Hidden (Krypto) Treasures

To get pearls, one must dive deep!

Month: February 2009

The First Requirement is to …

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On February 7, 2009

In Christian

If asked, what is the first thing that God would want us to do – there are many things that come to mind, some of which may be, to fulfill the great commission (Matthew 28:18-20), to be fishers of men, to ___________ (fill in the blank). But the first requirement that was given by God to man is recorded in Leviticus 19:2 and that is “Be HOLY”.

Leviticus 19:1-2 is about the LORD (Jehovah) speaking to Moses, saying, Speak unto all the congregration (of the children of Israel), an say unto them, YE SHALL BE HOLY: FOR I THE LORD YOUR GOD AM HOLY.

Without being Holy, any other thing that we expect to do or be first, including fulfillment of the great commission or being fishers of men will be superfluous.

Point(s) to Ponder:
Lets vouch to be HOLY just our God, Jehovah is; living lives that are pleasing to God, in our thought, word and deed.

Heavenly artillery with pinpoint precision

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On February 6, 2009

In Christian

Joshua 10 records the story of the victory of the Israelites led by Joshua against the five kings of the Amorites – the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish and Eglon, who had joined forces to attack Gibeon, a prominent city of those time with good fighters. But the Lord had counseled Joshua, not to be afraid and promised him that He had given the kings into Joshua’s hands. Not able to withstand the Israelites and we will see soon, why, long story short, the Israelites are in pursuit of these kings and their armies that are in flight. Then the Bible records that the LORD hailed large hailsones down on the enemies of Joshua from the sky, and more of them died from the hailstones than were killed by the swords of the Israelites.

Mere inquisitiveness makes me want to think through what was happening. If the Israelites were in pursuit, it implies that they would have been in the area, not too far behind the kings that fled. So for the hailstones to take down only the enemies armies, it may have been in pinpoint precision.
This was Heavenly artillery at work with pinpoint precision. God was fighting for the Israelites.

Point(s) to Ponder:

  1. God counsels us not to be afraid, even if the odds seem 5 to 1. Remember 5 kings against 1 leader.
  2. His promise of victory is for all who trust in Him.
  3. God will fight for you and when God fights for you, there is pinpoint precision to take your troubles out.

Has John the Baptist arisen from the dead?

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On February 5, 2009

In Christian

Matthew 14:1-2 is a backdrop of Herod coming to hear of the fame of Jesus, but what is more interesting is that Herod, mistakenly tells his servants, that Jesus is John the Baptist risen from the dead and therefore is able to perform mighty works.
Well, I dont mean to start any theological debates or counterpoints but felt the title would pique the reader to explore further. What I am really interested in gleaning is that, if Herod was to mistake Jesus (the Son of God, the purest of pure, the Holiest of Holies, the God everlasting, who was, who is, who ever will be …) to be John the Baptist, what does that tell us about the life that John the Baptist lived. He must have lived a life that emulated that of Jesus, one of humility (for John said, that God must increase and He must decrease), one of an uncompromising character with no qualms in being an unpopular person. In living and in his death, his witness was one that made him like Jesus (God). Jesus told of this man, that there has been no greater prophet, born of woman, than John the Baptist. What a testimony?

Point(s) to ponder:

  1. If someone was to examine our lives and compare it with that of Jesus, will they be able to tell the difference (or) should they be? Jesus said, Be ye perfect (Holy) as your Father (God) in Heaven is.
  2. What will Jesus be able to tell of us?

John The Baptist – Uncomprosing and Unpopular; yet the Greatest

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On February 4, 2009

In Christian

Luke 7: 17-30 is an account of John the Baptist, the last prophet of the Old Testament, one who is said to be the voice in the wilderness, preparing the way of the Lord.
Confusion of John
John is initially confused and doubtful as to whether Jesus, truly is the promised Messiah (Savior) or not. John’s message was of condemnation while Jesus’ message was of salvation. John expected restoration of Israel’s kingdom and Jesus was displaying acts of restoring God’s kingdom.
Confirmation by Jesus
In all of the confusion, John however did not compromise his mission to be God’s messenger and sends his messengers to Jesus for confirmation. Note, Jesus does not answer in words but in action. He tells John’s disciples to tell John, what they saw and heard – the works and miracles of Jesus. This was sufficient for John to continue in his belief, that Jesus truly was the “Lamb of God” whom he had asked the people to behold.
Commendation of John
And when the disciples of John had left, Jesus commends John by saying that “John is the greatest prophet, ever born of woman“. Praises so great, makes the hearer wonder, what could make Jesus say something this great of a man.
Closer analysis of the text gives us two characters of John.

