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The Role model Father

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On June 22, 2015

In Christian, Father's Day

It is Father’s day in the year of the Lord 2015 and we celebrated Father’s day by starting our day in his presence and meditating on his Word. Being blessed with a wonderful wife (Sangeetha) and two sons (Reuben and Ittai) who are gifts from above, I am highly favored by the Lord. In the evening we went skating and watching movies and I felt so loved and grateful to God for my family and life.

On Father’s day, many recognize their earthly fathers and I wondered if I was by any chance a role model. As my mind pondered, I was thinking about Abraham as a Father and if he could be a role model to us now. The very thought of being willing to sacrifice your own son, whom you love, was indeed a hard pill to swallow and I quickly wrote Abraham off, as a role model – one whom I would not want to follow – dreading at the very thought that I would miserably fail the test of Abraham, if I was placed in such a predicament. Then I realized (which I believe was by the prompting of the Holy Spirit) that Abraham was able to go through that test because he knew the very nature of God.

Abraham was willing to sacrifice his own son to demonstrate his love for God, because he recognized and knew that God as The Father was also willing to sacrifice his only begotten Son (Jesus Christ) to demonstrate his love for man. God demonstrated his great love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ Jesus his Only begotten Son, who was given for us, was sacrificed for us (Romans 5:8; John 3:16; Hebrews 10:10).

Points to ponder:
The real Role model Father is not Abraham, but God the Father himself. Are you and I willing to follow The Role Model – God, Our Father? He is a father to the fatherless (Psalm 68:5) and our Abba, Father.

In thy Seed – all the nations of the earth be blessed

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On June 18, 2015

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

In the covenant that the Lord God makes with Abraham for his obedience, God promises to not only bless him but also lets him know that he will be a blessing and through him will come The Seed by whom all nations of the earth shall be blessed.

Though Isaac was the immediate child of Abraham, Apostle Paul identifies that the Seed refers to none other than Jesus Christ himself (Galatians 3:16). The Bible also teaches us that Jesus Christ in the hope of all nations (Matthew 12:21) and Jesus Christ IN us is the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27). We also learn from the Holy Scripture that those who have trusted IN Christ Jesus as their Savior, Master, King, and LORD are a new creation – no longer cursed and under the penalty, but blessed with life eternal (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Points to ponder:
Is Jesus Christ, ‘The Seed’ sowed in your life or in other words is Christ Jesus, the hope of glory, by and through whom, all of the nations of the earth is blessed, in you, germinating to make your life fruitful for God’s purpose. And equally important it is for you to answer – Are you in Christ Jesus? Have you trusted in Him – The Seed of Abraham.

Genesis 22:18 (KJV)
18 And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.

Possessing the gate

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On June 17, 2015

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

When the Lord God blessed Abraham for his obedience, he ended his blessing by stating “and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies.” (Genesis 22:17). This may seem odd in our current generation but during the Biblical times, cities were fortified and the gate was the only way in and out of the city. Additionally it was at the gate where the people from outside the city would engage in trade, commerce and exchange, making the gate a marketplace (2 Kings 7:1) and a storeroom (Nehemiah 12:25). When disputes of trade arose, the gate also became a place where these disputes were settled and thus a place of justice (Amos 5:15). At times, the king would come and sit at the gate to settle disputes and listen to the people (2 Samuel 19:8; 1 Kings 22:10).

Thus to possess the gate of one’s enemies means to not only be in a position that controlled trade, commerce, and exchange, but also indicated that the person who possessed the gate was one who could deliver justice and had authority as a king.

Points to ponder:
Jesus Christ the Seed of Abraham (Galatians 3:16) traded his own righteousness for our unrighteousness by settling the dispute of sin and death with his salvation, so that we can enter through the one gate (him) into God’s Holy presence. As the King of kings, he sits at the right hand of God, possessing the keys of the gate of hades and death (Revelation 1:18), his enemies. The promise given to Abraham of his seed (note singular) possessing the gate of his enemies, comes true in Jesus Christ.

