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Psalm 103:7 – “He made known His ways to Moses; his deeds to the people of Israel”.
This Psalm in particular is useful in helping us to remember the deeds of God in our lives, so we can bless His Name in all circumstances.
Several years ago, when I first committed to full-time service, I was pioneering a little village church, approx. 200 kms. away from Chennai. I usually went there on a Thursday evening … visited a few families on Fridays and on Saturdays – encouraged them and prayed with them & invited them to come to church on the Sunday; and send their kids, if any, to Sunday School.
After the service on Sunday evening, I would return back to Chennai. This happened for 6 months.
During one such visit, I saw this lady - a new believer, who was downcast. Upon inquiring, I found out that her only source of livelihood was gone – her calf was dead (which meant, the cow stopped giving milk – which she used to sell in the market).
I didn’t know what to say to her and how to comfort her. While I was thinking of something to say to her, she started speaking: “This incident taught me a valuable lesson to seek Him”.
I was perplexed & wanted to know more about how God spoke to her.
She began, “3 days ago, when I woke up in the morning to milk my cow, I saw the calf dead. My whole world came crashing down, as the cow wouldn’t let me milk her. And while I was sitting there, I suddenly remembered the Prayer Oil which you had given me; so I brought that and sprinkled a few drops on the dead calf and said, ‘Jesus, Jesus…’ – because I didn’t know what else to say in prayer. And within a few minutes, the calf sprang to life, and I was able to milk the cow and take it to the market and sell”.
I thought to myself, "this is a great story; in fact, it's a newsletter kind of a material - so, why is she sad!
After a brief pause, she continued: “In the evening, when I came to milk the cow, I saw the calf dead again. But this time I was not worried; I knew exactly what needs to be done. So, I went in and brought the oil and sprinkled on the dead calf and said, ‘Jesus, Jesus’ – nothing happened. I thought I am not saying it loud enough, but that didn’t work either. Perhaps, I didn’t sprinkle the right amount of oil – still no hint of the calf coming to life. While I kept trying different methods to apply and sprinkle the oil … suddenly, I felt someone saying something to me: ‘Don’t run after the blessings, but run after me – for I am the Blesser. When you have me, you will have ALL the benefits’.”
Wow – that was a revelation for me!
She went on, “I knew I was running after the blessings from God, hoping my calf would come back to life; but God was challenging me to seek Him, so I could have all the blessings & not just one I am after”.
That story truly encouraged me. I went there to encourage her, but I came back very encouraged and lifted up in my Spirit, by what had happened in her life; and a timeless principle which the Lord taught me through her.
Often we run after a miracle, we pray prayers to see or experience something which we are desperate for at that moment.
But do we run after God? When He comes He brings everything with Him. Not just what we are seeking for at that moment!
The verse before us here states just that: the people of Israel knew God’s deeds. Every time they needed to see a miracle they cried out and when it happened, it was a miracle – it was an act of God. Yes, they praised God, but quickly forgot about it also. Largely because they failed to see the God behind that miracle!
On the contrary, Moses knew His ways - in other words, he was caught up with a God, who performed all those miracles – so he was not fazed when confronted with a difficult situation.
The people grumbled because they did not experience God or learn that He is able to take them to the Promised Land, when the tough got going.
Do we want to experience His ways? Or do we want to settle for His deeds, once in a while?
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways” (cf. Isaiah 55:8), claims the Lord.
Let’s not settle for experiencing something small, when He is there to offer us Himself.
It’s a much richer experience, when we have Him.
Friday, November 27, 2009
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Do we KNOW God?
John 8:48-59
Here is Jesus’ response to the accusations of the Jews as to who He really was.
In vs.41, they protested saying they knew who their father was. In the subsequent verses, they went on to say that He was of the devil / demon-possessed and that he was a Samaritan ~ who had nothing in common with the Jews (as per their belief).
There is a stark contrast here to 2 kinds of people:
a) The Jews who thought, they KNEW who their Father was; &
b) Jesus, who KNEW who His Father is
Which one of them actually knows the Father, and what’s the difference?
