The halfbaked Bard

Get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. James:1:21. Filthy around you is so huge and encroaching that you can protect yourself only by filling yourself with the word within. It has been planted. It can save you. Now nurture it. Fill your whole being. So that it can continue to save you from all the filth, that is around you. Otherwise; no determination or self control is going to purify you. You are sure to fall. Only the Word will purify. Because it is the Son Himself. God Himself. It is alive and active, sharper than the double edged sword, penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. Heb:4:12 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account. Heb:4:13. It exposes everything that is sinful. So if you want to be purged and make yourself pure, fill your life with the Word.  Spen...

James:1:20 For man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. Anger is in no way beneficial. It neither brings the righteousness that God desires in your life. For anger almost always results in sin. And it comes as a result of sin. Anger leads to bitterness. Anger leads to fits of rage. Anger leads to lack of love. - results in sin. Anger comes out of selfishness. Anger comes out of bitterness. Anger comes out of holding on to your selfish point. Anger comes out of not letting go. - comes as a result of sin. Nor does it bring the righteousness that God desires in their life. The one on whom it is angered upon - he/ she will discipline oneself may be out of fear. But not long lasting. Not out of clear insight or understanding. Not out of love. Then there is the righteous anger which Jesus had in the temple. A genuine outpouring of judgement on seeing what is wrong. But will you be able to draw the line? Therefore be slow to anger. Refrain. There i...

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father. James:1:17 How do we know that every good and perfect gift comes from the Father? Because He is good and perfect. Only He is good. And He is a loving Father. So He will give all things that is good to His children.  All good things can come from Him alone, because He alone is good. Whereas the enemy, the counterpart ( eventhough he is no equal to the good God, nor is he the antonym), his intention is always bad. He has come to steal and kill and destroy. Outwardly what he offers might look alluringly good and beautiful. But his intention is bad and it is to destroy. But God works everything for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. The best ( which is the superlative of good) gift that came from above is salvation. The best is God Himself. When we were lost, when we were without hope, while we were still not seeking Him and faraway from Him, Christ died. When we least ...

When tempted no one should say God is tempting me. James:1:13. Temptation comes not from God. But by your own evil desires. Trials and testing is different, which are sent by God. Infact He being the Sovereign ruler, everything is allowed by God. But He is not the source of any temptations. Temptation has an evil or sinful outcome. Trials and testing does not have. It involves a little bit of suffering in contrast. Not an overt sin. The admonition here is to be careful of your evil desires. Not to find out the source. Desires become evil when the direct outcome is sin. Sin with rebellion written all over it. Sin which has "I" written all over it. But when you have fallen. Seek and come back. Return and repent. Beware. Image credit: https://www.asianage.com/life/more-features/230317/overcome-temptation.html

Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial. James:1:12 The second benefit of perseverance in trial is that you shall be given the crown of life which has been promised to those who love Him. Therefore we conclude that perseverance is a sign of loving Him. Only if I love Him will I cling on to Him, in hard times. It is a cycle. Perseverance is a sign of love. Perseverance will also increase your love. And love is not something you manufacture. You need the grace of God to love Him and to understand His love. All you can do is ask helplessly. Ask grace to persevere. Ask grace to understand this love. Seek. Ask forgiveness for walking away from this love and show yearnest desire to come back. Image credit: https://butterflyliving.org/how-to-persevere/

Consider it pure joy whenever you face trials ofany kind. James:1:2 How can you be joyous when you face trials? You know for sure that God is in control. You know that God will work on your favour because you are His beloved. All things God works for your good. You know that God will bring about a solution. These are good reasons to be joyous. But apostle James tells even more better reasons. Persevere during testing times. Cling on to God during these difficult times. Because perseverance when it finishes it's working, you will become mature and complete. Your character will change because of that perseverance. You will become more Christ like. Just as He desired you to be. Complete. Just like silver is purged of gross when it goes through fire. It is difficult for the silver. Painful. Nothing complete happens for the silver which jumps out of the refinery. It remains unpurged. Therefore cling on. Hold on. Hold fast to the One who allows you to go through this. He will...

