Thanksgiving

"Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh;  Is there anything too hard for Me?" (Jer 32:27) Some Churches teach that taking medicine is sin. Several believers who bragged that they would never touch medicine regretted afterwards with guilt when a situation necessitated medical treatment. The doctrine that believers should not use medicine is found nowhere in the Bible. Several effective medicines are herbal extracts and they are actually God's provision for our health and strength (Gen 1:29). Rachel begged Leah for some mandrakes because it was a herb believed to promote fertility in women (Gen 30:14). Even after God promised King Hezekiah extension of life, it was Prophet Isaiah who advised medical treatment to the King (Isa 38:21). Jesus endorsed the medical ministry to the sick (Mt 9:12). The good Samaritan applied oil and wine on the wounds of the robbed man and bandaged them (Lk 10:34). Luke was a "beloved" Physician, obviously because of h

"By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did" (Heb 11:4) True faith on God accepts Him as the Lord or Governor. He is the only one worthy to be worshipped (Heb 11:4) and obeyed (Heb 11:7). The supremacy and preeminence in our lives must be given only to Him. Faith in the Lordship of God leads us to a fourfold action— * When we believe God is our Lord, we will honour Him with our best. All that we possess is only what He has given us. Cain brought to God the "fruits of the soil" whereas Abel brought "the firstlings of the flock and of the fat thereof" (Gen 4:3,4). Look at the difference in their giving. A man of God said, "Not how much we give but how much we take from God's gifts is what matters." We are only stewards and not owners of God's gifts —the talents, time and treasure. God is worthy of our best.     * This kind of faith acknowledges the unworthiness of man before the great Lord and leads him to stan

"It is possible to give freely and become more wealthy,  but those who are stingy will lose everything" (Prov 11:24) The Indian Government categorizes people on the basis of what they "have." God does it on the basis of what we "give." If you give more than what you can, you belong to Forward Community. If you give just what you can, you belong to Backward Community. If you give less than what you can, you are from the Most Backward Community. Which community do you belong to? To whom should I give? We must help anyone in need. Does not our Father make His sun rise on the evil as well as on the good, and send rain on the just and on the unjust? (Mt 5:45). Forty percent of Indians are below the poverty line. If you have one square meal a day, you are rich in this Country. No Christian can ever say he doesn't have enough to give. "Charity gives itself rich; covetousness hoards itself poor!" How much to give? The Bible does not lay

"Guard your heart with all diligence;  for out of it emerges issues of life" (Prov 4:23) Karthar Singh belonged to a wealthy Sikh family. When he accepted Jesus as his personal Saviour, his dad tried various methods to lure and turn him from his faith but in vain. Finally his father sent a beautiful girl to him when Karthar was alone, asking her to change his stand by hook or crook. But Karthar Singh said to her, "I have only one heart. I have already given it to Jesus. I'm sorry, I don't have another one to give it to you!" All evil originates from the heart (Mk 7:21,22). God knows that "above all things the heart is deceitful, and desperately wicked" (Jer 17:9). That's why He demands our heart: to remove from us our "heart of stone" and replace it with a "heart of flesh" (Ezek 36:26b). With a lasting patience He goes on knocking at the door of our heart (Rev 3:20). If we open the door and let Him in, He gives u

"God said, Let there be light; and there was light" (Gen 1:3) The entire universe was created by the spoken Word of God (Heb 11:3). When God said, "Let there be light," there was light. When God said, "Let there be trees," so it was. God's Word is still the same. Its power has not changed. "The Word of the Lord endures forever" even if all creation vanishes away (1 Pet 1:24,25). The power of God's Word is illustrated in various ways in the Scriptures. God Himself challenges His people, "Is not My Word like a fire, and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?" (Jer 23:29). Prophet Jeremiah testified, "His Word was in my heart like a burning fire shut up in my bones" (Jer 20:9). The fire of God's Word burns up the rubbish in our life and refines us as pure gold. What the best of human argument cannot do, the Word of God can accomplish in us if only we would allow it to work freely in us. The stunte