Well, Jesus gives us a clue in His response to the accusations leveled against Him.
Vs.55 – Jesus defines the difference between them is: I KNOW HIM, BECAUSE I KEEP HIS WORD.
So, ‘Keeping the Word’ becomes crucial in knowing Him.
It’s not about just knowing in our head, but do we know Him it in our hearts – which comes by abiding and walking according to it.
The end result of this is the way in which they both responded:
If at all, anyone should be angry here with the kind of remarks passed at them, it must have been Jesus – but He remains calm & composed here, while we see the exact opposite from those who accused Him.
Vs.59 – the Jews picked up stones to stone Jesus. Is that the kind of response one would have, when they know God?
How about us?
- What kind of response do we have when accusations are leveled against us?
- Does our response reflect the God we know & how much we know of Him?
Here is Jesus’ response to the accusations of the Jews as to who He really was.
In vs.41, they protested saying they knew who their father was. In the subsequent verses, they went on to say that He was of the devil / demon-possessed and that he was a Samaritan ~ who had nothing in common with the Jews (as per their belief).
There is a stark contrast here to 2 kinds of people:
a) The Jews who thought, they KNEW who their Father was; &
b) Jesus, who KNEW who His Father is
Which one of them actually knows the Father, and what’s the difference?
Well, Jesus gives us a clue in His response to the accusations leveled against Him.
Vs.55 – Jesus defines the difference between them is: I KNOW HIM, BECAUSE I KEEP HIS WORD.
So, ‘Keeping the Word’ becomes crucial in knowing Him.
It’s not about just knowing in our head, but do we know Him it in our hearts – which comes by abiding and walking according to it.
The end result of this is the way in which they both responded:
If at all, anyone should be angry here with the kind of remarks passed at them, it must have been Jesus – but He remains calm & composed here, while we see the exact opposite from those who accused Him.
Vs.59 – the Jews picked up stones to stone Jesus. Is that the kind of response one would have, when they know God?
How about us?
- What kind of response do we have when accusations are leveled against us?
- Does our response reflect the God we know & how much we know of Him?
Monday, November 2, 2009
Help or Wreck :: What the heck?
Luke 5:4-11
Little over a year ago, I had presented a thought entitled: PURPOSE DRIVEN FISHING. Please look in archives for that thought from Sept. '08 or follow the link: http://rajancarmen.blogspot.com/2008/09/purpose-driven-fishing.html
Here’s another thought from a similar passage in Luke, an event in his perspective.
I am not going to be dwelling on the ‘call’ itself; but a key, which might help us handle life’s struggles & trials. And certainly be on the look-out for a vital clue, which might help us persevere and not give-up during such times!
Though all the 4 gospels narrate this incident, there is a slight difference. It’s NOT a contradiction; and I feel it compliments one another, as it may be ‘sequential’.
I would like to place the sequence as follows:
a) John 1:35-42 – these were John’s disciples and were curious to know about the ‘Lamb of God’ – they end up staying a night with Jesus to see who He was and what He was up to.
b) Luke 5:1-11 – with their earlier acquaintance, Jesus now requests them for the use of their boats .. and then they obey when He asks them to launch into the deep & cast their nets.
c) Matthew 4:18-22 / Mark 1:14-20 – only the bit about their call and change in vocation stressed by these 2 gospel writers.
We will pick up the incident in Luke chp.5 from vs.6 – When they acted in obedience to God’s Word, “… they caught a large number of fish that their nets began to break”.
Though it sounds exciting that they caught a lot of fish .. the thing to note here, is that THEIR NETS WERE BEGINNING TO BREAK.
Though it’s an incredible catch, a miracle at that, especially after not catching anything the previous night, to pull in a great number so as to sink – wow!
It seems divine – and it certainly was!
But if we read between lines, these people are not going to be able to use that NET ever again to catch fish.
