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“Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” Matthew 4:4
“My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.” John 4:34.

Two types of food that can make you complete, healthy, and content here now and for eternity. Both of the above two verses about food are direct quotations of what Jesus said. Man consists of three entities-physical body, soul, and spirit. (1st Thessalonians 5:23).  The body is not just the one that makes up a person. It is only one of the three. Food is for physical strength, energy, and nourishment only. Jesus says man does not live on bread (food) alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.

Beloved, you need the word of God (the Bible) to make your inner being (soul and spirit) strong, energized, and nourished. Physical food is to the physical body and the word of God from the Bible is to your soul and spirit by which you would be vibrant in your relationship with God, your creator. You need both for a balanced and vibrant life.

Man is mainly a spiritual being because the Bible says man is created according to God’s image. Genesis 1:27 says, “And God created man in His own image, in the image of God, He created him, male and female He created them.” Bible says “God is spirit” (John 4:24) and we do communicate to God by our spirit. Hence it is cardinal to keep your spirit strong and vibrant.

If the food for our body is physical, what is the food for the spirit? The food for your spirit is the word of God (the Scripture called the Bible). Now, how can you feed the spirit? By reading, studying, memorizing, pondering over the word of God. It feeds your soul and spirit to be strong and refreshed every day. The word of God penetrates to the soul and spirit and minsters there. The word of God thoroughly equips you (2 Timothy 3:16-17). It is a lamp for your feet and light on your path (Psalm 119:105). It has the power to bless you (Luke 11:28). It is flawless and shields you (Psalm 18:30). It gives light, understanding, and wisdom even to simple fellows (Psalm 119:130). Psalm 107:20 says, the word of God heals you and it rescues from destruction. And the list of the goodness of this ‘food’ goes on and on.

Beloved, secondly Jesus said in our insight that, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent me and to finish His work.” It was a long, hard, and strenuous walk from Jerusalem to Samaria. The disciples went to get some food. When they came back they asked Jesus, Rabbi, you eat something? This is the occasion Jesus said, “my food is to do the will of Him who sent me and to finish His work.” To Jesus, food is mainly the word of God, to do Father’s will and finish the work entrusted to Him.

Did you ever think of food in these two terms? The word of God as the food that feeds your spirit and work of God as the food that He gave you to finish before you leave this planet earth to His presence?

Many Christians ignore the food of the word of God and become poverty struck and malnutrition. Jesus reminds you-you need the word of God to become healthy and strong internally. Many ignore to see the work of God as the food God gave you uniquely,  to finish before you leave here. Remember the Bible says the work he gave you to do is uniquely prepared for you (Ephesians 2:10) to do. Do you know, no one else could or would do it? It will be a thanksgiving meal offering to offer back to the Lord God.

“Father in heaven, I thank you for the Word of God you gave to us from heaven. Help me to read, study, memorize and apply it every day in my life. I know the Bible says the full personification of your living and eternal Word is Your Son, Jesus Christ. When I have Jesus I become all-sufficient for everything because Jesus Christ is my savior and Lord. I believe Jesus died, buried, and rose again for my sins. I accept Him as my savior now. Please forgive me, wash and cleanse me and help me to grow in you every day by reading, studying, and applying the Word of God. In Christ’s name, I pray. Amen.”

“You did not choose me; I chose you. And I gave you this work: to go and produce fruit, fruit that will last.” John 15:16. NCV.

Our today’s insight comes of the farewell disclosure of Jesus to his disciples before his death, burial, resurrection, and ascension. The chapters 13 to 16 of the Gospel of John records this final one to one conversation of Jesus to his disciple. Many things Jesus instructed them. Yet one of many is this, he said, “You did not choose me; I chose you.” Isn’t true? None of them chose Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ chose each one of them.

Beloved, God chose you is the foundational truth the Bible reveals. We do not know why he chose those twelve disciples. He chose them out of multitudes of people. Bible says in Ephesians 1 that God chose us in Jesus Christ even before he made the whole world, in the eternity past, when there was only the triune God. Ephesians 3:11 says God chose us in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord. 2nd Timothy 1:9 says, “He called us not according to our works, but  according to His own purpose and according to the grace that was granted to us in Christ Jesus from all eternity.” You see God chose from all eternity past. And God called in time through the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Decision of choice was eternal. The calling came to us at different times according to the times we lived here on this planet earth.  It is mind-boggling. However, the Bible consistently reveals this truth in its pages. 1st Corinthians 1:9 says, “God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” 1st Corinthians 2:26 says consider or think about our high calling from God, how he chose you even though you did not have any attractive charisma, name, fame, or anything that is good enough in you.