"The Lord added to the Church daily those who were being saved"  (Acts 2:47) New believers are usually advised in follow-up talks to attend a "spiritual" Church. How to identify a "spiritual" Church? Churches can be broadly divided as Pentecostal and non-Pentecostal. The main difference is on how one understands the experience of the Baptism with the Holy Spirit. It is wrong to say that the Pentecostal Churches are all "spiritual" and others are not. In the Biblical sense, the word "spiritual" is the opposite of "carnal" or "natural." Hence a spiritual Church would mean a Church without carnality. It is not the style of worship, the form of government, the mode of baptism or the method of breadbreaking that decides whether or not a Church is "spiritual." The deciding factor is its character as a group and the lifestyle of its members. In spite of the fact that all the gifts of the Holy Spirit were

"Though God slay me, I will hope in Him" (Job 13:15) "Bless God when He blesses you; but curse Him when He crushes you!" This was the philosophy of Mrs. Job (Job 2:8-10). Sadly many Christians are ruled by this philosophy. We may not actually "curse" God, but what do we do when we don't praise Him? If we follow Jesus only "because of" the blessings we receive from Him, our relationship and religion are utilitarian. Following Him "in spite of" buffeting and brickbats is true service and pure worship. What the three Hebrew young men spoke before King Nebuchadnezzar weakened his strategy. They politely but firmly said, "If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. But even if He does not, your Majesty can be sure that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up!" (Dan 3:17,18). The early disciples had the same spirit. When they were flogged for the

"I have fought a good fight; I have finished the race; I have firmly held the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the victor's crown" (2 Tim 4:7,8) Christian life is a race, full of hurdles and hindrances, ups and downs, thorns and bruises, sufferings and shame. What encourages us is the honours and prizes that await us at the end of the race. Hebrews Chapter 12 discloses them— 1.  We will see the Lamb of God, even the Lord Jesus, face to face, as the Finisher of our faith at the finishing point! (v2). He started the race for us and now He will be there to receive us with hands open. 2.  We will enter the joy of the Lord (v2). The end of the race is eternal bliss. No more tears, sorrow or death. It's joy, joy and only joy—never ending! 3.  Jesus "sat down at the right hand of the Throne of God" (v2). So shall we sit with Him on His Throne! (Rev 3:21). Our eternal occupation will be worship. No prayer, no preaching, but only praise!

"How shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard?  And how shall they hear without a preacher?" (Rom 10:14) If Jesus Christ is the only way to Heaven and there is no salvation without Him, what is the destiny of those who die before they hear about Him? (Jn 14:6; Acts 4:12). God is a Saviour and because of His very nature He does not desire anyone to be lost. He desires "all" men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Tim 2:3,4; 2 Pet 3:9). He shed His blood not for a selected few but for the sins of the "whole" world (1 Jn 2:2; 1 Tim 4:10). God loves all men and women equally. He plays no favoritism. If a person has not heard the Gospel, it is not his fault. It is the failure of the Church. Even before Cornelius became a Christian, his prayers had been heard and alms remembered in the sight of God. Apostle Peter, though he had been biased by his exclusive Jewishness, testified, "In truth I perceive that God shows no

"In Him we live and move, in Him we exist..." (Acts 17:28) The blessings of the compound Names of Jehovah, which appear here and there in the Scriptures, are lined up in the most favourite Psalm 23. 1  Jehovah-Rohi The Lord who shepherds (Psa 23:1) "The Lord is my Shepherd" (v 1) 2  Jehovah-Jireh The Lord who provides (Gen 22:14) "I shall not want" (v 1); "Green pastures" (v 2); "My cup runs over" (v 5); "Goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life" (v 6) 3  Jehovah-Shalom The Lord who is Peace (Judg 6:23,24) "He leads me beside the still waters" (v 2) 4  Jehovah-Rapha The Lord who heals (Ex 15:26) "He restores my soul" (v 3); "You anoint my head with oil" (v 5) 5  Jehovah-Tsidkenu The Lord who is Righteousness (Jer 23:5,6) "He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His Name's sake" (v 3) 6  Jehovah-

