Do Not Fear
I sought the LORD, …He delivered me from all my fears. – Ps 34:4 Fear is the main reason for Christians not reaching their true God given potential in today’s world. Fear of failure, fear of people, fear of demons, fear of gods or satan’s retribution, etc. As the corporate guy said, FEAR is nothing but, False Expectations Appearing Real. When a situation of fear appears most Christians try to work things out rather than seek God. When a child is sick, the first thing we do is call the doctor! Two examples that can get this point across to us clearly. In the first example, a couple in Italy lived an immoral life together, enjoying every day to the fullest with multiple relationships and wild partying. The day the news about AIDS came through to the media, this couple decided that their lifestyle would certainly get them AIDS and they both committed suicide together. The fear of getting AIDS led them to this extreme step.
In another case, a couple who lived a Godly life both lost their jobs within a few days of each other. Being firmly grounded in God’s word, they sought God for his answers and favors. Today both work as a couple in taking God’s message to the unreached and under-privileged. When we planned our first concert for integrating corporate professionals in Chennai under one roof, we were afraid as to whether corporate would turn up. Also, we made a commitment of one lakh rupees to a social service organization. God took away our fear as we prayed and as we neared the program, the money miraculously came in, we gave 1.6 lakh instead of one lakh and the concert was a huge success too.
The quality of your lifestyle depends on the fears you encounter and overcome. A Christian must only fear God out of reverence for him. Every other fear in the world, Jesus has overcome first and hence gives us strength to overcome too. Dear Lord Jesus, I pray that I am delivered from all types and sorts of fear. I believe that You will help me conquer all the fear in my life and truly become what You are chiseling me to be. Amen.
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CCF acknowledges with Thanks to CIM (Christian Institute of Management) for allowing to republish this article by CCF core team member, which originally was published in Management Devotional 2014 of CIM.
Lifestyle of Praise
I will exalt the LORD at all times; His praise will always be on my lips – Ps 34:1 King David practiced what he wrote. In every situation, good or bad, he praised God. When he was in trouble, he praised God. When he won, he praised God. That is why God called him a man after his own heart.
Today, one of the standard reactions of Christians when things don’t work out is to conclude that God has forsaken them. When things go good, God is there but, when things do not go good, God is not there. The good news is that God is always there. The Bible says that God dwells in the praises of His people. We are made to praise God at times. Let me tell you that, this is much easier to preach than to practice.
Let me share about a person who was a model witness to me. He worked in my company and was retrenched from his job. He had a wife and two children and was suddenly jobless. When I expressed regret to him for losing his job, he replied cheerfully to me that, ‘God takes care of me and my family; job is just something to keep me busy’. Later, he got a job in an established company and resurrected his corporate career to a much higher level.
The one thing that has been constant in my life is the desire to be part of fellowships and to both listen and teach the word of God. When I was single, I lead a corporate fellowship at my church and today as a married man, I run a fellowship at my home. As we praise God as a family, God has seen to it that we have not lacked any good thing.
The quality of your lifestyle depends on the quality of your praise.
Make sure that you praise God, no matter what happens and God is sure to lift you up in due time.
Dear Lord Jesus, I praise You not because I want something from You but because I love You. I know that as I praise you, all things will work out for the greater good in my life. Praise You Jesus. Amen.
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CCF acknowledges with Thanks to CIM (Christian Institute of Management) for allowing to republish this article by CCF core team member, which originally was published in Management Devotional 2014 of CIM.
Because God Said
And God said, “Let there be light,“ and there was light – Gen 1: 3 One of the most misused words of today is, “God Said”. Many preachers and teachers use this word to instill a feeling of awe or fear among their followers.
Some have misused this very word to extreme proportions. One of the well documented cases of the misuse of this word is the case of Prophet David Khoresh in the USA. He convinced a group of charismatic youth to indulge in mass suicide saying that, God told him they would all go to heaven. What a misuse of the name of God?
Today’s reading is fundamental for all Christians to understand. God speaks for light to come into existence. If you are in a dark situation, God’s true word will bring light into that dark situation.
I came across a man of God who got the calling to serve in a remote part. He was at that time an assistant pastor in a leading Church in a big city of India. Many of his friends called him a mad man for leaving where there are not even basic facilities. But, he knew the voice he was hearing. Today, God has used him to be a light in that remote place. He may not have the comfort of being in a big city but he is definitely blessed by God.
