The Big Brother Analogy March 19, 2009

“Ten years of walking the dusty village streets and concrete jungles…. Facing strangers, snobs and scolding… Pastoring a church of just 50 people… Raising a family with just a bare minimum in the pocket while watching the rest of the world live luxurious lives… Often makes me wonder if the life I am living is worth the Business that I gave up!”

“Look!… Tina tops the class… Rita flaunts her figure… Shweta her great features… Latika’s parents can afford her education abroad… Shruti comes to college in her Merc… And me???… NOTHING!”

“Mom and Dad love their son more than me… I doubt if they even remember the day I was born…”

“John and I grew together, studied together and now we work together… But how does he always end up being in the limelight… He always won in the board game… He always scored first… He always gets multiple promotions… But my life is stuck!… Is God partial?”

I would be surprised if someone has never felt like this even once! This is exactly the same way the big brother reacted that early morning when his prodigal brother returned!

‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’

Luke 15:29, 30

The Heart of a Slave

From dawn to dusk there were servants waiting on him. His wish was their command. The table never ran out of food and neither his wardrobe out of clothes. While his servants toiled in the fields, he was free to go on a chariot ride or hunting. Yet he said,

“…I’ve been slaving for you…”

He had the heart of a slave and not a son!

Serving God could be either out of obligation or delight. A slave serves out of obligation and a son out of delight. You might reach heaven slaving yourself with different ministries. But you are definitely not going to enjoy your journey. Whereas God is looking for those who find joy and delight in serving Him. Such enjoy heaven on earth!

The Grass on the Other Side

Food, money, clothes, servants, fields, mansions… You name it. He had it. He had the Father who had it all. Despite all that he was surrounded with, deep down in the dark cellars of his heart he nurtured a seed of dissatisfaction that compelled him to say,

“…You never gave me…”

Has others lives seemed more attractive to you than yours? Have you ever wished you could trade your life for your neighbor’s? Does the grass on the other side always appear greener? Well, dig your heart. You’ll find that same seed of dissatisfaction.

Dissatisfaction creeps unnoticed in a soul blinding its eye to God’s goodness. It can subtly make blessings seem insignificant and worthless. It is a lie. If you have been watering this seed lately, pray that your eyes will be open to see how blessed you are. God has blessed you more than you could ask or even imagine!

When Brother Becomes a Stranger

He was 6 years old and his brother a couple of years younger than him. When he helped his Dad pick figs, his brother climbed the branches. At 12 he went to the synagogue and his brother stayed back home playing with his friends. Years rolled by, he was a young man now and so was his brother. He chose his Father’s business and his brother chose to run away.

Over the years he always wondered why his Father’s love was not more towards him and less toward his brother. How could his Father shower the same attention over a brother was not as good as him? Tiny thoughts of jealousy grew into hate and that morning when his lost brother returned, he addressed him as,

“…This son of yours…”

Hate blazed in his heart so intensely that he simply couldn’t call his brother ‘brother’!

Jealousy and hate are carnivorous. They are deadly peace-eaters. They destroy the bond between brothers, sisters, family and friends. A person once close to the heart turns a stranger when hate sneaks in between. Nothing but the love of God can tear down these negative emotions. Hate destroys bonds. The love of God binds. Bring your broken cord to God.

When God Appears Partial

The Father always gave both his sons the best of everything. Though the gifts to each of them were not always the same, it always was of equal value. But the big brother was so full of hate that he could scarcely value his Father’s gifts. What was given to the younger brother always appeared more special. Jealousy distorted the picture he had of his Father. Everything that the Father did seemed biased when he looked through the colored glass of hate.

It was finally the day his brother returned. Walking back from the field he noticed his house decorated. The closer he drew he heard music and dancing. With curiosity mounting, he hurried towards home just to hear his servant tell him that his prodigal brother was the reason for the celebration. Standing outside the house, self-pity and anger gushing through his veins, he tells his Father,

“…You never gave me a goat… But, you kill the fattened calf for him!”

How many times have accused God of being partial? There is no partiality in the God who is the embodiment of love. His love is undivided and unadulterated. He simply cannot love one person excess and another less. His gifts may vary from one to another. But its value remains equal. You are as precious to Him as the friend or neighbor you envy. If only you could stop looking through that glass of hate and jealousy, you are sure to experience God’s overwhelming love!

Respect or Honour? October 17, 2007

I happened to spend one night with my friend in her apartment. That night her mom and her sisters came home from Vellore. Her mom was with us just for an hour. In that one hours time, I was really touched by the way these three sisters showed love and respect to their mother.

