Be encouraged and be an encouragement

Acts 27:22

None of you will lose your lives, even though the ship will go down.

The confidence Paul has in his God. The intimacy. The surity of His revelation. Not just about him. Also about his fellow crew. The ship. Their destiny.

How can I know God like this? How can I be sure of His hand in my life and those in connection with me? The confidence is directly proportional to the time I spend with Him.

Idling away in phone when you get a moment out, hanging out with your best buddies? Or when I get a moment, do I rush to the Word?

Nabeel Quereshi, a Muslim who later got converted to Christ, got his first exposure to real Christianity, when he saw his closest friend David Wood, reading the Bible in his free time. He was shocked and amazed seeing this. A devout Islam (then) was awestruck and challenged by this discipline.

What do I do with little time I get in between work?

What do my innocent children see me do when I want to relax?

What standards I have kept in my relation with my Lover?

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Encourage

Barnabas, the word means son of encouragement. His quality of encouragement is seen in bringing up of Paul. When all believers in Jerusalem were afraid of Saul, when no one believed that he had truly become a believer, it was Barnabas who took him to the apostles. Being an encourager is a tough job. It needs discernment. It needs wisdom. It needs courage. You should not be affected by your mood. You need to be open. But an encouragement can do a lot to benefit a person's life. It might transform a Saul to a Paul. If Barnabas had not taken an initiative to help him, where would have Saul been? It was because of this, that Saul stayed with the apostles(v:28). Image credit: https://kiricard.com/70-heartwarming-encouragement-messages/

The Seven

Acts:6:1-7 The seven men were selected for distributing food for the widows. But these seven were chosen as those who were well reported and full of the Spirit and wisdom. Such a menial job, but such high qualification. One of them, Stephen, has been described as man full of faith and the Holy Spirit. No job is menial. You might be the church choir leader or the one who preaches. Or you might be the least important person in the choir. Or you might be the one who wipes clean the chairs. In God's eyes both are the same, whether you do it faithfully and with thankfulness - that is what matters. That makes it even more significant. Each job has its own value. Each job entrusted to you is important. Whether you are a student or a teacher, a doctor or an engineer or a daily wages worker, do it as if you are doing it for God. It has to be impeccable. Give your best shot. Do it with full heart. Image courtesy: https://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-maintain-a-wooden-dining-table-165...

Forgiveness is the first step

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

Accomplished. Satisfied.

After David had done the will of God in his own generation, he died and was buried. Acts:13:36. David was given a job to do. And He did well. You are dearly loved by God and He has a wonderful plan for you. When your name is called, will you stand before the righteous Judge and hear the testimony, that really matters, "Well done, good and faithful servant." What is your long term and short term desire? Your short term plans need to be based on your long term desire. Not materialistic or career based. Regarding the Kingdom of God, what has been your timeline? How do you plan further? Which subspeciality is your focus? Teaching, apologetic, discipling, counselling, teens, adults, children, organisation, devotions, families? Have you sat and thought about it? What is your mission and vision? Each step you take is it in line with this? Accomplished is a very satisfying word. Not for selfish motifs. What have you accomplished for your King? For your Father? Image cre...

Calm

Those who beat him and dragged him out of the city, how does Paul address them? Acts:22:1. Brothers and esteemed fathers.... He calmly addresses them, who hates him, who want him killed. No defending. Not justifying. Not perturbed. Just calmness, overflowing love. How could he do that? He knows how much Jesus loves him who persecuted His children, that same love He has for these people, that same love He also ought to have. Paul is not selfish to protect himself. He is ready to die now in this city as prophesied by Agabus. But he is passionate of his Saviour. He is passionate to tell these people how to be saved. Lord, give me this attitude of love to those who hate me. Give me this calmness. Image credit: https://www.pexels.com/search/calm%20sea/

Change - a poem

Acts:8:3 If Saul could be changed, I could be changed too. If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, The old has gone; behold the new has come. That is His plan; from one glory to another. Saul; a man who approved of Stephen's killing. The one who was determined to destroy the church, Became the Apostle of the Gentiles. The persecuter becomes the persecuted. How did the Gospel change the perspective of this man? How did this News become good to him? Because of the encounter with the person Jesus. Because of the influence of the Holy Spirit. Sanctification is a process in a Christian. But is it really happening Is holiness really progressing in you? Are you allowing the Holy Spirit to change you? Or are you comfortable in your old ways? In your own self centred cocoon, do you want to reside? In your own negativities, do you want to continue? No! I am not what I used to be. Start your day with positive affirmations. Till yesterday, what you were - that is dead. The H...

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