Now Jesus reminds this eternal choice of God. He says, “You did not choose me; I chose you.”  Secondly, it is marvelous He chose you which itself is very hard to figure out, but again he reminds them he gave you a work to do. NIV and other translations say “I appointed you”. What is that he appointed us? It says right there-“to go and produce fruit, fruit that will last.” Jesus appointed you to do things “that will last”. There are three that would last according to the Bible. God, people, and the truth of the word of God. God is eternal. People are eternal and the word of God is eternal.

Beloved, the basic task or work that Jesus wants you to do is investing in people and in the word of God. Apostle Paul invested in people by preaching the gospel and teaching them the word of God. Not only he taught them, but also he took the pen and wrote down for future generations. He bore amazing fruit down through the centuries that would last forever. When you share the gospel of God and the love of God with other people you are investing in them. It is an eternal investment because people are eternal. When you invest your time and energy in studying and teaching the Bible, you bear lasting fruit by helping people to know the truth of the word of God.  When you use the money God to help people to know God, you bear fruit that lasts forever.

One day when you are in heaven, many unknown people would come, and thank you. You may wonder what you did to them. However, God knows and they all know. You somehow invested in their life either pointing them to Jesus Christ or informing them the eternal word of God. It could be using your time, money, energy, influence, or by using the spiritual gifts God gave you. Figure out how you can produce fruit, fruit that will last. Sadly many fruits we produce would not last long enough. Invest prudently to bear fruit that will last forever.

“Father in heaven, Thank you because you chose me even before the foundation of the world in Jesus Christ according to your eternal purpose. I believe Jesus died, buried, and rose again for my sins. Please forgive me and grant me your eternal love and salvation. Lord,  help me to produce fruit that will last by investing in people and in your eternal Word, the Bible. I surrender my life for your work that you sovereignly appointed me. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.”

“Stop being mean, bad-tempered, and angry. Quarreling, harsh words and dislike of others should have no place in your lives.  Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God has forgiven you because you belong to Christ.” Ephesians 4:31-32 TLB

There are many people who really are mean in their talk. They seem to be angry and always blaming someone else. They quarrel, use harsh words, and show their dislike toward others. Bible says these kinds of actions should have no place in our lives if we belong to God. The reason for such actions is because people keep an unforgiving heart toward others. Instead, God’s mandate is you have to be kind to one another, keep a tender heart, forgive one another. The reason is – God has forgiven you, didn’t He? If God forgave you freely numerous mistakes of your life, then you have a  obligation to forgive and be tenderhearted toward others even if they hurt you.

Listen to what Jesus said about the topic of forgiveness and how seriously he sees the issue of unforgiveness. He said, “ For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you,  but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” Matthew 18:21-22. It tells me something. Forgiveness of your trespasses is conditional. If you forgive other’s wrongdoings, your heavenly Father will forgive yours also. However, if you do not forgive the trespasses of others, your heavenly Father will not forgive your trespasses. It is a pretty heavy answer, don’t you agree?

Beloved, you don’t count the number of forgiveness. One day Peter asked an interesting question. Thank you, Peter, you asked this question because we all needed an answer. He asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me?  Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “ I tell you,  not seven times, but seventy times seven.” You see in the Rabbinical circle then had a common consense that you forgive up to three times. Fourth time there is no forgiveness required. Peter after being with Jesus for a while decided to increase the number of times to seven. However, the answer of Jesus raised eyebrows on everybody. Jesus said, I tell not seven times, but seventy times seven. It does not mean 490 times is the upper limit of forgiveness. It simply states you can not place a number when you forgive others for their trespasses.

Now, forgiveness does not mean that you must allow abuse of another person on an ongoing basis. If you would read verses 15-17 of Matthew 18, Jesus says forgiveness doesn’t need to be unqualified. It is good to allow proper guidelines and barriers. However, even at the end of it all, you still can forgive even though you may not forget all the things. Forgive based on what God has done for your life is God’s requirement, even though you might not forget it. You can still forgive from your heart.

Beloved, unforgiveness is a slow killer on many people. They do not understand and appreciate how much God forgave them. Forgiveness is not a new idea from the time of Jesus Christ. Forgiveness was a topic of the triune God even before the foundation of the world before he created our first parents – Adam and Even. He had a plan of forgiveness in place in the person of Jesus Christ, who would come at the fulfillment of the right time to this earth and die and pay for our sins.

It is a big deal that God forgave all your sins and mistakes. It is a big deal that God sent His one and only Son to this world to carry your sin on His body and pay for it on the cross. It is a big deal that He saved you and granted you eternal life with Him in heaven at the moment of your death. Therefore, “stop being mean, bad-tempered, and angry. Quarreling, harsh words and dislike of others should have no place in your lives. Instead, be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God has forgiven you because you belong to Christ.” God has forgiven your manifold sins and you belong to Christ because God bought you with the price of the blood of Christ are the motivation you must forgive others.

May I tell you this. Forgiveness makes you stronger. It makes your future more bright. It paves the way for God to step in and help you as we discussed in yesterday’s insight.

“Father in heaven, help me to be kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving just as You forgave my manifold sins and mistakes and you bought me into heavenly household by the blood of Jesus Christ. I believe You sent Jesus and He died and rose again for my sins. I accept Him as my savior and Lord. Make me a new creation with a  new heart because I belong to you. In Christ’s name I pray. Amen.”

“Sing to God, sing praise to his name, extol him who rides on the clouds — his name is the Lord — and rejoice before him. A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling. He gives families to the lonely, and releases prisoners from jail, singing with joy!” Psalm 68:4-5.

Finding time to rejoice in our busy life is not that easy as we think. In addition to the busy nature of life, we have hundreds of other things that can negatively impact our happiness. Do you know the Bible advises us to rejoice? Our today’s insight instructs us to rejoice before the Lord. Singing to God and singing praise to God brings gladness to our face and heart.

Extol the creator, sustainer, and provider of all good things –the good Lord who rides over the clouds to bring help in troubles. Not only the Lord has total control over all the affairs of the universe but also he is the father to those who do not have an earthly father. The Lord is the defender of widows. He places lonely in a family. He releases prisoners from jail. They come out singing with joy. You see He is God in his holy dwelling. He still rides on the clouds and brings wonderful delivery and help.

Psalm 113 verse 6-9 says the Lord stoops to look down from His holy dwelling in heaven. As a result, he lifts the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the garbage dump. Not only he lifts them up from least expected places, but also He sets them among princes, among the princes of His own people. Now hear it also says, He gives the childless woman a family and makes her a happy mother.

You see our Lord makes His people rejoice by his sovereign and kind actions. He put a smile and gladness in our hearts. He loves to do it. So we can rejoice in Him by remembering how loving, kind, caring, and supernatural his actions are.

You see you may be a person who lost your father or never had an earthly father. Bible says the Lord God is your true Father. Be glad! Even though you may not have an earthly father, your father in heaven is one thousand times better than any earthly father. You may be a widow and think there is no one to defend you. God says I am your defender. He is a thousand times better than any earthly husband. You may feel lonely.  Tell to the Lord. He gives families to the lonely. You may be in prison and no one to help you. God is the one who releases prisoners from jail. And you will come out singing with joy to the Lord. If you are in a very low condition, it is the Lord who would lift you up from dust and garbage dump.

Beloved, our Lord is a God of miracles. Sing to God. Praise Him. He is worthy to be praised and worshiped. As you sing and praise Him, you would rejoice before Him. It all starts with your worship and praise. Your decision to sing to Him. Why don’t you make a habit of singing and praising God? As you worship and praise Him, your worries would get diminished and eventually disappears. You really would comprehend who is in control of your life and the whole universe.

Zephaniah 3:17 says, “the Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.” As you sing to him remember He is mighty to save. As you give him what is due to him- the praise and worship-He will quiet you with his love. He delights over you. He will rejoice over you with singing. Did you listen? God will rejoice over you with singing as you sing to him.

