The halfbaked Bard

Jn:1:18 No one has ever seen God, but God the One and only, who is at the Father's side has made Him known. Jesus' sole purpose of life was to make the Father known to the people who forgot Him. Only a bridge could do that. Only God Himself would know Him fully. The Son - who is one with the Father - who is the One and only. He became man, so that we would know God. What a mission? To not consider the consequences as significant. Considering only the goodness of the fact that we who were His enemies would become His children. That is humility. That is love. Fullness of grace and truth as described about Jesus, depicts His diety. His Godhood. Grace only God can show. And Jesus is full of it. Truth -  only God is true. This is God. This Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. Jesus is not a prophet who came from heaven to direct people to God. Nor is He a powerful being from the heavenly realms. He is the Son of God. Who became fully man to reveal God Himsel...

John:1:1-2 In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. He was with God in the begining.  The Word, through whom and for whom this world was made, was there from the beginning. Eternal. One with the Father. Diety of Jesus. Yet a person. He. The manhood of Jesus. In Him was the life. Abundant life. Eternal life. And that life was the light of men, which shone in the darkness. The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world. He is the light of the world that shines in the dark filled incomplete lives of men. Fully God, comes to this world as fully man and lived among us. Not as the God of the myths to exercise power, to do one miraculous delivery. But bring a lasting solution for man's eternal problem. Sin. To die as a penalty and receive the punishment of your sin. So that if you believe, He will redeem you. If you receive, He has given the right to become children of God. Born of God. Many a times, because it looks...

Luke:24:25-26 The Scriptures present it. The history proves it. The eye witnesses testify it. To add to it all, people, two thousand twenty five years later experience the living Jesus. Even after you have experienced Him in your life, you find it hard to believe this very hour. Why? Faith as small as a mustard seed is enough. But the Son of God, looks into our hearts. Will He see faith? He had gone, promising to come back and expecting to see faith. Will He? Faith in what the Scriptures promised. Faith in His words. Faith in Him who promised. Image credit: https://www.learnreligions.com/bible-verses-by-topic-701344

There was pain, there was rejection There was loneliness, mocking and ridicule There was suffering to the peak There was bloodshed to the highest degree. Why had He to endure this? Why on earth had He chose to go through this? It was not the nails that held Him there. But His love to you and me! He was mindful of you, When He chose to go through it all For He said, out of His own will. Not my will, but Yours. The gruesome death, the public shame The shearing pain, the flesh writhing flogs The spot, the blood, the sweat, the public disgrace Naked as He is, He lies there helpless. Peter denies Him, Cyrene comes to help All His disciples fled, the women stayed back They yelled, crucify, Joseph declares his allegiance One thief curses, one thief is with Him in paradise. Just for the sake of redeeming the lost He endured all these, because of love Sin is serious. Consequences of rebellion are real. I will bear it on my own, for their sake, He said. What love is this? What God ca...

Luke:22:23-24 The disciples began to ask each other which of them would ever do such a thing. Then they began to argue among themselves about who would be the greater among them. Jesus tells about betrayal. The disciples tell about who among them would be the greatest. Jesus pours His heart out, trying to warn them. But they are fighting over silly things. Many a times we are like this too. We are so concerned about many petty things of us, that we tend to forget or overlook the more serious things concerning the Kingdom of God. God is waiting to open His heart out. Where as our prayers are always about me, my family and my things. How pitiful?  God is inviting us to greater things. If at all we are willing to open our hearts to things that concerns Him. If at all we live a life that is God oriented. If at all we seek God's heart and want to be concerned about His things. For the things which disturbs us right now are insignificant as compared to the greater calling. Im...

