Paid in FULL!!!!
It’s that time of the year when we begin to start getting our investments right to save some tax so that our income will reach us!!. Yes, I’m talking about the investments for saving income tax. I was just updating the details on my company website, when I found out that couple of receipts of insurance was missing!!!
How could that be??…I had reminders in place and also bill pay set up through my banking website, but still, I was not able to locate the receipts. Having confirmed that I had not paid the amount due for the year, I rushed to the branch with my worst fears of penalties to be paid with interest and ensuring that the policy was in force, so that I can derive the benefits due.
I reached out to the clerk at the front desk and when I told her my policy no, she replied to my utter disbelief – ‘Your policy is paid in FULL’ – no further payments required and it will mature in 2016. What!!!!, I just couldn’t believe my ears and insisted on checking it again and to prove it, she pulled out a print out of the policy details, which said ‘PAID IN FULL’.
What a similarity to what the Lord Jesus had done for us on the cross many years back – He paid up for our sins in FULL, so that we need not run from pillar to post, to cross check, but just to believe and be saved!!!. But in spite of the payment being made in FULL, we still keep searching and not understanding on what He has done for us.
The message is clear that our Lord Jesus had paid in FULL at the cross when He said (John 19:30) ‘It is finished’. So, let’s not be worried and not certain of what the Lord Jesus has given us and let us rest in the assurance of the cross on which he paid in FULL!!! Amen
Awesome God
To begin with – Lets have a few facts related to some of God’s creations.
SNAILS have 14175 teeth laid along 135 rows on their tongue. A BUTTERFLY has 12,000 eyes. DOLPHINS sleep with 1 eye open. A BLUE WHALE can eat as much as 3 tonnes of food everyday, but at the same time can live without food for 6 months. The EARTH has over 12,00,000 species of animals, 3,00,000 species of plants & 1,00,000 other species. Before I got an email on the internet – I did not know a butterfly has 12000 eyes. WOW !How awesome are God’s creations.
God does not bluff us when the Bible says in Genesis 1:31 “And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good”. He is very sure he is right. In fact he is right about all that he made, everything was good and remains good, except his best creation man. Man failed him then at the Garden of Eden & continues to fail him today.
In my opinion, every single man or woman who fails to realize his /her God given plan is failing God. He has send us Prophets, Saints , Apostles & his son Jesus, all to remind us of the fact that “We are God’s best creation” and today he is sending you this message through me.The message is that “We (man) are the only creation of God that has a pre-defined plan for his/her arrival on this earth” . God planned your parents, work, ministry & every single thing you are supposed to do on this earth. But, we choose to look at our own selves for planning rather than God. If only we could look to God for our plans, we would then work on God’s plan for us rather than our own plan for us.
I agree, I have difficulty in following what I am preaching right now. When it comes to preaching, I really look for God’s plan for my sermon/talk /message but, I am less inclined to look for God’s plan in the other things that I do in my life. I am seriously working on my self to be able to look for God’s plan in everything I plan. I pray, I shall soon be able to get there and so do each one of you reading this article.
I would like to encourage you today to remember the fact that “You are God’s best creation” & he God send his son to remind you of this fact. Never think that something is impossible for you. If it is within God’s will for you – Nothing is impossible for you. You only need to know if it is in God’s will for you.If you are going as per God’s plan, the world may say something is impossible but it’s definitely possible for you.
Let us all wake up to the fact that, We are an awesome creation of an awesome God.
God Bless You.
God is Good
Taste and see that the Lord is Good Ps34:8
Most familiar verse from the Bible even a child will recite it effortlessly. Does that make this verse as simple as it looks? The interesting question here, is King David telling us that the Lord is good as he was escaping from king Achish of whom he was afraid? Taste does not mean test. Test and experience are two different actions based on our strength of Faith. I would like to share with you the positive side of Faith, which is experiencing it. Consider Ps 62:5 “For my expectation is from Him.”(KJV) What is your expectation for June? It could be anything according to your needs. But where are you looking at, to get it for you. You can look forward to people or whatever your rational mind suggests. But have you applied your faith and expected it to come from the Lord? That is how David could declare God is good even when he was fleeing for his life. Through the life threatening situation he experienced the goodness of God. Many times we give higher status to earthly resources through critical times, than we do to God. If you trust on the unchangeable God and receive your need, then you have experienced that the Lord is good. The situation may be totally negative but still you can experience the Goodness of God if you obey and practice His word.
Psalms 115:12 “The Lord has been mindful of us; he will bless us.” Every one of us in our life time has gone through or could be going through loneliness. I do not mean physical loneliness but mental or emotional loneliness. You may have everything like father mother or you may be living with your wife/husband or living with children. But in spite of all this relationship you may feel lonely and may not be able to share your inner feelings. This loneliness is not unique to us but prophet like Elijah was not spared. The word of the Lord came to him “what are you doing here Elijah?” Then he expresses his loneliness that the Israelites have rejected your covenant and put your prophets to death and I am the only one left and now they are after me (1 Kings 19:10). From his answer it is clear he was going through loneliness and the fear of death. Are you feeling left alone in the midst of your family, friends or at work place. If you can claim the promise and believe (cast all your anxiety on Him because he cares for you 1 Peter5:7)) with all your heart, and the Lord is mindful of you and he will come to bless you, that is where you experience the goodness of God.
