What will you do with your gift?: Pastor Rajiv's Daily Reflections

What do we do with our gifts? This is an ever-present question. But first, let me point out the difference between a present and a gift.

A Gift is something of value given by one person to another without consideration, out of love, with no expectation of return.

A Present, on the other hand, is something of value given by a person who is invited to attend a function or party, such as, a wedding party, birthday party, marriage-day party etc. Unlike a gift, which is absolutely free, a present is not given absolutely free; there is an understanding of giving and taking — present is given in lieu of taking part in the function or party

We all receive Gods gifts - as blessings. Our nontransferable skills, talents, job etc., are gifts coming from God's blessings. The greatest gift of all was God's gift to mankind, Jesus Christ.

The question is what do we do with these gifts? Ms. Francis Taylor sums it up beautifully when she prays -

"When God blesses us with abundance, even excess, He calls us to share that blessing with others. It’s ok that we harvest our field, meet our own needs, and pay all of our bills. But what do we do with what is left? Instead of hoarding or spending every last penny, let’s find ways, even if they are small ways, to pass blessings on to those in need".

A very familiar sight is described in Mark 12 verses 41 to 44. Have we all not seen this, or done this? 

"41 Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. 42 But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents".

People observing this (in those times, much as we do today) would have looked down on that widow, sneering at her two coins. But read on...

43 Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you; this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. 44 They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”

"Work through my gifts so that Your grace can be seen and Your love can be experienced by those You have called me to help". - Ms. Francis Taylor

Embrace the unknown: Pastor Rajiv's Daily Reflections

Leaders embrace the unknown

Read: Genesis 12

Managing risk and uncertainty is a mandatory skill and habit for business leaders. They are called upon to maintain a stable attitude whether they are in a profitable state or a loss scenario. Seldom do they flinch from carrying out what they are supposed to do. Yet, in personal lives we normally hate risk and hate uncertainty. We avoid such situations to the best of our abilities.

In our reading today, Abraham was directed to head out to a distant land, not knowing how and why. He is the e ample of someone embracing the unknown. Not questioning or doubting, just with faith in the future. A future based on a promise made by Jehovah.

How many of us would do that? Yet Abraham did and we all know how it turned out for him.

We can be leaders in our homes, our workplace or society, carrying out our purpose and our role assigned to us. 

Like Abraham, we too can make a difference.

New Year Resolutions Part III : Pastor Rajiv's New Year Message

BIBLE PASSAGE – ROMANS 12:9-21

The Principle of Replacement

The Principle of replacement states that it is not enough to passively accept the enemy’s actions or even accept it in order to leave it to God’s intervention and justice. We are to do the opposite: we are to replace evil with good.

Why? That is the very opposite to what we have been taught!. 

Because, by doing good to the one who has wronged us may shame the other person into repentance and a change of way.

Paul closes this passage saying do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. This is not easy in fact it is costly because it sometimes involves taking on the pain of someone else’s wrong doing.

But overcoming evil with good may result in gaining a friend and promoting reconciliation in the process. These words may have been written thousands of years ago but are as true today as then. Today these words are as relevant, as crucial, and, as important as they were then because we are living in a broken world today as we were then.

It is a world fraught with unkindness anger selfishness jealousy unhealthy competition social divisiveness religious animosity and so many other manners of evil.

Living in such a world we would do well to adopt Paul’s words from our passage today as an effective God honoring New Year resolution so that our light can truly shine in the dark world and point to the light of the world.

NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS PART II : Pastor Rajiv's New Year Message

BIBLE PASSAGE – ROMANS 12:9-21

While we discussed resolutions yesterday and, taking a cure from Paul, we looked at "building a Biblical New Year Resolution". From verse 14 onwards Paul changes gears to talk about behaving like Christians with non-believers. Make no mistake, this is a crucial admonition especially in the world we are living in today.

Paul says we are to relate to non-believers the same way we relate to other believers: with love Even when non-believers persecute us do good even to those who treat us badly. The post tragedy behaviour of Mrs Gladys Staines is a beautiful example of this : ‘bless those who persecute you, bless and do not curse’.

It takes god’s grace to be truly concerned about the successes and needs of other people.

Verse 16 is extremely crucial in defining behaving like Christians : be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. do not be wise in your own opinion.

Simply put, this means keep harmony amongst all do not be haughty or conceited or manoeuvre or manipulate to associate with the high ups in life. This aspect is a common fallacy and trap that humans, including Christians, fall into.

Jesus set an example of this from his own life here on earth. He associated with all sections of society and especially with those whom the high and mighty of the day refused to associate with like tax collectors sinners and the outcastes of society. He was comfortable with everyone.

Then, from verses 17 through to 21 Paul emphasizes an extremely crucial point based on Jesus’ redefinition of the of standard of ‘an eye for an eye’

Jesus said instead ‘turn the other cheek’ ! This was an ethical standard which was foreign to the ways of this world then, and it still is now.

This propagation does not go down with the way the world thinks and Paul has used 5 verses to make this very crucial point in our relationship with others. Our typical reaction is “vengeance” through retaliation which never stops evil and in fact fans its flames even more.

It is important to note that when we strive to avenge ourselves we are actually trying to do God’s work; we are trying to take his place because god has reserved vengeance for himself.

Paul quotes part of Deuteronomy 32:35 when he says we are not to avenge ourselves.

Give place to wrath and let God deal with a person in his own way and in his own time. God’s time may not be convenient for us but His timing is always perfect.

