Be A Conqueror, Not A Victim.

“Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God has forgiven you because you belong to Christ.” Ephesians 4:32.

There is always a possibility that bad things could happen to you. People can hurt you. The circumstance of life can cause pain, sorrow, and frustration inside you. However, remember this truth- what happens to you is less important, how do you respond finally determines all. You see, you do not have control over other people and things. Keep in mind, you have total control over how would you respond. The truth described in the Bible helps people to figure out how to respond based on God’s priorities. Very applicable truth when the world is faced with a widespread pandemic. So many demands in our lives and so many choices. You can’t satisfy all the demands. You need to respond based on God-given priorities and relax at the end of the day, God is honored although you can’t satisfy all the people around you. It is impossible. However, you need wisdom from God to shuffle through it all.

Our response to what happens leads us to victory or failure in life. Your attitude is the string you have control over. Nothing else! Our today’s insight reminds the one attitude that always wins. What is it? The attitude of kindness, tenderheartedness, honoring, and forgiving. When we develop this attitude, nothing can beat or cause us to fail.

You see, as human beings, we don’t have the ability in ourselves to be kind to each other, keep forgiving and continue honoring although it hurts. The Bible says God gives us this ability if we pray and lean on him every day. Every day remember how much God has forgiven you. Give thanks and praise to Him. God forgave you much. Our insight says you belong to Christ because God forgave you all in the person of Jesus Christ. Also, you belong to God, the Father in heaven, because He bought you with a price -the price of the blood of Christ, His Son. You do not belong to yourself. (1st Corinthians 6:20). This awareness and knowledge empower you to become kind, tenderhearted, and keep on forgiving.

You see you can fight and quarrel all day. You can keep a grudge in your heart without being kind and forgiving. The choice is yours. At the end of the day, the person who suffers is just you. However, when you forgive and show kindness no matter what happens to you, then you are the conqueror, not a victim.

Beloved, how did Jesus become the number one conqueror? So many evil and bad things happened to him when the Son of God, Jesus Christ, came down to this world to die in your place for your sins. Did he keep grudges? Was he unforgiving? Even Pilate announced to the chief priests and the crowd, “I find no basis for a charge against this man.” Luke 23:34. Matthew 24:24 says, He (Pilate) took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “It is your responsibility!”

When he was even crucified for no mistakes of his, what was the response of Jesus? “Father, forgive these people,” Jesus said, “for they don’t know what they are doing.” The Bible says God forgave all your mistakes and sins because you accepted His Son, Jesus, as your savior.

This knowledge helps you to become kind, tender-hearted, and forgiving. Apostle Paul says in 1st Corinthians 9:27, “I harden my body with blows and bring it under complete control,…”. Another translation says “I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave” We have to control our attitudes and actions to show forth the glory of the one who saved us. Is it a challenge? Yes, of course, it is. In the end, the more we discipline ourselves to bring forth Christ’s character, the more victorious we become. The happier and joyful we become. No one else can do it for you. Only you can.

Listen to God’s counsel. Instead of grudge, anger, and retaliation, “be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God has forgiven you because you belong to Christ.”

Father in heaven, Help me to develop kindness, tenderheartedness, and a forgiving attitude in me. I know Jesus was kind, tender, and forgiving even amid severe agone -even on the cross. I believe Jesus died for my sins and shortcomings. I invite him to come to my life, save me and impart in me these divine virtues every day and all day. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.”

Life Thrives By The Consistent and Steadfast Hope In The Lord!

“And so, Lord, where do I put my hope?
My only hope is in you.” Psalms 39:7

Pablo Neruda, a Nobel Prize-winning, Chilean poet-diplomat said, “You can cut all the flowers but you cannot keep Spring from coming.”

David’s life thrived and prospered because of his consistent and steadfast hope in God. No wonder he bounced back from the most heinous sin and the crime he committed, blossomed again, and fulfilled God’s plan and purpose for his life. He knew the Lord God in heaven can help him even in severe sufferings that were caused by his sins against the Lord. The secret was he confessed his sins in repentance and sought the Lord for his help.

