Hidden (Krypto) Treasures

To get pearls, one must dive deep!

Month: May 2010 Page 2 of 3

The reason for creation

By

On May 17, 2010

In Christian

Genesis 1:26 records the discussion that ensued in the tribunal  council of the Godhead as God planned to create man. It is recorded as “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness:” We are not a byproduct of some chance evolutionary process but the result of a conscious plan of an Almighty God. The word “us” and “our” in Genesis 1:26 indicates that the Blessed Trinity (God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son and His Holy Spirit) participated in the creation of man. Creation is the result of the choice of God and not of chance (happenstance).  But did you ever take time to wonder as to the reason for our Creation? Colossians 1:16 which reads “For by him all things created, …, all things were created by him and FOR him:”, answers that question. We are created for Christ. He is the reason for our creation.

Point(s) to ponder:

  1. We are created after careful design and plan BY Christ Jesus, the agent of creation, and not just a product of chance. The God who planned our creation has also planned the course of our life as He declares through the mouth of his prophet, Jeremiah (which means God establishes); plans to prosper us and not to harm us; plans to give us a hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11 – NIV).
  2. We are created FOR Christ Jesus. This means that while God’s plan is for our prosperity, hope and future, are we for His glory?
  3. Christ Jesus is not only the agent (BY Him) of our creation, but He is the reason (FOR Him) for our creation.

Colossians 1:16 (KJV)
16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:

Give Life For

By

On May 14, 2010

In Christian

Colossians 2:13 calls out two characteristics of the work of Jesus Christ, first the Quickener or the one who makes alive a.k.a. the Life giver and second the Forgiver.
What is interesting to note is that in these two functions of the work of God, we are revealed that Jesus Christ is a giver; a LifeGIVER and ForGIVER.

God so loved the world that he GAVE his only begotten son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish (i.e, is FORGIVEN) but have eternal life (i.e., is GIVEN LIFE).
We are forgiven because Jesus was given for us!

Jesus GAVE His LIFE FOR us; the question that remains then is Can we Give Our Life For Him?

Colossians 2:13 (KJV)
13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened [made alive] together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;

Not fail nor forsake until …

By

On May 13, 2010

In Christian

1 Chronicles 28:20 records the charge that king David tell his son Solomon. He counsels his son to be strong and of good courage and to build (do) the temple of God according to the pattern God had written (1 Chronicles 28:19). He tells his son not to be afraid or to lose courage because he avers that God will be with Solomon and that God will not fail nor forsake Solomon until the work of God in building His temple is finished.

Our commission is to reconcile man to God so that their minds are renewed to not conform to the patterns of this world but to the pattern of Jesus Christ, God’s son. We are commissioned to build the temple of God i.e., reconcile man to God so that their bodies (which is the temple of the Living God) are presented as living sacrifices. Unfortunately, many times we are timid and fearful when it comes to acting on this commission. We can however take heart from the words of a king who said that God will not fail nor forsake until the work of building His temple (the people who come to his saving grace) is finished. And more importantly, we can take heart from the words of THE KING of kings, Jesus Christ, who said, “I will never leave (fail) you nor forsake you and lo I am with you even unto the ends of the world” (Hebrews 13:5-6; Matthew 28:20)

1 Chronicles 28:20 (KJV)
20 And David said to Solomon his son, Be strong and of good courage, and do it: fear not, nor be dismayed: for the LORD God, even my God, will be with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until thou hast finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD.

Philippians 1:6 (KJV)
6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

Showing – Knowing God

By

On May 12, 2010

In Christian, Poetic Prompts, Reuben

It is nine years since Sangeetha and I have been married
and as I pondered on times past,
a roller coaster deluged my mind of emotions varied
and memories that eternally last.

I realized how she has always been a good friend,
a sacrificial, caring and loving wife
and an excellent mother with whom I intend
to spend my remaining life.

Now as we go from this year to next,
I pray that we both together
can vow as per the Holy text
To always love one another

And that we may both grow
loving one another; for in doing so
we demonstrate (show) that we know
Jesus Christ, from whom rivers of living water flow.

For Jesus is Love personified
and the only God bonafide
And everyone that loves is born of God from above
and knows God for God is love.

1 John 4:7-8 (KJV)
7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

Eternal life – defined

By

On May 11, 2010

In Christian, Movie Motions

In the movie, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, the storyline is built around the pursuit of what is referred to as the Holy Grail, the chalice from the last supper of Christ and supposedly anyone who drinks of the cup shall live eternally. A true adventurer kind of entertainment, no doubt. It is important for us to recognize that it is not the chalice of Christ, but Christ the source of living water and all who drink of him are the ones who attain eternal life.

