John 8:36
So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed!
Freedom is a peculiar word – it means different things to different people.
To the people in Libya and many Middle-Eastern countries, it spells the overthrowing of a dictator and oppressive regimes. To the suffering populace in the horn of Africa, freedom means no more drought and famine. Yet to the oppressed Dalits in India or the many minority groups in Pakistan, it means the basic human right to make choices of their own.
What does Jesus means when he said we are set free? Free from what?
The answer is free from myself. Jesus came to set me free from my own sin, my self-centredness. The greatest enemy of ours is not from without but from within.
Some religious group wrap up their women from top to bottom thinking that the problem of lust is the women. But lust comes from the heart – something internal. Some people justify their lukewarmness toward God because the ‘Christians’ disappoint us. But our lack of faith in God is due to our obsession that God must act a certain way through a certain people. We still call the shots.
The freedom Jesus promises is the ability to ‘de-centralise’ ourselves so that we can love God and love others. This freedom is liberty from my dark malicious ego and it takes the selfless death of Christ to make this transaction possible. Galatians 2:20 must then be my conscious prayer everyday,
“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Worries
Philippians 4:6-7
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
These words of Philippians were penned by Paul. If there is one who has legitimate concerns, it would be Paul. He was in prison awaiting trial – his life was hanging on a thread – and here he urged the Philippian church not to be anxious! This passages shows that our state of mind need not be dictated by our circumstances.
To counter-attack worries, there are a few things that you can do beside prayer
1. Consciously examine your ‘want’ list – are they really what you need? If not, say ‘no’ to them and be done with them.
2. Cut down your time on technology – including emails, cell-phones, computers, television and radio. Too much information leads to indigestion of the souls.
3. Turn off your cell phone for a few hours a day – if the call is important, they will call back. Have an alone time with God and with yourself
4. Keep a notebook – write down the things you worry about – decide if they can be dealt with. If yes, then set a date to deal with the issues.
However, the replacement of worries by peace can only and ultimately be achieved through prayer. Talk to God. Peace is the result of prayer. The peace of God will ‘garrison and mount guard’ (amplified version) over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Worries are like invading armies that need defending against and God's peace wrought through prayers is that strong fortress that no invading worries can penetrate.
Part of being alive is the ability to plan ahead. However, if planning ahead leads to over-thinking, it becomes a worry. Remember Jesus’ words, “Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?” (Luke 12:24-26)
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
These words of Philippians were penned by Paul. If there is one who has legitimate concerns, it would be Paul. He was in prison awaiting trial – his life was hanging on a thread – and here he urged the Philippian church not to be anxious! This passages shows that our state of mind need not be dictated by our circumstances.
To counter-attack worries, there are a few things that you can do beside prayer
1. Consciously examine your ‘want’ list – are they really what you need? If not, say ‘no’ to them and be done with them.
2. Cut down your time on technology – including emails, cell-phones, computers, television and radio. Too much information leads to indigestion of the souls.
3. Turn off your cell phone for a few hours a day – if the call is important, they will call back. Have an alone time with God and with yourself
4. Keep a notebook – write down the things you worry about – decide if they can be dealt with. If yes, then set a date to deal with the issues.
However, the replacement of worries by peace can only and ultimately be achieved through prayer. Talk to God. Peace is the result of prayer. The peace of God will ‘garrison and mount guard’ (amplified version) over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Worries are like invading armies that need defending against and God's peace wrought through prayers is that strong fortress that no invading worries can penetrate.
Part of being alive is the ability to plan ahead. However, if planning ahead leads to over-thinking, it becomes a worry. Remember Jesus’ words, “Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?” (Luke 12:24-26)
Monday, August 29, 2011
Seeing things in a new light
Ephesians 1:18-19a
I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.
What we see with our naked eyes is pseudo-reality, at best. It has the form of reality and truth but it is not. If we only evaluate things according to our naked eyes, we are missing out on the full picture of life.
A mole has eyes (little and covered) but it is virtually blind. It lives in darkness, moves in darkness and light has no consequential bearing on its livelihood, it seems. So a Christian who becomes numbed to the heavenly light sees only the earthly dimension of life. He interprets events and things according to his earthly mind, makes decisions based on his human needs and lives his life based on the values of this world.
However we are told that there is a spiritual dimension to all things. God is spirit. He operates the world based on spiritual principles. He does things for His great purpose. Miracles are everywhere for the Christian who has spiritual insight and heavenly intuition.
We need to pray that God will open our spiritual eyes so that we can see things in a new light.
We need to see things in a new light. We can only do so when we acquire the eyes of faith. This comes about when we take in the word of God for ‘faith comes from hearing and hearing through the word of Christ’ (Rom 10:17).
Commit yourself to know God’s power and our riches in Him by taking in the word of God.
I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.
What we see with our naked eyes is pseudo-reality, at best. It has the form of reality and truth but it is not. If we only evaluate things according to our naked eyes, we are missing out on the full picture of life.
A mole has eyes (little and covered) but it is virtually blind. It lives in darkness, moves in darkness and light has no consequential bearing on its livelihood, it seems. So a Christian who becomes numbed to the heavenly light sees only the earthly dimension of life. He interprets events and things according to his earthly mind, makes decisions based on his human needs and lives his life based on the values of this world.
However we are told that there is a spiritual dimension to all things. God is spirit. He operates the world based on spiritual principles. He does things for His great purpose. Miracles are everywhere for the Christian who has spiritual insight and heavenly intuition.
We need to pray that God will open our spiritual eyes so that we can see things in a new light.
We need to see things in a new light. We can only do so when we acquire the eyes of faith. This comes about when we take in the word of God for ‘faith comes from hearing and hearing through the word of Christ’ (Rom 10:17).
Commit yourself to know God’s power and our riches in Him by taking in the word of God.
Friday, August 26, 2011
Doing and Being
Conforming to the image of Christ is counter-cultural. It requires intentionality and hard work.
When we just become Christians, we tend to focus on the external evidence of faith such as attending services, fellowship and getting involved in Christian services. Activities are important avenues for growth but deficient by itself to ground us in our faith.
In Christianity, the ‘being’ should precede and decide the ‘doing’. This is because spirituality is an inside-out experience. However, focusing on the ‘being’ does not exclude the ‘doing’.
For example, we connect with others because we are beings of love. Love finds expressions in relationships, and we join church gatherings because we seek to build loving interdependent bonds with God’s family. Thus, being a loving person dictates our doing a fellowship function.
The dilemma comes when my doing and being does not match up. What if I am not a loving person? Do I just not do anything loving so as not to be hypocritical? That is where the ‘doing’ comes along as a discipline. The ‘doing’ of loving activities presents us with opportunities to develop love as our character trait. It gives us the outward stimuli to work on something we want internalized in us.
As we mature spiritually, we will see a gradual integration of our ‘being’ and ‘doing’. We are no longer threatened by the doing nor intimidated by our lack of being.
Spiritual transformation and growth is a lifelong process but “the one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.” (I Thess 5:24)
When we just become Christians, we tend to focus on the external evidence of faith such as attending services, fellowship and getting involved in Christian services. Activities are important avenues for growth but deficient by itself to ground us in our faith.
In Christianity, the ‘being’ should precede and decide the ‘doing’. This is because spirituality is an inside-out experience. However, focusing on the ‘being’ does not exclude the ‘doing’.
For example, we connect with others because we are beings of love. Love finds expressions in relationships, and we join church gatherings because we seek to build loving interdependent bonds with God’s family. Thus, being a loving person dictates our doing a fellowship function.
The dilemma comes when my doing and being does not match up. What if I am not a loving person? Do I just not do anything loving so as not to be hypocritical? That is where the ‘doing’ comes along as a discipline. The ‘doing’ of loving activities presents us with opportunities to develop love as our character trait. It gives us the outward stimuli to work on something we want internalized in us.
As we mature spiritually, we will see a gradual integration of our ‘being’ and ‘doing’. We are no longer threatened by the doing nor intimidated by our lack of being.
Spiritual transformation and growth is a lifelong process but “the one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.” (I Thess 5:24)
Thursday, August 25, 2011
More than One Lifespan
We are too short-sighted. Our lives are not limited to one short life-span.
True that life has demands. Our parents demand that we have certain things at a certain time. Our society says if we don’t achieve certain marks at a certain time, we are not as good as others. Our eyes rove at our peers’ advances in life and we feel dejected that we are as accomplished as they are.
We pray for lots of things, ask for lots of stuff and fret over lots of non-essentials. A good job, a good name, a good spouse – legitimate wants and needs but life is more than this.
Jesus asks, “What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?” (Mark 8:36,37)
We pray, we work and we live – but all for God. Nothing in this world ultimately is as important as seeking God. Nothing in this world satisfies as God does. Nothing in this world ultimately lasts beyond one lifespan. We are made for eternity. We are meant to end this earthly life but our journey with God carries on to the age beyond.
