Recognizing His Presence

A sequel to: "GOD IS THERE / GOD IS HERE"

In my earlier devotional, I presented a thought that we could be oblivious to the fact that God's presence is with us, when we are in a time of crisis.

And this thought stems right out of that concept, to emphasize that it is indeed very much possible to recognize His presence, during such times - though often times we fail to see Him then.

Here's a couple of thoughts on how we can break that trend, and see Him when we need Him the most.


We pick up on Jacob's story again after he rued the fact that he hadn't recognized God's presence earlier - cf. Genesis 28:16b - "Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it"


4 chapters later ... Jacob is now returning back to his hometown, the land of Canaan (Genesis 31:17,18), after spending a few years working for his Uncle, Laban - who now becomes his father-in-law.


Genesis 32:1,2 - "Jacob also went on his way, and the angels of God met him. When Jacob saw them, he said, 'This is the camp of God!'".

It's an interesting passage, because here's a man who didn't recognize God .. but in this particular instance, without any introduction from the angels, he recognized them as God's hosts.

And a few hours later that night in vs.22-31 (*26) - we see that Jacob recognized God, who appeared in the form of a man and wrestled with him.

So, herein lies the assurance that it is very much possible to move from a place of NOT recognizing God, to a place of seeing Him no matter how He appears or reveals Himself.

The disciples reveal an attitude in that they found it hard to believe in Jesus, when He appeared in a form that was not familiar to them (cf. Mark 4:41; 6:49).


How was that possible, with Jacob?
Things hadn't changed much with him on the outside.
The departure scene had nothing much to ride home about, as Jacob fled without bidding proper farewell (31:20,21) - in fact, he was running away from his father-in-law, when he had gone to shear his sheep (31:19).
And his wife Rachel, stole her father's household gods (vs.19), which Jacob didn't even know about (vs.32).
So, overall it was NOT a very pleasant atmosphere in that household - height of deception, cheating, lying, etc.

And the trend with Jacob seems to continue on, in that he is selfish and looks for his own personal gain.

But, what went right for Jacob this time around - which enabled him to see the presence of God with him?

I think the key is in a restored relationship, which should be pursued in God's spirit.
Let me explain.

In chp.28:16 - Jacob didn't realize God's presence, as he just comes from a strained relationship with his brother, after having deceived him in at least a couple of occasions - once when he made him sell his birthright to him and secondly, when he received the blessing from his father Isaac, pretending to be Esau.


But over the years of staying with Laban, he had proved faithful to his Uncle, and served all those years for his wives .. and now eventually, at God's Word (cf. 31:3), he's headed back to the land of his father.
Jacob headed back to his hometown, on the basis that God told him to do that.
So, the first principle in recognizing God is doing what God wants us to do.

- Are we doing what He is asking us to do? If so, the chances of recognizing Him are very high.


The second principle is setting relationships right.

Jacob had a couple of relationships, which he needed to work on:
a) with Laban, his father-in-law (31:45-55).
- Though this relationship mend came about Laban taking the initiative and his submission to God's dream in vs.24 - nevertheless, it was set right now.

b) with Esau, his brother (32:1-21)
- with Esau he had just made up his mind to set things right, by paying a price (32:13-21).


Not surprisingly, on both occasions when the relationship was restored or when it was on the verge of being restored, he was able to recognize the presence of God.


The question is obviously, are we running away from a strained relationship as Jacob did in the first place, when he failed to see His presence; or
Are we in the process of setting things right .. and as a result seeing the very presence of God in our day-to-day routine and/or circumstances?

God is There / God is Here

As we enter into the Advent season, we all will get very familiar with the word "Immanuel" ~ God with us!
Is this notion, just during this season or is God always with us?
Though we emphatically proclaim that "He is with us", do we realistically live that during the rest of the time?

Scores of references in the Scripture would suggest that people found it difficult to realize that God was with them.

Mark 6:45-56 (*49) - when Jesus walked on the water and came towards them at the 4th watch of the night - the disciples didn't recognize the Saviour!

Luke 24:13-31 (*16) - the 2 disciples on the road to Emmaus walked with Him and talked with Him, but didn't realize that it was the Messiah, that they were talking with!

Luke 24:36-49 (*37,41) - the 11 disciples saw Jesus appear in their midst in the upper room and thought He was a ghost!

Matthew 11:1-15 (*2,3) / Luke 7:17-28 (*19,20) - John the Baptist, who so authoritatively proclaimed or introduced the Messiah into the world (cf. John 3:22-36), also had his share of doubts!


From times immemorial such questions lingered in the hearts of people, which is why God revealed Himself through His Name - JEHOVAH SHAMMAH ~ The Lord is there!
(cf. Ezekiel 48:35).


In response to this doubt, the Psalmist and many other OT prophets uttered the very Words of God to assure us of His presence with us.

Psalm 46:5-7 - "God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her ... The Lord of Hosts is with us, the God of Jacob is our Refuge"
Zephaniah 3:17 - "The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; He will save, He will rejoice over thee with singing"
Zechariah 2:5 - The Lord Himself declares, "I will be under her a wall of fire round about, and will the glory in the midst of her"


And the classic example of all these is found in Genesis 28:16, right at the beginning of life after the covenant promise - "When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, "Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it".

How is it possible?
How come Jacob didn't recognize God's presence?

These are some of the questions we can ask when we read this story.
But there's more to it, than just this verse - Jacob was actually running away, after having deceived his brother, and was quite taken aback when He felt God's presence.

But don't we do the same thing with our life today?
Do we see Him there? Do we recognize His presence with us?
Or, are we running away too and are pleasantly surprised that He is still with us!


The Lord's presence is very much with us, not just during this advent season .. but at all times, as per His promise.

And I am reminded of the famous story of the "Footprints in the Sand" to reinforce the thought that He never leaves us nor forsakes us.



Click on the picture to the left to see an enlarged version of the same for clear visibility.

God looks beyond our crisis

My last devotional ended with a thought that "At times of crisis in life, it will become clearer as to who we are going with".

A crisis situation, is when we are NOT in total control, as we would like it to be.
We are caught in the muck and are struggling to get out, if there is a way out.
Usually that's when we doubt our faith, our vocation, our belief in God & the promises we hold on to, etc. etc. etc.

We are now in the book of Genesis, where God initiates the covenant promise with Abram.
All is not well with Abram as he sojourns with God.

After his nephew Lot had chosen the best lot (cf. 13:11) - God gave Abram the whole lot (13:13-17), as we saw in the earlier devotional thought.


In chp.15, we see Abram struggling to accept the promise which the Lord gives him.
vs.1 - "Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward".

And that's because he is caught in the muddle here. He cannot look beyond his present situation.
Abram is well advanced in years .. perhaps 85 yrs. old (16:16 - Abram was 86 when Ishmael was born to Hagar).
It's a good 10 years from the time when the promise was first given to Abram in 12:1-4, that He will make him into a great nation.
At this stage, Abram is not even a father to ONE, let alone a nation!

Coming back to Chp.15 - Abram now thinks that this promise 'to be his heir', could be for his servant, Eliezer. But the Lord assures him otherwise in vs.4 - "This man will NOT be your heir, but a son coming from your own body will be your heir".

That's an encouraging factor .. but then he misinterprets that in Chp.16, when his beautiful wife Sarai, suggests that he takes his maid and has a son - who could be his heir.
Sounds a cheeky advice .. but the promise of the Lord was still a bit vague, as He had said it will be a son coming from his own body - note: no mention of Sarai here!


However, going back to chp.15:8 Abram still confused about this particular promise. And this is where God re-assures Abram of what He is going to do.
God puts Abram to sleep (vs.12 f.), and He allows a dreadful darkness to come over him and then He speaks what is to happen several centuries later - with the children of Israel going into captivity, followed by the redemption under Moses, which is 8-10 generations later.

Now, here is Abram struggling to get a hang of what is going on right now .. and God is assuring Him of something which is going to happen way beyond him.
Abram didn't find a direct answer, but in God's big picture, is the answer to Abram's immediate.
And it took another 14 years or so, before the promised son, Isaac - comes about.


Moses, in Deut. 9:4-6 highlights this very assurance to the 2nd generation of Israelites who are about to go in and possess the promised land. So, what God assured Abram is now being fulfilled and along the way, the promise to Abram is also fulfilled.

I tend to look for solutions immediately for my nagging problem or my current crisis. But when God gives me an answer into the distant future, I don't like it .. as I want something now.

When I went in for a corrective surgery on my leg a few years ago, I had 3 people confirm through dreams they had about me that I was walking around and playing with my kids at the end of it.
When I heard about those dreams, I didn't make much of it as it sounded a bit odd - as I didn't expect anything untoward to happen to me.
But little did I realize, that things would take a massive turn during the course of my hospitalization, and it ended up being a dreadful path.
But through that time, I was assured of the fact, that God is in control .. as I had an answer that I would be walking around again - though it's different - I am walking nevertheless!


How about you?
Are you in a crisis right now?
Are you hearing God talk to you something into the immediate or distant future, which you don't understand now?
Don't worry - the answer to your current situation is in that, as well as a hope for your future.

Let's not give up - there's light at the end of the tunnel, because God is there.

He certainly looks beyond our current situation which you and I can't see.
Let's go with Him / let's trust in His promises and see the fulfillment.

Who are we going with?

I am an administrator; hence I am highly motivated to 'plan well'.
Whatever it is that which I do, I like it planned & well at that, especially when it's in my control.

Even travelling for a day or two out of my home, i like to make a list of THINGS TO DO before I leave, so I don't miss out on anything.
I hate, when I have to travel without preparation.
I feel lost when I don't have what I needed to have on the journey or when I get there.

Maybe, it's also that I am getting old & very forgetful now-a-days :-)


Genesis 12:1-9 (*4 - "So Abram left, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him").

I am now reading through the book of Genesis again.
As I was reading through this familiar passage, where God called Abram and the initiation of the covenant promise; I was quite intrigued by Lot's response in vs.4

Abram was going with God, in response to what he had heard. In other words, he was obeying God.
And Lot was going with Abram.

I am sure that God prepared Abram enough to go on this journey; but Lot - he just went on this journey with his Uncle.


And now that's a heck of a lot of difference!

No wonder, when trials came the response from both of them were very different (cf. Chp.13).
Lot moved in the natural; whereas Abram trusted in a God who promised Him many things.

vs.8-10
When they decided to part ways, Lot looked up and saw the plain of Jordan well watered and lush green - the NIV text says, 'like the garden of the Lord'.
And Lot chose the 'BEST LOT' (vs.11). Abram let him have what he wanted.

Though Lot chose the BEST LOT ... God gave Abram the WHOLE LOT (cf. vs.14-17)!

And sometimes, that's the difference between obeying God and following Him; and following someone who follows the Lord.

Now, this throws up a whole new debate on following God's people, quoting Paul here from I Corinthians 11:1 - "Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ".

I personally feel, even then we need to hear from the Lord to be doing that.
Ultimately, it's about following the Lord and walking in obedience to His voice.

Who are we going with?
At times, our response to crisis in life, will give away who we are going with.

Hoping against hope?

The word 'hope' is used quite sarcastically in the world today.
For eg: If I say, "I hope to come tomorrow" - it may most probably mean, that i might not come (or) I wish not to come.
It doesn't give a certainty or an assurance which can be guaranteed.
It has a lot of negative connotations to it.
Whereas on the contrary, biblically speaking, HOPE is always the assurance of things to come!
It's something which brightens up our life.
It's something which we live for!

Luke 24:21 - "... but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place".

Here the 2 disciples were on their way back to Emmaus from Jerusalem. It was a long walk (7 miles / 11.2 kms away), but they were willing to take that gruelling walk back, and what more - but with a sense of hopelessness & despair.
Their hope seems to have been dashed.

We see that these 2 disciples had come on a journey this far because of the hope they had. And their expectations were based on that hope - although it was a false 'hope'.
Jesus did not promise what they had hoped for!

On hindsight, these 2 were on the verge of experiencing even something spectacular, when they decided to take that long walk back.
Never mind, how far they had come .. but at the verge of experiencing a new thing, they had given up.

• Where are we today?
• Have we come on a journey expecting something from God?
• Are we disappointed that we are not experiencing that?
• Are we calling it quits, because our hopes are dashed?

Don't give up yet - you may just be on the verge of experiencing His newness in life.

Perhaps your hopes are based on something which is not quite right.
These 2 had a wrong perception of the Messiah - that He was going to literally redeem Israel from the Roman Empire.


The 3rd day after crucifixion was a significant day - it was the day of Resurrection - when the bondage was broken; when the curse over death was shattered.
They even got to hear about the witness from the ladies who had visited the tomb early that day - but because of the pre-conceived idea they had about the Messiah, they couldn't come to grips with what had happened.

Don't quit.
Keep hoping in God.
Keep trusting in His promises.

These 2 disciples had the privilege of having an encounter with the Lord, although they had turned back - but not many have that privilege.

Let's not give up! Let's hope against the hopelessness and despair which the world throws at us.
Let's trust in His promises - promises, based on His Word.

How to Pray?

I find praying boring at times, in fact most of the times :-)
And that's mainly due to the fact; my prayer turns out to be a monologue, without any interaction.

However, when I am talking with friends, I usually do less talking, unless the situation calls me to talk more :-) And that's the nature of my personality.
If such conversation with a friend is a monologue, it usually means the other person is speaking and not me -- and I am not interested in it for too long.
If I am the one who is doing the talking, I can't do it for too long anyway .. as some are in the habit of doing [all the time]!

I 'prefer' a dialogue than a monologue - but that doesn't happen too often in prayer.
When it comes to prayer, I am quick to show the 'one-way' traffic sign.

And the moment I am finished with saying what I wanted to, I sign off.

Usually such things happen because I don't follow any particular method in praying. It's ad hoc!

