The halfbaked Bard

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...

Christ in you; the hope of glory. Col:1:27 The hope of glory that we have, we will have The hope of glory of God that is about to be revealed The hope of no tears; no pain; no sickening sea The hope of the returning of the redeemer; my lover Is Christ Jesus in us. Jesus said - If you have the Son, you have life If you do not have the Son, you do not have the life Christ in you, is the hope of all glory that awaits If you have Christ in you; He is coming back to take you home For He has gone to make a home for you In His Father's house And as He promised He is coming back Just the way He has been taken up So He will come; to take His bride home The more the Christ in you; the more the hope you have The more you trust Him, the more the hope Mythical stories vs a reality The distinction is this - Christ in you or not. There is no in between stance. Whether you are for Him, or against Him. Image courtesy: https://www.vecteezy.com/free-photos/hope

Free from accusation. Phil:1:22 As the devil stands to accuse me, He has his menacing smile on his lips, His heart sniggers to have me his claim, He claims he has already won. I stand with head bowed down And dejected, I stay there helpless I know his accusations are all true, None of them are fabricated. I am guilty. And as he opens his mouth in victory Another voice like the rushing waters proclaims, It is finished.  And the enemy's mouth was shut permanently. I saw my loving husband; still wounded  Wounds instilled by my own claws He says with an everloving smile Comey love, it is all over. Now there is no condemnation I am free from all accusation Now a year drop fell from my eye Now I know I have already won. Image courtesy: https://stock.adobe.com/search?k=broken+chain

Col:1:21-22 Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behaviour. But now He has reconciled you. Both because of the sin in us and because of our sinful nature, we had been alienated from the Holy God. By no means He could accommodate us, because He is not a compromising God, that He is not someone who could compromise sin. He couldn't brush it off, just like that. When He took the punishment upon Himself, so that an enemy like me could be reconciled with Him, it was love written all over it. Love to a wretch rebel like me. He did not want to lose me. Nor could He pass my sin off. And therefore the cross is quintessential. This is the base of the bard's faith. Yes He is my Father, my Friend, my Brother, my everpresent help in trouble. But primarily He is my Redeemer. He is my Saviour. He is the Holy God who loved me and saved me. From His own punishment He saved me by taking it upon Himself. What love is this? I cannot fatho...

Col:1:13-14 For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves; in whom we have the redemption, the forgiveness of sins. We couldn't rescue ourselves. We were bound to be in darkness. Both in this world and for eternity. From there Christ has rescued us into the kingdom of the Son. Redeemed. Forgiven. Entirely His doing. He willed and He acted. v:12.  He has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints, in the kingdom of light There were people greater than us, smarter than us, saintlier than us. Not that they have not been chosen. But I have been chosen. Undeserving as I am. And why did He do this? Love is the sole reason. Not to establish a kingdom. Not to recruit faithful and efficient people. Simply because of His love to me. Simply because He had compassion upon my plight and did not want to lose me for eternity.  Thank you Jesus. Image credit: https://www.istockphoto.com/photo/concept-of-salvatio...

Live a life worthy of the Lord. Col:1:10 How to live this life worthy of the Lord? A life pleasing Him in everyway. - bearing fruit in every good work. - growing in the knowledge of God. - being strengthened in all power. - great endurance and patience.  - joyfully giving thanks to the Father. All of these things which are self explanatory, involve our efforts as well as God's grace. God's grace has been freely given but it is upto us to practicalise it, desire for it. Let this prayer, Paul had for the Colossian church be the prayer for yourselves and the ones you love. Image courtesy: https://techbullion.com/a-mans-guide-to-embracing-life-and-living-to-the-fullest/