Find reasons to rejoice is your personal decision.  I would rather rejoice than gets moody and stressed out. Remember when you rejoice in the Lord, he quiets you with his love, delights in you and he will rejoice over you with singing. May I rejoice in the Lord continuously as long as I have life on this planet earth. Then later I will I rejoice with him in the house of the Lord forever when I close my eyes here on death.

“Father in heaven, I know you want  me to rejoice in you and your goodness. You want me to sing unto you and praise you. As I sing and praise you are mighty to save and delights over me. I know you will rejoice over me with singing. I want to be happy in you because that makes you to be happy over me. I rejoice over you and you rejoice over me. what a blessed way to live and be happy in this world. I  am joyful over the eternal salvation you gave to me in Jesus Christ. Thank you for the eternal life. I believe Jesus died and rose again for my sins. I  believe in him as my savior and Lord. In Christ’s name I  pray. Amen.”

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28.

When you are physically and mentally exhausted you would not be able to love and serve. Jesus said this about John the Baptist in verses 11-12, “Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist, yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subjected to violence, and violent people have been raiding it.”

No wonder, the life, and ministry of John the Baptist were very heavy and busy, especially when we think about what Jesus said about him and his ministry.

Not only the physical and mental exhaustion can make us unable to love and serve the way God intended us, but also it can cloud our thinking process with doubts.

Added to his busy and heavy work schedule as a forerunner of the promised Messiah, now John was arrested and placed in prison. No wonder John the Baptist, the greater than all the prophets, was a victim of such an adverse thinking process of having doubt in his mind about Jesus.

When John was in prison, he sent his disciples to Jesus to ask him, “are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else? (verses 3-4). In essence, the question is – if you are the promised Messiah, why these bad things happen? Why was he placed in prison? You see John announced and introduced Jesus to the multitudes by saying this, “The man who will come after me is much greater than I am. I am not good enough even to bend down and untie his sandals.” This is what he testified about Jesus. Now the bad circumstances of his life caused doubt on the promised Messiah, whom he already opened the way as an introducer or forerunner.

I am so glad even John the Baptist was a man like us. Praise God if  Jesus helped John the Baptist in his doubt, he would help me as well in my times of doubt.

Thirdly, the past pitfalls, mistakes, and sins when not confessed and agreed with the Lord,  can also create physical and mental exhaustion. Jesus highlights the sin of Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum. (verses 20-23).  Although time and time again they heard about the need to repent and change their ways, they would not come to Him in repentance for forgiveness and blessings. They continued in their unrepentant state which resulted in a life of weariness and heavy burden.

You see when you agree with the Lord and confess your mistakes, he grants you comfort and rest for your souls. Who knows how many are out there living in discomfort, unrest, weariness, and burden simply because of their unwillingness to accept their errors, mistakes, and sins. What an easy way out the Lord offers! Repentance, confession are not a bad or shameful words.  It is a beautiful and re-energizing word with God’s power and healing behind it. However, agreeing with the Lord is very hard for many. As a result, they live in weariness and heavy burdens.

Jesus says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” The way to rest, comfort, and peace is only one. The way of Jesus Christ. You see he carried your sins, iniquities, and sorrows on his divine shoulders and paid for you to make you a brand new creation, honorable vessel for His amazing name.

Jesus calls you. Would you come?

“Father in  heaven, I am weary and heavily burdened. I need rest. I believe in your promise. You said, come to me, all you are weary and burdened, I will give you rest. I believe only you can give comfort and rest to my unrest and weary soul. I believe Jesus died for my sins and shortcoming by fully paying for it with his blood. I accept Jesus as my savior and Lord. Help me to trust you every moment of my life and walk with you in obedience all the days of life. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.”

“So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers,  to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up  until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” Ephesians 4:11-13

 

One of the biggest failures of the local churches would be not recognizing and properly utilizing the office bearers Christ gave to them. This results in spiritual malnutrition, absence of equipping work for Lord’s service, the body of Christ not building up in faith and knowledge of the Son of God, absence of maturity, and not attaining the measure of the fullness of Christ which is expected by the Lord.