In my case, God has given me a gift to speak well and I use the gift well in my profession and whenever I get an opportunity to preach. Once it so happened that I went prepared with a message but, God clearly guided me to do another message. I did not understand why at first but, that message was a big source of hope to a young man in the audience.
The question for today is, ‘Is God guiding you?’
The quality of your life will depend on the word God speaks in your life.
Seek him and you will find him. Listen and you will hear him. He will guide you on.
Dear Lord Jesus, speak to me today. I believe that when You speak something to me, it will be done. Speak Lord, your servant is listening. Amen.
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CCF acknowledges with Thanks to CIM (Christian Institute of Management) for allowing to republish this article by CCF core team member, which originally was published in Management Devotional 2014 of CIM.
A Race Worth Running
“…what must I do to inherit eternal life?” – Mk 10: 17 The world we live in today is on big mega race. Everyone is in a mad race to win the race of life. I call it a mad race because several people go mad in order to win the race of life.
On one end, we have a person committing suicide due to fear of failure. On the other, we have a person committing suicide a week after his life’s biggest success. If this is not madness, what is it?
The youth in today’s verse is at least trying to run the right race. He is seeking eternal life from Jesus. Today, nobody is bothered about eternity. If someone can get rich instantly committing a crime (without getting caught), then so be it.
I came across a testimony of a businessman, who said that, he struggles with avoiding bribe. He says, paying bribe is easy but fighting the system is tough. He said that he chooses to fight the system because he knows the fight will be rewarded in eternity.
The young man in today’s reading preferred his wealth to eternity. Jesus teaches us that, if we seek first the Kingdom of God, you will win the heavenly race and also the race here on earth.
Often people question me as to why I do not train on Sundays. They tell me that you are missing out of a good business deal. I reply, ‘I may miss a deal but I win the greater heavenly deal by going to Church on Sunday’. I want to win the race of becoming the best corporate trainer in India and the world but, I also surely want to win the race to get to heaven.
The quality of the life you live depends on the race you run.
Which race are you running?
Let us run the race to be like Jesus in everything.
Dear Lord, help me to run the race You want me to run. Help me to run after things of the Kingdom that will never perish rather than things of this world which will surely perish. Help me win the race to be with You in heaven forever. Amen.
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CCF acknowledges with Thanks to CIM (Christian Institute of Management) for allowing to republish this article by CCF core team member, which originally was published in Management Devotional 2014 of CIM.
The Price of Decisions
She caught him by the cloak and said, “Come to bed with me!” – Gen 39:12 If someone had to take a tough decision, it was Joseph. As the incident mentioned in today’s Bible passage explains, Joseph took a decision to flee from doing evil rather than succumbing to it. In today’s context, we are often in situations where we feel it is easier to do the evil or wrong rather than fleeing from it.
In every walk of life from applying for a driver’s license to receiving an order for a new business, we find that if we are ready to compromise a bit, then things are faster for us. If we pay the required bribe, then the order is given to us. No one cares about the quality of implementation any more. So what if the person can’t drive very well? If he gives me money, I will give him the license to drive. It would have been easy for Joseph to please his masters’ wife by compromising with her. But, he chose the tough path to take a choice that would not please his master’s wife but rather show his servitude to God. Ultimately, Joseph was blessed with a high quality life reserved for the princes of the land because he took a series of right decisions in life which were pleasing to God. As a Christian entrepreneur and professional, ‘Do your decisions please God?’
In the early part of my career as a salesman, I was confronted by a boss who wanted me to pay bribe to a higher official to get an approval. I took a decision that, even if I am to lose my job, I will not pay that bribe. The Lord has blessed me; today I train several salesmen as a corporate trainer. I am able to talk of integrity confidently, because I took a decision not to compromise myself when the best option was perhaps, to compromise.
The quality of your life depends on the Godly decisions you take. Take decisions that will glorify God and God will glorify you among all men. Dear Jesus, help me to have strength to make the right decisions. Teach me that though making choices that please you are tough, You will ultimately bless me if I stand strong for you. Amen.
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CCF acknowledges with Thanks to CIM (Christian Institute of Management) for allowing to republish this article by CCF core team member, which originally was published in Management Devotional 2014 of CIM.