This Week With Jesus

 "Not mine, but your will be done"

I, you and we belong to a world where more is less. We want more of everything, from food to clothes to cars, to education and other luxuries. When we get what we wanted, we dream and want the next level. We want it for ourselves as well as for our children, which is natural. And our children want the same for their  children. And the story goes on till it can no longer,  because we die. And we spend the last few years of our lives deciding who to give what, of what is left of what we have collected. So we spend 20 years dreaming, 40 years acquiring and then the last phase where we are giving or rather planning to give. Covid broke that vicious circle for me.   I and my family were stuck in a foreign country for more than 2 years. We had planned travel for 1 month but spent  2 years and more. Everything we had was in our home which was locked up and deserted. We had to learn to manage on less. Less money day by day, less clothing, less fashion, less friends, less access to things we to

"For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; And reproofs of instruction are the way of life" Quite a lot of the various verses and teachings in the Bible are interlinked across the old and New Testaments. For example the quoted verse is also linked to Psalm 119:105, Luke 11:36, Revelations 18:23 In the East, lamps and candles were used not only to lighten the dark houses but also to lighten the paths in the crooked narrow streets during the night. Even today men and women carry lamps or candles while walking during the night or probably torches if they can afford them. So why so many references to a lamp? First, God's commandments are likened to a lamp because life is full of difficulties and stumbling blocks. One has to have the light of God to be sure of his or her steps. Second is the more direct correlation - JESUS IS THE LAMP AND GOD IS THE LIGHT. If we want to see our way in this crooked world, we need to equip ourselves with a lamp everyday - through the

Proverbs 30:5 KJV "Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him". Pontius Pilate: To Jesus And what is 'truth'? Is truth unchanging law? We both have truths. Are mine the same as yours?  What is truth? Pilate’s answer to hos own question could be a question asked in despair. How do we know right and wrong, good and evil, what is the right thing to do in any situation? How can anyone believe in a universal truth that transcends this world of suffering and despair? Whatever his motive, he didn't get an answer because the truth was right there, standing in front of him. Today we , like Pilate, do not recognize the truth. The truth was standing in front of Pilate, to be judged to die or live. Yet he was asking? I will quote Bob Kaylor when he says " For Pilate, anything that got him advanced in status in the eyes of the emperor was truth. Truth is whatever you decide it is, whatever is most pragmatic, kind of like throwing darts

Proverbs 11: 24-25 One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want. Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.. 26 - He that witholdeth corn the people shall curse him; but blessing shall be upon the head of him that selleth it.  The eastern text reads a little differently - he who holds back grain in the day of distress shall fall into the hands of his enemies but a blessing shall be on the head of the man who sells it. It is very difficult to part with something very dear or something that promises profit. So when called upon to do so, do we readily agree or do we grudge and grumble? God won't ask us for what we don't have, but sometimes He will ask  for something we really want to keep. Why? To see if there is anything we value more than Him or His word. Remember Abraham? God could be asking for us to give up a bad habit, or help someone in need with our resources or time. Or

Proverbs 2:5 "Then thou shall understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God" As we continue our study of the Book of  Proverbs, we have already established that fear is referring to reverence and love and respect, not fear as we know it in the world today. It's not the fear of a dictator but reverence for God who has given us free will. The verses preceding verse 5 are the 5 conditions and steps to attaining understanding and reverence of God. "My son,(A) if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, 2 turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding(B)— 3 indeed, if you call out for insight(C) and cry aloud for understanding, 4 and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure,(D) 5 then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God". So five things - 1. Accept Gods word, through hearing or reading or listening, and above all having a teacha

Ask, Seek and Knock.  Matthew &:7 says - "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you". But how do we know if what we are asking for is the Will of God? Pastor Rajiv discusses this very important aspect of the ASK principle today in his message.