Today’s insight says, “And so, Lord, where do I put my hope? My only hope is in you.” You see the lifeline and life energy of David. One time he was so depressed with his enemy, King Saul, and he said to Jonathan, his trusted friend these words, “surely as the LORD lives and as you live, there is only a step between me and death.” 1 Samuel 20:3 ©. He thought he was face to face with death and there was no way of escape from the hands of his enemy. He wept bitterly with Jonathan and departed his family and friends to several hiding places to hide from Saul. The anointed future king of Israel, who was the victim of jealousy and wrath did not have food to eat, and he had to beg for bread from Ahimelek. He asked, “Give me five loaves of bread, or whatever you can find.” 1 Samuel 21:3

Even amid the shadows of death, he placed his hope in God. He wrote in Psalms 39:4, “LORD, make me know my end, And what is the measure of my days, That I may know how frail I am.” NKJV. Another translation says, “LORD, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered—how fleeting my life is.”

Beloved, do you know how frail you are and how fleeting your life is? Several weeks ago, I was driving on the highway, two men in the motorbike flashed by me with hard and loud sounds. They were riding their bikes at very high speed. After a few moments, I saw flashing lights way ahead of us. Both men were taken to eternity in the flash of a moment. Did they know how frail they were? Did they know how fleeting their lives were? The first question came to my mind was this- were they saved by the love and grace of the Lord Jesus Christ who gave his life as a ransom for them? Have they received the forgiveness of their sins and shortcomings from God? Bible says in the same Psalm 39:5-7, “You have made my life no longer than the width of my hand. My entire lifetime is just a moment to you; at best, each of us is but a breath. We are merely moving shadows, and all our busy rushing ends in nothing. We heap up wealth, not knowing who will spend it.”

After describing the brevity and uncertainty of life, David penned the words of today’s insight, “And so, Lord, where do I put my hope? My only hope is in you.”

You may be faced with enemies, or perhaps you may be struggling with resources to pay for your bill and buy food. Alternatively, you may be faced with the reality of death ahead of you. No matter what you face, you would enjoy the quietness and calmness in your heart if you have Jesus Christ as your shepherd. He is the good shepherd who can carry you through all the different valley experiences of life. Even in the shadow of the valley of death, you will fear no evil, because the Lord is with you to take you safely to heaven. Even in that final journey of death, His rod and staffs comfort you.

Beloved, can you say to God today, “My only hope is in you”? If you cannot or are not sure, invite the good shepherd, Jesus Christ into your life, who can guide, direct you in all your valleys including the moment of your last breath from this earth. Settle your frailty and brevity with the eternal God who loves you and offers you salvation and eternal life in and through His Son, Jesus Christ. Death does not need to be a terrifying experience. It can be peaceful and restful because the Lord Jesus paid for your sins with his blood and He is with you all the way through. If you have Jesus Christ in your life, he is going to be with you with all his comforts.

Got a moment for today’s prayer? “Father in heaven, My only hope is in you, Lord. My hope is found only in Jesus Christ, Your Son, who died in my place for all of my sins. I accept Jesus Christ as my savior and Lord. I confess my sins and pray to restore me in your mercy and kindness. In the name of Christ, I pray. Amen.”

God gives the mission and the needed strength.

Then the LORD turned to him and said, “Go with the strength you have and rescue Israel from the Midianites. I am sending you!  “But Lord,” Gideon replied, “how can I rescue Israel? My clan is the weakest in the whole tribe of Manasseh, and I am the least in my entire family!” The LORD said to him, “I will be with you. And you will destroy the Midianites as if you were fighting against one man.” Judges 6:14-16 (NLT).

Napoleon Bonaparte said, “Courage isn’t having the strength to go on – it is going on when you don’t have strength.”

God gave a unique and very challenging task to Gideon, and He promised his presence and power to him. Whenever God gives you a job or assignment, he would provide the divine empowerment to do it. God said to Gideon go with the strength you have and rescue Israel from the Midianites. I am sending you. However, Gideon knew that he did not have the required power in himself. Therefore he replied to the LORD that his family is the weakest in the whole tribe of Manasseh, and he is the least in his entire family.

Have you felt like Gideon when God gave you a task in His sovereign plan? I did. Not one time, but many times in my life. Who am I to do the task? Where is the power? Do I have the strength or ability? Dear ones, maybe you are too young. Or perhaps you think you are too old. Alternatively, you may think you do not have the needed skills or ability. You may also think you do not have the resources.

