The halfbaked Bard

For a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him. 2 Pet:2:19 Everything is permissible for me, but not everything is beneficial. Everything is permissible for me, but I will not be mastered by anything. 1 Cor:6:12 Habits are good. Hobbies are worthwhile to pursue. But whether you are a slave to it or not, depends on whether you are addicted to it or are mastered by it. Depends on the time you spend with it. Can you live without it? Can you survive without it? Will you become fidgety and restless if you do not get it? On that score, are you a slave to social media, phone, a performance oriented life, a substance? Will you be able to switch off and spend some time alone without these? If you are able to, then good. If not. Beware. Instead be enslaved unto God. Can you survive if you are not able to spend some time reading the word or pray or spend some time in solitude with God. Striking contrast! Image credit: gemini

2 Pet:1:10 Therefore my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. How can I be sure of my salvation? For if you do these things (v:10) V:5 and to your faith, add goodness To goodness add knowledge To knowledge add self control To self control add perseverance  To perseverance add godliness To godliness add brotherly kindness To brotherly kindness add love. If you look back and see these qualities in your life, you can be sure that you are saved. These are not qualities that you can manifest without the power of the Spirit in you. The Spirit of God , if He resides in you, it is because you are saved. Am I growing in this ? Am I better than yesterday? These things will (also) keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (v:8) What good if the knowledge of Jesus Christ will not enable you to be Christ like? Image courtesy: chatgpt

His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness. 2 Pet:1:3 Everything we need for our life in this present world; all our material needs; all our basic needs. And also for godliness; that is to grow in the knowledge of God; to build up in a relationship with God. Everything that you can think of. Everything you can ask for. Everything that you need. Has been given. It is yours for the taking. He will provide. For His name is Jehovah Jireh. Only we have to take it. Only we have to believe it and receive it. Why has He given us this? Is it because of our goodness? Is it because God foresaw our good deeds and therefore He gave it? Not at all. Wretched, poor, blind, naked as we are. He just gave it to us. Essentially for His glory and because He is good. He is good so much so that He reveals Himself to us who do not deserve to know Him. Even when we squander every opportunity. Even ...

Humble yourselves therefore under God's mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time. 1 Pet:5:6 What is there to be proud of What is there to boast When you face with much suffering What is there to retaliate Just keep quiet and humble yourself Under the mighty hands of God He shall lift you up in due time God is on your side, dear one. And if God is on your side, Who can be against you. Who can stand against the Mighty Holy One? If you face undue humiliation If you face undeserved ridicule If you suffer injustice Humble yourselves under the Mighty Hands Of God, and He shall lift you up in due time. For God is on your side. Reacting or retaliating Trying to gain things by might - no, not that Instead humble yourselves in God's hands For that is all you can do and  all you need to do. He shall raise you up in due time. Image courtesy: chatgpt

1Pet:4:19 So then those who suffer because it is God's will for them, should by their good actions trust themselves completely to their Creator, who always keeps His promise. Suffering is always a difficult pill to swallow. Whether it is by your own bad deeds or if you do not deserve it. But for a Christian, suffering comes along - for no reason or as a consequence of sins. There is a four fold reason for suffering in the life of a child of God. 1. We are in the enemy's territory. And the enemy who will fight tooth and nail against our head Jesus Christ, will fight against us as well, trying to render us powerless. But be of good cheer. He who overcame all these is with you till the end of days. 2. Suffering is to be considered as a consequence of man's sinfulness, rather than a particular sin. Our fallenness and our wretchedness. Yes, now there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. But in this world you will have much troubles, the same Jesus pr...

The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self controlled, so that you can pray. 1 Pet:4:7 What should our response be when we realise that the end is near? We should pray. We should pray without ceasing. We should pray without getting bored.  You are called to be a house of prayer. Do not make it a den of thieves. Be clear minded and self controlled so that you can pray. You cannot harbour sin in your heart and then come to a holy God to pray. First confess your sins. Get rid of everything that takes you farther from God. Prayer should not be a monologue. Let it be a conversation with your Father in heaven. Confess. Listen in prayer. Intercede. Worship. Submit your petitions. Praise. Thank. Keep quiet. Let it be your habit. Not a routine. Image credit: https://in.pinterest.com/pin/585256914112399930/