"Be diligent in these matters; practice these duties, devote yourself  to them so your progress may be evident to everyone" (1 Tim 4:15) While spiritual birth happens at an instant, growth is a process. Born as the Son of God, Jesus took about 30 years for His growth (Lk 3:23). He did not begin His public ministry until then. Luke records that Jesus "grew" in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and with men (2:52)—intellectual, physical, spiritual and social growth. The Boy Jesus knew so much even at the age of twelve. His wisdom surprised the religious leaders and people. But He did not rush into ministry eventhough He undoubtedly had a sense of urgency. He waited. He refused to be pressurised by the needs around. This preministerial preparation of Jesus is tacitly overlooked by us to our own disadvantage and disaster. In his first letter to Timothy, apostle Paul stresses that a leader should not be a recent convert (1 Tim 3:6). An immature per

"Seek first the Kingdom of God and the things acceptable to Him;  then all these things shall be given you beside" (Mt 6:33) Youth as well as parents usually have a question: Can youngsters, who should totally devote themselves to studies, indulge in prayers and Bible Study and involve in evangelistic activities? Let me tell you briefly about my college days. When I was a student in the Pre-university Class in 1962 in St. John's College, Palayamkottai, the Lord Jesus redeemed me this same day. I did my Bachelor's degree in Engineering from 1963 to 1968 in the Alagappa Engineering College, Karaikudi, and my Master's in Technology, 1968-70, in the Indian Institute of Technology, Chennai. I passed out with flying colours. It was such an opportunity to spend all the eight years of my life in College with Christ and for Him. I would get up at 4 or 5 in the morning and spend an hour in praise and prayer (Psa 143:8). The next half an hour was for Bible medi

"If faith is not translated into action, by itself, it is dead" (Js 2:17) "Not any good deed but faith alone saves,"advocates Paul (Eph 2:8,9). But James declares, "Faith without deeds is dead" (Js 2:17). For a casual reader, these statements seem to contradict each other. But it is not so. Here is an example— "By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies with peace, was not killed with those who were disobedient" (Heb 11:31). Eventhough the Epistle of Hebrews was written 2000 years after Rahab's birth, she is still called a prostitute. Her life had been so dark. Nevertheless, she was saved by her faith. When two Israelite spies came to Jericho, she hid them under stalks of flax spread on the roof of her house and saved them from their enemies. Obeying the words of the spies, she tied a red rope on a window (Josh 2:21). Certainly her sin was red like crimson. But the slender scarlet string — her simple faith on the

"I continue to press forward towards the goal for the prize  of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus" (Phil 3:14) The Biblical antidote for backsliding is that we must go on to perfection, leaving the elementary principles of Christ and not laying again the foundation (Heb 6:1,2). This passage (Heb6:1-6) calls Repentance, Faith, Baptisms, Gifts of the Spirit, Resurrection and Judgement as the "elementary principles" or the "foundation." In the Primary School we studied 1+1=2; 1x1=1; 1-1=0; and so on. This is the foundation. This is important. One cannot afford to forget this as he passes into the higher classes. At the same time, isn't it unprofitable to study only these fundamentals again and again? As much as the elementary or foundational principles are important, moving from them onto higher and deeper truths is necessary. We should "go on to perfection." Just because the foundation is important for a building, should the fou

"The Lord raises the insignificant from the dust  and lifts the lowly from the rubbish" (1 Sam 2:8) The childhood of Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) was spent in poverty. One day a Bible was given to him. He started reading it under streetlights with passion. He trusted that God, who crowned David a shepherd boy as King, was able to uplift him also. God made him the President of the United States of America. David was despised by the members of his family. But God made him King over Israel. God said to him, "I took you from following the flock to be ruler over My people Israel... I made your name great, like the names of the greatest men of the earth" (2 Sam 7:8,9). A shepherd boy became a Supremo! Esther was beautiful but she was an orphan. Her uncle Mordecai adopted her. Fearing God, she obeyed Mordecai in all things. There was a hectic competition to replace Vashti the ousted Queen. But "the King loved Esther above all the women" (Es 2:17). An