The halfbaked Bard

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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