Devotional (10th Mar 2015) by Reena Libu Thomas
Job 1:10 “Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side?….”
Yeah, this was spoken by Satan himself and yet it encourages me every time I read. It demonstrates God’s protection upon Job, his family, his possessions and Satan’s limitations. The Hebrew word:‘sook’, is translated as hedge in English. ‘Sook’ means to hedge or to fence up. In the Hebrew text, there is an Aleph and Tav ((Alpha & Omega) mentioned before the word ‘sook’ , which is not translated in any other language. We know Aleph and Tav (Alpha & Omega, beginning and end) signifies Jesus Christ! The Spiritual Hedge around Job and his household which Satan was able to see, was (is and shall be) Jesus Christ!
What does hedge mean to us? Is it an array of unwanted thorny plants grown around a garden? A hedge in biblical times was a defensive wall built around a city. Job, whom God Himself describes as a blameless and an upright man, had a wall of protection around him. He took up the role of responsible father & a Priest (the book is believed to have been written during the time of the Patriarchs i.e., before the Law). Job sanctified his children and offered burnt offerings on their behalf. Though he could not see the battle in the spiritual realm or the purpose behind the series of disasters, he was faithful and endured till the end. What encourages me is his encounter with God and how His glory was revealed in the end. Perseverance is the key here.
In times as this, when world considers biblical standards to be out-dated, where immorality is a way of life, rebellion is worshiped as freedom of speech, persecution is tolerated as peace, how much more should we pray and ask for this divine protection for our children? And at times of trials, let’s be assured that our God is in control and we are under His wings of protection. Let’s consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us (Rom 8: 18).
Devotional (18th Aug 2014) by Reena Libu Thomas
Acts 16:18 ….But Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her”. And he came out that very hour.
Paul and Silas were at a place of worship, preaching to people who did not heed to what was being said. On the contrary, there was a girl who followed them for days crying out ,“These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation”. Any common man would have rejoiced at her compliment and more so, because it was the truth. But Paul, a man of discernment, realizing that she was possessed with a spirit of divination, cast out the demon immediately. He was demonstrating what was said in 1 John 4:1, “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world”. In the gospel according to Mark 1:25, we can see Jesus rebuking a man who called Him: ‘The Holy One of God’, saying, “Be quiet, and come out of him”. In a synagogue filled with God’s people, there was just one man who could understand Jesus’ authority. Once a man of God jokingly remarked, ‘unlike humans, demons obey authority’.
Now, how can we differentiate between prophecy and fortune-telling? The author of prophecy is God whereas the counterfeit,fortune-telling, is controlled by the master of deception. The former gives glory to God but the latter to mammon. Fortune-telling creates anxiety or fear to the listener and is contrary to the Word of God. Prophecy on the other hand, draws the listener closer to God and is always in sync with the Word of God. The above context is unique as the slave girl (Acts 16:16-18) speaks the truth! But, Paul’s spirit was annoyed instead of being encouraged. This is the gift of Discerning spirits (1Cor 12:10), a sensitivity to the Spiritual realm, a gift of the Holy Spirit. In times where the internet is flooded with ‘gospel’ messages and when every other person comes out with a new doctrine, this gift should ideally be the most sought after, than the other usually exalted gifts.
Devotional (12th Jul 2014) by Reena Libu Thomas
Acts 13: 51 “But they shook off the dust from their feet against them and came to Iconium.”
The above was the response of Paul and Barnabas after witnessing the bitterness of some Jews to the gospel that was preached. They were preaching at the synagogue for two consecutive Sabbath days. If we read the verses from 42 to 48, we can understand the varied responses by different people which are true even to this day. It is always easy to fill something that is empty. The response of ‘shaking off the dust from their feet’ was something that was taught by Jesus Christ in Luke 10:10 &11: “But whatever city you enter, and they do not receive you, go out into its streets and say, ‘The very dust of your city which clings to us we wipe off against you…” (Also in Matt10:14 & Mark 6:11).
The disciples could clearly understand what Jesus was talking about, as ‘shaking off the dust’ was a practice followed by the devout Jews those days. Jews travelling through the ‘gentile’ areas would shake off the ‘pagan’ dust while entering into the ‘holy’ land or even before entering the temple. This was an act to show that they were ‘set-apart’ and that they don’t have anything common with the perishing gentiles. Jesus was asking His disciples to do the same thing for almost similar reasons. The distinction here is not being a Jew or gentile, but the ones who receive Him and those who do not. This could also mean that the judgment of the LORD to Adam in Genesis 3:19: “…For dust you are, and to dust you shall return.” ,will come upon those who reject Jesus.
This command was not just for the evangelists like we usually think it is. Once an anointed preacher, who was about to preach a sermon was asked by the local pastor not to preach on ‘sin’ or ‘Kingdom principles’. He had to decide whether to preach what the Holy Spirit would lead him to or not to preach at all, rather than to compromise on the content. Jesus did not teach to dilute the word and to coax the listener’s mind-set,but to live according to His Word that says :“For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bond servant of Christ” (Gal 1:10). Freedom in Christ also means the freedom to preach His Word without any compromise.
Devotional (6th Jun 2014) by Reena Libu Thomas
Acts 2: 8-9 “Then, they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, “Look, are not all these who speak Galileans? And how is it that we hear each in our own language in which we were born?”
This happened on the Day of Pentecost, when Jerusalem was flocked with Jews and gentiles from different countries around the world. There were 120 people gathered in the Upper Room, and each one spoke a different tongue as the Spirit gave utterance and yet the listener heard his own language. There was no room for confusion as far as the message was concerned. In Genesis chapter 11, God came down and confused the one language spoken by people, because of their oneness in rebellion. But on the Day of Pentecost, God sent His Spirit, gave different languages to people, for their oneness in Christ. The former incident created confusion and divided people, but the latter adorned the bride of Christ.
Once, I heard from a visiting Pastor at Kochi, that during one of his meetings at North India, his interpreter couldn’t make it. This man of God acted in faith and spoke at the meeting in the local language, which he had no clue of. Praise God, he wasn’t too qualified to trust on his own knowledge! From the early Church to this day, there are two types of people – those who enjoy God’s signs and wonders with their open heart and mind, while the others are the ones who miss the party, as their minds are busy reasoning out, “how could this happen”? Some Churches fail to acknowledge such gifts, listing them as suitable only for ‘holy’ saints and apostles. On the other hand, some charismatic churches exalt the gift more than the Giver. As for me, none of us are too good to receive it or to operate in it. In Isaiah 45:22, LORD says “Look unto Me and be saved”. It’s not the soundness of doctrine or the gifting, but its our focus on Him that would take us places. Glory to Him!
Devotional (23rd Mar 2014) by Reena Libu Thomas
1 Cor 5:7 “Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ our Passover was sacrificed for us”.
Paul, in his letter to the churches in Corinth, speaks about old leaven and compares a person in Christ to be a new lump of dough. The concept of purging old leaven is not new to the Israelites. Ex 12:15 says “Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread. On the first day you shall remove leaven from your houses…” Modern day Jews spend over a month to clean up their homes before the Passover to make sure that there is no leaven. But because Jesus Christ died for us, we are made a new creation and purging becomes easy….just by accepting Him and by continually abiding in Him. Nissan 14 is observed as the Passover and Nissan 16th is First Fruits. The Israelites bring a bunch of their new harvest and the Priest would wave it towards heaven. The first fruits are a sample of the whole abundance of the crops guaranteed for the entire year. What do all these feasts signify?
We all know that Jesus was the Passover lamb who was sacrificed to atone for our sins and how the blood of the lamb was sprinkled on the doorposts of the Israelites in Egypt, His blood is upon our hearts to cover us from our sins. And because of this God will ‘Passover’ us on the Day of Judgment. Jesus was crucified on the day of Passover, and was resurrected on the First fruits. This signifies that He is a sample that guarantees our resurrection in Him. The Feast of Unleavened Bread is a type of Christian way of living, without leaven, without sin. Our God, through Christ, has brought us out from the bondage into the Promised Land. Even as the world mourns on ‘Good Friday’ and feasts on Easter, let us celebrate “Pesach”, the Person, Lord Jesus who is our Passover lamb, and the Resurrection Day which assures us of our eternity in Him. HalleluYAH to the Lamb of God!
