The Touch: Our Daily Reflection

What is divine strength? we believe it is a God given power to overcome personal and professional challenges.

Gen 49:24 says "But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob; (from thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel:)"

Every character, from Adam to the apostles received divine strength. As did then, even now, challenges are a part of everyday life we all face, no matter who we are.
How do we get divine strength to overcome our challenges. Reading the quoted passage closely, you will see that award of divine strength is a very personal act. It is Gods power passing to man through a personal touch. 

Being that it is such a personal touch, it follows that we need a personal relationship, one that is strong and open enough to enable us to "ask". Ask and it shall be given is a familiar passage, but to be able to ask one needs to know Him personally, and to do that we need to overcome pride and relinquish our will to His. We need to get to know Him better through His word and we need to get rid of anything that hinders that relationship.

This Ash Wednesday we get another chance to do exactly that, kicking off the 40 days of lent when we can examine our lives and get rid of any hindrances in our relationship with our God.

The Long Forgotten Concept of "Respect"

There are so many points of conflict in the world today. Between people, nations, continents, races, gender, age and so on. You name it and it is there. 

Is it conflict what God created us for? 

We have to learn that people of other faiths, color, gender etc., are not only created by, but also sustained by, God the Creator. The Biblical understanding of God as creator should lead to understand that all people, their cultures and spiritualities are within the sphere of God's love.

Respect for people includes respecting who they are and acting out that respect. It is part of the commandment to love your neighbor.

Why Is Respect so Important in the Christian Community?

In the Bible we learn that it is firstly God who respects man: 

"Since you are precious and honored (respected) in my sight, and because I love you" (Isiaah 43:4) 

If man thus opens to God, he always receives his reverence, because respect is the permanent state of God.

In return, Reverence for God. Honor for others is what we learn from Him and are taught to practice. Respect for all life as created by and belonging to God. These are not only marks of a believer, but they set a goal for Christians to demonstrate faith and love of God. 

Paul says in Romans 12:10 - "Outdo yourselves in honoring (respecting) one another".

Respecting others demonstrates the value God places on life. Respecting others demonstrates the character of God in His humility, sacrificial love, and redemptive plan. Respecting others creates a community that is marked by harmony, service, and care for even the most vulnerable.

At the end of the day, we respect others out of our reverence for our God and this contributes powerfully to the testimony and legacy we create. 

Who will Cry When I Die? : The importance of Sacrificial Giving

I cannot forget a Book by Robin Sharma called "Who will cry when you die". The title inspired me to think, and often I ask myself the same question: who will cry when I die? Maybe not literally, but who will genuinely grieve? 

Apart from my family and a couple of friends, I really can't count any. We are so involved with self and careers and God knows what else, we forget to carve out a legacy which we can leave behind. And why should we ? 

Because "Life" is not a career; life is not about just us. There is nothing wrong about doing things for us but that is not the ends. Life is the means to the end. Life is living in harmony with the world around us. Taking care of the world and people around us. Using our talents wisely for the benefit of others. 

Everything we have comes from above. Do we even stop to give thanks? here is how Hen Smith defined it nearly 50 years ago and presented by Rosemary Seimens in a musical format https://youtu.be/qCm8isaSoiI

But seriously. Do we share our blessings, our talents as Rosemary has done? I know of at least 5 individuals, and a couple of great musicians and song writers, who perform the Lord's songs on demand. But never on their own. 

Hebrews 13:16 says-

16 And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

Note the word "sacrifices" and "sharing". 

Pastor Rajiv has already talked about sacrificial giving or sharing in the last two posts and clearly defined what it means to give and more so, what is sacrificial giving. 

Careers and material things will end one day as will life itself. What will last will be the legacy we leave. Can we start creating it? 

Think about it. Who will cry when you die. 

The 5 Principles of Sacrificial Giving: Pastor Rajiv's Message

Excel in Giving

1Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia: 2that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality. 3For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing, 4imploring us with much urgency [a]that we would receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. 5And not only as we had hoped, but they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God. 6So we urged Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also complete this grace in you as well. 7But as you abound in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us—see that you abound in this grace also.

2 Corinthians 8 Verses 1 to 7

Continuing our study from yesterday, PAUL’S PASSAGE TEACHES US FIVE PRINCIPLES OF SACRIFICIAL GIVING.

THESE ARE –

1. SACRIFICIAL GIVING GOES BEYOND THE SPECIFIC GIVING

The word sacrifice comes from the latin word “sacra” which means sacred and ficeo meaning ‘to make. So sacrifice means to make sacred or to make Holy. In other words to devote to god.

2. THE OLD TESTAMENT DEFINE “GIVING” BY LAW. THE NEW TESTAMENT ON THE OTHER HAND, DEFINES IT AS GIVING IS OUT OF LOVE.

Giving is through grace, through love, and, from the generosity of the heart as Paul points out in verse 3.