The Lord said to Gideon, “I will be with you. And you will destroy the Midianites as if you were fighting against one man.” Beloved, the LORD promises he will be with you when he gives a task for you to do. Whatever he asked you to do, you will do it successfully because he is with you and he will empower you.

Ephesians 3:16 says, God in his great glory gives you the power to be strong inwardly through his Spirit. What is the power and glory of God? He promises he gives you the ability out of his glory so that you would be strong inside through His Holy Spirit. Holy Spirit living inside you is the source of your divine potential. God empowers you through His Spirit for your divinely appointed task.

Beloved, I do not know what task God calls you now. It may be a hard task. It may be a task you may not prefer to do in your preference. But I know one thing for sure you can be assured of God’s power if He gave you the task. Bible says what LORD said to Zerubbabel to encourage him to complete the rebuilding of the temple in Zechariah 4:6, “Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the LORD Almighty.” The one who empowered Gideon, Zerubbabel, and thousands of others would divinely enable you with His Spirit. You would do it not by your might or power, but by the power of His Holy Spirit. Jesus said to Paul, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” NLT. (2 Corinthians 12:9). You see, your weakness makes a perfect occasion to display God’s power.

The real strength is going on with the assigned task even when you do not have the power inside but leaning on the one who gives you the empowerment through His Spirit. The Lord who gave you the mission would give you the grace and strength to accomplish it.

Got a moment for today’s prayer? “Father in heaven, I believe there is nothing impossible for you. My salvation was impossible. Forgiveness of my sins was impossible. However, Father you made it possible by the death and burial of your Son and my savior Jesus Christ. I believe Jesus paid his divine blood for all of my sins. I accept Him as my savior and Lord. Now, help me to do the task you gave to me in your sovereign will. I do not have the strength in myself. You know how weak I am. However, I lean on your Holy Spirit who empowers me. Lord, help me I pray. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.”

Till Hearts for God’s Seed To Be Planted And Grow Fertile!

“Let us lie down in our shame,
and let our disgrace cover us.
We have sinned against the Lord our God,
both we and our ancestors;
from our youth till this day
we have not obeyed the Lord our God.” Jeremiah 3:25

The Lord God calls people to return to him in repentance. People do not need to hit the bottom to change for the better. They do not need to face total destruction before changes emerge. The Lord God called people and asked them to repent of their ways and turn to him acknowledging and accepting their sins in the past. In these chapters in the book of Jeremiah God called His people to repent of their sinful ways and return to him without delay. Why? There is still hope and deliverance available if we take His bidding seriously. The only pre-requisite for pardon, deliverance, and blessings are an acknowledgment of our sins. No excuse and no hiding anymore. Be truthful about the condition and seeking God in prayer for help.

When they heard the repeated calling of the Lord to change their ways, what did they do? Our insights say, they agreed with God. They said they would lie down in their shame, they know they did disgraceful things. They agreed they have sinned against the Lord our God. They agreed they haven’t obeyed the Lord our God.

God listened to their confession and says in chapter 4 a condition -the repentance must be genuine. There is a distinction between superfluous and heartfelt repentance. The heartfelt repentance is taking steps to go back and ask the Father the forgiveness of sins and mistakes and stay at home with him. No more squandering of money in adultery, loose and lustful lives. No more to dishonor God and His eternal and infallible words recorded in the pages of the Bible. But fear, honor and obey God.

God said to the people of Judah and Jerusalem this and He says the same advice to all of us today.
“Break up your unplowed ground
and do not sow among thorns.
Circumcise yourselves to the Lord,
circumcise your hearts.”

No farmer would plant the seed on unplowed/unprepared soil, would they? Our hearts should be tilled and broken for God’s seed to be planted to grow fertile. Weeds and thorns on the heart must be removed and prepare yourself as good soil to take the root of God’s forgiveness and blessings. Another figure God calls for is -circumcision of hearts. The hard crust on the heart must be cut away. Not outwardly but inwardly, the heart must be circumcised to accept God, His ways and word.

Just an outward casual agreement with the Lord won’t cut these difficult days. Hearts must be tilled and broken. Get it prepared to receive God’s words and counsels. Remove the tough and hard crust on the heart. Humble in the presence of the Lord and pray with true repentance from the heart.