When such prayer times are finished, I feel like I have finished a 'job' for the day, so I can tick on one more task completed!


A while ago, when I preached on Prayer in a local church here, I was asked the question: "Ok, I know that I need to pray and all that; but how do I pray?"
And this question came from an elder in the church, and not a new believer.

Surprising isn't it?

But when I started to think about it - the question which I was faced with was: DID I KNOW HOW TO PRAY? Or did I just assume, I knew, because I had done it for over 2-3 decades now - albeit on & off :-(

So, I started to put some things together on what is prayer and how to pray - which would help us to get into a discipline of praying regularly.
I seriously feel that unless it's done regularly it doesn't form into a habit. We have to inculcate the value of prayer, by doing that often & experiencing the change it brings to our life.

I am not saying that this is the only way to pray, or is the only way to get started with praying - but it certainly helps us have a meaningful time of prayer.

I have used PRAYER as an acrostic and have expanded it to make it easily memorable, for those who don't have it as a 'bookmark' guide.
To view the bookmark, please click on it, to see an enlarged version.

PRAISE HIM - for who He is / use the Names of God to acknowledge His greatness / worship Him

READ THE WORD - have a regular pattern for reading, otherwise it doesn't happen (meditate on the Word / reflect on what you read and how you can apply it)

APPRECIATE HIS WORKS IN YOUR LIFE - thank Him for what He has done for you

YOUR NEEDS / PERSONAL PRAYER - bring your worries and concerns to God

EXTERNAL NEEDS / ENGAGING IN PRAYER FOR OTHERS - INTERCESSION - pray for your family / friends / church / unsaved neighbours / peers / nation - leaders

RE-COMMIT TO GOD / INVITE GOD TO BE WITH YOU - as Him for strength and ask Him to teach you His ways - invite Him to be with you and commit to walking with Him.

Obedience to God

John 2:7,8 - Jesus said to the servants, "Fill the jars with water"; so they filled them to the brim.
Then he told them, "Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet". They did so.

I sometimes wonder, if I am doing what God wants me to do!
It's a mixture of things which makes me wonder like that:
- am I hearing God right?
- if I did what I believe I heard, then will I see the desired result?

The questions can be unending.
And usually the questions come because I am thinking too much of the implications. And I am just reminded that all God wants me to do is 'come to Him with a child-like faith'.

Mary, the mother of Jesus, knew that Jesus had the potential to do something extra-ordinary (vs.3), even though He hadn't done anything spectacular up until then.
Though Jesus refused (vs.4); she told the servants to do whatever He tells them to do (vs.5).

In vs.7 - Jesus tells them to fill the jars with water .. and they quickly obey.
No questions asked.
And interestingly, the servants filled it to the 'brim'.
They took Jesus quite literally. Jesus said FILL, and they filled it :-)
Maybe, it could be as a mockery, but nonetheless they did what Jesus asked them to.
Notice, that they made sure that nothing else can be added to it. Even if Jesus had a magic potion, to mix ... it wasn't possible!

And at the very next breath, he says in vs.8 to take it to the master of the banquet.
I am sure the servants should have objected and raised a protest now!
But strangely they didn't!

And it's out of that obedience; we get to read about His first miracle.

Are we waiting for a miracle from God today?
Why not just obey Him as a child?
The more we resist, the difficult it is for us to experience His miraculous touch.

Maybe, you are waiting for a miracle which has never ever happened before - He can do it!
The question is: Are you willing?

Obey Him, doesn't matter how insignificant it may seem.
The miracle is close at hand.

Significant moments in life .. Part 6

Luke 24:13-35 – On the Road to Emmaus (part 2 of 2)

This is part 2of2. In case, you haven't read the earlier post, please read the previous entry: "Significant moments in life .. Part 5".

From this passage, there’s yet another encouraging detail which we could so easily miss: this hapless pair was headed back to their ‘own world’, after witnessing something dramatic – didn’t seem like a significant event such as that, had affected their routine much.

What’s amazing is that these people had their ‘theology’ almost right (vs.19,20) – the only place where it was messed up was where they thought he was going to redeem Israel (vs.21); and what more, they were also up-to-date on the news (vs.22-24) – yet, they failed to recognize and see Jesus!

But once they had their ‘hearts enlightened’ (vs.30-32), they will turn around and immediately go right back to Jerusalem to report their findings (vs.33), to another group of confused lot – the disciples.


What are we confused about today?
Perhaps, we may have a perfect knowledge of who Christ is .. but if our hearts are not enlightened to the truth, then we will be in our own little world, oblivious to the fact, that Christ is walking with us – even when we are headed in the wrong direction!

And He does walk with us and stay with us .. in what seems an ordinary moment.

