The halfbaked Bard

Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers. Heb:2:11 A big brother Tempted in every way that I am Yet without sin A big brother who suffered in every way when tempted Therefore able to help us all Who are being tempted. A big brother who understands fully What I go through A big brother who is there With me till the end of days. A big brother who is faithful to the dot A big brother who promised To go to His Father's house And arrange a place for me And has promised to come back To take me home Jesus my big brother The assurance it brings The source of the peace that passeth all understanding  Amen, Lord Jesus; I trust  Image credit: https://www.stocksy.com/photo/812114/two-brothers-holding-hands-walking-on-an-autumnal-forest-road

Heb:2:3 How shall we escape if we ignore such great a salvation? If violation and disobedience of a command of the angels produced just punishment, how much more if we ignore the salvation offered by the Son. Jesus being superior to the angels. He being the Son of God. Therefore pay careful attention. So that we do not drift away. If the world seems more meaningful to you; if logicality and science means more rational to you; if the big bang is more impactful for you, then be aware. Be careful. Beware. If the world and its ways seems more attractive to you; if you are more enamored by the world than the Word, then be aware. Be careful. Beware. If the Word doesn't excite you much; if the church doesn't give you excitement; if praying is boredom for you, then be aware. Be careful. Beware. If it is only a myth; if the Son is not real to you, then be aware. Be careful. Beware. If even after knowing this great salvation, you drift away, then be aware. Be careful. Beware....

Heb:1:1 In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways; but in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things and through whom He made the universe.  Earlier God spoke through the prophets. Now through the Son. Jesus is the key to God's communication to men. For He is fully man and fully God. He is fully God and yet understand man fully. For He has faced every temptation that man faced; yet without sin. He understands every struggle ofan for He faced them all. But being God He can relate to the Father. For in Him, and through Him and by Him, all things were created.  Angels are supernatural powerful beings, ministering spirits. But Jesus is superior to them all. Because He is the Son. He is God. He is superior to the angels (v:4)

Confident of your obedience. Phile:1:21 Obedience comes out of your love to that person. It prompts you to do something that the other person has expected you to do even when you don't like to do it, but out of love, you gladly do it. Not with hands tied but with a heart fully opened.  Paul was confident of Philemon's obedience - knowing that he will do even more than he asks. How confident can others be of your obedience. Not begrudgingly. But that if I tell him, he will gladly obey. How confident will God be about your obedience? Image courtesy: https://www.magnific.com/photos/sunset-duo

Phile:1:1 Paul, a prisoner of Christ A prisoner not of a cruel tyrant. Not as a helpless victim. But denotes complete devotion and absolute surrender to Jesus. Who are you a prisoner of? Anger? Habits? People? - a helpless victim? Break the shackles for you are a prisoner only to Jesus - in 100 % devotion and surrender and submission to Him. Willingly, gladly. There is no habit which cannot be broken in Jesus' name. There is no inheritance which cannot be cancelled in Jesus' name. There is no mountain too big that Jesus can't remove. For in the name of Jesus every knee will bow. Image credit: https://pngtree.com/free-backgrounds-photos/prison-bar

Tit:3:5 He saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. No matter how many times I think about this, I am all the more overwhelmed each time. There is no monotony. This is no jargon. There is no monochromatism in it. That I am saved not because of my righteous deeds, but by His mercy. Not because I deserved it, but He chose to. Mercy is infact not giving me what I deserved . And what did I deserve? I deserved only eternal hell; eternal damnation and eternal separation from my loving Father. Because I rebelled, for the Scripture says, the wages of sin is death. God doesn't hold a scale to weigh out my good and bad deeds. He doesn't see whether I was better. He doesn't see whether I am better than my darker side to decide on my salvation. He doesn't compare me with my brother to decide on whether I can be redeemed. All my righteous deeds are like filthy rags before Him. When He looks at me - I am an object of wrath. I am...