James:1:1 James a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ. This James is the brother of Jesus Christ. The elder of the church. But his address is different. He is humble enough to identify himself as a servant of his own brother. The very person whom he did not acknowledged when they were younger. It was filled with disbelief and skepticism. Mk:3:21 Jn:7:5 But after the resurrection, things started to change.  Acts:1:14 What made James believe? There was a personal encounter.  1 Cor:15:7 But is that all? More than that, James knew about a Jesus that none of us knew. The silent 30 odd years. He saw the perfect righteous sinless elder son, the brother Jesus. That convinced him that Jesus is the Messiah. That He is the Son of God.  An intimate relation with Jesus will instead of swelling us up with pride, will humble us. The more you know Him, the less you will think of the positions, the less you will brood over lost accolades, the more you humble yourself a...

Heb:13:16 And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. The sacrifices with which God is pleased are doing good to others and sharing with one another. Selfessness written all over it. No hoarding. When you give to others selflessly, God is pleased. When he prayed for others, Job's situation was changed. Do to others what you want them to do to you. Not with a motive of getting things to be done for you.  But a genuine interest and love to others. The greatest commandment according to Jesus, apart from loving God is, to love your neighbour as yourself. Image credit: https://naturefriendmagazine.com/hand-feeding-birds/

Heb:13:15 Through Jesus, therefore let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise, the fruit of lips that confess His name. A sweet aroma, a sacrifice pleasing to Him who hears. Confess Jesus' name. Acknowledge His authorship in our lives. A sacrifice of praise. Nothing much sweeter for Him, than His child giving glory to Him, despite the circumstances. Praise is the natural word that comes in the mouth of the believer in all situations. Out of his belief that his Father has got all things in control. It is pleasing for Him to hear. Because it involves trust. And trust is something which pleases God. Let praise be your anthem. In joyous circumstances, let it be an anthem of thankfulness. In difficult situations let it be an anthem of trust and hope. As much as it pleases the Lord, it disturbs the enemy. The devil flees with the shout of praise. Let it be a natural response. Image courtesy: https://unsplash.com/s/photos/studio-mic

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have. Heb:13:5 Love of money is the root of all evil. 1 Tim:6:10 Not money perse. But love for money is the root of all evil. You will never be satisfied. America's first billionaire John D. Rockfeller was asked, how much money was enough? He replied, "Just a little more."  This endless pit of discontentment and greed will never be quenched. Money is needed. But love of money is dangerous. It will never satisfy. You compromise on the basics and discredit the ideologies when you try to be filled. But it is like drinking salty water. The hunger just keeps increasing. The solution is to be content with what you have. The promise that follows in v:5b-6 gives you the key. Because God has said, Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.  So we say with confidence, The Lord is my helper. I will not be afraid. W hat can man do to me?  That the Lord is enough. That He will provide. That He ...

Without holiness no one will see the Lord. Heb:12:14 Therefore make every effort to be holy.  Holiness is an attribute that God cannot keep aside. In fact none of His attributes can He do away with. But holiness is of a different league. His love accomodates. His forgiveness draws us to Him. His glory inspissates. But His holiness, He cannot compromise. He is so holy and pure that He cannot accomodate even an iota of sin. He lives in inapproachable light. And man was created in this image of God. But man fell. And now he cannot come to God. Therefore he hid from God. But His love still accomodates. His love still longs for man, for his good. But He cannot let sin go unpunished. He wants to forgive. But He has to deal with sin, because He is holy. He cannot compromise His holiness and include sinful man. But He loves man that He wants to forgive him. He cannot shove sin under. Blood has to be shed. Man has to be punished. Therefore He Himself chose to bear it for man's s...

Let us run with perseverance the race marked for us. Heb:12:1 Because we have examples ahead of us. Because we saw what priorities these examples have set before them and how well they have run. Let us also run like them with perseverance. Jesus looked ahead to the joy that was set before Him and He endured the cross and scorned it's shame, so we too looking forward to the joy of joining with Him, let us endure our cross. Do not grow weary. Do not lose heart. (v:3). Persevere. Keep running in the right direction. Endure hardship and discipline (v:7). Because He is your Father and you His child. He disciplines you because He loves you. To purge you out of all evil that is in you. Do not lose heart. Do not be discouraged.  No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on however it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it (v:11). Image credit: https://www.transparentlabs.com/blogs/all/how-to-run-faster?srsltid=Afm...