Let’s be open to receiving from Him, even when we are confused in life.
Those ordinary moments can bring about a historical change in our life.
Such moments can enlighten our hearts to something which the Lord wants to reveal to us.

And as we walk with Him and receive this understanding, we might be able to help others who are confused too!

Significant moments in life .. Part 5

Luke 24:13-35 – On the Road to Emmaus (part 1 of 2)

We just remembered Christ’s crucifixion on Good Friday & celebrated His resurrection on Easter Sunday. And while reflecting on that most significant act ever in history, I am astonished yet again to see how an ordinary event can lead to extra-ordinary results.
I have taken the following concept from one of my favourite writers, Jeff Lucas on “Life Every Day”.

The joyous aspect of the resurrection of Jesus is that much of what goes on is just so ORDINARY. Think of it. It’s no hyperbole to say that He has just accomplished the greatest victory in the history of the Universe. Angels must be wondering what He will do next.
A whole six weeks will be spent on earth taking the apostles through the most incredible leadership training programme that has ever been.

But Jesus will also be mistaken for a gardener, a cook – cooking breakfast for some friends returning from a frustrating night shift (cf. John 21:12).

And as we see here, He also takes a walk with some distraught friends. They had experienced something extra-ordinary that evening, which saw them witness one of the greatest events in history.
Vs.15,16 – “As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus Himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing Him”.
Though the English translation puts it very mildly that they were kept from recognizing Him, the original word here is ‘krateo’ ~ 'their eyes were kept under arrest or in custody' – the same word used to describe the arrest of Jesus in Gethsemane by Matthew & Mark.

Perhaps, tiredness, disappointment, unbelief or a pre-occupation with just getting home after the most difficult week-end meant that Jesus was right there with them and they didn’t notice.

What kind of thoughts are we pre-occupied with today?
Are we tired with life? Are we disappointed the way things are going right now? Do we believe something which is not the truth, and so are under stress?

In the meantime, what is interesting to note is that Jesus journeys with them – which is an encouragement for those who have prodigals “out there”. Jesus is able to walk with them, even if they are headed in a direction which offers them no hope. Jesus ends the day by sharing supper in their home.

Now, all of this looks very pedestrian to me!
That’s the nature of our faith – the extra ordinary God walks with us through the mundane bits of life.

Yes, Jesus washed my sins away .. but I still have to do the cleaning up of the dishes, reconcile my bank statements, struggle through the traffic jams in the city, and do a host of other rather numbing things.

Do we see God active in these roles of our lives, or do we only see God active when we are worshipping Him and while serving Him in ‘sacred’ places?

Significant moments in life ... Part 4

Luke 22:7-13 – 'Preparation for the Last Supper'

As we enter into the Passion Week / Holy Week (the last week before the Crucifixion), we remember the struggles which Christ went through, even before He took upon Himself the sins of the world on the cross.
And I am stunned to know that ordinary times/events in my life, can be a significant contributor to God’s manifold plans for this Universe.
Yes, Christ's work is complete - but, we have a job at hand.


vs.10 – He replied, ‘As you enter the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him to the house that he enters…’

How many of us would dare venture to find a place/location, when the landmark given is not stationary but mobile (a moving object)?
Many of us have trouble finding a place, when the address is clear and directions and landmark are straight forward.

Imagine, if I invite you to my house for a dinner, and I tell you, “Take Bus No.55 and get down at the last stop, walk 10 ft ahead and you will find a cow on the road - well, it’s possible in India, as cows are everywhere :-) and there you take left, until you reach a place where there will be 2 dogs barking (which is also possible in our country), and then 5 ft from there take right, and the house in front of a person riding his cycle is my house”
– with that kind of a direction, will you try to come to my house?
Wouldn't you think I am crazy to give you such a direction to my house?

Here in this passage, we see Jesus precisely doing that as He sends Peter & John to fix a place for them to have their Last Supper, with that kind of a direction in response to their “Where?” question.

Now, interestingly Peter doesn’t have any questions (for once)!
And they both set about their task.
A delayed obedience here would have meant, this ‘landmark’ man wouldn’t be there anymore – because he is moving!

What is even more interesting is that, this man doesn’t even know what’s going to happen, when he is going about his regular mundane job of fetching water. He was NOT commissioned to be Peter & John’s guide or to bring them home. He was just about his ‘menial’ work, and very faithfully at that, if I may add.
That turns out to be a very decisive pointer for Peter & John to find the house and organize ‘The Last Supper’.

This man who was carrying the water jar – could his movement have been orchestrated by God?

Sometimes we need to go about doing things, which we need to do in life.
Who knows, as we are faithfully discharging our duties, it might be a pointer for someone else, in their walk with God.
Hence the need to go about our work - in other words, MIND OUR BUSINESS, before someone else says that to us :-)

Yes, God is Sovereign, but that doesn’t relieve us of certain jobs. Let’s carry our water jars, as it were!!