Tit:2:11-12 For the grace of God - it teaches us to say "no" to all ungodliness and worldly passions and to live self controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age. Grace of God is so special. It not only has saved us from eternal damnation. It also helps us in our daily living. It enables us to say no to ungodly things and worldly passions which drag us down. It gives us self control. Whatever is needed for the full and abundant life that Christ has promised.  Whoever claims and utilised it will be blessed. For the grace of God is freely available, lavished upon us.

Tit:1:1 The knowledge of truth that leads to Godliness. Godliness is a desirable and advisable thing. Along with contentment it is great gain. It is that God consciousness, that God fearing attitude that as man, would be the best thing to have. That will develop only by the knowledge of the truth. That will develop only by spending time with the Word of God. Not just in your quiet times that happen for half an hour in the morning. Let it sink in. Let it richly dwell in you. Let it percolate and dissolve in your life. Keep on pondering. Keep on investing. Keep on reading. If it is God's word, it will impute in you God's character. The more you invest into it, the more you will impart His nature. The more Godly you will be. The more God conscious you will be in your circumstances. The more God oriented you will be. How deep is your relationship with your God, depends on how well do you spend time with His word.

But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength. 2Tim:4:17 The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom 2Tim:4:18 I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress My God in whom I trust. Surely He will save you from the fowler's snare And from the deadly pestilence He will cover you with His feathers  And under His wings you will find refuge His faithfulness will be your shield and your rampart Ps:91:2-4 As the mountains surround Jerusalem  So the Lord surrounds His people both now and forevermore Ps:125:2 And I myself will be a wall of fire around it, declares the Lord. Zech:2:5 The Lord will protect you. He will guard you. He will be your shield. Jehovah yeshmor. Do not be afraid of anything under the sun. For He the Sovereign ruler is our Father. Image credit: https://stock.adobe.com/search?k=%22wall+of+fire%22

I have fought the good fight; I have finished the race. 2Tim:4:7 Oh! With confidence will I be able to tell To the fag end of my life On the last days of my life I have fought the good fight; I have finished the race. What has been entrusted to me What has been given to me Have I managed it well? The resources, the people, the blessings and the responsibilities. Will I be able to hear the sweet voice Well done good and faithful servant You have done well with what I gave you Would I have lived a life worthy of the one who called? What would be my emotion when I see Him? What would be my epitaph? What would He say when I meet Him face to face? What would be that one liner about me that He would say? Fighting the good fight Finishing the race given Is not by might; nor by determination. It says - I have kept the faith. Faith is the weapon with which you fight well Faith is the leg with which you run the race well Faith is the criterion He looks for Trust and obey; for there i...

All Scripture is God breathed 2 Tim:3:16 God is behind this book - 66 books. 40 different authors. Written over a span of 1600 years. But one single theme. Man created. Man fallen. Man helpless. God intervenes. God helps. Man rescued. Man reinstated. Man has an eternal hope. God Himself is the hero of this book. The central character around whom, the others revolve around. This is the story of God. Not a nation. Not a group of people. The central theme is God's love to mankind. That is why it still talks. Because the author is still living and the Spirit communicates still. This books still speaks. Every time a child of God reads the word of God, God sits with him/her to speak, God sits to teach.  That is why it has stood the test of time. Many have put it into scrutiny. The oldest manuscripts have been proven of accuracy. Few disparities here and there, but not on the core. The Bible has stood the test of time. It will change you; only if you allow it to. Read it regul...

2 Tim:3:13 They will deceive others and will themselves be deceived. How pathetic? How horrible a life it would be - to deceive and to be deceived. There is no one to trust. And you can't be trusted too. Life is a chaos. The only rule is - what would I gain from this. The whole world becomes self seeking and profit oriented. A godly life is different. It is all about God. And when it is all about God, it becomes all about others - selfless giving.  So when you are asked to take a load for a mile, then you go two miles. So you give all that you have to take care of the person you do not know, lying on the road, beaten and bruised by thugs and you further tell - I will pay back when I come back. So you give your coat as well, when he sues you and takes your shirt. So when he slap you on the cheek, you show him the other as well. You might suffer loss.  But a life to the fullest you can live. Because you know that there is a God above all. Image credit: https://husain...

