The still small voice… Day 4

Please read 1 Kings 19:1-13

Before home refrigerators, people would buy blocks of ice to keep their food cool and preserved. So there were businesses that made and sold ice. Once the ice blocks were manufactured they were packed in hay and stored in warehouses to be distributed. One day a man working in one of the ice manufacturing factories lost his watch, a family heirloom. All of his co-workers searched for sometime in the hay and the ice, but could not find the watch. Then it was time for lunch and all except one wise older man went out to eat. When people returned from lunch, they found the older man waiting for them with the watch. They were amazed and asked the older man “ How did you find it, when all of us could not?” The man smiled and replied, “ Well, I waited until all you left and then I listened for the ticking of the watch. That’s how I found it.”

In our text for today, we encounter Elijah the prophet. Elijah suffered a lot in his life for his faith. In the chapter’s beginning we see that he is fleeing from the evil Jezebel and he is tired of all the trials and he wants to die. He asks God, “It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers.” But God has plans(Isaiah 55:8-9) for His prophet. First, God provides food and water to Elijah and 40 days later he speaks to His prophet. 

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, sometimes we feel like we need many things to survive in this world. But what we really need is God’s Word. It’s God’s Word and the hearing of his Word that gives us faith and saves us (Romans 10:17). But many times we forget that God’s Word also sustains us (Psalm 119:105; Jeremiah 15:16). The truth is God speaks to us mainly through His Word and though the words of His servants. So we need ask ourselves- “ Am I listening when He speaks? Am I willing to listen or am busy with cacophony of the world? Am I NOT listening because I do not want to respond to His words?” As Psalm 46:10-11 and Exodus 14:13-14 teach us let us be silent and still and wait for God’s magnificent plans and salvation for us.

Dear God, remove my restless thoughts and words from me and equip me to be silent and still to hear, rely and respond to your words. In Jesus name, Amen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=39&v=JTY-UKgLlXs

It’s only a mistake… Day 3

Please read 2 Samuel 11:1-27 & 2 Samuel 12:1-14

In the 1990s, I watched an episode of the Oprah Winfrey show. In that episode, Oprah confronts a married policeman in his late 30s. The policeman, on two separate occasions, had affairs with two under-15 baby-sitters of his children. I will never forget the man’s words that he kept on repeating, “other than those two mistakes, I am good man”.  He broke the law by having affairs with minor girls – but he reasoned he just committed mistakes.  (I don’t know what happened after the airing of the show- whether the policeman was prosecuted or not.)

In 2 Samuel 11, we read about David, Bathsheba and Uriah. The story and David’s transgressions are well known to all of us. Here is a great King, in fact the greatest King in Israel’s History.  He is gifted and he is a man after God’s own heart (1 Samuel 13:14) yet he sinned and ignored his actions (sins). 

In 2 Samuel 12, we see Nathan confronting David and only then does David realize his sin (2 Samuel 12:13). David does not say what his sin is. Is it just sexual sin or adultery, as most believe? When we carefully study 2 Samuel 11, we learn that David breaks all of God’s commandments coming to a fellow man (Exodus 20: 13-17).

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, during this season of reflection and repentance, let us examine our hearts and minds to confront the sins that we many, many times (conveniently) label as mistakes and sometimes as weaknesses. Now we might not have a prophet like Nathan in our lives, but we do have God’s Spirit and His Word to teach us our sins.

God the Holy Spirit, please prompt me to examine my self, recognize my sins, confess them and turn to Jesus. Amen.

In the Pits? Day 2

Please read Joel 2:1-13

('The pits' is slang for the worst possible thing, place, condition, etc.)

During the time of Prophet Joel, there was a destructive locust plague in the land of Judah. Using that calamity, Joel teaches his listeners (and us) that the Judgment Day of God is going to be much, much, much more worse.  

In Joel 2:1-11, Joel tells how the “Day of the Lord” will come and there will be fire, darkness, gloom, trembling etc. The Day of the Lord (Isaiah 13:6, Amos 5:18-20, Zephaniah 1:14-17) is the final judgment that the Israelites (we) will face.

Next we hear about God’s love and we need not be afraid of that Day. God’s declaration in Joel 2:12, to return to Him “with all your heart” should remind us of His Greatest Commandment and Shema where He tells us to love Him “with all (y)our heart” ( Deuteronomy 6:4-6).

In Joel 2:13, the prophet narrates how God will be there for those (Israelites and us) who turn (repent) and return to Him. Words such as gracious (channun), merciful (rachum), and abounding in steadfast love (chesed) are used to describe God’s love for His people. The term channun teaches us God’s proclivity and propensity to bequeath His favor freely, without any expectation of gain or benefit. Rachum, related to rechem -meaning womb, is used to remind us the limitless love and compassion a mother has for her newborn. Chesed expresses God’s loyalty even when we are not loyal (2 Timothy 2:13).

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, feel like you are engulfed in a mental/spiritual plague or war? Feel like you are in the pits? Do not worry. Because of Jesus, God will make His gracious, merciful and loving face shine upon you (Numbers 6:24-26) and will lift you up. What about repentance (you ask)? See Paul’s answer in Romans 2:4.

Dear Jesus, without your love for me on the cross, I would not know true love (1 John 4:19). Thank You. Amen

A couple of songs you might like -

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6B_jYtjvME

Mountaintop Experiences - Ash Wednesday, February 14, 2018

Please read Mark 9:2-9

When I was high school, I spent summers in a town near Horsley Hills, a summer resort famous for its cool weather and beautiful vegetation. People would go there and talk about their visit and they would go on and on about their experiences. I heard others climb various hills or mountains and also talk non-stop about their own mountaintop experiences.  

In the three synoptic Gospels (viz. Matthew 17:1–8; Mark 9:2–9; Luke 9:28–36. Also briefly referred to in John 1:14), we read about Jesus’ transfiguration and Peter, James and John’s mountaintop experience. First they see Jesus transfigured – as Mark writes “² And he was transfigured before them, ³ and his clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one on earth could bleach them.” Then they see Moses, who represents the Law, and Elijah, who represents the Prophets, and they are probably excited. And then they are afraid (Luke 9:34) because they experience the presence of God as they hear His voice and when a bright cloud overshadow(s) them. (What so special about a cloud? – read Exodus 13:21-22; Exodus 40:34 -35; 2 Chronicles 5:13-14). They probably want to share their mountaintop experience but they are commanded not to talk about it (Matthew 17:9; Mark 2:9).

If they were to share their mountaintop experience, they may have talked about Moses, Elijah, white clothes, God’s voice and the cloud. Later, we read that the three are focused on Elijah (Matthew 17:10-13), rising of the dead (Mark 9:10), and building tents (Luke 9:33). But they do not understand how in the end only Jesus is there for them (Mark 9:8) and he is all that they(we) need.

Dear Brother and Sister in Christ, you must have some great experiences in your life that you tell others. Maybe you have real mountaintop experiences, or you have experienced something great in the church or even while reading the Bible. During those times do you always acknowledge and remember that Jesus, and only Jesus, is there for you? So during this Lent season, let’s always remember Jesus is all we need (Matthew 6:33).

Dear Jesus, often I forget that you- my Savior, my Lord, my God, and the founder and perfecter of my faith – are always there for me and living to intercede for me (Hebrews 7:25). Please forgive me and bless me. Amen!