Hidden (Krypto) Treasures

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Tag: Imitators of God

Holy life not Holey life

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On February 21, 2013

In Christian

As followers of God (Ephesians 6:1), God has called us to be Holy because he is Holy (1 Peter 1:15-16).

John Bunyan, Christian writer and preacher who is renowned for his acclaimed book, “The Pilgrim’s Progress” is attributed to have said “One leak will sink a ship: and one  sin will destroy a sinner.” True, it just takes one hole to sink a ship in the physical world. It is likewise in our spiritual life as well. God says through his prophet Ezekiel that the soul that sins shall die (Ezekiel 18:4, 20) and all have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory (Romans 3:23). In other words, unless the Savior Jesus Christ, mends our holey (sinful) lives, we will sink in the miry pit of sin (Psalm 40:2) that will drown us in death (Romans 6:23).

Point to ponder:
While the grim message of God through the prophet Ezekiel was a proclamation of the death sentence on all mankind because that the soul that sins shall die, the sacrificial death of God’s Only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, brings hope to this hopeless situation, for his death was for us, in our place. When we believe in Jesus Christ, God’s gift to us is eternal life (John 3:16).

God says, Repent and Remember and Return to me. Let us repent. In other words, let our message to Jesus Christ be SOS (Save Our Soul) for when we repent and confess with our mouths, he is faithful and just to cleanse us of all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). In other words, he is willing and will mend the holes in our life.

We are called to live a Holy life and not a Holey life. Let us live according to what God has called us to, for He is Holy.

1 Peter 1:14-16 (KJV)
14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:
15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;
16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

Be a star or a moon?

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On February 17, 2012

In Christian

Would you rather be a star or a moon? A star radiates light from itself. For example, the sun is a star and it emits light. A moon on the other hand reflects the light from another source, like another star. The moon of the earth radiates the light from the sun in our solar system.

Many a times, we try very hard to be a star that the world would see and admire, while all the time, we ought to be like the moon, radiating the radiance of the Son of God, Jesus Christ. Dearly beloved, let us be imitators of Jesus Christ.

Points to ponder:
To be a star is akin to trying to be God.
To be a moon is akin to being an imitator of God.
Would your rather be a star or a moon?

Ephesians 5:1-2 (ESV)
1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.
2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us andgave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Seek, Save and Serve – Attitude of servitude

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On October 2, 2009

In Christian

Jesus came not only to Seek the lost and to Save the lost (Luke 19:10), but also to serve God and His people. Jesus served God and none other as is evident in his confrontation with Satan wherein He verbally expressed that one should worship the Lord God and Him Only shalt one serve (Luke 4:8). Jesus also came to serve man and He demonstrated this by washing His disciple’s feet and affirming that He (the Son of man) came not to be served but to serve (Matthew 20:28)

And as imitators of Jesus Christ (Ephesians 5:1) we are to do the same, seek the lost, save the lost and serve God and one another.

The questions that remain then are this! How are we to serve Serve God? and How are we to serve one another? The Scripture gives us the answer. We are to serve God with a perfect heart and a willing mind. (1 Chronicles 28:9) and we are to serve one another with humility as Jesus demonstrated by washing the feet of his disciples (John 13:1-14).

What is our attitude of servitude? Is it with a perfect heart, a willing mind and a humble Spirit?

1 Chronicles 28:9 (KJV)
9 And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.

John 13:14 (KJV)
14 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.

Lessons from Zacchaeus – a Savior’s mission

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On October 1, 2009

In Christian, Zacchaeus and Jesus

In the account that records Jesus’ encounter with Zacchaeus (Luke 19), once Jesus, the Savior assures the gift of salvation for the sinner Zacchaeus (verse 9), he continues on to say that “the Son of man (talking about Himself) came into this world to seek and to save that which is lost”. In other word’s, Jesus verbally expresses here the Savior’s mission, which is to ensure that no one is lost (separated from God), but that all who are astray will be first sought and then saved. (2 Peter 3:9)

What a wonderful thing it is for us to realize that even those who do not seek the only God and Savior, Jesus Christ, are being sought by Him and those who are lost will be saved when they recognize His sovereignty and Lordship as Zacchaeus did (verse 8).

Now the Bible also counsels us that we ought to be imitators (mirror images) of Jesus (Ephesians 5:1), which means that the Savior’s mission which is to seek and save, should be the same mission of all of his servants (you and me who know Jesus as Lord and Savior).

The questions that remain then are this –
Are we carrying on the Savior’s mission as he would expect us to?
Are we seeking and saving those who are lost?

Luke 19:10 (KJV)
10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

Ephesians 5:1 (NIV)
1 Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children

God’s Mirror

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On June 27, 2009

In Christian

Reuben, my beloved son, when he was about 2 years old, asked Sangeetha, my beloved wife, as to why he cannot see God? That question provoked in us a thought that I felt was interesting. Why cannot we see God?
God made us in His own image (with his attributes and characteristics) and when people see us, they should be seeing God in us. We are not God, but we must be his mirror, a reflection of his glory to those who seek to see God. Reuben should be seeing God in us (his dada and mama). It was a call to attention for us, to try to live in a Christ-like manner, a life of LOVE, GIVING and SACRIFICE, so that he may see God through us.

Paul writes that we must “Be IMITATORS (mirror images) of God” Did you realize that we are indeed God’s Mirror. If people were seeking to see God, do they see God in us?

Point(s) to ponder:
A little girl was once in a quandary. She asked her mother, “Isn’t God big?” and her mom replied, “Yes”. She then asked, “Aren’t we small in comparison to God” and her mom replied “Yes, we are”. Then she expressed a notable truth – “If God is big, and we are small and God lives in us, shouldn’t He show through?” Think about it. Does God show through your life?

Ephesians 5:1-2 (NIV)
1 Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children
2 and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

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