You see, the local church must not be a  social club where things are decided in a democratic fashion just to please people’s egos. God is not honored in this fashion. Christ gives the roles in the church by enabling with unique spiritual gifts. The passage clearly says not everyone is appointed with the same calling. The apostles and prophets were the foundation of the Christian temple, Christ being the chief cornerstone as explained in Ephesians 2:19-20.

Now evangelists are the missionaries who go and spread the gospel of Christ in unreached areas like Philip, Timothy, and Epaphras. Then there are pastors and teachers Christ gave to his church. Pastors are the overseers and shepherds who were entrusted with protection, nurture, and supervision ministers.  Teachers are an official designation for those who can effectively take  Bible passages and concepts and teach the flocks to make them grow in faith and knowledge of the Lord. Not everyone can be evangelists, pastors, and teachers. Not everyone can go to unreached areas simply because that is not God’s calling. However, God wants all of us to testify Jesus to people who come in touch with us. Although not all are officially called by the role of an evangelist, all believers in Christ are to testify the good news of Christ to others.

Not everyone can be pastors due to tender care and supervision gifts associated with the calling. Not everyone can teach because God did not give this gift to everybody. Churches that recognize and utilize whom the Lord sovereignly gave them achieve maturity, growth in faith, knowledge of the Son of God, attain the whole measure of spiritual growth.

The Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was incarnated into this earth for the remission of our sins not only died for our sake (John 19:30),  but He also was buried in the tomb in Jerusalem (John 19:38-41) and ascended into heaven (Acts 1:9-11), after fulfilling his work of salvation.  Verse 9 says the one who was descended into this earthly region from heaven by his incarnation was also ascended higher than all the heavens. As a result of his descension and ascension, Christ himself gave persons with special gifts in the local church. Again, who gave the ministers in Church? it says, “Christ Himself”. Our insight in this passage focuses not on the various grace-gifts but focus on the people who received those gifts. The various grace-gifts given are described in Romans 12:6-8 and 1st Corinthians 12. Here the focus the people who received various gifts for the Lord.

Now, when I was small in the local church I was growing we used to listen to an older brother every weekend –Saturday and Sunday. He was instrumental in equipping us for God’s work, building us up with clear teachings of the Christian doctrines. Christ appointed Him to equip us to do the work of service, we were rooted in faith and the knowledge of the Son of God and became mature in the faith because of his continuous labor of teaching the pure Word of God. Nowadays I am worried that Christ’s appointments in local churches are not clearly understood or utilized. In some Christian denominations, the local church became more like a social club where all want to be teachers although there is clearly a lack of proper training, and knowledge of the word of God is evident.

People who want to spend their time, money, and energy in studying the word of God are ignored and those who never spent their money, energy, and time are brought to the front. The consequent results are not just the ones I explained above but there are other dangerous results explained in verse 14 by Apostle Paul.

If we hear, listen and understand the pure, right and true explanation of the word of God, believers won’t remain as infants, they won’t be tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. I came across a believer recently who spent his money to buy the oil that was prayed over by someone. He told me that he thought such oil could heal from the diseases. Why such senseless happens? The reason is this –people do not know the truth and the whole counsel of the word of God.

Churches need Christ appointed pastors, evangelists, and teachers for its full development to attain the full measure of the fullness of Christ. To become a teacher of the Bible is a very coveted goal if Christ gives you the role. However, a Bible teacher must first be a student of the Bible for a period of time. He can learn from others who studied the Bible in-depth in a local church setting or he must be willing to spend time, energy, and some money God gave him to learn the Bible.  If you set your mind to study the Scripture, it can cost you financially as well. When I finished my studies in one of the best seminaries available, (thank God humbly for the opportunity He gave me to study the Bible systematically), I finished my degree with a big sum of personal debt.  Only a focused person can learn the Bible systematically.

Bible gives an admonition in 2nd Timothy 3:15 to such people who are called to be teachers. It says, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth.” Handling accurately the word of God is a skill that must be learned and practiced with an ongoing mindset. This is how one can present himself approved to God in His calling of teaching ministry. You see Bible teaching is not saying something coming into your mind. It must be based on the whole counsel of the Word of God given in our hands. The Word of God must be cut right to fit all pieces together perfectly. Paul being a tentmaker knew the importance of cutting the pieces skillfully to build a tent for people. The word of God must be cut straight and correct according to the divine and whole counsel of the Bible.