The next morning, while traveling to work in the electric train, I was thinking to myself, how I’ve been treating my parents. I found in my heart both love and respect. But I knew still something big was missing. The Lord pointed out to me that I wasn’t “honouring” my parents enough!

I’m sure all of us love our parents and have due respect for them. But how many times have we honoured them? The Lord pointed out to me that both ‘respect’ and ‘honour’ are different from each other. Honour is an outward act of respect and adoration combined. The Bible does not say, “Respect your parents”. It says, “Honour your parents” (Exodus 20:12). Honour is one step higher than respect. The blessing of long life is for those who ‘honour’ their parents.

Therefore , take a couple minutes right now and figure out ways in which you can honour your parents today. If you can honour them with words of love, call them right away. Don’t feel shy to express your love. If you think you got to honour them with your money, send them a cheque. Ask the Lord to show you other ways in which you can honour them. For those of you who are residing with your parents, spend more time with them than hanging out with friends. We don’t realize how these small acts of kindness can make their hearts glad!

Let’s not forget, our kids will treat us the way we treat our parents today for we shall reap what we sow!

~The Ultimate Purpose of our LIFE~ October 16, 2007

Friday evening… The girls of our Young Women’s Prayer Fellowship had gathered… I asked them what the ultimate purpose of our life was and the following were their answers…

~~~> “To get to heaven at any cost!”

~~~> “To have dominion over all God’s creation!”

~~~> “To share the good news of the gospel to those perishing in sin and to be transformed into God’s likeness!”

My!… All these answers are very impressive aren’t they?…

That night I went to bed with this question still ringing in my mind… And all of a sudden I heard the Lord say, “Michelle, in order to know what the ultimate purpose of life is, you  ought to know the purpose for which I created man, first!”…

Let’s go back to the time of creation…

• Did God create Adam so that he will find his way to heaven? 

If God created man in His own image, I presume that the Garden of Eden would have definitely carried the very image of heaven. If, God Himself remarked it to be ‘good’. then the garden consisted of everything wonderful that our mind could conceive of. There was no need, no hunger, no hurt or pain that would have made Adam desire for a better place. For sure, the first time Adam opened his eyes and saw all the beauty that was surrounding him, he must have exclaimed, “Boy! This should be heaven!”

If heaven was the sole purpose for which Adam was created, then he was already there. There was no need for him to desire for a better place.  In this case, the purpose of his creation has been almost accomplished right at the very beginning of his life.

What then was the purpose Adam would seek to accomplish the rest of his days?…

• Did God create Adam so that he would have dominion over all His creation? 

The first five days of Creation God spends in creating the world and all that we see in it, inside it and around it… On day 6, God creates all animals and then finally He creates man… Adam must have felt like a just crowned Emperor when God told him, “Prosper! Reproduce! Fill Earth! Take charge! Be responsible for fish in the sea and birds in the air,
for every living thing that moves on the face of Earth. I’ve given you every sort of seed-bearing plant on Earth and every kind of fruit-bearing tree, given them to you for food. To all animals and all birds, everything that moves and breathes, I give whatever grows out of the ground for food.” Genesis 1:28 – 30, The Message. 

But then, did God create Adam just to enjoy all the luxuries of the garden and to have dominion over all that was created for him?… Was Adam created in God’s very likeness just for a task such as this?  Don’t you think Adam carried God’s image for a much higher purpose?

• Did God create Adam to be transformed into God’s likeness and to share the good news of the gospel to those perishing in sin? 

God was and is Holy… He created Adam in His very image and therefore there was no possibility or need for Adam to become more holy or to be transformed into God’s image… Secondly, the world knew not what sin was at that point of time and hence there was no need for souls to be saved from sin…

In such an intense atmosphere of holiness, what was the purpose for which God created Adam?…

The short answer to the question “why did God create us?” is “for His pleasure.” Revelation 4:11 says, “Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created.” Colossians 1:16 reiterates the point: “All things were created by Him and for Him.”

Being made in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:27), human beings have the ability to know God—and therefore love Him, worship Him, serve Him, and fellowship with Him. God did not create human beings because He needed them. As God, He needs nothing. In all eternity past, He felt no loneliness, so He was not looking for a “friend.” He loves us, but this is not the same as needing us.

Recognizing the complete sovereignty and holiness of God, we are amazed that He would take man and “crown him with glory and honor” (Psalm 8:5), and that He would condescend to call us “friends” (John 15:14-15).

One cannot love Him, worship Him, serve Him, and fellowship with Him without really ‘knowing’ Him. From Genesis to Revelations, you will find God ending many statements of His saying, “So that you will know that I am God!”

• I remember my high school teacher making mention of a quote that goes like this… House is made of brick and stone… But home is made of love alone!… It is the same with heaven… It is not the pearly gates, the golden streets or the mansions that make heaven ‘heaven’… It is God and His presence that makes heaven ‘Heaven’!… If you are seeking heaven just to escape hell, I doubt if you would ever enjoy heaven when you get there!… Therefore seek the God of heaven and not just heaven!… Seek to live with Him and fellowship with Him for all eternity..!
• Why did God put Adam in charge of the garden of Eden, Joseph in charge of Egpyt, Moses in charge of the Israelites and David in charge of Isreal?… Just as an earthly father would gift his son out of love, what these men were put in charge were just gifts from God to express His love… I don’t belittle the dominion Adam was given or the kingship Moses and others were given… What I want to say is that… The Gift is important… But not more than the Giver!…
• Jesus said, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” Holiness and purity is an undeniable vital part of Christian life, but that aren’t the ultimate purpose. The ultimate purpose is to SEE GOD…and to KNOW Him!… 

Moses did so many exploits… God used him to part the sea, turn the royal Nile into blood, to divide the Red Sea and what not… The most dramatic miracles that we find in the scriptures where performed through Moses… He led the most number of people than any could even number… But still at the end of His life, there is just one thing that is said about Moses, “No prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face…” Deuteronomy 34:10.

Knowing God is what counts in the end… We all know enough ‘about’ God… It is high time we start knowing Him… May this be the ultimate purpose of our life!

If my body is the temple of the Holy Spirit.. Ain’t my hair a temple property?! October 15, 2007

I dedicate this article for all those out there deeply disheartened by their hairfall!

I have been having a pretty tough time with my hair the whole of last month… My hairfall has become more similar to a waterfall that I am beginning to dread the day I might wake up and find myself totally bald like prophet Elisha!…

Sunsilk – Thick and Strong Shampoo promised me its natural strengthening power of Soya Protein… Dove’s Advanced Care Therapy Shampoo promised to go deep inside the hair and restores the surface to help deliver moisture therapy to hair with severe signs of dryness or damage… But did these work for me?!!!!… NO!!!!

As I stood in front of the mirror disentangling the hair, far too many to number, from my comb… I couldn’t help but feel sorry for myself!… I began to tell God, “Lord, if my every minute detail matters to you… You better do something about this right away!… And Lord, if my body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, ain’t my hair a temple property?!!!”…