Verse 20 is an extremely powerful verse. therefore

“if your enemy is hungry, feed him;

if he is thirsty, give him a drink;

for in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.”

Theologians and biblical scholars call this à the principle of replacement, it is a powerful biblical principle and we will talk about this tomorrow. 

Remember the New Year Resolution of 2022?: Pastor Rajiv's New Year Message

BIBLE PASSAGE – ROMANS 12:9-21

Most people make new year resolutions! In fact, A study in the us in 2016 showed that 41% of Americans made new year resolutions but by the end of the year only 9% could claim to have been successful in keeping those resolutions.

The reasons for this failure are many - unrealistic goals, poor record-keeping, plain forgetfulness, and, an unrealistic number of resolutions.

I don’t know how many of us make new year resolutions. I don’t, but perhaps a good way to start would be to follow the list given by Paul in our bible passage today.

Paul in this section of his letter to the Roman church is advising and cautioning them, and us, to ‘behave like Christians’. As a church, as people, I think that is a good resolution to make and then strive to keep it.

But what exactly does he mean? Paul talks about behaving like Christians within  the church, with other Christians (verses 9 to 13) and behaving like Christians outside the church, with others (in verses 14 to 21).

In these 12 verses Paul has given a list of 22 actions of how to behave like Christians which are all centered around loving one another, going beyond mere emotion to action which is genuine and not hypocritical.

Relationships within the church are very important. They lead to fellowship which in turn leads to "encouragement". Paul has used the phrase ‘one another’ three times in these 12 verses.

And for any relationship within the church to survive, love is a key component. (Paul wrote a whole chapter on love to the Corinthian church, in 1 cor.13).Up to this point in his letter agape has been used to describe God’s love for people. 

This is the first action that Paul advises and then goes on to build every other action listed around this first one.

Secondly, he asks us to ‘abhor evil’ or hate evil, but care has to be taken that we do not hate the evil person but the evil inside the person. Paul then goes on to say love one another with brotherly love the kind of love for each other that god shows to us.

But Paul does not just stop at that. He elaborates saying ‘in honor giving preference to one another’.

In essence it means that if a person truly loves another person they will pursue what is best for them even if it comes at a cost to themselves.

Furthermore, Paul also asks his readers not to lag in diligence by being lazy in serving the Lord and being fervent in spirit. Both of these go hand in hand for when we are fervent in spirit we will be bubbling over with enthusiasm.

And, this is the important part: when we do that, we rejoice in the hope of eternal life so that we will be patient when we are tested and live always in an attitude of prayer.

Paul ends this part of behaving like Christians with an important admonition - ‘distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality’. Essentially sharing what we have with those who are in need.

We will stop here today and talk about showing Christian behavior to non-believers, tomorrow in Part II. 

A New Year Prayer: Pastor Rajiv's Daily Reflections

Show me your ways, LORD, teach me your paths you would have me go this coming year. Show me your vision for me a d Guide me in your truth and teach me. for you are God my Savior, my provider, and my protector and my hope is in you all day long, every day. Your thoughts and plans for me will give me an expected end.

Remember, LORD, your great mercy and love, for they are from of old and yet are new every morning, in your great faithfulness. So I do not lose hope.

Do not remember the sins of my youth, of past years gone by, and my rebellious ways, but forgive me my transgressions, according to your love remember me, for you, LORD, are good.

Yet, even as I am your work in progress, help me, in all things shewing myself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, and good speech.

Fill our homes with your presence, for me and my house, have and will, serve you. And in this coming year, and years after that, renew our strength and that of our children, and let them soar on wings like eagles; let them run and not grow weary, let them walk and not be faint. Let their future and thier hope not be cut off. As The New Year brings a new chapter in their life — they know that you will always be THE main character in their book.

"Certainly, the faithful love of the Lord hasn’t ended; certainly, God’s compassion isn’t through! They are renewed every morning and every year. Great is your faithfulness."

***This prayer is based on Psalm 25 4 to 7 and other Bible verses***.

I don't know about tomorrow: Pastor Rajiv's Daily Reflections

 

As we near the end of 2022, we cannot but recall the horrid years the world has spent since 2020, those dark Covid times. And every now and then, even now, we see that pandemic raising its ugly head. We cannot forget the mass graves in New York, the mass of funeral pyres in India, the daily death counts in China, Europe and the world, and the constant fear of death looming over our heads. No one in this world was spared loss, directly or indirectly.

Sadly, some did not survive. They went on ahead to prepare a place for us.

For those who did, that time was spent in fear and or heartbreak. 

Today, in retrospect, what do we feel and think? What have we learnt?

The past defines the future and There is one truth which has kept many of us going -

1 Samuel 7:12 Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Ebenezer, saying, Hitherto hath the LORD helped us.

The truth is that we all have come through the worst, with the Lord’s help.

Each one, anyone of us can confidently say this for our life. Through poverty, through wealth, through sickness, through health, at home, abroad, on the land, on the sea, in honor, in dishonor, in perplexity, in joy, in trial, in triumph, in prayer, in temptation, “hitherto hath the Lord helped us!”

If you are reading this today, you are blessed. And as we write this, we are blessed. We each need to fall on our knees and thank the Almighty, for hitherto He has helped us. Each day, He has protected us. Each day He has provided for us, Each day He has participated in our lives.

And because of this, as this year ends, we can look forward with confidence to 2023 in the surety of that one line – “hitherto our Lord has helped us”. Let us prepare ourselves for the New Year, looking back on His Blessings and looking forward to living with His help.