Thanksgiving

"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...

"The eye is the lamp of the body.  If your eyes are good your entire body will be full of light" (Mt 6:22) Make this prayer today for your eyes— O God, open my eyes! Without Your touch I was blind. The god of this age had blinded my eyes (2 Cor 4:4). Now I need Your second touch (Mk 8:25). There are yet scales to fall off my eyes (Acts 9:18). Open my eyes that I may see wondrous things from Your Word (Psa 119:18). I want not pebbles but pearls. Help me find the treasures hidden to the natural eyes (Prov 2:4). Give me a telescopic vision to look beyond to understand Your prophecies for tomorrow. Give me a microscopic vision to search the depths of Your wisdom. Fit me with a wide angle lens to grasp Your whole counsel. Lord, open my eyes to see the angelic hosts who encamp all around me (Psa 34:7). Many times I so depend and trust on material things like the servant of Prophet Elisha that I become blind to the supernatural protection and ministry of Your ange...

"God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble" (Js 4:6) William Carey (1761-1834) who came to India as a missionary and translated the Bible into many Indian languages had earned much respect among the learned men and high officials of the City of Calcutta. He was quite influential too. Once he was invited by the Governor General of India for a dinner. One of the guests, referring to Carey, said to another, "Isn't this Carey a shoemaker?" Carey turned around and said to him, "No, Sir! I am just a cobbler!" Almost everyone desires he must be more eminent than others— more distinguished in stature — more important in leadership — more honourable in social status. Even the disciples of Jesus were not an exemption. Once they debated among themselves, "Who is the greatest?" (Lk 22:24). "The greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the leader like the one who serves," said Jesus (v26). Wasn't His motto, ...

"It is not yours that I seek but you" (2 Cor 12:14c) In these days when missionary organisations are on the fast track, we observe certain tragedies prevalent in many Churches. We looked at two of them yesterday. Here are another two— *  Many Givers but few Goers! I am afraid we have placed more emphasis on money than men. The first call is not to give but to go. "Who will GO?" (Isa 6:8). Lots of young people were volunteering for missionary work a decade ago. But there is a sudden drop in missionary candidates whereas missionary contribution has increased. Oswald J. Smith's " Go or Send " has been misunderstood by many of us. You must first consider going. A substitute may be sent only when and where one can not go. Dear young man, young woman, Don't you have a  missionary call ? When you come across passages like Matthew 28:19, Romans 10:14, don't you hear a voice from ABOVE? As you look around you and see thousands without Ch...

"O Lord, listen! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, hear and act!" (Dan 9:19a) This is the day of missionary revival. Several missionary organizations have been born in the wake of this revival. The percentage of Christians in India is on the increase. However, there are certain tragedies in many Churches today in the context of missions. Let us look at this today and tomorrow. * Many Organizers but few Agonizers! There is not much difficulty in getting volunteers to organize a missionary challenge meet or a fund mobilization programme or even a missionary prayer meeting. But the actual agonizers in prayer are scarce. organizing needs talents, but agonizing involves tears. Organizing is possible with just fleshly enthusiasm, but agonizing is a spiritual excruciation. Though organizing is necessary, it cannot precede or take the place of agonizing. Apostle Paul was a great organizer but first an agonizer. He was a missionary institution. He strove in his prayers. He be...

"Reject profane and old wives' fables,  and exercise yourself rather to godliness" (1 Tim 4:7) Deception is the most undiagnosed disease in the Church. The worst thing about deception is that the deceived persons will not know that they are deceived. The number of the deceived is increasing at an alarming rate as we approach the end of the age. When the disciples asked Jesus, "What will be the sign of Your coming, and the end of the age?," His very first statement in reply was, "Take care that no one  deceives you!" (Mt 24:3,4). He added that even the very elect might be deceived (v24). Recovery from deception is extremely difficult. Prevention is better than cure. That's why Jesus said, "See, I have told you  beforehand!"  (v25). Let me suggest here a few safeguards against deception— Give top priority to Bible meditation among the other disciplines of devotional life. The Bible admonishes us to go to the presence of God "...

"Just as the One who called you is holy, be holy yourselves  in all your conduct and manner of living" (1 Pet 1:15) God is Omnipotent, Omnipresent, Omniscient, Love, Unchanging and Holy. But the only character that is thrice-repeated in any doxology found in the Bible is God's holiness. We have one example in the Old Testament and the other in the New. In Isaiah's vision the heavenly creatures called seraphim cried to one another, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Hosts!" (Isa 6:3). In John's revelation of open heaven the four living creatures kept worshipping God, saying, "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty!" (Rev 4:8). To say the word "holy" twice in Hebrew is to describe someone as most holy. To say the word "holy" thrice intensifies the idea to the highest level. In the majority of Greek texts the word "holy" in Revelation 4:8 occurs nine times! Undoubtedly holiness dominates all other characters of G...