Enslaved

Rom:6:22

Enslaved to God.

I want to be enslaved to God.

I want to do things which please God.

I want to come out of the slavery I'm stuck in.

Where I am forced to do things which I hate to do.

As a new creation, slave to righteousness I am made.

I am free indeed, but slave to God.

I want to be a man after God's own heart.

I want to be a person doing the right things.

Making the right choices.

Seeing the right things.

Hearing the right things.

Filling my heart with the right things.

I want to hate things which I once loved.

I want to resist my old master and surrender to my rightful Lord.

Reciprocate the Agape Love to me.

Unconditional love that loves me without any tags.

I want to be a man who thinks only about my God. Always.

I want to, but I am unable to.

I fall miserably again, yet again.

Creating wounds and scars around me and in me.

Scars that are difficult to heal.

Still my selfishness I pursue.

The old man forces me.

Though I need not listen to his voice.

And I need to listen to the still small voice that loves me, nurtures me.

Who allures me, my beloved.

Why can't I?

Why do I keep listening to the boisterous enemy's voice?

Why do I keep listening to the tyrant?

When the ever present help is here.

My lover is nigh.

But I look forward to the cruel taskmaster, who is my enemy.

Whence my King, my lover is near. He is with me.

How foolish?

Yet again I failed.

Yet again I have disappointed.

But still He loves me.

Still He helps me.

But still He allures me to His bosom.

Help me to trust in You alone Oh! My Father.

Image credit: https://stockcake.com/i/chained-hands-bound_561152_906397

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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

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/

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-...

Time is running out

Acts 24 Felix the governor. Had a Jewish wife named Drusilla. Quiet familiar with the Way. Sent for Paul. Listened as Paul told about the faith in Christ Jesus. Paul reasoned with him. He should have reasoned back too. Felix becomes frightened. Go away for now. When it is more convenient, I will call you again. Hoped that Paul would bribe him. Sent for him quiet often. Talked with him. Succeeded by Portius Festus. So close yet, not sure. So many opportunities squandered. When he was the governor, he got enough exposure to the Way. Then at one point when he is stripped of his privileges, no one knows about his destiny. Now you have enough opportunities and freedom to know the person of Jesus. If you do not make use of it now, no one can be sure of the future. Be aware. 2 Cor:6:2. Now is the time of God's favour, now is the day of salvation. Eph:5:16. Making most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Life is brief. Opportunities will become rare. Now when it i...

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/

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