Pastor Rajiv: The Church That Should Be

                           

                  BIBLE READING – REVELATION 2:1-7

A few Sundays back I commenced a series with a message about the church that was. In my first message in the series we looked at the how the early church was established and the principles on which the early church was based.

Today we will look at the church that is and the church that should be.

So, today, we are going to look at one of the seven letters to the seven churches in the book of revelation. These were dictated by the risen and glorified lord Jesus Christ to the apostle John.

I also mentioned what people look for in a church: where some prefer a church with a large membership role, some look for a church with a large choir with the works - guitars, drums, and all that goes with it and some look for a dynamic smart pastor preaching sermons that people "want to hear".

But if you recall I had also mentioned that there is one common line of instruction and advice that runs through all these seven letters. And à that instruction was "love".

In a book that I am reading, Dr David Jeremiah quotes the result of a survey conducted by the institute of American church growth and the report of this survey was striking.

This survey covered 8600 people from 39 different Christian denominations to measure what they called their ‘love care quotient’. Their findings? Members of growing churches are more loving towards one another and to their visitors.

Loving churches, irrespective of their denomination and their theology or their location attracted more people.

With that background, let us look at the very first letter and delve into it today: The Letter to the church of Ephesus.

But before we go into this message and this study want to make a point here. We are embarking into a study of a subject that is extremely relevant and crucial for us which is the church of today. And because this is a subject of such criticality and of crucial importance, I will be delving deep into God’s word and the reason for this is that I believe all of us are mature believers not ‘babes in Christ’ as Paul described the Corinthian church - and will be able to understand correction, accept it and implement it. 

Ephesus was the most prominent city in the roman empire in fact it was the religious and commercial Centre of Asia minor of that day. Paul founded the church at Ephesus before he established Timothy as the Pastor. Bible scholars believe that John took over the church as its pastor after Timothy.

It is possible John was living in Ephesus when he was taken captive and exiled to the island of Patmos where he saw the risen and glorified lord Jesus Christ and was dictated this letter.

The bible passage opens with the heading à ‘the loveless church’ Why? Because the Ephesian church had some very serious love problems. However the letter opens on a positive note - Jesus reminds the church that he is always with them and even though they have all these problems His right hand of authority has the power to meet their needs.

"These things says he who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands"- verse 1.

Jesus’ presence is in the midst of the churches - these are the seven golden lampstands. And because he is present in their midst it means he knows their shortcomings. But before he deals with their faults He praises them for what they are doing right, where He says in verses 2& 3 à 2

“I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. and you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not and have found them liars; 3 and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for my name’s sake and have not become weary".

The Ephesian church was a busy church and they were firm believers in the fact that while salvation came through the grace of God and our lord Jesus Christ - works were an important outcome of being saved through grace.

Jesus also described the Ephesian church as à patient and He used the word "patience" not once but twice in these two verses. Dr David Jeremiah in the Jeremiah study bible notes that this church could be described as a three ‘d’ church - determined, disciplined and discerning. Remember - they had ‘tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars;’

They were patient as far as service and suffering were concerned but were not when it came to sin and acceptance of false teachers. These false teachers could have been enticing these believers to worship the Roman Emperor and not Christ.

Every things seems to be perfect isn’t it? But then Jesus makes an extremely harsh statement in verse 4 "nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love".

These two words - first and love are extremely critical and crucial and carry the weight of the whole message of this letter on them.

Why did Jesus use this phrase - first love?

Because à fervent, personal, uninhibited and an openly displayed devotion to Christ is and should be a Church’s first love.

And how is this Characterized in a church?

It is manifested in relationships with fellow believers and with those who are lost.

How shocking for a believing church to be told that they had lost their first love. And à Jesus did not just stop there. He went further as he reminded them from where they had fallen- verse 5 "remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent".

Jesus is saying to the Ephesian church just think back and remember from what level of belief you have fallen and you started off so well, full of love, but today you have lost that love.

And then à Jesus gives them an extremely serious warning and an even more serious consequence. "Repent ,go back and return to where you have fallen from and inculcate into yourselves the very first à and foremost condition of being a follower of Christ - love. And if not? I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent".

Christ gave them three commands - 1. Remember 2. Repent 3. Return to your first love - the first love that every church should have firstly for the lord Jesus Christ and then for fellow believers and for the lost.

The consequence for not doing this was serious. Jesus warned the church that they would lose their light and their testimony in the community unless they remembered and repented and returned to the point from which they had started.

And this is what happened years later as Ephesus declined as a city and today it is uninhabited and is just a heap of ruins.

You know even though John recorded these words more than 2000 years ago, these words hold that same warning for the church that is the church of today.

In Melbourne where I live, driving through the heart of the city, are 7 old church buildings, beautiful, ancient churches with lovely gardens surrounding them.

The last time I drove past those churches 5 had been converted into B&Bs and another one had a "for sale" sign outside it.

It is evident that these churches had lost their first love and their light and testimony to the community had been removed.

Just as Jesus had warned the Ephesian church. On the outside the Ephesian church was a model church and were passionate about works only because of a sense of duty. But inside their first love had grown cold and this is what Christ pointed out was their problem. The church died a tragic death after 67 years.

Like this letter Jesus ends every one of his seven letters to the churches with 7 “he who has an ear, let him hear what the spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.”

You know readers, as I mentioned in the introductory message of this series these letters even though written nearly a 2000 years ago are as current and as relevant as today’s calendar.

Keeping that in mind are we really hearing heeding the warning signs to see if our church is losing its first love? Do we still experience the excitement of new believers?

We live in a busy and fast moving world today and it is easy to be swept up into the frenzy of life and this may allow our love relationship with our lord to grow weak. So that we do not go down this path this letter to the Ephesian church is a crucial message to all of us.

The lord Jesus Christ is to have priority in our lives.

Our first priority as a church is to hold on to our first love - the fervent personal uninhibited and openly displayed devotion to Christ which will lead to our relationship of love with our fellow believers and with those who are lost.

Let us remember these words and write them firmly on the tablet of our hearts.

Just as Jesus was walking in the midst of the 7 churches of that time he is walking in the midst of every church in the world today.

This means that He knows each and every favorable aspect as well as each and every fault of every church today.

We will do well to heed the warnings in each of these seven letters so that we do not lose our light and our testimony as the Ephesian church did.

The Genesis of Sin and Atonement

                                             

Read Genesis Chapter 3

“Sin always produces the same result - separation from God”. - David Jeremiah

That Adam sinned (as did his wife) is a given. Let's think about what was Adam’s Sin? Disobeying God. What caused it? Symbolically speaking it was Gluttony (wanting/eating what you shouldn't) and avarice, or greed, in desiring wisdom and power (ambition).

Adam's sin has been inherited in us as well. In our greed, sometimes do we not overlook God and what He has said and advised?

They had the best of the best in every way, but their ambition to become what they were not meant to be brought about their downfall.

How did it happen? Presenting of Deception and half-truths by Satan (which he still does); rationalization by Eve, of what God said to suit her, thereby twisting and finally rejecting what God actually said. We do the same even today.

David Jeremiah explains the seriousness, consequences and effects of that sin (which hold true even today) in the Jeremiah Bible and we quote as below –

“when Adam and Eve disobeyed God’s command and fell into rebellion, they lost three God given privileges:

1. Their intimate communion was broken: Adam and Eve hid from God

2. (Prior to Sin, they knew God as He is. Their minds were not clouded by falsehoods and half truths.) “ When they believed Satan, their knowledge was corrupted and their understanding of God was damaged. What God had said became twisted in their minds.

3. Perhaps most importantly, instead of knowing life as they had once known it with God, they began to know death.”

Please note that while we are physically alive, separation from God brings an immediate effect: Spiritual death. Which is why Jesus said to Nicodemus that one would need to be born again. Again, a truth of today.

What started out as a beautiful journey for man, ended in tragedy. Though God did not curse Adam and Eve like He did the serpent (He had already blessed them), judgement was pronounced. A judgement carried forward till this day.

What happened afterwards is as significant and a fore runner of the need of Jesus.

Adam and Eve tried to cover their sin and themselves, but their efforts were insufficient. God's act of providing proper clothing (covering them with animal skin) shows that reconciliation with God requires His initiative and provision, not just human effort.

