Peace with God

Rom:5:1

Therefore having been justified by faith, we have peace with God though our Lord Jesus Christ.

Justification is a legal declaration - a one time event. Which happened, but which has continuing results. Yet it is not an ongoing process. Sanctification is a process.

Justification is not just a once and for all declaration free of guilt. It is imputing Christ's righteousness upon you. Just as your sin has been imputed upon Christ.

We were alienated from God, because of sin. That same sin Christ bore it upon Himself so that we can have access to God, based on His righteousness, not ours. Enemies of God we were. But now we have peace with God.

Peace with God is an initial step of restored relation with God. Outcasts and rebels and abominations we were. But now we are friends with God.

Overwhelmed by this thought. That God loved me while I was yet an enemy of His and He bought and brought me back.

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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

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

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...

Trauma in the past into blessing in the future

Acts 18 Priscilla and Aquilla - deported from Rome by Claudius Caesar. Paul was with them in Corinth. They went with him to Syria. While in Ephesus, even when Paul was not there, comes Appollos. And they take him up and corrects his course. And he becomes a blessing to people in Achaia. A family that starts with trauma. Later on used amazingly. They are still not in the limelight, but they continue to be a blessing. You might be going through pain now. That is fine. God will take you through. If you leave yourself in the hand of God, He will use you and make you a blessing for many. Do not loose heart. Do not be discouraged. He is working in you. Image credit: https://www.goodsalt.com/gssearch/result/index/q/priscilla/?srsltid=AfmBOoopNf14RjPw6K9sGRso0Q2fHGjBHnwJBzseGqf6dlT7O7XAbvlX

The halfbaked Bard

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