Joy to the world!

The shepherds who were doing night shift keeping watch of their sheep out in the pastures of Bethlehem, didn’t know what was awaiting them.  The only visitors that they could anticipate would be any wild animals coming to steal one of their sheep.  They were totally unaware of the plan that God had for them.  Contrary to their expectation and at an unlikely time, they had a heavenly visitation with the greatest good news that they could ever have.

“Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.” - Luke‬ ‭2:10‬ ‭(NKJV‬‬)

Usually the birth of a newborn baby would be announced to the immediate family.  It is joyous and celebratory.  How amazing is the love of God that He chose the lowly Shepherds of Bethlehem to hear the wonderful news of the saviour’s birth for the first time.  The heavenly invitation was sent to them not by ordinary means but through an angel along with a multitude of heavenly hosts praising God.

From the angel they knew the place where the child was born is Bethlehem and the sign that was given to them was that a Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. Unlike the wise men, they didn’t have a guiding star leading them to the right place among the hundreds of mangers in Bethlehem.

It’s important to note the effort they put forth in response to the heavenly invitation they received.  They made haste and went in search of Him and found Him just as the angel had said. Because of their obedience and diligence, they were able to meet Jesus, the true and great shepherd. They returned with great joy praising and glorifying God with immense excitement that they couldn’t help but share this good news to others around them.

As in the case of the Shepherds, even in the darkness and stillness of our night seasons, God can still come through with good news that will forever transform our atmosphere with the jubilance of His presence.  Though the heavenly invitation first came to the shepherds, it was not just for them. Those who respond to the heavenly call to go and seek Him will always find Him.

“Seek the Lord while He may be found,

Call upon Him while He is near.” (Isa. 55:6)

Jesus is the only one who can give good tidings of great joy and bring peace and goodwill to all people.  As you seek Him today, may He release exceedingly great Joy to your heart and your world!  May God bless you!

Giving Thanks Always

“We would worry less if we praised more. Thanksgiving is the enemy of discontent and dissatisfaction.” - H. A. Ironside

An attitude of gratitude not only helps appreciate the things at hand but also prepares way for greater things ahead.  Thankfulness has an effect of brightening up any unhappy days.  A thankful heart is a great possession a person could have.

Psalmist David says: “I will praise the name of God with a song, And will magnify Him with thanksgiving.” - Psalms‬ ‭69:30‬

In David’s life we see that though he got anointed at a very young age, he had to live through very conflicting environment.  His father didn’t feel that it was important to invite him to the family gathering, his brothers rejected him, he had to be out in the field with wild animals, protecting his sheep.  Though he slayed the giant Goliath and saved an entire nation, he had to run away fearing for his life, away from the jealous king Saul.  But through it all, one thing that he was consistent in doing was playing his harp and giving thanks and praising God.  The psalms he wrote bring comfort and deep encouragement, divinely touching people’s heart and exhorting them to worship God.

In the lineage of King David the worshipper, Jesus the promised Messiah came to this world.  Jesus though He is the son of God, throughout His earthly life constantly gave thanks to the Heavenly Father, who is the giver of all good things.  On the cross Jesus purchased our salvation through His sacrifice, which is the greatest blessing of all that we are eternally grateful for!

When injustice, unrest, chaos and unfairness are the daily reports in the news, the natural and easy response can be to worry and be fearful.  As the world around us gives us plenty of reasons to feel discouraged and be discontent, it takes effort to stay grateful and not to take things for granted.  Thankfulness in our heart helps us to reflect on things in a positive light and to soar over all the negative things around us.

“15 Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.” - Hebrews 13:15

As we look at the many blessings and daily benefits that we enjoy, let’s not forget to thank God. And even if sometimes it may feel like a sacrifice of praise, let’s remember to give thanks.  May the grace of our Lord fill our hearts today and enable us to be thanks-givers not just during a season but everyday! God bless you!

Importune Prayers

"We prevail with men by importunity because they are displeased with it, but with God because he is pleased with it!" - Matthew Henry

The disciples of Jesus asked Him to teach them how to pray.  To demonstrate the importance of prayer, Jesus spoke to them about a person who went at midnight knocking on the door of a friend, for three loaves of bread to set before a guest who unexpectedly visited him that night.

It was unlikely time to open the door for anyone knocking at the door. And the friend didn’t want to get up and open the door.  He had his children sleeping on the bed and like any parent, he didn’t want to wake them up.  So it was only reasonable that he turned down the friend’s request many times.

However, this man refused to take “no” for an answer and didn’t even give it a thought that he was inconveniencing his friend. He had an urgent and specific request for which he knew that his friend had the answer. He didn’t even care if his persistence will negatively impact their relationship. All he wanted was an answer and so he kept on knocking.

Jesus said, “I say to you, though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many as he needs.” (Luke 11: 8)

It’s important to note, it’s not the fact that him being a friend that got him the answer, but rather his persistence with such shameless boldness that made his friend to get up and open the door.

Though his request was for just three loaves of bread but when he got the answer he received as many as he needed.  Jesus urged His disciples that they pray in this manner.

God made a way possible through His son Lord Jesus that we may approach Him.  We can come to Him with our requests anytime.  Our God is the loving Heavenly Father who is pleased with and more than willing to supply all our needs, unlike the reluctant friend in the story.  When God answers, he will answer in abundance.  Hence let’s continue to ask, seek and knock with persistence knowing that God sees and honors your importunity. May your answers come in abundance!  God bless you!

