Design Thinking : Pastor Rajiv's Daily Reflections

In the professional world, "Design Thinking " is a powerful, tool/process to organize and point your thoughts to a desired action, especially in the creation of solutions.

Thoughts are powerful stuff. Thoughts lead to dreams. Dreams to desires. Desires to demands. demands to plans, plans to actions and actions to achievement.

As we can see, thoughts are the precursor to action and achievement. Whatever our input thoughts are, the action will be in the same direction.

It is the same in the spiritual world. If we indulge in spiritual thoughts, the action and achievement will tend towards the spiritual. If we allow thoughts of coveting, it will lead to acting on it which could be disaster. If we have thoughts of hate, we will end up destroying relationships. If we only think of ourselves, we will do things only for ourselves as well.

For Christians, thought control therefore is extremely critical. Paul says in Philippians 4:8

"Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things".

Why is thought control so important? For two reasons -

A. Thoughts influence our actions and effect our spirituality as well as physical actions.

B. God speaks to us through our thoughts. Hence it is crucial to keep our thoughts devoid of evil so that God can fill us with His knowledge and plans. He will talk to us if we still our minds and listen.

Here is what Peter says in 1 Peter 1:13-
"Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ"

3. God gave us free choice but our thoughts and desires influence that decision. Deuteronomy 30:19 says

"Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live!"

So friends, this was the power of our thoughts. Let me end with this verse and advice from Paul in Romans 12:2

"Do not copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect".

So you're a Christian : Pastor Rajiv's Daily Devotional

So you're a Christian! What are you doing about it?

Starting with 12 followers 2000 years ago, Christ has a following of more than 3 Billion people today. This is unprecedented growth.


So how did it happen?

A simple answer is sharing. Sharing the spiritual and the physical blessings, sharing Gods word and sharing strife.
And that is our mandate even today.

Sharing God's word doesn't always mean evangelizing to people who don't believe in Him. Sometimes, it means getting together with other believers and strengthening each other as well. 

Today, we have one simple request to make of you, our reader: participate with us and share these posts in your Christian friends circles. 

“Declare His glory among the nations, His wonders among all peoples.”

Someone, somewhere needs to hear God so please help us to spread the word as far and wide as possible.

God Bless you. 

Give God a Chance: Pastor Rajiv's Daily Reflections

Psalm 22:1

"For the director of music. To the tune of “The Doe of the Morning.” A psalm of David. My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from my cries of anguish?"

David starts Psalm 22 with this cry from the depths of his despair and our Lord cried it out as He hung on the tree.

Like David and Jesus, haven't we all felt forsaken at some point in our lives? Maybe today? When it seems everything is going against us? When it seems even the God we believe in has turned away?

There is nothing wrong if one feels like that. Our Christ felt it as well. But what does one do in such a situation?

1. Question God. God is our father, he listens to us, hears us and answers us. If we have some doubt, we should question Him and I believe He will answer.

2. Sit still and listen for His answer. "Be still and know that I am God" is Gods instruction to Israel to stop their frantic war activity and let God do His work. The same holds true today. 

What we should not do is panic and do many things to help ourselves or grumble and start calling friends and family hoping for some help or advice. In all this frantic activity where is the faith and belief in God ?

Where is the chance we give to God to do His work? Most importantly where is our acceptance of His will to be done? Did God answer David's prayer? Sure He did. David's was one of the most successful Israeli kings. Did God help him? Sure. 

The Bible contains so many instances of how God helped His people, instructions to them on how to receive His help etc. Why not fall back on His word and ask Him? 

Checkmate!

Hebrews 2:14-15

"Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives".

The greatest gift God has given to mankind is Jesus Christ. When mankind fell due to it's disobedience in the Garden of Eden, the devil thought he had destroyed the vision and dram of God for humanity. Little did he know that God is the creator of all things and never runs out of ideas and sent His son Jesus Christ to destroy sin by offering Himself on the cross. He brought the promise of unconditional love, unending hope and eternal life to every person who believes in Him. 

But the strangest thing about this gift is that it is for everyone. If I have received it today, it becomes my duty to pass it on. Pass on that hope. Pass on that love. And pass on that promise of eternal life.

Satan was checkmated and he will be defeated again and again and again and again.....

Are we greater than God? Sunday Reflections

Proverbs 3:5-6 ESV

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths".

Do we think we are greater than God? I am very sure most, if not all of us, will say NO!

AND I am very sure a lot many of us, in practice do exactly the opposite: Try to play God.

Man by nature strives to reach God's stature even to the extent of trying to create another human or humanoid. This is an extreme example, but we try and play God, every day in every way.

When we pray, don't we say, Lord I have this challenge and I need to do X to solve it. Or Lord can you please help me achieve Y so I can do this or that?

