of this truth.

Got a moment for today’s prayer? “Father in heaven, thank you for talking to me today. Please forgive my pride and arrogance that prevented God’s mercy, grace, forgiveness, love, and blessings. I humble myself and honor you, God. I accept Jesus Christ, the Son of God, as my savior and Lord. I believe He died, buried, and rose again for my sins. Please save me today, and I thank you and worship you. In Christ’s name, I pray. Amen.”

Look past the sufferings and pains to great future results.

“And it was right and proper that God, who made everything for his own glory, should allow Jesus to suffer, for in doing this he was bringing vast multitudes of God’s people to heaven; for his suffering made Jesus, a perfect Leader, one fit to bring them into their salvation.” Hebrews 2:10.

God has a bigger plan and purpose than we can see in all aspects of our life. Nothing happens to you without His understanding and approval. The incarnation and earthly life of Jesus were not different, either. Our today’s insight says, “it was right and proper that God, who made everything for his own glory, should allow Jesus to suffer.” Please stop and think about it! Was it right and proper for God to allow Jesus to suffer? Our verse, yes, it was. When you and I go through difficult and painful circumstances, we question God why He allowed this to happen to us, don’t we? However, remember, Jesus could see the purpose of God in his suffering. What was the purpose behind the sufferings of Jesus? It says there, “for in doing this he (God) was bringing vast multitudes of God’s people to heaven”. That was the purpose of God behind allowing the cruel suffering to Jesus.

Secondly, it says, “His (Jesus’s) suffering made him a perfect leader, one fit to bring them into their salvation.” Another translation says He became the pathfinder for many to come to God and receive God’s salvation and eternal life. You see, it was right and proper that God allowed Jesus to suffer. Because by the suffering of Jesus, he became a perfect leader, pathfinder, or perfect savior for people’s multitudes to come to heaven. In short, the sufferings of Jesus made Him fit to bring them into their salvation.

Amid severe suffering and pain, He did not focus on it. He looked past the suffering and pain to the glorious results coming out of it. The same applies to every one of us. Your circumstances are not hopeless, gloomy, or desolate. Jesus could have thought the same way. However, he refused to give himself to such thinking of anguish or dejection. He saw the purpose of God and the future reward behind it.

The Bible says in Hebrews 5:8-10 that even though He was Son, Jesus learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek. You see, suffering and obedience in suffering have significant potential of reward if you look past and focus on the ultimate good results.

The lowliness of Jesus was beyond comprehension to any human mind. You can read about it in Philippians 2:6-8. It says there Jesus being the eternal Son of God, being in very nature equal to God, took the very nature of a man, more than he became a servant of all. He was obedient to death –even death on a cross! That is mind-boggling from the position of the eternal Son of God to man, a servant, obedient to God in all his sufferings and pain, to death-even death on a cross. In the process of it all, He weighed the purpose of God behind his sufferings and pain highly. To become a perfect savior, to bring many to God by offering perfect salvation.
Only a perfect savior can offer perfect salvation. Through the suffering, He proved himself and designated by God, the Father, to be a perfect savior.

The Bible says because of His perfect obedience to the lowliness, sufferings, and pain, God exalted him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth. Every tongue acknowledges that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. “Philippians 2:9-11.  You see, one day, every knee will bow, all in heaven and on earth and under the earth before Him. He will be acknowledged as the Lord and Savior of all.

Beloved, your sufferings may be too hard to explain. I am not belittling it. However, as we all increasingly learn and understand, we can endure many sufferings and pain that we once thought we would not be able to.  And God always has a bigger plan and purpose behind it. He makes you perfect through your obedience in it.  I faced with life situations that looked unbearable and hopeless. However, when I thought I could not bear it anymore, somehow, God would make my feet like the deer’s feet and enable me to tread on heights with the right response of faith and trust in Him.

Did you also notice God made Jesus the perfect savior, the source of eternal salvation? Did you know God designated Jesus as ‘the High Priest’ between humanity and God, not in the order of any human priests but the order of Melchizedek- the king of righteousness, without father or mother, without genealogy, without the beginnings of days or end of life, who remains the priest forever? (Hebrews, 7:3).