Genesis 22:17 (KJV)
17 That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;

As the stars of the heaven, as the sand upon the seashore

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On June 15, 2015

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

Genesis 22:17 records the blessing that God assured Abraham, for he had obeyed the voice of God and acted on God’s command to sacrifice his own son, Isaac, whom he loved. God says that he will have multiplied blessings and that his seed will be multiplied as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore.

Note first that the heaven mentioned here is singular. ‘The heaven’ is from where God reigns (Isaiah 66:1) and the stars in the bible not only refers to the angelic beings (Job 38:7) celestial sons of God (Job 1:6) but also those who are wise who turn many to righteousness (witnesses of God) (Daniel 12:3) – the heaven born sons of God i.e., believers. In this sense, the stars refer to spiritual children of Abraham, those born from above (John 3:3; 3:7), who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and who are adopted into God’s family, through The Seed of Abraham (referring to Jesus – Galatians 3:16). Additionally, this blessing speaks of the innumerability of Abraham’s children through Isaac and Jacob, through whom the nation of Israel (physical children of Abraham) comes into being. From dust (sand) was man made and the physical children of Abraham will be like the sand upon the sea shore (land).

Points to ponder:
Many of us who are not born a Jew, but instead a Gentile, would not be like the sand upon the sea shore, but instead we can be like the stars upon the heaven. In other words. we who are born from above, and who are witnesses for Jesus, proclaiming his life-changing gospel to turn many to righteousness, will be like the stars – the spiritual children of Abraham through Jesus Christ. Are you a star? Are you born again? Are you born from above?

Genesis 22:17 (KJV)
17 That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;

Multiplied Blessings Indeed

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On May 21, 2015

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

The first part of Genesis 22:17 reads “That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed …” What does this mean? This means, God is expressing with assurance that he will bless Abraham and multiply his seed most certainly. Why? Because Abraham listened and obeyed to the word of God to sacrifice his son, Isaac, whom he loved (Genesis 22:16).

Points to ponder:
God’s assurance of blessing and multiplying you is assured when we listen and heed to his voice of offering our lives as a living sacrifice –  living for him, sacrificing our own – and that assurance is not merely in word, but indeed. You can be certain of multiplied blessings indeed. Simply Obey.

Genesis 22:!5-17 (KJV)
16 And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the Lord, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son:
17 That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed

“By myself have I sworn” – what does that mean

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On May 19, 2015

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

When God assures Abraham of his blessings because of Abraham’s obedience to him, God swears by himself. Genesis 22:16 starts as follows “And (the Lord) said, By myself have I sworn (promised or vowed)” What does this signify? Hebrews 6:13 gives the answer to this. It reads “For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself,” This phrase signifies not only the greatness of God, but establishes the fact that there is no one greater.

Points to ponder:
Our God is a great God and he does wondrous things (Psalm 86:10) and in blessing you and me, if he had to swear by someone, he would have to swear by himself, for there is no on greater than him.

Genesis 22:16 (KJV)
16 And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the Lord, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son:

Hebrews 6:13-17 (KJV)
13 For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself,
14 Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee.
15 And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.
16 For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife.
17 Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath:

Psalm 86:10 (KJV)
10 For thou art great, and doest wondrous things: thou art God alone.

 

Out of heaven a second time

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On May 18, 2015

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

Genesis 22:15-18 records the conversation God had with Abraham after God had stopped Abraham from sacrificing his own son, Isaac. The Bible records that the Lord called unto Abraham out of heaven a second time. What I want us to focus today is the phrase “out of heaven a second time.” God calls out to his people, not once but twice.