Beloved the days we are in are dangerous. God wants people to turn to him by forsaking their lustful and foolish ways and imaginations. Nations and states must acknowledge that the laws they passed by forgetting the order He placed on his universe were truly sinful.

Beloved, if you still live in sins, quickly turn away from such lifestyles and seek God’s forgiveness. People of God must seek God’s face in intercession like Moses did for the nation of Israel. God is on the move globally. He talks to the nations of the world. He talks to individuals. He says turn to him without delay. Choose life. Honor Him and His eternal words. Live a life of prayer. Become a person of one book-His book, the Bible. Live a life of trust and faith in Him.

“Father in heaven, I genuinely turn to you in repentance of my sins and shortcomings. Help and save me today. Forgive my sins. Cleanse me by the power of the blood of Christ, your Son who died and rose again for me. In Christ’s name, I pray. Amen.”

Know Your Powerlessness and God’s Adequacy!

Jesus said, “apart from me you can do nothing” John 15:5.

What was the last time you figured out you can’t do it? Maybe it was something beyond your ability. Maybe circumstances block you from doing something you want to do. Maybe your health or financial situation hindered you. However, do you know your inability is not a surprise to God? He knows fully well that you can’t do it. That is why Jesus said, “apart from me you can do nothing.”

The pandemic called COVID-19 shed the light on this truth. “Apart from Jesus Christ, you can do nothing.” Without Jesus, in your life, you can do nothing. When bad things hit your life, and it hits often in people’s lives, where do you turn for help?

In Philippians 4:13 Paul wrote from his own life experience, “For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.” The same was echoed by many true Christians throughout the century. The strength to face adversities does not come from you. The courage to face death does not from you. It does not come from your friends or family. Wealth, education, and fame won’t give get it. The strength to face adversities and calamities comes from Jesus Christ, who gives you the needed grace and strength when you need it.

Beloved, at least these days when the whole world is under the grip of fear, we need to learn one of the basic lessons of life. However strong, intelligent and able people may think they are, the truth is they cannot even withstand a small virus. Didn’t we learn this truth these days? Oh, the inadequacy of man apart from the Lord Jesus Christ. True he said, “apart from me you can do nothing! People are inadequate and powerless-apart from Jesus Christ. The source of real strength, hope, help, and deliverance is the Son of God, Lord Jesus Christ, who is the savior of the world.

I heard Charles Stanly, one of the well known Bible teachers of our time saying this, whatever you are going to accomplish, you would accomplish on your knees.” His mother taught him this lesson from his very early childhood. I believe, for a child of God, it is 100% true. You will accomplish things in your life only by prayer on your knees to God.

Beloved, for some people, admitting their insufficiencies and weakness is a pride issue. God opposes a proud person. You accept the inadequacies and show dependence on God when you kneel in front of him in prayer. He already knows you are inadequate for the task. However, what makes you adequate for the task ahead of you is your dependence on Him. When you admit you are inadequate and weak, God fills in His marvelous grace in you.

Paul felt so weak and discouraged. He even prayed three times. Remember what Jesus said to him, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” You see the power of Jesus becomes perfect for you in your weakness, in your inadequacies. His grace, when He fills in you, you become perfect in divine strength and power. In short, He enables you to do things that you can’t do it by yourself. His powerful grace does it through you when you admit your weakness and inadequacies to Him.

Beloved, Bible says when people were still powerless, God sent His Son Jesus Christ and he died for the ungodly. (Romans 5:6). Weak as humanity is, God, revealed His power of grace, to save us in and through the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ. You see, our powerlessness was the divine opportunity to use God’s power of grace. God’s power of grace is still available for those who see themselves are inadequate for the task and depend on Him for help.

“Father in heaven, I know apart from Jesus Christ, Your Son, I can do nothing. Also, I know I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. I need Jesus in my life. I accept my weaknesses and inadequacies and pray for your help and deliverance. I believe Jesus died and rose again for my sins and His blood can wash away my sins and make me pure again. Please save me and bless me today. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.”

In His Faithfulness, God Invites You into Fellowship With Jesus Christ!

“God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” 1st Corinthians 1:9.