Luke:20:45-47 The teachers of the law and Pharisees wanted to show off with their robes and long prayers. In the core, they wanted to do things which would show off their pomp and authority. They would boss over the underprivileged to exercise authority. Why do we want to do the things that we do. To be appreciated by the public? To be recognised by the public? Or is my life gospel centred? Do I do the things which I do only for the sake of Christ being glorified?  Oh, to be empty and lowly Meek and unnoticed and unknown And to God, a vessel Holy Filled with Christ, and Christ alone May Christ be all, and I be nothing His glory shines in the vessels weak May Christ be all, and I be nothing This is my hope Not I, but Christ in me - Grace worship. Image credit: https://www.dmoose.com/blogs/training/body-builder-pose?srsltid=AfmBOopwLNyg0Ru1vxMPvba9LVcGUQh9cVO3YMwT5EIxMkPJ5Z3iO-Z-

Give to God what belongs to God. Luke:20:25 There is no stamp of God, that proves something belongs to Him. Like the stamp on a coin. But the inerrant rule is that whatever you have is God's. Everything you 'own' is actually His. Giving a portion of your earnings like the taxes doesn't fit in the Kingdom realm. Regarding paying taxes - you give from what is actually yours - not the country's. But regarding giving God, things are different. Because it is fully His and you are a steward. All you have is entirely His. All belongs to Him. So entrusting into His hands fully, in contrast to giving a portion is the right attitude to have. Not just your possessions. Your life in its entirety. Image credit: https://www.vancopayments.com/egiving/blog/tithing-system

My Temple will be a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves. Luke:19:46 What have I made my body? The Temple of God. A den of thieves - selfish ambitions, Lust, greed, anxiety, fear, anger. To name a few. Yet there is a mob. Called to be a house of prayer. Because it is God's temple. Where is Godliness with contentment? Where is the fruit of the Spirit? Where is the Spirit filling and overflowing After all these years of knowing the Saviour? Who is enthroned? Ashamed to realise - He is locked up in a room. Will release when needed He was mindful of you, when He died. Why are you not mindful of Him? Why is entertainment, relaxation, enjoyment And lazying around taking His throne? The Joy of the Lord. Where is it? If God is not there. Then it is surely a den of thieves. Not just in your quiet time, church or Sunday school. But in your work place, in your talks In your demeanour, in your very being. Image credit: https://www.wallpaperflare.com/empty-wooden-b...

One rich man came seeking eternal life. Another rich man just wanted to have a look at Jesus. One rich man went away disappointed . The other went away joyous. About the first rich man, Jesus said it is hard for rich to enter the Kingdom of God. About the other rich man, Jesus said he was the true son of Abraham and salvation has come today.  What is impossible for people, is possible with God. Zacchaeus is an example that anyone can be saved. That everyone needs Jesus. Paul, Peter, Bartimaeus - all were saved. In every realms of life, there are lost. The Son of Man has come to seek and save them all. Not just the poor. Not just the sick. Not just the downtrodden. The rich. The well. The elite. Also need Jesus. For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. What you are going through, may be no one understands. But Jesus sees. He knows. And He has come to save you. People might ask, what is wrong with you. What do you don't have. But Jesus comes to stay. But ...

What do you want me to do for you?  Lord, I want to see. What if this question Jesus asks you today? What is it that you want me to do for you? What would be your answer? Not as a genie who makes your wishes come true. But as a loving Father. What would you genuinely answer?  Job? Children's security? Future's assurance? Health and healing? Financial security?  Or would you rather say? I want to see?  I want to see things in your perspective, Lord. I want to see you. I want to see things with the eyes of faith. Heal my myopic eye, the blind eye. The Lord knows what is your need. But He wants you to realise the need. To realise that you are blind. Unless I know the real need, how will I ask for the need. Image courtesy: https://wilmingtonfamilyeyecare.com/why-does-a-blind-eye-turn-white/

What should I do to inherit eternal life? Luke:18:18 The desire of the rich man was genuine and from the heart. Jesus' answer to him was two fold yet to the point. First - the core. The principle. The Law which paints before you the heart of God. The standard of God. It shows the holiness of God. Very difficult to fulfill it. Second - the culmination. The summary of the Law as told by Jesus Himself. To love the Lord with all your heart mind and soul. Above everything else. To give up everything else for the sake of God. To fulfil this and reach unto God is impossible. For there is a great drift between the holiness of God and the fallenness of man. The rich man like most of us was focussed on the doing than the being, to inherit eternal life.  Jesus was infact saying, there is nothing that you can do and then go and claim eternal life. No wonder he went away disappointed. Yet God's ways are beyond our ways. There is hope. What is impossible for people, is possible w...

Luke:18:14 For those who exalt themselves will be humbled and those who humble themselves will be exalted. Luke:18:14 A contrasting kingdom that is above the concept of mqankind. Just like Luke:17:33. A spiritual realm which you cannot fathom unless God chooses to reveal it to you. A similar tone we read in Luke14:8.  If you try to exalt yourself you will be humbled. Instead humble yourself under the mighty power of God, and at right time He will lift you up in honour. 1Pet:5:6. Let others take the preferred seat. Let yourself be trampled upon. Let others take the glory. John said about Jesus - He should increase, I should decrease. Will I be able to say that about my brother? When I do that, I choose to chop the head of pride that is lurking dangerously in my life. Is not humility the key to God's grace? God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble. James:4:6 What would you prefer? Self given name? Or God given grace? Image credit: https://danaa.in/product/humb...

Luke 18:1-8 Persistent requests to a godless judge will give justice to the widow. How much more, Jesus asks, a persistent prayer to a just loving Father? He will not keep putting them off. He will act on their behalf. Only pray. Only consistently pray. Only pray without ceasing, without getting bored. For if God is for us, who can be against us?  Why would I not pray? Why am I lazy to pray? Do I think I have got things in my control? Despite knowing, it is not, why am I consistently bored to pray? Because erroneously I believe that doing is more important than trusting. Pray out of faith. Prayer increases faith too.  An attitude of prayer, leads to frequent loud prayers. Always pray.  Prayer is the key to communication to God. Adoring and praising Him for who He is. Thanking Him for His benefits. Submitting our petitions and confessing our sins. Praying for others. There is enough and more to pray. Pray while you do your daily mundane things. Pray while you a...

Luke 17: 33 If you cling to your life, you will lose it and if you let your life go, you will save it. Jesus came to proclaim of a kingdom of heaven, that was totally out of this world. Not according to the norms of this world. A better way to put it is - This world which was  originally created by God with His standards have fallen so low that His standards are no longer reflected. Men have become selfish clinging to their own lives.  But Jesus has asked to come out of this shell and let go of things which you hold dear so that you would experience life in abundance which He had initially planned. If you cling, you will lose If you let go, you will save. The things so dear to you - just let go. Not to the dirt below. But leave it in God's hands and see how better He will handle for He is a loving God. Secondly seek first the kingdom of God is what He desires. It points fingers at your priority. Your most important thing in life. Is it God? Come to your senses. Ima...

Luke 17:11-19 All ten of them cried their heart out, Jesus , Master have mercy on us. But only one turned back, shouting, Praise God. One moment desperate for healing. The next moment grateful. Am I grateful for the blessings. These are not gifts or benefits for we do not deserve it. Unworthy as we are, I have been blessed. How much thankful I am? How well do I express my gratitude to the Master? The key to gratitude is this. Unless I remember the desperation I was in, I will not remember to be grateful. Unless I remember from where I have been plucked out, I will not express. Remember we were dust, doomed to hell. He pulled me out. He has delivered me always. He has been there consistently, not depending on my faithfulness. Remember and then vocalise. Image credit: https://www.thechurchnews.com/2019/8/25/23215387/boyd-matheson-jesus-gratitude-lepers/

Luke 16:31 But Abraham said, if they won't listen to Moses and the prophets, they won't listen even if someone rises from the dead. Jesus starts telling this story of the rich man and Lazarus from the context of importance of the Law once that Good News has been preached (v:16). He says,  now the good News is more important than observing the Law, which doesn't mean that the Law has lost its force (v:17). Abraham tells the rich man, that his brothers have the Law and Moses to obey and follow and if they don't follow the Law and Moses, not even someone who rises from the dead ( which personifies Jesus Himself), they would listen to (v:31). Very often we think, now that the New Testament is here, Old Testament is irrelevant. Yes it is difficult to follow the Old covenant, inch by inch. But it doesn't mean, the things in the Old Testament are insignificant.  We forget that, it shows the standards of a Holy God and those standards are the character of an unc...

Luke 16:10 If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won't be honest with greater responsibilities. It is small things that test your honesty and faithfulness. How do you handle your time? Waste it with the endless scroll or utilize it to get closer to your Father?  How do you handle the little money that you have? Lavish it upon yourself pampering yourself or share it with others? What is your heart's motif when you bring up your children? Use them for your glory or the Father's? Your job. Your assets. Your relationships. Do you have an attitude of stewardship or ownership?  Dishonesty is when you own up things which are not your own. What is it that you have, that has not been given?  It has to be all for the King's glory. He has to be your only priority, not first. Image credit: https://growingintime.com/how-to-be-a-good-steward-10-ways/

All these years I have been slaving for you. I have not disobeyed any of your orders. You have not given me anything. You are always with me. All I have is yours. The elder son missed it all. The elder son thought he had it all. But missed the whole point. He was doing things for the Father. Not knowing the basic truth that all that is the father's is his. Why do we do the things we do?  Why me? What more should I have done?  Why is God dealing with me like this? Why have I failed yet again? Why should I always suffer? These are questions that come out of a frustrated heart that thinks that I have sacrificed many things for God and I have missed out on so many things. Where as all that the Father has is mine, I forget. It should be out of gratitude and not obligation.  Shame on me, in thinking that God owes to me because I did so many things for Him.  May be overly we don't tell that to God. But our attitude says it all. That I deserve a better living tha...

Luke15 The shepherd leaving the ninety nine to go in search of one lost sheep is ridiculous, unless that lost one is me. Cleaning and sweeping the entire house in search of one lost silver coin is determination. But a better explanation is, that, for the woman, that coin was special. Waiting day and night for his lost son, who squandered his own hard earned wealth is love alone. Love is the basic factor that prompted my God to do this. To come in search of the lost me. That I am so special for Him, for I am His signet ring. Rejoicing over me when I choose to have fellowship with Him. How is it possible to love like this? Only God can love like this. For He is love. Image credit: https://howard-carter.blogspot.com/2016/12/the-lost-son-luke-1511-34-on-crossroad.html?m=1

Luke 14:33 In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything, he cannot be my disciple. Discipleship and following are different. Anyone can be a follower. But a disciple, prioritises. For a follower, it is convenience. He may or may not. He will join the meeting online, if the situations are cordial, with camera switched off and then do other things simultaneously as well. A disciple listens with intend, takes note, rerevises it, desiring to practise it. A follower is irregularly irregular in attendance. A disciple longs and plans to listen to the word. A follower may or may not obey, depending on convenience. A disciple's only option is to obey. Why do you pursue Jesus? Is it as if He is the only way to meaningful and purposeful living? Or is He one of the way? Are there other ways of entertainment and responsibilities which would weigh more in your life as compared to this God? Would you take the convenient route or the more beautiful and fruitful route of ...

Luke:14:11 For those who exalt themselves will be humbled and those who humble themselves will be exalted. This example that Jesus quoted has challenged me since childhood. To not to take up seats of honour, lest you would be embarassed and humiliated. But to take up seats of less honour, that you would be honoured by the host later. It is man's tendency to project himself. To take up honour for your own. But to keep it aside, to stay low profile so that others are honoured more, is a great thing. Others might not know it, neither would they know you. You may fade into oblivion just like that. As if you never existed. Without being noticed or honoured. But that is absolutely fine, as God sees it.  1Pet:5:6 So humble yourself under the mighty power of God and at the right time, He will lift you up in honour. But most of us focus on being lifted up in due time in honour. That becomes the motivation to humble ourselves. That is not true humbling. Is the desire to be lifted...

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...

Luke 12:32 So don't be afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father, great happiness to give you the kingdom. Father's joy is to give you the kingdom. Undeserving as we were. Rebels as we were. Yet given. That is grace.  And God doesn't give it unwillingly. But with great joy. God gives His full heart when He gives you the Kingdom. Do we?  Image credit: meta ai

That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life. - Jesus Which is why?  Luke:12:21 describes the reason. Yes a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth, but not have a rich relationship with God. Focussing on the temporary, focussing on the things which will vanish. Focussing on the things which might blip. Then you worry. But if we focus on the things which is eternal. If we focus on things which would have lasting values. Then you know that God who is eternal All Powerful is your Father. He will take care. That is trust. It is faith that you believe that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ. It is trust that you believe that All things work for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteous. And all these things shall be added to you. Image credit: https://create.vista.com/photos/gold-jesus-christ/