Someone expanded the acronym BUSY as “Being under Satan’s yoke”. Hope we are not caught up in that rut race of being busy all the time in life. Being busy for the Lord is one thing, but often we are busy for some thing else. E.Stanley Jones said like this about Paul in Phil 3:13.For Paul it is one thing but for the modern day Christians it is forty things to dabble in. Are we focused in spite of all our busy schedules? If not lets pause for a while and ask Gods strength to slow down our lives and to be focused in what we do.Isaiah30:15b says “… In quietness and trust is your strength”. Let God alone provide the tranquility that’s needed in our lives.
Thinking of Missions lets dwell on Gods word in the following lines... Let’s ask ourselves, Am I called to do the things which I cannot do? Am I so weak to face the giants in life? (Read Judges 6)
Are we truly living for what God has called us to do? Heb10:23b …For he who promised is faithful. So let’s not give up professing our hope in him.
The thing we need to ask every time is that am I faithful to my God and to his word. Do I understand the call of God in my life? The one who called us to have fellowship with his son Jesus Christ is faithful 1 Cor1:9
Isaiah the prophet says in Isaiah 42:6
"I, the LORD, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand.
I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles”
Firstly,
Mission is saying to God – Take my life and use it for your Glory.
It is not giving a part of our life to God, but surrendering our whole being as an acceptable offering. Let God sanctify us and use us for his Glory. For some one said like this” God cannot use unholy instruments for his holy purposes”.
Secondly,
Mission is being conscious of our life span in this world.
There is urgency in preaching the Good news.C.T.Studd very truly said the following lines. “Only one life it will be soon be passed away. Only what is done for Christ will last forever” Considering our short span in this world, let’s pull up our socks and do some thing for him who gave himself for us Eph 5:2
Thirdly,
Mission is leading a content and fulfilled life.
Thomas Merton for 1 Tim 6:6 said like this “Gain is Godliness” is a demonic inversion of the spiritual maxim “Godliness is Gain”
Am I leading a fulfilled life? If not lets consider our lifestyle and alter it in the altar of God.
Lastly,
It’s not our duration in this world that matters, but it’s our donation that counts. In other words it’s not how long we live but how we live.
“For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ. And so through him the "Amen" is spoken by us to the glory of God” – 2 Cor 1:20
If you’re really challenged by the above lines please don't forget to put in your comments here.
for his Glory,
Clement.praveen [at] gmail.com
Friday, November 6, 2009
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Living in Gods provision during economic crisis.
What we are today is based on who we are in Christ. When the world says everything is going on a loss, those who trust God says we gain Christ. Today the world economy is going on a toss in the real scenario. People are loosing their grounds in their employment, finances, security and that is making a greater havoc and severe repercussion on the individual and corporate lives. Someone sarcastically said “in which bank?” by looking at the bumper quote “Jesus Saves”. Yes he does save his people from calamity. Even in this economic steep down situation he still saves his people. Only those who trust in his provisions will receive his choicest blessings and enjoy it. There is so much of disorientation happening in and around the lives of people. People have lost the order and discipline in earning, saving and in giving. Where is hope or in other words where is God in all such hopeless situations? Is he in control?
Psalm 24:1 says “The earth is the Lords and everything in it belongs to him”.
Today man is trying to play God. We are only stewards to all of Gods resources not the owners. He alone owns it all. As someone said there is no rival for God. He is the provider and sustainer of the earth’s resources. God is not a cosmic kill joy or an evil personality to delight in all our hopeless situations. He is all sufficient all knowing complete in wisdom and willing to help those who lean on him. Proverbs 3:5-6, 9-10 reads like this,
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. 9 Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops; 10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.
It is simple trust and contended living that keeps us going and richer all our days. Benjamin Franklin has said “Discontentment makes a rich man poor, but Contentment makes a poor man rich”. Above all scripture says in 1 Tim 6:6 “But Godliness with contentment is great gain”
Are you gaining your ground in Christ? All other ground is only sinking sand. Think on these lines said by Paul a great Christian who said in Phil 3:7-9
7But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8What is more; I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.
He will replenish what was lost in you and make you a fulfilled person even during this time of economic crisis.
TRY him not, learn to TRUST HIM!
In Christ,
Clement.
Psalm 24:1 says “The earth is the Lords and everything in it belongs to him”.
Today man is trying to play God. We are only stewards to all of Gods resources not the owners. He alone owns it all. As someone said there is no rival for God. He is the provider and sustainer of the earth’s resources. God is not a cosmic kill joy or an evil personality to delight in all our hopeless situations. He is all sufficient all knowing complete in wisdom and willing to help those who lean on him. Proverbs 3:5-6, 9-10 reads like this,
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. 9 Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops; 10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.
It is simple trust and contended living that keeps us going and richer all our days. Benjamin Franklin has said “Discontentment makes a rich man poor, but Contentment makes a poor man rich”. Above all scripture says in 1 Tim 6:6 “But Godliness with contentment is great gain”
Are you gaining your ground in Christ? All other ground is only sinking sand. Think on these lines said by Paul a great Christian who said in Phil 3:7-9
7But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8What is more; I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.
He will replenish what was lost in you and make you a fulfilled person even during this time of economic crisis.
TRY him not, learn to TRUST HIM!
In Christ,
Clement.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Basic instructions to a Believer
As some one said this acronym B-I-B-L-E stands for Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth. There are instructions in the Bible to be heeded before we leave this earth. Paul writing to the Colossian believers in Col 4:2-6 we can see four succinct instructions given to the believing community. Let God speak to our hearts as we ponder these verses.
PRAYER - vs. 2-4
WISDOM – vs. 5
TIME – vs. 5b
WORDS – vs.6
Firstly Paul makes emphasis on prayer for the gospel to be advanced not only among Jews but to the Gentile world. He pleads the believers to pray for him who is in chains and also to pray for his fellow co-workers (vs3) that the doors be opened for the message to spread across. He wants then mystery which is now been revealed in Christ to be spoken everywhere. Paul a missional leader gives more importance to prayer in this context. If you could observe in all of these 5 verses first 3 verses talks about only prayer. He also says in Eph 6:18 keep on praying for all the saints. Prayer a backbone for every believer should not be stopped with us. Let’s start praying for others too who are in difficult situations to spread the word. It is not the prayer that works but it is God who works when we pray. Is it not amazing?
Secondly Paul talks about Wisdom towards outsiders. “Be wise in the way you act towards outsiders.” He also says the same in Eph 5:15 “Be very careful, then, how you live-not as unwise but as wise. Wisdom is so much required for prudent living in this century. If anyone lacks wisdom James says “let him ask of him who gives generously to all without finding fault”.
Thirdly Paul says make the most of every opportunity. He speaks in the same note in Eph 5:16.”making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.” Time is precious. We are called not only to be stewards of Talents and our treasures (Money) but our time too. How do we handle the God given time? Many say these days I don’t have time. A life long reader was asked by his friend how do you get time, for that he replied I don’t get time but I take time. Also let’s remember one thing that measure of life is not in its duration but in its donation.
Fourthly Paul says let our conversation be full of Grace. Let’s consider our words. Christ says in Mat 12:36 we are accountable for every careless word we speak. Does it not caution us? Paul again says in Eph 4:29 “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up... Are our words constructive or destructive in nature? Does it build others or does it break relationships?
Let’s be thankful and watchful as vs2 says. Let’s devote ourselves to prayer and make prayer as a non-negotiable task in our lives.
Let Godly wisdom control all our behaviors’. As 1 Pet 3:15 says let’s be ready to give an answer for the hope we have in Christ Jesus. Let we all be available all the time for God’s ministry. Time spent for him is not a wasted time. Lastly 1 Pet 4:11 says if anyone speaks let him speak the very words of God. Let’s utter worthy words not worthless words as mentioned in Jer 15:19 so that we can be his spokesman to this generation.
PRAYER - vs. 2-4
WISDOM – vs. 5
TIME – vs. 5b
WORDS – vs.6
Firstly Paul makes emphasis on prayer for the gospel to be advanced not only among Jews but to the Gentile world. He pleads the believers to pray for him who is in chains and also to pray for his fellow co-workers (vs3) that the doors be opened for the message to spread across. He wants then mystery which is now been revealed in Christ to be spoken everywhere. Paul a missional leader gives more importance to prayer in this context. If you could observe in all of these 5 verses first 3 verses talks about only prayer. He also says in Eph 6:18 keep on praying for all the saints. Prayer a backbone for every believer should not be stopped with us. Let’s start praying for others too who are in difficult situations to spread the word. It is not the prayer that works but it is God who works when we pray. Is it not amazing?
Secondly Paul talks about Wisdom towards outsiders. “Be wise in the way you act towards outsiders.” He also says the same in Eph 5:15 “Be very careful, then, how you live-not as unwise but as wise. Wisdom is so much required for prudent living in this century. If anyone lacks wisdom James says “let him ask of him who gives generously to all without finding fault”.
Thirdly Paul says make the most of every opportunity. He speaks in the same note in Eph 5:16.”making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.” Time is precious. We are called not only to be stewards of Talents and our treasures (Money) but our time too. How do we handle the God given time? Many say these days I don’t have time. A life long reader was asked by his friend how do you get time, for that he replied I don’t get time but I take time. Also let’s remember one thing that measure of life is not in its duration but in its donation.
Fourthly Paul says let our conversation be full of Grace. Let’s consider our words. Christ says in Mat 12:36 we are accountable for every careless word we speak. Does it not caution us? Paul again says in Eph 4:29 “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up... Are our words constructive or destructive in nature? Does it build others or does it break relationships?
Let’s be thankful and watchful as vs2 says. Let’s devote ourselves to prayer and make prayer as a non-negotiable task in our lives.
Let Godly wisdom control all our behaviors’. As 1 Pet 3:15 says let’s be ready to give an answer for the hope we have in Christ Jesus. Let we all be available all the time for God’s ministry. Time spent for him is not a wasted time. Lastly 1 Pet 4:11 says if anyone speaks let him speak the very words of God. Let’s utter worthy words not worthless words as mentioned in Jer 15:19 so that we can be his spokesman to this generation.
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