Let us cast our vision to the reality and promise of the Eternal One.
Begin with the end in mind. Live with eternity in your heart. Then I guarantee everything will fall into place. Test God on His promise, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matt 6:33)
True that life has demands. Our parents demand that we have certain things at a certain time. Our society says if we don’t achieve certain marks at a certain time, we are not as good as others. Our eyes rove at our peers’ advances in life and we feel dejected that we are as accomplished as they are.
We pray for lots of things, ask for lots of stuff and fret over lots of non-essentials. A good job, a good name, a good spouse – legitimate wants and needs but life is more than this.
Jesus asks, “What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?” (Mark 8:36,37)
We pray, we work and we live – but all for God. Nothing in this world ultimately is as important as seeking God. Nothing in this world satisfies as God does. Nothing in this world ultimately lasts beyond one lifespan. We are made for eternity. We are meant to end this earthly life but our journey with God carries on to the age beyond.
Let us cast our vision to the reality and promise of the Eternal One.
Begin with the end in mind. Live with eternity in your heart. Then I guarantee everything will fall into place. Test God on His promise, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matt 6:33)
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Blessings in disguise
Read 2 Corinthians 4:7-18
2 Corinthians 4:16-17
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.
In this world there will be troubles. If you care, you might be heartbroken. If you love, you might be hurt. If you hope, you might be disappointed. Not that everything is negative; but that you open yourself to the possibility of pain as well as love when you choose to live the way God asks you to – the way of love.
Paul was a super-apostle who chose God’s way. He chose obedience and sacrifice for God’s kingdom by serving God’s cause. However, his life was full of hardships and pains. But he said it was worth it. Through physically taxing, emotionally draining and mentally anguishing, it was spiritually rewarding. All the seen troubles served as ‘rumors’ of the world in which he was living and aiming for – eternal glory. Through all these heart-wrenching events, the longing in him for that ‘rumored’ eternal world where his Lord reigns supreme. It pulled him along and gave him hope.
The following song ‘Blessings’ by Laura Story expresses it nicely.
2 Corinthians 4:16-17
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.
In this world there will be troubles. If you care, you might be heartbroken. If you love, you might be hurt. If you hope, you might be disappointed. Not that everything is negative; but that you open yourself to the possibility of pain as well as love when you choose to live the way God asks you to – the way of love.
Paul was a super-apostle who chose God’s way. He chose obedience and sacrifice for God’s kingdom by serving God’s cause. However, his life was full of hardships and pains. But he said it was worth it. Through physically taxing, emotionally draining and mentally anguishing, it was spiritually rewarding. All the seen troubles served as ‘rumors’ of the world in which he was living and aiming for – eternal glory. Through all these heart-wrenching events, the longing in him for that ‘rumored’ eternal world where his Lord reigns supreme. It pulled him along and gave him hope.
The following song ‘Blessings’ by Laura Story expresses it nicely.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Blessed to be a Blessing
It is a Christian tradition to always dismiss a gathering by pronouncing God’s blessing on the people. This act is called the Benediction.
There are many blessings in the Bible but one of my favourites happened to be the handed down from the Franciscan Order founded by Francis of Assisi. I have often reflected upon it and used it in private prayer.
May the benediction be the prayer and purpose in our lives.
Franciscan Benediction
May God bless you with discomfort
At easy answers, half-truths, and superficial relationships,
So that you may live deep within your heart.
May God bless you with anger
At injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people,
So that you may work for justice, freedom, and peace.
May God bless you with tears
To shed for those who suffer pain, rejection, hunger, and war,
So that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and to turn their pain to joy.
And may God bless you with enough foolishness
To believe that you can make a difference in the world,
So that you can do what others claim cannot be done,
To bring justice and kindness to all our children and the poor.
Amen.
There are many blessings in the Bible but one of my favourites happened to be the handed down from the Franciscan Order founded by Francis of Assisi. I have often reflected upon it and used it in private prayer.
May the benediction be the prayer and purpose in our lives.
Franciscan Benediction
May God bless you with discomfort
At easy answers, half-truths, and superficial relationships,
So that you may live deep within your heart.
May God bless you with anger
At injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people,
So that you may work for justice, freedom, and peace.
May God bless you with tears
To shed for those who suffer pain, rejection, hunger, and war,
So that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and to turn their pain to joy.
And may God bless you with enough foolishness
To believe that you can make a difference in the world,
So that you can do what others claim cannot be done,
To bring justice and kindness to all our children and the poor.
Amen.
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