I was then reminded that all God’s property has His guarantee…!!!… The following is what our Lifetime Guarantee Certificate says,

“As the Lord lives, there shall not one hair of his head perish!” 1 Samuel 14:45

“If he will show himself to be a worthy man, not a hair of him shall fall to the ground!” 1 Kings 1:52

“Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered.” Luke 12:7

“Not a hair of your head will perish.” Luke 21:18

I have begun to claim what my Lifetime Guarantee Certificate has promised!!!… So can you!!!

The Maker STOPS! September 20, 2007

He was blind from birth. He may not have been a young man, which shows us that his suffering from blindness was for many years. His countrymen considered him an outcast. His very own family could have despised and rejected him. With no sophisticated eye surgery available those days, this man couldn’t have even dreamt of a day when he could see. As for him, he was doomed to be blind all his life. Sitting in one corner of that market place, listening to the sound of laughter of the people around him, we don’t know how many times he asked God, “God… Why did you create me this way?… When many around me are enjoying a good life, why am I the only one suffering?… God, do you love me?… Do you even care about me?… Do you exist?”

Weeks turned into months… Months turned into years… Life was still the same for this blind beggar… UNTIL one day when Jesus passed by! The minute he sensed that his Maker was walking down his street, he cried out to Him as a little child would to get the attention of its mother. One cry! The Maker STOPS!… And his blindness becomes history! The last thing that we read about this once-blind man is that he followed Jesus.

Let’s not end the story here. I want you to extend your imagination to the scene that bright sunny afternoon in that market place. A man who was unnoticed for years soon became the talk of the town. More than anything, that afternoon, many lost souls witnessed that Jesus Christ was more than just a man. They realized He was God!

There was no need that Jesus should walk through Jericho that sunny afternoon. We don’t read of Him healing anybody else or preaching there. He walked down that road just for this one blind beggar. Little did the blind man know what was His Maker was planning during his years of blindness.

Friend, you may not be blind like this man. But are you asking God the same questions that this blind man could have once asked? There is but one thing that I would like to tell you:

Your Maker is working out a miracle behind the scenes of you life!

He is soon going walk down the streets of your life. Just like our blind friend, don’t quit calling on the name of JESUS. One Cry and your Maker will stop to give you your miracle. The blind man received his miracle when he least expected it and so will yours be. In other words, God will surprise you!

The day you receive your miracle will be a glorious one, pretty similar to the one in the market place that afternoon. The very people who despised you, rejected you and called you an ‘outcast’, will seek to honour you. More than anything, you shall become a mighty witness of how much God still loves His people!

The blind man did not cry out for his sight. He cried out for Jesus. With Jesus came his sight. Likewise, don’t cry out for your miracle. Cry out for Jesus.

Jesus walked down that road of Jericho just for that one blind man. He walked down the Via Dolorosa to the cross of Calvary just for you. How can you doubt this Saviour’s love?

 

The Master is Waiting… September 20, 2007

Lately, I’ve been going to the beach for my morning quiet time… This morning, T’was beautiful in its own way… My friend and I, sat right in front of the sea… T’was around quarter past 6… The red sun was peeping out of the silhouette of the sea and the moon was retiring for the day at the back of me… The gray sea turned gold when the first ray of sun light fell on it… And there at a distance, were numerous fishing boats return from the deep after the night’s catch…

As I was beholding this beautiful sight, I was taken back in time for the following few minutes…
I realized, it would’ve been a similar morning, when Peter, James and John were sailing back to the shore… T’was just another morning to them… Probably, their mornings have been the same for the past many years… I wonder how many times they complained about the monotonous routine of life (like how many of us do;-)… This fine morning, Little did these men know that in a little while they’re going to have the encounter that is going to change their entire destiny…
The Master was waiting!

People of God, I do not know how many among us are complaining about the monotonous routine of life… This morning, I just want to make you aware of the surprise that is just round the corner… A surprise that is going to change the course your life… The Master is waiting!… Get ready!

What Kind of Man is this?!!! September 20, 2007

I guess it was His first crusade. Large crowds from Galilee, the Decaplois, Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan had gathered on the hillside to hear Him. Well, I don’t know how many thousands had gathered that day. But one thing I am sure of is, it definitely was noisy. But there from on a distant shore, far across a few cities, came the scream of two men in the tomb. The scream, which only my Master could hear.

My Master was sitting up there on the mountaintop. I heard His sermon on the mount. They truly were Words of life. I, along with the crowds, was astonished and overwhelmed with bewildered wonder at His teaching. He was teaching as One who had and was authority. What kind of Man is this? Isn’t He the carpenters Son? Or could He be a great teacher?

I walked down the mountain with Him. I tried to stay as close as possible to Him as great throngs followed Him. Suddenly, He stopped! The thronging crowd came to a grinding halt. A leper, prostrating himself, worshipped Him. The crowd that thronged Him all this while stepped back at the sight of this leper. This poor leper mumbled something. My Master stooped low, reached out and touched Him. Did I say my Master touched the leper?!!! YUCK! How could He do that?!!! The next second, I found the leper, awestruck of what had happened to him. His skin became like a newborn babes! My! What kind of Man is this? He just touches the leper and the leper gets healed. He definitely got to be Someone more than just a teacher! Was He a Healer?

Now it was almost late in the afternoon. We went into Capernaum. We were still on the highway, when there came a centurion, begging my Master to heal his servant. Hey Hey Hey Was the centurion begging my Master? The centurion appeared Roman. He seemed like a man of authority, with soldiers under him. But what did he see in my Master who was just a carpenters Son? Well, my Master still on the highway said something to that centurion and soon we get the news that the servant boy lying ill in the house down the street corner got healed! A couple of hours back, He touched and the leper got healed; But now, He just spoke and a guy somewhere far away got healed; What kind of Man is this?;Could He be Someone higher in rank and authority than that Roman centurion?