Why are we trying to tell God how to solve a problem, instead of just putting out the problem and letting Him solve it the way He deems fit? Who are we to tell God what to do? Do we trust ourselves more than we trust God?

As an exercise, just think of your prayers in the last 3 days. How many times we have "suggested" an action plan to God?

I know, as a professional I was faced with challenges which I needed to overcome to be able to keep my job. And when I prayed I would often tell God "look God, I am about to lose my job so I am taking this action, pls bless what I am doing so I can find success" ?

In short we tell God How to answer our prayer. We tell Him how to do his work. What we forget is to pray for His will to be done.

The opening verse is a direct reminder, actually an instruction, not to tell God what to do. With me it's a habit which I consciously need to stop and get rid of.

I think we all need to remember this verse always -

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts".

The 3 Sieves of Socrates: Daily Reflections

John 12 .."And there was much murmuring among the people concerning him: for some said, He is a good man: others said, Nay; but he deceiveth the people".

There is a poison each one of us are prone to: Gossip. 

Gossip is a sad and destructive fact of life. It damages reputations, ruins relationships, divides families and creates too much bad blood. Gossip is as old as history itself. In John’s gospel, Jesus’ absence from Jerusalem during Tabernacles evokes gossip among “the crowds” that is interestingly ambivalent about Jesus’ character: “And there was considerable complaining about him among the crowds. While some were saying, ‘He is a good man,’ others were saying, ‘No, he is deceiving the crowd’” (John 7:12). Jesus’ assessment by some as “good” and by others as “deceiving” underscores the social process through which gossip can create tension—in this case, over Jesus’ very identity.

Throughout the Bible we have been warned not to gossip, not listen to gossip. Ephesians - 29 "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen".

But how do we know what is gossip or information? Well Socrates faced the same things and has given us a way to discern. Its called the three sieves  and this is how it goes :

When some one is trying to tell us something we need to put the 3 sieve test and ask these questions : 

First Sieve : The first is the sieve of Truth. We need to ask, are you sure that what you are going to tell me is true or is it hearsay? 

Second Sieve: The second one is the  sieve of Goodness. The question to ask is - Are you going to tell me  something good or positive?

Third Sieve : Is it necessary to tell me ?

If what is being told  is neither true or is hearsay, good or necessary, just forget it and stay away. 

The story about the three sieves is something we can apply to our lives. Before you tell a story or pass on a rumor, ask yourself whether it is true, kind or necessary. 

Often we pass on gossip we’ve heard to keep the conversation going or talk negatively about somebody we know. Why not focus on “uptalking” others, concentrating on their strengths?

What is your JD? Pastor Rajiv's Daily Devotional

What is your Job Responsibility? 

Responsibility is defined as the state or fact of having a duty to deal with something or of having control over someone.

Starting with Adam and Eve, we all have responsibilities. They were supposed to be caretakers of creation by virtue of having control or dominion. Peter was also given specific responsibilities ("take care of my sheep"). Paul also points out in his letter to the Corinthians that whatever we do, should be for the glory of God. 

Drawing on these I like to think that our JD primarily consists of these -

1. Taking care of God's creation : We have been given dominion or charge over the entire creation, or nature as we call it. With this charge comes a responsibility to maintain it, for ourselves and the generations to come. We are stewards and must fulfil that responsibilities of a steward. 

2. Take care of people: In line with Christ's commandments, loving our fellow citizens passively is not enough. We need to actively practice that love by caring for people, specially those maybe down in life. Sharing provisions, time, blessings which we have received are some ways we can. It means we need to be sensitive to people, societies, norms, governments, etc. Remember, Paul said - " Give no Offense, either to Jews, or to Greeks or to the Church of God, just as I please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit but the profit of the many so that they maybe saved". 

3. Reflect the Glory of God in our life - By far the most important. Like Jesus summed up 613 commandments into 2, this one wraps up all  our JD  into one. To reflect God's glory one must first then know God's Glory and it's characteristics. If we have received a miracle, don't keep it a secret. If we have received a blessing share it. Acknowledge God in all things good and acknowledge His strength and grace given to us to survive the bad. Encourage one another in faith and it's practice. But above all, practice that faith. Dr. Irv Busenitz has captured this very well in his article "The Christian's Job Description"  - 

"Our job is to glorify God. This must be our purpose in life, whatever we do, do all to the glory of God. How are we to accomplish this? By placing the benefit of others ahead of ourselves, by foregoing our liberties so that the lost might be saved, and by pursuing the likeness of Christ".

Watch your step: Pastor Rajiv's Mid Week Message

 Ephesians 5: 15- 17

"So watch your step. Use your head. Make the most of every chance you get. These are desperate times! Don't live carelessly, unthinkingly. Make sure you understand what the Master wants". (5:15–17 MSG)

The highlighted first statement is so familiar. Parents say that to children, people use that as a warning to others and so on. This is a general warning. But read further, it is a guideline for every Christian.

