"Now appoint us a king to rule over us like all other nations" This is what the people of Israel asked Samuel when he became really old. Samuel is displeased with this request and so is God.
God takes it very personally and He says "they have rejected Me".
When I was reading this passage, I said "God!!! you are over-reacting, all that the people of Israel wanted was a king like every other nation".
And as I was meditating on this, God showed me some stuff that He did not allow me to have in the past, things which I was very passionate about but I was bluntly refused. God asked me "Did you ask for the wrong things?" I said "No". He continued by saying "Had I allowed those things in your life, would you be the same today?". I replied sarcastically, "Definitely not, I would have been a lot more happier". And God said "Exactly!!! you would have been a lot more happier and then rejected me". I tried to argue with God "No that's not true !!!". But I had my own doubts.
Every Christian who knows God personally will agree that getting close to God is a process, it is long, sometimes exciting, sometimes painful, sometimes fun, sometimes dry and sometimes it feels like your in love.
I believe that rejecting God is also a process. The first thing that draws us away from God can be anything that gives us security other than Him. For some it could be money, for some relationships, for some education and for some a career; sometimes even good health can give security.This kind of security that replaces God will slowly rule over us.For the people of Israel a 'king' would give them security.
I stood there reminiscing my past. I was a lot stronger,braver and confident before. I was secure. But the source of my security;was definitely not God. Today I feel week, impoverished, inadequate; by myself, so I have to rely 100% on God; there's no way I can afford to reject Him now.
I said "God!! this makes you look like a bad guy!!". And God said "You've forgotten who I AM child.... relying on me 100% is your greatest privilege.....only this way you get to do things and achieve heights you could never have done by yourself;to get you to do this I have to look like a bad guy..all for love!!!!!!!!!"
Friends, we are talking about a God here, who does not want to stop with just being someone who is there to answer prayers. But He involves Himself deeply in our lives and concerns Himself with every activity that we perform. Don't be discouraged!! You don't need the securities that you are looking for. Let God rule over you.With Him you will see great heights and explore new horizons.If this is what you are looking for, then leave it to God because HIS ways are HIGHER.
This is what I call faith.
II Samuel 9:5
They said to him, "You are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways; now appoint a king to lead us, such as all the other nations have."
II Samuel 9:7
And the LORD told him: "Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king."
John 11:40
Then Jesus said, "Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?"
Isaiah 56:5
I will give within my temple and its walls a memorial and a name better than sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name that will not be cut off.
Ephesians 3:20
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Friday, April 4, 2008
Friends Indeed!!!
Usually I spend a lot of time thinking for the title of the writing, but for this piece the title was the first thing I keyed in.
I wonder how my life would have been without my two friends.., Evelyn and Beulah.
Evelyn... she made the first entry into my life; When she came in I hardly knew what friendship meant. She did a lot of things for me, things I can never write. When I was away from my parents, just when I was around her ,she made me feel totally at home,.Though our likes and dislikes are entirely different we stick together like paper and glue. I owe a lot to her for one thing, she made me discover myself.
Beulah... she came into my life two years later, but WOW!! .. whenever Eve and I talk about her, the single word that we use to describe her is 'gem'. She is totally understanding and very adjustable. Initially when Evelyn and I were new to college and Beulah was a new entrant into our lives, she gave us the space we needed. She never demanded attention and she saw to it that she never came in between the both of us. By becoming our best friend she strengthened our bonds stronger than ever.
You may wonder what this is got to do with 'My Master's Voice'. Well, my Master is the only God who calls His worshippers as friends, and He knows the value and importance of friends and that's why , when I surrendered my life to God, He gave me the perfect friends. Friends I could never have made on my own.
God uses them to add colour to my otherwise plain and boring life. Moreover, I can hear my Master's voice clearly anywhere whether in class, or in the bus, or in the mess hall, or in the lab, or in the library, because these the guys who are always around me,the Master's own special children.
When I think about these angels in my life, all I can say is , "Lord, you know me too well.. and that's why you gave me friends who can keep a check on my life. Thank you so much"
We fellowship, we pray, we do bible studies, we study (they're going to hit me for this!!), and most of all we live like we share the same life.
Ecclesiastes 4:10
If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!
Luke 5:20
When Jesus saw their faith, he said, "Friend, your sins are forgiven."
John 15:15
I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.
I wonder how my life would have been without my two friends.., Evelyn and Beulah.
