Happy Resurrection Sunday!

"For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures"

1 Corinthians 15:3-4

All in Good Time!

I just need to look at the world around me and I am moved to write :). I always marvel how God allows or brings certain people to cross paths at a particular time in history. And it’s not just about the timing, it’s also about the circumstances in which they meet and what has traversed in their lives before they meet.

I firmly believe that indulging in ‘what if’s’ is a man’s foolish attempt to escape reality!! It is but a gift of faith to believe that God is in control of all things, including time and space and that He alone knows the end from the beginning. We as earthly creatures who live within the bounds of time and space are not in a position to fathom this truth in its entirety. Some things are better accepted than dissected. This will only preserve our sanity!  

So, coming back to what I was saying at the beginning of this post is this:" For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven" says the bible. Let’s be patient and wait expectantly for whatever God has called upon us to wait, for "He has made everything beautiful in its time.” (Ecclesiastes 3:11a-Bible)

 

Reason to Write...

It’s been a while since I have published a post. I don’t believe that I need to pen down everything that happens daily. I guess the beauty of it lies in keeping certain incidents close to yourself, to ponder over it a couple of times in your heart or head, which ever way you choose.

Of course there are those things that need to be shared or should be shared with others. How do we know when and how do we know what?? This of course requires much wisdom and discernment! This also bears great bearing on your motives which clears the path in a big way.

You as a reader might have noticed my posts to be short and containing simple topics. Honestly, I am no philosopher who has the answer to all the questions life throws at me. But as mentioned in my earlier posts, I do know the One who created me and called me to live this life in way that truly honors Him and is absolutely satisfying!!

My task is to point you to the One I know, the Creator and Sustainer of this universe we live in. I am sharing a except of one man named Paul who addressed the people of Athens on the same issue.  I will be grateful if you read this account! 

"So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: "Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription, 'To the unknown god.' What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you.  The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. 

And He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place,  that they should seek God, in the hope that they might feel their way toward Him and find Him. Yet He is actually not far from each one of us, for

"'In Him we live and move and have our being';

   

   as even some of your own poets have said,

   "'For we are indeed his offspring.'

 Being then God’s offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man. The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now He commands all people everywhere to repent, because He has fixed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom He has appointed; and of this He has given assurance to all by raising Him from the dead." From the Bible (Acts 17: 22-31)

 

The Sword of the Spirit

This has been on my mind for a long time and I guess the time is right that I pen these thoughts down. As an Indian I have come across various traditions and cultures some of which I love to hate. And as I was growing up I remember enjoying some and despising the other becoz of inconvenience perhaps.....

But now as a Bible believing Christian who affirms that “knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” (2Peter 1: 20, 21) So everything I do and say has to be guided by what the Word of God says....I don't find it burdensome but as the Psalmist says in Psalms 119: 97 “Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day.”

So coming back to what I have in mind is “What about the traditions and rituals that are being followed by people all around me?” Sometimes it is so confusing but God's Word is very clear. Right now I am thinking of certain verses from the book of Colossians.

“Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath.” (Col 2 :16) and another verse

“These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.” (Col 2:23)

My favorite which extinguishes all the flames of doubts is this,

“See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.” (Col 2:8) Wham!!!

I am satisfied coz I have tasted and seen that the Lord is good. (Psalm 34: 8a)