Significant moments in life ... Part 3

John 4:1 & 3 - “The Pharisees heard that Jesus was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John, … When the Lord learned of this, he left Judea and went back once more to Galilee”.

Background:
Jesus left Judea and started north for Galilee. He could have taken one of three possible routes:
(a) along the coast;
(b) across the Jordan and up through Perea; or
(c) straight through Samaria (the easiest & the best possible route).

Orthodox Jews avoided Samaria because there was a longstanding, deep-seated hatred between them and the Samaritans. The Samaritans were a mixed race (‘mongrel Jews’ as per Matthew Henry) - part Jew and part Gentile that grew out of the Assyrian captivity of the ten northern tribes in 727 BC.
Rejected by the Jews because they could not prove their genealogy, the Samaritans established their own temple and religious services on Mt. Gerizim. This only fanned the fires of prejudice. So intense was their dislike of the Samaritans that some of the Pharisees prayed that no Samaritan would be raised in the resurrection! When His enemies wanted to call Jesus an insulting name, they called Him a Samaritan (cf. John 8:48).
Source: Encyclopedia of the Bible

Jesus meeting up with the Samaritan woman was a divine moment and it seems orchestrated by God. However, when we read the incident, Jesus’ trip towards Galilee and going via Samaria (vs.4) all seem prompted by the jealous attitude of the Pharisees, who didn’t like Jesus’ popularity.

Vs.6 – tells us that Jesus was tired when he rested near the well – and it was then that this Samaritan woman turns up. She came there at a time, when no one else was expected to be there!

It seems God uses our mundane day-to-day routine and schedule to weave His divine plans in our life! At times, I don’t feel that going through the daily rut is anything significant – in fact, it seems far from being so .. when I am sweating it out.
At times, I am confused as to what next!
Have you been through such a phase in your life? Are you in one right now?
Take heart.

I am reminded of one incident, which took place 12 years ago in our life.
In ’98, we were pursuing our trip and studies in the UK. The process started off in a very insignificant manner, but there were clues here and there to indicate that something great was going to unfold before us in that, we were accepted for the school, without us filling out the application form and when we didn’t have any money to pay towards our school fees, airfare, etc.

As time moved on, the process for obtaining our visa became a nightmare. We had to undergo a medical test and the papers were sent to the wrong person from the embassy and then the hospital sent the wrong report back, all caused some serious frustrations and not to mention the time was drawing close and most of the items in our house already disposed. So, if we didn’t get the visa, we didn’t have anything to go back to.

During our penultimate day in Pune, before leaving to Mumbai to collect our passports and tickets and flying out .. we were waiting for one letter which was due to come from Chennai. We had to submit this letter to collect our passports, without that our whole trip would have to be postponed and/or tickets cancellation, etc. This letter was couriered to us 5 days prior to that and what should take only a day or maximum 2 days hadn’t arrived until then.

We were nervously wondering around and awaiting the courier guy to come. On that day, one of our friends had invited us for lunch. I nearly called them up and cancelled that appointment as we were waiting for this URGENT letter. But then we decided to go, leaving a note on our door for the delivery guy to give us a call when he comes or to come to this other place to deliver it to us.
We delayed our going by a few minutes, hoping against hope that he would turn up before we leave.
Eventually, as the clock was ticking by we decided to go, leaving a note on our door.

Usually, we take a long proper road out of our house to hit the main road .. and on that particular day, though I was headed on that road, I turned back and decided to take one of those windy mud roads to get to the main road. And as we turned a couple of corners, I saw one guy in a cycle whistling away, who cut in front of me. And very briefly my eyes fell on a bag which was hanging in the front, which read PROFESSIONAL COURIERS. I didn’t think much of it .. but as we crossed each other, something prompted within me to go back and check with that guy, if he was indeed from the courier company. I told Carmen about it and she said, “he didn’t seem like he was looking for any address, but anyway, let’s check”.
So, I turned back and soon caught up with him on my bike, and asked him if he was from the courier company. And to our amazement, he said YES.
I asked him, “Do you have a courier for RAJAN from Chennai?”
To our utter surprise and shock, he said, “Yes. I have been looking for this address for the past 2-3 days and I can’t find it. And in fact, I am going back to the office now to send it back to the sender with a note: CAN’T FIND THE ADDRESSEE”.

Wow – what a relief! We got the letter .. we had the luncheon meeting .. we were able to pick up our passports/tickets the next day and eventually we flew out.

