The halfbaked Bard

For the Word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God. 1 Cor:1:18 For others let it be foolishness. Let them laugh at you. Let them call you names. That is because they don't understand. But let that not be a hindrance. For you to seek Him. For you to make a stand for Jesus. Amongst the very same people who label you. It's been grace that you have been granted this wisdom. Are there not people wiser than you? But God was gracious to reveal Himself to you But do you cherish it? For you it is the power of God. Which saved you; which will protect you. And sustain you and provide for you. God is on your side, then who can be against you. Image credit: https://www.freepik.com/premium-ai-image/glowing-key-with-glowing-light-middle-it_42000384.htm

1 Cor:1:8 He will keep you strong to the end so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. He will keep you strong. Not safe. Strong is a more intense word. Not that He will keep you safe from falling. But He will keep you strong so that you wouldn't fall. You would be blameless. He will enable you to stay strong. To take drastic steps against evil. It is not a scene of a helpless baby protected by its mother (That is also true). But a picture of a trainer who gives constant training to you so that you will be able to resist evil. Sanctification is a process of equipping you to choose your Abba, than the world and it's selfish ways. The beauty is, God wants you to be involved in it. Rather than spoon feeding you. Image credit: https://stock.adobe.com/search?k=old+prison+door

Sanctified in Christ Jesus.  1 Cor:1:2 Sanctified means made pure. Free from sin. Set apart. It is not just a declaration where God sees you as pure despite your filth. It is not a blind eye to your sin.  It is purified by the spotless blood of Jesus. Who paid the penalty of my sin. No amount of good deeds can purify you and earn you this purity  Former New York Mayor after shelling out his own 50M $ for gun control said I am going straight to heaven. People requote it, like it, share it again and retweet it.Thinking he is right. Sad to say, he is absolutely wrong. The only way to heaven is not your good deeds. Even if you spend 50M$. You can't buy your ticket to heaven.  But only if you believe Jesus is God. And He came down to save you. Image credit: https://www.reddit.com/r/neoliberal/comments/evovxo/my_second_favorite_bloomberg_quote_of_all_time_3/

Now to Him who is able to establish you -- be glory forever Amen. Rom:16:25-26 Lord, establish me, this new year. Things concerning me according to your will. That I may know you more, I may seek you. That I will walk in your path. Lord, establish me, this year. Things that you have put in my heart. Concerning my being, my character. To be like you. To reflect you. For it is you who gave the desire. As well as, you are the one who sustains it. You are the one who would enable me. And equip me. Not my strength, nor by my merit. I am weak, Lord. But Thou art strong. The Spirit in me, would help me. To be what I ought to be. And unless I submit myself To be established by you. It wouldn't work out. Not my will but Yours. It demands dying to my own self. It requires denying my own desires. And ambitions. And plans. That not me. But He.  Painful. But worth it. Image credit: https://stockcake.com/i/puzzle-completion-moment_178354_30489

The God of peace will soon crush satan, under your feet. Rom:16:20 Christian life is so exciting. God could defeat and punish satan with a flash of His finger anytime. But what He does, makes this an edge of the seat thriller. God equips and enables a weakling like me, to overpower a strong being like satan, by God's power. Otherwise it is so monotonous. Now it has become polychromatic. It depends on your faith, your commitment. Eventhough the ultimate end is predictable. What has been promised in the first book of the Bible is being fulfilled in your life on a day to day basis, provided you play your role well.

Rom:15:13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. The first message of Christmas is peace on earth and good will to all men. The song that angels sang is about joy that comes to the world. Glad tidings to all men is not because it is a festive of gifts and sharing. Not because it is a time of homecoming. It is because of the abounding hope that the God of hope gives. Man who is destined to be in that rut of selfishness and pride and sin, now has a hope, because the selfless God became one of us to rescue us from that pattern. Mankind has hope. You have hope. The manager is meaningful because of the cross. The cross is the reason for the manger. The cross is the ultimate gift you can get. Cross is not a symbol of pain, ridicule, shame and bloodshed. Cross is a symbol of hope and joy. Christmas is probably the best season of the year. But remember, it is meaningless if the cross is n...