Devotional (18th Mar 2014) by Reena Libu Thomas
1 John 3:1 “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us because it did not know Him”.
If only if we could fully understand what it means to be His child! Numbers Chapter 6 verse 26 says, “The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace.” How can God who is already in the high heavens ‘lift’ His face upon us? Jewish Rabbis say that God, the Father holds His child above Him similar to an earthly dad who playfully lifts his child. The child is not filled with anxiety but rejoices in his dad’s strong arms.
When I was presented the gospel, my spiritual parent, for my easy understanding, said “God is like your own father”. It was really challenging for me as I had lost my dad when I was fourteen. Simple biblical truths like “Ask and it will be given to you (Matt 7:7)” were beyond my comprehension. Once during a worship service at Kochi, the worship leader during exhortation asked all the children (both young and old) to walk up to their fathers and hug them. Within seconds, the entire congregation was running up to their fathers to express their love. I, closing my tearful eyes was asking “Why Lord?”, for which He responded: “Do you really miss your dad?” I then, clearly understood the depth of His love which cannot be explained using mere words. The bitterness of my past, my attitude of self-pity everything faded away in an instant and His peace filled my heart. A pastor once rightly said,: ‘an orphan is not a person who does not have parents but the one who hasn’t experienced His love”.
Devotional (6th Mar 2014) by Reena Libu Thomas
Matthew 18:22 “Jesus said to him, ‘ I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.’”
Jesus was responding to Peter on how many times to forgive a brother on his sin. Those days jewish Rabbis taught their disciples to forgive three times and so Peter, being a disciple of Jesus Christ & believing that the standard expected is high, quoted a higher & the perfect number 7. Jesus’ response of course did not mean 490 times but as many times as your brother sins. It’s another way of saying “Do not keep a count of it”. Three or seven doesn’t make any difference as long as we keep pondering over it.
Once in a counseling session, a woman narrated her long story with tough experiences. The Counselor, who was able to sense her bitterness and her lack of experential knowledge of God’s unconditional love, asked if she had forgiven her sister-in-law, for which her immediate response was “Yes”. But still unconvinced, the Counselor asked “Does she visit you now?”, for which she blurted out saying, “No way, I have asked her not to step into my house”. What kind of forgiveness is that? How often do we do that…carrying the burden of bitterness inside but patting our own backs for our generosity on the outside? Thankfully, we don’t have a God who does so. In Jeremiah Chapter 31 verse 34,the Lord says: “I will forgive their iniquity and their sin I will remember no more”. How can an Omniscient God forget something? He cannot. He only chooses not to be reminded of it. Jesus also expected the same from His disciples when He said: ‘seventy times seven’…forgive and move on!
Devotional (20th Feb 2014) by Reena Libu Thomas
Matthew 21:42 “Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: ‘The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone; this was the LORD’s doing and it is marvelous in our eyes’?”
Yes, Jesus was quoting from Psalm 118 vs. 22 & 23. What is a cornerstone? Modern minds have a little difficulty in understanding this as they perceive a cornerstone to be something that is laid outside a huge building with inscription on it indicating the construction dates, names of the architect, other contributors and even the celebrity who inaugurates it, one fine day. But traditionally, the cornerstone is the first stone laid in the foundation upon which the building is erected. The stability of the entire building depended on this cornerstone.
Jesus was rebuking the Chief Priests and elders who had a primary calling of being the builders of the temple. Builders were expected to know the quality of the stone but yet they rejected Him. We all know Jesus is the Cornerstone upon which the Church is erected. Is that all? The word stone in Hebrew is ‘eben’ where the ‘e’ or ‘eh’ is aleph (First letter of Hebrew) which denotes the Father and ‘ben’ denotes the Son. By rejecting Jesus they were rejecting the Father as well. Once there was a renowned Preacher who was asked to preach at a huge Church. As he was staying overnight at the Church premises and praying about his sermon for the next day, God asked him, “What are you doing here in a place where I am not invited?” Shocked, the preacher left the place without preaching. In Revelation 3:20, Jesus said “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him and he with Me”. Though this verse is used more like a gospel verse, Jesus spoke this to the ‘church’ of Laodicea who already knew Him. So now, is Jesus the chief cornerstone upon which our faith is built? Or is He just standing out like a modern-day foundation stone?
Devotional (10th Jan 2014) by Reena Libu Thomas
Rom 9:15: “For He says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion.”
The parable of the workers in the vineyard throws more light on the above verse (Matt 20:1-16). Jesus spoke this parable after Peter asked “See, we have left all and followed You. Therefore what shall we have?” (Matt 19: 27). He was trying to compare him with the rich young man who previously asked Jesus about eternal life. In a state where the days of hartal out-number the no. of public holidays, I found it difficult to teach this parable to the youth team at Kochi. If we read the passage from an employee mindset, we would stand with the early recruited workers who compared their wages with the late recruits and complained against their boss.
Once a man brought his friend to a Prophet with a good intention of getting him saved but also thought that his sinful ways would be exposed. But the Prophet, filled with Holy Spirit, did not condemn him a word but only said “God loves you”. The pride of this “deserving” child of God was shattered. The thief at the Cross was there because he deserved death according to the law of the land. But after his revelation of who Jesus was, He had compassion for him and assured him of eternity (Luke 23:40-43). God, like the landowner in the parable, only sees our availability and obedience to His voice. But if we think “if a sinner who was in sin all his life received salvation at the end of his life how much more should a person who kept the law all his life and left everything for God, deserve?”. And if God gives us what we deserve, we will rot in hell! Though none of us are worthy of His mercy and grace, out of His compassion He assures us of the hope of eternity. We should receive it with thanks giving. Praise be unto Him, El-Rachum, The God of Compassion.
Devotional (21st Dec 2013) by Reena Libu Thomas
Exodus 23:2 “You shall not follow a crowd to do evil; nor shall you testify in a dispute so as to turn aside after many to pervert justice”
God chose Israel to bring forth the Torah (Law) & proclaim His Name to the nations and to have a lineage of the Messiah. The ‘chosen’ status implied that they better be set-apart from the nations who do not know Him so that they would be able to influence them. Apart from the ‘added benefits’ it also meant a higher responsibility. The children of Israel (Jacob) were in Egypt for generations and it was quite understandable that they would have been influenced by the pagan rituals (The Law, by then, was not given to them). In the above verse, God, knowing the weakness of man, makes it very specific that they are not supposed to follow a crowd to do evil but are to follow His statutes in all circumstances.
It’s a safe and easy option to stand with the crowd or get influenced by the ‘mob-psychology’. Aaron was a victim of this. How soon do we judge the Israelites who were tossed back and forth by the pagan rituals and idols like golden calf & the Baals while our lives run around the ups and downs of ‘the bull at Wall Street’? In a country were majority wins, it is easy for us to get lost in the law of the land. For instance, why is Santa Claus distributing gifts while we celebrate the birth of our Lord & when we know that every good and perfect gift is from above (Jam 1:17) or what is the significance of Easter Eggs or Bunnies during our Lord’s Resurrection Day? When Jesus calls us as ‘the salt of the earth (Matt 5:13), He means that a chosen few, like a spoonful of salt, are good enough to influence others. Let not this salt lose its flavor, so that it is fit to be trampled upon.
Devotional (18th Dec 2013) by Reena Libu Thomas
Exodus 32:9 “And the LORD said to Moses, “I have seen this people, and indeed it is a stiff-necked people”
An arrogant or a stubborn person is referred to as “stiff-necked”. In Hebrew, ‘kasha oreph’ is translated as stiff-necked. Kasha means severe, stubborn or difficult & oreph means neck and also ‘to turn back’. Kasha oreph can also mean ‘having our heads turned backwards’ instead of looking ahead to His promises. The Israelites demonstrated this when they complained against Moses, looking back at the dumb idols and meat pots of Egypt, in spite of witnessing signs and wonders by the Living God. He broke the bands of their yoke and made them walk upright (Lev 26:13). But their stubbornness to look forward negated His mighty signs and wonders for delivering them, and that’s the reason God’s wrath was burning a lot against them.