“For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” Philippians 1:21.

It is a small verse. However, the life purpose of Apostle Paul somehow is capsuled in this tiny verse. Before his encounter with Jesus on his way to Damascus, his life purpose was a different one. He wrote in verse 14, “I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers.” He was proud of his Jewish heritage. He wrote in Philippians 3 that he had more reasons to be confident in himself. He was circumcised on the eighth day, from the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews, a Pharisee in regard to the knowledge of the Law, full of zeal in persecuting the Christian church, faultless based on the Law. Oh, man, what a wonderful resume.

Now after knowing Jesus Christ as his savior and Lord, his life purpose has altogether changed completely. No more confident just in his heritage, no more zealous for the religion and the knowledge of the Law. He has one unique purpose now, “for to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” If he lives he lives for Christ and the work entrusted to him by the loving Lord. If he dies it is gain because he would be in the presence of the Lord in heaven. He also says, “I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far;  but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.”(vs 23-24).  You see, his desire is to depart from his body and be with Christ in heaven, which he knows is better. However, it is necessary that he remain in the body for a little bit more time for the sake of them- for the sake of the preaching of the Gospel. He understood God’s purpose for his life.

It is marvelous to see Paul who was a blasphemer, a persecutor and a violent aggressor before (1 Timothy 1:13), stayed focused on his God-given purpose until his last breath when he understood his purpose from the Lord Jesus (Acts 9:1-6 and 15). He repeatedly said ‘rejoice in the Lord’ in this epistle of Philippians even though he was in prison arrested for the cause of the Gospel. Prison is the last place we expect a call for rejoicing, don’t you agree?  What was the reason? You see if you are focused on your God-given purpose, you can face your problems. Your God-given purpose is much bigger than your problems.  Even prison cannot fade the vision God gave him and it could not contain the joy of the Lord inside his heart.

Beloved, God still is in the business of turning a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a violent aggressor like Saul to a servant and warrior of Christ. If he can do this in Saul’s life (who later became Paul), he can do it in your life. Paul himself wrote this in 1st Timothy 1:16, “But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life.” NLT. Saul who became Paul is the prime example of God’s grace and patience available even for the worst blasphemer, persecutor, and violent aggressor.

God loves you. He gives new and beautiful purpose for your life when you come to Jesus Christ. God makes you a brand new creation in Christ Jesus.

“Father in heaven, I heard how wonderfully you showed forth your great patience, love, and grace in Saul’s life that he could become the greatest missionary of all time for Jesus Christ. I admit I am a sinner. I accept Jesus as my savior and Lord. Reveal me your divine purpose for my life and use me for your glory. I thank you for saving me and granting me eternal life. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.”

“It is good for me that I was troubled so that I might learn Your Law.” Psalm 119:71.

Nobody wants to get afflicted. No one wants to get into trouble. You see nobody goes looking for afflictions. The truth is troubles and afflictions automatically visit us even if you like or not. In some cases, we get into trouble due to our foolishness. Other times you did right and others did not like you or what you were doing. Additionally, living in this sin bound world naturally results in sickness, health issues, relationship issues and so forth.

However, the Bible affirms God is intimately involved with all our troubles. It was true about Job. It was true about Joseph. This was true about Daniel. It was also true about David, Paul, and even the Son of God, Jesus Christ. This awareness can comfort us. God is intimately aware and involved with my sufferings. Because He knows and He is involved in my pains/sufferings, not only I have hope of deliverance but also help and comfort in the midst of it.

Our today’s insight says, “It is good for me that I was troubled so that I might learn Your Law.” C W Lewis said, “God whispers in our pleasure but he shouts in our pain.” Someone else said afflictions are God’s loudspeakers to get our attention to Him and His Word.

Our insight teaches us one of the reasons why God allows affliction is to prepare us to know Him in a deeper fashion and teach us certain valuable spiritual lessons we would not learn otherwise. Psalmist says it is good for me that I was troubled so that I might learn Your Law. Do not ignore the fact there are people who would not use such God approved troubles to learn. They try to go deep into disobedience and rebelliousness. You see we as parents also face the same issue. A good child will learn from the discipline. A wayward child would use it to harden his or her heart toward the parents.

