Contrast

Wretched man that I am. Who will set me free from the body of this death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Rom:7:24-25

I need to realise my wretchedness. I was indulged in sin. God saved me. Even after being rescued, I struggle to do things of God. To revert from sinfulness. To love God with all my heart. I follow the cravings of my flesh. That shows my wretchedness. My plight. My rebellion to the one who loves me.

The truth of I cannot save myself has to sink in. I cannot set myself free. And only Christ. He loved me first. He pulled me out unto His bosom.

The contrast between my limitless wretchedness and Gods unending love. My perpetual rebellion and God's tagless love. Not out of compulsion. But out of compassion. When I least deserved it.

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Rom:1:8

Yesterday, after the India vs Australia ICC WWC semifinal, these words hung in the air after the player of the match Jemimah Rodrigues was given the stage. Your faith is being proclaimed throughout the whole world. Rom:1:8 A church which was not even started by Paul. Paul wouldn't probably have known these people personally. But he commends their faith. You want to be a silent Christian because you are not a bold Christian. Do your colleagues know that you are a Christian? Not by name. Is there a difference between you and the nominal Christian? Between you and the carnal Christian? Do you freely proclaim that the author and finisher of your faith is Jesus? Image credit: https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-news/womens-world-cup-2025-cried-every-single-day-went-through-anxiety-jemimah-rodrigues-opens-up-after-historic-knock-against-australia/?amp=1

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 ...

No time to rest

Acts 28 As Paul arrives in Rome, where he is expected to be trialled and executed, he doesn't waste time. He calls to the local leaders and discussed with them about the Good News. No time to rest. Lord give me such a passion to take every opportunity to share about you. Give me such love for you. Give me such love for others who are perishing in their own sin. Why is my heart not aching seeing this? Help me to do things tirelessly for you. Make every opportunity to teach the Word, to your children. To people around you. Tell them about the standards of this holy God. Tell them about the endless love of the Father, the impeccable obedience of the Son and never ending presence of the Spirit. The goodness of the Triune God. The uniqueness of this Almighty. An everpresent help in trouble. You cannot sit idly. Lord fill me with your passion, an unending desire to share about you always. Image courtesy: https://medium.com/personal-growth/this-is-what-hard-work-is-and-why-it-...

Unashamedly

Rom:1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel. You are ashamed of something when either that particular thing doesn't have any inherent value or when you don't value it. Something which you consider precious, infact you will project, you will highlight, rather than ashamedly you will try to hide. How do you present the good News of Salvation to others. Or making yourself known to others and a passionate lover of Jesus, depends on how much you give value to Him. It is not that He doesn't have value, but how much you value Him in your life. He considered you as the most valuable prized possession. You are His signet ring. But here we are worse than Judas who betrayed Him for thirty silver coins. We betray Him for acquaintances and applause. Priceless possession is being prized low. Really low. Let people know that you are a serious lover of Jesus. Use all means to proclaim boldly that you have been redeemed, y the one who is passionately in love with you. Let us no...

What an address! What a title!

Rom:1:7 Beloved of God. Rebel as I am. Enemy of God was I. Given an option, I would do things which God hates. Or else I would find ways. Unloveable as I am, incorrigible as I am. There is nothing good in me. Still He chose to love me. I am the Lord's beloved. He cherishes me. He allures me to Himself. He chose me. My destiny is He. He has kept me in His bosom. What is there in me, that you have found, that you are mindful of me? Your mind is full of me. You are mine and I am yours, He exclaims. Yes nothing can separate me now from the love of God. Oh! Wretched as I am, poor, naked and blind. Still He loves me. Dirty, filthy. The purest of the purest has loved me first. He who knew no sin, became sin for me, the very things He hates, He abhors - He became. Because of His unending, limitless love for me. Why Lord? I cannot comprehend. I cannot fathom. Image credit: https://www.pexels.com/photo/a-silhouette-of-a-father-carrying-his-child-6488427/

To take the road of repentance

Kindness of God leads you to repentance. Rom:2:4 It is God's kindness that leads us to repentance and reinstation with God. Because of the fall, all of mankind is marred and inclined naturally to sin. Even the holiest and the saintliest person is sinful. All have sinned. And man's natural tendency is to follow this fallen path. And it is God's grace to pick us out of this rut and enable us to repentance. That looks an off route which only few take ( though it's the right path to take). It is grace that equips you to do that. It is the Lord's doing. I am grateful to God that He opened my eyes once and for all to the gospel, to Jesus to repent and turn away from my filthy way. I am grateful to the Holy Spirit; who nudges me; convicts me day by day and pushes me back in track, to the Father in repentance and reinstation. It is not because I am a good boy, that I am sanctified and that I am being sanctified. God has been gracious to me. What about you dear ...

Gave them over

Rom:1:24 God gave them over. This is the worst punishment possible. To the consequence of sin. You are free to "indulge" in sin, without His loving restraint and ultimately face the punishment. Man created in the image of God destined to be with Him, left to be eternally separated from Him. When man had the option to believe in God, through the creation around and in his conscience he knew, still He chose to believe against God. He thought it was wise to say there is no God, or He substituted Him with an image. But it was utter foolishness. God allowed, He permitted. He let. But with its consequences. Personally speaking, when the Holy Spirit convicts you, repent and come back to Him. Do not harden your heart. God is merciful to forgive. If not, if we keep persisting in our adamancy, He will let us go (God forbid). No justifying. No excuses. Just absolute repentance seeking forgiveness. That is the key to a renewed relationship with your creator God, who is your F...

The halfbaked Bard

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