3. OT GIVING IS OBLIGATION SPECIFIC  NT GIVING IS OTHERS SPECIFIC.

4. OT GIVING WAS BY PERCENTAGE (TITHE)  NT GIVING IS BY PROPORTION

In verses 2 & 3 2 Paul says, “that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality. For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing”

5. SACRIFICIAL GIVING IS SPONTANEOUS.

It is not done out of obligation or because it had to be done. THE SPONTANEITY COMES FROM THE NATURAL OUTPOURING OF GOD’S LOVE IN ONE’S HEART.

Finally, Paul clearly states that GIVING WAS A RESPONSIBILTY in the Old Testament. But it is a “response” as per the New Testament. We are not bound to give, but because we received grace freely, our hearts respond to need by giving, and giving whole heartedly.

In verses 8 and 9 he says, “I speak not by commandment, but I am testing the sincerity of your love by the diligence of others. 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich”.

Today as we travel through life as stewards of this earth and our fellow men, we are faced with needs all around us. What is our response going to be? Share what we have got out of grace or share what is left over from our own wants. Let us not forget God's desire from us stewards - 

Malachi 3:10 "Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it".

Giving that Hurts: Pastor Rajiv's Series on Sacrificial Giving

* Photo Credit: The Kindness Blog 

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Stewardship can be viewed from the biblical sense as the use of God-given gifts and resources for the accomplishment of God-given goals and objectives.

As stewards on this earth, it is our responsibility to use what He has given abundantly, for His purpose. Sharing and giving are all part of it, specially sacrificial giving.

The text book definition of sacrificial giving is “Giving beyond your means (Giving money that you really should be putting somewhere else, not giving money that you don't have) Giving that hurts. Going without something that we want/need in order to supply for the needs of another”. 

The most glaring example of Sacrificial is in Mark Chapter 12:44 - "For they all contributed out of their surplus, but she out of her poverty has put in all she had to live on.”

Are there justifiable opportunities to do this? Sure! Look at Turkey and Syria where the death toll has crossed 40,000 and more than 9 Million people have been affected. Food shortages in many parts of the world leave millions hungry everyday. You don’t have to look, they come in the news every single day.

In the Biblical context, “giving’ can take many connotations like tithing, sharing, sacrificial giving etc. The difference between the old and New Testament on this subject is the difference between legal compulsion to give (Old Testament) and the giving through grace (New Testament). The concept of giving and sharing is so important that it is critical we understand it in the deepest sense to be able to fulfil our purpose as stewards, that God laid out for us.

In the next few days we will delve deeper into this subject and understand the cause and the depth of Sacrificial giving and why it is so important.

Next: The Five Principles of Sacrificial Giving

Watch Your Step: A Saturday reflection

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)

Watch your step! This statement is so familiar isn't it? . Parents say that to children, people use that as a warning to others and so on. This is a life warning.

But read further, it is also 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, a life after our physical death. 

Just to be clear, our first death, or our physical death, is the separation of  our body from our spirit. The second death, is the separation of our spirit from God and God's plan. 

Generally, people don't think much 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?

The question is can we save ourselves from this second death? The answer is YES! If we invest our life here in believing in,  and following, Jesus Christ, truly and earnestly, we can save ourselves. 

Why should we believe this? Because it is a promise from Christ - 

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.” Revelation 2:11.

Our Greatest Failure

When the earth in all its splendor was created, as was man, his one bounden duty was to manage the earth and its resources, animals, plants et all.

Every part of nature creates and supports another part. Except man.

Nature is still providing human beings at this point in time, but it's anyone's guess for how long. Man takes away from nature and gives nothing in return.

Nature is one of God's beautiful creations. Through nature, God is able to teach us, speak to us, and provide for us. For this reason, we can find in scripture that we humans are called to protect all of which He has created.

And this is our greatest failure, that we have not protected and renewed Gods gifts to us, exploiting His gifts. Our greed, materialism and our selfishness reign supreme.

God said in Ezekiel Chapter  34:3

"You eat the curds, clothe yourselves with the wool and slaughter the choice animals, but you do not take care of the flock".

So what do we do about it? How can we replenish what God has created? Lets learn to practice three things - 

A. Use as much as one needs, not desires, not wants and not in envy. No greed. No lust. 

B. Reduce and Reuse what we already have, eg paper bags (it is estimated that a standard pine tree, with 45ft of the usable trunk and a diameter of eight inches, will produce around 10,000 sheets of paper. To consider this in another way, one ream of paper (which is 500 sheets) will use 5% of a tree. Think of how much paper we waste in our offices. 

Or take toilet paper in our homes.  Each roll requires 37 gallons (140 liters) of water, 1.3 kilowatt/hours (KWh) of electricity and some 1.5 pounds of wood. We should definitely reduce. 

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C. Share the extras. All our homes have clutter - old or unused stuff which we have hoarded. But one man's clutter can be another man's need.  SHARE!