Rom:15:1 Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not just please ourselves. This is called covering in medical terminology. The doctor covers for the mistakes of people under him. The medical student, the intern, the nurses, the janitor, the ward boy. The doctor is responsible. The doctor covers. Similarly the father covers. The husband covers. The mother covers. The elder covers. And when you have a better understanding. The wife covers. The son covers. The friend covers. Accept one another (v:7). According to the amount of understanding that you have been granted. Cordiality not for the sake of peace alone. But out of love. Image credit: https://formation.byfab.fr/covering/

So then each one of us, will give an account of himself to God. Rom:14:12 We stand before the all knowing Sovereign God. Like an open book. And as we stand before Him, we ought to give an answer for each and every word we spoke; each and every deed we did; each and every thought we had. Speechless we would stand before Him. No explanation whatsoever. No excuses. For He sees our heart. He knows our heart's motive. But not to be judged and thrown to eternal damnation. But to answer to the loving master who chose to freely give. Would we hear, well done good and faithful servant, or would we see tears in His eyes. Image courtesy: https://lizaachilles.com/2019/02/15/you-shouldnt-be-ashamed/

Put on the armor of light. Rom:13:12 Keep aside everything that is dark. Put on the likeness of Jesus Christ. Abhor everything that He hates. The lusts of the flesh, the pretense of protecting self, the prominece of pride, the wantings of the greed, the frustrations of an unsatisfied mind. Put on the Lord, Jesus Christ. Let others meet with the character of Jesus, when they meet you. Reflect the light that He is. Be the lamp of the world, that shines the light of the world. In the middle of the darkness that so easily entangles, that so vehemently encroaches, that so swiftly pierces the world. Be the glimmer that He wants you to be. His ever smiling satisfied face, waiting to greet you. Well done good and faithful servant. You have done your part well. You were expected to just reflect. And you have done it well. Image credit: https://blog.cph.org/read/putting-on-the-armor-of-god

He who loves his neighbour has fulfilled the law. Rom:13:8 Love is the core of everything. He who loves his neighbour will not do him/her any harm. No adultery  No murder. No stealing. No coveting. All of the law is summed up in this. The good Samaritan's story tells us whom to love and to what extend to love. Prayer:  Father God, help me to love as you have loved me. Alien I was to you, but you still loved me. Rebel as I was, you loved me still. Help me to love others with no conditions. So that I would be able to forgive; so that I would be able to be a slave to them selflessly. You said you have come not to be served. But to serve. Let servitude be my word too. Selflessly denying my own self, my own ambitions and desires and uphold others desires fully. Lord let there be not even an iota of self creeping in. Like John the Baptist, let him increase and I decrease. May the other person increase.  No jealousy, no envy, only love. Considering the other person, ...

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Rom:12:21 Evil is the enemy of God. As a child of God do not succumb to evil, be it lust, greed , selfishness, pride or of any sort. Do not be overcome by these. Resist when the thought comes itself. But overcome evil with good. Being good, reflecting the goodness of your God. The world runs in this rut - repay evil by evil. Envy, pride, revenge. Step out. Be a difference. Show the right way to do it. Show the way God has done it. Who came seeking down, when I was rebellious. When I was His enemy He loved me. Image courtesy: https://www.istockphoto.com/search/2/image-film?phrase=child+foot+step+on+sand&tracked_gsrp_landing=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.istockphoto.com%2Fphotos%2Fchild-foot-step-on-sand