Evelyn... she made the first entry into my life; When she came in I hardly knew what friendship meant. She did a lot of things for me, things I can never write. When I was away from my parents, just when I was around her ,she made me feel totally at home,.Though our likes and dislikes are entirely different we stick together like paper and glue. I owe a lot to her for one thing, she made me discover myself.
Beulah... she came into my life two years later, but WOW!! .. whenever Eve and I talk about her, the single word that we use to describe her is 'gem'. She is totally understanding and very adjustable. Initially when Evelyn and I were new to college and Beulah was a new entrant into our lives, she gave us the space we needed. She never demanded attention and she saw to it that she never came in between the both of us. By becoming our best friend she strengthened our bonds stronger than ever.
You may wonder what this is got to do with 'My Master's Voice'. Well, my Master is the only God who calls His worshippers as friends, and He knows the value and importance of friends and that's why , when I surrendered my life to God, He gave me the perfect friends. Friends I could never have made on my own.
God uses them to add colour to my otherwise plain and boring life. Moreover, I can hear my Master's voice clearly anywhere whether in class, or in the bus, or in the mess hall, or in the lab, or in the library, because these the guys who are always around me,the Master's own special children.
When I think about these angels in my life, all I can say is , "Lord, you know me too well.. and that's why you gave me friends who can keep a check on my life. Thank you so much"
We fellowship, we pray, we do bible studies, we study (they're going to hit me for this!!), and most of all we live like we share the same life.
Ecclesiastes 4:10
If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!
Luke 5:20
When Jesus saw their faith, he said, "Friend, your sins are forgiven."
John 15:15
I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Right Rewards
The parable of the workers in the vineyard (Matthew 20) has many lessons to teach. Pastor taught us an important lesson from this parable the other day.
Out of the many vital lessons he had to teach I liked this particular one;
He said that 'grapes' required to be harvested as soon as they ripen otherwise they would fall on the ground and the harvest would go waste. The owner of the vineyard did not want this to happen, so he was ready to employ extra labour to complete the task as fast as possible. Pastor wanted us to understand the need for workers in the kingdom, because otherwise the yield would go waste.
There were parallel thoughts in my heart. The workers the master employed in the early hours clearly had their wage agreed upon, before they can began to work. But the others who were standing in the marketplace doing nothing, just trusted the master that He would pay them justly. And they completed their task faithfully. The master gave them the a denarius which was the same wage he paid to the earliest workers.
Sometimes, God calls us to do something when we are in our own busy life doing nothing for God. We are not sure,we feel out of place but we just trust God and begin to work. All throughout we are not sure of what we are going to be rewarded with, but we go on. The single driving force is our love for God's kingdom and the trust on God.
If this is our case today, then.. This parable reinstates that God is just and He will rewards us justly and abundantly in the right time. The reward is not according to the calling but according to our faithfulness to the calling.
Matthew 20:4-5
He told them, 'You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.' So they went.
1Corinthians 1:9
God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.
1Corinthians 1:25-27
Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.
Out of the many vital lessons he had to teach I liked this particular one;
He said that 'grapes' required to be harvested as soon as they ripen otherwise they would fall on the ground and the harvest would go waste. The owner of the vineyard did not want this to happen, so he was ready to employ extra labour to complete the task as fast as possible. Pastor wanted us to understand the need for workers in the kingdom, because otherwise the yield would go waste.
There were parallel thoughts in my heart. The workers the master employed in the early hours clearly had their wage agreed upon, before they can began to work. But the others who were standing in the marketplace doing nothing, just trusted the master that He would pay them justly. And they completed their task faithfully. The master gave them the a denarius which was the same wage he paid to the earliest workers.
Sometimes, God calls us to do something when we are in our own busy life doing nothing for God. We are not sure,we feel out of place but we just trust God and begin to work. All throughout we are not sure of what we are going to be rewarded with, but we go on. The single driving force is our love for God's kingdom and the trust on God.
If this is our case today, then.. This parable reinstates that God is just and He will rewards us justly and abundantly in the right time. The reward is not according to the calling but according to our faithfulness to the calling.
Matthew 20:4-5
He told them, 'You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.' So they went.
1Corinthians 1:9
God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.
1Corinthians 1:25-27
Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.
I am Back!!
Its been a long time since I wrote. I had a lot of random thoughts when I was in different places,different situations, thoughts about which I wanted to make a note. But somehow I couldn't make it.. because I was caught up in a severe swing of laziness.
Its better late than never.. so Here I am!!! Back with a Blast!!!!!
2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
Its better late than never.. so Here I am!!! Back with a Blast!!!!!
2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
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