Devotional (12th Dec 2013) by Reena Libu Thomas
Exodus 20:18 “Now all the people witnessed the thundering, the lightning flashes, the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw it, they trembled and stood afar off”.
This was immediately after the utterance of the Ten Commandments at Mt.Sinai. The Israelites were able to see the mountain up in smoke and quaking greatly. Strangely, they were also able to see the thundering, lightening and the sound of trumpet. How could somebody see what is usually heard, the ‘sound’ of thunder & trumpet? Jewish scholars interpret it saying, “Like how they saw the sounds that they usually heard till then, they saw the glory of God of whom they had only heard from their forefathers or leaders till that time.” With our logical mind-set we may not be able to fully understand this. It may sound like a fairy tale to an agnostic but a believing heart knows & believes that: “it is written: eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him” (1Cor 2:9).
But yet, the Israelites trembled and stood afar off. Fear of the LORD is when our heart trembles out of our unpreparedness (or unholiness) to stand before Him, but yet our spirit leaps-out in excitement towards Him. Fear of the LORD is directly proportionate to our obedience and staying away from sin. After killing his own brother Abel, Cain feared not about going away from the presence of the LORD, but of being spotted out and murdered. God, setting a mark on Cain, was not going easy on his sin, but He withdrew His presence from him and that was a curse by itself (Gen 4:14-16). The Israelites, out of their ‘worldly fear’ were standing afar from the LORD but on the contrary, Moses was going up to His presence in obedience. Does our fear for the LORD bring us to close to Him or take us away from Him? Are we able to sing like the psalmist: “But it is good for me, to draw near to God?” (Ps 73:28) ?
Devotional (8th Dec 2013) by Reena Libu Thomas
Matt 26:39 He went a little farther and fell on His face and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me, nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will”.
Why was Jesus saying this? Was He doubtful of taking the Cross? In John 10: 17 &18: “Therefore My Father loves Me because I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself….”. He was going to lay down His life by Himself which goes again to prove that He was not afraid or doubtful to take up the Cross but in fact ready for it. But there was one thing which He was not ready for….to lose the fellowship of His Father.
Ps 22:1: “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” Jesus speaks these same words at the Cross (Matt 27:46). Jesus, who is always found to address God the Father as ‘My Father’ was calling Him ‘My God’. Does it mean anything at all? Was He repeating the prophecy by David in Psalm 22? Maybe, but more than that, He was wearing our shoes while saying that…He who knew no sin became sin….and God the Father in all His Holiness was not able to comprehend it. The fellowship that was intact from ages till that moment, was cut off because of our sins…and there was total darkness for three hours, from the 6th hour to the 9th hour. So it was not only the Son who was going through the physical and emotional agony on the Cross, even God the Father, the all powerful God, who worked signs and wonders in Egypt to bring His people out was suffering the emotional agony of being separated from His only begotten Son for our sake. In Luke 23:46 Jesus again address God as Father….so His relationship was restored and He died.
What is it for us? This is for the people, especially youngsters who think that they are not loved or cared enough and don’t know the value of their lives. That the Godhead suffered for our sake shows us to what extremes He had gone to show He loves us. For the Godhead, our lives are worth this agony. So next time, let us not ask God, “why have you forsaken Me?” This only will prove that we don’t believe in the Cross and His words….”I will never leave you nor forsake you”.
Devotional (28th Nov 2013) by Reena Libu Thomas
Exodus 16:20 “Notwithstanding they did not heed Moses. But some of them felt part of it until morning, and it bred worms and stank. And Moses was angry with them.”
To gather Manna, God had deliberately placed certain rules to test the Israelites, to see whether they would walk in His law or not (vs.4). Every man had to gather it in the morning, everyday, according to the number of their household and nothing could be kept remaining for the next day. Manna was God’s super-natural provision to His children, which also had a condition attached – obedience. God wanted His people to follow His specific instructions to be eligible for His provision. In other words, He does not make a home-delivery of Pizzas. The result of their disobedience was that the manna was stinking. When they chose to obey Him by collecting a double-portion so that they could rest on Sabbath, it did not stink. God changed the earlier physical property of Manna to suit their needs, because they obeyed His instructions.
Similarly, spiritual Manna should be earnestly sought early in the morning, before the sun comes up and scorches out the quietness of the day, before the door-bell rings or cell-phone calls out for our attention. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day that keeps us going the entire day. So, the early morning dosage of His Manna is vital for our soul to fight against our flesh throughout the day. Again, we are expected to obey His voice (His Word), so that we can enjoy His provisions. David was called a man after God’s heart and he cries out “My voice You shall hear in the morning, O LORD; In the morning I will direct it to You and I will look up” (Ps 5:3). As His children, let us have this confidence of telling Him that we would call out to Him in the morning.
Devotional (23rd Nov 2013) by Reena Libu Thomas
Exodus 13:14 And God said to Moses, I AM WHO I AM.’ And He said, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.”
This passage is where God reveals His personal (proper) name to Moses. Verse 15 specifies ‘The LORD God of your fathers….” We know that the English Bible translates YHWH as LORD but what about verse 14? In Hebrew it is “Ehyeh asher Ehyeh” and can be interpreted as I AM WHO EXISTS (forever) also known as YHWH. YHWH is a combination of three Hebrew verbs – Hovey, Hayah & Ehyeh (is, was & shall be). His name is called out only on the Day of Atonement by the High Priest, inside the holy of holies and the congregation can’t even hear it. They do it out of reverence to His Holy Name but we don’t call out because we don’t know the significance. What difference can a ‘name’ make? When God changed Avram (which meant father of heights) to Avraham (father of nations), Sarai (my prince) to Sarah (princess of multitude), Yaakov (leg-puller) to Israel (who prevails with God), He was speaking a blessing into their lives. I personally would prefer to be called Reena than ‘hey, lady’ or ‘madam’ by my friends.
What does His personal Name reveal to us? He is Eternal – “Before the mountains were brought forth, Or ever You had formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God”(Ps 90:2). He does not change – “For I am the LORD, I do not change…”(Mal 3:6). He is incomparable – “To whom then will you liken Me, or to whom shall I be equal?” says the Holy One’ (Is 40:25). He is in control for all things and there is none like Him (Is 45:6-7). And by calling out this Name of His we proclaim that He is Eternal & that will fill us with an eternal hope.
Devotional (16th Nov 2013) by Reena Libu Thomas
Exodus 10: 21 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, darkness which may even be felt”.
The darkness which may even be ‘felt’ refers to the darkness that is experienced by a blind man, the darkness that makes one grope. In Hebrew the word used is ‘Mashash’, a verb, which means ‘touch & feel, or grope like a blind man’. The darkness upon the land of Egypt was a result of their disobedience with God’s Word (through Moses). This consequence was not just reserved for the Egyptians alone, but even to His people “….if you do not obey the voice of the LORD your God….The LORD will strike you with madness and blindness and confusion of heart, and you shall grope at noonday, as a blind man gropes in darkness,… (Deu 28: 15, 28 & 29).
This reminds me of an infamous story about the blind men who were trying to explore an elephant by touching & feeling it. Each person was giving a different interpretation like tree, wall, rope etc., which was true according to their understanding. The other folly of darkness is that the more we are surrounded by it, the more our eyes would get accustomed to it. Spiritual darkness has the same impact; each one will be right in his own eyes but not so according to God’s standards who weighs our hearts (Prov 21:2). Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness but have the light of life” (John 8:12). The choice is free for all….to choose Light or to continue to grope in darkness and get accustomed to it.
Devotional (14th Nov 2013) by Reena Libu Thomas
Exodus 10:3 “Thus says the LORD God of the Hebrews: ‘How long will you refuse to humble yourself before Me?’”
As we read through the first few chapters of Exodus, we can notice the strange behavior of the Pharaoh who was acting as though he had lost his mind. His heart was hardened as he first chose not to heed God’s Word.The hardening of his heart was a result of his disobedience, rebellion and unbelief. As a result, God’s wrath was upon the children of dis-obedience and His protection on His children. But later, the Israelites too did not enter His rest, the Promised Land, for the same reasons – disobedience and rebellion.
We, His children, love to say that we believe His Word and even all the signs & miracles illustrated in it. But when we disobey His Word, repent only on Sundays and get back to the rut on Mondays, are we not like that Pharaoh who continually asked Moses to pray for his deliverance but later went back to his shell of pride? Jesus after warning His disciples of the ‘leaven of Pharisees’, asked if their hearts were still hardened (Mark 8:17) and calls them as ones with ‘little faith’ (Mat 16:8). They were unable to perceive or understand and unable to see, hear or remember His works and His Word. This may happen to us if we become cold and insensitive to His voice (His Word). Therefore, today if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts in rebellion & go astray in your heart. (Ps 95:7,8 & 10).
Devotional (06th Nov 2013) by Reena Libu Thomas
Luke: 20:13 “…..I will send my beloved son. Probably they will respect him when they see him”
When we read through the Parable of the Tenants, we would understand that the vineyard owner is God and the vinedressers are the Jews who were supposed to take care of the vineyard. We also judge those vine-dressers branding them as evil, un-trustworthy and fit for punishment. Also that it is right that the salvation has come to the Gentiles because the Jews rejected it.
But what is it in for me? I am the vine-dresser appointed by God and the fruit belongs to the One who planted. My job is to bear fruit for the Lord on which I do not have ownership on my body. Do I really believe that my body is the temple of the Holy Spirit and that I am not on my own? (1Cor 6:19). A vineyard is expected to yield grapes and not thorn or even olives. If God has sown His Word in me and if I am filled with His Spirit, I am supposed to bear the fruit of His Spirit.
When Jesus spoke to the Chief Priests and scribes they understood that He was addressing them, but that did not make them repent and get back to Him. When God’s Word is speaking to me, I am supposed to be still and obey. On the contrary if I act that it is not for me, or I am too holy to be convicted or my old ways are better, then I am eligible to face His wrath! From Genesis, man was judged for his wrong choice. But if I look up to Him with a broken spirit and a contrite heart, He will not despise me (Ps 51:7).
Devotional (29th Oct 2013) by Reena Libu Thomas
John 8:29 “And He who sent me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him”
What pleases God, the Father? John chapter 8 speaks on how Jesus testifies about God, the Father. Is 53:10. (KJV) “….yet it pleased the LORD to bruise Him”. Hebrew Bible uses the verb “Khawfets” which means ‘take pleasure in’ or ‘to be delighted’. Why such a loving God would be pleased to bruise His only begotten Son? Because God so loved the world and the suffering in the obedience of the Messiah was the only way to bring us close to Him.
Genesis chapter 6 vs.4 & 6 is clear that the Lord was grieved in His heart seeing the wickedness of the man He created and that His spirit would not strive with man because he was flesh. So at Calvary, God was delighted that His creation would soon be with Him. Like how the father in the parable of the lost son-though he was grieving for his prodigal son-was rejoicing to see him coming back to him, God the father was rejoicing that that His people would soon come home. What Adam lost by eating from a tree, Jesus restored by hanging on a tree.
Once, I even wondered why would God who created the sun, moon, stars & all the other living creatures with His spoken word, choose this way to bring salvation. He could have done that by His signs & wonders. God replied by saying ‘that won’t show how much I love you’. He is so personal & very serious about His people and He has every reason to expect the same in return.
Devotional (28th Oct 2013) by Reena Libu Thomas
Exodus 5:21 “….you have made us abhorrent in the sight of Pharaoh and in the sight of his servants”.
The Israelites were complaining to Moses & Aaron after their tasks were increased by the Pharaoh & his men. They thought their primary task was to serve the Pharaoh and that the God whom they worship should bless the work of their hands. But God had a higher plan – to set the captives free. We think as long as our bosses are happy with our work, targets are met, bank accounts are full, there is nothing to worry. More the bank balance and insurance policy, the better is our security. And for this reason, we sometimes fail to win our friend to Christ as he/she may think that they are in a better position than us. The work of our hands may not be blessed by Him, if we serve the wrong boss, the lord of this world.
Do we know that at times of calamity like war, the foreign insurance companies have a liability of paying back only Rs.100,000/- in lieu of their policies no matter what ever be the policy amount? King Solomon had all that the world desires – wisdom, wealth & women and yet he confessed that all was vanity and grasping for the wind, and there was no profit under the sun (Ecc 2:11). Secured-ness is surrender of our lives to Jesus, the hope. Kadosh in Hebrew is translated as holy but it more appropriately means being set-apart for a specific purpose. Are we trying hard like the Israelites in Egypt, to be one in the world trying to gel with it? But Jesus said “If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you” (John 15:19). Even if the world abhors us, let’s be encouraged that we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing (2 Cor 2:15).
Devotional (19th Oct 2013) by Reena Libu Thomas
Exodus 5:17 “You are idle, idle! Therefore you say, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to the LORD.’”
The above was spoken by the Pharaoh, a pagan, who believes that worship is something that is done only in your spare time which is completely in contrary to “pray without ceasing” said in 1Thes 5:17. He thought that by increasing their labor he could stop them from calling out to God. Unfortunately, it is true till this day that the lord of this world just has to keep us busy to take our attention from Him. Anything that takes our attention or our time from the Lord is an idol – from celebrities to social networking, from office work even to ministry work. You read it right….Ministry! Like how even a chief-chef at a star hotel who cooks signature-dishes for his customers, needs to have his own food for his survival, every servant of God has to have his ‘main-course’ of manna from Him.
Luke 10: 41-42 :Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.” Though Martha was a good host and was trying to ‘serve’ Him, she was too pre-occupied with the preparation of food and was not not paying attention to what Jesus was speaking, while Mary sat at His feet and was relishing the spiritual food which only He could provide. Whatever takes our personal time from Him cannot be a blessing even if it is a job with a better salary. So, let us too, choose ‘that good part’. Praise be to Him, El Kanno! (The Jealous God – Ex: 20:5).
Devotional (15th Oct 2013) by Reena Libu Thomas
Psalm 23:4 “Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me”.
The psalmist compared our Lord to a Shepherd not because he himself was one. Sheep are basically helpless creatures totally dependent of their Shepherd for food and protection. They are easily frightened or confused and are known to plunge blindly off a cliff following one another. Shepherds faced incredible dangers in caring for their sheep, putting their own lives at risk by battling wild animals that threatened the flock. The shepherd uses his rod as a defensive equipment to protect his flock from wild animals and snakes. Ez 20:37 speaks of “passing under the rod” which means the shepherd uses the rod to count his sheep and also to check the quality of its wool from infections. The staff is used to guide and prod the sheep to right direction. The shepherd uses his staff and continually pats his sheep to comfort and assure them that he is around.
We like sheep have the tendency to go astray, not giving ears to the Shepherd’s voice. God uses His Word (two-edged sword) and the Holy Spirit (The Comforter) to chasten, to comfort, to convict, to guide and protect us. Jesus said, “My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand” (John 10:27-28). The sheep cannot do anything to keep themselves from being lost or ‘devoured by beasts’ but to heed to their shepherd’s voice. And only His sheep will listen to His voice.
Devotional (09th Oct 2013) by Reena Libu Thomas
Exodus 1:21 “…because the midwives feared God, that He provided households for them”.
The passage in Exodus chapter 1:15-21 demonstrates that God could use just anyone to accomplish His will. The midwives those days were more like slaves and they can’t even think beyond a king’s command and to disobey it would bring nothing less than death. But Shiphrah and Puah feared God and not the king which made them to shun evil (Prov 3:7). They knew that the God they served was full of mercy in contrast to the king who commanded to kill the new-born sons of His people. Their courage to obey Him earned them their lives, His provisions and more – they have their names mentioned in the Scriptures.