The evening came. The sky was turning red. The cool sea breeze started to blow. All my energy was drained and my body worn out after the days journey. But I still didn’t feel like leaving my Master because I haven’t seen a Man like Him before. What kind of Man is this?

The day was coming to its close. The crowd kept increasing. Many sick and possessed were brought to Him. The crowd was pressing hard against Him trying to touch at least the hem of His garment. Like Zacchaeus, I stood on a large stone a few feet away, my eye focused on my Masters face. He did seem weary. His eyes appeared like He neither sleeps nor slumbers. But there was a peace, a calm. I loved the way He looked at the pressing crowd. It seemed like He has been waiting over the years just for this moment. Oh! There was something so special about His touch. I found some kind of love flowing through Him. He touched and the sick were healed. He spoke a word, just a word and the demons fled. What kind of Man is this?

By this time, the sky grew dark. We were on the seashore, the crowds still thronging Him. Somewhere on a distant shore the screams were getting louder and my Master heard it. Immediately, he stepped into a boat. The disciples and I followed Him. Twas my first time in the sea and I was seasick. Suddenly, out of nowhere the crystal sky turned stormy. The sea began to rage. Most of the disciples were expert fishermen and I turned to them seeking courage. To my surprise, I saw fear written on the faces of these strong men. Immediately, I turned to my Master. That moment I felt like David singing, You are my refuge and my fortress in times of trouble. The storm was turning violent and the boat was being covered up by the waves; but He was sleeping! Sleeping like a child on that wet wooden plank stinking of fish. What kind of Man is this;Sleeping when the tempest is raging? The disciples awakened Him. Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great and wonderful calm, a perfect peaceableness.
My jaws dropped in amazement. The disciples and I were stunned with bewildered wonder and marveled. What kind of Man is this? Even the winds and the sea obey Him!

Little did I know about the big drama that awaited us when we arrived at the other side in the country of Gadarenes. Twas a cloudy early morning. Master commanded Peter to anchor the boat near a rocky shore that seemed like an ancient tomb. We stepped on the shore. My Master didn’t take a step further. It seemed like He was waiting for someone. Suddenly, something, so fierce and savage broke the still of the moment. Fear gripped my heart at what I saw. There at my Masters feet lay two men from the tomb, under the control of demons. They shrieked and screamed. No one could even bind them even in a chain. They had often been chained hand and foot, but they tore the chains apart and broke the irons on their feet. No one was strong enough to subdue them. Night and day, cutting themselves with stones, among the tombs and the hills they would cry out; This is the cry my Master heard on mountaintop, so far away.

I didnt have the time to see how the disciples reacted at what they saw because my blood ran cold and my heart froze in fear. I ran and hugged my Master tight, turning off my senses to what was happening.

Quiet a few minutes passed. The scene became more dramatic. The demons started speaking to my Master. The minute I the heard the inhuman voice, my curiosity arouse within me. I slowly opened just one eye. The other still tightly closed in fear, I peeped over my Masters shoulder. The sight that shocked me all the more was not those two men from the tomb, but my Masters face. The sound of the demons shrieking grew silent in my ears as my eyes beheld my Masters face. What peace and calm? What love? Oh! As I was hugging Him from behind, I could literally feel My Masters aching heart seeing the work of His hands being tormented and torn. It seemed like He knew them. He knew the sleepless days and nights they spent. He knew His creation wouldnt be able to take a second more. He just said one word. Begone! Never ever have I heard or seen a Man of such authority. Just one word from my Master and the demons came out and went into the hogs, and behold, the whole drove rushed down the steep bank into the sea and died in the water. What kind of Man is this?

Right now, I m back in the boat with my Master and the disciples. The boats leaving the shore. There behind me on the shore are the two men possessed by the legion of demons, dressed and in the right mind, thinking what I m thinking What kind of Man is this?

Looks like my adventure with my Master has just began. Every time I see Him I cant help wondering ;What kind of Man is this? But one thing Ive known thus far is that He is more than just a Man; When I see the look on this face, I know He is the great I AM!

25 years – Since my first cry! September 19, 2007

25 years – Since my first cry! Not too sure how loud that was… Or how faint it could have been compared to the cries of one million other new born babies that day… It was the best hospital in town with the best doctors to assist my birth… But yet with the best of everything around, I cried a helpless cry…

Yes, my mother did cry too… That was out of pain… But I… Cried because I knew not… I knew not who I was and because of W-H-O I was… I really wonder what my new born mind perceived of all that was happening… For sure I didn’t know what love, care, comfort and purpose was… Little did I know His eyes even saw my unformed body and the all the days ordained for me were written in His book before one of them came to be!

Years passed by and I turned 10… It was then I cried once again… A cry that I would never ever forget…

It was past 9 in the night on that lonely national highway… I was standing all alone with my head bleeding and my dad lying unconscious beside me… It was just a couple of minutes back that my dad and I were thrown off our bike hit by a lorry… It was dark all around… None around and none to call… I had no choice but to cry the same helpless cry… But this time I cried – “JESUS, SAVE US!”

This time, my cry not just saved our life… It changed our life!

Years have gone by… I have turned quarter of a century… The cries of my heart have been quite many… Looking back, most of it have been cries of ignorance – Ignorant of my God, His power, His love and His purpose for me… But I’m so glad because, as ignorant as my cries were (and still are), they’re all heard and answered…

My God not just hears my cry… He cares about me when I cry…

From life’s first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
‘Til He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand!