Hidden (Krypto) Treasures

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Category: Christian Page 18 of 169

The Master’s Plan / Cause

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On October 5, 2015

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

Abraham’s eldest servant speaks of how his master had made him swear that he would not take a wife for his son, Isaac from the daughters of the Canaanites, a people that did not follow and worship God. Abraham, the master’s plan was to find a wife for his only beloved son, from his own family and kindred.

Points to ponder:
The bride to be of Christ Jesus (Revelation 19), God’s only begotten Son is not to be of this world that is in enmity with God (James 4:4), but it is the Church, who is the one who follows and worships God, the Master. This is God the Master’s, master plan! Have you believed in Jesus and received him i.e., do you belong to God’s, the Master’s plan?

Genesis 24:36-37 (KJV)
36 And Sarah my master’s wife bare a son to my master when she was old: and unto him hath he given all that he hath.
37 And my master made me swear, saying, Thou shalt not take a wife to my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I dwell:

My Master’s Power and Possessions / Credibility

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On September 23, 2015

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

After recognizing his position as servant, Abraham’s eldest servants starts out by telling the house of Bethuel about the power and possessions of Abraham. He states that “the LORD had blessed his master greatly and that his master is great, who has been given by the LORD, flocks, and herds, and fortunes of silver, and gold, and male- and female-servants, and camels, and donkeys. This not only establishes his master’s possessions, but also the master’s credibility and power (Note, how in the servant’s statement, the word “great” is used not once but twice).

Points to ponder:
Jesus, our Master has been given dominion and authority over all things, for everything is put under his feet and he has been made head of all things for the benefit of the church, by the LORD God (1 Corinthians 15:27; Ephesians 1:22). He is The Master over all persons and things. He is exceedingly great and he alone is God (Psalm 86:10). He is in possession of all things for everything belongs to him – the earth is the LORD’s and the fullness thereof; the world and they that dwell in it (Psalm 24:1). Jesus is not only Powerful but the Possessor of all things.

Often we seek after power and after ephemeral possessions, failing to recognize that when we have Jesus, as our Master and Lord (John 13:13), we have ultimate power and utmost possessions that is eternal, in and through him. Seek Jesus first and his righteousness and then you wont need anything else (Matthew 6:33).

Genesis 24:35 (KJV)
35 And the Lord hath blessed my master greatly; and he is become great: and he hath given him flocks, and herds, and silver, and gold, and menservants, and maidservants, and camels, and asses.

I am (my Master’s) Servant

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On September 22, 2015

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

As the eldest servant of Abraham, refused to eat before he spoke of his master’s mission to the family of Rebekah, the bride sought for his master’s son, Isaac, he starts out by first and foremost identifying himself before speaking of his master. Though he was given authority over all that Abraham had (Genesis 24:2), yet he recognized his place and introduced himself as “I am Abraham’s servant.” (Genesis 24:34).

Points to ponder:
Jesus said that all authority in heaven and earth has been given to him (Matthew 28:18) and He who is in those who believe in Jesus’ name has overcome the world, and is greater than whoever is in the world (1 John 4:4). We are thereby blessed in heavenly places with all spiritual blessings and authority. Yet we ought to recognize our place. We are the sheep, and Jesus is the Chief and Good Shepherd. We are the servant’s and Jesus is our Master. When we introduce ourselves, how do we identify ourselves. Do we say, “I am my Master’s servant”?; Do we say, “I am Jesus’ servant”?

Genesis 24:33-34 (KJV)
33 And there was set meat before him to eat: but he said, I will not eat, until I have told mine errand. And he said, Speak on.
34 And he said, I am Abraham’s servant.

All ye that labor, Come (and live)

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On September 8, 2015

In Christian, Labor Day

On the first Monday of September, annually, America celebrates Labor Day, in commemoration of the American Labor movement, honoring the workers who have contributed to the strength, prosperity and well-being of the country. On this day, both private and public sector offices are closed to give rest to the working people.

The pursuit of rest by man can be dated back to the time of his fall into perdition, in the garden of Eden, for it was only after his fall that he had to labor, to have the cursed ground produce its yield. The only remedy for this tireless pursuit was for the curse to be lifted. When Jesus himself became accursed and willingly laid down his life and died on the cross, the power of the curse of death was lifted from man, with his resurrection. So only in Jesus can one find true rest – rest from their weariness; rest for their souls.

The lyrics of the first stanza of Chris Rice’s song, “Come to Jesus” is as follows: Weak and wounded sinner. Lost and left to die
O, raise your head, for love is passing by. Come to Jesus; Come to Jesus. Come to Jesus and live! This is substantiated Biblically for Jesus said, “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). In other words, “Come to Jesus and find rest for your souls” i.e., Come to Jesus and find life – eternal life.

Points to ponder:
Are you laboring to find rest? Are you weak and heavy laden without any rest? Are you pursuing rest from the weariness in your life. If so, come to Jesus and live.

Matthew 11:28 (KJV)
28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Mission before Meat

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On September 3, 2015

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

When Abraham’s eldest servant is welcomed into the house of Rebekah’s father, Bethuel, he is offered meat (food) for him to eat, but the servant refuses to eat until he has told them the purpose of his Master that had sent him on the mission to find a bride for the master’s son. (Genesis 24:33) In other words, the servant refused to satisfy his personal appetite unless his master’s purpose and mission was satisfied. The servant put his Master’s mission before meat.

Jesus said, that his meat (food) was to do the will of God the Father, who sent him and to finish his work (John 4:34).

Points to ponder:
Are we as servants of God, our Master and Lord (John 13:13), are we willing to put God’s mission of reconciling mankind (bride) with Jesus (the bridegroom) before satisfying our appetite? Just as the unnamed servant put mission before meat and just as Jesus expressed that his meat is to do the will of God the Father and finish his work, can we also put mission before meat until the work of God, in and through us, is finished.

Genesis 24:33 (KJV)
33 And there was set meat before him to eat: but he said, I will not eat, until I have told mine errand. And he said, Speak on.

John 4:34 (KJV)
34 Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.

2nd degree Black Belt – Spiritual Wu Xia

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On August 31, 2015

In Christian, Reuben, Reuben and Ittai, Sangeetha

Family with the Grandmaster

Family with the Grandmaster Sin Kwang Thé

On August 27th, 2015, our beloved 9 year old son, Reuben, and I, tested in front of the Grandmaster Sin Kwang Thé at the North Austin school and earned the 2nd degree Black Belt in Shaolin Do Kung Fu. Together with my wife, Sangeetha and second son, Ittai, as a family, we thank God for making it possible for us to test together and be honored in receiving the double white diamond patches that would go on our black belt.

Wu Xia Patch

Wu Xia Patch

While the test was a mental and physical feat in and of itself, we had to train for a little over 2 years, since August 22nd, 2013 (when we earned our first black belt) before being given the patch as Sin Kwang’s Wu Xia (meaning Warrior).

Shaolin Do Kung Fu Weapons

Shaolin Do Kung Fu Weapons

With the support of my wife (who made sure we were always hydrated and pushing us to practice) and Ittai (who was our cheerleader), Reuben and I put hours into practicing the various long and short forms (Tiger, Crane, Bird, …), self-defense techniques, fighting techniques and weapons (Bo staff, Short stick, Nunchuks, Broadsword, Sai, Kwando, Spears, …) and that training paid off when we passed the test.

Now as I pondered upon what to write for meditation today, I realized I personally do not put in significant amount of time to become a spiritual Wu Xia, training in the defensive techniques of using the shield of faith (Ephesians 6:16) or the offensive techniques of using the sword of the Spirit (which is the word of God – Ephesians 6:17). This needs to change, if I am to earn the patch of being God’s Spiritual Warrior and earn the praise from God himself, which is “You have fought the good fight (of faith) and kept the faith”.

Points to ponder:
I plan and pray that I will be Jesus’, my Savior’s, Spiritual Wu Xia. What about you?