The "garments of skin" involved the sacrifice of animals. This is the first instance in the Bible where blood was shed, and it foreshadows the concept of atonement through sacrifice for sin.

Just as the animal's skin covered Adam and Eve's physical nakedness, later in the Bible, animal sacrifices would symbolize the covering of sin through the shedding of blood. This ultimately points forward to the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ for the sins of humanity and salvation. A sacrifice provided by God, for us, to remove our sin. This is also known as the "proto evangel" - the earliest announcement of the gospel message in Scripture (Gen 3:15). It is not only a curse on the serpent, but also a ray of hope for humanity.

Thus, Genesis is not only a historical account of creation but also the reason for what happened thousands of years later - when we crucified Jesus.

(In fact, in the Greek version (and some others) of Genesis 3:15 uses the term "he and his " indicating one man (Jesus) not the entire posterity of eve).

Just as God initiated reconciliation then, He also initiated reconciliation through Jesus years later, making a full and final atonement.

Let us remember everything that Adam lost in the fall is exactly what people lack today without Jesus Christ.

Genesis: The Breath of Fire

Image is representative

Read Genesis Chapter 2 

Humanity has a unique origin and status: Adam is created in a distinct way, formed from the dust and given the breath of life by God. This is a profound and unique event, and it fires the imagination just to think about it. Even today, we have life because we breathe, and we breathe at Gods will and pleasure. Remember Job 27:3. 

God gave life to all creatures but only into man did He breathe life. How fantastic! This event was later replicated by Jesus when He breathed the Holy Spirit over His disciples. (John 20:22)

This event emphasizes humanity's special place in creation humans are a privileged lot but, as we all know from experience, along with privilege comes responsibility.

Just as we humans are unique, we have a unique multidimensional responsibility - vertical and horizontal.

Vertically Upwards - Responsibility towards God

Why did God make Adam? The key reason is to glorify God as God's crowning creation! Isiaah 43:7 clearly states this. Therefore, we need to live as an extension of God, His representative on earth, glorifying Him at all times.

Secondly To Participate in God's Kingdom: Throughout Scripture, there's a progressive revelation of God's plan for His kingdom. Humanity is invited to participate in this kingdom, living according to God's will and purposes, and ultimately experiencing the fullness of His reign.

From walking with Adam and Eve in the Garden to sending His Son, Jesus, to reconcile us, God actively seeks a loving relationship with His creation.

Vertically downwards

In Genesis we read that God handed over His world for us to look after. Let us not take this lightly. In the Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25 14-30 Jesus highlights how important it is for us to look after the "property" of God (our master) and replenish it and build on it. But our Selfishness and greed do not replenish, they destroy. Therefore, responsible and unselfish stewardship is a very important responsibility we have, as stated in Genesis 1:28. This is not only to God but also to our earthly employers. The fact God made us in His image and placed us above all creation isn't a license for exploitation of His blessings but a responsibility to manage them wisely and justly, reflecting God's own love for His creation.

Horizontal

We are all created in Gods image and therefore reflect His qualities. One such quality is Gods relational nature - Father, Son and the Holy Spirit. God loves to build relationships with us, as He had with Adam and Eve, and He expects us to do the same with people around us. We need to live, as a family, as a community, in complete peace among ourselves.

This is one of the core messages of the commandments as well. 

Finally, He gave us free choice - the choice to live responsibly according to His will and design or live irresponsibly according to ours. This fact alone should convince us of the power of His love for us and His confidence and trust. Do we repay that love, confidence and trust with betrayal, as did Adam, Eve, Judas and scores of others including you and me? In Paradise Lost John Milton refers to our "mortal tast". The choice we have is - do we give in to our mortal tast or do we choose to trust and obey God?

The Genesis of Evolution

“Except for the divinity of Jesus Christ, no issue polarizes believers and sceptics as much as the question of the origin of our planet Earth. Is the world the result of divine creation or evolution.” – David Jeremiah.

Today, let us not focus on who is right or who is wrong - but on what we believe. 

We know that as Gods Spirit hovered over the face of the primeval waters; so did Gods Spirit hover over Moses’ hand as he wrote this Book of Beginnings. We know that the actual inspiration of the Book of Genesis is the Holy Spirit Himself who was present during the process of creation, as part of the triune, and this foundational truth invites us to view Genesis as the ultimate account of creation, focusing on why the world was made rather than merely how it came to be.