What is the fear of the Lord? Does it mean that we should live in dread over His judgment or disapproval on us? In Hebrew the word ‘Yirah’ is translated as fear. Yirah could also mean ‘awe’ or ‘reverence’. Awe is the sense of amazement, astonishment or gratitude one feels in His presence and should ideally be used only to describe His Majesty. Unfortunately the word has lost its flavor as it is used to refer to anything from food to car these days.
Once I happened to witness a private deliverance session at a local church in Kochi where a girl was manifesting at the very name ‘Jesus’. I, who generally had sleep-less nights after watching an ordinary horror movie during my earlier days, could feel the warmth of His awesome presence and nothing else mattered not even watching the live evil manifestation. I realized once we fear the Lord, the other worldly fear would soon fade away. That is something the midwives in Exodus showed – the fear of the Lord gave them courage to stand against their worldly king who is generally feared by his subjects. So we need to get our basics right as to whom we serve – the earthly bosses or the Creator Himself.
Devotional (05th Oct 2013) by Reena Libu Thomas
Is 58:3 “Why have we fasted,’ they say, ‘and You have not seen? Why have we afflicted our souls, and You take no notice?”’
What is fasting? In Hebrew fasting means ‘Tsom’ originated from the same root word as ‘tsama’ (thirst). Fasting does not mean abstaining from food or going hungry but it means ‘to thirst in spirit’. In Isaiah chapter 58 God condemned the attitude of His people during fasting as He demands our hearts and not our lip service. Fasting those days was done out of repentance either for self (ex: Job tore his robe, shaved his head and fell to the ground and worshiped Him Job 1:20) or on behalf of their people (Daniel interceded for His people Dan 9:3). We are expected to ape Daniel’s attitude while fasting and not the list of foods he had or avoided during his fast.
But now a days fasting has become more personalized – for good grades in exams, for getting a better job, buying a lake-view pent house and so on. In Matthew chapter 23 vs. 23, Jesus mentions about the ‘weightier matters’ while rebuking the scribes and Pharisees. He was not against their tithing on mint, anise or cumin but their attitude towards justice, mercy and faith. Similarly, while fasting the focus should be on weightier matters – a complete surrender to His Lordship with love, not to receive but to surrender. The reason for fasting should be to enhance the love relationship with Him, not to be self-righteous or for trying to make Him notice our good deeds.
Devotional (01st Oct 2013) by Reena Libu Thomas
John 17:23 “I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.”
Jesus was making a High Priestly intercession to the Father on behalf of His disciples and the ones who would believe Him through their word (vs. 20). The standard expected from a believer is the one-ness (unity) like that of the Father and the Son. The phrase “perfect in one” can also be paraphrased as “to excel in unity”. The unity should impact the world in a way that they realize that Jesus is the Savior sent by the Father.
In the book of Genesis, we see that the people were united (with one language and uniform words Gen 11:1). But God descended and confused them so that they would not understand each other and they would stop building the city and the tower that would touch the heavens and glorify their own name. Gen 11:5, though it is understood by the reader, specifies that they were ‘sons of man’ (Beni Ha Aadham), to show the ungrateful, rebelling attitude of Adam (or man). Jesus says in John 8:41 “You do the deeds of your father”. The tower of Babel demonstrated whose children its engineers were.
Jesus was one with the Father and glorified Him (John 12:28). When the early church came together in the Upper Room and prayed in ‘one accord’, even the heavens responded. They spoke different languages (not their own) as the Holy Spirit gave them utterance and the impact was on the multitude that gathered outside (Acts 2:1-4). So His Word is calling for His children to be united in Him and testify about His Name rather than gathering their own flock and building up their own ministries.
Devotional (28th Sep 2013) by Reena Libu Thomas
John 8: 7-8 ‘When they kept on questioning Him, He straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” Again He stooped down and wrote on the ground.’
The scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery, not with the revelation that Jesus was a righteous judge but to trap Him. If He had let the woman go free, He would be breaching the Law (Lev 20:10). And if He said that she should be stoned as per the Law, He would be against the Romans who did not permit the Jews to pass their own judgment. They were already in sin by rebelling against Him (1Sam 15:23) and against His Law. The Law demands that both the man and woman caught in adultery be stoned to death.
What was Jesus doing then? Was He reminding them of the ‘fingers’ that wrote their Law or the prophecy that says “those who turn away from You will be written in the dust because they have forsaken the LORD, the spring of living water”(Jer 17:13)? Either ways, they weren’t ready for all that…all they wanted is to rebel against Him and succeed. They were a stiff-necked people who considered themselves too holy to be convicted. If adultery is a sin, so is pride and rebellion. When the Holy Spirit convicts us of our sins, what is our stance? Do we drop the stone of judgment and repent or try to reason-out with Him?
Devotional (25th Sep 2013) by Reena Libu Thomas
John 13:37 Peter said to Him, “Lord, why can I not follow You now? I will lay down my life for Your sake”.
We see Peter as an enthusiastic disciple amongst others who always wanted to be in His good books. He was known for his “leap before your look” attitude – desiring to build tabernacles at the Transfiguration site, walking on water, refusing his feet to be washed first, but later requesting for washing of his hands and head, etc. In John chapter 13, when Peter makes the above statement, Jesus corrects him saying that he would deny Him thrice, though he lived by his above statement later. Jesus was trying to convey that his time was not yet come and there was still pruning to be done in him.
Jesus said “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you” (John 15:16). After making an emotional statement, Peter denied Him thrice and even went fishing after His resurrection showing that he was not prepared. If God chooses us, He would accomplish His purpose through us in His time. God chose Jonah and in spite of him trying to run away, He brought him back for His sake. Once there was a son holding his father’s hand and walking along the street. And when it was time to cross the road, the father took his hands off and he held his son’s hand. What’s the difference here? Sometimes, we make some emotional decisions when we are not yet ready thinking we would be doing Him a favor by serving Him and on most occasions we either back-slide or doubt if our decisions are correct. He is not interested in our emotional decisions but rather, He expects us to obediently abide in Him so that He can prune us to bear fruit (John 15), and not to think of ourselves more highly than we ought to (Rom 12:3).
Devotional (24th Sep 2013) by Reena Libu Thomas
John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
Shalom, though translated as peace has a deeper meaning. Derived from the Hebrew root word shalam, which means safe, complete, wholeness or even reward. From the same root is derived the Hebrew word Shulam which means “it was paid for”. Jesus is called the Prince of Peace for the same reason, He paid for our sins so that we could be safe & complete in Him.
What is the peace that the world gives us? Peace is explained as absence of war, freedom from disturbance & disagreement. So, is it merging all world religions, so that everyone is free from being disturbed in its name? Is it approving gay-marriages so that we are welcome in the world for our “in” mind-set? Peace is not tolerating sin for the sake of pleasing others or being away from disagreement. When Jesus spoke there was a division among the people (John 7:43). He came to save the world from the sway of Satan and not to strike a deal with him. There will always be a struggle between good and evil, light and darkness. Peace that He gives is not just an absence of fear or anxiety but a promise for eternity. It can’t be compared with that the rulers speak standing behind a bullet-proof stage surrounded by armed black-cats. Jesus said, “Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matt 10:28), because “He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world” (1John 4:4). There is no peace without the Prince of Peace.
Devotional (23rd Sep 2013) by Reena Libu Thomas
John 13:35 “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another”.
The Pharisees were called hypocrites, blind leaders, brood of vipers, white-washed tombs and so on because they were working to be seen by men, trying hard to be righteous outwardly (Matt 23). The world should recognize His disciples not because they play (gospel) music or message in a higher decibel or by any other “attention- seeking action” but because of what is inside…love.
Jesus gave a New Commandment – “Love one another; as (like) I have loved you, that you also love one another. The standard set here is the unconditional love (agape) that made Him serve Judas the betrayer, pray even for the ones who persecuted Him, touch & heal the leper who was cast out & so on. The religious leaders found it difficult to take as they thought Jesus was trying to replace the Old statutes but He was giving a new dimension to the old laws. But according to His standards, sin not only is an action (against a person) but even a thought against him. All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the LORD (Prov 16:2). The love He demands is not self-seeking, envious, boastful, keeping records of wrongs and easily angered (1Cor 13). We are like the white-washed tombs without His love.
Devotional (17th Sep 2013) by Reena Libu Thomas
John 11: 39 “Jesus said, “Take away the stone”.
Before Jesus spoke these words, Martha had made a confession that Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of God. She also believed in resurrection on the last day (John 11:24, 27). But when it comes to acting on what she believed, she failed by saying “….he has been dead four days” (vs: 39). Both the sisters were sure that Jesus would have healed Lazarus if He had come there on time.
Martha was demonstrating the typical attitude of believers (or at least me). I once was praying for a child who had difficulty in walking as she had “Limb length discrepancy”. In between my prayers, I thought, ‘if only “that” Healing Minister was around, he could have healed this child. But God responded “so it was “that” Healing Minister who does all the healing, right?” slapping me with embarrassment for my lack of faith. I without doubt lay hands on my son if he has a fever, but when it came to healing of a greater symptom, I relied on the anointing of a healing minister. Healing comes from the Lord be it a fever or a cancer. (By the way, that child is able to walk now, Praise be to God).
Do we believe in Him more than the work of an Anacin or a Crocin? Or are we like Martha who even after her confession does not look beyond in faith to see the unseen, the glory of God (vs.40). Are we ready to take away the stone of our reasoning-intellect so that grace can flow in and the dead (faith) can come back to life?!
Devotional (11th Sep 2013) by Reena Libu Thomas
John 9:41 Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin, but now you say, ‘We see’. Therefore your sin remains”.
In John Chapter 9, Jesus heals a man born blind and according to the Jews only a Messiah can heal a man who is blind from birth. But yet they refused to believe. The blind man was saved not because his physical eyes were opened but his spiritual eyes were opened. He testified Jesus in spite of the threat that he would be put out of the synagogue. A membership in some ‘elite club’ or some other religious denomination will not guarantee us a place in heaven but our relationship with the Son would. Who was blind here, the man (born blind) or the religious Jews?
Why are we able to see and understand (or interpret) the teachings of Jesus? Is it because the Jews sinned more or that we have an additional spiritual-nerve compared to them? No. But, because the LORD has poured out the Spirit of deep sleep and closed their eyes, the salvation has come to the Gentiles to make them envious (Rom 11:8, 11 & Is 29:10). We are a wild olive tree grafted in and are only partakers (not over-takers) of the root of the Olive tree (Rom 11:17-18). God does not spare haughtiness, be it a Jew or a Gentile.
Devotional (09th Sep 2013) by Reena Libu Thomas
John 8:35 “And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. (Rom 6:20).
Just by being born into a family, a person cannot become a son. A son is the one who chooses to obey his father and does his will in spite of his free choice. Adam was given a freedom of choice and we know what he did with it. In the parable of the lost son (Luke 15:11-32), the younger son ‘claims’ to be a son by demanding his father’s wealth. But he ‘becomes’ his son only after he comes back to his senses (Luke 15:17 NIV) and realizes that he is unworthy of his position and confesses his sins. From being a prodigal son (slave to sin) he became the father’s loved son. The elder son, though he kept all the commandments and served his father, his heart was hardened and he could not understand his father’s compassion for the lost.
In John chapter 8, though the Jews believed Him (vs. 30), because they were Abraham’s descendents, they thought they already had a claim to His inheritance. They were not ready to examine their hearts or confess. Their hearts were hardened and spiritual eyes blind. We are called His children not because we earned it, but because we came to our senses and are alive now, though were dead earlier (Lk 18:32).
Devotional (05th Sep 2013) by Reena Libu Thomas
John 7:24 “Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.”
By doing the above the Samaritans were saved. The reputation of the Samaritan woman did not stop them from accepting her testimony and coming to Him (John 4:39). But on the other hand, the Pharisees murmured saying “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know?” (John 6:42).
But 1 John 4:1 says “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.” Were the Pharisees testing the spirits (discerning)? What is discerning then?
A reputed Multi-national Bank offered training to its new recruits of the Cash Management Team. They were made to work with only genuine currencies for six months of their training period and after which they were placed in their jobs. They without doubt were able to identify the fake ones by just looking at them leave alone touching them. The concept applied here was simple; to identify a fake currency their working knowledge in the true currency alone helped them and not the other way round. We are called the sons of the day (light) and not of darkness (1Thes 5:5) Therefore we are expected to identify darkness because we know (are in) the Light. The Pharisees were judging the flesh (appearance) and not testing the spirits. Discerning of spirits is a gift of the Holy Spirit. They missed Him because of their judgmental attitude.
Devotional (03rd Sep 2013) by Reena Libu Thomas
John 6: 32 -33 “ Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.””
It started in the wilderness, when the Israelites saw Manna they asked “what is it?” (“Mon-hu?” in Hebrew – it also means “My Portion”) (Ex 16:15). They collected it every morning and were satisfied. Years later, they were seeking Jesus not because of who He is but because they ate of the loaves and were filled. (John 6:26). They were eager to see Jesus perform some signs and wonders so that their hunger was satisfied and they might trust Him like they did Moses. But when Jesus rained the Spiritual Manna, they were not ready to gather it but murmured and left Him. They made themselves a cistern – broken cistern that can hold no water. (Jer 2:13b). Their fathers had manna and yet were dead, but salvation comes only through Him who comes as the bread of life.
What could signs & wonders do in our lives without its Author? Who were they glorifying, the miracles or the Author of miracles? While we share a testimony, who is glorified….the incident or the healing/deliverance minister or God. LORD says “I am YHWH, that is My name; and My glory I will not give to another, nor My praise to carved images” Is 42:8.
Devotional (30th Aug 2013) by Reena Libu Thomas
Hosea 2:19 ““I will betroth you to Me forever; Yes, I will betroth you to Me in righteousness and justice, in loving-kindness and mercy;”
“Who is the harlot in the Book of Revelation?” was one among many questions asked at weekly Youth Meeting at Kochi. “False Religion” was my immediate response. Though I had an urge to be more specific, God turned my thoughts to The Book of Hosea. ““Then the LORD said to me, “Go again, love a woman who is loved by a lover and is committing adultery, just like the love of the LORD for the children of Israel, who look to other gods and love the raisin cakes of the pagans.” So I bought her for myself for fifteen shekels of silver, and one and one-half homers of barley.” Hosea 3:1-2.
Straying away from the true God and having many gods (idols) is spiritual adultery. But, God’s desire is to betroth His people….have an intimate personal relationship (…that you will call Me ‘My Husband’ Hos 2:16). Betroth in Hebrew is ‘Erusin’ and it is from Hebrew root word ‘ras’ which means ‘to embrace’.
Theological scholars call Hosea as a “type” of Jesus Christ where God the Father asks Hosea to love a woman committing adultery. Hosea paid a price that was due for a slave those days. Jesus obeyed His Father, paid a ransom & rescued us (slaves of sin) from the dominion of darkness and brought us into light (Col 1:13). Jesus said “….For I did not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance” Mat 9:13. Praise God for this un-deserved favor and His amazing love.
Devotional (26th Aug 2013) by Reena Libu Thomas
Prov 16:18 “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.”
The serpent in the Garden didn’t have to struggle hard to bring the “like God” concept in man. When he learned that the woman did not fully understand God’s Word, he just had to switch on her ‘self-exaltation mode’ “.….you will be like God” (Gen 3:5). He himself was a victim of this “like God” concept Is 14:14 “….I will be like the Most High”.
The woman to justify herself said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate” Gen 3:13. Original Hebrew text uses the word “ishiyani” (lifted me) instead of “deceived me”. This could be paraphrased as “the serpent lifted me and I ate”. This simply means that the serpent lifted her up emotionally giving false image of something that she is not. Lucifer, the anointed cherub fell because of his pride and lack of revelation of who God is, in spite of his wisdom. (“….and his heart was lifted up before his fall. Ez :28:17). Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies (1Cor 8:1b). Sometimes, we have to ‘unlearn’ things of the world to learn things of heaven.