The world was not worthy of them. Heb:11:38 The world and its blessings eluded them. Fools they look because they chased something they did not receive. The world was not worthy of them. Because of their faith, they deserved much more than what this world could offer them. V:40. God had planned something better for us, so that only together with us, would they be made perfect. Inorder to live with a heavenly or eternal perspective you need to have faith. That eternal perspective is what you are destined for. Without which you are incomplete. And without you heaven is incomplete. Living with a finite perspective of what this world could offer will limit you. What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard and what no human mind has conceived, that things God has prepared for those who love Him. 1 Cor:2:9

Heb:11:34 Whose weakness was turned to strength. Do not be anxious dear one. Do not worry. Are you inherently weak in some areas? In faith that weak point will turn to your strength, the Bible promises. There has been circumstances when the most difficult and discouraging times of your life, you will experience as the most blessed time when you look retrospectively because He was present in those times of trouble. You will learn something worthwhile. You will see the very thing which you were weak at, will turn out to be a blessing for you in the spiritual realm. You will realise that, when you are weak you are strong because you trust in a strong God. You trust in His guiding delivering hand rather than your own instincts. You grow in faith. You gain strength to trust in Him more. He will strengthen and He will guide. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. You will realise that the very things that you are weak at, turn out to be your strong stories of test...

Heb::11:29-31 Red sea crossed. Jericho walls fell. Rahab included. Your God is the God who makes possible the impossibilities. And you trust in this God and therefore He will make your impossibilities possible too. Because He is the same yesterday, today and forever. He will not change. The mountain might look huge. But your God is bigger still. For God nothing is impossible. The same Spirit who raised the Son from the dead, resides in you. Jer:32:27 I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me? Image credit: https://wallpapercave.com/impossible-is-nothing-wallpapers

Heb:11:24-28 Regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt. Looking ahead to his reward. Left Egypt not fearing the king's anger. Persevere because he saw Him who is invisible. Moses is considered as a stalwart. Not second to Abraham. The meekest man ever lived on earth as testified by God Himself. Because of faith he considered disgrace for the sake of God of greater value than the alluring treasures that the world could offer. And he persevered. No turning back. He was consistent in his convictions about life. That God was more important. The system that we are in, is totally against the Godly system that we are inculcated into. It will fight against us if we are for God. Because there is hostility between the two. In this world you will have much troubles, Jesus Himself ascertained. But He also assured, be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. The fact that there will be enimity between you and the world because you are ...

Heb::11:22-23 Joseph saw the future, that his children would go back from Egypt. Therefore arranged to take his bones with them. Moses' parents saw an extra ordinary child in Moses and therefore they protected him from the king's edict. How did they know this? How did they have these personal promises? As result of regular communication with Him who promises, they received these promises and because they were sure that these came from a true God, they acted upon it. What are the personal promises you have received from God. Our God loves to communicate. He loves to give a promise before He does something. That proves He is true. When was the last time you got one, shows how intimate is your relationship with the loving true one. Get promised  Act upon it. See His goodness in the land of living. Image credit: https://in.pinterest.com/pin/mothers-hand-on-the-bible--78813062203667778/

Heb:11:20-21 When things were still unseen, they blessed their children. Looking forward positively when things were blurry, when things were uncertain, when future looks bleak, Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau; Jacob blessed Joseph's son's. Isa:54:13. All your children will be taught by the Lord and great will be their peace. Psalm:127:3. Children are a heritage from the Lord. Psalm:128:3. Children will be like olive shoots around your table. It is the Almighty, Sovereign God who promised this and He will not lie.

Heb:11:19 Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead and figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death. Who said Christian life is unreasonable? Abraham reasoned based on the One who does things His way. It looks illogical to you because your understanding is limited. Nothing is impossible for God. He is a God who created everything from nothingness. The Sovereign ruler. Abraham believed in this God. And it was natural for him to believe in the normalcy of God. What God could do, he reasoned and therefore he did receive. Believe realistically and logically in the God who is all Powerful. That is reasonable. Look at God not with your finite lenses. Look at the world with His infinitely focussed lens and it will make sense. He is a God who makes impossible things possible. But that is normal for Him. Image credit: https://eccles.utah.edu/news/why-well-reasoned-theories-are-more-important-than-crunched-numbers/

Heb:11:13. All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised. How foolish? Believing in an illusory unreal belief which was never true. They did not receive the things promised. So whatever they believed was a falsehood that they chased uselessly. Is it? But it continues to read - people who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own - they are longing for a better country, a heavenly one. Their eyes were set not on things down here. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God. For He has prepared a city for them. Jesus said, I am going to prepare a place for you. The things which they believed, they actually got. This life is futile and insignificant. The world above is real. The world coming is eternal. Store up your treasures there. Image credit: https://m.economictimes.com/magazines/panache/scientists-discover-a-mysterious-third-state-beyond-life-and-death-in-new-study/amp_articleshow/...

