The halfbaked Bard

Then we will no longer be infants tossed back and forth by the waves. Eph:4:13 It is infants who are tossed by the waves. Mature people stand on solid rock. In faith they are strong. They shall not be affected by the things that will disturb them. Rock solid they stand. They hold fast to the One who called them. They are sure of the One who called them. They are sure of the One who is in their boat with them, who says, 'Be still' to their tumultuous situation. They believe, no matter what. There is their Father who works all things for their good. It is a matter of trusting Him who is with you. It is about the surity of Him who called you. Because He lives, I can face tomorrow. Because He lives, all fear is gone. Because I know, He holds the future. And life is worth the loving, just because He lives. Image courtesy: https://www.freepik.com/premium-ai-image/wooden-ship-is-being-tossed-around-stormy-sea-waves-are-crashing-deck-ship-is-listing-one-side_199535152.htm

Eph:4:4 There is one body and one Spirit - just as you were called to one hope when you were called, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all. There is only one. No endless possibilities. No multiverse. No multiple saviours. No limitless superheroes.  Only one Father. One Jesus. One Spirit. One possibility of salvation. One eternal kingdom. For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him, shall not perish but have eternal life. This is the only truth. Period. Image credit: https://superheroes.fandom.com/wiki/Marvel_Universe

Eph:4:2-3 How do I live my life worthy of my calling? - be completely humble. What is there to be proud? When you remember from where you have been saved. Knowing that whatever you have is a gift, that you do not deserve. Knowing that you are an inherent rebel, a wretch, saved by Grace. - gentle. Gentleness comes out of humility. Arrogance and rudeness comes out of pride. Moses was meek enough to write that he was the meekest man ever lived on earth. - patient. Impatience again comes out of a feeling that you are somebody, which you are not. Patience accomodates because of love. Patience gives yet another opportunity, despite not deserving it. - bearing one another in love. Loving the other person will solve most of our problems in relationships. But we can't manufacture love. We can't force ourselves to love. All we can do is to ask Him, the source of all love to fill us with His love. The more we ponder upon His love, the more we imbibe His love. Humble ourselves ...

I urge you to live a life worthy of your calling. Eph:4:1 Called by the Almighty Eternal God. Called out of the miry clay, from that deep pit. Called into a great salvation Called into the everloving Father's bosom. Called for eternity. Live a life worthy of it. Not as a failure. You're now His child. Live a life worthy of it. You're now His possession. Live a life worthy of it. Nothing can separate me from His love. And now there is no condemnation. Live a life worthy of it. Thankfull; filled with His love;  keeping yourself humble; loving one another. Image credit: https://www.dreamstime.com/spelling-word-worthy-using-wooden-dice-white-background-word-worthy-spelled-wooden-dice-image122392674

Eph:3:20 Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine according to His power that is at work within us. If this is true, then why do I live a life full of concerns and fears about the uncertainties of the future. Of the things which are out of my control. He has got it under control, because He has created it. Then worry is disrespectful. Because He is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine according to His power. Pour out your fears to the Solid Rock. Vocalize it. He will take care for sure, for He cares. Trust Him. Firmly believe that He is enough. Lean not on your own understanding. Find your security in your Father who is able. 'Able' covers everything. Able is enough. Able is security. Able is satisfying to the core. He is able, more than able, to accomplish what concerns me today He is able, more than able, to handle anything that comes me way, He is able, more than able, to do much more than I could ever dream, He...

Being rooted and established in love. Eph:3:17 Be rooted and established in love. In the love of God. In the unending, limitless love of God. So that, this love will overflow. Be rooted and established is the key word here. Not just know or experience or feel. Be rooted. Be sure. Be immersed in it. His love is always there around you. You need to be sure about it. Not doubting. Oh the deep deep love of Jesus Vast unmeasured, boundless, free Rolling as a mighty ocean  In its fullness over me Underneath me, all around me Is the currant of thy Love Leading onward, leading homeward To Thy glorious rest above. Image courtesy: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/trees-drill-into-deep-bedrock-for-water-surprisingly-often/

In Him and through faith in Him, we may approach God with freedom and confidence. Eph:3:12. Earlier the Almighty God was inapproachable. People needed Moses or the high priest or the prophets to communicate with this holy God. Job:9:33/35. If only there was a mediator between us, someone who could bring us together. Then I could speak to Him without fear. But I cannot do that on my own strength. People were afraid of this God. But now I can come to the presence of this same God with freedom and confidence through Jesus Christ. He is the One mediator, between man and God, because He is man and He is God. He has all attributes of God, yet He understands me and my struggles because He is man as well.  He is the only mediator, for He is the only one thus. I can approach this inapproachable God, the Father, only through Jesus Christ. He is not just one of the mediators, but the only one. Yes, He is the mediator, but in no way, He is inferior to the Father. Though He is calle...