To really imagine the magnificence of creation as described in Genesis, we need to look around us. Recognizing the grandeur and complexity of creation helps us grasp the immense power and wisdom of God. Understanding creation’s beauty and order reveals the deep relationship between Creator and creation—a central theme throughout Scripture. Today, the world leaves us in awe, as creation continues to reveal mysteries that boggle the human mind. Even now, we understand only fragments of our origins—whether one looks to divine creation or evolution.

For instance, consider the deep sea, which covers 95% of Earth's living space and holds countless undiscovered species. Life might have begun here, yet its inhabitants astound us with their bizarre beauty—giant squids, colonies of cooperative organisms, and creatures whose size or behaviors defy imagination. Through advances like live-streamed ocean exploration, we can now witness these wonders firsthand, marveling at habitats we were once blind to.

On the other end of the spectrum are towering mountains like the Himalayas and Mount Everest, whose mysteries and majesty stretch the limits of human imagination.

If we want to have a glimpse of the world God had intended, read Isiaah 11 ver 6-9, Isiaah 65:25 and Revelations 21. 

And amidst these natural marvels, humanity stands as God's crowning creation—on whom God showered attention to create a being who is intricately and wonderfully made. Among all the earth and its creatures- the human creation inspired King David to marvel at Gods work.

And the most marvelous fact is that He made us in His own image!

“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them”. Genesis 1:27 KJV

This fact, in itself is so charged that it makes the mind boggle at the thought. Imagine, we are the very image of God. It maybe physical (we do not know) but we are definitely in His image spiritually.

This should remind us of the inherent dignity in every person, urging us to honor others and ourselves as bearers of God's likeness, regardless of flaws or differences.

The second fact that mesmerizes and which we don’t notice much, is that when God finished each part of creation, “He saw that it was good”. He was not giving Himself a pat on the back, but was referring to the fact that what He created was "good" for, and had a role to play in, His creation. It's time we took cognizance of this aspect of creation and learned to respect all that God Himself found good, which is His entire creation. Instead of misusing all the resources God gave us, we need to start respecting them and replenishing them, given that He made us stewards of His world.

Lastly, Genesis addresses the question of why did God actually create the world and us? Genesis Emphasizes the Divine Purpose in and of creation. Genesis 1:1 says - "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth." This verse establishes that creation was intentional, reflecting God's sovereignty and purpose. It focuses on who created and why—to bring order and meaning to the universe. In Genesis 1:26-27 it goes on to say - : "Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky..." thus making us "stewards" of His creation. 

Thus, Humanity is created with a specific purpose: to reflect God's image and steward creation. This highlights the why of human existence.

The Bible's teachings align with our divine purpose: to love and care for one another, to protect God’s world, and to revere and love the Creator and honor Him in all that we do. Understanding this helps us live lives of deeper gratitude and responsibility toward God and His creation.

Spiritual or Artificial Intelligence?

You may be wondering what is this new term - Spiritual Intelligence?

In Mark 12:30, Jesus instructs us to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. This commandment is fundamental to our faith and challenges us to love God with all our being. While our heart represents our emotions desires and passions, our soul is the essence of who we are, our life force and our spiritual center. 

And then comes the mind. Loving God with our mind means using our intellect to know and understand Him better. We study the Bible and learn about His character His promises and His ways. We also use our minds to gain more knowledge of Him and apply that knowledge in our daily life. And this is where Spiritual Intelligence comes in.

Today we are not going to define Spiritual intelligence in general, but we are going to create a Christian framework for it. It is a mindset and is important for us to be able to delve into the Word of our Lord to understand and apply it to our lives. 

Spiritual Intelligence is the combination of the soul and the mind, working together to understand God and His word and apply it with meaning, purpose, and values, to our lives. It goes beyond intellectual intelligence (IQ) and emotional intelligence (EQ) by integrating a Biblical sense of awareness, ethics, and inner wisdom. Hence, we have the Word (Bible) from where we gain wisdom and information; we have the soul which processes that information to gain deeper understanding and finally we have the mind which captures that information and applies it to our lives. It is Spiritual Intelligence which helps us to make ethical decisions in our personal and professional lives, creating a Biblical Integrity in ourselves. 