2 Timothy 4:7-8 (KJV)
7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

P.S: For those interested, video links of clips from our 2nd degree Black belt are given below:
Tiger Forms Clips – https://youtu.be/PfqSXcfrd0w
Spear Forms Clips –  https://youtu.be/2PPjCoeGmik

Come in, thou blessed of the LORD

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On August 27, 2015

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

When Laban, Rebekah’s brother runs to meet the eldest servant of Abraham, he invites the servant into his father’s house, using the words, “Come in, thou blessed of the LORD.” (Genesis 24:31) The servant agrees and goes into their house and tells them of God’s goodness to him and how God was merciful and truthful to his master Abraham (Genesis 24:27) Although, it is likely that Laban could have equated the jewelry that was given to his sister by this servant as a sign of God’s blessings on the servant, it is not explicitly stated as to the why Laban felt that this servant was blessed of the LORD. However, the fact of the matter is that this servant was recognized as on blessed of the LORD.

Points to ponder:
The Bible says that we have been blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ – chosen to be holy and blameless in love; predestinated for adoption into God’s family; and accepted in the beloved (Son of God, with whom God is well pleased) in whom we are redeemed by his blood; forgiven of our sins, according to the riches of his grace (Ephesians 1:3). Now then, the question that remains is, “Do we conduct ourselves in a manner befitting those who are blessed of the Lord. In other words, if someone sees us, will they notice that we are indeed “blessed of the LORD” and invite us into their lives, so that we can tell them of God’s mercy and truth, goodness and grace.

Genesis 24:31 (KJV)
31 And he said, Come in, thou blessed of the Lord; wherefore standest thou without? for I have prepared the house, and room for the camels.

Ephesians 1: 3-7 (KJV)
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

Desperately Searching for and Seeking God

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On August 24, 2015

In Christian, Ittai, Reuben and Ittai, Sangeetha

The morning of August 23rd, 2015 (Sunday), my wife, Sangeetha, and I were in the washroom upstairs, getting ready for the day and had the door shut, so that it would not disturb our 3 and a half year old son, Ittai who was sleeping in the adjoining bedroom. Ittai was not aware that we were in the washroom and when he woke up, he went downstairs looking for us. Unaware that we were upstairs, he starting calling for his mom, me and his brother, Reuben, who had stayed overnight at the Gymnastic team camp. Not finding any of us, he started to cry (possibly out of fear and worry). Hearing his cry, my wife and I ran downstairs and found him vehemently weeping. Sangeetha immediately reached out to him and gave him a hug and it took both us quite an effort to console and comfort Ittai, who kept weeping in our arms. We assured him that we will never leave him alone and even if something was to happen to us, Jesus will never ever leave him alone. After much talk he finally stop crying and was comforted.

Come to think of that incident, later in the day, during our family prayer time, Sangeetha shared with Reuben, how thankful we need to be to God, for family, as there are many children in the world (in war zones, etc.) who have lost their parents and orphaned, with no one to console them when they are crying. This is what came to her mind when she saw Ittai crying. On the other hand, as I pondered over the incident, I realized that we ought to be like Ittai, when it came to our heavenly Father God. We must desperately search for him and seek him while he may be found (Isaiah 55:6). We can also be assured that, Jesus, promised that he will be with us even unto to ends of the age, never leaving us nor forsaking us, no matter how fearful and worrisome the situation is.

Points to ponder:
Until one finds Father God, they must desperately search for him and seek him. The good news is that God the Father is eagerly waiting and looking for all the prodigal sons and daughters to return to him. God would never leave us alone. We will never be orphans in God’s family. Seek and ye shall find (God). In him, you will find true consolation and comfort. Are you desperately searching and seeking God?

Isaiah 55:6 (KJV)
6 Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:

Proverbs 8:17 (JKV)
17 I love them that love me; and those that seek me early (diligently) shall find me.

What’s the reason for (your) running?