Eph:3:6 The mystery is that through the gospel, the gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together in the promise in Christ Jesus. Gentiles are non Jewish people. The non chosen ones. The people who had no business with knowing God. Destined to go after the futile ways, seeking other gods. But now chosen to hold hands in the knowledge of the one true God. No difference. Included in the fold. I am that gentile. I have been chosen. I have been redeemed. I have been saved. Image credit: https://in.pinterest.com/kyndalchiles/friends-holding-hands/

Eph:2:20 Christ Jesus Himself as the chief cornerstone. Base your life on Jesus as the chief cornerstone. Not based on anything else apart from the Word of God. Because in you dwells the Holy Spirit. How do you base it? Through an intimate relationship with Him. His teachings; His standards, let it control your life. But not as a dead teacher's futile words. Not an ideology He wanted to follow in vain. No. He is alive. And He lives in you. He has promised that He will be with you till the end of days. That is the uniqueness. He is alive. He relates. He loves. Base it on Him. Base it on His unending love. Nothing else. The rain came down, the streams rose and the winds blew and best against  it yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation in the rock. Image credit: https://englisharchives.mathrubhumi.com/amp/news/offbeat/athirappilly-waterfalls-thrissur-3084f0c5

Eph:2:11-13 You were 1. Seperate from Christ. 2. Excluded from the citizenship of Israel. 3. Foreigners to the covenants of promise. 4. Without hope. 5. Without God. But now, 1. In Christ Jesus. 2. Brought near. Through what Jesus has done, 1. Our peace. 2. Destroyed the barrier. 3. Divided the wall of hostility. Image credit: https://stock.adobe.com/in/search?k=forgiveness+hug

Eph:2:1-9 Dead. Dead in our transgressions and sins. Disobedient. Gratifying the cravings of the sinful nature. Under the ruler of the kingdom of air. Made alive. By Grace - incomparable riches of His grace. From objects of wrath - made alive with Christ - seated us with Him - in heavenly realms in Christ Jesus. By a God rich in mercy . Grace expressed in kindness to us in Christ Jesus. Because of His great love for us. Image credit; https://www.dreamstime.com/heart-symbol-hand-embrace-line-drawing-minimal-contour-art-good-sign-love-wedding-image226789195

What is the power of God? Eph:1:19-20 That power is like the working of His mighty strength which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead. What God cannot do? The power, the mighty strength which raised Jesus from the dead, that same power is working in you. Then what is impossible for God? V:19 His incomparable great power. He who created. He who sustaineth. He who raised Jesus. Is at work in you. Almighty. All powerful God. He is able to rejuvenate you, who are dead. Spiritually quiescent, dead, mortal being, just a touch is enough. But in order to be touched, you have to be in His presence. Yes the Spirit can touch you when you are far away too. True. But you put an effort to plug in. You put an effort to be touched by the unrestraining power of your Father who loves you. There is freedom in that. Stay connected.  Image courtesy; https://medium.com/@shortsam595/bulbs-plug-themselves-in-a886033128ed

Having believed, you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession. Eph:1:13-14 The process starts with belief. Once you believe, you are marked ( infact you were marked - past tense. That in itself is another writing). Marked with a seal ie. the promised Holy Spirit. Seal is something which denotes ownership or belonging. The Lord's possession are we (v:14). His precious property. He has put His seal of affirmation upon us, so that the devil cannot lay claim. The presence of the Holy Spirit in your life is the evidence , the guarantee that you belong to Him. Is the Holy Spirit active in your life? Are you receptive and responsive to the nudgings of the third person of Trinity? The Holy Spirit of God. How serious am I about the presence of this Holy One in my life? As a friend. As an Advocate. Who influences my conscience, who shows the correct path. Who ...

Eph:1:9 He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Christ. He is not a stingy God, that He would want us to force open His closed fist and find out what He has hidden from us. But His will, He is willing to reveal to us according to His good pleasure, that He purposed through Jesus Christ. A loving Father, willing to reveal His mysterious will, out of His love to one rebellious son. The son is still rebellious, but the Father is willing. The Father's love allures, but the son is still allieanated. But still the Father is willing to reveal. Not forced out of compulsion. Not forced out of obligation. But forced out of love to the rebellious son. Fully out of good pleasure. Which father would do that, but for the unending eternal source of love. He is love. That is why He is able to do it. He is good. That is why. He is true. He has promised. And He is faithful. He will not defer. He will not deter. He will not change. ...

Grace is glorious because it comes from the glorious Father. Grace is freely given. Grace has been lavished upon us. Eph:1:6-7 Image credit: https://thinke.org/blog/3-bible-verses-that-teach-us-3-things-about-grace

To be adopted as His sons through Jesus Christ in accordance with His pleasure and will. Eph:1:5 Adopted as His sons. When I was a rebel. When I was His arch enemy, bound enemy. Let it sink in. This describes a glimpse of His love to me. Through Jesus Christ, I am brought into the fold, while I was still far away. Included in Christ (v:13) Even after being adopted I would go back to my old ways. He knew it. Still He loved me unendingly. He knew I would betray Him for things cheaper than thirty silver coins. Even for an opinion which would later flush away. For that I would deny Him. He knew it beforehand. Still He chose to love. Still He chose to forgive. Is this not the epitome of unconditional Agape love? To love despite the actions. To extend forgiveness despite knowing beforehand the betrayal. To adopt into His bosom despite knowing I would still rebel. If this not be love, then what is? Tell me, where you would find a better love. Image courtesy: https://www.freepik.co...

In love He predestined us. Eph:1:4-5 Predestination is a controversial word. It questions God's sovereignty. It challenges man's free will. But predestination is a good word for me. Because I never deserved to be predestined. Because it only involves the love of God. The unending love of God who chose me even before I existed. A predestination not affected by my 'goodness' or 'badness'. A predestination that depends only on God and His unchanging character. This predestination is based solely on God'so e. And that will never change. Image credit: https://www.pexels.com/photo/misty-train-tracks-in-dhaka-bangladesh-30406595/

Eph:1:4-14 For He chose us in Him. Chosen. John:15:16 You did not choose me, but I chose you. * God the Father chose us * In Jesus Christ He chose us * Before the creation of the world He chose us * For what did He choose us? To be holy and blameless in His sight. Considering the fact that I am wretched. But still He chose me. Considering the fact that nothing good lives in me. But still He chose me. Considering the fact that I am unloveable, but still God chose me.  That in itself is a miracle. Chosen for a holy and blameless living. Chosen to live a life opposite to what I've been living. Though He knew I would still fail His calling and betray Him, still He chose me. I did not choose Him out of my desperation. But He chose me out of love. That makes the choice stronger. Because love is stronger than helpless desperation. Because once you feel equipped and you are out of your desperation and you feel proud of your calling, you would have lost the grip already. But the...

Eph:1:3 Praise be to God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. Through Jesus Christ, all spiritual blessings have been given and fulfilled by the Father. Every single one has been granted. Because that is God's wonderful plan for you. To be transformed into the likeness of Christ the Son. We just have to make use of it. Spending time with the word, maintaining spiritual discipline, trusting Him for His word, being at peace. Just put an effort. The Lord has given it all. Paul is talking about spiritual blessings. Not material benefits. Everything has been given, regarding your spiritual upliftment and growth. But we are so focussed on other things that we miss what has been given into our hands. Image courtesy: https://www.dreamstime.com/photos-images/blessings.html

What counts is a new creation. Gal:5:15 Not ritualism. Not legalism Not law - that matters.whether you have changed and become a new creation. Whether your old man has gone and the new has come. Whether Christ has come to rule and reign in you. Whether to live is Christ. Whether Christ be all and I be nothing. Image credit : https://thirst.sg/living-as-a-new-creation/