While the exact term "spiritual intelligence" may not be explicitly mentioned in the Bible, it does emphasize divine wisdom, discernment, and applying spiritual insights to life.

Therefore, when we read the Word, we need to apply our spiritual intelligence to understand the word and apply it to our lives. Unfortunately, many of us today depend on external sources for wisdom - using sources like Artificial intelligence. People, including Christians use it to understand or interpret the Bible and even preach, producing a soulless, heart less and mindless understanding and message. This kind of knowledge and understanding can be dangerous, giving reality to Christs warning in Matthew 7:15.

Therefore, we would urge our readers today to kindly NOT use Gemini, Co-pilot or any other AI tool during the course of our learnings, except as a research or historical data tool and to further fact check it against the Bible. If it is not there, it may be false. 

Instead, we will use our heart, emotions, human logic and human feelings as we study the word of God. We will also pray for the Holy Spirit to open our minds as we read and learn.

The Upper Room

In our last post, we pondered on how Easter is a new beginning. If the Friday crucifixion changed the world for the apostles, Easter brought hope.

Between Easter and the Day of Pentecost (When the Holy Spirit came upon them and which is a period of 50 days), the Apostles were primarily Experiencing the Risen Christ and learning from Him. As they waited to be anointed by the Holy Spirit, after Jesus' ascension, they spent their time praying and fellowshipping, gathered in the "upper room" (Acts 1:12-14). They devoted themselves to prayer along with the women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers, preparing for their future Ministry. Preparing for a new beginning and a new reality.

Today, the day after Easter, we too decided to make a new beginning: Reading, Understanding and practicing Gods word from the beginning. Thus, from tomorrow we will focus on the Bible, from Genesis to Revelations, to understand the word through Spiritual Intelligence - insights we all can receive from the Holy Spirit.

We hope you will accompany us on this journey, to learn anew, understand afresh and experience a renewed strength in in our spiritual life.

Our devotional posts will be derived from, what we call Spiritual Intelligence, be based on the Jeremiah Bible as well as our own research. We hope to learn something new every day.

Our first post will explain the term Spiritual Intelligence, and how we can instill it within ourselves, to better understand the Word of God.

Is it Finished?

When Jesus proclaimed "it is finished" from the cross, he meant His great work was done. He knew He would be resurrected and thus, offer us a new life.

But for us it is not finished; it is the beginning: it's only begun. what does His resurrection mean for us? Does it mean after Easter is done and dusted; we go back to who we were? What does Easter personally mean to each one of us? 

The resurrection signifies a new creation and offers us the possibility of living a new life in Christ. Just as Jesus was raised to new life, we too are called to walk in newness of life (Romans 6:4). This empowers us to overcome sin, live righteously, and follow Jesus' example of love and service. It means we walk away from our old ways and change our ways to His way. If we truly believe in the resurrection of Christ, we will resurrect Him in our own lives, cleaning it out to make a home for Him.

Becoming more like Christ is a lifelong journey of transformation that involves intentionally aligning our thoughts, actions, and attitudes with His example and teachings and reliance on God's grace.

Such a Change is empowered by the Holy Spirit and therefore, the visible effects of such change is seen as fruits of the Spirit, a collection of nine positive attributes that are evidence of the Holy Spirit's presence in a believer's life. These are - love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23.), in short, a spirit filled life.

Let's explore each of these fruits. 

Love (Agape): This is more than just affection; it's a selfless, unconditional love that seeks the best for others, mirroring God's love for us. It's an active choice to prioritize others. Loving others not to show but in action. Not in intention but in actual delivery.

Joy: This is a deep-seated gladness and contentment that isn't dependent on external circumstances. It's rooted in our relationship with God and the hope we have in Him. Finding hope in God is often deeply personal, shaped by faith, experiences, and reflections.

Peace: This refers to an inner tranquility and a sense of wholeness, even amidst difficulties. It also extends to harmonious relationships with others. Your inner peace will determine outward behavior. 

Forbearance (Patience): This is the ability to remain calm and long-suffering in the face of delays, frustrations, or difficult people. It involves a willingness to endure without getting angry or upset.