Rom:12:3 Not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think, but to think so as to have sound judgement. Not an attitude of pride, thinking high of yourself. Not an attitude of self condemnation, thinking of yourself low. Pride goes before a fall. Always remember the grace by which you have been saved. Destined to eternal hell, pulled out of the very mouths of damnation. Do not think high of yourself. Do not be condemning yourself. Thinking low of yourself is not humility. That is thinking low of your Abba. You are a child of God. An heir of God. Co-heir with Christ. Seated on the right hand side of God. No one can demean you. Not even yourself. You are the King's son. The King's daughter. Have a sound judgement, as God has allotted each, a measure of faith. Based on the measure of faith allotted to you. See yourself thus. As Jesus sees you. Not proud. Not self demeaning. Image courtesy: https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/best-gaming-headset/

Transformed by the renewing of your mind. Rom:12:2 Many strive to be good. Being good to the society out of obligation or out of selfish interests. But those are all not being good, it is doing or showing good. For inherantly the heart is deceitful. True change has to come from within. If I am showing goodness to someone out of anything apart from love, that's showing, not being. True transformation has to happen by the renewing of mind - a change of mindset. That only the Holy Spirit can do. Here the transformation desired by God is even bigger. The transformation told here is not to be a better human. It is into the likeness of the Son. God's good and acceptable and perfect will is not that you would be a good man or woman, but to be like the Son. By a total change in approach of your mind. The way you think.  This change has to happen from the inside, which God Himself has to do. Not from the outside by you, or by force. Only be desirous of it. Only seek and year...

Rom:12:1 Therefore I urge you brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice acceptable to God which is your spiritual act of worship. In response to knowledge of God, given to us by His amazing grace, present your body as a living sacrifice. In response to what you have been given freely, respond to it by offering your body, your life fully for God.it is no longer I who live, but Christ in me. Fully for God. That is the key for fullness of life that He promised. Denying your own self and fully for Christ alone. A holy sacrifice. Not a fallen, marred one as you used to live. But a life directed to God. Pushing holiness. For He is holy. Not perfection. But holiness. Trying. You might not be able to. But try. Complete perfection and complete glorification will happen later.  But live a life that is justified and therefore pleasing to God. Who saved you. Living such a life acceptable to God is your exact worship. Singing songs or raisin...

Unfathomable His ways. Rom:11:33 His ways are higher than your ways. With the limited knowledge and finite wisdom that you have, you take decisions. But letting it into the hands of the infinite God of unsearchable wisdom and unlimited knowledge is easier. For He loves you. His plans are to prosper you and not to harm you. His plans are to bring you hope and future. Image credit: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/see-how-crushing-pressures-increase-in-the-oceans-depths/

Rom:11:17 You being a wild olive, were grafted in among them and became part taker with them of the rich root of the olive tree. The purpose of grafting is so that, you would yield fruit from a type - for better results. A combination of good from both the branch and from the tree. But this grafting in the Bible is not of that purpose. That wild olive was useless. It is grafted so that the wild olive will yield fruit. It is all benefit for the wild olive. It was not considered worthy. But out of kindness, it is grafted to the original tree. But then there are branches that are severed, Israel who has rejected the gospel. It is because they were severed, because of their unbelief that we have been privileged to be grafted to Him. If they were severed, how much more we would be if we lack faith. And Paul goes on to say, they who have been severed can be grafted back, if they believe. Sum and substance is that - it is by Grace that you have been saved by faith. Nothing for you...

I was found by those who did not seek me. I became manifest to those who did not ask for me. Rom:10:20 Isa:65:1 In Isaiah it says, I permitted myself to be found, I permitted myself to be found..... This is called grace. To us Gentiles, when we did not seek him. When we did not pursue Him. While we were rebellious and not destined to know Him. While we were slaves to many things.... Grace came along and chose us. Not that I deserved it. Not that I chose Him. Infact He came along when I rejected Him. He came along when I was not seeking Him. But He chose me, when I least deserved it. It was God's initiative. Image credit: https://www.instagram.com/p/C4iLAx1OSog/

Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed.  Rom:10:11 Not in this world. Nor in the world to come.  Not that all your desires will be satisfied. Nor that all your dreams will come true and therefore you will be satisfied. It is about a satisfaction of knowing God. For that has been man's unending desire. A peace that all is good. Because my Father is in control. A contentment that I am safe in my God's hand and a surity that nothing can separate me from the love of God in Christ Jesus. Even if darkness looms all around you, even if everything around you is a ruckus turned topsy turvy. You know who holds your hand. You are satisfied in Him. He has satisfied you. He is all you need. For He is all that you have. Image credit: https://www.pond5.com/stock-footage/item/248273018-close-lips-smiling-white-teeth-older-man-isolated-orange?dd_referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F

Rom:10:2 For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not in accordance with knowledge. Zeal for God, not based on knowledge. But in faith. Lord give me a passion for you not in knowledge, but in faith. Help my unbelief. Give me faith Lord, that I would just believe that you will carry me through. Just believe in your delivering hand. Your everloving heart that always bleeds for me. Your ever providing hand is enough for me. You have said that you know my needs even before I say it, for you are my Father. You are my Creator. He who have His only Begotten Son to salvage me, will He not care to provide for my daily needs. Help me to just trust in you. That you control my life. Image credit: https://www.freepik.com/premium-photo/image-young-woman-holding-bible-tightly-her-chest-christianity-ready-show-love-god_17865415.htm

So faith comes from hearing, hearing by the word of Christ. Rom:9:17 So do you lack faith? Do you often pray, Lord give me faith? Lord increase my faith? Help my unbelief Lord. This is the solution. Hear the Word of Christ  Spend more time with the Bible. Just read, meditate, listen to the Word of God. Try to remember what you learnt. When you are free. When you are busy. When you are working. When you are scrolling. When you are sitting. When you are  travelling. All the time. Let it be all about the Word of God in your mind. In your mouth. Faith comes only from hearing the Word of God. Image credit: https://www.istockphoto.com/search/2/image-film?phrase=airpod+ear&tracked_gsrp_landing=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.istockphoto.com%2Fphotos%2Fairpod-ear

Rom:9:25 And her who was not beloved, beloved. Quoted from Hosea.  Hosea's wife was an adulteress and her children were illegitimate. Even after Hosea married her, in her promiscuity, she deserted him for others. But still Hosea genuinely and passionately  loves her and busy her back. We don't know whether Gomer realised and repented. But we continue to reject His love even after He considers us His beloved when we did not receive it and when we did not want it. I am the Lord's beloved is an emotional outcry to others who ridicule is, sillify us and those who hate us. Yes God is on my side. But what has changed in you because of this cry. How does it prompt you to act? To pursue His character. https://www.facebook.com/CentralOnTheSquare/photos/womenofthebiblewednesday-gomer-was-the-unfaithful-wife-of-hosea-the-prophet-the-/10158096443522157/

There is no injustice with God, is there? Rom:9:14 God chooses one and rejects another. He predestines one to be saved and another to die. He chooses to have mercy on one and hardens the heart of another. Is it not unfair on the one who is on the wrong side of God? He has already been predestined. Then how does he stand accountable? Paul explains-  Who are we to question God. It is His wisdom. His Sovereignty. Finite beings like us will not understand the unlimited will of God. Secondly if you talk about fairness talk about mercy too. Mercy shown to me. I deserved hell, but He chose me to be His son. I did not deserve Him. But He chose me. Third. This is my way of explaining it. (Not there in the portion) Cross is the reason why we can say there is no unfairness. God Himself bore all the punishment when He did not deserve it. Pure, blameless, blemishless, but still He was accused and died an accursed death. Why? It was unfair. But He chose to do that because of His love...

But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. Rom:8:37 In all which things? Tribulations, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril, sword. When we feel defeated. We are more than conquerors.  When we are crushed, beyond our tensile strength, we are more than conquerors. When we are about to snap open, we are more than conquerors. When the enemy thinks he can gloat over you, when he assumes that he has overhauled you, that's when you realise that the one in you is more powerful than him. God uses the weak little child of His, to overcome the mighty prince of the world. By His might. Through Him who loved us. Dear one, there is no need to struggle, no need to whine under the crushing toe of the enemy. Just faith. Just trust. You can believe a paracetamol to heal you of your headache. Why?  Based on my past experiences. It is scientifically proven. Same case here. Even more to trust. Why can't you believe the truths of the word of ...