When God called Abraham the second time, he announced that in Abraham’s seed, speaking of Jesus (Galatians 3:16), all of the nations of the earth will be blessed. God however kept silent when his only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, was sacrificed, because by the death of Jesus, are all nations of the earth blessed with eternal life. In other words, the first time God called Abraham, he called to save Abraham’s son, Issac, and then the second time God called Abraham, he called to save and announce of the salvation of all mankind (blessing to every nation).

Points to ponder:
Do you and I listen and heed to the calling of God, any time he calls?

Genesis 22:15-18 (KJV)
15 And the angel of the Lord called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time,
16 And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the Lord, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son:
17 That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;
18 And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.

Where is Jehovahjireh?

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On May 14, 2015

In Christian

The place where Abraham was provided a ram to sacrifice in place of his son, he called “Jehovahjireh” meaning that “In the mount of the Lord it shall be seen.” God made provision for a ram to be made available to Abraham on a mount in the land of Moriah (Genesis 22:2) for the sacrifice. On a mount, God showed Abraham the sacrificial ram.

Points to ponder:
On the mount that looked like a skull a.k.a. Golgotha (in Hebrew) commonly known as Calvary, God showed us his provision of salvation for all of mankind, by providing his only begotten son – the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. On mount Golgotha, salvation was seen. The real place that can be called Jehovahjireh is mount Golgotha i.e., Calvary. At calvary, you will see the provision of the Lord as he is the provider. Do you believe in Jesus, God’s salvation who is seen on the Cross on the mount of the Lord.

Genesis 22:14 (KJV)
14 And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the Lord it shall be seen.

Threefold cord – Tied together

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On May 12, 2015

In Anniversary (Wedding), Christian, Marriage, Sangeetha

May 12, 2015 – Fourteen years since my beloved wife, Sangeetha Johnson, and I took our vows before God to be unified and as we celebrate our anniversary, I thank our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, for his grace and guidance in our lives, consistently and constantly. The Bible says that a threefold cord is not quickly broken (Ecclesiastes 4:12) and so I know for certain, that despite my lusts after worldly pleasures and selfish desires, it is solely because of Jesus Christ, the third cord, who binds us together, that we can celebrate fourteen years of being tied together. Sangeetha, emulates the love of Christ not merely by words, but by action.

So as the singer Cliff Richards aptly put it, we remind ourselves this day and pray the following:
You and me and Jesus, Jesus me and you,
On our own, we’d break, with Him, we will make it through
Jesus, take us make us, what you want us both to be
I give myself to her, She gives herself to me.

Points to ponder:
A threefold cord is not quickly broken. Is Jesus intertwined in your life so that you and your relationships are not quickly broken?

Ecclesiastes 4:12 (KJV)
12 And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

God our Mother

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On May 11, 2015

In Christian, Mothers Day

For some, the title of this article may seem absurd, but there is a point to be made. Having said that, this article is not about speculating on the gender of God as much as it is to get a glimpse of the character of God, which is not confined to merely one of the two genders, as we know about (male and female).  While most references to God is as God the Father, the Bible at times portrays God as a mother as well. In fact, God is Spirit when he created man, the Bible establishes that God created man in his own image, both male AND female, he created them.

Growing up in India, one of the familiar sights in the streets of the village of Malkangiri that I grew up was the sight of hens and chicks roaming the streets. These cute little chicks would follow their mother hen, strutting about and whenever they would sense any kind of danger, they would huddle and scamper under their mother. The mother hen would often spread its wings to cover and protect her baby chicks.

On May 10, 2015, we celebrated Mother’s day in honor of our mothers … and as I pondered about what to write, I learned that God our Father, considers himself to be like our mother as well. Jesus himself establishes this motherly character of God, when he spoke of himself/God and questioned, “how often would I have gather your children together, even as a hen gathers her chickens under her wings (Matthew 23:37)”.

Points to ponder:
So this Mothers day and in all to come, let us remember to honor our earthly mothers, but more importantly, let us remember to recognize and honor God above all.

Matthew 23:37 (KJV)
37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!

Psalm 91:4 (KJV)
4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

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