Do you know there is already an invitation sent to you personally by the living God in heaven? Your invitation has not expired as of yet. Aren’t you glad it is not expired yet?

Listen Bible says, “God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” It is very hard for people to be 100% faithful. However, God is 100% faithful. The faithful and trustworthy God has called you into friendship and fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. It can’t be more clear than this statement. God’s invitation is out there for you to come and get into a friendship with His Son, Jesus Christ.

This invitation is for all people everywhere. No distinction- Asians, whites, blacks, browns, and in between – all are offered this invitation.
The question is have you accepted the invitation?

The people of His day asked this question to Jesus. The question and answers are recorded in John 6:28-29. “So they asked him, “What can we do to do what God wants us to do?” Jesus answers, “What God wants you to do is to believe in the one He sent.” (GNT). The one God sent is His son Jesus Christ to bridge the gap between you and God. God took the first step to reconcile you with Him. And that step is Jesus Christ. This is the work you should be doing. Believe in Jesus Christ, accept Him as your savior and Lord.

If you want to connect with God, this is the first and only step. Over the years I talked to many people who want to please God. However, no one can please God unless and until they took this first step of accepting His Son as your savior. Accepting means you agree that God sent Jesus to die in your place for all your sins and that He died and rose again in your place for your sins. You accept the blood of Jesus as the ransom for your sake.

Moreover, many young people said to me they want God’s will and live for God. However, the sad thing is if you haven’t met the first ‘want’ or ‘expectation’ of God, then how can you know the subsequent will of God and live for God. First thing first. Understand God has called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ. In these last days, God calls all people. He sent the invitation through TV, radio, the internet, magazines, and dozens of other ways. It does not matter where you live and what you have done in the past. Simply accept the invitation of God. There begins a new and wonderful journey with God because God has a wonderful and marvelous plan for your life when you come to Christ Jesus. Bible says the moment you invite Jesus into your life in prayer (which I help you in a moment), God quickens your dead spirit to become alive toward Him. The quickening of your spirit with almighty God and all He has begins upon your acceptance of His invitation.

Got a moment for today’s prayer? “Father in heaven, I accept your invitation to accept Your Son, Jesus Christ, as my savior and Lord. I believe Jesus died for all of my sins, then buried and rose again for my salvation. I am sorry for my sins. I repent and call upon the name of the only savior, Jesus Christ, God gave to humanity. Thank you for saving me. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.”

Spring of the Living Water and Broken Cisterns

“My people have committed two sins:
They have forsaken me,
the spring of living water,
and have dug their own cisterns,
broken cisterns that cannot hold water.” Jeremiah 2:13.

The people of God defied God’s counsel and words. They refused to repent and turn from their dishonorable way of life. God sent prophets after prophets and called them to change their heart and repent of their wrongdoings. However, they refused again and again. God’s warning was clear and understandable. The time allowed for repentance would soon end. They will be left to God’s severe judgments. Then it will be late to call upon Him for deliverance.

Their hardened, rebellious and disobedient heart eventually resulted in their captivity in Babylon. They became slaves to their Babylonian masters. They were sad and the Bible describes their condition in Psalm 137. It says there “Alongside Babylon’s rivers we sat on the banks; we cried and cried, remembering the good old days in Zion. Alongside the quaking aspens we stacked our unplayed harps;
That’s where our captors demanded songs, sarcastic and mocking:
“Sing us a happy Zion song!” What a pathetic condition of sorrow and ridicule because they did not listen to the warnings of the loving God! The real joy was disappeared.

Beloved, God says in our insight of the day “My people have committed two sins” He says, first, they have forsaken Me. God is compared to the spring of living water. Instead of drinking from the spring of living water, people have dug their own cisterns. However, the cisterns they dug were broken ones that cannot even hold water.

God speaking loudly to people these days through the worldwide pandemic called COVID-19 extreme disaster. Listen, it is not just in one or a few countries. The whole world is under its grip and hundreds of people are dying every day with this horrible virus.

Every day, as a bank credit officer, I am getting numerous requests for help because the businesses are closed. Governments say to people to close the business and stay home. Have we ever seen such a worldwide incident in history? You see people did not have time for God. They put God out of their schools and colleges. The nations in recent years passed laws that were against God’s revealed law in the Bible. They thought they can make their cisterns by keeping God’s arms away. This is the reason why we are faced with this difficult and scary day all over the world.