In fact, when you compare this 1 time catch and their future - they end up losing their tool, to fish the rest of their life ... this catch is surely not going to last a life-time!
Actually, what is supposed to be a BLESSING … ends up as a HUGE LOSS for these poor fishermen, in light of their future.
In vs.3 – Jesus asks these tired, exhausted & morally depleted fishermen to do some work by moving the boat a bit off shore. They oblige and Jesus teaches the crowd.
These fishermen lent their boat for Jesus to preach; and in obedience cast their nets - and are now paying a huge price for it.
The ‘blessing’ suddenly begins to seem a curse.
What’s going on here?
The disciples might have felt USED by Jesus.
Do we ever feel like that, or felt like it in the past?
People around us / leaders above us / those who are our peers - use us for their personal gain. Above all, maybe we feel used by God!
Can we identify with such challenges?
When we commit to doing good, something bad ensues!
Suddenly it looks like there’s no future if we carry on like that?
Or there is no way to go forward also, as the bridge is broken down, as it were!
Before we immerse ourselves with negativism here, let’s pause for a moment:
The ‘supposed’ blessing comes ONLY after they were available for Jesus – in terms of obeying Him, even though they were not sure what to expect in return. It was a time of uncertainty.
Perhaps, the disciples meant to help Jesus as a sign of 'good gesture', since they were already acquainted with him by then (cf. John 1:35-42).
The call for Simon Peter comes only in vs.10 .. but their professional kit (up until that time), begins to tear in vs.6 & their boats begin to sink in vs.7 – though it didn’t really happen! -- way before, they knew about it!
I have had this thought on a few occasions that God always gives us a clue to indicate what is to come ahead.
I am not talking about ‘prophecy’ here.
The fact that these fishermen’s tool kit was virtually non-usable again, is a clue here .. that there was something else in store for them.
Rather than catching fish, they were going to catch men from now on - refer to thoughts from “PURPOSE DRIVEN FISHING” to complete this exciting switch in career.
At times we panic, when we see the ‘immediate’. Maybe, there’s a clue in that mess that which we see before us, as to what God is going to do.
Rather than crying at the mess, we should be looking for the clues that which God is giving us.
Moses may have learnt this vital lesson during his wilderness experience, and could have seen some clues in the way God delivered the Israelites from Egypt, when he boldly declared to the Israelites in front of the Red Sea with the Egyptians pursuing, that God is going to do something marvelous. And He sure did!
Do we have such an outlook, when we are confronted with an issue which we are not expecting?
Can we move on, in spite of …? (you name it!)
Do we look at the wreck before us, or are we sharp to discern the clue that God is giving us?
Do we cast out demons from the clue that is appearing before us - thinking, it's going against the will of God?
Be rest assured of a fact that God never uses us without our best in His mind.
Remember, the clue comes when we obey God, in spite of our doubts and unbelief.
The fishermen just wanted to obey Jesus – they didn’t expect a mighty miracle to take place, which would change the course of their life. But it did!
Simple obedience!
When we obey God, it will change our life!!
A change which will help us see beyond what we see in the natural & experience it too.
Look for the clues - from experience & knowing God, I know it will be there.
Little over a year ago, I had presented a thought entitled: PURPOSE DRIVEN FISHING. Please look in archives for that thought from Sept. '08 or follow the link: http://rajancarmen.blogspot.com/2008/09/purpose-driven-fishing.html
Here’s another thought from a similar passage in Luke, an event in his perspective.
I am not going to be dwelling on the ‘call’ itself; but a key, which might help us handle life’s struggles & trials. And certainly be on the look-out for a vital clue, which might help us persevere and not give-up during such times!
Though all the 4 gospels narrate this incident, there is a slight difference. It’s NOT a contradiction; and I feel it compliments one another, as it may be ‘sequential’.
