Servanthood

As Christian servants we are often misunderstood by others. Our love for our enemies is often seen as a threat to society. Our suffering is viewed as a curse from God. Our sacrifices are viewed with scorn and suspicion. But we endure because we trust in the living Lord and savior Jesus Christ who also endured and showed us the path to eternal life.

1 Timothy 4:10 For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.

Mission focused

St. Paul was saying that we as Christians should not be focused on our past achievements or guilt. In Christ we have been forgiven and transformed into leading a new life. He is urging us to have the vision of what lies ahead of us and what Christ expects of us. We are called to lead a life whose mission is founded on faith, hope and love.

Philippians 3:13 This one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before.

Gratuitous Weakness





St. Paul says when he is among a group of believers, he tries to empathize with them so that he can effectively discuss the issues that concern them. He hopes in lowering his standards and becoming weak, he can save a few of the weak who see things from a different perspective, or at least relate to a few who are willing to listen and learn from him.

1 Corinthians 9:22 To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.

Castaway

Christian life requires discipline. St. Paul was saying that we as Christians must all exercise self control in all things. Athletes do it to win a trophy, we exercise it to win the gift of eternal life.

1 Corinthians 9:27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

Mature Love

But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

1 John 2: 5-6 

 If we say we love God, then we would follow His commandments. This is the truth of the message, that our love for God is shown through following the life of sacrificial love that Christ embodied while He was on earth.

Message

Light embodies the holiness and righteousness of God. Darkness is the evil that pervades the whole world. Jesus said I am the light of the world. In a world that is cloaked in darkness, Jesus brought the message of light from God, so that we may see Him and believe in Him.

1 John 1:5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

Wanting

In this world we all crave after something or the other. We want wealth, we want appreciation, we want to be the best and so on. Rarely do we think that all this is only going to pass away. In the final analysis it is only those who do the will of God that will inherit eternal life.

I John 2:17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

Glory

When we reflect on what God has done for us, we see that this whole universe that we live in came from Him. We live and exist because of Him. We are all created in His image so that His name maybe glorified. Let our lips always sing of His glory forevermore.

Romans 11:36 For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

Baptism











Our baptism is symbolic of the death of sin and the birth of our new life in Christ. When we live in newness of life our old wants and desires are dead, we live by grace thanking God for His kindness and forgiveness extended toward us.

Romans 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

Hope of salvation

Our hope in our salvation is confirmed by the Holy Spirit who fills our heart with God's love and enables us to develop a strong faith in God. When we face problems and difficulties in life, if we take them to God in prayer we develop a confidence that God will always be with us. Through these trying experiences we learn to endure through the power of the Holy Spirit that dwells within us. Endurance enables us to become strong in character. A strong character enables us to be confident that whatever be the circumstance one day we will be in paradise with our Lord.

Romans 5:5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit which is given unto us.

Prodigious Love

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 5:8

 We find God loved us even while we were sinners. Though God sees us in our helpless state He still loves us. He sent Jesus to save all of us who were willing to believe in this offer of salvation. There may be times when we feel unloved, but this promise reminds us that God loves us and wants us to love Him too.

Perfect Peace

We all go through times which are difficult and hard. But if our thoughts are fixed on God, we will be at peace. It is when we learn to trust in God that our minds are confident that God is with us.

Isaiah 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

Kingdom of God

Kingdom of God 

But rather seek ye first the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Luke 12:31

Reading: Luke 12:31-34

 Christ was speaking about the importance of first doing our best to know and understand God and His ways. He told us not to worry about the future but learn to enjoy with thanksgiving what we have and have faith in God who will provide for all our needs. He specifically refers to us as his “Little Flock”. We are the sheep and he is our “Good Shepherd”. The gentleness with which he calls us soothes our anxieties.

What is the direction we point our efforts ? What kind of reward are we looking for in life the lower or higher fruits for our labor? There are many today who are so proud of their wealth and accomplishment that they see no value in seeking the higher fruits. Christ is exhorting us work for treasures that have a lasting value. For things we can carry with us when are time comes for us to go. 

Our hearts and minds need to work on something to live fruitful lives. When we use our earthly wealth and gifts for the tending of the ”Little Flock” we are storing up treasure in heaven. The heart has to be satisfied that it is contributing to the good of mankind. To seek God’s Kingdom we need to surrender our lives into the hands of Christ as our King and Lord to guide and lead us through life. A life well spent is how we learned to love and delight in one another and share the grace and peace of Christ with one another here on earth.

Prayer:

Dear Lord Jesus, Take our lives and let it be consecrated Lord to thee. Take my moments and my days, let them flow in ceaseless praise.

Amen.

Christian Challenge

Jesus was speaking to his disciples on the challenge that all of us face as christians today. It is very difficult to live a life that is pleasing to God, when the customary practices of our peers are different. As christians we are called to lead a life that surrenders to Christ and leads a life of single minded devotion to God.

Luke 9:23-24 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.

Repentance

Repentance

 When the Pharisees were grumbling about Jesus eating and associating with sinners, Jesus said there will be great rejoicing over one sinner that repents than over ninety nine that feel they don't need to repent. Isaiah says that we have all as lost sheep gone astray. It is only when we come to Christ in repentence that God welcomes us with open arms. Luke 15:7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.

Creator

When we reflect on creation of this world and how everything exists we cannot even comprehend the glory, honor and power of God. All we can do as mere mortals is to fall to our feet and worship the Lord Almighty. It is only through the life of Christ on earth do we come to understand God's love for us all and the pleasure He takes in all created things.


Revelation 4:11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

Slaves of Christ

We are no longer slaves to sin and temptation that leads to death and condemnation. We are slaves of Christ where by his mercy and grace we inherit the gift of eternal life. We are led by the Holy Spirit to live lives that are holy that result in eternal life.

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Overcome evil with good

It is so easy for us to be overcome with vengence, anxiety, jealousy, hatred, anger and so many other evil thoughts that can destroy our peace with God. St. Paul is telling us that when we feel tempted to take revenge to quench our evil desire by submitting those thoughts to God, in prayer and thanksgiving and in so doing God will repay them with what they deserve. The underlying principle is to overcome evil with good.

Romans 12:21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good

Same Minds

Living in peace with people who are from different races and places is how God wanted us to be. St. Paul says that we should share one anothers joys and sorrows and learn to care for each other. He says we should not to try to be wise in our own eyes but to humble ourselves to be able to enjoy the company of even ordinary people.

Romans 12:16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.

Good Steward

God has given each of us gifts to minister to each other who are in need. It can be as public a role as a speaker or a simple task of helping a stranger in need. Each task we should do with grace as a good steward of God so that we can use them to bring glory to His name.

1 Peter 4:10 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

Gift of Eternal Life










Through Adam we were all cursed to condemnation and death. But with the sacrificial death of Christ on the cross, we have all been forgiven for all our sins. God through Christ has bestowed upon us the free gracefilled gift of eternal life.

Romans 5:16 And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification.

Stumbling Block

There are times when we as Christians excercise certain liberties that make other Christians think that they can do the same. In so doing some stray away from the faith or cut off all association with us. In this case St.Paul was saying as mature Christians we must be careful when we eat meat that have been offered to idols. For in so doing there may be some who will either condemn us as evil or some who will do the same and fall prey to the dominion of the evil one.

1 Corinthians 8:9 But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.

Hardened Heart

The Holy Spirit urges us to keep our minds and hearts open to the voice of God. When God speaks to us let us ask pray that our spirit can discern what God is saying to us. If we get preoccupied with other activities the words of God fall on a hardened heart.

Hebrews 3:7 Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice, 8 Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation

Face Of God

Face of God 

I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence, 

and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me early. 

Hosea 5:15 

 It is often when we go through spells of affliction and loss that we seek the face of God. When everything is going well, we rarely find time for God. But in the bad times we are comforted by the presence of the Holy Spirit. 

Our God is a God of love and embraces all who mourn (Isaiah 57:18-19). Isaiah magnifies the grace and mercy of God. God has seen the ways of the people but instead of letting them destroy themselves, he heals them as a physician would and blesses them with peace. God bring us near to Him through the blood of the cross (Ephesians 2:16-17). Through Christ all people have become part of the family of God. The consolation we receive fills us with joy.

Good Works

Many of us find it easy to find flaws in the ways of the world and in people from different walks of life. But how many of us really challenge one another to see how much we can love our enemies? How much we can share with the poor and downtrodden? How much we can care for the sinner?

Hebrews 10:24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:

Copy Cats

It is so easy to copy what everybody else is doing. When we do so we find ourselves easily accepted into the ways of the world. St. Paul is urging us to renew our minds and to transform the way we think into doing the will of God.

Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Walk in Love

Walk in Love 

The life of Christ was one that was one of sacrifice and love for all of mankind. His sacrifice was like sweet perfume to God. St. Paul is urging us to walk in the Love of Christ that encompasses us. 

 Ephesians 5:2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.

Forgiveness

It is very easy for us to say a harsh word and hurt one another. St. Paul is urging us as Christians to be kind to one another and to forgive one another when angry words have been exchanged. We should never forget the forgiveness that we have experienced from God through the sacrifice of Christ on the cross.

Ephesians 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

Fellowship

There are going to be times when the church will face and faces persecution from this world. We need to find a body of believers that essentially have the same faith as we do and encourage each other to meet and have fellowship. It is when we unite and gather as one body that we find ourselves growing stronger than if we were on our own.

Hebrews 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

Cup of Cold Water

Cup of cold water 

 What a joy it is to drink a cup of cold water on a hot day. Jesus said that we will be rewarded even for offering a cup of cold water to one of His least of followers. Is it not amazing that even our small deeds of kindness done out of love will be recognized by God. 

 Mathew 10:42 And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.

Most Valuable People

Jesus was talking about sparrows, where God even knows when a sparrow falls to the ground. He said to us that we are more valuable than a flock of sparrows. Jesus says that God loves us so much that He even knows the number of hairs in our head. God considers us as the most valuable people.

Mathew 10:30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.