‘Leap of Faith’ - Day 20

As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him. Matthew 9:9

Recently I was reading about the African impala, the midsized antelope. The adult impalas are not big animals – their height ranges from 30 to 36 inches. So most of them are less than 3 feet. For an animal of such small height, the impala has astonishing jumping abilities. In fact, a jumping impala is a beautiful animal to watch. In one leap, the impala jump 10 feet in height and clear 30 feet in distance.  But there is an interesting trait coming to the impala - it only jumps/leaps when it can see where its feet will land. That is the reason, in zoos, we find the impala kept behind a solid three-foot wall.

Well friends, the impala’s behavior might seem strange, but what about you and I - what do we do when Jesus comes to us and asks us leave our lives of sin and also leave the world behind? Are we ready to take the ‘leap of faith’ leaving our comforts and following him? Are we ready to sacrifice the world to follow him? Or do we compromise thinking that we need both the world and Jesus? Remember all Jesus asks is “Follow Me”. Please think about this.  

Abba, Father when you call me, please give me the strength, courage and mindset to leave the world and to follow and obey you. In your Son’s name I ask. Amen.

PS: Here is an article about two songwriters who did not want compromise –

http://www.christiantoday.com/article/presbyterian.church.usa.drops.in.christ.alone.from.hymnal/33599.htm

And enjoy is their song- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZuIyrwSqHY

Comfort Zones Day 19

To sell their fish, every day a group of fisherwomen would travel from their homes near the seashore to the city market. The men in their families would be busy with fishing and the women were the fishmongers. Since it was somewhat of a distance from the shore to the market, the women travelled only during daytime and as a group, carrying heavy baskets full of fish.

One-day business was slow and the women finished selling all of their fish only after it became dark. They did not want to go walk back home in the dark and while they were discussing the issue among themselves, another vendor heard their discussion and offered the back porch of her nearby house for them to sleep that night.

The women were glad that they found a safe place to spend the night.  They lay down to sleep but soon realized they could not, because of the strong aroma coming from inside the house – the house owners were flower merchants and they stored their entire inventory in the house. The fisherwomen who were comfortable with the smell of the sea, the shore and the fish, found the smell of all the flowers unbearable. So the women took their fish baskets, which were now dry, and they liberally sprinkled some water on them to release the familiar and comfortable smell. The women put the baskets next to their heads and they soon fell asleep.

Dear Friend, the fisherwomen had their comfort zone and you and I have our own comfort zones. We like our comfort zones – now others may find them unusual, but they are ours.

Sometimes our comfort zone can be a sin that is offensive to God – and Jesus comes into our lives and asks us to leave our comfort zones and sins.  And then we might ‘say’ (not pray) the sinners prayer, ‘say’ words of repentance, etc., but are we truly willing to let go of the sin that gives us comfort?  Is that what Jesus wants of His followers?

So dear brother and sister in Christ, let’s examine our lives and see if there is any “sin that so easily entangles” us (Hebrews 12:1) and ask our God to help us “run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.” (Hebrews 12:1-2)

Blessed Jesus, hold my hand and teach me the sin that darkens my eyes and entangles my feet. Help me to get rid of that sin and lead me to a higher place. Amen.

Who will tell/teach us our sins? Day 18

Sin

“…I would not have known what sin was had it not been for the law.” Romans 7:7

The story is told of one of Rev. Billy Graham’s interviews. Since the interview was at their home, Ruth Graham, Billy’s wife spent days cleaning the house. She cleaned everywhere and liked her work because the house looked perfect -in fact it looked spotless. However, when the television crew set up and turned on the bright lights, Ruth was horrified to see cobwebs and dust, which were not visible under ordinary light.

Dear friends, most of the people on earth, including Christians, think that they are good people. In addition, their family, friends, co-workers, neighbors etc. tell them that they are indeed good people.

When we read chapters 11 and 12 of II Samuel, we learn that King David did not consider himself a sinner until the Prophet Nathan showed him his sin. Now David had Nathan, but who will tell/teach us our sins? The truth is, while pastors, teachers, friends, family members may point out our sins, it is God the Holy Spirit who speaks to us and convicts us of our sins when read His Word. So regular scripture reading/study shines God’s bright light into our hearts and minds and shows us our true condition and nature.

Open my eyes Lord to my wretched condition of sinning and fooling/convincing myself that I do not sin. I thank you because you are the God who shows me my sin – and you also save me from my sins.  In Jesus name I thank and pray. Amen.

You say you ain’t no sinner? Day 17

Sin

In 1998 Rev. Abdiyah Akbar Abdul-Haqq, an evangelist with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association came to New Jersey to preach at the anniversary celebrations of a New Jersey Indian Church. The celebrations went on for three days and Rev. Haqq stayed in a hotel near the Newark airport and for transportation I volunteered to drive him around. I tell you my friends, I had a great time driving Rev. Haqq around. He answered my many questions with wit and wisdom. One I will never forget. I asked him about Christians who claim they no longer are sinners and, even if they were to sin, they only commit minor sins and not major sins. Rev Haqq’s answer was “Ebenezer, the next time any man tells you that he only commits minor sins and not major, tell him humbly ‘Don’t worry brother you will not go to major-sin hell, you will only go to minor-sin hell.’”

Dear friend, it is true that Jesus died on cross for your sins and my sins. But at the same time you and I cannot say we do not sin. Apostle John makes this clear in 1 John 1. First the bad news, “8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” Then the wonderful news “ 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”  But then John leaves us with a caveat, “10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.”

So dear friend, if you are believer, ask God as David pleads, “23 Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! 24 And see if there be any grievous way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting!” (Psalm 139:23-24) And God himself will teach you and lead you. For those of you who don’t know Jesus, and are burdened by sin, please understand that only the blood of Jesus will wash away your sins(more to come)

Abba Father open my eyes to my sins and lead on the path of righteousness. Help me to hold on to your Truth and your Word. For your Son’s sake.  Amen!

_______, 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.