However, God is love and He loves you. He does not want anyone to perish but he wants all to come to repentance of their sinful ways. Many countries in recent years passed many laws that are against God’s law. Man cannot break his eternal laws and live in peace. Now people are in fear. But God says, if you come to Him, there is no need to be afraid. However, if a man does not repent and come to Him and accept the forgiveness of sins He provides through His Son, Jesus Christ, they have all the reasons to be worried and afraid.

During our confusion, God calls you to come to His Son and the savior of the whole world, Jesus Christ. He can offer you great things the world would ever offer you. He has plans for your life. You must not perish, but you must live on for God’s praise and glory. Do not reject the loving God out of your schedule. Honor God and worship Him. Do not try to make your own cisterns. You will be far better off with the love, care, and blessings of God- because He is the spring of living water. When you dig your own cisterns by forsaking and rejecting God, those cisterns would not and cannot hold water for you.

Jesus was filled with love and compassion when he said these words, “you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing.” (Matthew 23:37). He says if you come to Him, it does not matter what you did in the past, he will forgive you, save you and gather you like a hen gathers her chicks under her wings. In Him is the true love and protection. His divine and sinless blood cover all.

“Father in heaven, I know I was busy digging my own cisterns. I did not have time for you. Yet you are the spring of living water that abandoned in my foolish ideas and thoughts. I turn to you in repentance. I need you and your help. I believe Jesus died and rose again for my sins. The blood of Christ can make me whole again. Please forgive me and save me today. In Christ’s name, I pray. Amen.”

God Has You And All Yours Under His Sovereign Control!

“Our days on earth are like grass; like wildflowers, we bloom and die. The wind blows, and we are gone—as though we had never been here. But the love of the Lord remains forever with those who fear him.” Psalm 103:15-17.

One of the biggest lessons of life is this – you and I do not have control. But God is the one who controls. You may have few people under your authority. Listen, God has you under his control. The recent coronavirus incidents and threatening worries prove this fact. You can try your best to keep 6 feet distance, you can wash your hands with soap and water, you can clean your clothes, you can sanitize yourself. However, the final say about who gets what is in the hands of the Lord God who created the heavens and the earth.

You see people conveniently ignore the fact that nothing belongs to them anyway. The Bible says the whole earth and everything inside it belongs to him. It includes your house, your family, your children, parents and your name it all belongs to God. He gave temporarily those in your hands for good stewardship. What God looks in a steward is faithfulness. Being faithful to things and people God gave under your care and supervision in his sovereign will and plan.

Beloved, your house does not belong to you. You have it for some time and after your period, it goes to someone else’s stewardship. Your children- God gave temporarily in your hand. However, they do not belong to you permanently. Anything belongs to you permanently? All are leased out to you for a short period. God looks for faithfulness when He sovereignly gives you the stewardship.

Secondly, people ignore the fact that they are accountable to God. The Bible says, since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities, his eternal power, and divine nature, he revealed for all to understand through the wonderful creation around them. Because God already revealed Himself through the nature and the conscience of the people everywhere people are without excuse. They are accountable to God who is the creator and owner of all. However, many people, although they know God is the one who created and sustains all, never been willing to give the worth he deserves. They do not have the time to thank, praise, and worship Him. They are so engaged in their lustful and selfish desires and conveniently ignored and forgot the almighty God, people hearts became futile and foolish. They began to worship man-made images and idols instead of giving glory to the immortal God who commanded do not to worship images and idols.

Finally, God gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life. His Son, Jesus Christ, willingly died in their place and shed his blood so that people can come to Holy God and have fellowship and friendship with Him. God publicly displayed His Son Jesus Christ as the ransom for all of the people’s mistakes and sins. They did not care about it either.