Heb:11:8. By faith Abraham obeyed . And it was complete obedience. Despite the uncertainties around him, he still obeyed. That was out of faith in Him who called him. Faith brings forth absolute obedience. By faith you are able to keep aside that habit, because you know that hurts your love, your husband. By faith you are able to say no to things which allured you before. By faith you are able to say yes to things which God asks you to do, eventhough it looks foolish according to the world. Jesus says, if you love me, you will obey my commands. Faith and love prompts you to obey, no matter what.  Heb:11:10. For He waited . Abraham waited in the land of promise as in a foreign country as a pilgrim. He waited for a city whose maker is God. He had his eyes on heaven, not on his wealth in this world. Not on what this world can offer. He also waited for approximately 24 years for the promised child. Heavenward was his eyes always. Godward was his heart always.  Heb:11:1...

Heb 11:7 By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith. Noah's faith was linked to condemning the world that was around him. He was not interested in what was happening around him. It looked alluring for others. To make money, to have fun and to enjoy life there way. But Noah condemned all these.  His eyes were set on the life to come. His eyes were set on God. So when God called him to build an ark in preparation of rain, that which He has never even heard of, he simply obeyed fully and completely. Condemned the world and looked forward to something better. What do I  look forward to? Eagerly and earnestly waiting? Money? Secure future? Enjoyment? Aish karna? Or do I condemn all these in the sight of eternal surplousness in my Father's kingdom. Do I long for His kingdom come? If not - you shall not be one an heir of righteousness as promised for Noah. In faith Noah became an heir of righteousness as he conde...

'Come Enoch let's walk'. Enoch thought that would be just like any other day. Walking with God. But that day was different somehow. He didn't know why. Everything around him was joyous. The smile was even more radiant in God's face. He couldn't understand when the wind whispered in his ear, you're going home. But joy was definitely bubbling in his heart too. He didn't know why. Yards turned to miles. Sand became rocks. But the talking and fun wouldn't cease. Then at the top of some mountain they reached. He said, come lets go home with a radiant smile. Enoch turned to walk back alone. He thought Oh! I have to wait till tomorrow again to meet my Love yet again. But he could see the ground dropping low, and the air getting thinner. And when He realised he is in the arms of his husband, oh! What joy. God is taking him to his heavenly home for eternity. No more time constraints. Enoch's heart was now jumping with joy. Kissing frantically ...

By faith he was commenced as a righteous man Heb:11:4 Abel learned to offer the right sacrifice according to the standards of God. Bloodshed was needed for forgiveness of sin, according to God. He knew just that, because he wanted genuine forgiveness and reinstation. He believed that by offering a pleasing sacrifice, he could gain God's favour and forgiveness and reinstation. And that was counted to him as righteousness. Where as Cain brought some things which he thought was good. Probably out of compulsion, or out of peer pressure. If he was genuine, he would have sought and found out what would please God. There was superficiality instead of genuinety in it. Because Abel believed and he was seeking God from his heart, out of his desperation to reinstate and bring back his relation with God, it was counted as Abel's righteousness. The prayers of a righteous man availeth much. Only if you seek him from the depths of your heart will you be able to find Him. Image cre...

Heb:11:3 By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible. I believe in the creation of the world by a Supreme, intellectual being rather than a blast that occured randomly. Blast of what? Vacuum producing Carbon, Hydrogen and Nitrogen in itself is imperceivable and ludicrous. Then what about these atoms join to form what we call as life. There has to be a higher being who fashioned the world that we see ( and that we do not see), by His own wisdom and by His own hands. There has to be a beginning of time and there has to be a nothingness from which all that we see was created. It cannot just come into existence. If it were so, then why is nothing coming into existence even now? Why are we not able to recreate life? Mixing Carbon, Hydrogen, Nitrogen and Oxygen? Why are new brings not being formed out of nothingness now? Why do I believe this? Along with reasoning and logicality, I believe so ...