As we travel a path carefully chosen according to His will, word and purpose, God presents us with so many opportunities. Opportunities to flourish and prosper, and also opportunities to say NO. Opportunities to lead an exemplary life. Opportunities to use our gifts for others.

We cannot pass our time mindlessly, but realize every second we live is an investment we make into life.

And why? Because at the end of it all, we have the promise of His return and our saving from a second death. People don't think about their second death too seriously, specially young people. We are all pre- occupied with our physical death and how to prolong our physical life. But think this - if physical death is so fearsome to us, how much more horrible and painful the second death will be.

But we have a promise - to be saved that horrible fate. In this mid Week Message Pastor Rajiv talks about the second coming of Christ and what it means for our future and why we should invest in that future.

The Chicken or the Egg? : Daily Reflections

There is an interesting question nearly everyone knows and has asked at some point in their lives: Which came first- the chicken or the egg.

Like everyone else I have been trying to answer this question for 40 years now and I must confess I am at a loss to come to an unchallengeable and irrefutable answer.

However, I do have the answer to another similar question many Christians face: Do I have to become a citizen of the Kingdom of God first, or do I get blessings first. 

For the answer I will reference Matthew 6 Verses 32 and 33....

32 For the Gentiles strive after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you. 

First things first. What is the Kingdom of God and what do I seek in there? Now, we are all familiar with the virtual world where the internet reigns supreme. Think of the Kingdom of God as a virtual kingdom where God reigns supreme, where Jesus is the King. And because He is the King and it's His Kingdom we need to live by the rules of that kingdom. In this kingdom, God’s authority is recognized, and his will is obeyed. God's word and His will have been clearly laid down in His word - The Bible.

What is very clear is that we need to become citizens of the kingdom of God before blessings can fill our lives. And how do we do that? As a kingdom citizen, we align with God's lordship by aligning our life with what God has said in his word.

To become a citizen here, one obviously needs to follow the laws of the Kingdom. Consider His word, i.e., the Bible, as the constitution of the Kingdom of God, which contains all the laws and advisories for citizenship. But what benefits do we get from this citizenship?

1. As a Citizen WE Are under God’s Lordship

2. As a Citizen WE Are under God’s Protection

3. As a Citizen WE Are under God’s Provision

4. As a Citizen WE Surrender to God’s Purpose

You can study the above points  HERE 

So in effect it means that I need to first become a citizen before I can expect anything. How do I do that? I think there are four steps involved:

1. I need to give up citizenship of the Earth. I need to stop following the ways of the world - stop lying, cheating, fornication, adultery, murder (we may not murder anyone physically but character assassination is a very popular sport with us humans) and the list goes on and on.

2. I need to ask the King (Jesus Christ) for forgiveness. Keep going back to step 1 and repeat 1 and 2 till I have cleaned out my life. The Old Testament will be a guideline during this phase. Refer to Exodus 20 for each Law.

3. Replace each habit with a rule from the New Testament and teachings of the King.

4. Follow God’s agenda for us. I call this the POP principle - Preaching, Obeying and Praying. (To clarify, Preaching and Teaching can be done through example. One need not become a Pastor or a Preacher to do this.). 

As we pray we MUST also repeat the Pledge of Allegiance to the kingdom. This pledge can be found HERE 

So to conclude, becoming a responsible citizen in the Kingdom of God is the first and critical step. Everything else follows. 

APPLY NOW! 

All Things Bright and Beautiful : Pastor Rajiv's Daily Devotional

Genesis 2:15

"And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it".
The original mandate to humans was to look after and maintain this beautiful world God gave us. A utopian world which would be bereft of climate change, carbon emissions, pandemics, human tragedies. I could go on and on.
We have failed miserably. Our failure necessitated the coming of Jesus Christ as well. Necessitated His death.
We can't go back in time and correct what we failed in, but we sure can correct ourselves in the present time, on a personal basis, as a personal responsibility, given to us by none other than God and His son.
For starters, we can reduce our personal carbon footprint. You can calculate your personal footprint here and see how to reduce it and help the environment and our world that God gave us.
Second, we should see helping our fellow brothers and sisters as helping God because they are His children. God has commissioned us to be blessings to all His children – both the lost and the found. When we choose to withhold our help, we are turning our backs on God. Make sure that your heart is set on helping those in need at all times. It is always rewarding.
We have been chosen to be disciples and this means that we are the face and hands and feet of Jesus on earth. Jesus depends on us to bring the Good News to others, and most of the time that is by giving example of how Jesus acted during his time on earth.
It is not for us to judge and with hold. It is for us to do what we have been commissioned to do, which is to take care of our world and the people in it.


** From the Poem All Things Bright and Beautiful" by Cecil Frances Alexander. You can read this beautiful poem, now a hymn, HERE.