Gal:5:13 You my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge in sinful nature, rather serve one another in love. Called to be free. But there is no license to use that freedom for whatever you want, and live a life however you want. Freedom that Christ promises is not freedom to do whatever you desire. But it's freedom from the yoke of sin. To be released from the power of sin and to do not what we want, but what we ought. As planned by God, the good and perfect plan. Freedom is not licentiousness. Freedom is allegiance. Freedom is obedience. Freedom is trust. Freedom is deliverance. Freedom is believing the truth. Freedom is abundant life - life in its fullness - as promised. Freedom is liberation. Image courtesy: https://www.alwaysonpurpose.com/2021/02/4-step-process-to-find-true-freedom/

Gal:5:6 The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love. Paul condemns as the teaching of the need for circumcision creeps into faith. He says - for in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. He says - if you value that, then Christ will be of no value to you at all. He says - if you let yourself be circumcised then you are obligated to obey the entire law - you are trying to be justified by law - you have fallen away from grace - the offense of the cross is abolished. Legalism has no value in a Christian's life. You try to live a holy life in response to your calling. Yes. But do not try to assess your holiness based on your acts. Logicality says so. But your holiness is based on grace. It is based on the righteousness imputed upon you from the ultimate righteousness. As grace is shown upon you by God, show grace to yourself. Show grace upon others. Keep a check. Yes. But do not judge your faith based on your deeds. It is ...

It was for freedom that Christ has set you free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject to a yoke of slavery. Gal:5:1 Christ has set you free from the yoke of slavery of sin. You are not longer bound to be under sin, forced to do things which you are not willing or wanting to do. You are free indeed. But still you can choose to do that. Not bound to do, but choose to do still. Stand firm therefore and resist. Flee. For you are free to flee from the sin that so easily entangles. The one who is in you, who empowers you, is more powerful than the one who is in the world. Resist. It is not impossible. Would you? Image credit:  https://www.instagram.com/p/C_lHZjksyla/

Until Christ be formed in you. Gal:4:19 That was the sole desire of Paul regarding the Galatians. That Christ be formed in them. Infact that is God's desire in your life. That Christ be formed in you completely. Formed fully in you. That you be transformed into the likeness of Christ Jesus. To purge out all evil. To purge out all that is unChristlike.   But are you willing? Image courtesy: https://regehrlein.wordpress.com/2021/07/05/god-is-the-potter-and-we-are-the-clay/

For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. Gal:3:26 Enemy I was; born to hate Him. Told to hate Him; I was His sworn in enemy. I had declared rebellion. I did not have anything to do with Him. And His good and perfect will. I was comfortable in my own way. In my old master's way. Rather, I was really really uncomfortable there. His hatred to sin, made me His enemy too. Yet. He loved me. I don't understand. Though I was far away behind the enemy line, He saw me. For He was my Creator. For He was my Husband. But I turned my face away. In hatred. Someone had to pay the ransom to set me free. Even when I was unwilling. Grace, prompted Him to do it Himself. Unending love; He gave Himself over for my sake. To be tortured, to be 'punished', to be killed. So that I could be saved. I saw that far beyond in that line. Insignificant as I am, did He do it with me in His mind? He looked at me with passion. He told my name - 'for you I endure' and ...

Gal:3:22 But the Scriptures declare that we are all prisoners of sin; so we receive God's promise of freedom only by believing in Jesus Christ. Prisoners of sin, can be set free only by believing in Jesus Christ. Both ultimately from the consequence of sin, for eternity. Also from the power of sin , daily. Jesus Christ, set us free from the penalty of sin. He is setting us free from the power of sin. One day He will set us free from the presence of sin. Only He can do that today. Not my strong will. My will is not strong enough. The devil is stronger. The world is stronger. The temptations are real. But the one who is in you is more powerful than the one who is in the world. But do we really desire to be set free? We are in a Stockholm syndrome with sin. Flee. Image credit https://www.ohchr.org/en/stories/2025/10/freed-prisoners-must-access-their-basic-human-rights

Gal:3:17 What I am saying is this: the Law which came four hundred and thirty years later does not invalidate a covenant previously ratified by God; so as to nullify the promise. The covenantal Promise was given first. Later the Law. Therefore the Law isn't greater. The Promise is. The Law doesn't invalidate it. But ascertains it. It was an addendum. The promise is based on grace alone. Not that grace came along afterwards. It was not by deeds that Abraham was saved. Abraham believed God and it was credited to Him as righteousness.  So does it mean that the election is based on your  faith? Because the first mention is about being chosen because of Abraham's faith. Then look further more. You have been chosen by Grace even before you were born in your mother's womb. Even before the foundations of the earth was laid. So what comes first. Law? Or Grace?. Grace was already given. When we didn't even think about it.  Deeds are important. But grace is even mo...

The righteous man shall live by faith. Gal:3:11 The Law points. It shows the correct path. It enlightens. It shows the standard. But by following it, you shall not be saved. By our works we will not be saved. For it is written - For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all. James:2:10 It is impossible therefore to be saved by works. That is why grace is so beautiful. When I couldn't do anything; He did everything. First made righteous by Grace. That man shall live by faith. Regarding salvation. Regarding daily living. The first act is by God. You might not have been able to figure out everything in your life. You might not have been able to fit all pieces. But just have faith in the one who called you. 1 Thess:5:24. He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it. Phil:1:6. He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of coming of Christ Jesus. Therefore stop worrying. Stop trusting in your ...

Gal:2:20 I have been crucified with Christ and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. I have been crucified with Christ. All my passions, all my desires, all my ambitions which come out of my nature, that which is inclined more to the world than to my Saviour, is now dead. I no longer live. But Christ in me. It is not a suggestion. Nor is it a struggle. It is a truth. It is command. So if there is a struggle in living the life in the flesh, it is by faith. By trusting Him. By holding fast to Him. Him who loved me and gave Himself up for me. Through grace He has saved me. Through grace He will sustain me. Through faith He has saved me. Through faith He will sustain me. And because Christ lives ine; it is admonition too, to cleanse myself; to purify myself; to rectify myself; to reinstate myself with Him and the long lost relation with Him. In re...

Gal:1:15 But when God who had set me apart even from my mother's womb and called me through His grace. A persecutor of the church; a tormentor of Christians. Chosen. Set apart even from His mother's womb. By Grace. Grace is too simple a word to say. Yet a heavy word to comprehend.  Why would He give unmerited favour, when we least deserved it. At the peak of rebellion; in the midst of clenched fists, He chose to reveal His Son to me. All I could say is. Thank you Father. Image credit: https://stockcake.com/i/desert-rain-approaches_1456001_163015

I am amazed that you are quickly deserting Him who called you. Gal:1:6 How do I desert Him who called me? By believing in a different gospel! How has your belief changed? Has self sufficiency creeped in; instead of absolute trust? Has materialism barged in; instead of simplicity? Has pride crawled in; instead of humility and self denial? He should increase. And I should decrease. Paul the greatest missionary, the saintest of us all, trained and knowledgeable of all spiritual doctrines and truth, says I am a bond servant of Christ; I am the worst of all sinners. Where is the sin consciousness in me? Where is the person I used to be? Where is the passion to know Him? Where is the urgency to repent and correct myself for His sake? How did I get diluted? Why do I seek favour of men? Why do I live a life trying to please men; rather than God?  Why are my standards that of the world?  Why do I neglect the standards of God? Why do I give more importance to the outwardly e...

That Jesus Christ is in you. 2 Cor:13:5 This is the test. Is Jesus Christ in you? Are you taking your choices, based on His presence in your life? Do you deny your desires to obey Him completely? Do you resist temptation, with a strong will power and self control, no matter how alluring it will look, knowing that these are things which He abhors, He disgusts. What is your driving force in life? And that is not something, you will train yourself out. But the grace of God. An even balance. It's a journey. 2 Cor:13:14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all. Image courtesy; https://bellatorchristi.com/2022/06/07/why-asking-jesus-into-your-heart-may-be-biblical-if-properly-understood/

Test yourselves to see, if you are in faith, examine yourselves. 2 Cor:13:5 This is something which we need to do repeatedly in our lives. To test our faith; to test the genuineness of our faith. Not about the saving faith we had once. That is not something that you might lose. For it says that, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone and behold the new has come. It also says that; now there is no condemnation for those who are in the Lord Jesus  It says about the earnestness of your faith. Have you grown in your trust in Jesus? Has your love grown cold? Is spending time in His presence a burden and a sense of responsibility rather than an excitement and an emotion? Where is your first love? You cannot lose faith. But you can freeze it and make it dead. Beware. How do you test? Keep checking. Keep reassesing. Take regular introspections, to see whether you are growing or stunted? Prune things which are unnecessary. Unwanted commitments. Unwarrante...

