The halfbaked Bard

1Pet:4:19 So then those who suffer because it is God's will for them, should by their good actions trust themselves completely to their Creator, who always keeps His promise. Suffering is always a difficult pill to swallow. Whether it is by your own bad deeds or if you do not deserve it. But for a Christian, suffering comes along - for no reason or as a consequence of sins. There is a four fold reason for suffering in the life of a child of God. 1. We are in the enemy's territory. And the enemy who will fight tooth and nail against our head Jesus Christ, will fight against us as well, trying to render us powerless. But be of good cheer. He who overcame all these is with you till the end of days. 2. Suffering is to be considered as a consequence of man's sinfulness, rather than a particular sin. Our fallenness and our wretchedness. Yes, now there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. But in this world you will have much troubles, the same Jesus pr...

The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self controlled, so that you can pray. 1 Pet:4:7 What should our response be when we realise that the end is near? We should pray. We should pray without ceasing. We should pray without getting bored.  You are called to be a house of prayer. Do not make it a den of thieves. Be clear minded and self controlled so that you can pray. You cannot harbour sin in your heart and then come to a holy God to pray. First confess your sins. Get rid of everything that takes you farther from God. Prayer should not be a monologue. Let it be a conversation with your Father in heaven. Confess. Listen in prayer. Intercede. Worship. Submit your petitions. Praise. Thank. Keep quiet. Let it be your habit. Not a routine. Image credit: https://in.pinterest.com/pin/585256914112399930/

For Christ died for sins, once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. 1 Pet:3:18 How is one man dying, beneficial for all? Because He is rich in life and righteousness. Unendingly righteous that all unrighteous would be pardoned. He who knew no sin, became sin for us. The Son of God became the wrath of God, so that the wrath of God would be made sons of God. This exchange, this imputation is too good to be true. It is valid for you only if you receive. It has already been done for you, but if you wouldn't receive it is not relevant for you. Dear one, if you are in that borderline, now is the day. Put your trust in Jesus and be saved. Image credit: https://winningwalk.org/read/articles/at-the-foot-of-the-cross

Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called, so that you may inherit a blessing. 1 Pet:3:9 This is the highlight of true Christianity. Those who have known Christ in person. They beat them, they torture them, ridicule them, put them in prison, for doing good, for starting schools and colleges and hospitals, for bringing them to peace with their Creator God, leading to joy. They persecute them for no valid reason. Yet, you do not see retaliation. You do not see revolt. You do not see any bloodshed or pay back. There is absolute silence while facing persecution. Why? Why do they not react? Why do they keep quiet? Why they do not even defend themselves? Because they have a big Brother who showed them how to do. When persecuted and tortured for no good reason of His, He exuberated that love and peace and joy from His Father, from a world that they look forward unto. They know they are loved. They know these are small in ...

Unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit. 1 Pet:3:4 Though this is told to the wives; it is a very good admonition for all of us. To have a gentle and quiet spirit, is an incomparable unfading inner beauty. The real beauty is not your outwardly appearance. Real beauty is your inner spirit - to be gentle and quiet. Not to be quarrelsome. Not to be picking fights. But to be a peacmaker. especially in your family. V:1. Wives, in the same way, be submissive to your husbands. In which same way? The example is of Jesus. 2:23. When they hurled their insults at Him, He did not retaliate, when He suffered He made no threats.  In this same way, wives be submissive to your husbands, no matter how well or bad they treat you. V:7. Husbands in the same way, be considerate, as you live with your wives.  In which same way? The example is again of Jesus. 3:7. Treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life. Like Jesus did to us. ...

Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men. 1 Pet:2:13 Slaves submit yourselves to your masters with all respect not only to those who are good and considerate but also to those who are harsh. 1 Pet:2:18 Submitting to your good and considerate bosses is easy. It is a natural response. It doesn't require an advise or an admonition. However if he/she is a hard taskmaster, you are still asked to submit. Naturally you would submit, but with a grieving, complaining heart, dissatisfied. Yet here the apprisal is to do this submission for the Lord's sake. Thankfully, genuinely. With contentment.  Inorder to be contented, you should enlist the things that you are thankful for. Make a list to praise God for the very things that you are frustrated about. And you will see the Lord's hand written all over it. These sufferings are momentary. He will do all things for good. He will carry it on to completion. He is Sovereign. But our attit...

1Pet:2:2 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk. Crave is a huge word. It is more than desiring. Even higher than seeking. It is a strong and intense desire, that you can't put away with. Always earnestly desiring and seeking. And you are restless when you do not get it. Crave intimacy with God. Crave thearing His voice. Crave the Word of God. Crave to know God. So that by it, you may grow up in salvation. Image courtesy: Gemini

Be holy, because I am holy. 1 Pet:1:16 Quoting from Lev:11:44, it is an admonition that seems quiet impossible. As God is holy. How do we do it? 1 Pet:1:13-25 tells both about my doing and the Lord's doing regarding this. - Prepare your minds for action - Be self controlled - Do not conform to the evil desires - Be holy - Love one another deeply But it also says about the Lord's part in this. Infact His effort is more in this. - Grace - Saved by the precious blood of Christ the Lamb - You have been born again not of perishable seed but imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. Your striving will never make you holy. Because all your righteous deeds are like filthy rags. Isa:64:6. By grace you have been made holy and given a holy standing before the Father by the precious act on the cross, if I believe. Without this act, there is no scope of your holiness. Yet because Isa:64:6 is true, do I deter myself from striving? Not at all. Infact I should stri...

Trials. They have come so that your faith - may be proved genuine. 1 Pet:1:6-7 Are you burdened? Are you overwhelmed? Is everything too hard for you? How are trials useful? Aren't they meant to discourage you more? Trials keep you rooted and strong in faith. That will prove your faith is genuine. It might be a sickness; you have prayed but there is delayed healing. Or a habit that you struggle to put aside. Or a ridicule. Or debts or loans. Or any unanswered prayers. It all results in proving the genuinety of your faith. When things are beyond what you can handle, even otherwise. When you are confused as to why things are happening this way, totally unexpected. Let this assure you. That your Father is in control of the situation. And He does things for your good. And this is the good that He is talking about - that your faith will be made genuine. And something more beautiful may result as you go through this. Result in praise, glory and honour when Jesus is revealed. W...

James:5:13 Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. James:5:16 Prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. Prayer is effective and powerful only if it is preceded by confession. Confession of sins is quintessential in reinstating your relation with your Father in heaven. For He is a holy God. Not that your sins will be forgiven when you confess. But inorder that your prayers will be heard, you need to have a reinstated relation with the Father. Therefore the reasons for unanswered prayers is this. Sin harboured in your mind. And also - you do not pray according to His will. You pray your selfish prayer, not according to His will and expect God to answer in your ways and your plan. Like a Genie, you need God's approval stamp of your shopping list. James:4:3 When you ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives that you may spend what youbget on your pleasures. Are your prayers powerful and effective? Look into these things. Image credit: https...

The Judge is standing at the door. James:5:9. Whatever you do, whatever you think, whatever your motive is, the judge is watching. The Judge is standing at the door. What has happened to the reverential fear to the Almighty? The All powerful God who sits on the righteous throne? Yes it is comforting to consider Him as your Father and your friend. But that doesn't negate His uncompromising attribute of holiness. The Judge is standing at the door. He has never compromised on His holiness. Sin cannot stand in His presence. He abhors sin. But you indulge in it, you find pleasure in it. Why? The Judge is standing at the door. Image courtesy: https://www.istockphoto.com/search/2/image-film?phrase=jesus+knocking+on+the+door&tracked_gsrp_landing=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.istockphoto.com%2Fphotos%2Fjesus-knocking-on-the-door

You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. James:4:14 Life is so futile. And temporal. If you concentrate on what you are gonna get in this life. You will definitely be disappointed. Those temporary happinesses will not last long. Like a puff of smoke it will vanish. For you are made for eternity. Where as, if you invest in things which are eternal, which will last for eternity future, then that is a wise thing to do. The choice is yours. If you invest in worldly happinesses then you would be called wise by the world and a fool by God. Look at the parable of the rich fool in Luke 12. It was a wise thing that he did, to invest wisely, to break down his old small barn and build a bigger one. He invested wisely according to the world. But God calls him a fool. But if you invest in Godly things, God will call you wise eventhough the world will call you a fool..... Who do you want to call you wise? The choice is yours. But the consequence is also yours. A ...

Draw near to Him and He will draw near to you. James:4:8 Come out of your rebellion. Stop taking the driver's seat. Draw near to Him. Be miserable, mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom (v:9) Be serious about your rebellious nature and seriously repent. Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord. (v:10) A repentant mournful heart is always better than a rebellious pseudojoyous heart. In Christ alone is your complete joy. Repent of your rebellious ways and reinstate with Him. Humble yourself in God's presence. You are nobody big. You are nobody significant unless God is on your side. Keep yourself at His feet. Because of your sin, you do not even deserve it. But God has been gracious. Always be aware of this. Always humble yourself in reverential submission to the One who saved you.  Image courtesy: https://www.facebook.com/groups/catholic.arts/posts/1873121323144539/

You do not have because you do not ask God. James:4:2 What a wonderful truth which corroborates with Jesus' admonition. Ask and it shall be given to you, seek and you shall find, knock and the door shall be opened unto you. So you do not have because you do not ask God. The equation is very simple. But is it possible that you ask and you do not receive?  V:3 when you ask, you do not receive because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. You ask with selfish motives, then you won't receive. Ask so that you will be useful for others. Ask so that you will be able to be spent for others. Let your perspective of receiving change.  Receive so that you will be spent. Because with selfish motives if you use what you have got, then it is friendship with world, which in turn is hatred to God. Lord help me to ask things with a selfless motive, so that I can be spent for others with my resources. That with all my resources, my health, my...

As the body without Spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead. James :2:26 Faith alone will not justify you. Deeds that come out of your faith - like Abraham, like Rahab. Your good deeds should reflect that you have faith in a good God. By grace through faith alone you are saved. Yes faith is the core of your salvation. But unless it reflects on to your deeds, what faith is it? Not that deeds will save you. Not that deeds also is needed to save you. But deeds should reflect the faith you have. That is why, it is said, faith without deeds is useless. Image credit: https://www.istockphoto.com/vector/hands-with-heart-donation-volunteering-charity-good-deeds-grey-icon-gm1310370557-399798981

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/