Kindness: This is the quality of being gentle, helpful, and considerate towards others. It involves showing compassion and acting with goodwill.

Goodness: This is moral excellence and uprightness. It's a desire to do what is right and honorable in all situations. What we do when no one is looking, is what counts, because God is and God knows. Integrity in personal life, our work and profession. A failure point for many, and one which we need to be very wary of because it can become second nature, being justified as being "street smart". 

Faithfulness: This implies loyalty, trustworthiness, and dependability. It means being reliable in our commitments to God and to others. Again, a major failure point for many, as keeping a commitment made to someone tends to take a back seat when we need to choose between ourselves, our comfort and our convenience. 

Gentleness (Meekness): This is a disposition of humility and mildness. It's not weakness, but rather strength under control, showing consideration for others.

Self-control: This is the ability to manage one's desires and impulses. It involves discipline over our thoughts, words, and actions. Self-Control and discipline is key in our endeavor to change. 

Thus, Easter is not just a historical event we commemorate; it is a living reality that transforms our lives, offering forgiveness, hope, purpose, and the power to live in the light of Christ's victory. It is a chance for us to also start a new life with and through Christ. A new beginning. 

7 Words: 10 Questions

Tomorrow is Good Friday and like all Good Friday’s most churches will call upon their elders to talk about the seven words Jesus spoke from the Cross. But to us, those Seven words raise serious questions about the whole Christian experience and life. Today we will briefly, try and understand what those seven words mean to our lives in practical application, so that when we hear our elders speak tomorrow, we have a perspective relating to our own lives.

1. "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." (Luke 23:34)

Message: Jesus begins His final moments with a prayer of forgiveness for those who crucified Him. Despite the physical agony and emotional betrayal, He intercedes for humanity, demonstrating His boundless mercy. This prayer reflects the heart of His mission—to bring reconciliation between God and mankind.

Application: Forgiveness is not easy, especially when we are wronged. Yet, Jesus calls us to forgive, even when it feels undeserved. Are we willing to let go of bitterness and extend grace to others?

2. "Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise." (Luke 23:43)

Message: Jesus offers hope and salvation to the repentant thief, showing that redemption is available to all who turn to Him in faith. This statement underscores the inclusivity of God's grace—no one is beyond His reach.

Application: No matter our past mistakes, we can approach Jesus with a repentant heart and receive His promise of eternal life. Are we ready to trust Him with our future?

3. "Woman, here is your son... Here is your mother." (John 19:26-27)

Message: Even in His suffering, Jesus cares for His mother, ensuring she is cared for by the disciple John. This act of compassion highlights the importance of family and community.

Application: How can we show love and care for those around us, especially in times of hardship? Are we attentive to the needs of our loved ones, even in hardship?

4. "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:46)

Message: Jesus cries out in anguish, quoting Psalm 22. This moment reveals the depth of His suffering as He bears the weight of humanity's sin. It also fulfils prophecy, showing that even in despair, God's plan is unfolding.

Application: In moments of pain and doubt, we can cry out to God, knowing He understands our struggles. Are we willing to trust Him, even when we feel abandoned?

5. "I am thirsty." (John 19:28)

Message: Jesus expresses His physical thirst, fulfilling Scripture and revealing His humanity. This statement reminds us that He fully experienced human suffering. When the soldiers offered Him sour wine on a sponge, lifted on a hyssop branch, that act connects to the Passover, where hyssop was used to apply the blood of the lamb. Jesus, the Lamb of God, sheds His blood to save us from sin. 

Application: Are we attentive to the needs of others, both physical and spiritual? How can we serve those who are in need? Do we thirst for God and His righteousness?

6. "It is finished." (John 19:30)

Message: Jesus declares the completion of His mission to redeem humanity. The debt of sin is paid in full, and the path to salvation is opened. This is a triumphant moment, marking the victory of God's plan.

Application: We can live in the freedom and victory of Christ's finished work. Are we embracing the grace and redemption He offers?

7. "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." (Luke 23:46)

Message: Jesus surrenders His life to the Father, demonstrating trust and obedience. This final statement reflects His unwavering faith and the fulfillment of His earthly mission.