Heb:11:1 Now faith is a substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. The definition of faith. Faith is hoping. Not of an idea which is beyond logic. It is evidence based. Even when you have not seen it. Faith is not based on a written code which you decipher out or construe for your comfort. But faith is based on the character that is behind the promise. The person who made the promise. Him whom I call my Father. My Appa. That is the base of my faith. On this Appa, I have put my faith in my redemption, my salvation, for my eternal life. On Him I will place my faith for my everyday walk. He is good and He will do all things for my good. That is enough for me to trust in Him. So when something overwhelming comes my way, I will still choose to trust Him. I will still choose to cling close to Him. For He holds me. Doubt or fear or worry is an antonym to faith. Faith hopes. Faith ensures. Faith relieves. Faith brings joy. Faith is the sum and substance of my l...

Therefore brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus. Heb:10:19 Because the final sacrifice has been done and the ransom has been paid full- Therefore we have the boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus. Because the veil has been torn, we have full access to Him, who was denied to us first, because of our sins. Because a new and living way has been granted to us, we have full access to God, that which He is already willing to reveal. Therefore let us draw near with a true heart. Grateful for the grace offered. Thankful for the mercy for not giving what we truly deserved. Let our hearts be genuinely open to Him. Let us live with that fear of God. That God orientedness. Having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Renouncing that which He abhors. Staying pure. Having justified. Being sanctified. Therefore let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works. Not to be selfish an...

Heb:10:14 For by one sacrifice, He has made perfect forever, those who are being made holy. One sacrifice- instead of repeated ritualistic sacrifices, one has been made enough. The death of Jesus Christ on the cross. He has - God Himself did this for undeserved people like me. Not by lineage. Nor by inheritance. Neither by the deeds I did. I deserved only hell and punishment. While we were still enemies, Christ made friends with us. While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. We did not choose Him, He chose is. Made perfect forever, those who are being made holy - Called to be made holy - a process. Made perfect in Jesus - a crisis. Sanctification - a process. Justified - a crisis. Forever - for eternity. There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. It is finished.

Heb:10:4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins. What has been done ritualistically and symbolically has been put away with by the righteous deeds of Jesus, the Son of God. God Himself intervening into mankind to redeem him. For the remission of sins, no more ritualism or symbolism is required now. Once and for all the righteous blood of God who became man, has been shed. Now man's debt is clear. My debt has been cleared. There is no need for repeated meaningless rituals to please God. He has already been please God. He has already been pleased with you, dear one. He did this perfect deed on the cross, because He chose to. What an amazing Jesus! What an amazing Father! Image credit: https://stock.adobe.com/search?k=crucifixion+blood

And without the shedding of blood there is no remission. Heb:9:22 Bloodshed is needed for forgiveness, shows that sin is serious. For He is a holy God. And sinful and wretched people like us, fallen and marred can have access to holiness, only by the shedding of innocent blood. In the garden of Eden, God showed the example. The Hebrews were asked to do it. And the culmination of the shadow of the things happening in the Old Testament, happened on the cross, once and for all. That is why He said, it is finished. So let us approach the throne of grace with boldness. Image credit: https://www.christianity.com/wiki/bible/why-hebrews-922-say-without-the-shedding-of-blood-there-is-no-forgiveness.html

Heb:9:12 Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy place once and for all, having obtained eternal redemption.  The second part behind the veil, The Holy of Holies - the high priest entered once a year after purifying Himself and offering sacrifice for all. But now... The veil has been torn.  In the New Covenant, Jesus Christ, the great High Priest entered the Holy of Holies with His own blameless blemishless blood, once and for all.  It is finished. No more barrier.  No more inaccessibility because of sin. Everything has been dealt with, so wonderfully and perfectly that we can have access to the Holy God, through the blood of the Son. Hallelujah!

For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness and their sons and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.  Heb:8:12 The New covenant has been established. The old covenant is obsolete now. Mercy has been given to undeserved rebellious people like the bard. The old covenant, the law demanded justice. The New covenant also demands, but He Himself met with justice out of love. God hasn't changed a bit. But He has bore it upon Himself, covered justice with love. Holiness of God mingled with love on the cross. What amazing climax. Filled with hope for the hopeless person like me.