God does not accept anything that is puffed-up (Lev 2:11). God demanded unleavened bread from His people for His offering, so we have to offer our bodies (without leaven) as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God (Rom 12:1).
Devotional (23rd Aug 2013) by Reena Libu Thomas
John 1:51 – And He said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.”Jesus was referring to Jacob’s dream (Gen 28:12) where he saw angels of God ascending and descending on a ladder that was set up on earth but reached heaven.
Gen 1:1. In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. In the original Hebrew text, there is an additional connecting word in between ‘the heavens and the earth (‘eth’ – aleph and tav of Hebrew alphabets) which is not found in the translated versions of the bible. In Greek, it is the renowned Alpha & Omega who is (was & shall be) Jesus Christ (Rev 22:13). So, from the very beginning Jesus was there connecting the heaven & the earth.
Angels are messengers who deliver prophetic messages from God to His people. (Dan 8, Luke 1) and Jesus is connecting as a High Priest. Unlike the Levitical High Priests who had to offer sacrifices on a daily basis first for themselves and then for the congregation in Jesus Christ, we have a perfect High Priest ordained and appointed by God in whom we have eternal Salvation (Heb chap 7 & 9).
God spoke of His promises He had given Abraham to Jacob in his dreams. Though Jacob was Abraham’s descendant, God had to have a personal relationship with him as well to establish His covenant. So, whatever right-standing our spouse, parents or other relatives hold with Him, it is still important to have a personal relationship with Him ourselves.
Devotional (20th Aug 2013) by Reena Libu Thomas
John 1:1-2, 4-5 :1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God…. 4 In Him was life, and the life was light of men. 5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
John starts his writing not with Jesus’ genealogy or history but with the revelation of who He is. Our walk in faith starts here….with the revelation of who He is.
Gen 1:3: And God said, Let there be light and there was light. If we look at this verse in original Hebrew text it reads….Vayomar Elohim ihhe aur ve’ihhe aur. With Hebrew grammar rules in place it could also be paraphrased as “Let Him be the light and He was light.” So it was not just the prophets who revealed Jesus in the Old Testament….but God Himself from the very beginning.
Like how the earth was without form and void, we were so before knowing Him (The Light). But when God spoke into our ears….Let there be light….we, from being void & without form came to life. No man can come to light unless the Father chooses so (John 6:44). God did separate Light from darkness (Gen 1:4). The darkness did not (or rather, cannot) comprehend light. So there is either light or darkness…as both cannot co-exist. We are set-apart and are called to bear witness of this Light giving Him the glory forever and ever (John 1:8).
THE PORTRAIT OF THE SINNER- Part 1
We all know of Leonardo Da Vinci, who painted the Mona Lisa and the Lord’s Supper. We know of many more that have made history with their paintings and imaginations put on canvas like MANET, VAN GOGH, PICASO etc. They convey their thought and also probably even culture of their times or expression of love or hatred etc. A picture is better that a thousand words they say!
But greater still would be to paint a picture with words!! And that is what Isaiah has done in the 1st chapter of his book: Let me put that down for you
Isa 1:4 Woe, sinful nation, a people heavy with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, sons who corrupt! They have forsaken Jehovah; they have provoked the Holy One of Israel to anger; they have gone away backward.
Isa 1:5 Why should you be stricken any more? You will revolt more and more; the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint.
Isa 1:6 From the sole of the foot even to the head there is no soundness in it; only a wound and a stripe and a fresh blow; they have not been closed, nor bound up, nor soothed with oil.
Isa 1:7 Your land is wasted, your cities burned with fire. Strangers devour your land right before your eyes, and it is wasted, as overthrown by strangers.
Isa 1:8 And the daughter of Zion is left a booth in a vineyard, like a hut in a garden of cucumbers, like a besieged city.
From Good News Bible
Isa 1:4 You are doomed, you sinful nation, you corrupt and evil people! Your sins drag you down! You have rejected the LORD, the holy God of Israel, and have turned your backs on him.
Isa 1:5 Why do you keep on rebelling? Do you want to be punished even more? Israel, your head is already covered with wounds, and your heart and mind are sick.
Isa 1:6 From head to foot there is not a healthy spot on your body. You are covered with bruises and sores and open wounds. Your wounds have not been cleaned or bandaged. No medicine has been put on them.
Isa 1:7 Your country has been devastated, and your cities have been burned to the ground. While you look on, foreigners take over your land and bring everything to ruin.
Isa 1:8 Jerusalem alone is left, a city under siege—as defenseless as a guard’s hut in a vineyard or a shed in a cucumber field.
The PORTRAIT OF THE SINNER – Part 2
Hope you enjoyed Isaiah’s Potrait painting of the SINNER. I think that is an incredible work. It is incredible because the source of the inspiration was our dear Holy Spirit. This descriptive painting brings out the following:
SIN TAKES AWAY
1. SIN takes away peace
2. SIN takes away beauty
3. SIN takes away wealth
4. SIN takes away relationships
5. SIN takes away joy
6. SIN takes away health
That is not the end of it: SIN ALSO GIVES
1. SIN gives pain
2. SIN gives suffering
3. SIN gives bruises
4. SIN gives loneliness
5. SIN gives sicknesses
6. SIN gives violence
I feel this is the single verse that brings out the clear picture of the SINNER:
Isa 1: 6 From the sole of the foot even to the head, there is no soundness in it, but bruises and sores and raw wounds; they are not pressed out or bound up or softened with oil.
I have an exercise for all my readers. Can you find verses/examples of biblical characters from the Scripture for each of the 6 points given above.
THE PORTRAIT OF THE SINNER- Part 3
Isaiah’s painting of the portrait of the Sinner is very powerful for when I see myself in the mirror in my back slidden state- the striking similarity. Also, my appearance when I came to the cross some 20 years ago sounds something like what Isaiah is talking about. The day I gave myself to Jesus, I was reborn, born again, recreated, new creation. I now bear the image of the SON of God. I feel funny saying this even now, as I know that in truth and reality, I am far from this, but to my Father in Heaven, I look like His Only Son He sacrificed on the Cross two thousand years ago. Someday, not too far away, I will be just like Him, for I am being changed/transformed day by day, strength to strength, glory to glory, that one day, in Eternity
Now I want you to see this amazing resemblance of the Portrait of the Sinner by Isaiah and Portrait of the Son of God by the same painter Isaiah.
Lets see the the portrait of the SINNER first:
Isa 1:5 Why should you be stricken any more? You will revolt more and more; the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint.
Isa 1:6 From the sole of the foot even to the head there is no soundness in it; only a wound and a stripe and a fresh blow; they have not been closed, nor bound up, nor soothed with oil.
Isa 1:7 Your land is wasted, your cities burned with fire. Strangers devour your land right before your eyes, and it is wasted, as overthrown by strangers.
Lets see a description of the SON of GOD when he took our place on the CROSS, the place of the SINNER. Another Portrait painting of IsaiahIsa 53:2 For He comes up before Him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground; He has no form nor majesty that we should see Him, nor an appearance that we should desire Him.
Isa 53:3 He is despised and rejected of men; a Man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as it were a hiding of faces from Him, He being despised, and we esteemed Him not.
Isa 53:4 Surely He has borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
Isa 53:5 But He was wounded for our transgressions; He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was on Him; and with His stripes we ourselves are healed.
Isa 53:7 He was oppressed, and He was afflicted; yet He opened not His mouth. He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter; and as a sheep before its shearers is dumb, so He opened not His mouth.
Isa 53:8 He was taken from prison and from judgment; and who shall declare His generation? For He was cut off out of the land of the living; for the transgression of My people He was stricken.
Isa 53:9 And He put His grave with the wicked, and with a rich one in His death; although He had done no violence, nor was any deceit in His mouth.
Isa 53:10 Yet it pleased Jehovah to crush Him; to grieve Him; that He should put forth His soul as a guilt-offering. He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, and the will of Jehovah shall prosper in His hand.