Application: Are we willing to entrust our lives to God, even in the face of uncertainty? How can we live with faith and surrender to His will?

The seven words of Jesus from the cross are a testament to His love, sacrifice, and victory. They call us to forgiveness, faith, compassion, and trust. Tomorrow as we reflect on these words, may they inspire us to live lives that honor His sacrifice and share His love with the world.

Seed By the Wayside

                                                     

Matthew 13:19 "When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side".

In the days of old, there was no Bible, no word of God written somewhere. So when God needed to communicate he did so through prophets. They had a calling, were receptive to God's communication through dreams and signs, were blessed with wisdom and knew human nature of those times.

Today, we find all these qualities in Gods word, and hence, just as it was critical to listen to what the prophets said then, it is critical for us to read and understand Gods word now - to gain His wisdom, knowledge and His instruction for our lives.

To do this we need to go beyond just reading the word. We need to read, understand and apply it to our lives.

To read His word is simple - we just need to find and consecrate quiet, unadulterated time to it.

Understanding His word needs some work. In the quoted chapter Jesus Himself asks that question - "have you understood all these things"? That is the importance to be attached to His word. We need to research the background, sometimes check translations, understand the context and references and so on. (For example we may have read Psalms 35 and 91 many times but have to stopped to find out what is a "buckler" and thus how can you ever understand the impact when it says His truth and His helps is like a "shield and buckler"?)

All of this is possible only by dedicating time, patience and is hard work, but above all we need to ask for the wisdom and guidance to understand it from the Holy Spirit. Thus, it may be a good idea to pray for such opening of the eyes and mind by the Holy Spirit before we read.

And then comes the application to our lives. If we have read it and understood it, we will be able to identify, without rationalization or justification, the impact of what we do and ask forgiveness, specifically for those acts of commission or omission we may not even be conscious of, correct them and practice the new way according to His word, so that it gets sowed deep in our hearts and minds.

In the quoted verse, and in the parable, Jesus is talking about exactly this: hearing or reading the word of God and not understanding it can open us up to deceit by Satan. He can misrepresent it (through adulterated doctrine) or minimize the impact of what we have read, through faulty understanding or biases, so that it becomes useless, making us completely vulnerable.

So, if we are in the habit of performing a tick in the box by perfunctory reading, albeit it maybe a daily discipline, understand that it opens us to spiritual danger and becomes a useless exercise. A time wasted. A life without purpose. A shallow understanding. It's better not to read it at all.

So let us not receive "the seed" (Gods word) by "the Wayside" , as a superficial reception, but give His word the honor, understanding, time and Devotion it deserves and demands and ask for the Holy Spirit for give wisdom to understand the word.

Life Changing Reality

A life-changing reality is a profound shift in one's understanding of themselves, the world, or both, leading to a significant alteration in their values, beliefs, and ultimately, their life path. It's not merely a new piece of information, but an experience, insight, or realization that fundamentally alters one's perspective. It is the tipping point, after which one experience triggers change in thought, action and priorities.

John 9:25 states: “He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.”

This verse reflects the testimony of a man who was healed by Jesus, emphasizing the transformative power of faith and healing. The context of this verse highlights the man's acknowledgment of his previous blindness and newfound sight, symbolizing spiritual awakening and understanding.

The blind man in this story went through such a change when he experienced a life changing reality: Jesus. And he could not deny Him because he could not deny his own miraculous healing.

Another life changing moment and reality is written about in John 8, 1-11. What would that woman have felt when she saw Jesus at work? While the then law stated that both - the man and woman caught in adultery were to be stoned, here she alone was being made a scapegoat in the politics of the Pharisees.    Jesus was and is life changing. 

But the ultimate life changing reality is the resurrection of Jesus because it empowers us to change and transform into a new life.  It changed the world and changed us.

Can you think of one life changing reality that you experienced?

One reader of this blog wrote - 

"For me it was experiencing the time of Covid. It made me realize that God's protection and provision surrounded me, not just in Covid times, but, thinking back, it was present at each moment and each stage of my life. That reality and it's realization changed me forever".

In this Holy Week, review your situations in life: were any of them life changing? Will, or did, the crucifixion of Christ alter anything? Will the Risen Christ change anything? 

Or, come Monday, it will be "Business as Usual"?