You see the choice is ours. However, our choice determines our future wellbeing and how God could use us again in His unique and sovereign ways. Job in his severe sufferings said this, “I had heard of You only by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees You.  So I hate the things that I have said. And I put dust and ashes on myself to show how sorry I am.” His afflictions help him to see God. So he repented about the way he talked before. I put him in dust and ashes to show how sorry He was. True repentance was the result. The result was double blessings although he lost all in the first place.

Beloved, your personal afflictions would also cause to you see God because you only heard about Him before. Now you look at Him as He looks at your face. You want to know more about Him and His word that is recorded in the pages of the Bible.

Sometimes God allows afflictions so that you would learn the priorities of life. Of course your children and family are important. Your job is important. Your health is important. But more than all you need God’s blessing, salvation, and eternal life. You must make sure your future is safe and secure. You need true peace, real joy, and the assurance of hope for the future. Bible says these are heavenly spiritual blessings God grants you in Jesus Christ. God heals and saves you in Jesus Christ first because He died, buried, and rose again for your sins and spiritual healing.

“Father in heaven, Let my faith and trust in you may increase manifold through the circumstances of my life. I only heard about you. Now I want to see you and learn more about you. I believe You sent Jesus to die for my sins, to save me and grant me eternal life. I know life has more than I experience now. You put thoughts of eternity in my heart. I accept Jesus as my savior. Please save me, forgive me and grand me eternal life. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.”

 

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13. (NIV)

^” May God, the source of hope, fill you with joy and peace through your faith in him. Then you will overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”  Romans 15:13 (GW)

Hope is a very rare precious coin available. It is more so these days of worldwide fear and confusion. Yet Hal Lindsey said, “Man can live about forty days without food, about three days without water, about eight minutes without air…but only for one second without hope.”

What is hope? Hope won’t come out of thin air. It cannot be manufactured for distribution from factories. When people think about hope, they usually mean a wish or a desire to be fulfilled. However, Bible hope is different. Hope is the confident assurance in God’s words and promises (that is recorded in the pages of the Bible) that He is faithful and powerful to fulfill what He promised no matter what happens around us. It is an unshakable anchor to our soul. It is firm and secure. Hebrews 6:19.

Romans 4:18-21 says this about the hope of our father Abraham. It says, “Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”  Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God,  being fully persuaded that God had the power to do what he had promised.”

Beloved, this is the sum and substance of hope. Against all human hope, Abraham in hope believed in God’s promise. His faith did not weaken although the promise did not materialize for a long period of time. He believed God had the power to do what he had promised. 

You see, God is the source of all hope. Those who trust in God have the assurance of the same hope. Not only hope, but God is also the source of all joy. Those who trust in Him have joy. Bible says this in Psalms 16:11, “In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.” In addition, He is the source of peace. Those who trust in Him have peace amid all darkness life throws at you. 

Out today’s insight says, “May the God fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Three things emerge from this verse. 

First, because God is the source of hope. He is the source of all joy. He is the source of peace.

Second, when you trust in Him the power of the Holy Spirit who indwells in you overflow you with hope. You see hope is God’s Holy Spirit overflowing work inside you as you trust in Him. The result is you would be filled with joy and peace as well in addition to hope.

You may be a millionaire or billionaire. However, you won’t find hope, joy, and peace to buy anywhere with your money and wealth. God is the source of hope, joy, and peace. He fills hope, joy, and peace inside you when the world breaks apart in chaos and confusion. Bible affirms, God grants all these spiritual blessings in the person of His Son, Jesus Christ. Ephesians 1:3(b) says, “In Christ, God has given us every spiritual blessing in the heavenly world.”

Do you have the real Bible hope? Do you have real joy? Do you have peace? May the God of fill with all these as you trust in him and his promises. May you be overflowed with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit who indwells in you.

“Father in heaven, when the world is scrambling for hope, peace and real joy, I thank you, Lord, you are the source of the lasting hope, true peace, and real joy. I believe all these wonderful spiritual blessings are available in Your son and the savior of the whole world, Jesus Christ. I believe You sent Jesus to this earth and he died and rose again for my sins. I  accept him as my savior and Lord. Thank you for giving me all the precious blessings in my life. In Christ’s name, I pray. Amen.”