I have learnt how to be content with whatever I have Phil:4:11 The rat race is dirty The rut looks disgusting. To win at any cost. To grab more than what you require. To need more, to want more, to desire. Your heart is a bottomless pit. The bag that fits in anything. The belly that accomodates everything. And therefore your heart is looking messy. It is filled with all sorts of junk. A dirty mixture of the world and the word. Disgusting and abhoring it looks. To be content with what I have To be satisfied with what God has given To be grateful for what is in my plate. Clears the whole chaos. To accept only what is needed To say no to things which you don't need. No to hoarding. No to accumulating. Especially things which are of no use. Contentment is satisfaction. Contentment is thankfulness It is the antonym of greed. The antithesis of chaos and confusion. Contentment brings a smile Contentment brings joy. It brings a sigh of gratification. And then there is peace. To...

Phil:4:6 Don't worry about anything; instead pray about everything. Are you worried; are you disappointed; are you concerned; are you confused; The key is praying. In praying there is letting go of the reins. Praying develops trust. Pray about absolutely everything. Then time wouldn't suffice for you to pray - in contrast to, there is no time to pray. V:6b. Tell God what you need and thank Him for all He has done. Being thankful for what He has done in the past is part of your prayer. Praying thus develops gratefulness. V:7. Then you will experience God's peace which exceeds anything we can understand. The key to peace that passeth all understanding is to be thankful for what He has done. To remember what He has done helps you to be at peace in tumultuous situations, because you remember that the God who has led you in the past, will lead you now as well. This is the key to living in Christ Jesus (v:7b). There is no point in worrying or trying to do things your...

And therefore my dear brothers and sisters, stay true to the Lord. Phil:4:1 Each man should live His life, true to someone, true to an ideology or a person. True to oneself. Dwindling may lead to choas. Where as consistency in following something or someone, there is peace. We are called to follow Jesus. Stay true to Him. That is the key to peace that passeth all understanding. That's the key to abounding joy. Do not dwell in the world Dwell in Him. What do you think often? What do you dwell on, more often? What rules your mind often? Look at your scroll list. Look at your browsing history. Look at what you think and talk. Look at how you spend your free time. And I will tell you who you are. Eph:4:8. And now dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true and honourable and right and pure and lovely and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Image credit: https://wearethecure.org/theres-nothing-like-a-good-d...

Phil:3:20 And we are eagerly waiting for Him to return as our Saviour. Hope is something which pulls you through Hope gives you energy to cling on Hope gives you the motive to press on When hope is based on a person Who promised and has fulfilled every single one . I will be with you till the end of days. I will not leave you nor forsake you You will do greater things than these To name a few personal ones. Look at nations being formed. Look at nations destroyed. Look at Jesus Himself when He first came. Now all the more reasons to hope for the mother of them all. I am coming back to take you home. Oh! In every tragic; it brings a smile In being unloved; it brings the feeling of being loved In devastation and desperation; it brings hope. Amidst uncertainties, it is certain. My Lover is coming back for me. My Father is coming back for His son. My Friend is coming back for me. My very own Jesus is coming back for me. To take me home. Image credit: https://harrisonhouse.com/bl...

Phil:3:13-14 Forgetting what is behind and straining towards what is ahead. I press on towards the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. What is past is past. You can't change it. But you can course correct. Brooding over your past mistakes; regretting over your past sins will never take you anywhere. When the Holy Spirit convinces you, correct your track and look forward and run in the right direction. Press on towards the goal. The goal is not to win the prize. But to finish the race well. Your job is to set your eyes on the finishing line and finish the race. It is God's job to give the prize. Why do athletes still run, even after they know somebody else has already won the prize. The goal is to finish the race, even if they have pulled a muscle or tore a ligament, their country has sent them to finish the race. They cannot say, if Bolt is there, there is no point in me contesting, and so I quit. Do not look at others as yo...

Phil:3:8 Yes everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Jesus Christ my Lord. For His sake I have discarded everything else counting it all garbage, so that I could gain Christ. How do you value knowing the unending Christ? When you were saved, your eyes were opened. Praise the Lord for the revelation. That was life changing and precious. But after that? How have you grown in the knowledge of Him? What excites you most in this life? Everything else is garbage in comparison to knowing God? Is it really? And how do you know God unless you spend time with Him? What is your sole desire? V:10. I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised Him from the dead. What is your ambition? What is your utmost desire? Then what do you do about it? Yes it is grace. Even to desire Him.  Lord my efforts would lead me nowhere, I admit. Show mercy upon me. That I would desire for you. That I may know you in a deeper way Image courtesy: ...

Finally my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. Phil:3:1. As a final statement. A final reminder. Rejoice. Rejoice is a word that resonates in this epistle again and again. Circumstances should not define you. Fears shouldn't tell you how you are. Uncertainties shouldn't proclaim your destiny. But joy. The joy of the Lord should be your strength. The abounding joy that the Lord promises. The peace that passeth all understanding. The joy that we belong to our Father. The joy that I am His very own possession and He holds me close to His bosom. That I am safe in the arms of Jesus. Nothing will separate me from the love of Christ. I am His. If this rules my heart always, I will greet every sickness, every disappointment with a smile. I will face uncertainties boldly for I know my Father is in control of my life. And I am in the center of His palm. Yes He will not leave me. Nor will He forsake me. Image credit: https://www.magnific.com/premium-ai-image/jesus-little-girl-are-s...

Phil:2:15-16 You shine like the stars in the universe as you hold the word of life . In this crooked and depraved generation  Stand blameless and pure  As children of God without fault Stand out shining The key is to hold out the word of life Because that is the difference Because that brings the difference The Word of God Jesus Christ in you In comparison to the prince of the earth Ruling and controlling This crooked generation  Retorting back will not work Not will behaving the same way sort out. Only the Word of life. Image credit : https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/how-to-find-the-ten-brightest-stars-in-the-night-sky-180985148/

For it is God who works in you, to will and to act in order to fulfil His good purpose. Phil:2:13 God's idea is to fulfil His purpose in you, which is His good purpose. In order to fulfil that, He will work in you. To will and to act. He will create in you a desire and equip you to act accordingly. To create in you a desire to know Him and equip you to read the word and understand it - He will act. To live in faith, despite evidence to the contrary - He will give grace. God will do it. We just have to trust Him. Image courtesy: https://www.monergism.com/reformation-theology/blog/it-god-who-works-you-both-will-and-work

Phil:2:6-11 Christ was exalted when He humbled. He humbled Himself In obedience even until death Therefore the Father exalted Him And His name above all else. He made Himself nothing. Therefore the Father exalted Him. That at the name of Jesus Every knee should bow In heaven, in earth and under the earth And every tongue confess That Jesus Christ is Lord To the glory of God the Father. In true humility, there would be exaltation God would cause it, because He resists the proud. But if you dream to be exalted, while you humble, Then that is not the true humility intended. That is only a shortcut you desire, to exaltation. In true humility, there is servanthood. There is selflessness. There is only absolute giving Not what would I gain. When Jesus humbled Himself . He was only mindful of me. He was only thinking of me. He was only thinking of redeeming me. Back to His bosom. The lost me. He was only willing. To be separated from the Father Out of His love for me. He was only...

Phil:2:3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Man's innate nature is self centredness. To project oneself. To do things to gratify his own nature. To highlight himself. To focus the limelight on self. Whatever good deeds or sinful act you do, it focuses on your own self. But Paul admonishes to do nothing out of selfish ambition. Infact he encourages to do things considering others better than yourself. Like Jesus. Paul sites the example of our Saviour - to have the attitude of Christ, who being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped. He considered us more important than His privileges and positions. He considered to share His position with us. While we were still His enemies. Jonathan loved David as himself. Despite knowing the truth that David is going to take the throne that was supposedly his. To serve; to help; to do things for my own brother even if I have...

Phil:1:27 Whatever happens conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Live a life that is worthy of the precious gospel you have received. Live your life with love, with peace, with joy, with kindness, with humility - as you have received a treasure. Reflecting the One who called you. Why are you downcast O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God For I will yet praise Him My Saviour and my God. Ps:42:11 Worrying and fretting is not living a life worthy of the gospel. Where is the smile? Where is the excitement that you are expected to have because of the gospel.  He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Phil:1:6. He has got it in control. He has got the whole world in His hands. So when disturbing thoughts come (for they will come for sure), I will focus on His beautiful face, my Saviour who loved me and think of the ways He had led me this far. How from the fiery hell He has save...

Now as always. Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or death. Phil:1:20 As long as Christ lives in me; as long as I proclaim to be a child of God - it is Christ who will be exalted in me. Do not try to claim the praises to yourself. Weak as I am, I am able to do the things that I do through Christ who strengthens me. Secondly through my life, do I exalt Christ or do I defame Him? With selfish ambitions, through marred motives. This is a privilege as well as a warning. A responsibility as well as an admonition. An honour as well as a caution. It is a prayer as well. Because of the reality that I can do nothing out of my own but only through Christ who lives in me. And I would reflect Christ alone. I am unable to do with right motives and this helpless realisation would bring me to repentance humbling myself. That I will be equipped to give Him the glory. Why do I seek glory when I deserved nothing? When I did absolutely nothing? Image credit: https://eubieblog....

Phil:1:18 Yes and I will continue to rejoice Paul is writing this letter, while he is in chains. He is sure of his deliverance. Even if he is not, whether by life or death, he says, let Christ be exalted in him. Joy has become a subjective feeling based on circumcision. If everything is well, I will rejoice. In the middle of crisis, I pray Lord, to give me your joy. Whether I will overcome or not I will rejoice. That through it all Christ will be exalted. The truth is Christ will enable to overcome, for He is good. He is with me in this. As I go through it, I pray Lord that the tangible presence of my Lord I would surely feel. Rejoice for He is nigh. Rejoice in the middle of trouble, for He is with you. Continue to rejoice, no matter how big the problem you are going through is. Let your joy reflect the One who is in you. Image credit: https://www.dreamstime.com/happy-children-running-joyful-summer-sunlight-playful-kids-painting-bright-colors-outdoor-scene-art-cheerful-run-...

Paul prays for the Philippians - that your love may abound more and more in the knowledge and depth of insight. Phil:1:9 That love may increase - love to the Lord. Based on your knowledge and insight which will become deeper as you spend time with Him. It's a cycle. Love Him more to know Him more. Know Him more to love Him more. The key is realising the depth of His love and loving Him and therefore spending more time with Him and thereby loving Him. But not by your effort or interest or discipline. Paul prays that this would happen to the Philippians. The element of divine grace. Lord have mercy on me and open my eyes and enable me to see you as you would want me to see you. As you desire to reveal yourself to me. Help me to understand the depth of your love that my love will only abound by the increasing knowledge of you. Image credit: https://billmuehlenberg.com/2024/12/14/paul-and-prayer/?amp=1

Phil:1:6 For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you, will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. Predestining you was His initiative. Calling you and choosing you, His act. And why was it that He called you. Not to gain accolades for Him through you. Not to gain many souls through you. Not that He saw a fighter in you; a good soldier who would stand for His cause. He called you because He loves you. And why did He call? For what purpose? It is to transform you into His Son's likeness. He has started this. And He will complete it. If this is the primary purpose for which you have been called; then He will not deter from completing it. All the other purposes might fade. But this won't. Be confident of this. Image credit: https://dianegottsman.com/2022/01/17/handling-the-first-day-at-a-new-job-jitters/

Ephesians 6:24   Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.  Is your love undying? Your love to One who loved until death. Whose love conquered the death for you. Is your love living. Ever growing? Ever increasing? Have you lost your first love? In emotions  In actions  In decisions If it's not living love.its dying. If it's not increasing love.its dead. Do you love me more than these? You know Lord.how much I love you. Image credit: https://www.godisreal.today/gods-love-for-us/

Eph:6:18 Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere. And pray for me too. This is like summing up of all that Paul had to tell them. Guys. Just pray. In the Spirit.  Rom:8:26. And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example we don't know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying. For the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God's own will. To pray in the Spirit is to agree and acknowledge what the Holy Spirit would pray for you. We do not know what we should pray for ourselves. But the Spirit in us pleads for us and the Father knows what the Spirit is saying. It is like, you pray through the filter of the Holy Spirit. In the Holy Spirit, you pray. At all times and in every occasion. It is the helplessness that will lead you ...

And the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God. Eph:6:17 And - Last but not the least. Probably the most important one. The only offensive weapon. To counter and attack the enemy. The Word of God. Use the Word of God. For that you need to know the Word. To know. Who God is.  Who Jesus is. What Jesus has done. Who you are. What is your position in Jesus. What is grace. What merit do I have to boast. What do I look forward to. Infact it is the Holy Spirit, the Word of God, God Himself who isbyour offensive weapon. You need not fight. He will fight. Lord, I pray that, let whatever knowledge I have about you  whatever is true, let it be translated from my head to my entire life. Entire being. So that I might fight the good fight. I pray that I would take every effort to know your word to take it up and fight. I pray that I would let you do the fight. That I would trust that you will do it. Image courtesy: https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/bible-study/what-is-t...

Take the helmet of salvation. Eph:6:17 Helmet covers your head. The center of all your thought processes, your emotions. Always be thinking of your salvation. Always remember from where you have been plucked out. Always humble yourselves, not thinking high of yourself. Always be grateful. Never forget Image credit: https://www.vecteezy.com/png/48775672-ornate-medieval-knight-s-helmet-with-floral-design

And with your feet fitted with the readiness of the gospel of peace. Eph:6:14 Love the gospel of peace. Love people. Be ready always to share God's love and how He made peace with mankind. Be willing to take extra efforts to share Him. Take radical steps. Like Jim Eliot.  Be a Lottie D. Moon of this generation. Like Graham Staines. Be a Dr. Tharian. Be a Dr. KV. Be a Philip John Kottarathil. It might look foolish for the world. But you will be still wise in God's eyes. Be ready. Image courtesy: https://www.ibelieve.com/christian-living/what-are-the-feet-fitted-with-readiness-from-the-gospel-of-peace.html

With the breastplate of righteousness in place. Eph:6:14 Breastplate covers and protects the heart. Heart is the core of a being. Heart exposed is the end. Cover your core with the righteousness imputed from the Son. A sinner redeemed by Grace you are. Sin was your root. But you are indeed a new creation. Not inclined to the rotten ways anymore. But inclined to Christ's righteous ways. No condemnation for you are in Christ Jesus. The core forms the man. So let righteousness define you.  Not yours. For your righteousness is like filthy rags. Let Christ's righteousness be in place. Be in the right place of your life. Let it be the center of your life. Image credit: https://www.wyrmwick.com/paladin-armour-set

Eph:6:14 Belt of truth, buckled around your waist. That holds all your armour. The core of it all is the truth of the gospel. Believe in it always. Always be aware of from where you have been called; humbling yourselves. The righteousness of God. That has been imputed upon us. Not by our merit. But by the grace of God. Always binded by the truth. No matter what happens, to stick to the truth. Because He is true. Image credit: https://www.christianity.com/wiki/christian-terms/what-is-the-belt-of-truth-in-the-armor-of-god.html

Finally be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Eph:6:10 Be strong. Do not fear. Do not be discouraged. Do not lose heart. Be strong against the schemes of the devil. You may seem weak. But the One who is in you is more powerful than the one who is in the world. Put on the full armour and be strong. Isn't it beautiful to think - God with all His might and power could have just annihilated the devil. But what He chooses to do is to enable His power in weaklings like me, to defeat Him. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.  Image courtesy: https://www.vecteezy.com/free-photos/strong-hand

The Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does. Eph:6:8 A reward is waiting. For every good that you do. Big or small - that will not disappoint you. Because it is given not based on your deeds. But based on the goodness of the Giver. And He is good. This is a conclusion of a series of admonitions from St. Paul. - To wives - submit. - To husbands - love. - To children - obey. - To fathers - do not exasperate. - To slaves - obey. serve. Why will God reward if you do these routine mundane things?  It is because, it is the acronym that we do in this fallen world. Though we are tuned to do this, we are inclined to do the opposite, because we are fallen. So resist. Fight the good fight, finish the race, keep the faith, and there is in store for you the crown of righteousness which the Lord, the righteous judge will award you on that day. Amen. Image credit : https://davidjeremiah.blog/what-kind-of-rewards-will-believers-receive-in-heaven/

Eph:6:7 Serve wholeheartedly as if you were serving the Lord. There is no slave - master relation in the present world. But this is all the more relevant for an employer - employee relation. Or a subordinate - boss relation. A resident - HOD or a resident - management relation. Work with sincerity of heart as you would obey Christ. Wholeheartedly as if you were serving Christ. Full effort. For the betterment of the company. Be a pro- company man always. Desiring good for the company / senior / boss. Work as a unit. Not seeking personal benefits. Your sincerity at work is a face of your testimony. Your genuinity is your identity as a child of God. Bosses - treat your subordinates in a way knowing that your master and their master in heaven is the same. They are in no way inferior to you. You are all one in Christ. Brothers and sisters in Christ. Let us not make it difficult at work. Let us be sincere and wholehearted.  Image courtesy: https://in.pinterest.com/pin/bharat-...

Eph:5:22 - 6:4 Wives submit to your husbands as the church submitted to Christ. Husband's love your wives as Christ loved the church.  Children obey your parents in the Lord  Father's, do not exasperate your children. Unless God is in the centre of your family. There is no hope. You can do all these things without being Christ centred. You can be good parents, good husbands, good wives and good children. But to reach the fullness of the purpose of your life, Christ has to be in the center of all relationships. Pray. Obey the word precisely. Teach and discuss God's word. Family prayer. Family Bible studies. Without these you can definitely be a good family. But will not be the epitome that God has planned. Image courtesy; https://www.shutterstock.com/video/search/family-five-silhouette

Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord. Eph:5:19 Not everyone is a musician. Oh! I can't sing well. I am not musically oriented as others. My voice is croaky and I can't hit those notes. I don't know how to sing. These are comments we often hear. But God is not looking for a performance or a concert. It is in fact a command to be obeyed - sing and make music in your heart to the Lord - not to singers and musicians alone. But to all. Songs are prayers. Hymns are words of praise. Not that the tune is unimportant. But the words communicate more. V:19 starts with, speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs .   Col:3:19. 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. It is a time of pondering the word of Christ. It is an expression of gratitude to God.  It is an act of worship. So even if you are not incli...

Be imitators of God. Eph:5:1 St. Paul lists a few things in the end of chapter 4 and beginning of chapter 5. But summarises everything  in these 4 words. Be imitators of God. Do as God would do. A revival started when a group of people asked. "What would Jesus do?"  Your life would change too, if you would ask the same. That is the purpose for which you have been created; to be transformed into the likeness of Christ. Rom:8:11 And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, He who raised Christ from the dead, will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit, who lives in you. He will enable, He will equip. For that is His desire. Rom:12:2 Take of any unwholesome talk, any immorality, any coarse talking, greed. Live as children of light and find out what please the Lord. This resurrection day,  let us renew our minds and desire for what God desires. Image credit: https://montessori150.org/taxonomy/term/177

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