Skip to main content

Idol


Gen 28

At Bethel, Jacob had his first encounter with God. He thought the Lord is in that place. He did not realize it was not the place, but it was him, with whom God was. 
Not Bethel, but Immanuel is His name. 

How often do we give importance to things, places or people rather than God? 
If only that pastor could pray for me! We have to remember the pastor has the same standing before God, as compared to us. Jesus the only mediator is your bigger brother to whom you have access. 
That particular sacred thing will bless your life. Keeping the Bible under you pillow while sleeping. The Bible is the Holy word of God, but the book cannot save you. The Word in it can. Treasuring it in your heart is more important than keeping it safe in your shelf. Kerala is in the newspapers now because of one person who knew this heart of Malayalees and he sells antiques to them, which they thought would invoke blessings from the Gods. People are willing to pay millions. 
A place- if you bless me in my exams, I will go as pilgrimage to that place. I will walk on my knees. I will walk barefooted. I will do all those ritualistic fastings. 

People, places and things _ Have they become idols in my life? Have they replaced the God who so dearly loves me? What is more dear to me? These idols or a relation that is lively with my Father? It's time to ponder. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Ashley

Dear Brother. Rest in peace. This life is small. Yet proved again. But you proved. Living for Christ alone matters. Trying to acquire skill  And to use your well earned medical knowledge For the poor and needy. Your words still ring in my ear. "We are alone there" Brother gone too soon. Leaving behind a legacy. Well done good and faithful servant. Enough is enough. Come back and enter the rest planned for you. In His bosom, the classic smile I can imagine. Your laughter will surely resound in heaven today. There is rejoicing in heaven  For a son has come back home. Fulfilling his Father's will for him Why should earth be gloomy?  For he is home.

Why? - a short story

I have always been obedient to my father. Though sometimes it sounded illogical. Of late his demands are more irrational. I have seen him spending time praying. But now he is different. He travels around Judea and sometimes even to Israel to listen to this man Jesus. Some say He is a rebel. Some say He is the son of God the Messiah. I don't know. I haven't been religious. I like this part of the Ten Commandments which says if you want a long life, then honour your father and mother.  Ever since my mother passed away, my father had been lonely. They were in love. Never have I seen anyone love like this, even the newly weds. He had been gloomy for the past ten years. But now there is a smile in his face. He spends time in his room often, praying. Other times he is out to listen to this man. But there is joy in his face, that I know.  Today why did he ask me to go and collect water from the town? No idea. There are slave girls to do that. There is plenty of water here...

Pressed down Shaken together

Your gift will return to you full, pressed down, shaken together to make more room, running over and poured into your lap. Luke:6:38 Many a times this verse is misinterpreted for giving, more precisely speaking, about money. But aren't we completely misguided? Jesus has not been talking about money at all here. It is about forgiveness that He talks about. It is about not judging. It is about not condemning. It is about our attitude and not about assets. Many a times we give importance to things which are not important to God. To forgive means to be forgiven. If you forgive, you will be forgiven to a greater extent. Both from man's side and from God's side. Jesus taught that in the Lord's prayer too. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. When we keep account of the wrongs done to us, remember that the wrongs done by us will be kept account of as well. Forgive just as God has forgiven. Do not judge. Do not condemn. As God has done to you....

One more chance

Karun Nair, Indian cricketer was unduly kept away from Indian cricket team. Though he scored runs in international and domestic circuit. This was a viral post of his in 2022. After which he scored piles of runs in domestic circuit and in the IPL. Finally he was given a chance to represent team India again. Inspiring stuff. Give it one more chance. Lk:13:6 Jesus the intercessory keeps on asking for one more chance for you. Those that do not bear fruit are expected to be cut down. V:5 reaffirms by saying - No and I tell you again and again that unless you repent you will perish too. Sin is not something which a holy God can accommodate with. Bearing fruit is what you think as a higher level of Christianity. But not bearing fruit is actually sin. Because that is the purpose of the plant. If you don't love your neighbour, if you do not have joy despite all your circumstances, if you do not have peace that passes all circumstances , if you are impatient and short tempered, i...

Authentic

Lk:3:1-2 Oh! Why this mundane description. It looks boring. But a meticulous examination shows a pinpoint accuracy that is reliable. Dr. Luke presents the good News after a thorough research. When you look into the annals of history, we see these people were for real. Rulers over these places in real time. Which says this account is no figment of someone's imagination. But the real description of things that happened. As if Dr. Luke is saying, if you have any doubt, see, this is the time it happened I say. Go Check in the books of history. Which means. Jesus is real. So His death is real. So His resurrection is real. This makes Him unique. That proves that He is God Himself and not just another story of one god coming to stay with mankind. Authentic. Fool proof. To the point. Period. Image credit: https://www.istockphoto.com/search/2/image-film?phrase=thumbs+up+meaning

Neighbour

Luke:10:29 Who is my neighbour? Through the story Jesus' answer to this question was very explicit.  Everyone is your neighbour. Anyone who is in need is your neighbour. Anyone who is spiritually, emotionally, physically in need, you should be fully available. Do you cross over to the other side? Showing you did not see. Are the other responsibilities standing in your way. Or are you freely available  Selling out yourself, your time, your energy, your money. Are you a good neighbour?

The Lord's servant - a poem

I am the Lord's servant. May everything you have said about me come true. Lk:1:38 It is easy to accept His will, when it's cordial When it's a blessing in our terms. But will it be possible to thank Him, When it is confusing and disturbing? Elizabeth, old as she is would be ome pregnant. The Lord is kind; she exclaims. Mary, a virgin is pregnant six months later. I am the Lord's servant; she accepts. After years of prayer, Elizabeth is blessed. All rejoice with her. All praise God for her. But Mary is all alone. She is cursed when she accepts His will. A virgin getting pregnant, can that be God's will? Someone greater than the greatest is being formed. In her womb, through all her pains. Through all the loneliness and difficulties She alone had to go through. Yet she accepted. Would you accept pain and ridicule. The same way you accept blessings from God. For through this, Christ is being formed in you  Painful, but worth it. Consider it pure joy, dear b...