2Tim:3:12 Indeed all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. Do not worry. Jesus told you. When you are in this world, you will have much trouble. When you have moved from darkness to light, you have moved from one system to another. Because you have moved from the enemy territory, the evil one will attack you in many ways - physically, emotionally, relationally, mentally. He will relentlessly try to discourage you to render you useless. But he will not succeed. Be of courage. Jesus is with you. Even as you desire to live a godly life, you will be persecuted. But continue to desire, continue to pursue. Because only on abiding in Him, will you bear much fruit. Only in abiding in Him, will you have life abundance which He has promised. There is no other way to live. In perfect obedience there is life. In perfect clinging there is abundance. Do not be discouraged about living a life clinging to Him. Only that will bring everlasting joy. All the other vain ...

If a man cleansed himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy and useful for the Master and prepared to do any good work. Flee from the evil desires of the youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace. 2Tim:2:21-22 Cleanse yourself from ignoble things and set yourself apart for noble things. Why concentrate on the evil desires of the youth when you have more richer things to pursue - like righteousness, faith, love and peace. Make yourself useful for the Master in the way you can; concentrating on being holy and doing things for the Kingdom. Why waste your time and energy in useless browsing, meaningless chatter and harmful quarrels. Pursue godly things. Unless you feed yourself with godly things, there is no pursuing noble things. If you feed yourself with ignoble things you will persist to pursue ignoble uselss things. Image courtesy: https://www.merriam-webster.com/grammar/clean-vs-cleanse-difference-usage

Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it, will become more and more ungodly. 2Tim:2:16 Refraining from harsh painful words, that hurt others is a godly advise. Here is a step further. Useless, harmless, godless chatter will make you more and more ungodly.  Unnecessary loose talk will take you nowhere. Talk with a purpose always. Use words, what you really mean. Have a discussion which is worth it.  Your words, let it reflect who you are - a child of God. An ambassador of God. Royal priesthood. Heir of God. Talk like a prince, not as a commoner. Do not blabber. Be men and women of substance - by having a solid content in your words. Talk to each other about things which do really matter.  But for that you need to have that content in your heart.

2Tim:1:14 Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you - guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us. As he talks about salvation as a deposit, Paul emphasizes on guarding it. Nurturing it. Watering it. Taking care of it. Allowing the Holy Spirit, the friend who lives in us to make it grow. Praying to the Holy Spirit. Let the Holy Spirit lead you further to higher grounds. How is your relation with the Holy Spirit? How often do you pray to the Holy Spirit? The undisputed presence of the Triune God. How well do you know your friend? Guard your salvation with the help of the Holy Spirit. Fill your mind with the things of God. Not of this world. Image credit:  https://www.allamericanstatewidesecurity.com/laguna-beach/

2Tim:1:9 Who saved us and called us to a holy life - not because of anything we have done but because of His own purpose and grace. Salvation is the Lord's doing. Not something that I have gained Salvation is a calling to a holy life A life holier than yesterday Salvation is given; a gift Not earned as a salary. Undeservedly given  For we do not deserve Him Because of our rebellion We deserved only eternal hell For all our good deeds Are filthy rags before Him We only deserved punishment  Salvation is for His purpose His glory; His grace And for our good He has been kind. It is His doing. Image credit: https://www.christianity.com/wiki/salvation/can-a-christian-lose-salvation.html

2 Tim: 1:7 For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. Why are you afraid, O my soul? The Spirit of the Almighty God is on your side and dwells within you. Why should you be afraid and concerned about the future? As long as the Spirit of God is with you as your Friend, your Advocate, and your Parakletos, you need not fear. Why should you be afraid of the principalities and powers of this world? The One who is in you is more powerful than the one who is in the world. Why should you be timid or feel unloved? The Spirit of God, the Spirit of unending Agape love, has loved you and called you His beloved. Why should you be afraid of old bad habits returning? The Spirit of self-discipline and the good Lord is with you. Image credit: https://screenrant.com/inside-out-movie-bill-hader-interview/