Please study the above two passages and don’t you see the descriptions are alike in several aspects:
1. Wounds
2. Lost everything
3. Sorrowful
4. Sick.
5. Beaten up by strangers (stricken)
Interesting isn’t it. We can clearly see how Jesus died a vicarious (substitutionary) death on the cross for us. He took our place. He looked just like us. He suffered just like us. But he did not do what we did. HE DID NOT SIN. BUT HE SUFFERED!
Enjoy the Portraits that we have discussed
NO LONGER I, BUT CHRIST: Confession of a TRUE FOLLOWER OF CHRIST!
Gal 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ, and I live; yet no longer I, but Christ lives in me. And that life I now live in the flesh, I live by faith toward the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself on my behalf.
I am crucified with Christ,….Not literally, for so only the two thieves were crucified with him, but mystically; Christ was crucified for him in his (Paul) room and stead, and so he was crucified with Him, and in Him, as his head and representative. Christ sustained the persons of all his people, and what He did and suffered was in their name, and on their account, and so they (WE) were crucified and suffered with Him, as they are said to be buried with Him, and to be risen with him, and to sit together in heavenly places in him. Moreover, their old man was crucified with Him; when He was crucified, all their sins, the whole body of them, were laid upon Him, and He bore them, and bore them away, destroyed and made an end of them; they (our SINS) received their mortal wound by his crucifixion and death, so as never to be able to have any damning power over them (US); and in consequence of this the affections and lusts are crucified, and the deeds of the body of sin mortified by the Spirit and grace of God, in regeneration and sanctification, so as not to have the dominion over them (US); the world is crucified to them (US), and they to the world; and this is another reason proving that justification by Christ is no licentious doctrine.
Nevertheless I live; which is to be understood, not of his (Paul) natural, but of his spiritual life; the life of justification he lived, by faith, on the righteousness of Christ; and the life of sanctification which he had from Christ, by the quickening influences of his Spirit, by virtue of which he walked in newness of life. The believer is a mere paradox, he is dead to the law, and “yet lives” to God; he is crucified with Christ, and yet lives by him; yea, a crucified Christ lives in him.
Yet not I; not the same I as before, but quite another man, a new creature: he did not now live as in his state of unregeneracy, and whilst in Judaism; he was not now Saul the blasphemer, the persecutor, and injurious person; nor did he now live Saul the Pharisee: or the life he had was not of his own obtaining and procuring; his life of righteousness was not of himself, but Christ; his being quickened, or having principles of life and holiness implanted in him, was not by himself, but by the Spirit; and the holy life and conversation he lived was not owing to himself, to his power and strength, but to the grace of God; or it was not properly himself, or so much he that lived,
but Christ lives in me: who was not only the author and maintainer of his (Paul’s) spiritual life, but the life itself; He (Jesus) was formed in his (Paul) soul, dwelt in his heart, was united to him, was one with him, whence all vital principles and vital actions sprung, and all the communion and comforts of a spiritual life flowed.
And the life which I now live in the flesh; in the body, whilst in this mortal state, whereby he distinguishes that spiritual life he had from Christ, and through Christ’s living in him, both from the natural life of his body, and from that eternal life he expected to live in another world; and which, he says,
I live by the faith of the Son of God;meaning, not that faith which Christ, as man, had, but that of which He (Jesus) is the author and object, by which the just man lives; not upon it, for the believer does not live upon any of his graces, no, not upon faith, but by faith on Christ, the object; looking to Him for pardon, righteousness, peace, joy, comfort, every supply of grace, and eternal salvation: which object is described as “the Son of God”; who is truly God, equal with his Father; so that he did not live upon a creature, or forsake the fountain of living waters, but upon the only begotten Son of God, who is full of grace and truth: of whom he further says,
who loved me; before the foundation of the world, from everlasting, prior to his love to him; and freely, without any regard to worth or merit, and though he was a blasphemer and a persecutor; and him personally, and particularly, in a distinguishing manner, of which he had a special knowledge and application by the Spirit of God; and was a reason and argument constraining him, and prevailing on him to live to Him (Jesus) who loved him (Paul) , and died for him, or, as he adds,
and gave himself for me; His (Jesus) whole self, his soul and body, as in union with his divine person, into the hands of justice, and unto death, in his room and stead, as an offering and sacrifice for sin, and which He did freely and voluntarily; and is a strong and full proof of his love to him (Paul). Now though Christ gave his life a ransom for many, and Himself for His whole church, and all the members of His mystical body, yet the apostle speaks of this matter as singularly respecting Himself, as if almost he was the only person Christ loved and died for; which shows that faith deals with Christ not in a general way, as the Saviour of the world, but with a special regard to a man’s self: this is the life of faith; and these considerations of the person, love, and grace of Christ, animate and encourage faith in its exercises on him (Paul).
STARS of the UNIVERSE vs STARS of the WORLD
Phi 2:13 For it is God who is producing in you both the desire and the ability to do what pleases him.
Phi 2:14 Do everything without complaining or arguing
Phi 2:15 so that you may be blameless and innocent, God’s children without any faults among a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine like stars in the world (Stars of the universe in NIV)
The world recognizes STARS of a different type – they are the STARS of the WORLD. Nevertheless they are STARS. They have tremendous impact on the minds of today’s generation. They govern the fashion, style, and thought patterns of today’s generation. The world is crazy about them. People commit suicide if one of them departs! What an influence! Society is governed by these trendsetters. Be it Badshah of Bollywood or King of Pop, or even the Obamas of the Sarkozys, they have influence, and their lights shine
Are we influenced, by any chance of the World. Lets face it! To some extent we are all and I must say all of it is not so bad. But whatever influence they have on us is definitely an appeal to our flesh and causes us to more to dwell in the flesh and some of us even driven by it. Is the Church influenced by them? Is it possible that somewhere we have imbibed these styles and fashions! Let us pray with David as he did in Psalms 139
Psa 139:23 Investigate my life, O God, find out everything about me; Cross-examine and test me, get a clear picture of what I’m about;
Psa 139:24 See for yourself whether I’ve done anything wrong– then guide me on the road to eternal life.
WE NEED TO DO THIS OFTEN. ASK THE HOLY SPIRIT TO SHINE HIS LIGHT INTO OUR LIVES TO INVESTIGATE OUR THOUGHTS, PATTERNS, MOTIVES, VALUES ETC. Otherwise, there is a strong possibility we are on the wrong side of the LINE. BEWARE OF THE STAR OF THE WORLD.
There remains another fact, that is clearly evident. The influence of the STARS of the WORLD does not seem to do any good. The world is deteriorating badly and A SIGNIFICANT contribution can be attributed to the STARS of the WORLD.
The Bible talks of a different set of STARS. The STARS of the Universe. Paul speaks about it in Phillipians. He challenges the Phillipian believers to be the STARS of the Universe. Other translations use words like Luminaires, Lights, lightbearers. Paul also calls the generation of his time as crooked and perverse. LOOK around you!! Do you see something similar. To me there is some of it in me too!!!!. Oh Lord I need you badly……. I need you to work on me!!!! Holy Spirit, keep working on me…… ooooops sorry…. that was ,my prayer, back to the Biriyani.
If you see something that Paul is seeing around you, then Paul’s Challenge to the Phillipians is our challenge for Today! Our Lord Himself challenges us to the same
Mat 5:14 You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.
Mat 5:15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it shines on everything in the house.
Mat 5:16 Thus let your light shine before men, so that they may see your good works, and they may glorify your Father who is in heaven.
Have you see the sky when there are not stars, a cloudy night! It is looks terrible and horrific! But have you seen starlit sky. It is so beautiful. Lets make the world beautiful.
Let us shine as the Glory of the Son shines forth from within us. The world badly NEEDS the STARS of the UNIVERSE. It is a dark world badly in need of the LIGHT and we have plenty of it and it is UNCREATED LIGHT, coming out of us, the SOURCE being THE LIGHT Himself, the GLORY of God, Jesus our Lord dwelling in US.
So go out and SHINE!!!! Shine brightly! Shine brighter than the SUN!!! Shine like the SON