As I grow older, ………….! Day 10

Love is all you need.

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. 1 John 4:7

Many consider Dr. Karl Barth as one of the greatest theologians of the twentieth century. And there is this story about his teaching at one of the US seminaries. Dr. Barth was supposed to address the seminarians on a Monday. But the prior Sunday night, at a dinner in his honor, he was asked by the seminarians to share what he learnt from the Bible. Everyone was waiting to hear something profound, a new teaching etc. Dr. Barth stood up, smiled and said “Jesus loves me this I know; for the Bible tells me so.” (There are many versions of this story but the same ending)

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, If I say the name ‘Apostle John’ and asked you what comes to your mind, you will probably say – author of the Gospel; author of Revelation; the disciple Jesus loved; one of Jesus’ inner circle; a son of thunder (Boanerges); etc.

Now John is a brash and volatile person- he is one of the brothers who asks “Lord, do you want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume them?”(Luke 9:51-55). He is also very bold and direct as evidenced by his ambitious request “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.” Later when Jesus asks “Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?”,  John, along with his brother, replies “We are able.” (Mark 10:35-40). His aggression is evident when he says, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.”(Mark 9:38-40).

Dear Friend, that’s how a young John is introduced to us in the Gospels, but do you know that he is called the 'Apostle of Love'? It is stated that as he grew older he spoke mostly of the love of God and love for the brothers. In fact, we can observe from his five books that John encourages us not only to know ‘The Truth’ but also to love one another.

So as we get closer and closer to Jesus and by His grace being sanctified by him, let us reflect upon and appreciate Jesus’ love.

Abba, Father, I thank you for your love shown in your Son’s sacrifice and in the giving of your Spirit. Let me love others as I love myself. Amen!

One word means much - but hey that's our God! Day 6

Just one Hebrew word- Nahal*

He leads me beside still waters. Psalm 23:2

Joseph Henry Gilmore was born into a wealthy family. His father Joseph Albree Gilmore had a grocery business, was an American railroad superintendent and served as the governor of New Hampshire from 1863 to 1865.

Joseph, the son, was also an accomplished man. He attended the prestigious Phillips-Andover Academy,** one of the best schools in the country. Later he received both his BA and MA from Brown. After that studied at Newton Theological Institution. First he served as a Baptist Pastor. Later he was the private secretary for his father who was serving as governor. He also worked as the editor of the Daily Monitor in Concord, NH. After all of this, he served one year as professor of Hebrew at Rochester Theological Seminary and then for forty years he served as the professor of rhetoric, logic and English at the University of Rochester.  The University’s English Department has an English Chair named in his honor.

Joseph is well-remembered for his work at Rochester but people all over the world sing a hymn that he hurriedly wrote when he was 28. He is a giant in the educational and literary circles but his hymn is well received and sung by millions and millions and is hymn of great comfort. Joseph wrote six books in Hebrew and English but it is his single hymn that brought him fame.

It was never Joseph’s intention to write a hymn. One day he preached on Psalm 23 and then he scribbled some lines on the blessedness of God’s leading because of the turmoil of the US civil war. Later he gave the writings to his wife. Without telling her husband, Mrs. Gilmore sent the writings to a magazine. Three years later when Joseph went to guest preach in a church he was surprised to see his hurried writings in a hymnal.

Another instance of God taking something simple and blessing it to be great!

Here it is -        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXeCQgOlx4Q

                        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=neplpB2ZScU

Thank you God for holding my hand and leading me all the time in all turmoil, trials and tribulations. Amen.

* Nahal (Hebrew) usage – to lead, give rest, lead with care, guide to a watering place, cause to rest, bring to a place of rest, guide, refresh (ALL THAT GOD DOES FOR US)

** List of some alumni (note the names Bush and Kennedy) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Phillips_Academy_alumni

_______, My child, come/turn to Me. Day 4

Repentance 3

Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 18:3

There are four major tennis tournaments – the Australian Open, the French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open. Winning a major is considered a great achievement and as of today only two men and three women have won all four majors in the same year- and that is called a Grand Slam.

Golf also has four majors – the Masters, the US Open, the British Open and the PGA. There has never been a golf Grand Slam but Jack Nicklaus has won the most majors-18. For that reason, Jack Nicklaus is considered the greatest golfer that ever played the game. However one day, to the surprise of many, Jack took a month off from golf. He did that to correct a part of his game. He tried and tried himself but could not correct the flaw. So he went back to the first coach that taught him the game and the flaw was corrected. And Jack went on to win more majors.

Dear Brother and Sister and Christ, coming to repentance I asked (day 3) when a sinner ‘repents’ of his sin, is it true repentance if he turns to another sin?  Of course the answer is NO. True repentance is turning to the God and the Cross. So what are we do when we repent?  Turn away from the sin and turn to Christ.   And God in all His Mercy and Grace will welcome us like the Prodigal’s father.

So let’s turn and return to God, joyful that He will lead us to himself through Jesus.

Merciful Father, I realize that whenever I sin I grieve you. Equip me to turn from my sin. Also, teach me to be like a child, to run to you and to trust and obey You. In Jesus name, Amen. 

P.S. Please try the following: On a piece of paper write -          _______, My child, turn to Me.

                                                    and  _______, My child, come to Me.

Write your name on both blanks (remember our God knows you by YOUR name) and reflect on the two sentences. Grace and Peace!

Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other. Isaiah 45:22

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28

Running to …. and Regretting! Day 3

Repentance 2

The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 2 Peter 3:9

A husband and wife are travelling in their car and the husband driving. At one point the wife tells her husband to turn right and by mistake he turns left. Immediately he says, “I am sorry dear, I should have listened to you.” And just make sure that she heard him, he says  “Sorry. You are right, I took the wrong turn.” But that’s all he does – he says sorry but keeps on driving in the wrong direction. So the truth is, they are travelling away from their destination.  To reach the destination, he needs to turn the car around and go the opposite direction. Continuing in the same direction or turning any other direction will not make them reach their destination. Neither do acknowledging the error and apologizing!

Dear Friend in Jesus, you might be wondering why another day on repentance. Let me begin by humbly suggesting an exercise – next week ask three of your Christian friends the question “What is true repentance?” If all three of them answer this question correct, I will say this – you are truly blessed to have them as friends. On the other hand, don’t be surprised if your friends do not know the answer (sadly most don’t – I didn’t know until my late 30s)

So what is true repentance? Yesterday I wrote it ‘entails changing our ways’. That is good but is it enough? If I run after a sin and then regret and run to another sin, is that true repentance?

Please indulge me as I use this illustration (a true story) once again. One of my relatives, a chain smoker, attended a very strict Bible church that taught smoking tobacco was a sin. For years he was told to quit but it was not was not easy for him. Then one Sunday during testimony time, he stood up and announced he quit smoking with by the grace of God. The church members praised God and were all happy for him but soon everyone realized that he gave up cigarettes for snuff. He gave up one form of tobacco for another form of tobacco!

So once again, when a sinner ‘repents’ of his sin, is it true repentance if he turns to another sin?  So where to turn? (More tomorrow)

Blessed and Heavenly Father! My life is nothing but running to sin and later regretting. In Your kindness and patience, please help me to truly repent of my sins. In your Son’s name I plead. Amen.