Heb:8:1 The Son who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven. The Son is eligible. The Son is worthy. He is equal in character and essence and existence as the Father. In Him and through Him and by Him all things were created and all things sustained. Ruler. Supreme authority. The Son. The Lamb who was slain for the salvation of man, humbled Himself to the death on a cross to redeem mankind. He alone is worthy to sit on the right hand side of throne. And seated us with Him in heavenly realms in Christ Jesus. Eph:2:6 We are not eligible. We are not worthy. But still He did this for us. Image credit: https://yahwehishisname.blogspot.com/2012/09/understanding-our-inheritance-in-christ.html?m=1

He is able to save completely those who come to God, through Him because He always lives to intercede for them.  Heb:7:25 A priest who lives forever. Sinless. Blameless. Who need not offer sacrifice repeatedly again and again. Once and for all and He lives forever. And because He lives forever, He is able to save completely those who come to God through Him.  A priest of the order of Melchizedek. To whom Abraham offered his tithe. Which means He is greater than Abraham, before the law and no lineage documented. Melchizedek is thus proven to be greater than Aaron and the Levitical priesthood.  Ps:110:4 You are a priest of the order of Melchizedek. Yes. The Son. The High Priest. Who lives forever from a different system as the law... V:8. Son who has been made perfect forever.

We do not want you to become lazy but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised. Heb:6:12 Being lazy in faith is a dangerous thing - not actively working out the salvation you have freely received by grace. Not actively doing things because you are saved. Continuing on things which once entertained you. May be harmless things. But it quenches the Spirit in you. Not feeding on the right things, so then the new man is stunted; and feeding on the world's things so then the old man is still allowed to grow.. Forgetting the fact that the old man is dead. Proactively do things out of your faith. So that you will inherit what has been promised. Are you lazy in applying your faith in testing times? Are you lazy in spending time with the Word of God? Are you lazy in praying and fasting? Then it would be hard to inherit what has been promised.

We do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses. Heb:4:15 A high priest who sympathizes with us. A meaningful sympathy by someone who is able to help you in your weaknesses. Who knows what exactly you go through in your time of trouble. Because He has been tempted in every way as you have been, yet without sin. He has overcome every single one of them and out of His love and sympathy and empathy to you; He is willing to be with you and help you. Therefore we can approach the throne of grace with confidence. Every time you approach this throne of grace, filled with empathising love to you, you can be confident not to be shewed away, you can be confident not to blamed for your repeated failures and naivety. You can be confident of receiving mercy and grace which has been lavished upon you. Image courtesy: https://christianliferesources.com/family-topics/marriage/sympathy-feeling-with-others-not-for-them

Heb:4:9 There remains then, a Sabbath - rest for the people of God. Rest for the people of God. Rest due to peace with God. Rest due to peace of God. Rest due to belief in God. Rest due to belief upon God. Rest because of obedience to God. Heb:3:19.  They were not able to enter because of their unbelief. The restful life promised to us is achieved through faith alone. Unbelief will take away that rest. The restful life which is part of the abundant life He promised. The restful life which comes out of trust upon this God. Restlessness is because of disobedience in unbelief. Just like all the others apart from Joshua and Caleb could not enter the rest because of unbelief. Beware. Be aware. Image credit: https://sleep.me/post/benefits-of-rest-and-relaxation?srsltid=AfmBOoqJzHFVT_jNlFvpO9lqT1k5Bpowh6myRdBv_AZq15VGsC1W-wkK

Heb:3:19 So we see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief. A warning against unbelief. All who were rescued from Egypt, all who were able to see the delivering hand of the Almighty God, was not able to enter God's rest because of their unbelief. Unbelief results in unrest. A sinful unbelieving heart turns you away from the loving God (v:10). Sin's deceitfulness is that it will harden your heart in unbelief.  We have to hold firmly to the end. Hardening of heart is equivalent to rebellion. And therefore hardening of heart, unbelief and rebellion are all synonyms that lead to unrest.  Just as they perished in wilderness with lack of rest because of unbelief, you too will end up in unrest because of unbelief. Beware. Be aware. Image credit: https://www.vecteezy.com/free-photos/walking-on-water

Heb:3:3 Jesus has been found worthy of greater honour than Moses. Jesus is superior to Moses, because He was faithful to the One who appointed Him. The builder has greater honour than the house itself.  God is the builder. Therefore isn't God more important than Moses. And Jesus is the Son of God. We are God's house. Moses is a faithful servant who build God's house. But Jesus is the Son of God.  This is of much religious significance to the Hebrew community, that He is speaking to, for whom Moses is the pioneer. Now for us Christians, tradition, genealogy, name , fame will carry no relevance. Only Jesus who is greater than everything.

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...