“Father in heaven, help me in my sufferings to see your purpose and plan. May I focus not on the immediate aspects but the future and final results. I agree I am a sinner. Please forgive my sins and help me to respond with faith and obedience. I believe Jesus is the perfect savior, source of eternal salvation, and the high priest forever, by his death, burial, and resurrection for my sins. I accept Him as my savior and Lord. In Christ’s name, I pray. Amen. “

Because He always lives, he can deliver completely.

“Therefore, he is able to save completely those who come to God through Him because he always lives to intercede for them. Such a high priest truly meets our need.” NIV Hebrews 7:25.

In June 2012, Tyler Sullivan, a fifth-grader, skipped school on a Friday and went with his Dad, Ryan Sullivan, to see the then-president speak at the Honeywell factory in Minneapolis. His father worked there. The tween got an opportunity to shake hands with Obama. Obama figured out the boy skipped school and wrote a note to the boy’s teacher. It said this, “Mr. Ackerman, Please excuse Tyler… he was with me!” President wrote the note in official presidential stationery. I am sure the teacher, Mr. Ackerman, accepted the excuse note, don’t you agree? How often a president intercede or intervene on behalf of an elementary school boy who skipped school?

Our today’s Bible insight says, “He (Jesus) is able to save completely those who come to God through Him because He always lives to intercede for them.” You see, If you come to God through Jesus Christ, He will save you completely. Because Jesus lives always to intercede for you. Unlike people or human spiritual leaders, Jesus does not have a restriction of time. People do not always live. They die and disappear. Jesus lives always. In short, Jesus is available 24 hours and seven days-anytime to save you fully and completely. He is just a prayer away from you. When Satan and people accuse you, Jesus steps in the heavenly court and reminds His blood paid it all. I see in my imagination what Tyler got on that day. Jesus Christ says, “Father God, Please excuse Sam… he belongs to Me!”

Some troubles are our makings. The body skipped school and went to see the president during his school time.  We do not work, and we are unable to pay for our basic needs. We use illegitimate means to earn money and end up in prison. We want to live like others and buy-in credit and end up in bankruptcy.

Some other troubles come out of our obedience to Him as well. The disciples obeyed Jesus Christ and set out to the other shore per his command and faced severe storms all night. Being a child of God is not a trouble-free life. Jesus Himself warned, in this world, you will have troubles. However, He also said, “do not fear because he had overcome the world” (John 16:33). You see, Jesus went up to pray all night in the mountain after sending them out to the other shore. He was actively involved -interceding on their behalf. Then He came as the answer to them in the twilight hours walking on water. Where was Jesus? He was watching, praying, and interceding for them when they were faced with storm.

The promise of God is this- Jesus is able to save completely and entirely if you would come to God through Jesus Christ, His Son. Why? Did you notice the wonderful phrase, “He always lives to intercede for them?” He always lives. He always available to listen to you.

People in the olden days used to go to their priests in Israel when they had troubles or marred with sins. However, human priests did not live forever. Jesus, the eternal Son of God who was in existence from the eternity past, came down to this earth and lived here for about 30 plus years to save you. After His death, burial and resurrection, He ascended into heaven (Acts 1:9-11) and lives forever to help and protect you. He is the permanent high priest in the presence of God in heaven interceding, praying, and advocating for His children. Beloved, He can truly meet all your needs- no matter what. When you pray to God in the beautiful and miraculous name of Jesus Christ, the alarm goes off in heaven. The whole of heaven gives attention to the prayer dispatched in the name of God’s Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus then steps and advocates on your behalf because He paid and bought you with His blood. The blood tie is stronger than all other links. Don’t you agree? Did you establish a blood tie with Jesus, who shed blood for your sins and mistakes?

Got a moment for today’s prayer? “Father in heaven, I come to you in the name of Jesus Christ. Please save me from my problems and troubles. I know when I pray in the name of Jesus, heaven shakes. Such is the power of the name of Jesus Christ, your eternal Son. I believe Jesus died, buried and rose again for my sins. Please save and deliver me. I fully trust you. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.”