The Prodigal's Father: Pastor Rajiv's Midweek Message

Sunday the 4th was Father's Day in Australia and on this occasion, Pastor Rajiv delves into the parable of the Prodigal Son and the role of his Father

This is the way; walk in it. : Pastor Rajiv's Daily Reflections

"This is the way; walk in it”

Read Exodus 13 17 to 32

When Pharaoh let the people go, God didn’t lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, even though that was the shorter route. God thought, If the people have to fight and face war, they will run back to Egypt. - Exodus 13:17

Everyone, each one, go through a period of dark days, extreme needs and see no solution in sight. We pray, possibly day and night, for relief. Yet we don't see it in our sight.

Over the years I have come to realize that dark days do not mean the end days, but a major turn that God has planned for us and because of our antipathy to change, has to close all doors but one: the one he wants us to go through.

The Israelites were led through a longer way so that they would not run back to Egypt. I am sure that longer way would have been very painful, but God in His wisdom, needed them to do that.

When all doors seem closed, I now try and look beyond what I want, to find that one door which is open because God wants me to choose that path. It maybe painful at first, but in His wisdom He has directed it, therefore it will be the best.

Meekness and Weakness: Pastor Rajiv's Mid Week Message

 

The Esacpe Route: Pastor Rajiv's Daily Reflections

One of the principles of physics is that to every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. In essence, whatever we do has consequences - good or bad.

In  Christian life, similarly there are consequences of wrong decisions, trusting ourselves rather than godly guidance, etc . While Jesus will not change those consequences, He will change us and our attitude if we ask Him to do that.

David prayed day and night for his baby to be saved and not die. But that did not happen. When he realized he had to bear the consequences he stood up, had a bath, thanked God and moved on, having borne the consequence of his sin with Bathsheba.

And that is one of the biggest disconnects in our understanding of Gods forgiveness. When we make a mistake and ask God for forgiveness are we truly looking to be forgiven or are we asking for an escape route from the consequences of our wrong doing?

Let's understand this better with a fictional example. Let us say I owe the government 10,000 in taxes and I omit to pay it. And then I get served a notice. 

Now here is what happens: I have been disobedient to God (He said give to Caesar what is Caesars) as well as committed a crime in the land where I live. So I start praying to God - Lord forgive me, save me. Don't let me go to jail. Don't let me bear this punishment. Of course God will forgive me for being disobedient to Him. I am sure of that. But will he save me from the consequences of breaking the law? I don't think so. But He will give us the strength to bear those consequences. He will make the burden lighter.

Remember Lot and his wife? 

“And as they (angels) brought them out, one said, ‘Escape for your life. Do not look back or stop anywhere in the valley. Escape to the hills, lest you be swept away.’” (Genesis 19:17)
“But Lot’s wife, behind him, looked back and she became a pillar of salt.” (Genesis 19:26)

Lot lost everything he had hoped to build in his chosen "city" life and she lost her life itself. Our human capacity to disobey is still very much prevalent, but thankfully we have Jesus to help us through. 

Thank God for Paul: Pastor Rajiv's Mid Week Message

 

When God Says NO: Pastor Rajiv's Daily Reflections

The blessing of a "No".

When God says no,  it's a lesson to be learnt or a disaster being averted. Learn the lesson, don't tempt the disaster. Give thanks and move on.

Gods blessings are not always in His giving but also in His with holding as well. God knows better than we do, and his ‘no’ is always merciful, even when it hurts.”

And that is usually when God wants a change in direction for us, from where we want to go to where he wants us to go. 

C.S. Lewis once wrote, “We are not necessarily doubting that God will do the best for us; we are wondering how painful the best will turn out to be.” How insightful is that? 

The best is often painful because the human emotion is to resist change in our thinking and doing. We are so invested in the past we often fail our own future.

The only way to alleviate that pain is to trust, understand (through His word) and obey. And only after that will be able to say in all honesty - Let thy will be done. Amen.

Ethics of hypocrisy: Pastor Rajiv's Daily Reflections

“And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?”

Luke 6:46

The word "Ethical" comes from the Greek ethos or  "moral character" and describes a person or behavior as right in the moral sense - truthful, fair, and honest. Sometimes the word is used for people who follow the moral standards of their profession.

As a Christian, have you ever wondered what our ethics should be? We profess Christianity but do we know the ethics of our profession?

If not, it's time to read the scripture again, because without due consideration, we will tend to wrongdoings or sins, both of commission and omission. For those who don't understand what these sins are - Simply put, sins of commission are things we have done which are biblically wrong and sins of omission are things we should have done but did not do. For example I should have told the truth about something but I kept silent because it was not convenient for me. That is omission of truth. 

Expanding further, in these Covid days people may have Covid but omit to inform thereby endangering others. That is omission of truth. To explain further using the example of truth and lies, commission is actively lying about something and omission is keeping silent on the truth. 

Both are equally dangerous.

When we acknowledge Jesus as our Lord, we are supposed to practice His teachings, both actively and passively. But when we don't do that and yet say Lord Lord, are we not being unethical and hypocritical?

Let's become more aware of sins of omission and commission so that we consciously avoid being a hypocrite, but be held accountable to Jesus's ethics.