In fact, Jesus explicitly defines the meaning of eternal life.  He defines eternal life as follows. “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” (John 17:3). 1 John 5:20 reads “And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.”

Point(s) to ponder:
Do you have eternal life? a.k.a., do you know Jesus Christ and the only true God who sent him?

As the deer panteth

By

On May 10, 2010

In Christian

Psalm 42 begins with the words, “As the deer panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God“. This Sunday at Church, as we sang the familiar song “As the deer panteth for the waters, so my soul longeth after thee, you alone are my heart’s desire and I long to worship thee”, I wondered as to the reasons as to why a deer would pant.

One of the definitions in the Merriam-Webster’s dictionary for the word pant is to long eagerly or yearn. It is often in the context of a feeling that results from some form of physical exertion, usually running. This made me realize that a deer would pant for water when it runs (just as other animals and humans do), either from a predator or due to a need for satisfaction of its thirst.

With this realization, I learn from the scripture that our souls must pant after God as well. This means that we must also be running in order to pant. We must first run from evil, the devil who is like a predatory roaring lion (1 Peter 5:8) and we must run to God as we long to be satisfied. There is no other one, other than Jesus who can satisfy. He said come unto me all ye that are weak and heavy laden and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28). In other words, He was expressing that in Him and only in Him is total satisfaction and until we are satisfied, we must be panting after Him, the source of Living Water (John 4:10-15).

Point(s) to ponder:
Are you/Am I panting after God, the living God?

Psalm 42:1-2 (KJV)
1 As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.
2 My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?

My Personal Lord

By

On May 7, 2010

In Become a Child, Christian, Reuben

When our beloved Reuben (4 year old) is taught to memorize Bible verses, he often questions us (Sangeetha and me) on the meaning of certain words, but recently instead of asking for the meaning of a word, he asked for clarification. We were teaching him Psalm 34 and verse 11 reads “Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD.” Reuben paused and questioned, is it the Lord or is it my Lord? I did not pay that much attention to it at that moment, but answered that it could be “the” Lord or “my” Lord. Then when meditating from the book of Philippians, I noticed that the apostle Paul, refers to Jesus Christ as “my” Lord (Philippians 3:8). This lead to the revelation of the hidden treasure – Paul personalizes Jesus as His own. Reuben, in a sense was asking for the same and we ought to as well. Jesus is the Lord over all, and many believe in him being the Lord, but what matters truly is if one can answer the question, “Is Jesus ‘my’ Lord or not?”  We ought to make Jesus our personal Lord which in other words mean that we must be willing to submit to His personal Lordship.

Now with this revelation, I went and re-read Psalm 34 and was thrilled to learn on what it assures when I substituted the word, “the” with the word “my”. You will understand what I mean when you read below.

1 I will bless my the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2 My soul shall make her boast in my the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.
3 O magnify my the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.
4 I sought my the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.
5 They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.
6 This poor man cried, and my the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of my the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.
8 O taste and see that my the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.
9 O fear my the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.
10 The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek my the LORD shall not want any good thing.
11 Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of my the LORD.
12 What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good?
13 Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.
14 Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.
15 The eyes of my the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.
16 The face of my the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.
17 The righteous cry, and my the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.
18 My The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but my the LORD delivereth him out of them all.
20 He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken.
21 Evil shall slay the wicked: and they that hate the righteous shall be desolate.
22 My The LORD redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate.

Has God stopped working?

By

On May 6, 2010

In Christian

Sometimes it feels like God is not as real as He used to be in times past. Miracles are written off as coincidences and healing as the result of man’s medical accomplishments.

The Gospel according to Matthew, Mark, Luke and John records and tells us what Jesus began to do and teach with his physical body. In fact Luke records in Acts 1:1-2 reads, “The former treatise have I made O The-oph-i-lus, of ALL that Jesus began both to do and teach until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen. The book of Acts (of the apostles) records what Jesus continued to do and teach with his Spiritual body, the Church.

We who believe in the Name of Jesus, who love Him (Theophilus means a lover of God) are sent out (an apostle means being sent out) as lambs among wolves (a world that does not necessarily accept the Lordship of Jesus Christ). Just as the apostles in the time of Jesus on earth were empowered, commanded and chosen, God has empowered us by breathing into us His Holy Spirit (John 20:22), commissioned us (Matthew 28:19) and chosen us (John 15:19) to be his witnesses. This implies that the account that began in the book of Acts is not over yet. We are the empowered; we are the commanded; we are the chosen; we are His apostles; and we are His church; His Spiritual body.  The question then remains, “Is the work of God (Jesus) continuing through us?” Just as Jesus began to do and teach the work and will of God, are we doing and teaching the same? In other words, can it still be said, that Jesus continues to do and teach (with us his Spiritual body) or are we living in such a manner, where the world looks at us (His apostles) and asks “Has God stopped working?”