1Tim:6:20 O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you. Each of us have been given these entrustments. It can be family; it can be privileges and opportunities; it can be blessings in this world; or knowledge or insight from God;  it can be your job; it can a good habit.  Whatever you can think of- it is a gift from God entrusted to you. Guard it. Value it. Cherish it and take care of it with utmost thankfulness and seriousness. When you think of people, who do not have what you have, it fills you with gratitude to God. And you take care of it with seriousness; without a careless attitude. That will take away the routine mundane boredom to deal with it. Contentment is the key to gratitude. The truth to realise is - that you have been given. That you have been gifted. The reality is that all you have is not what you deserved. Therefore do not take these lightly. You have been just kept as a steward, not as an owner of what you "have". A steward does not deserve....

But to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 1 Tim: 6:17 Putting hope in riches is futile. But putting hope in God, who is our provider, is not. He is Jehovah Jireh. He, out of His eternal riches, shall not only provide for our needs but also for our enjoyment. He will, for He has promised. He is true and will not lie. If He has said that He will provide, then He surely will. We have to trust Him and put our hope in the person that He is. Image courtesy: https://stock.adobe.com/search?k=fishing+net

The charge given to a younger brother - something personal. 1 Tim:6:11-16 - Flee from all these - love for money. - Pursue - righteousness, Godliness, faith, love, endurance, gentleness - Fight the good fight of faith - Take hold of eternal life to which you were called. Image credit: https://www.asurion.com/connect/tech-tips/iphone-wont-charge/

But Godliness with contentment is great gain.  1Tim:6:6 Contentment is being happy with what you have. Contentment is the opposite to greed; covetousness; dissatisfaction; wanting for more. Godliness coupled with contentment is great gain. A surity that God would provide for all my needs. An assurance that God would supply all my needs according to His riches and glory. That He is Jehovah Jireh and I need not worry about my needs. He will take care. This will also help you to give. Like the widow who put the two copper coins which is all that she had. Knowing fully that her God would provide. Cheerfully we can give. Whether in surplous or in nothingness. Knowing for sure that God loves a cheerful giver, we can give happily. Knowing for sure that He would give back, in good measure, pressed down, shaken together.  And finally you will be free from greed. It starts well - planning, money orientedness, ultimately leading to compromising on many important things just t...

Keep yourself pure. 1 Tim:5:22 This world around you is full of sin. Keep yourself pure. Do not give a foot hold to the devil. For the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion to see whom to devour. Resists him. Stand firm in faith. Both keeping yourself pure and standing firm in faith resisting the devil are active efforts. You have to consciously work hard to keep yourself pure. It is a choice. Image credit; https://uk.pinterest.com/pin/male-lion-on-the-prowl--170292429633466449/

Éteindre is the French word which means to extinguish or to snuff out. 1Tim:4:12 Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young. To the youth - it is often labelled that you being young, you are not allowed to express your opinion. You do not know much and therefore you keep quiet. But if others see there is consistency in display of God's wisdom in your speech, in your life, in love, in faith and purity, will they be able to snub you? Will they be able to snuff you out? Will they be able to shove you off? Absolutely not! Desire and ask for Godly wisdom in your speech, in your life. Seek and you shall receive. That is the key to respect that you desire. Let your words be deep in His wisdom. Even if a little, let your opinions matter. You cannot formulate respect by your choice. That has to come naturally. That will come only if you season your life with ( infact that's the main ingredient) Godly wisdom. Then no one would be able to look down on you. Rat...