“I brought you to the land of the Amorites who lived east of the Jordan. They fought against you, but I gave them into your hands. I destroyed them from before you, and you took possession of their land.” Joshua 24:8

Joshua who was the successor to Moses brought Israelites into the land of promise by conquering the cities and people who lived there before. Then he assembled all the tribes of Israel at Shechem. He summoned the elders, leaders, judges, and officials of Israel and they all stood in the presence of the Lord. Then Joshua said to the people, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel says.” He gave a small historical background from their ancestors, Terah, the father of Abraham, who was a worshipper of Idols and lived beyond the Euphrates River. Then in verse 8, he said our today’s insight. The LORD God said, “I brought you to the land of the Amorites who live east of the Jordan. They fought against you, but I gave them into your hands. I destroyed them before you, and you took possession of their land.”

Beloved, this statement has many profound meanings packed inside it. When God made an unconditional covenant with Abraham in Genesis 15:13-16 God already foretold Abraham this, know for certain that for 400 years your descendants will be strangers in a country not their own and that they will be enslaved and mistreated there…. In the 4th generation, your descendants will come back here, for the sin of the Amorites has not yet reached its full measure. “Did you notice the last verse, “for the sin of the Amorites has not yet reached its full measure? In short Lord’s deliverance of Israelites from the slavery in Egypt and their entrance into the promised land were all pre-planned by God and it happened exactly at the time of the sin of the Amorites reached its full measure. Israelites captured cities and slaughtered people mercilessly when God brought them into the promised land that God promised to Abraham.

Don’t you agree, four hundred years is a long time? And God was patient and longsuffering toward the iniquities of Amorites who occupied the land. God in heaven endured and was patient toward the Amorites even though they lived wickedly and fully immersed in idol worship and dishonored the living Lord in heaven. God gave time and time again for repentance. However, they multiplied their wickedness and idol worships with all its immoralities. Ripe time for God’s wrath came. Now God said to the leaders of Israel in our today’s verse, I brought you into the land of the Amorites who lived in the east of Jordan. They fought against you, but I gave them into your hands. I destroyed them before you, and you took possession of their land.”

God says he did the destruction because He performed justice after a long-suffering and perseverance. May we never take God’s patience lightly. Bible says in 2 Peter 3:9, “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” A solemn warning from the Bible based on historical and verifiable facts that God takes sins seriously. If you are living in sin with no repentance and confession, you may think all is well. However, God’s wrath and judgment day are coming.

Beloved, God is patient and long-suffering. He is the God who loves and has Mercy and compassion toward people. He is the creator God and Bible say in Acts 17 that He wants us to turn from worthless things like manmade idols and turn to the living God in heaven who made the heavens and the earth and the sea and everything in them. He has shown His kindness toward Amorites who occupied the land and to all of us by giving rains from heaven and crops in their seasons. He provided plenty of foods and filled hearts with joy hoping we will come to our sense by knowing one true God and believe in His Son, Jesus Christ, the only savior of the world. Bible says in Psalms 2, “Kiss his son, or he will be angry, and your way will lead to your destruction, for his wrath can flare up in a moment. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.” Did you notice God’s wrath on the wickedness of the people and nations can flare up in a moment? Where are we going to hide at God’s wrath? Today is the time of repentance and salvation, the Bible declares.

There is only one safe place from God’s wrath, and there is only one single way to be saved from God’s judgment over sins, and that is by taking refuge in the name of Jesus Christ. Jesus paid for your sins and shed His divine blood. He was buried and then rose again from the dead proving victory over sin and death. If you come and accept Him as your savior and Lord, He will cover your sins with His precious blood and will grant you eternal life. Either we face God’s judgment, or His Son’s blood protects us from God’s judgment. What would you choose?

Got a moment for today’s prayer? “Father in heaven, I do not want to face the judgment of God over my sins. I believe Jesus Christ died for my sins and rose again. Thank you for talking to me today. I accept Jesus Christ as my savior and Lord. Please save me and grant me your love, grace, mercy, forgiveness and eternal life in heaven with you. In the name of Christ, I pray. Amen.”