Thorn in the flesh. To keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me - to keep me from exalting myself. 2 Cor:12:7 Is there something which is a constant pain for you? Something which has not sorted out yet? Something for which you have fasted and prayed but hasn't worked out still?  The pain is still there for a purpose dear one. To keep you from exalting yourself. To keep yourself humble. Know that your Abba is in control. He is Sovereign. He is good. And He will not allow anything beyond what you can endure. He has allowed this with a purpose. So when prayers are still unanswered, rejoice. For God is in control. He has this for a purpose. You might not get the big picture now. But God knows.  Trust the process.

2 Cor:11:3 But i fear that somehow your pure and undivided devotion to Christ will be corrupted. Where you are expected to have an undivided devotion to Christ, an undistracted devotion to Him, is it by any means corrupted and gone wavering? Have you been distracted by the  pressures and pleasures around you? Are targets and expectations eating up your relationship with Jesus? How often do you open your Bible vs switch on your phone? Are you too busy with other things that you forsake reading the Word of God? Are you too tired in the dusk to pray? What feeds do you have in your search history? What motivates you? What is the most exciting thing that you want to do? You used to do it before! Where is your first love now? And once you realize that you are in the wrong track what do you do about it? 

God loves a cheerful giver. 2 Cor:9:7 When we give for the ministry, for the church, for the saints, to help the poor; God repays from His purse. From the liberality of your heart, cheerfully, bountifully, as purposed in your heart, if you give, it is an act of gratitude and thanksgiving for what all God has done for you.  Mal:3:10.  Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in my house and test me now, thus says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows. But why do you give, what you give? Is it out of responsibility? Is it out of fear? Is it out of an attitude of receiving more from the treasures of heaven? As an investment with no market risks? Is it out of a cheerful heart? Oh! It's my privilege to give, because I have received. About time? How much and how well you spend time in God's presence, shows your heart's attitude. Is it only for ministry sake tha...

2 Cor:7:10-11 Godly sorrow produces repentance. Godly sorrow produces no regret. Godly sorrow leads to salvation. Godly sorrow produces earnestness. Godly sorrow produces vindication of yourselves. Godly sorrow produces indignation. Godly sorrow produces fear. Godly sorrow produces longing. Godly sorrow produces zeal. Godly sorrow produces avenging of wrong. Any sorrow that does not result in these are not from God. Our sorrows lead to yearning for sympathy, not earnestness to correct. Our sorrows lead to covering up of sins, not indignation. Our sorrows lead to going back to the same rugged roads, not longing to stay pure. Our sorrows lead to experimenting to new territories, not fear of God. Are we in the right track of sorrow that is according to God's will or to nurture our comforts? Our sorrows are a part of self pity. It is pride personified. It is attention seeking. It is superfluous. It is frivolous. Unless it brings a change in my inner man, then what use of al...

2 Cor:7:1 Let us cleanse ourselves from the defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. In response to absolute holiness of God; in response to His presence and dwelling in us, let us cleanse ourselves; let us keep ourselves up with the standards of God. Let holiness be our focus. Let us hate sin as much as He does. Let us make room for nothing which He abhors. Let us not entertain sin. Let us not be entertained by sin. Let us not do things which abase our standards, nor things which abashes our Lord. More than that; what love do we proclaim to have for him, if we continue to do things which He hates; if we love things which He detests. Let us perfect holiness in fear of God; because we love God; in response to His love to us. Image courtesy: https://otisskincare.com/blogs/news/men-best-way-to-wash-your-face?srsltid=AfmBOopcg_4j8DKnOCM8NelSb2jqfAYmebG8vj-SlBgwI6iTtNvrO2Nl