That we have put our hope in the living God. 1Tim:4:10 This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance, Paul says. That we have put our hope in the living God. He is not a dead god. Who was part of history or myth and had a weak bone which men could find out to finish his story. He is God who became man to deal with the root problem of man, died as a sacrifice for the penalty of sin which man should have faced. His story doesn't end there. He was raised from the dead because of the sinless perfect life He lived. Because He was blameless, death ( which is a consequence of sin) could not hold Him or defeat Him. Yes He was raised from the dead - this is a trustworthy statement - scientifically and historically proven. He lives even now, for He is eternal. He sits on the right hand side of the eternal King, Father God and intercedes for us. This is the hope that we talk about. That we are praying to a living God. Jesus the only living mediator for us. All other s...

Godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. 1Tim:4:8 Godliness is God orientedness. It is bringing God in every equation. It is trusting in God in every situation. That is the real fear of God, which is the beginning of wisdom. That will bring promise both for the present life and for the life to come. It makes life simpler. In the middle of tumultuous waves, it brings peace. For the creator, sustainer God is with you in the boat, then why worry! God is with you, is the greatest promise you can have. Are you with God?

For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. 1Tim:2:5 The eternal King; Immortal; Invisible; Only God chose to become a man, so that He could be a mediator between God and man. Not that God could gain anything. But man could benefit everything. So that man could be saved. Out of His love to man He did this Himself. He gave Himself as a ransom for all men. He did not consider equality with God as something to be grasped, to be claimed for His own. He made Himself nothing taking the very nature of a servant. Only He could stand between the Holy God and mankind and intercede, because only He has done this. The Lamb who was slain alone is worthy. The man Christ Jesus. Image courtesy: https://lommen.com/things-to-consider-when-selecting-a-mediator/

1Tim:1:17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God be honour and glory forever and ever. Amen. Eternal. Not created. The Alpha and the Omega. The Beginning and the End. Who exists from time immemorial to time endless. Immortal. No death. Nor does He succumb to decay. Not defined by rules of the end. Who exists beyond. Invisible. Not the age old concept of God is there in everything. Not even the unseen guest of our home. But the omnipresent. He is the Only God. To Him be the honour and glory forever and ever.

Some have wandered away from these and turned to meaningless talk. 1Tim:1:6 About false teachers - who want to be teachers of the law but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm (v:7). Equally true for the common man like me - a warning that God endorses, not to be involved in myths (v:3), endless genealogies (v:3) and meaningless talk (v:6). Guard your tongue. Interestingly in James where it talks about taming the tongue, the instruction is again to the teachers, that they would be judged more strictly. Why these unnecessary gossip? A gossip is always a gossip; no matter how hilarious it sounds, no matter how informative it looks. Why indulge in meaningless conversations? Let your words be filled with grace, bringing glory to the Almighty. Let it reflect His character. Let it be a source of encouragement to a wandering one who will be plucked out of the very gates of hell. Let it be a signpost for a backsliding one. Let it be filled ...

And as for you, brothers never tire of doing what is right. 2Thess:3:13 Doing right might cost you. Might bring you loss. But never compromise. The Lord loves righteousness. And this is how we show our love to this righteous God. To pursue righteousness. Even in the smallest way. It might look infinitesimal. Especially in comparison to the consequence otherwise. You might lose your job. You might lose your precious relations. Your good will amongst your friend circle might be tarnished. But still never tire of doing what is right. Pursue righteousness.

If a man will not work; he shall not eat. 2Thess:3:10 Work hard. Whatever is entrusted to you. Be it physical labour or be it a white collar job sitting in the AC. Be it studying or be it organising things. Be it a small thing that you take up or a bread winning job. Be genuine and hard working. An idle man is not deserving of any wages. An idle man is complacent and proud. An idle man is discontented and dissatisfied. Where as a hard working man is grateful for what he has got. He knows that he has got in his plate is not something he deserves. Let money not be the motivation factor too, for working hard. Whatever you do, do it for the glory of God. So wash your plates genuinely. When you clean the table and set near your room, let God's name be glorified. As unto the Lord, may you do it. When you treat a patient or build a house or develop a programme or play the fiddle, let it be genuine, let it bring a smile on Jesus' face, let it bring glory to the Father. Not ...