Who will separate us from the love of Christ. Rom:8:35. A self answering question. Nothing. Not tribulations. Not distress. Not persecution. Not famine. Not nakedness. Not peril. Not sword. Rom:8:38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers  nor height, nor depth nor any created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord Amen. God's love will never fail you. It will never leave you.  His love is always there. No matter wherever you are. But what if you deliberately choose to walk far away from His love? His love is still there. Like the Father of the prodigal son, He would be waiting. His love will not push you far away but hold you close to His bosom than ever before. His love will be there, but it is your choice to stay in it that determines whether you experience it. His love will not grow cold. But will you choose to receive i...

If God is for us who can be against us? Rom:8:31 This is not like a match, where the home team gets the crowd support. And because of the massive crowd support, you are motivated to do your best. You therefore perform well and then you win. Crowd is for you.  But sometimes it will not work that way. That support may often backfire. You will be pressurized to perform well and then you crumble. When St. Paul says that, if God is for us who can be against us, that is not in that sense. He is with you in the game. The nearest similitude is like, the GOAT is playing for your team.  Even then you might lose the game. But not when God is on your side. You are sure to win. Because of many reasons. He is God. He loves you so much. He has plans to prosper you. Image credit:  https://www.instagram.com/p/DQOQNQdj3Xf/

Rom:8:29-30 Foreknew-Predistined-Called-Justified-Glorified. Each of these words is a basic doctrine which needs to be studied. Foreknew - knew before hand. Even before we were born. Even before the foundations of the earth was laid. He knew me. Because He is my Creator. He is my Father. And loves me. Predestined- God's plan of choosing me happened even  before I existed. That doesn't negate my role in my salvation. But He chose me when I least deserved it. It was not you who chose me, but I chose you, Jesus says. Called - The calling was given to be reinstated by God. It was initiated by God. Not that I found Him. But He found me out  Justified - And because of the salvation offered to me, I stand justified. Just as if I never sinned. Washed clean by the blood of the spotless and blemishless love of Jesus. Glorified - The most perplexing and intriguing word. Not will be glorified. He has glorified. The reward of the glorified body we will get in eternity to come f...

Rom:8:28 And we know that, God causes all things to work together for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. - And we know that. It is a surity. Not a hypothesis. Nor a proposal that needs to be proved. Not an idea that needs to be tested. It is a proven fact. My response is to just believe. - God causes. It is not a product of chance. It is God who works behind everything. The Eternal Supreme being. The Creator and Sustainer behind the Universe. The Almighty King of kings. Now works all things together for you. - All things to work together. Not few things. All things. Your life is in His hands. And no one can snatch you away. -  For good. For your ultimate good. The ultimate good is not something which you dream about. He is not a magic wand to make your wish come true. The ultimate good is your transformation into the Son's likeness . So anything that happens outside your plan, any wreck that you are involved in, will ultimatel...

Rom:8:26 But the Spirit intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. The Holy Spirit in us prays with us and intercedes for us and presents our prayers to the Father according to the will of God. Even when we don't have the strength to pray. Even when we are angry at God and are rebellious enough to pray. Even when we are unable to pray. Even when we do not know how or what to pray. The Holy Spirit, the Triune God in us, prays to the Father and present our prayers acceptable to Him. These are part of the divine communications within the Trinity. The one who is in us being one with the Father. So be encouraged dear one. If you are unable to pray, know that God that is in you is interceding for you. But let not that be an excuse. Keep praying. Keep talking to your Father - in season and out of season. Pray without ceasing. Always. Image credit: https://www.freepik.com/premium-ai-image/pious-person-reads-prayer-when-white-dove-holy-spirit-descends-from_395916101.ht...