  1. John was Uncompromising – He was not a reed that was shaken in the wind? He did not vacillate in his belief (although it may seem like he did and wanted confirmation). Wiersbe’s commentary has a good definition of doubt and unbelief. Doubt is not unbelief. Doubt is the act of the mind, while unbelief is the act of the heart.  John was doubting, and not unbelieving. Paul in his epistle to the Church in Ephesus writes that we should no more be like children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of man, and cunning craftiness,  whereby they lie in wait to decieve. (Ephesians 4:14) 
  2. John was Unpopular – His clothing was not one that would be worn in a king’s court but one of soft raiments, very ordinary or less than ordinary. John was not a celebrity by any means and he did not seek positions of prominence, power or pomp.

I believe, it was the unwavering and uncompromising character of John the Baptist, in conjunction with his attitude of accepting to be unpopular, always “allowing God to increase, and him to decrease”  is what got John the commendation that no other person born of woman, has received from the mouth of the Son of God.

Point(s) to ponder:

  1. Are you and I willing to be Uncompromising?
  2. Are you and I willing to be Unpopular, letting God to increase and each of us to decrease?
    This may make the Son of God witness about us, that we are the greatest in his eyes? Wouldnt that be some sort of a commendation. Wow. Think about it.

Menpleasers vs. Godfearers !

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On February 3, 2009

In Christian

Is there even such a word as Menpleasers and what does that mean? Menpleasers – the Authorized King James Version of the Bible uses this compound word in Colossians 3:22 to reflect workers who work to please men with merely eyeservice, without really any regard for God or singleness of heart. These menpleasures, I believe is not referring to those who work to please their bosses, although it could be if they compromise the commands and Word of God, negating their witness.

Colossians 3:22-24 express the attitude in which we should be working and how we can demonstrate HOLINESS in our work life.
vs. 22 – Servants, obey in ALL things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God.
vs. 23 – And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;
vs. 24 –  Knowing that of the Lord ye shall recive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.

Here is a list of Do’s and Don’ts – demonstrating HOLINESS in WORK LIFE

Do’s Don’ts
Obey in ALL things Please men with mere eyeservice
Have a Single Heart Have a divided heart
Fear God Fear Men, but God
Do whatever ye do, Heartily Grumble and/or Murmur …
Work as if unto the Lord Work as if unto men

Point(s) to Ponder:
Can we demonstrate Holiness in our Work Life. Sometimes this may seem difficult and you may have a team member or manager who makes it even worse, but think about these things – that our work should be as if it is toward the Lord and KNOW (for certain) that you WILL RECIEVE your reward of the inheritance, God (not men) has in store for you. For we serve the Lord, Jesus Christ!

Master and Lord (or) Lord and Master

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On February 2, 2009

In Christian

John 13:13-14 records a very interesting by deliberate and purposeful reversal by Jesus who is speaking to his disciples.

Verse 13 reads – Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am
Verse 14 reads – If I then, your Lord and Master , have washed your feet, ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.

Did you catch it? The first time (verse 13) Jesus acknowledge what the disciples are calling him, Master and then Lord, but then the second time (verse 14), he makes a deliberate yet very profound and purposeful reversal, that He is first Lord and then Master when he says, If I then, your Lord and Master.

Point(s) to Ponder:
Jesus has to be first Lord of our lives, and only then can he be our Master. Is he yours? How are you going to address him – Master and Lord (or) Lord and Master? Think about it.

Faithfulness in Lamentations

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On February 1, 2009

In Christian

Jeremiah (the lamenting prophets) writes this dirge in the Bible called Lamentations, which is a tearstrained portrait of the once proud Jerusalem, now in complete desolation, reduced to rubbles by the Babylonians. The book has 5 chapters, each having 22 verses (reflecting the 22 alphabets in the Hebrew language and each verse starting with each letter of the Hebrew alphabet), except for the 3rd chapter (middle of 1 and 5) which has 66 verses, divided into 3 portion of 22 verses each. So the first portion is from verse 1-22, the middle portion is from 23-44 and the last portion is from verse 45-66. So one can say that the central section would begin in verse 23 of chapter 3.

While the entire book of Lamentations is a weeping outcry of how all hope seems to be lost, all that stood no longer remains, the anger of God, the agony of Jerusalem and the desolation of God’s people, the cry of despair, the consequences of an enemy siege, and on and on doleful, the central verse (chapter 3:23) reverse the tone completely, wherein, the lamenter remembers that it is only on account of God’s mercy that they are not totally consumed (although it may seem like they have been) and that GREAT IS GOD’s FAITHFULNESS.

Point(s) to Ponder:
While it may seem to you like all hope is lost, in the midst (centrality) of your situation, you can be absolutely certain, that the faithfulness of God is great and that his mercies will still continue to carry us on. Don’t let anyone or your mind tell you otherwise.

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