Let us start following these simple steps in a small way with everyone and everything around us. If 8 Billion people live a life as God intended, imagine how much resources we can save! 

Otherwise think: What are we leaving behind for our children?  

Grace

Some time back I was having a business lunch with a person from a non-Christian background, for some business planning in the following financial year. As our food was served, I dove into it, but this person bowed his head for about 10 seconds and seemed to have prayed. I asked him and he said he was giving thanks to God for his food. He had picked up the habit in school. It is called saying grace and is fast being forgotten.

Sometimes we’re so busy worrying about the future that we overlook what we have already received, taking everything for granted. 

Food is one such blessing that we have started taking for granted. But look at the stat's. From 2019 to 2022, the number of undernourished people grew by as many as 150 million and 10% of the world goes hungry even today. That's more than 800 million people!

Today, saying grace before a meal is slowly being forgotten. We specially do not say it when we are outside or in a business lunch or dinner, though I think it is an admirable practice, to thank our provider. Remember, even Christ did (1 Corinthians 11:24 “And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat...)

That day I re-learned this great truth. Not to get so carried away planning and anxious for the future that we forget to thank our maker and provider for the past.

The Certainty of Uncertainty: Will the truth really set you Free?

The truth will set u free. What does it mean?

God's word is the truth and God’s word offered us not only freedom from fear but also perspective and hope.

Our unknown future is extremely frightening. But let's look at another perspective. Do we really know our future, even in parts, that when we face uncertainty, we become fearful? Do we know our next one second from right now? When we plan for the future, do we even know if we will live to see that plan? There is only one certainty: that is uncertainty.

At first, we let our fears overwhelm us. Lies and assumptions take root in our minds and grow ferociously. Fear chokes us. Yet, we claim to trust God. This is not really trust, when we are so afraid! So how do we create that trust, which gives us peace and freedom from fear? 

The simple answer is, ASK HIM! How do you build trust in another person? By knowing that person! Similarly, Firs we need to know God. And we can do that only if we read His word. 

Second, we need to experience Him. Try praying, asking, seeking His advice or His help. After all He did say - "Taste and see that the Lord is good". Each of us need to create our own experiences with Him. 

Third, find His witnesses and ask them!  

One such person was Jeremiah the prophet, when he says - 

11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

As one continues to study more of the Bible, God’s word gives not only freedom from fear but also perspective and hope. We don’t have to let fear consume us. When we put our fears into words, God’s word answers us with truth and hope.

It's that simple! 

The Partnership

A partnership is always formed in order to attain a known objective, such as providing a service to the public with some benefit for the partners. 

In our religious life we too are invited to partner. In fact, throughout time, Biblically, every patriarch had a partnership agreement with God to achieve some objective. They were called covenants.

Today, we can all have our personal covenants with God as well, for our personal needs or for someone else.

There is an old hymn with  the following verse

"I can only spread the sail;

Thou! Thou! must breathe the auspicious gale.”

There is deep meaning here about a partnership or a covenant between us and our maker, creator and keeper. We must do our part and God will do His. Don't forget, man was created to partner with God in achieving Godly objectives of keeping His world beautiful and maintained and while we endeavor here on earth, we need the driving force to come from God.

Here are a few pointers for a successful partnership or a covenant: 

A. Each of us have been given some ability and which is used to achieve Gods objective for our life. Psalm 37:5 where we are advised to let God be in charge. (A significant part of "walking humbly").

B. Success is achieved through our human efforts aligned with Gods will. So it is a good idea to keep checking if our life objective is in sync. One way to do this is through prayer and meditation, closing out the "noise" of this world to keep still a d hear him when He speaks to us.

C.As partners, we too must commit to invest! we can't just keep asking and taking. We must invest in a relationship with Him to know and fellowship with him. Get rid of irritants to that fellowship; control anything that can disrupt our time and fellowship with God, be it our jobs, bad habits, bad time management, or simply laziness.  

Notice the people of Scripture that lived in partnership with God:

o Noah’s partnership with God saved his family from the Flood and preserved the human race.

o Abraham’s partnership with God also made a global impact. His faith secured the Promised Land for the Hebrew people and brought spiritual blessings to the nations.

o Jacob’s partnership with God brought him tremendous wealth even while laboring with his conniving father-in-law.

o Moses experienced “face to face” fellowship with God, and in so doing liberated two million Jews from Egypt (Deut. 34:10).

o And Joshua secured a military alliance with God that conquered the Canaanites and settled the Hebrew tribes into the Promised Land. Joshua’s partnership with God was so phenomenal, that without earthly assistance, the angels flattened Jericho’s impregnable walls!

In our personal covenants, we ask for our needs but what does God expect from us as an individual? Micah listed out the three principles of what God asks of His people: to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with Him. After all, blessings come with responsibilities.

These three are not in isolation but based on Biblical principles laid down in the Old and New Testament.

When we want our sails to be filled with the heavenly gale, we need to be sure we have the sail up. Do not miss the gale for want of preparation for it.