2Thess:3:3 But the Lord is faithful and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one. The Lord is faithful is a promise. That He will not change. His love to you is like the crab bite. He will not leave you nor forsake you. The Lord is faithful is an assurance. Of the truth. Of the reality. That God is for you. He is on your side. Not that He has no other option, than to side you. But His earnest love and compassion is the reason. The Lord is faithful is a relief. On the truth, which will never change. He will never change. If He has promised, He will stick to it. No matter what. He is not like the shifting shadows. If He has promised, He will do it. 1Thess:5:24. The One who calls you is faithful and He will do it. It is this rock solid God who says - I will strengthen and protect you from the evil one. He will strengthen. He will give you all strength. He will enable you. He will equip you. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.  He will protect...

May our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father who loved us and by His grace gave us eternal encouragement, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word. 2Thess:2:16 Jesus Christ Himself and God the Father encourage you. The Holy Spirit is called the encourager. The Triune God is on your side to encourage you and strengthen you. With eternal encouragement He has encouraged you. How much more will He encourage and enable and strengthen you. Is it big enough that He won't be able to handle? Not at all. All situations He will enable. He will strengthen. He will equip. He will encourage. Encouragement is not just emotional support. Encourage is to equip you with courage to face. Like David the shepherd boy, facing Goliath. Like the nation before the Red Sea. The Lord will encourage and strengthen you. Image credit : https://www.istockphoto.com/tr/foto%C4%9Fraf/thumbs-up-black-and-white-gm187248717-27686382

From the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through the belief in truth. 2Thess: 2:13 God chose you to be saved from the beginning. It was not a split second thought that He had to save me. For He doesn't change like shifting shadows. He had beforehand itself plans to save you. Even before you were formed in your mother's womb. Even before the foundations of the earth was laid. Isn't that wonderful. That's God saw me from the beginning. That He was mindful of you always. Image credit: https://www.flaticon.com/free-sticker/before_6723260

2Thess:1:7 And give relief to you who are troubled. As you go through trouble, as you struggle; this is one assurance that you can always have as a child of God. He is your Father and He is compassionate. He will give you relief. Not just emotional support as you go through it. Not just the ability to endure; but he will literally help you overcome.  He the All Powerful, All Knowing God is on your side. He has promised the Holy Spirit , the parakletos, the helper. He will help you, because He knows; or rather He is the solution.  Not just emotional support. But literal help. He is a pro- poor God. A God who is compassionate on the one who realises, he is helpless and seeks help. But if I think I have got this and seek no help; that is my pride. And God resists the proud, gives grace to the humble. Grace to overcome Ps:18:29. With my God I can scale a wall. Lord help me.

1Thess:5:24 The One who calls you is faithful and He will do it. He is faithful and He will do it. Are you confused? Are you unsure? Are you in dilemma? Just be assured that God is faithful and He will do it. The Lord will open doors for you and He will guide. The Lord will close doors which are not yours. He is a faithful, loving and true Father. He has promised. That is enough. He will guide and He will equip. If He has promised, then He will do it.  Image credit: https://angiestolba.com/2015/12/09/streams-in-the-desert/amp/

Therefore encourage each other with these words. 1Thess:4:18 According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive who are left till the coming of the Lord will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the arch angel and with the trumpet call of God and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Self explanatory. I don't have anything more to comment. Just look forward to the hope we have with Jesus coming back to take us home. No more tears. No more fears. No more sadness. Only joy meeting Him in person. Look forward for that joy. It is this hope with which you are asked to endure. The hope of the beloved is mine and I am His. He is coming in person to rescue me and I will be in His bosom f...

Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life. 1Thess:4:11 Being ambitious is to do something great in life. To do magnificent things. To achieve great goals. Paul's brotherly advise is to lead a quiet life and be ambitious to lead a quiet life. Doing great things will actually bring up the pride scale. If God brings it to your way, well and good. But desirous of being someone great in the world is a little bit dangerous. Be careful. Small is good. Little is good. Better a little with the fear of the Lord Thanq great wealth with turmoil. Pro:15:16. Image credit: https://www.vecteezy.com/free-photos/nature-window?page=95

It is God's will that you should be sanctified. 1Thess:4:3 For God did not call us to be impure but to live a holy life. 1Thess:4:7 The opposite of holy life is not unholiness. It is a routine, mundane living, because of the fallenness and corruption. Just live - that will be the opposite of holy living.  But you have been called to live a holy life. To take proactive steps to not look at those tempting billboards. To take proactive steps not to be angry today. To take proactive steps to feed yourself with the Word and nothing else. If not proactive, you will be swept away. If not proactive, you will be under the heavy weight to dance according to what the world says. That is unholy. God's plan is to sanctify you. To make you holy. Image courtesy: https://wallpapersafari.com/plain-white-wallpapers/

1 Thess:1:3 We continually remember before our God and Father, your work produced by faith, your labour prompted by love and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. A work produced by faith - All your works are like filthy rags. Then what is the need of all these good works that we are supposed to do. Bible also says, faith without works is dead. Though all our good deeds are like filthy rags and unpleasing to God, not enough to gain us salvation, works that come out of our faith reflect that we are indeed saved. Your labour prompted by love - let love motivate you to do the things you want to do. Love to that person and love to God. God so loved you that He gave His only Son for you. God loved you proactively. Your endurance inspired by hope - patience. Your decision not to react adversely which is inspired by the hope you have in God's ultimate redemption. That God is on your side. He is your protector and your provider. This is the foundation of Chr...

Devote yourself to prayer, being watchful and thankful. Col:4:2 This is how prayers should be - watchful and thankful. Watchful for all the needs. Praying not just for you and your immediate needs. Praying for all. Then time won't be enough. Look at Epaphras (v:12-13). He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured. I vouch for him that he is working hard for you and for those at Laodecia and Hierapolis. How thin is your prayer list? Not just physically. Content wise. Even when you pray for others. what is it that you pray for them? Their physical needs are important. But their spiritual growth do you pray? Be thankful - God has been gracious to you - first of all, in plucking you from the very gates of hell. Secondly, every moment, there are only reasons to thank Him. How He has led you, how He has guided you, how He has protected you.  It is worthwhile to take a break from your frantic running. Take y...

Husbands love your wives. Col:3:19 Is it that difficult. You are asked to just love. In fact it is much simpler than submitting and obeying. You don't create love. You feel love. You have loved her before. Passionately, selflessly. You found time for her. You cared for her. Where is your first love? You don't love her when all is well alone. When life is difficult. that is when you love. Whe she is indecisive, that is when you love. When she is confused, that is when you love. Do not be harsh with them (v:19). Be considerate (1Pet:3:7). Treat them with respect (1Pet:3:7). They are the weaker partner. You are strong - mentally, emotionally, physically, spiritually. You are the one to support. You are the one who cares. You are the one who provides. But heirs with you of the gracious gift - equal with you but weaker. So that nothing will hinder your prayers (1Pet:3:7b) Love her - emotionally, spiritually, mentally, in every aspect. Lord, fill me with your endless love...

What is the key to bear, love and forgive? In the midst of unbearable circumstances, how do you make yourself a loving and forgiving person? Especially when you are not able to.  Col 3:16 Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.  This is as simple as that. Feed yourself with the right things and your character will change. If you force yourself into changing yourself- if only the outward things are changed, then things won't look long lasting. It would be superficial and futile. But   an inward change will happen when, you feed yourself with things of the God and you will imbibe God's nature.  Feed yourself with the things of this world and you will become as the world behaves - a carnal man. Driven by earthly passions. Motivated by world's goals. Running in the rut. You feed on rude comments in the social media, ...

