Prosperity to Adversity : The Professionals Bible

The evening and the morning were the first day. — Genesis 1:5

"Was it so even in the beginning? Did light and darkness divide the realm of time in the first day? Then little wonder is it if I have also changes in my circumstances from the sunshine of prosperity to the midnight of adversity. 

It will not always be the blaze of noon even in my soul concerns, I must expect at seasons to mourn the absence of my former joys. Nor am I alone in this, for the sun shines on all and the night darkens all. 

We all have had to sing the mingled song of judgment and of mercy, of trial and deliverance, of mourning and of delight. It is one of the arrangements of Divine providence that day and night shall not cease either in the spiritual or natural creation". (KJV Bible Study)

The fact is we cannot control the good times or the bad, nor their time that we must face. But also true is the fact that what we can manage is how we respond to those times. Good times are an opportunity to show humility, sharing, love and comfort. bad times are also an opportunity - to show grit, determination, faith and hope. 

Bad times do not mean we need to adopt a fatalistic attitude, lay down and believe that God so willed it. Yes, God willed it, but He willed it for a purpose. Find the purpose and we will find the peace. On the other hand, good times do not mean we behave as if we are God's preferred or chosen ones. Again, we need to find the purpose so that we can fulfill it. The tree loses all during the winter but blooms again during spring. 

Remember this: God uses Good and Bad times for His glory. But that is God. Who can understand His ways?

For our part, how we respond to good and bad times, show our character as well as our faith. Good times are an opportunity also to build up our confidence in God so that we are not shaken when we encounter the bad but are in faith that God will help us through. 

Psalm 16:8 says "I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken". 

And that is the secret to contentment, whether it is night or day. 

Is Salvation an Event: Pastor Rajiv's Mid Week Message

 

But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.

1 Peter 3:15

After an unintended gap of a few months, we once again have Pastor Rajiv with his mid-week message. 

The Little Foxes

"Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes". Song of Solomon 2:15 

Did you know foxes love grapes (among other fruits). In fact, the term "sour grapes" comes from the story of the fox who tried to eat the grapes on a branch but couldn't reach them so after several failed attempts he gave up muttering - "they would have been sour anyway".

Little foxes are smaller animals that cannot reach the hanging grapes, so they gnaw the vines off at the ground, causing the out of reach fruit to fall with the ruined vine. It is one thing to lose some of one seasons grape, but it is far worse to lose forever a vine that took 12 to 14 years to mature.

Like little foxes, there may be little faults and sins in us that seem little but can destroy the fruit we produce. These could be "little" lies, "little" selfishness, "little" greed, "little" envy, gluttony of food, gluttony of things ... it's a long list to choose from, all get justified to us by being seemingly little. But which build and grow till they destroy.

We are the branches and if the Vine which connects us to our life source is destroyed, we too are destroyed.

It's not only the big ones we need to be sacred of but the small ones as well. What are the little foxes in our life? Can we identify the little foxes which are slowly but surely destroying the Vine of our life?