The halfbaked Bard

Lk:9:9. And he tried to see Him. Perplexed about the uprising that was happening, Herod wanted to see Jesus. Some said John has been raised from the dead, whom he himself has been beheaded. Some said He is some other prophet. Miracles happening everywhere. People following Him. Therefore Herod wanted to see Him. Why did he want to see Him?  Why do you want to follow Christ? Is it all for the blessings? Is it for miracles? Or is it because all may go well with you? Or do you want to know the person Jesus? Do you want to relate to Him?  It is not about doing. But about being. Has there been a difference in you because you have known Him? If not, it has to be checked. Why do you want to follow Him?  Image credit: https://www.istockphoto.com/search/2/image-film?phrase=burning+heart

Lk:8:3 These women were helping to support them out of their own means. In that society, women were considered meagre. Yet here is a set of women who supports Jesus' ministry in accordance with their means. Among them was a socially dilapidated one who had seven demons in her who was thankful to Jesus for healing her. Among them was a financially affluent one, who was from the household of Herod. They all pitched in to help what they could. Are you available with what you are and what you have for Him. You might not be mightily talented. But because of the gratitude of what He has done for you with whatever you have, are you fully available?  Image credit: https://goodineverygrain.ca/2023/01/07/helping-hands-for-mental-health/

Luke7:47 I tell you, her sins - and they are many, have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love. A person who is forgiven more, will show more love. A person who is forgiven less, will show less love. But all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. There is no one who does good.  The person who keeps all of the laws except one, is as guilty as the person who has broken all of God's laws. All our righteous deeds are like filthy rags. We stand before a God whose standard is, looking lustfully at a woman is equivalent to adultery. So infact, there is nothing called greater sin and lesser sin in His eyes. There is nothing like more or less sin. All of us have equally rebelled. Then what did Jesus mean?  Those who realize the depth of the pit from where they are saved, will show more love. If you think you were a good person, who did few sins, you think you are saved from a shallow puddle. May be...

His heart overflowed with compassion. Lk:7:13 The very fact that Jesus' heart overflows with compassion to each of our plights is so delivering.  Each of our problems are big for us. It might be insignificant for others. Oh! It should have been done that way. Oh! Apply more faith. Claim your promises. Oh! Pray more. Believe more. Others have their own opinions. Where as all we want is a shoulder to lean on. It is big for you. It is significant for Him as well. Yet it is not big enough for Him that He can't handle it. He is able. But more importantly, He is overflowing with compassion as you go through this. He knows what you are going through. He knows the enormity of the weight upon you. Therefore He carries your burdens. He knows you are alone in this. Therefore He tells I am with you. You are not alone. He knows by your strength you won't be able to overcome. Therefore He says I will help you. You will scale this high wall. Don't worry. I am with you. The...

Lk:7:1-10 Will Jesus be amazed by seeing your faith? Jesus here is amazed by the faith of a Roman solider. Not even a Jew. This man was supportive to the Jews. He was friends with many respected Jewish elders. If anyone needed Jesus' help, it was he, testified the Jews. Still a gentile. But still believed that Jesus had the power to heal his slave by just His word. And this much of faith was with not much spiritual back up. Jesus was amazed seeing his faith. After all the spiritual input that we have got from church, and the Sunday schools and the fellowships that we are involved with, Jesus would still be amazed at our faith (or the lack of it). We still fret. We are still anxious and worried, when the tables are turned against us. Trust is the only thing that He wants to see in us. And we need to grow in faith, not decline. The graph is to go upward, why is it directed downward, or status quo? Make Jesus amazed and proud of your faith. Image credit: https://www.shutte...

A good tree can't produce bad fruit and a bad tree can't produce good fruit. Lk:6:43 When Jesus tells about fruition, here He means what you say (v:45). For He says, what you say, comes from what is within your heart. Why is it then that, what comes out of our hearts, turns out to hurt others? Why is it then that, what proceeds from our mouths is gossiping and biting behind others back? We know the word. We are rooted in it. But still, then why? Jesus says why, in v:47. There are three steps-  you have to come to Him, you have to listen to Him, you have to follow Him. V:48. Dig deep and lay the foundation. Otherwise it is absolutely useless. Set your foundation deep in the Godly standards that we see in the Word. And set your life accordingly. Then things will be different. If we set out eyes on God alone, then our words will reflect Him, then our thoughts even, would be directed to Him. Otherwise the jargon we speak is the same as what the world would speak. Accord...

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....

Without expecting to be repaid, lend to people. Without expecting to be repaid, do good to them. Be kind and compassionate to those who do not deserve it. Who is not worth it. Who is not in a position to repay you. Or can't give you back. Because this is exactly what God did - He is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked. While we were still enemies, He bacame friends with us.while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.  You must be compassionate just as your Father is compassionate.(Lk 6) What powerful words?  Jesus goes a step further when He says - When things are taken away from you, don't try to get them back. Lk:6:30 It is more than giving. When others forcefully take things away from you, utilising you, taking advantage of your goodness and naivety. But let them take it. Do not even desire to get it back. No need to be regretful that you had to do that. Let it be so.  In fact why are you disturbed? Is it not because of possessiveness and consum...

Love your enemies. Luke6:27 The most revolutionary command that Jesus made. How is it even literally possible? It is even hard to love those who love you. How can you love those who do not love you? Do good to those who hate you? Bless those who curse you? Pray for those who hurt you?  Jesus did it on the cross. Stephen did it when they threw stones. Even if you say it or do it outwardly, what would be your inner heart directed to? Hatred or love? How can you love the one who hates you to the core, irritates you all the more, desires harm for you always?  Theory - We realise that we are loved unendingly by our Father. So this hatred wouldn't matter. And also that love will overflow. Practical - Pray. Jesus enable me. Change my heart from stone to flesh. If you have commanded it, if you have practised it, then you expect me to do it. I know you will equip me too, if I desire. Amen. Image credits: https://redeeminggod.com/ephesians_3_18-21/

I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners and need to repent. Lk;5:32 Blessed are the poor in Spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of God. I need a Saviour. That is the first step to salvation. I need the Helper The first step to victorious living. I need the Father To understand that I am loved  Unless we know we need This God is not for the know it all, the have it all. Desperate to sort out Humbling yourself to the feet of Jesus Not for the one who thinks it is his right Not as a son you grab it But realising from where you were plucked From the very gates of hell unto eternal bosom Being grateful for eternity And asking the Father. That is the role of asking That is the role of seeking You are indeed a son/daughter But a son who squandered everything A daughter who was rebellious Saved by grace Keep remembering your aukat And gratefully, humbling yourself. Image credit: https://empath.fandom.com/wiki/Brainy_Smurf

Luke:5:12 When the man saw Jesus, he bowed with his face to the ground, begging to be healed. The leper. All he could do was to bow low and behold Jesus to heal him. There were many lepers in Judea and in Israel at that time. But not all were healed. Only those who realised their need to be healed. Only those who came to Him. Only those who poured themselves out as water on the floor before Him. Saying unless you do this for me, I don't have any hope. For the few who couldn't reach out to Him, He travelled the distance for them, He reached out to them to heal them. Why do you want Jesus to act on your behalf? Is He the last resort (after trying everything else and failing) or is He your only resort?  Image credit: https://www.istockphoto.com/search/2/image-film?phrase=water+spill+floor

Lk:5:1-11 First Peter allows Jesus to step into the boat. Then He is asked to go deeper. Reluctantly he obeys. Then as he realises his sinfulness, he cries out to Jesus. Finally he leaves all that he had, even the blessing he got just then and follows Him. At what stage of following Jesus are you in?  An acquaintance? A deeper knowledge? Reluctant obedience as a result of fear? Continuous repentance? Leave everything and follow. Twenty, thirty, ten years down the line, since you met Him. Are you still there where you were? Jesus calls for a blind trust and blind following. But still are you concentrated on blessings? Still are you walking fretfully on the shore rather than just plunge?  Once he just left everything and followed Jesus, his entire life changed. Our life will also be changed, only if we do that. Image courtesy: https://www.wciu.edu/wciu-blog/follow-me-jesus-calls-peter-in-2022-as-well-luke-5-john-21

Lk:4:29 Jumping up, they mobbed Him and forced Him to the edge of the hill on which the town was built. They intended to push Him over the cliff. Few moments earlier, we read that He was praised by everyone, everyone was looking at Him intently, everyone spoke well of Him. Our entire life we focus on being in the good books of others, intending good words from them, forgetting the fact that tables will be turned over in a flick of a second. Opinions of people would never last long. But we are so preoccupied in doing things to gain their favour. Forgetting the being part which is the one which please God. Gods opinion about us matters more. Jesus never did anything to please the people around Him. His sole purpose of life was to do the will of the Father. So that is why He was not elated when people praised Him, not was He depressed when people rejected Him. Image credit: https://unsplash.com/s/photos/cliff-edge

Jesus ate nothing all the time and became very hungry. Lk:4:2 Jesus' manhood is evident by the fact that He had physical needs and emotional turn overs. He was tempted by the devil ( yet without sin). Jesus fully man is not something very difficult to accept. Jesus fully God is sometimes difficult for history to comprehend. Born of a virgin, more than 300 prophesies fulfilled, the miracles that He performed epitomed by raising Himself from the dead. Are they not proofs enough?  But these are all intellectual jargons and these will not prove to be saving enough for you. The only saving thought for you personally dear one is this - Jesus Christ died as a penalty for your sins, instead of you. And if you believe this, there is eternal life for you.  Seeing Jesus as fully man and fully God, or as a good teacher or as a prophet or as a miracle worker will not save you. Only if you see Him as your Saviour -  Image credit: https://pt.pinterest.com/pin/383861568257240...

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

That day the Spirit led him to the temple. Lk:2:27 Simeon was a man who was led by the Spirit even for the trivial mundane routine things. The Spirit was already upon him and promised him that he would not die, till he sees the Lord's Messiah. Now one day the Spirit prompts him to go to the Temple. And because Simeon obeys the Spirit's leading, he meets his Saviour. His life is complete and fulfilled now. Forget about taking decisions. Everyday routine, are you being led by the Holy Spirit? Will not such a life be beautiful - being led and guided by God's Himself. Taken to places where He would want us to be. Meeting people that He would want us to. Only His plan. But for that Simeon was righteous and devout and eagerly waiting.  Image credit: https://landmarkjourneyministries.com/

Scattered the proud - exalted the humble. Lk:1:51-52 The lowly He raises. The downtrodden He uplifts. The poor He makes him sit on lofty places. He is pro -poor. Not only monetarily. If you are poor in the Spirit, the Kingdom of heaven is yours is the promise. He is compassionate to the one who suffers. He is on the side of those who have no help. Unlike the proud and the rich and the affluent and the arrogant who has their influences and resources to help them( yet in vain). Therefore humble yourself in the sight of the Lord and He shall lift you up in the right time.  Whether you have it or not, bring yourself low before the Almighty. Image credit: https://medium.com/@churuiheng/being-humble-is-the-best-way-to-learn-more-41b8dad157f5

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...

Mk:16:14 Still later, He appeared to the eleven disciples as they were eating together. He rebuked them for their stubborn unbelief because they refused to believe those who had seen Him after He had been raised from the dead. The one thing that upset Jesus often was unbelief. He rebuked the eleven disciples for their stubborn unbelief. For the sake of Thomas He comes back again.  When I don't believe that Jesus is able to handle with ease the situation that I am in, for my good, that is mistrust. That is unbelief. Belief is the basic of all relationships.  May be for your salvation you have trusted Him. What about the daily mindane things. If you trust, then why worry. Why upset.  Be at rest and know that I am God. Image credits: https://stock.adobe.com/images/christian-cross-with-question-mark-cast-shadow-graphic-background/244103268

Tell His disciples including Peter - Mk:16:7 The very one who denied and swore against knowing Him. The very one who rebuked Jesus not to have plans to die. The very one who was impulsive in every way, but fell away in the time of need. The very Peter. Including Peter, you tell what all you saw. Especially to Peter. A bruised reed He will not break. A repentant heart He will not push away. But include Him in His plan of redemption and restoration. David, Elijah, Peter, Paul are examples. Where as on the other side stands King Saul, Judas Iscariot. Sin is not a stumbling block for you to be included in God's plan, while you are given a second chance. But unrepentance and nonrestoration is. God has amazing plans for you. Lest you should squander it or thwart it, repent and return. Image credits: https://www.dckreider.com/blog-theological-musings/peters-denial-wasnt-cowardice

Mk:16:3-4 Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb? But as they arrived, they looked up and saw that the stone which was very large had already been rolled aside. In life, is there something which you do not know how to tackle? You have tried everything that you know. With all your might and intellect you have tried. Are you confused as to how to move forward?  The confusion as to who will roll away the stone, did not deter the women from going there to anoint their beloved Master's body. They went. And the stone was rolled away for them. Just a small act of faith is enough. God will accomplish what He has started in you. God will do. Had they not gone to the tomb, fearing who would roll away the stone, they would have missed the resurrected Jesus.  What is the one thing that you need to act in faith? The stone will be removed for you for sure. You just need to be there in faith. Image credits: https://jamespaulgaard.com/2018/04/03/the-ston...

Why did He face this cruelty? Why did He choose to face this ridicule? Why did He choose this gruesome death? Sinless perfection; absolute holiness; complete purity. He became an abhoration for the Father.  Eloi eloi lama Sabachthani. From eternity you were together. For eternity you were one. But for this moment. Why did you choose to abandon your Son? Why did you choose to be abandoned by your Father? Why do you love me so much? What is there in me to be loved like this?  Knowing very well I would desert you at the drop of a hat. Knowing very well that I would choose others over you, if I got a chance. Knowing that I would still not trust you completely. Why this Agape love. Unconditional love. Without any tags. Image credits: https://www.thedestinlog.com/story/lifestyle/faith/2019/04/11/eloi-eloi-lama-sabachthani/5463802007/

He broke down and wept. Mk:14:72 When was the last time you wept over repentance? When was the last time you cried repenting to God? Realising the truth that you have disappointed God. Yes, you might have cried before God, in desperation for your needs. But, helpless as you are; realising the truth that you have shattered His heart yet again?  Repentance is not telling sorry. Repentance is not even seeking forgiveness from God. Repentance is feeling a remorse that you have saddened God. Atleast that is the first step to it. And without this first step, there is no fruition. It prompts you to walk back. You might fall again. But it is no excuse to revel there. But disgustingly, disappointedly, you run back to the One whom you have hurt, everytime.  Image credits: https://www.vecteezy.com/free-photos/crying-eyes

Inside his master is put under trial Outside he is protecting himself. Inside his beloved is about to be stripped naked Outside he is warming himself. Inside their Master is all alone Outside they all ran away. Inside his master is being spat,  Was being blindfolded,beat and slapped Outside he is in the comforts of the fire. Outside my master is being ridiculed Inside I am in my comfort zone. Outside my beloved is being tortured Insde I don't want to share His love to another Outside my brothers are being persecuted for their faith Inside I don't hmeven find time to pray. What love is this? What awe to the One who calls Himself I am? Will I not repent and revert If I truly recognize the love of the One whom I proclaim to love? Image credit: https://stockcake.com/i/cozy-fireplace-relaxation_1330582_527632

The spirit is willing but the body is weak. Mark:14:38 Yes. As a Christian, you spirit desires to stay away  But tempted as you are, the body often falls. Are you still struggling after years of enjoying salvation? Your story is not an isolated one.  Peter struggled to stay awake. All the disciples struggled to pay their allegiance when their Master was betrayed. There will be all sorts of temptations surrounding you to bring you down. But Jesus says, the only solution to overcome is this - watch and pray that you will not fall into temptation. Pray specifically. Tell your Father specifically of your struggles. He will help. He knows your body is weak. But His Spirit will enable your spirit. Hebis one with you in this. He will help for sure. Image credit: https://www.wallpaperflare.com/people-boarding-the-train-adult-black-and-white-blur-children-wallpaper-ukyib

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...

When Jesus was anointed at Bethany, He was making a bold statement. Helping the poor is not a substitute of honouring God. Unless there is Jesus in the center of your humanitarian works, there is no point in all the so called good deeds you do. Isa:64:6 All our righteous deeds are like filthy rags before God. You can't cover all your sins ( infact any of your sins) by doing these good deeds. What is your heart's motive when you do these?  Unless there is confession of sin and returning to God. Unless there is a true relation with the Son of God. There is no point . It is all like a line drawn on the surface of water. No likes or comments or retweets will take you to heaven. Only a lasting relation with Jesus. Do you have that? Or are you beating around the bush?  Image credits: https://www.istockphoto.com/search/2/image-film?phrase=hand+touching+water