Bear with each other. Col:3:13 Bear with each other means, adjust with each other. There might be unbearable circumstances created by incorrigible people. People who keep doing the same irritating inveterate things again and again. Keep bearing. Keep forgiving. Forgiving whatever grievances you may have against one another (v:13b) And over all these virtues, put on love which binds them all together in perfect unity (v:14) But what if you are not able to bear? If you are not able to forgive? If you are unable to love? Ask God to help you bear them; help you forgive them; help you love them There is no point in remembering their flaws and maintaining a strained relation  Forgive. Choose to forgive. Tell yourself it is okay and deal with them lovingly. Pray for them Image credit: https://stock.adobe.com/search?k=hugging+teddy+bears

Put to death therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature. Col:3:5 Setting your hearts on things above; put to death your earthly nature. Not passive. But proactive drastic measures. Put to death. You must rid yourselves (v:8). Those earthly nature things have been equated to idolatory. Which the Lord abhors. The old self. The old way of talking. The old desires and language. The old nature and passions. The old way of reacting, has all been nailed to the cross. You need not and should not bring it back.  You used to walk in these ways of your loving.  But now you must get rid of them all. Because you are a new creation now. You need not respond in the way you used to react to - in greed, in malice, in foul language, in anger, in evil desires. These are already nailed to the cross. Now it's upto you to get rid of it fully.

Col:3:1 Set your hearts on things above. Since you have been raised with Christ Since you have been called out of the system of the world  Set your eyes on things not of this world But above. In the heavenly realms. Not the foolish frenetic running. Not running in the rut. But on things above. Fix your eyes on Jesus. His beauty you behold. His magnificent persona you pursue. His hands you hold. His footsteps you follow For your life is now hidden in Christ In Him alone is your purpose.

Col:2:19 He has lost connection with the Head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews grows as God causes it to grow. Have you lost connection with the Head? The most pertinent question that you need to ask yourself. A connection which started on love. A connection maintained by discipline. A connection most needed for you to grow well. Because the head directs. The head knows. When the liver decides to grow on its own, it is cancerous. When the liver decides to grow a cartilage in it, comparing itself with its fellow, it is called a hamartoma. When the liver stops it's function, it fails to detoxify and it is harmful for the entire body. The head will direct. The head knows. The liver submits to the head. The liver is answerable to the head. The liver is connected to the head and this connection is quintessential for the designed purpose of the liver. Are you carcinomatous / hamartomatous/ toxic organ which is disconnected to ...

See to it that no one takes you captive... (in) the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ. Col:2:8 Originally designed - fallen. And because you were fallen; you were designed to live in accordance with the basic principles of the world. But now Christ has died for you. Your eyes are now opened. You are His property now. You need not follow these basic principles of this world. You have been set free indeed. Now you are in Christ and you follow the principles of the heavenly kingdom. Earlier you were not able to. But now you are free to. Earlier you were unable to put off the sinful nature. But now you can. Because the Son is in you. Having been buried with Him in baptism and raised with Him through your faith in the power of God. Col:2:12. You were dead and not inclined to the things of God. But now you are alive. To explain further, you are now dead to the worldly system. You are not forced to follow that fallen system anymore. You need not. The written cod...

Delight to see how orderly you are and how firm your faith in Christ is. Col:2:5 How delightful it would be for your mentor to see you firm in faith. How satisfying it would be for him to see all his works and prayers all not gone in vain. That you are rooted in God. How painful it would be for your mentor to see you squandered the knowledge; to see you lose your first love. To see you frightened and worried and tossed in life's great waves. Not trusting in the Saviour who died for you. How joyous your Saviour would be to see you grow in faith; to desire for Him no matter what. To yearn for Him and to find time for Him. For He has already said, that is eternal life. How painful it would be for Him to see you wander away. To see you tossed in life's waves. Where He has asked to just trust in Him. But you are frantic. How peaceful is the faith filled life. A life tuned to God. A promised, abundant life. A life that is planned for you by the Creator God. How tumultuous...