What could have happened, if we had decided to stay put in the house, waiting for the courier to be delivered? We would have obviously missed it.
What if we had taken one of the wrong turns?
What if I hadn’t spotted the COURIER bag in the cycle, or if it was turned the other way round .. I wouldn’t have seen it?
What if, I would have delayed going by a few seconds or gone a bit too early?

There are endless ifs and buts here … but, God was in total control.

Here the Samaritan Woman was blessed with a divine contact, because of the Pharisees’ jealous attitude, which prompted Jesus’ move.

Sometimes, divine moments unfold before us, as we trudge along not knowing if it is worth doing what we are doing.

Let’s not wait for that special moment to act a certain way, as we may never see it coming!
The Jews missed out on the Messiah, because they thought He was going to come in a certain way.

Significant moments in life ... Part 2

Numbers 20:1-13 – The narration of the incident when Moses struck the rock rather than speaking to it.
Deut.32:48-52 – this was when God passed a verdict for Moses & Aaron that they will not enter the Promised Land.

Deut.32:48-52 – “On that same day the LORD told Moses, "Go up into the Abarim Range to Mount Nebo in Moab, across from Jericho, and view Canaan, the land I am giving the Israelites as their own possession. There on the mountain that you have climbed you will die and be gathered to your people, just as your brother Aaron died on Mount Hor and was gathered to his people. This is because both of you broke faith with me in the presence of the Israelites at the waters of Meribah Kadesh in the Desert of Zin and because you did not uphold my holiness among the Israelites. Therefore, you will see the land only from a distance; you will not enter the land I am giving to the people of Israel." (NIV)


Just this one disobedience cost Moses an entry into the Promised Land. It was a harsh call. Perhaps, Moses was not even thinking that it would be anything significant - after all, it was the same rock - instead of talking to it, as God had said, he hit it - and that's the only difference.

This was a SIGNIFICANT moment in the life of Moses – but sadly, he didn’t realize it.
If, Moses would have known that this disobedience was going to cost his entry into the Promised Land - do you think he would have done that? Probably not…

Imagine, having a role like Moses – having to lead that many grumbling / murmuring people for that many years. I’m sure he should have had the grace to at least disobey God once. But that’s not the case.


Moses had very good intentions. When the people grumbled for water, he didn’t assume that water would come from the rock like last time, but went to God to enquire. And as he was returning back after hearing God, perhaps he might have gotten a bit upset with the people for so quickly forgetting that God was their source of provision and no matter what the circumstances are He was able to provide for them. And it could be, that’s when frustration crept in – and when he arrived at the spot instead of speaking to the rock, he hit it in anger, maybe!
Interestingly, if you read through the incident in the book of Numbers, you will realize that the RESULT was the same, in spite of Moses' disobedience. People didn’t know that Moses disobeyed God; they were quenched of their thirst; but in the background God was not happy with Moses for what he had done.


How can God be so cruel and punish Moses with such a big consequence for a one-time mistake?
When we look at why God was so harsh for that one disobedience - to me, it’s NOT so much the disobedience - but God had other ideas about that moment in the life of the Israelites. And Moses failed to reflect just that. People saw the same old strategy like last time and perhaps they failed to see the Lord’s act behind this provision.
Here’s a powerful verse, which reveals that idea.
Cf. Psalm 103:7 – “He made known his ways to Moses, his deeds to the people of Israel”.

Maybe, God may have wanted the people of Israel to know his ways of provision, but sadly Moses’ act only depicted an act / deed of God .. and perhaps, that’s where Moses failed in upholding God’s holiness.

Whatever the interpretation, the truth is MOSES was punished for an act … which seemed like any ordinary moment at that time.

On the side here, note that Aaron was punished too .. for a long time, I had been wondering it was Moses who disobeyed, so why was Aaron punished? The fact is, Moses was told to speak to the rock – and the speaking was supposed to be done by Aaron, who failed in his responsibility as Moses’ mouthpiece – hence the punishment for him too!

As I dwell on this passage only one thing comes to my mind. I do not know what may be a significant moment in my life. I need to be in constant obedience to God’s command and His Word. And in light of that, I am called to make right choices at all times. Only God knows whether it’s a significant moment or not – so, rather than taking risks, let’s live our life as though it’s one of those moments in our life.
A split second decision can alter our life and our course/path forever!
Let’s hear God and obey Him.

Significant moments in life ... Part 1

We all go through seasons in life, where God emphasizes a certain truth at that moment. And right now, I am in a phase where one truth is coming back to me again and again. I have been reading through some passages and interestingly most of them have some thoughts which are connected to this idea.
So, the next few entries on this blog would be centered around this thought.