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On August 20, 2015

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

People run – they run toward or from something or some goal, they run for a cause like to be fit, they run by opportunities…

My good brother and believer in the Lord, Patrick Pitchappa, was a member of the Goldman Sachs Mixed running team that won the gold medal in the prestigious Puma Urban stampede event in August 2015. He was also named the running Ambassador in the 2012 Hyderabad Marathon. I asked him the question, “Why do you run?” and his response was in addition to the obvious physical health benefits, when he runs, he feels that it connects him closer to our Creator God. He quotes one verse after all his runs from Psalm 139:14 which states, “I praise you (God) because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” In other words, Patrick was expressing that not only was he running to be physically fit, but more importantly to be spiritually fit, as well. Eric Liddell, Scottish missionary to China and winner of the 400 meters event in the 1924 Olympics in Paris, refused to run his more favored event of 100 meters because it was going to be on a Sabbath, choosing God over gold. As an heptathlon athlete, I ran during my high school years in several intra- and inter-school events, sprinting in individual events, winning the gold medal or in relay races with a team, enduring to win. I now run to be physically fit and for conditioning the body to be fit to do Shaolin Do Kung Fu with our beloved firstborn son, Reuben. So while there may be many reasons as to why people run, the fact of the matter is people run.

In the Bible, we see accounts of people running as well. The Father of the prodigal son ran toward his returning son (Luke 15:20). Elijah, God’s true prophet ran faster than king Ahab’s chariot (1 Kings 18:44-46) when God’s power came upon him. David ran toward the giant Goliath before winning the battle for Israel in the Name of the Lord (1 Samuel 17:48,51). Ahimaaz, the son of Zadok the high priest ran irrespective of what the outcome could be (2 Kings 18:19-28).

In the account of the eldest servant of Abraham, seeking a wife for Isaac, his the master’s son, we see that the servant ran to fulfill the master’s mission (Genesis 24:17), while Rebekah the wife-to-be ran to serve the servant (Genesis 24:18-20) and her brother Laban ran to invite the servant into their household (Genesis 24:29-30).

Cursorily it may seem that Laban the brother of Rebekah was an extremely hospitable man as was the custom of that day and age, however, with the Bible completely canonized by the Holy Spirit of God, with deeper scrutiny, we have more insights into Laban’s character. Laban beguiled his nephew Jacob by giving Leah his first daughter in marriage instead of Rachel the second daughter as promised (Genesis 29). Laban agreed quickly to Jacob’s proposal when he felt that it would be more favorable for him in the distribution of the sheeps and goats (Genesis 30-31). These accounts, in addition to the record that Laban ran after he saw the jewelry (earrings and bracelet) that the servant of Abraham had given to his sister Rebekah indicates that he was likely driven to run for selfish gain instead of a sense of serving or hospitality.

Points to ponder:
You and I may be running toward, or from, or for, something or someone. What are we running for? Are we running to fulfill our Master’s mission (John 13:13) i.e., God’s mission? Are we running to serve as people of God? or Are we running for personal gain? What is the reason for (your) running?

Genesis 24: 29-30 (KJV)
29 And Rebekah had a brother, and his name was Laban: and Laban ran out unto the man, unto the well.
30 And it came to pass, when he saw the earring and bracelets upon his sister’s hands, and when he heard the words of Rebekah his sister, saying, Thus spake the man unto me; that he came unto the man; and, behold, he stood by the camels at the well.

Hebrews 12:1-2 (KJV)
1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

The first and right response upon success

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On August 17, 2015

In Christian

Genesis 24:26-27 records the response of the eldest servant of Abraham, who was on the mission to find a wife for Abraham’s son, Isaac. When he finds Rebekah to be the one, the very first thing the servant does is he bowed down his head and worshipped the Lord exclaiming that it was the Lord God who was the source of and reason for his success (Genesis 24:26-27).

Points to ponder:
Many a times, when we are faced with success, we often tend to forget that it is because of the hand of God that we can enjoy the sweetness of success. Some even write it off as the result of their hard work and skill and others tend to attribute their success foolishly to fate or coincidence. From this account we can learn that the first and right response upon success – any kind of success – is to bow down and worship the Lord for he is the source of and reason for our success i.e, it is the Lord who leads you and me to success. How do you deal with success?

Genesis 24:26-27 (KJV)
26 And the man bowed down his head, and worshipped the Lord.
27 And he said, Blessed be the Lord God of my master Abraham, who hath not left destitute my master of his mercy and his truth: I being in the way, the Lord led me to the house of my master’s brethren.

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