The halfbaked Bard

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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