I will be a Father to you And you shall be sons and daughters to me. 2 Cor:6:18 To the fatherless To the loner To the friendless To the one for His sake is persecuted and ridiculed and pushed to the corner He says, I am your Father. And you will be my son. You will be my daughter. You are my beloved child. No matter who is against you. I am on your side. The Creator. The Sustainer. The Beginning and the End. Through Him, in Him, for Him and by Him. All things were created. He says, if you touch my child, you touch the apple of my eye. Even if no one else is there for him, I will be. Especially when he has put his trust in God. Will He not be a shield around him. Will His love be not a shield around him. Not that He is obliged to. But out of shear love. Not that I have done great things for Him. And He owes me big time. But He just loves me and I am His beloved. I will dwell in him, is His promise. Filthy as I am, if He chooses to abide in me. Purifying me. Cleansing me. Tra...

He made Him, who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. 2 Cor:5:21 He made - God purposed Him- Jesus Who knew no sin - Absolutely holy To be sin - bore all the sin of the world and it's punishment. On our behalf - I was supposed to face that wrath So that - because of love We might - God was mindful of me Become the righteousness of God - His righteousness was imputed upon me In Him - all through Jesus. Image credit: https://www.istockphoto.com/photo/cross-with-nails-crown-of-thorns-and-hammer-gm469233876-61451210

2 Cor:5:14 Christ's love controls us. Christ's love compels us. It pushes us to obey radically, illogically (in world's eye view).  There are people who forsake a lucrative career and prospective of earning tonnes, to go out to the unreached.  There are people who forsake scholarships to Oxford and Yale and high scores in competitive exams, just to obey what their Father has told them.  I know such people personally. But did they gain something (in accordance to the standards of the world)? Nothing. They have only lost. But they go back, contented, satisfied, knowing fully that they obeyed what their Father has told them to do, in His wonderful and perfect plan. Because this God's love compels them.  In the middle of joint pains and frustrations, if you  have been available for your brother. In the middle of your prospective career growth, if you are taking an off route, because you felt called to do something different. When others are running in on...

2 Cor:4:18 For the things which are seen are temporal but the things which are not seen are eternal. Unless we live with this perspective, there is no hope, there is no strength to endure, there is no sap left to hold on. For endurance depends on your ability to look beyond the physical to the spiritual, beyond the present to the eternal and beyond the visible to the invisible. It is not imaginary. But a reality into which we place our trust. Therefore our afflictions though may appear heavy when we face it, it is in reality light and momentary, for the glory awaiting is much more heavy - far beyond any comparison. So look forward. Look beyond. Focus on eternal things. Store up treasures in heaven and not here in this earth. Set your heart in treasures above. That will help you to face your afflictions here on this side of eternity. That will help you to have faith and put your trust in the One who called you. He will not leave you half way. He who has taken care of your et...

2 Cor:4:16 But though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. Though you are physically getting old, with the mental and emotional turmoil you are going through, your inner man is getting strengthened day by day. Because you are created for a greater glory, created with a purpose and God is in the process of taking you there. That transformation is happening day by day. As God is on work in you, it's a process. He will not leave it undone. My responsibility is just to take efforts to develop this forming inner man. Make him strong. Develop spiritual muscles. Work out. Spend time with word and prayer. Feed the inner man with the right things. So that your trust would increase. Your faith would increase. Your intimacy with God would increase. And your worldliness would decrease. Image courtesy: https://www.moneycontrol.com/health-and-fitness/build-muscles-naturally-improve-recovery-boost-energy-with-these-7-foods-in-your-daily-diet-photo-...

We are afflicted in everyway, but not crushed Perplexed but not despairing Persecuted but not forsaken Struck down but not destroyed. 2 Cor:4:8 We will not be crushed beyond our malleability. Not stretched beyond our tensile strength. So much so that we will break. God knows our being. He allows these stretching exercises to strengthen us. Not to destroy us. Have faith in God because -  * He loves us. * He is powerful. * He intends good for us and He is a good God. * And He knows us. Image credit: https://livingtreeconnections.com/2018/07/31/brittle-flexible-malleable-strength-change/

Are being transformed from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit. 2 Cor:3:18 The purpose of our existence is transformation. We have been called into salvation into one glory. From one glory to another we are being transformed. From fallenness we have been made children until the ultimate glory. It is not a one time event - the transformation into the final glory or the ultimate glorification. Salvation is. But transformation is a process. You are definitely better than yesterday. You are definitely a little bit more like Jesus than yesterday. You are improving. Though you may fall, your graph is rising. Trust the process. He who began a good work in you, will carry it on to completion untill the day of coming of Christ Jesus. Phil:1:6 You have to trust Him in what He is doing. Do not lose heart. Keep trusting. Image credit: https://blog.softexpert.com/en/process-management-key-issues-and-how-to-solve-them/

For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. 2 Cor:2:15 Do you smell Christ? Do you exuded His fragrance to God, among others? Do you have that sweet aroma of the knowledge of Christ? Or do you stink? The knowledge of God and sim cannot stand together. Sin will run in the presence of the knowledge of God. Wash clean of your dirt and apply the aroma. Similarly, wash clean of your sin by the blood of Jesus through confession and apply the knowledge of God. Simple. Image credit: https://gulfnews.com/amp/story/friday%2Fbeauty%2Fyou-smell-nice-choosing-the-perfect-fragrance-learn-the-art-1.1643542938723

2 Cor:2:7-8 You should rather forgive and comfort him, otherwise such a one might be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love to him. When someone is sorrowful. 1. Forgive - forgive him for what He has done unknowingly or knowingly, personally and publically, verbally or physically, out of his sorrow. Just forgive. Just forget. Give another chance. Keep on giving one more. 2. Comfort - tell him it's okay to feel so. To feel overwhelmed. Tell him, I am there for you. God sees you and knows you.  3. Affirm your love to him - tell him I love you. I am there for you through thick and thin. To the best that I can, I will be there. You are not facing it alone. I am praying for you. Do not judge. Do not label. Do not gossip. Image courtesy: https://www.vectorstock.com/royalty-free-vector/child-and-dog-comfort-and-sorrow-vector-61716299

For as many as are the promises of God, in Him they are yes. 2 Cor:1:20 All the promises in the Word of God is 'yes' through Jesus Christ. Concerning salvation, peace, joy, redemption, sanctification, glorification. That means everything concerning the purpose and will of God. There is no scope of misinterpreting God's word and claiming that promise personally for you. It has to be in line with the central theme. All those are yes, in Jesus and through Jesus. And He never vacillates. He is not like shifting shadows, saying yes now and no then. For example; Now there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, means, you stand uncondemned always if you are in Christ Jesus. He is always true. He never dwindles. He is not indecisive. He is sure. He is certain. He has set His eyes like a flint to bless. He will not flinch. He is trustworthy. His promises for you to bless you, to preserve you, to make you grow unto the head that is Christ, to establish you,...

2 Cor:1:10 Who delivered us from so great a peril of death and will deliver us. He on whom we have set out hope. And He will yet deliver us. He who delivered us from death, physical death situations. He who protected us this far.  He who has delivered us from spiritual death, eternal separation. He who gave us a wonderful salvation. He will yet deliver us now in this present perilous situation. God is bigger than the mountain that you face now. Even bigger mountains He has conquered for us. He will yet deliver us. In times of crisis, we need to repeatedly look at our salvation. How a Holy, Eternal God, became a finite being and die for a wretched man like me to redeem me. That is the greatest miracle. Keep looking at the ways in which He hath delivered you till date. He will still carry you through. Trust is all that is required. He will do what is best for you. That Rom:8:28 is always true. That Phil:1:6 is always true. That 2 Cor:1:10 is always true. 2 Tim:4:17. The L...

So also our comfort is abundant through Christ. 2 Cor:1:5 Afflictions come. God will comfort us, for He is the source of all comfort. Because you have a God who comforts, you go to Him who comforts abundantly and receive His comfort. When someone you know is in trouble. You extend that comfort which you received from God, to him who suffers. This makes sense now. Why afflictions or sufferings? That you would taste the God of abundant comfort. And that you would be a channel to a brother who suffers. So when afflictions come, not to complaint or whine. But to seek comfort from the rich source and be the reason for comfort to another who suffers. Image courtesy: https://www.gettyimages.in/videos/woman-comforting-crying-woman?family=creative