Acts 1:1-2 (KJV)
1 The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,
2 Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen:

Apple of his eye

By

On May 5, 2010

In Christian

Zechariah 2:8 reads “For thus saith the Lord of hosts; After the glory hath he sent me unto the nations which spoiled (plundered) you: for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye”. This got me thinking as to what it means to be the apple of God’s eye. Little research on the etymology of this idiom “apple of the eye” revealed that this phrase is used to figuratively describe someone very special or precious, who is cherished above all others. The Hebrew word for “apple” (pupil) in Deuteronomy 32:10 is literally “little man” referring to the small reflection you see of yourself when you look into another’s eyes.

Now think about this, if we are the apple of God’s eyes, it implies that God is looking at us so that our reflection is seen in God’s eyes. What a privilege it is to know that we are special and precious and cherished by the God of the universe and those who attempt to hurt us will be akin to those who are touching the apple of God’s eyes.

Our prayer should be that of the Psalmist, who prayed, keep me as the apple of your eye and hide me in the shadow of your wings (Psalm 17:8). We must also recognize that we must guard his teachings as the apple of our eyes and keep his commands so that we may live (Proverbs 7:2). Furthermore, while it is our privilege to be the apple of God’s eyes, let our prayer be that we gaze upon the beauty of the Lord all the days of our life (Psalm 27:4). In other words, our prayers should be that as we look at God’s beauty, He will be reflected in our lives (eyes) i.e., God will be the apple of our eyes and this means He is special and precious and cherished above all others by us.

Zechariah 2:8 (KJV)
8 For thus saith the LORD of hosts; After the glory hath he sent me unto the nations which spoiled you: for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye.

Psalm 27:4 (KJV)
4 One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.

The lame at the King’s table

By

On May 4, 2010

In Christian

When my uncle, Dr. Walter Bobby was visiting us this weekend past, he shared in the Austin Christian Fellowship of India on “Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith” from Hebrews 12:2, and in one part of his message, he mentioned the story of how King David looked at Mephibosheth, his friend Jonathan’s son, who was lame in his feet, as one made in the image of God and that we ought not to judge others. As I pondered upon the story of David and Mephibosheth, the Holy Spirit revealed that the story of Salvation of mankind is represented in this account.

David sought his enemy’s (Saul’s) own because of the covenant he had made with his friend, Jonathan. Jonathan’s son, Mephibosheth was lame in his feet but he had become lame not on account of his own fault, but because he had been dropped as a child. Mephibosheth had reason to fear for his life as David was the king that succeeded Saul, but David tells him not be to afraid and extends his act of kindness and grace to have Mephibosheth be restored in full and to sit at his own (the King’s) table.

God sought the world that had turned to be an enemy of His. He remembered the covenant He made with His friend Abraham, to whom He had promised that the nations will be blessed. We like Mephibosheth, before meeting Jesus, were consumed in sin and in a sense lame as we could not walk in the newness of life. We were doomed to death because the wages of sin is death. Jesus removed the fear of death by extending His kindness and grace, restoring our lives in full measure, and allowing us to sit at the King of kings table and commune with God the Father.

Just as David asked “Is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul, that I may shew him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?”,  Jesus is asking the same, “Is there any that is left, that I may shew him/her kindness?“, and if you are one who has not come under His grace and liberty, He will telling you “Fear not, for I will show you kindness and you shall be restored all, and shall commune with me, The King, at my table continually.”

2 Samuel 9:1-7 (KJV)
1 And David said, Is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul, that I may shew him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?
2 And there was of the house of Saul a servant whose name was Ziba. And when they had called him unto David, the king said unto him, Art thou Ziba? And he said, Thy servant is he.
3 And the king said, Is there not yet any of the house of Saul, that I may shew the kindness of God unto him? And Ziba said unto the king, Jonathan hath yet a son, which is lame on his feet.
4 And the king said unto him, Where is he? And Ziba said unto the king, Behold, he is in the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, in Lodebar.
5 Then king David sent, and fetched him out of the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, from Lodebar.
6 Now when Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, was come unto David, he fell on his face, and did reverence. And David said, Mephibosheth. And he answered, Behold thy servant!
7 And David said unto him, Fear not: for I will surely shew thee kindness for Jonathan thy father’s sake, and will restore thee all the land of Saul thy father; and thou shalt eat bread at my table continually.

Romans 5:8-11 (KJV)
8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.

Page 2 of 3

Previous

Next

Powered by WordPress & Theme by Anders Norén