Isaiah 30:18 “For the Lord is a God of Justice.”You are a person of integrity and honesty before God and men. But you miss increments your promotion, unexpected loss, or fail to get children admitted in good school. Our human nature says why me, not others. Do not be disheartened. “Blessed are those who wait on the Lord. He will restore what you have lost in double measure. In the month of June you will enjoy the double portion of His goodness. God bless you.
BLOOD
One night in a church service a young woman felt the tug of God at her heart. She responded to God’s call and accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior.
The young woman had a very rough past, involving alcohol, drugs, and prostitution. But, the change in her was evident. As time went on she became a faithful member of the church. She eventually became involved in the ministry, teaching young children. It was not very long until this faithful young woman had caught the eye and heart of the pastor’s son.
The relationship grew and they began to make wedding plans. This is when the problems began. You see, about one half of the church did not think that a woman with a past such as hers was suitable for a pastor’s son. The church began to argue and fight about the matter. So they decided to have a meeting.
As the people made their arguments and tensions increased, the meeting was getting completely out of hand. The young woman became very upset about all the things being brought up about her past. As she began to cry the pastor’s son stood to speak. He could not bear the pain it was causing his wife to be. He began to speak and his statement was this: “My fiancée’s past is not what is on trial here. What you are questioning is the ability of the blood of Jesus to wash away sin. Today you have put the blood of Jesus on trial. So, does it wash away sin or not?”
The whole church began to weep as they realized that they had been slandering the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. Too often, even as Christians, we bring up the past and use it as a weapon against our brothers and sisters. Forgiveness is a very foundational part of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. If the blood of Jesus does not cleanse the other person completely then it cannot cleanse us completely. If that is the case, then we are all in a lot of trouble.
What can wash away my sins?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus! End of case!!!!
One day at a time
Many a times, we are overwhelmed as we consider, “How am I to be consistent in my walk with the LORD?” Today, it seems okay; but how about next week, when I travel to onsite? New contacts and new surroundings pose threateningly. How do I survive among my colleagues, who do not share my beliefs?
When I go to my home town and meet my old friends, how do I manage? How do I survive from being unspotted by the world, when I go on a vacation? Today, I feel strong in the LORD and serve the LORD – I preach, sing & pray; but how about tomorrow? Will I be able to stand till the end?
Many of us are stumped when we consider the deliverables and deadlines we have to meet. It seems so paramount and unreachable! We spend our time worrying about our goals and targets. We wonder if we will come up against some obstacle that has not been foreseen or estimated, during the project planning phase.
Yet others worry about their family – wife and children. My wife pesters me about her career growth – she had a break when we had a baby this year. She also raises concern about my ‘peanut’ salary increments, in spite of having put in many a long ‘n stretched working hours. My kids are getting ill often; how will they fare in the exam?
Dear friends, be it our personal spiritual life, our family life or our work life; we tend to worry and waste today as we think about tomorrow!
Shall we listen to what the Lord Jesus Christ has to say about this?
- Consider the following logic – to discourage ourselves from worrying about tomorrow:
Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? (Matthew 6:27)
On the contrary, by worrying we loose many a single hour! As we gain nothing by worrying, why worry?
The secret to ‘Quit Worrying’ is to know the nature and mind of God, our Creator towards us concerning our diverse needs.
- Know that God, your heavenly Father knows your needs!
…your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. (Matthew 6:8)
…your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. (Matthew 6:32)
Now, hear the counsel of God on what we need to do after we quit worrying and know the nature of God!
- Aim at and strive after maintaining at first, a right relationship with the LORD God your Savior and then, at also spreading the Good News about the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ to the needy around you.
…seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. (Matthew 6:33)
Bonus! You get a bonus when you are right with God and are involved in the extension of His kingdom! All things that you were worried about initially are sorted out. When God takes the rightful place in your life, everything else falls into place – like a jigsaw puzzle.
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. (Mathew 6:34)
Remember, the good old song ‘One day at a time’?
I’m only human – I’m just a man
Help me to believe in all I could be
And all that I am
Show me the stairway I have to climb
Lord for my sake, teach me to take
One day at a time
One day at a time, sweet Jesus
That’s all I’m asking from You
Just give me the strength to do everyday
What You’d have me do
Yesterday’s gone, sweet Jesus
And tomorrow may never be mine
Lord help me today, show me the way
One day at a time
Do you remember when You walked among men
Well Jesus You know, looking below
It’s worse now than then
Pushing and shoving, crowding my mind
So for my sake, teach me to take
One day at a time
Let us ask God each day to give you grace to take ‘One day at a time’.
Prayer: Thank You Father God for You know all my needs! I realize that I cannot achieve anything by worrying. Help me as I decide to quit worrying today and seek a right and living relationship with You. Lead me and guide me; as I strive to help the needy around me with the good news of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Help me take ‘One day at a time’. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I pray. Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer.