The halfbaked Bard

For in Him, we live and move and exist. Acts:17:28 Our identity. Our existence. Our very breath. Our address. Our deeds, acts, words and thoughts. Our image. Our traits. Our personality.  Our narrative. Our beliefs. Our attitude. Our character. Our class. Our reputation. Our image. Our demeanour. Our talents. Our very being - in its whole wholeness. From the unseen cell or molecule or atom we consist off. This is all about God. Created by Him, for His glory. Redeemed by His precious blood. We have in us, His breath that He breathed. His image and likeness, we are. Do I reflect even an iota of it? Image courtesy: https://www.chendurs.com/all-newsletters/how-do-fingerprint-scanners-work

Bereans were open minded. They listened eagerly and searched the Scriptures (Acts:17:11) It was the greatest preacher of all time, who knew the Scriptures in and out. But still the Bereans searched the Scriptures day after day, to see if Paul and Silas were teaching them the truth. Not a blind belief of what the preacher says. Keeping the standard as the Word of God. Whether it is in line with the Word of God. The Word of God is the standard. Cross checking whether it is out of context interpretation, what they teach. Whether it is correct interpretation. It is the Scriptures themselves that teach us. Not people. Go back to the Scriptures. Systematically learn it so that your basics are all set. So that you would be able to distinguish between what is right and wrong. Make your doctrines sound. Not to blindly believe any teaching  Image credit: https://www.growingchristians.org/hermeneutics/principle-6

Acts:16:25 Around midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God. In the middle of the night In a dripping humid horid dungeon Feet clamped in stocks Bruised, beaten, wounded. Praying, singing hymns to God. How could they sing with joy? In the middle of real pain. Their singing was so enthralling That even the prisoners are listening In the middle of an earthquake Their chains fell off, the doors opened But still why did the others stay? So appealing is this joy. Even the jailer wants to know Why are you singing in the midst of pain? Not desperately crying to save. Not wailing to help them out But singing out of pure joy Of the confidence in the God who called them. Image credit: https://kimshistorytravel.com/jail-in-philippi/

Acts 15 Silas was a leader in Jerusalem. Silas was a prophet. Silas becomes a messenger to the church in Antioch. He encourages and strengthens the brothers. But later as Paul chooses him, he gladly plays the second fiddle. From now on, it is all about Paul with the less important Silas. He is one with Paul in his ministry, in persecution. Yet no one is there to commend him. All hail Paul. But Silas is insignificant. There is no promotion for Silas. Life might look stagnant for him; or even a relegation. But Silas sings with Paul while in chains. Every Sunday School kid synonymises the prison singing with Paul and Silas (in one breath). In Malayalam it is even better - Paulosum Silasum. Just because he let go of his own life to the hands of God, to be used by Him, he let His purpose thrive in him. Have ambitions, have agendas. But not over His plan for you; even when it seems making you unrecognisable, insignificant and belittling. Others might soar high in achievement. And...

Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch. Acts:14:21. In Lystra, they were stoned and dragged out of the city. To Lystra they come back to strengthen and encourage.  What a commitment?  What love to the people of Lystra? What surity of their calling? They both go back to the very place that tortured them. To the very place they suffered. We would never go back to the very place! Scared? Hatred? Indignation? What if God asks you to go back? Would you give excuses?  Would you still love the person, who stood against you? Would you hate or love him/her? If you understand the truth that, calling is unto a person not to a place, nor unto people, then it becomes easy to forgive. Forgiveness is something which needs grace, much grace. If God could forgive me yet again, how much should I? For Jesus taught us to pray - Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us.  Image credit: https://coriechu.com/blog/forgiveness-and-healing

Acts 14 In Lystra, when a crippled man, born lame was healed, they called Barnabas and Paul as gods and they wanted to offer sacrifices to them, calling them Zeus and Hermes. Despite Paul denying it outrightly, it was difficult to keep them from sacrificing to them. But then, few Jews came from Antioch and won them over; and immediately they wanted to stone them. Man's opinion is so temporal. It changes so fast. At one point they would praise you. At the next they would drag you down. Do not run after this futile asset. And man is so desperately after this appreciation. We need to come to our senses and give weightage to the truth. Instead; strive for approval from God. He never changes like shifting sands. Yearn for His comment - well done. Do things that would please Him and not man's standard.  Shifting sands vs the Rock. Image credit: https://www.istockphoto.com/search/2/image-film?phrase=shifting+sands