Counting Him Faithful

“All God's giants have been weak men and women who have gotten hold of God's faithfulness.” - Hudson Taylor

In Hebrews 11, the Hall of Faith chapter of the Bible, the writer showcases the great men and women of faith whose lives are an inspiration for all generations. One thing they all had in common was indeed faith. They all portrayed different characteristics of faith, expressed different forms that were evident in their actions and turned impossible situations in their favor. It is often wrongly assumed that they all somehow possessed superhuman ability which resulted in them having the strong, unwavering and consistent faith.  We could easily overlook the fact that they were all people with nature like ours.  However, they all received immense grace from God, and that enabled them to be overcomers.

In verse 11 of the same chapter, we see Abraham’s wife Sarah is mentioned.  When Sarah was yet to have a child, God spoke of her as the mother of nations.  At that time, they were still waiting for a long while to receive God’s promise of a child and both Abraham and Sarah were getting very old and well advanced in age.

Hebrews 11:11 reads: “By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised.”

In order for Sarah to receive strength, could it imply that she was weak in faith at some point prior?  When we look at her life in Genesis chapter 18, a year ago before Isaac was born, God reminded them of the promise.  The reaction of  Sarah was noted that she laughed from unbelief.  From the time she suggested Hagar to Abraham until she laughed and tried to hide, for several years then Sarah wasn’t really able to fully embrace that the promise of God would come to pass in her life.  Fulfilment of God's promise would be naturally impossible due to age and any reasonable person in her situation could potentially find it very difficult to believe.

What could’ve possibly changed in order for her to receive that strength?  From what we see in the book of Hebrews, she made an incredible decision and “considered Him who had given her the promise to be reliable and true to His word”.  That is a great shift in thinking to take the focus off of her own inabilities and place it squarely on God who is faithful. What a remarkable faith that enabled her to receive strength to birth the impossible!

Sarah indeed is an inspiration and gives tremendous hope to us that we can also draw such strength from God’s faithfulness, when faced with impossible challenges!  God remains faithful and we can surely rely on Him all the time.  Like Sarah, let us judge Him faithful in all situations!  May His strength that is made perfect in our weaknesses, empower you today to see God's promises fulfilled and every impossible situations turned around in your life!

Dwelling Place

“Among the dwellings framed by birds

In field or forest with nice care,

Is none that with the little Wren's

In snugness may compare.” - William Wordsworth

It’s interesting to watch how the birds make their nests. Great engineering skills are displayed in their building. It is made as a secure place for them to lay their eggs, and a protective environment for their young ones to hatch. Through their God-given instinct, they know how to search and find a right place to skillfully build the nest as a cozy and peaceful dwelling place.

The sons of Korah, stated the example of a sparrow and swallow, who decided to make their nest at the altar of God.  “Even the sparrow has found a home, And the swallow a nest for herself,

Where she may lay her young—Even Your altars, O Lord of hosts, My King and my God.” -- Psalm 84:3.

The Psalmists could think of no better example while remembering their flee that saved their lives. While their fathers rebelled against God, they chose not to stay as part of it, but instead they ran into the house of God and got hold on the horns of the altar of God.  Like those sparrow and swallow, they also made the wisest decision!  Especially, looking from a locational and positional point of view, they found the perfect hideout!

There is no place more secure and safe than the presence of God for us to make a dwelling place for ourselves. Though it may be invisible to the natural eyes, we also have a dwelling place, where we can stay in Him. It’s a place of rest for your soul, where you are secure, protected and free!

Jesus spoke of a wise man who built his house on the rock and the flood and the storm couldn’t take it down. We can be like him, as we build according to the Lord’s word.

Psalm 91:1 says, “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.”

He still have His wings spread out so you can run to Him and find your safe DWELLING PLACE!

Light of Life

“In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.  And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.” (John 1: 4 - 5)

You may have heard of this popular quote, “I opened two gifts this morning, they were my eyes”.  The sense of vision is really incredible, and the essential ingredient that makes it possible is light.

We also know, the importance of light for the existence of human beings, plants, animals and the entire biosphere.  We all might have experienced blackouts and power outages at some point.  It makes us think how valuable a small candle is.  Even the light from that small candle can drive away the darkness.  As Rev Martin Luther King Jr once said: “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that.”

The first recorded word spoken by God in the Bible is “Let there be light”.  He knew, before anything else can be created, the light needed to be there.  In our lives too, before other creations can come forth, light is necessary.

In this day and age, we have information readily available at the click of our fingertips. However with all that, most of our questions can only be answered by having God opening our internal eyes and Him shedding His light into our lives.  It makes a world of difference, just by having His light shed on all areas in our life. That would bring clarity and peace of mind, just by knowing things in the right light.

“For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” (2 Corinthians 4:6)

The Word of God is talking about a light that has shone in our hearts.  It’s relieving to know that God made that possible by sending His own son into this world darkened by sin.  In a manger in Bethlehem, the true light has finally dawned on humanity, bringing hope and future! Jesus, the light of the world, has come down to this earth, bringing new life for all!

“Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” (John 8: 12)

How desiring is it to have light, how much more the light of life! It’s a promise given to whomever deciding to follow Jesus. This light is beyond the comprehension of any darkness around us. Jesus, the true light of the world, brings peace and joy within! May He shine in your heart today and light up your world with His life and glory, for YOUR light has come!