Now, today, there is a reason why we are faced with life-threatening issues. God is love, He is patient, gracious, and compassionate. Bible says in Psalm 103 that the LORD is like a father to his children. He is tender and compassionate to those who honor Him. He knows we are weak. He remembers He made us out of dust and breathed his breath into our nostrils. He knows our days on earth are like grass; he knows like wildflowers, we bloom and die. The man was not made to die. However, our first parent’s rebellion and disobedience added with our rebelliousness and unhonorable attitude results in our death. But the Bible says the love of the LORD remains forever and ever for those who honor Him. God wants to invest His eternity into your temporary dust body. He likes to pour out His never-ending love and eternity inside you. This is why He gave up His only begotten Son Jesus Christ to carry and fully pay for our sins.

Coronavirus is one way God, the creator, and sustainer of the whole shakes to get your attention to the truth about Him.  Now, fear of World War 3 is another possibility that grabs hold of people’s minds. I do not know how long will I live. No none knows. Who knows how long you are going to live? You are dust and will be placed under 6 feet cave when you die. However, Listen! God declares He is alone is able and willing to turn your body of dust into a glorious, heavenly, and eternal body. God has a beautiful and wonderful plan for you and your body.

It all starts with your repentance and turning to God. Turn to the living and loving God. Repent of your sins. Call upon the name of Jesus Christ. Bible says whoever calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved. Saved from what? Saved from their sins, rebelliousness, ingratitude, mistakes. God wants to make a brand new creature, an honorable vessel ready to live with Him in heaven the moment you close your eyes in death here.

Would you accept His loving Call now? If you already accepted His loving bid, would you surrender your life to His Kingdom and services? He has big plans for you when you live here. He will show you His plan for you when you pray to him.

“Father in heaven, I understand the fact that I am not in control. But you are. I do not have control over others. But you have. I also understand I need to turn to you in repentance of my sins and shortcomings and accept Your Son, Jesus, as my savior and Lord. I believe He died and rose again for my sins. I accept Jesus Christ now. Please forgive me and save and grant me eternal life to live with you forever and ever. I surrender the rest of my life for your will and purposes. In Christ’s name I pray, Amen.”

Find Hope And A Future!

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

Corrie ten Boom said, “Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.” You and I may not know what the future holds. But in His foreknowledge, God knows it very well. And if so, only He can build hope and future into it by His divine and wonderworking hands.

Today’s insight is what the Lord declared to a nation that lost its hope due to its sins and wrongdoings. You see, sin and rebelliousness eventually lead people to a place called danger and hopelessness. Israel was not an excuse, although they were the chosen nation of the God of the universe, out of all other world nations. (Deuteronomy 7:6 & Exodus 19:6).

The above verse was announced when they experienced severe loss, suffering, and hardships due to the invasion and destruction of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, and the resultant exile of people to Babylon as enslaved people. The mood of chapter 29 is divine hope amid hopelessness. God knows. He allowed it to happen because they did not listen to the word of God that was sent to them through God’s prophets, again and again, to repent and turn to the Lord from their sins and rebelliousness. Now the Lord let the judgment fall on them.

The people in exile wished an escape from sufferings quickly. However, in the letter sent to the early exiles (chapter 29), the prophet Jeremiah says that it would take seventy years to complete God’s judgment on their disobediences. (vs. 10). The Lord also gave them counsel in verses 4-9. They should go on with their lives amid the sufferings. Live as exiles, build houses, plant gardens, and eat what they produce. Marry and have sons and daughters get married. Find wives for their sons and give daughters in marriage. Increase in number, do not decrease in number. Do not let the false prophets and diviners deceive you. You don’t listen to the dreams that false prophets lies to you.

He also assured He did not forget them in their desperate situation because they are His chosen ones.  He thinks about them and has a plan for them. He would fulfill his excellent promise and bring them back home.

Then our today’s Bible verse appears. The Lord declares, ” I know the plans I have for you- declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and future.”

The people’s sins and disobedience to God was the reason for their depraved condition. However, as we know from Daniel chapter 9 when seventy years was fulfilled because Daniel knew God’s verdict, he fasted, prayed, and interceded for the people of Judah. He asked for forgiveness of his sins, their and their forefathers’ sins. At that time, based on his confession, intercession, and prayers, God began His plans to bring people back to their homeland, to fulfill his promise.

Beloved, you may be in a hopeless and dangerous condition due to your sins and disobedience to the Lord. Alternatively, you may have lost hope due to other people’s sins that impacted your life. Either way, Listen! God has the power to restore you and give you hope and a bright future again if you turn to the Lord in prayer and confession. The reason is this – As he promised to the wayward children of Israel back in the olden days, he says to you, “I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give a hope and a future.”

Jesus, the savior of the whole world, looked at the people who even killed the prophets and stoned them this, “How often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing.” Due to their unwillingness, their house would be left desolate and end up perishing, he added. Matthew 23:37.

Beloved, the Lord has a beautiful plan for you, as He revealed in the pages of the Bible. He instills hope to the hopeless. His plan is not to harm you but to prosper you. He plans to give hope and a future. Come to the Lord. Repent of your sins. Receive His promised hope and a beautiful future without delay.

Would you pray? “Father in heaven, I believe in your plans for my life. I want the hope and future only you can give. Please forgive my sins and shortcomings. I turn to you in repentance. I know you love me and sent Jesus Christ to die in my place for my sins. I believe he was buried and rose again to save me and grant me eternal life in heaven with you. Thank you for hearing my prayer and saving me today. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.”

Two Noble and Aristocratic Traits!

“Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.” Acts 17:11 (NIV).

The Noble means “having or showing fine personal qualities or high moral principles and ideals.” It also means “a person with aristocratic status,”  The Bible says that Berean Jews in Apostle Paul’s time during his missionary journey were nobler than those in Thessalonica. Both groups were Jews but had certain more dignified/aristocratic characters in the Berea Jews.

Let us see what made them more noble than others. Two things that distinguished them are said in our insights.

1. They received the message of the Word of God with great eagerness
2. They examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.

I believe these are the two unique traits that can distinguish you dignified and aristocratic. When the Word preached from the Bible, do you receive with eagerness? When we hear the Word of God from the pages of the Bible, give full attention regardless of the speaker. The first dignified, nobler, and Aristocratic trait. 

The second dignified, nobler, and the aristocratic trait is not just accepting all you hear. Do your homework by diligently seeking in the pages of the Bible if what you heard is indeed true. 

People generally want to hear the voice of God. I heard people ask this question – what is the Word of God today? Or what should I do in this particular situation that I face? They are so desirous to hear God’s voice. However, there is a subtle danger and much harm that can cause in your life when you hear man’s voice and take it as God’s voice.

How do you distinguish man’s voice and God’s voice? First of all, you seek in the pages of the Bible to make sure what you heard is true indeed. Suppose what you heard can not be found or verified without a doubt in the Bible, then, probably what you heard is not God’s voice. You just listened to a man’s voice instead.

If someone says to you this is the message of God and what they said is not verifiable in the pages of the Bible, you must not accept it as God’s voice. If you are not familiar with the Bible, then visit a Bible-believing, Bible-preaching church and set an appointment with someone who indeed studied the Bible and can guide you in the truth of the Bible. 

Be quick to hear the Word of God. Same way, be quick to seek if the Bible approves what you heard diligently. Apply a simple common sense- does what I am hearing is according to what God already said in the Bible? Does it contradict what God said? Does it cause more confusion than direct and straight directions God already gave in the Bible? You would be spared from many false teachings going around in this world. Secondly, you would safeguard yourself from many pains and dangers by following these two nobler traits. 

Listen to what makes you nobler and aristocratic than others are: Receive the Word of God with all eagerness. Secondly, check with the Bible if what you heard is what God already said in the Bible. 

Once you confirm the message’s truth, you can be assured that what God said does not change over time. God is consistent, and His words and counsels are consistent. What God said was true thousands of years ago. They will still be true today. Jesus said, and it is recorded in the Bible that even if heaven and earth will pass away, His words recorded in the pages of the Bible will never pass away. (Luke 21:33).

Now, God says in the Bible that He loves you that He gave His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ so that you will not perish but have everlasting life, you must accept the message and put your trust and belief in Jesus Christ. Why? The Bible says God sent Jesus to save you, to forgive your sins, and grant you eternal life with Him in heaven. The Bible emphatically supports this truth.

Have you accepted the Gospel message and got saved yet? If not, would you pray with me now?

“Father in heaven, I know I need the savior you gave me because I know I am a sinner and need forgiveness. I believe Jesus died, buried, and rose again in my place for my sins. I accept the message and invite Jesus into my life. Please forgive me and save me today. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.”