Hidden (Krypto) Treasures

To get pearls, one must dive deep!

Tag: Light shine before men

Busy Hands for God

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On January 24, 2013

In Christian

The Bible says that we ought to be doers of the word and not mere hearers of it, lest we deceive ourselves (James 1:22). Jesus likened the man who does what he hears of the word of God to be like the wise man who built his house on a rock (solid foundation) (Matthew 7:24). While it is important to recognize that we are saved solely by the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, and not by any of our own works (Ephesians 2:8), we are called to do good works (Ephesians 2:10) – works that glorify God the Father, who is in heaven (Matthew 5:16). We must not only hear, for faith comes by hearing, but upon our response to Christ Jesus’ call, we must be busy in God’s kingdom business, of reconciling man unto God (2 Corinthians 5:20), by doing his will and not our own in our lives (Luke 22:42). In other words, we must act on our faith, by faith, for faith without action is dead (James 2:17)

Points to ponder:
One knows that time is counting when they see the hands of the clock busy and moving. In the same manner, one will know that the time of our life counts when they see our hands busy and moving, working for the Lord Jesus Christ. Let us not waste our lives. Just like the builders in the time of Nehemiah, took on one hand, weapons and with the other carried materials to do the work of God (Nehemiah 4:17), we must take on the word of God (which is the weapon (Sword) of the Spirit) on one hand, and work for the Lord with the other. Jesus’ hands were pierced so ours did not have to be. The least we can do is use our hands to work for him. The word of God and the work of God go hand in hand, and our hands must be busy for God, with both.

Ephesians 2:8-10 (KJV)
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

James 1:22 (KJV)
22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

Proverbs 18:9 (KJV)
9 He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster.

Nehemiah 4:17-18 (KJV)
17 They which builded on the wall, and they that bare burdens, with those that laded, every one with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other hand held a weapon.
18 For the builders, every one had his sword girded by his side, and so builded. And he that sounded the trumpet was by me.

Shining as Diamonds

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On May 13, 2011

In Christian

On our 10 year anniversary, Sangeetha and I pondered over the past decade and were thankful to God for His faithfulness throughout our married life. She said that in every situation of our life, we could clearly see God’s fingerprint and handiwork. She continued “When we start out as Christians, we start out like a diamond in the rough, big and lackluster in our character and with each situation (good or bad, success or failure, especially in our failures), God chips away the character that displeases him to make us more like Him.” Just as a diamond that is not cut, is not considered to be very valuable, so is our life that is untouched and unshaped by God. But when the diamond is cut and shaped, it becomes precious and very valuable. God cuts the bad in us, each time we repent upon our failures and develops in us a character that is reflective of His essence, making us precious and priceless.

It is the clarity of a diamond, that comes with repeated cutting, that gives it, its value. Similarly, it is the clarity (blamelessness) of our lives that matter. We realized that it is better to be a cut and shining diamond in God’s hand, than to be a diamond in the rough, big and lackluster.

Matthew 5:16 (KJV)
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

To be good or not to be

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On January 4, 2010

In Christian

Shakespeare’s soliloquy in Act III, Scene One of his play Hamlet starts with “To be, or not to be – that is the question: …”
The Bible in Micah 6:8 can be paraphrased into something similar, such as “To be good, or not to be  – that is indeed the question”

No one who is good can enter into the kingdom of God, unless they believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, who was murdered for the sins of the world (you and me), who by the power of God the Father who sent Him, rose again on the third day, conquering sin and death, once and for all and is the perfect and final sacrifice (no other sacrifice is needed) accepted by God. It is grace and grace alone that saves and not any works of anyone. No amount of penance and self-inflicted acts of righteousness can save anyone. However, those who are saved by the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, are called to do good works. Jesus said, let your light so shine amongst men, that they may see your good works and glorify God the Father, who is in heaven (Matthew 5:16).

People say, I am waiting for God to show me what he wants me to do? or I do not what the will of the Lord is?  The answer is in the Bible and is quite straightforward. We are called to do good works. We are saved by GRACE (God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense) but are called to do good works. The question then arises, what is good? Micah 6:8 gives us the answer.

That which is good is what God requires of us and that is to

  1. do justly
  2. love mercy and
  3. walk humbly

To do justly is to treat others with fairness, executing justice as God the Righteous judge would rewarding each one according to their deeds (1 Corinthians 3:8).
To love mercy is to be compassionate as God is, slow to anger, abounding in love (Numbers 14:18). Blessed are the merciful for they will be shown mercy (Matthew 5:7).
To walk humbly is to put on the mind of Christ and take the attitude of a servant (Philippians 2:7), diligently waiting on the master (Psalm 123:2), and becoming obedient even unto the death (Philippians 2:8) [of the self, and to sin].

And remember, the litmus test of whether our good works are good or not is in the result. Our good works should not bring us the glory nor praise, but those who see our good works must glorify God the Father in heaven, for the impact our lives have in theirs.

Point(s) to ponder:
Is your life/my life one that glorifies God the Father who is in heaven. In other words, are we doing justly, loving mercy and walking humbly; are we doing good works which is required of us? If not, let’s take a stand to start now! To be good, or not to be – that is indeed the question.

Micah 6:8 (KJV)
8 He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

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