And it’s a principle which God had first revealed to me in 1998, when we were involved in pioneering the “SCHOOL OF ADMINISTRATION” in YWAM in Pune. Now, for the quote:
“Significant moments in life are NOT ALWAYS significant, when we are going through it”


I THINK IT’S IMPORTANT THAT I SHARE HOW I RECEIVED THIS REVELATION:

I had been working in the office ever since I joined YWAM in 1991, and 5 years prior to that in various Mission organizations.
In ’97, there happened to be a few staff at the YWAM base in Pune with strong administrative capabilities. And we met every so often to discuss the difficulty we were having in retaining people to work in the office within the Missions context. Those who came, we forced them to work in the office, as we were in desperate need and they were not skilled, neither did they give it 100% when it came to work. And by the time, we taught them the skills, they left citing, God has called them to do the “actual ministry” – as if, working in the office was not a ministry. And we didn't help them in any way in making them feel that working in the office was a ministry, but rather a punishment. It was done more out of desperation :-(

So, we who were called to a ministry like that seriously started praying for more workers to be released into the Mission field, especially in the area of administration. Our expectation was God would send people with strong administrative skills (so we didn't have to teach them), and those who will come with a long-term commitment to work in the offices, which was our struggling point - so the other ministries could continue.
But God had other ideas.
While we were brain-storming and praying we felt an urge to pioneer a School, which would not only teach skills and train people to work in offices, but also impart the value & the gift of administration within the Body of Christ.

After much planning and discussions and getting a formal approval, the much awaited course began in April ’98.
It was all exciting because it was a pioneering school.
Plenty of affirmations kept pouring in; yet we found getting students enrolled a difficulty. We persevered through that and the students were eventually there, and some good staffs.

The first 3 weeks was like a cruise … everything was perfect tailor-made, as the doctor ordered.
Come 4th week, things began to turn a bit turbulent.
We were having struggles with the students; the staffs were not getting along; tensions were brewing; there was no money in the kitty; suddenly there was no sense of purpose in running that school.
The excitement faded and the day-to-day frustrations and challenges loomed large.
- What didn’t seem to be a problem early on suddenly became a major issue!
- What could have been worked out now seemed disastrous, beyond remedy!

I began to wonder if all this effort was worth it.
Was it, after all a significant school for the Mission, as we thought it was?
If so, was this the right time for this school?

We all knew it was - but reality and circumstances were far from it.

One morning, after our small group discussion we had gone to a nearby tea-shop, to sip a cup of 'chai'. On our way back, the question popped up in my mind again: “Is this a significant moment? Why am I wasting my time in doing something new, when there is so much of existing needs around?”

At that time, I felt God speak to me and say: YES, THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT SCHOOL & IT IS A SIGNIFICANT MOMENT.
But there was a reality check.

And I was thinking about why the difficulty then, God began to show areas in my life from the past – many things had happened in my life, which were significant. When I recalled those moments, none of those seemed SIGNIFICANT as I went through it.
In fact, some of the significant moments in my life, were my worst night-mares.
For eg: EDUCATION. I didn't do very well in school and it was a nightmare to face each new day. But now, I see that it had laid a foundation for my present ministry at large.


And this moment now, was no less significant.

All of a sudden, I felt a new leash of energy well inside of me.
I came back to the classroom all excited – but things were still the same.
The struggles still tormented me no end. But I decided I will look at that phase, as though it was a significant moment in my life and in the life’s of the students and for the Mission.

Little did I realize also, that it was the beginning of a principle, which God would want to make it my own. And I was to live such moments, being aware of this truth.

Now, having shared how I received this revelation, I would like to pause here. In the subsequent thoughts, we will take 1 passage at a time, to see how we can live our lives and how we can know such moments.

For now, it’s time to analyze and see what were some of the significant moments in our life:
a) the time we got saved
b) the time we make/made a decision about our career
c) the time we committed for full-time service / or to a job
d) choosing a life partner / some of you are in the process!!
… & many such moments … just think of one such time and reflect on it.
It's simply an event which happened in our life, marking a milestone.

Did those moments seem significant at all while we were going through it?
Most of the time, the answer would be NO.
Seldom would the answer be YES, and even if we knew that, the difficulties & challenges of getting through were always there.

OUR RESPONSE DURING SUCH TIMES …
These moments don’t last for a long time - But the way we respond during that time has lasting implications.
IMAGINE - you have gone through a season like that:
i) you responded negatively while you were in it - how does that make you feel right now?
- do you feel awful / miserable?
ii) you responded positively - and how does that make you feel?
- good / great / you are on top of the clouds…

Perhaps, you are in a significant moment right now. And you haven’t realized it. What is your response going to be?

Again, such moments don’t last a life-time. It’s a season - which could be short or long.
But the way we respond will have a lasting effect on us and others around us.

Significant times in life are not always significant, when we are going through it.