I would like to place the sequence as follows:
a) John 1:35-42 – these were John’s disciples and were curious to know about the ‘Lamb of God’ – they end up staying a night with Jesus to see who He was and what He was up to.
b) Luke 5:1-11 – with their earlier acquaintance, Jesus now requests them for the use of their boats .. and then they obey when He asks them to launch into the deep & cast their nets.
c) Matthew 4:18-22 / Mark 1:14-20 – only the bit about their call and change in vocation stressed by these 2 gospel writers.
We will pick up the incident in Luke chp.5 from vs.6 – When they acted in obedience to God’s Word, “… they caught a large number of fish that their nets began to break”.
Though it sounds exciting that they caught a lot of fish .. the thing to note here, is that THEIR NETS WERE BEGINNING TO BREAK.
Though it’s an incredible catch, a miracle at that, especially after not catching anything the previous night, to pull in a great number so as to sink – wow!
It seems divine – and it certainly was!
But if we read between lines, these people are not going to be able to use that NET ever again to catch fish.
In fact, when you compare this 1 time catch and their future - they end up losing their tool, to fish the rest of their life ... this catch is surely not going to last a life-time!
Actually, what is supposed to be a BLESSING … ends up as a HUGE LOSS for these poor fishermen, in light of their future.
In vs.3 – Jesus asks these tired, exhausted & morally depleted fishermen to do some work by moving the boat a bit off shore. They oblige and Jesus teaches the crowd.
These fishermen lent their boat for Jesus to preach; and in obedience cast their nets - and are now paying a huge price for it.
The ‘blessing’ suddenly begins to seem a curse.
What’s going on here?
The disciples might have felt USED by Jesus.
Do we ever feel like that, or felt like it in the past?
People around us / leaders above us / those who are our peers - use us for their personal gain. Above all, maybe we feel used by God!
Can we identify with such challenges?
When we commit to doing good, something bad ensues!
Suddenly it looks like there’s no future if we carry on like that?
Or there is no way to go forward also, as the bridge is broken down, as it were!
Before we immerse ourselves with negativism here, let’s pause for a moment:
The ‘supposed’ blessing comes ONLY after they were available for Jesus – in terms of obeying Him, even though they were not sure what to expect in return. It was a time of uncertainty.
Perhaps, the disciples meant to help Jesus as a sign of 'good gesture', since they were already acquainted with him by then (cf. John 1:35-42).
The call for Simon Peter comes only in vs.10 .. but their professional kit (up until that time), begins to tear in vs.6 & their boats begin to sink in vs.7 – though it didn’t really happen! -- way before, they knew about it!
I have had this thought on a few occasions that God always gives us a clue to indicate what is to come ahead.
I am not talking about ‘prophecy’ here.
The fact that these fishermen’s tool kit was virtually non-usable again, is a clue here .. that there was something else in store for them.
Rather than catching fish, they were going to catch men from now on - refer to thoughts from “PURPOSE DRIVEN FISHING” to complete this exciting switch in career.
At times we panic, when we see the ‘immediate’. Maybe, there’s a clue in that mess that which we see before us, as to what God is going to do.
Rather than crying at the mess, we should be looking for the clues that which God is giving us.
Moses may have learnt this vital lesson during his wilderness experience, and could have seen some clues in the way God delivered the Israelites from Egypt, when he boldly declared to the Israelites in front of the Red Sea with the Egyptians pursuing, that God is going to do something marvelous. And He sure did!
Do we have such an outlook, when we are confronted with an issue which we are not expecting?
Can we move on, in spite of …? (you name it!)
Do we look at the wreck before us, or are we sharp to discern the clue that God is giving us?
Do we cast out demons from the clue that is appearing before us - thinking, it's going against the will of God?
Be rest assured of a fact that God never uses us without our best in His mind.
Remember, the clue comes when we obey God, in spite of our doubts and unbelief.
The fishermen just wanted to obey Jesus – they didn’t expect a mighty miracle to take place, which would change the course of their life. But it did!
Simple obedience!
When we obey God, it will change our life!!
A change which will help us see beyond what we see in the natural & experience it too.
Look for the clues - from experience & knowing God, I know it will be there.
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