Our God Helps Us to Make Peace with Those Who are Against Us, When He is Pleased with Our Ways

Misunderstandings between family members, colleagues and co-workers are quite common. Such misunderstandings do not not always lead to serious conflicts but often create tension in relationships. When two people have misunderstandings a cold war breaks out between them and they literally try to avoid each other. But as Christians it is very important for us to live in peace with everyone. The writer of Hebrews says, 

“Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy, without holiness no one will see the Lord”
(Hebrews 12:14). 

Our thought for reflection this Thursday morning is, “Our God Helps Us to Make Peace with Those Who are Against Us, When He is Pleased with Our Ways”

“Meanwhile, Abimelech had come to him (Isaac) from Gerar, with Ahuzzath his personal adviser and Phicol the commander of his forces. Isaac asked them, “Why have you come to me, since you were hostile to me and sent me away”
(Genesis 26:26-27)

It is very surprising to find Abimelech, king of the Philistines, who earlier, angrily sent away Isaac, forced to make peace with Isaac. This is definitely God’s doing. Genesis chapter 26 suggests two reasons for this sudden interest of Abimelech to make peace with Isaac.

1. Abimelech saw that God was with Isaac.

Earlier, King Abimelech saw Isaac as a rival and as a foreigner who was robbing the lands and wells of the people of Philistines. But later when King Abimelech saw Isaac being successful in digging new wells for himself wherever he went, and being successful, He realized that He enjoyed an unusual divine favour. 

The King and his officials said to Isaac, “We saw clearly that the Lord was with you, so we said, ‘Let us make a treaty with you’ 
(Genesis 26:28)

Thus it was when Abimelech recognized that God was with Isaac that he came to make peace with him. Can those around us especially those who have misunderstandings with us, see that God is with us?

2. Abimelech saw that God blessed Isaac (26:29).

Abimelech realized that Isaac’s success in digging his own wells was not just the result of his hard work but divine blessing. Thus he openly confessed to Isaac this way; 

“And now you are blessed by the Lord” 
(Genesis 26:29b)

In Genesis 21:22, when King Abimelech recognized that God was with Abraham and blessed him, he made peace with him. In the same way when King Abimelech saw that God blessed Isaac, he came to make peace with him. Are those who are against us or those who have misunderstandings with us, able to see that God is blessing us and everything that we are doing?

King Solomon said in Proverbs: 

“When the LORD takes pleasure in anyone's way, he causes their enemies to make peace with them” 
(Proverbs 16:7)

Are we sure that God is happy with our ways? Can we be sure that God is with us and His divine favour and blessings are upon us to the extent that even those who are against us can see? Let’s pray. 

“Dear Lord, help me to live in such a way that those who have misunderstandings with me, can see that you are with me. I confess that without you being with me and you blessing me, I cannot be successful in my life. Give me the grace to make peace with everyone including those who are against me. Let my ways be always pleasing unto you. In Jesus’ name,... Amen!”

Our God Wants Us to Practice Godliness on the Face of Envy and Jealousy

We are living in a world full of envy and jealousy. Envy is defined as a feeling of discontentment or resentful longing aroused by someone else’s possessions, qualities or success. Envy is wanting what some else has and resenting that person for having it. But jealousy is being worried that some else is trying to take what we have. The key questions are, how we, as children of God, avoid being envious or jealous over others’ success and how we behalf when others are envious or jealous of us. Our thought for reflection this Tuesday morning is, “Our God Wants Us to Practice Godliness on the Face of Envy and Jealousy”

“The man became rich, and his wealth continued to grow until he became very wealthy. He had so many flocks and herds and servants that the Philistines envied him”
(Genesis 26:15)

Isaac’s wealth and blessings attracted unwelcome attention from the Philistines, who were envious of his success (Genesis 26:15). The Bible says, Abimelech rejected Isaac, (Genesis 26:16). Quarreling and dispute with the herdsmen of Abimelech continued because of water rights (Genesis 26:19-21). How did Isaac handle the envy, jealousy, quarrels and disputes of the Philistines in a godly way?

1. Isaac avoided conflict without retaliating.

Isaac is portrayed in Genesis 26 as a peace-loving man who avoided conflicts in a godly way. When Abimelech, King of the Phililistines, literally asked Isaac to get lost, the Bible says, 

“So Isaac moved away from there and encamped in the Valley of Gerar and settled there. Later when Abimelech’s men claimed one of Isaac’s wells, he did not protest but quietly moved on until he found another well"
(Genesis 26:21-22). 

In today’s world people may say that Isaac was foolish not to claim what was rightly his. But Isaac, being a godly person, avoided conflict with those who took away what rightly belonged to him. Do we envy those who are successful and aim to grab what rightly belongs to them? How do we respond when people envy our success and try to take away from us what duly belongs to us?

2. Isaac practiced patient trust in His God.

All through Genesis 26, we find Isaac as the innocent party whose wells were either seized or filled in by his enemies. It was nothing but a mean example of vandalism motivated by envy and jealousy. Patient trust in God, in the midst of injustice, envy and jealousy is godliness, pleasing Yahweh. He trusted that if God did not bless, no one could be blessed and if God wanted to bless, no one could stop Him from doing so. We read that Isaac’s patience and trust in God paid off. 

“He moved on from there and dug another well, and no one quarreled over it. He named it Rehoboth…”
(Genesis 26:22). 

Are we becoming irritated and anxious due to the envy and jealousy of others over our success or are we practicing patient trust in God?

“For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice”.
(James 3:16)

Are we experiencing envy and jealousy in family relationships, at work place and in ministry? Let’s decide to practice godliness like Isaac. Let’s pray. 

“Dear Lord, help me not to be envious or jealous of the success or promotion of others. Help me to avoid conflict with those who envy and act against me. Enable me to trust in you and practice patience when I become a victim envy, jealousy and injustice throughout this day and the rest of my life. In Jesus’ name,...  Amen!"

Our God is Our Security

The dictionary defines fear as an unpleasant emotion caused by the false belief that someone or something is dangerous and likely to cause pain or a threat. If we ask ourselves the question, “Is the world a safer place than when we were growing up”? 9 out of 10 of us may say “No”. Someone once described fear in an acronym: False Expectations Appearing Real. According to philosopher Aristotle 

“Fear is pain arising from the anticipation of evil”. 

Is it not true that in spite of being Christians for years, at times, we not only fear and feel unsafe in new places where we are surrounded by new people but also in familiar environments? Our thought for reflection this Monday morning is “Our God is Our Security”.

When the men of that place asked him about his wife, he said, “She is my sister,” because he was afraid to say, “She is my wife.” He thought, “The men of this place might kill me on account of Rebekah, because she is beautiful”
(Genesis 26:7)

Being in a new place, Isaac adopted the same tactics to hide the true identity of his wife Rebekah just as his father Abraham had earlier used to hide the identity of Sarah, both in Egypt (Genesis 12:10-12) and Gerar (Genesis 20:1-18). Isaac felt that the safest way to avoid trouble because of Rebekah’s beauty was to lie that she was a blood relative and not his wife. He was afraid because of the following reasons:

1. He FORGOT HIS IDENTITY in God.

God had told Isaac that He would make his descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and would give them all the land and through his offspring all the nations on earth would be blessed. That means God had a long term plan for Isaac (Genesis 26:4). But Isaac forgot that who he was in God’s sight. In fact, he was God’s chosen vessel to bless the nations of the world. He even forgot that if God had asked him not to go to Egypt but to remain in Canaan, it would be God’s responsibility to protect him from any kind of attack or danger, too? Forgetting who we are in Christ, are we constantly gripped by a sense of insecurity?

2. He FAILED TO REMEMBER God’s promise.

Isaac totally forgot God’s promise that He would be with him and would bless him (Genesis 26:3). In spite God’s promise, Isaac repeated his father’s folly of declaring his own wife as his sister. The reason for Isaac using his own tactics to protect himself was, he was afraid that the men of Gerar would kill him on account of his beautiful wife Rebekah. When problems overshadow the promises of God, fear overwhelm us. Do we often forget the promise of God: 

“for whoever touches you touches the apple of his eye”
(Zechariah 2:8)

With so many fears and uncertainties surrounding us in today’s unsafe world, where do we turn for security? Can armoured vehicles and bodyguards ensure our security? God says, 

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God”
(Isaiah 41:10). 

Let’s pray: 

“Dear Lord, the situations and circumstances ahead of me create fear in me. Forgive my attempts in the past, to depend on human sources to ensure my security. As I begin a new week, help me to remember my identity in you and your unfailing promise, never to leave me alone. I begin this day and week, relying totally in your security. In Jesus’ name,...  Amen!”

Blessed week

Our God Alone Knows What is Best for Us

Often we think that we know what is best for us. Our education, experiences and our knowledge of the world give us the unwavering confidence that whatever we decide for ourselves would definitely be for our own good. On the basis of our own assessment of our situations and circumstances we make decisions and later those decisions turn around and make us. Is it not true that there were times in our lives, when our own judgements went wrong? Our thought for reflection this morning is, “Our God Alone Knows What is Best for Us”.

The Lord appeared to Isaac and said, “Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land where I tell you to live. Stay in this land for a while, and I will be with you and will bless you”
(Genesis 26:2-3)

Just as when Canaan was in the grip of famine Abraham went to Egypt (Genesis 12:10-20), his son Isaac too considered going to Egypt (Genesis 26:1) to escape from the famine in Canaan. Thus, an unfavourable situation forced Isaac to decide to move to Egypt. But Yahweh, knowing what the best was for Isaac, commanded him not to leave Canaan in spite of the famine there. (Genesis 26:2). As per God’s command, Isaac decided to remain in Canaan because of two reasons.

1. God promised His presence.

Our all-knowing God could have asked Isaac not to go to Egypt to prevent Isaac from experiencing the same difficulties that his father Abraham had experienced in Egypt. Further, God could have asked Isaac to stay in Canaan as that would be the place where His promises to his father and his descendants was going to be fulfilled. God managed to convince Isaac not to move to Egypt by saying “I will be with you” and assuring him of His presence. This gives us the confidence that if God is with us, we can survive and succeed even in the worst situation. Are we currently in the process of making a major decision in our life, career, business or ministry but without being sure of what God wants us to do? 

2. God promised His provision.

Secondly, God promised Isaac that He would bless and provide him all the lands of Canaan: 

“I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and will give them all these lands and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed”
(Genesis 26:4). 

God was in fact repeating to Isaac the promises he had made to Abraham (Genesis 13:14-18; 17:1-8). When Isaac realized that God was going to provide what he needed to live in Canaan, the Bible says 

“So Isaac stayed in Gerar”
(Genesis 26:6). 

Considering always greener pastures, are we often deciding things at the spur of the moment and without even knowing what God wants us to do or not to do?

Terry Mark says, 

“God will always give us what is best for us at the right time.”

We just shouldn’t give up on Him even when it seems we aren’t getting what we so much love or want now. If we are in the midst of making a major decision in our lives, shall we look up to God to know what He thinks is best for us. Let’s pray. 

“Dear Lord, I sincerely believe that you alone know what is best for me and my family. I trust that if I remain where you want me to be, your presence and provision would be sufficient to me. Just as you clearly guided Isaac when he was about to leave for Egypt, guide me too in the paths that you have planned for me. Help me to be obedient to you!
In Jesus’ name,...  Amen!”

Blessed weekend

Our God is the Potter and He has the Right to do Whatever He Wishes with the Clay

We all have plans and dreams in our lives and we do everything possible to achieve those dreams. Sometimes we do succeed in achieving our goals and whenever we fail to attain what we dream, we blame others or blame ourselves. One of the important lessons that the Bible teaches is that God has His own will and plan for each one of us. All that we need to do is to know His plan and cooperate with Him in order to see that His perfect will is fulfilled in our lives. The thought for our reflection this morning is, “Our God is the Potter and He has the Right to do Whatever He Wishes with the Clay”

The Lord said to her, “Two nations are in your womb … one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger”
(Genesis 25:23).

It is quite normal to expect an older son to lead his younger brother. But God said that in the case of Rebekah’s children, the older (Esau) would serve the younger (Jacob). In real life, it is quite natural that when a younger person tries to assert himself over an older person, there would conflict. And that’s what we see God predicting regarding Esau and Jacob’s future. This reveals that:

1. God chooses individuals and works in ways that no one can ever presume His way.

By predicting that the older will serve the younger, God revealed that Jacob, the younger brother, would play a more significant role than Esau, the older brother in the development of Abraham’s family line. We really do not have an answer to the question why God chose Jacob to play that significant role. Did not God choose young David instead of King Saul to defeat Goliath? Are we troubled whenever we see those who are younger than us holding positions of leadership and authority?

2. God’s choice is not determined by man’s good works but by His divine will.

God did not choose Jacob on the basis of anything good in his life. But God wanted to show that as God, He had the right to choose anyone to achieve His divine plan. Here we are reminded of what Apostle Paul says regarding God’s choices and election. He says, 

“Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use?
(Romans 9:21)

In Jeremiah we read 

“Can I not, O house of Israel, deal with you as this potter does?” declares the Lord. “Behold, like the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel.”
(Jeremiah 18:6)

Often we see ourselves more as the potter than the clay. But let’s realize the fact that we are literally nothing but clay in the Master Potter’s hands. Let’s pray. 

“Dear God, forgive us for trying to play the role of the potter in our lives. We come with all humility before you this morning and surrender ourselves to always remain as clay in your hands. We want to be wherever you want us to be. Help us to yield ourselves totally into hands that you may fulfill your divine will in our lives.
In Jesus’ name,...  Amen!”

Our God Reveals Who He is by Answering Our Prayers

We are living in a busy world where people do not even have time to listen to one another’s concerns and worries. Sometimes we avoid even listening to other’s worries, thinking that those worries would become ours. At other times we avoid listening to other’s troubles as we feel that we ourselves have enough concerns to worry about. But to our great comfort, Thomas Watson says,

“Prayer delights God’s ear, it melts His heart, it opens His hand; God cannot deny a praying soul”. 

The thought for our reflection this Monday morning is, “Our God Reveals Who He is by Answering Our Prayers”.

“Isaac prayed to the Lord on behalf of his wife, because she was barren. The Lord answered his prayer, and his wife Rebekah became pregnant. The babies jostled each other within her, and she said, “Why is this happening to me?” So she went to inquire of the Lord”
(Genesis 25:21-22)

Isaac had been married to Rebekah for twenty years but yet she could not bear a child for him. Like his own mother Sarah who was barren for many years, his wife Rebekah too faced difficulty in bearing a child. Why? Because God wanted to teach the spiritual truth that all blessings including children are a gift from Yahweh and even the timing of birth is firmly in God’s control. By answering the prayers of Isaac and Rebekah, God revealed who He was.

1. He is a God who is all powerful and to whom nothing is impossible (Omnipotent)

When Isaac found out that his wife Rebekah was barren, he turned to God and prayed. And the Bible says, 

“The Lord answered his prayer and his wife Rebekah became pregnant”
(Genesis 25:21). 

Thus in answer to Isaac’s prayer, God opened the barren womb of Rebekah. That incident revealed that the power to give life was in the handsand that the word impossibility had no place inthe dictionary of our omnipotent God. Whenever we face a dead end, do we prayerfully seek God so that He could turn our hopelessness into an opportunity for Him to reveal His power?

2. He is a God who knows even how our future and that of our family would be. (Omniscient)

The Bible says that the babies jostled each other within her, and she said, 

“Why is this happening to me” So she went to inquire of the Lord
(Genesis 25:22). 

Thus prayer united both Isaac and Rebekah as supplicants of Yahweh’s mercy and grace. God’s answer to Rebekah’s prayer in Genesis 25:23 reveals that mysteries of life, including what happens inside the womb and how the future of the unborn children would be, are all known to God. The Lord said to Rebekah, 

“Two nations are in your womb… one people will be stronger than the other…"
(Genesis 25:23)

Don’t we often forget that even if we may not know our future God does know everything?

When life’s challenges knock us down, that’s the best time to look up! Why? For our God is Omnipotent (all powerful) and Omniscient (all knowing). Let’s pray. 

“Lord, realizing that we have no one else to turn to, I look up to you for help, knowing who you are. Use every difficult situation throughout this week, to reveal that you are all powerful and all knowing. I begin this week with the confidence that you know everything that is ahead of me. 
In Jesus’ name,...  Amen!" 

Blessed week!

Our God Alone Deserves to be Worshipped

If someone asks us to identify our single most important responsibility as Christians, I am not sure what would be our reply. For some of us, it could be our family chores or studies and for others it could be their jobs or businesses or ministries. Is it not true that worship is the biggest causality in the lives of most the Christians today? According to reformist Martin Luther, 

“The most acceptable service we do and show unto God and which alone He desires of us, is, that He be praised of us”. 

Christian Statesman A. W Tozer is of the opinion that we should not be concerned about working for God until we have learned the meaning and the delight of worshipping Him. Our thought for reflection this Friday morning is “Our God Alone Deserves to be Worshipped”.

Then the man bowed down and worshiped the Lord, saying, “Praise be the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who has not abandoned his kindness and faithfulness to my master. As for me, the Lord has led me on the journey to the house of my master’s relatives”
(Genesis 24:26-27).

The Christian who fails to recognize who God is, would also fail to rejoice and worship Him. A church bulletin aptly said: 

“Too many Christians worship their work, work at their play and play at their worship”. 

But for Abraham’s servant in Genesis 24, Worship was delightfully being preoccupied with God even in the midst of his serious work. How would it be possible for us to be preoccupied with God even when are busy with our work?

1. By constantly recollecting God’s work in our lives.

Abraham before sending his servant on the business of searching for a bride for his son, recollected God’s hand upon his life: Abraham said, 

“The Lord, the God of heaven, who brought me out of my father’s household and my native land and who spoke to me and promised me on oath…”
(Genesis 24:6-7). 

In the same way his servant too, recollected how in the past God had been kind and faithful to his master Abraham and had blessed him abundantly (Genesis 24:27, 35). Have we forgotten God and His works in the midst of our busy lives? Did not the Psalmist say, “Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits”?

2. By constantly recognizing God’s hand in our work.

Whenever we achieve something or succeed in our lives we either think it could be a just reward for our hard work or merely a natural process. But Abraham’s servant, consciously recognized God’s hand in everything he did. He said, 

“God let me on the right road”
(Genesis 24:48), 

“the Lord has directed”
(Genesis 24:51),

“the Lord has granted success to my journey”
(Genesis 24:56). 

Not only that, the servant bowed down and worshipped God twice (Genesis 24:48, 52). Do we recognize the divine hand upon us and actively respond to God by declaring His worth through worship?

May we spend not just this weekend but our whole life in worshiping God by constantly recollecting His divine hand upon our lives and our work! Let’s begin this day with this prayer: 

“Dear Lord, forgive me for allowing my family chores, work, studies and ministerial responsibilities to take the centre stage of my life. I humbly confess that I have neglected worship. Make me an instrument of worship which is always involved in the most acceptable service of glorifying you.
In Jesus name!...  Amen!” 

Blessed weekend!

Our God Desires to Lead and Guide Us to Make the Right Decisions in Life

It is very comforting and encouraging to know that God is concerned about everything that concerns us which include both our major as well as minor decisions in life.  Why such a great and mighty God, is concerned about the decisions that we ordinary beings make? That’s because He knows better than anyone else that our wrong decisions can have disastrous consequences in our lives and also can defeat His purposes in our lives. Not only God wants us to make the right decisions but desires to guide us in our decision making processes. The thought for our reflection is, “Our God Desires to Lead and Guide Us to Make the Right Decisions in Life”

“I praised the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who had led me on the right road to get the granddaughter of my master’s brother for his son”
(Genesis 24:48)

Oswald Chambers said, 

“Faith never knows where it is being led, but it loves and knows the One who is leading.”

Yes, Abraham loved His God and knew perfectly well that it was He who was leading him all through His life. That is revealed through his words to his servant before he left to search for a wife for Isaac: 

“The Lord, before whom I have walked, will send his angel with you and make your journey a success, so that you can get a wife for my son…”
(Genesis 24:48).  

God did not disappoint Abraham in his attempt to do God’s will in finding a wife for his son. God did intervene to make Abraham’s servant successful in finding the best wife for Isaac. Let’s reflect on how Abraham’s servant and Isaac managed to find God’s leading and will

1. Abraham’s servant was Sensitive to God’s leading. 

Just as the servant had prayed, Rebekah came out with her jar and offered him a drink when he asked for water
(Genesis 24:15-18). 

When Rebekah generously volunteered to feed the Abraham’s camels, his servant spoke the following words to Rebekah: 

“As for me, the Lord has led me on the journey to the house of my masters’ relatives" 
(Genesis 24:27b). 

Even Laban and Bethuel while giving their consent to Rebekah becoming the wife of Isaac said, 

“Take her and go, and let her become the wife of your master’s son, as the Lord has directed”
(Genesis 24:51). 

Later when Rebekah consented to go with the servant to become Isaac’s wife (Genesis 24:58), it was confirmed that Rebekah was the one God had chosen for Isaac. Are we sensitive enough to God’s leading in our lives?

2. Abraham’s son Isaac was only Seeking God.

When the servant went in search of a bride for Isaac, Isaac remained behind. The Bible says, 

“He went out to the field one evening to meditate and as he looked up, he saw camels approaching. Rebekah also looked up and saw Isaac" 
(Genesis 24:63-64). 

Isaac was not at all anxious about who would become his future wife but was just meditating. Probably, like his father Abraham, Isaac was also seeking God and trusting in Him for everything including his future wife. Did not Jesus say that when we seek Him and His righteousness all these things will be given to us as well? (Matthew 6:33). 

Because Abraham’s servant was sensitive to God’s leading and devoutly sought the Lord, the Lord guided him along the way. This is in line with God’s Word which says, 

“If the Lord delights in a man’s way, He makes his steps firm"
(Psalms 37:23).

Let’s begin this new day with this prayer: 

“Lord, there are times when I have failed to be sensitive to your leading. Give me the grace and spiritual sensitivity to know your ways and plans for me. Help me always to seek you, your kingdom and what is right in your sight. I trust that you would faithfully lead me throughout my life as you guided Abraham’s servant and Isaac. Keep me always at the centre of your will and fulfil your purpose in my life!
In Jesus’ name,...  Amen!

Our God Reveals His Will to Those Who Seek for it and Patiently Wait to Confirm it

Sometimes we feel that it would be really nice if God automatically reveals His will at every step of our life. Often we feel as if God has hidden His will somewhere and it is our big challenge to find it. But the truth is, the more we know Him, His Word and His Ways, the easier it would be for us to know His Will or what He wants us to do. Billy Graham says, 

“The greatest barrier to knowing God’s will is simply that we want to run our own lives. Our problem is that a battle is going on in our hearts—a battle between our wills and God’s will.” 

The thought for our reflection this morning is, “Our God Reveals His Will to Those Who Seek for it and Patiently Wait to Confirm it”.

Then he prayed, “O Lord, God of my master Abraham, give me success today, and show kindness to my master Abraham. See, I am standing beside this spring, and the daughters of the townspeople are coming out to draw water”
(Genesis 24:12-13)

Abraham’s servant in Genesis 24, was desperately seeking to find the woman whom God had chosen to become Isaac’s wife. In spite of receiving many practical instructions from Abraham, his servant, was still seeking perfect guidance from God as he knew that if not, he would go wrong in finding the right wife for his master’s son. How did Abraham’s servant succeed in his attempt to know God’s will with regard to Isaac’s future wife? 

1.By PRAYING to know God’s will.

The servant believed that God could influence events and give him success. He had deep personal faith in his master’s God and asked Him to bring the chosen girl to him and then to confirm to him that she was the chosen one. The servant’s prayer indicates that he believed that God had already made a decision and that He had chosen a particular girl for his masters’ son. The Bible says, 

“Before he had finished praying Rebekah came with her jar on her shoulder”
(Genesis 24:15). 

Has not God promised in His Word that he would hear our prayers? 

“Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear”
(Isaiah 65:24) 

Are we desperately praying to know God’s will with regard to our current situation or we have given up thinking that there is no hope?

2. By PRACTICING “WAITING” to confirm God’s will.

Though the servant was confident that God was totally in control, he did not rush to arrive at any conclusion when Rebekah appeared. The Bible says, 

“Without saying a word, the man (servant) watched her closely to learn whether or not the Lord had made his journey successful”
(Genesis 24:21)

God does speak through circumstances. But taking time to wait to confirm God’s will is a very important principle in seeking a sign for guidance or knowing God’s will. Have we been hasty in making decisions or patiently waiting for every detail to fit in properly to confirm God’s perfect will?

Robert Law says, 

“Prayer is a mighty instrument, not for getting man’s will done in Heaven, but for getting God’s will done on earth”.

Thus when we desperately seek Him through prayer, His guidance and direction will follow. Let’s begin this day with this prayer: 

“O Lord we believe that you are totally in control and have already planned the next steps for our lives. Forgive our failures in the past to pursue you wholeheartedly through prayer. We have missed your will at times by failing to wait to confirm your will. But hereafter we will not take the any step in our life without you revealing your will. Hold our hands and lead us forward to fulfill only your perfect will.
In Jesus’ name...  Amen!

Our God of Heaven Wants Us to do Only His Will During Our Life On This Earth

The greatest tragedy is to assume that we already know God’s will and that we are doing only His will in our lives, but we are really not. Often, with that kind of false assumption and understanding, we proceed along in life and even feel much contended in it. One of the main reasons why often we fail to discover God’s will is, we are carried away by our own self will. Missionary Statesman Andrew Murray said, 

“Christian conversion is nothing less than the complete abandonment of one’s will to do the will of God and of Christ. True conversion is such a complete yielding of my will that never again under any circumstances will I seek it, but I will always, with all the strength I have, seek only to know and to do God’s will”.  

Our thought for reflection this Tuesday morning is, “Our God of Heaven Wants Us to do Only His Will During Our Life On This Earth”.

He said to the chief servant in his household, the one in charge of all that he had, “Put your hand under my thigh. I want you to swear by the Lord, the God of heaven and the God of earth, that you will not get a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among who I am living, but will go to my country and my own relatives and get a wife for my son Isaac”
(Genesis 24:2-4).

Our God is not only the God of heaven but He is also the God of the earth. That’s the reason Jesus taught his disciples to pray in this manner: 

“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven”
(Matthew 6:9-10). 

The life of Abraham had been a challenging journey of knowing and diligently doing God’s will. As a reward, 

“…The Lord had blessed him in every way”
(Genesis 24:1b). 

Here in Genesis 24, we see Abraham deeply concerned that Isaac should not miss God’s will in finding his wife. The whole chapter of Genesis 24 is a detailed demonstration of how Abraham fulfilled God’s will in finding a life partner for Isaac.

1. Abraham was determined to know God’s will.

Abraham feared that if Isaac married a Canaanite woman, she would draw him away from worshipping the Lord. That’s was the reason why Abraham made his servant to promise that he would ensure that Isaac did not marry a Canaanite (Genesis 24:3, 37). Abraham’s determination and seriousness to do God’s will is revealed by his act of asking his servant to put his hand under his thigh and swear. Abraham’s determination to do God’s will, enabled him to do God’s will. Are we determined to do God’s will in our family, personal life, business and ministry?

2. Abraham depended and trusted in God to know His will.

Abraham’s dependence and trust in God is seen in the way he clearly instructed his servant before sending him away to find a bride for his son. Look at his words: 

“He (The Lord, God of heaven), will send his angel before you so that you can get a wife for my son from there”.
(Genesis 24:7b)

Abraham’s confidence and trust in God that He would help to find the right bride for his son is revealed here. Are we trusting and depending on our own common sense, knowledge, past experiences and successes to decide and do things in our life?

Genesis chapter 24 is a detailed exposition on the truth that God reveals His will and rewards those who are determined to do His will in their lives. Let this be our prayer this morning: 

“Lord, forgive me for those times when I missed your will and messed up my life. I want to be a person, after your own heart and doing only your will in my life. I depend and trust in you that you would reveal your perfect will for me. Please show me what you want me to do as I am determined to spend the rest of my life on this earth, only doing your perfect will. In Jesus’ name
Amen!”

Our God Will Provide All That We Need To Live For His Glory

Unmet desires, needs, anxieties and worries have become part and parcel of our lives. We normally feel helpless when we run out of options that can help us deal with such challenges. Helplessness usually lead to depression. How we manage such situations depends on, in whom we are trusting. Thus, dependence on God alone will make all the difference. John Calvin said, “When the light of divine providence has once shone upon a godly man, he is then relieved and set free from the extreme anxiety and fear that were pressing him before, but from every care...Ignorance of providence is the ultimate misery”. Our thought for reflection this Wednesday morning is, “Our God Will Provide All That We Need To Live For His Glory”.

So Abraham called that place The Lord will provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided”
(Genesis 22:14)

God not only stopped Abraham from offering Isaac as a sacrifice, but instead provided a ram to offer as a burnt offering. 

“Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son”
(Genesis 22:13). 

We learn two things about divine providence in Genesis 22:14

1. The Person who provides.

It was God who had asked Abraham to sacrifice a burnt offering on Mount Moriah (Genesis 22:2). Earlier, when Isaac asked, 

“where is the lamb for the burnt offering”, Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son” 
(Genesis 22:8). 

And later, it was the same “God himself” who provided a ram in place of Isaac to be offered as a burnt offering. Some may argue that it was sheer coincidence that the ram was caught by its horn in a thicket. But Abraham who always trusted in Jehovah Jireh, his provider, saw the ram as nothing but as His divine provision. Are we looking around or abroad for all our needs to be met? Let’s look above, for real provision or help comes only from above and not from abroad or around.

2. The Place from where the provision comes.

Abraham confidently declared, 

“On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided” 
(Genesis 22:14b). 

Abraham’s reference to the mountain of the Lord reminds us of the hill called Calvary, where God the Father gave His only begotten Son as a sacrifice in order to provide us Salvation. Thus, God the Father, who provided everything for our Salvation through Jesus Christ, will also provide all that we need for His glory. 

“He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him for us all-how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 
(Romans 8:32). 

Is it not true that our attempt to look around and abroad for help, has only resulted in disappointments and dejection? Thus, let’s begin this day with our eyes fixed on Calvary and our Jehovah Jireh, our divine provider who will never disappoint us. The Psalmist says, 

“I lift up my eyes to the hills-where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth”
(Psalms 121:1-2). 

The more we trust in the provision of heaven, the less we worry over our needs and fear the calamities of the earth! 

Blessed day!

Our God is Pleased with Those Who Fear Him

We are living in a world where people live to please themselves and those around them. They fear other fellow human beings more than their own Creator. Churches too, sometimes neglect or avoid preaching about the fear of the Lord in the hope of not offending congregation members or securing an audience, forgetting that the goal of the church is faithfulness to God, not crowd appealing. William Gurnall says, 

“We fear men so much because we fear God so little”. 

But the Bible clearly teaches the importance of the fear of the Lord. The Psalmist says, 

“But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love"
(Psalms 33:18). 

Our thought for reflection this Tuesday morning is, “Our God is pleased with those who fear Him”.

“Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said, “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son”
(Genesis 22:12).

Is it not true that when we fear God, we have nothing else to fear? There are more than three hundred references in the Old Testament that speak of the fear of the Lord. The first mention of the fear of the Lord in the Hebrew Bible is in Genesis 22:12. Abraham’s attempt to sacrifice his son, as per God’s command, confirms his faithful obedience to God. Recognizing Abraham’s faithful obedience, God said, “Now I know that you fear God”. Thus, in the context of Genesis chapter 22, fear of the Lord can mean two things:

1. Fear of the Lord is man’spositive response to God’s call todo His will.

God’s command to Abraham to sacrifice his only begotten son Isaac was a test of his willingness to do God’s will at any cost. And when God saw that Abraham was willing to do that, He concluded that Abraham feared Him. Abraham’s willingness to obey God, even though it meant losing his own son, was a proof of his fear for God. Thus our positive or negative response to the will of God is a clear reflection of whether we fear God or not. Do we fear God by doing only His perfect will in our lives?

2. Fear of the Lord is man’s perfect reliance or trust in God.

According to Hebrews 11, 

Abraham’s fear of God was an act of trust or faith in God that God would give Isaac back to him even if he sacrificed him. “By faith, Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice”
(Hebrews 11:17). 

“Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and that God could raise the dead, and figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death”
(Hebrew 11:19). 

Given our current situations and circumstances are we ready to fear God by perfectly relying on Him or trusting in Him?

William Anderson says, 

“The fear of the Lord is reverential trust and hatred of evil and there you have the whole thing”. 

God’s call to each one of us this morning is to fear Him by totally trusting in Him and surrendering ourselves to do only His perfect will in our lives. May we fear God today and our actions, choices and decisions be in accordance with God’s perfect will! May our actions, thoughts and decisions reflect our perfect trust in Him for, that alone will be pleasing in God’s sight! 

Have a Blessed Day!

Our God Reminds Us to be Just Stewards and not Owners of What We Possess

We often become too attached to people, places and possessions because they serve some perceived needs which we think, if attained, would alone complete us somehow. Thus when we are separated from those persons, possessions and places which are close to us, we feel empty, incomplete and devastated. It is human nature to become obsessed with the gifts and blessings that God gives us. At times we become too attached to them to the extent that we fail to remember that the giver, God, is more important than the gifts that He gives us. The thought for our reflection this morning is, “Our God Reminds Us to be Just Stewards and not Owners of What We Possess”.

“When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood”. 
(Genesis 22:9)

When we are obsessed with God’s blessings we unconsciously begin to “worship” the gift instead of the giver. Thus what could have been a blessing from God to remind us of His goodness and faithfulness, could unconsciously turn into our idol. But God, the giver, always wants to be central in our lives. In order to ensure that, God takes us through experiences which will force us to detach ourselves from His gifts. That’s what God did to Abraham.

1. God wanted Abraham to sacrifice his “precious son”. 

Knowing very well of the unique position that Abraham had given to Isaac in his life, God described Isaac as “your only son” in Genesis 22: 2, 12 and 16. Isaac was Abraham’s precious son because it was only through him that the promises would be fulfilled and he was the only seed through whom the blessing must come (12:1-3; 13:16; 17:19). But Abraham was willing to sacrifice him in obedience to God’s command because he knew that Isaac was God’s gift to him and he did not own Isaac. Is God asking us to let go of a precious gift that he gave us sometime back?

2. God wanted Abraham to sacrifice his “beloved son”.

As Isaac was an answer to Abraham’s prayer and patient waiting for over 25 years, he would have loved him very much. And God, knowing that very well, referred to Isaac as one “whom you love” in Genesis 22:2. Binding his beloved son Isaac and laying him on the altar, on top of the wood to sacrifice would have been an unbearable, painful experience to Abraham. Though painful, Abraham was willing to do it, because, he knew that the real owner of Isaac was God and he was just a steward who was to take care of him until God planned or desired. Are we ready to lay everything that we love at the altar of God, realizing that He owns everything?

Did not Solomon, the wise man say, 

“Naked a man comes from his mother’s womb, and as he comes, so he departs. He takes nothing from his labour that he can carry in his hand”
(Ecclesiastes 5:15).

Our life, children, education, wealth, business, properties, talents, gifts and ministries are all God given. Shall we be ready to part with them if God demands them?  Stewardship is partnership with God. Shall we surrender all those gifts at the altar of God this morning with the realization that God is their owner and we are just stewards to use them for His glory? 

Blessed day and fruitful week ahead!

Our God is Looking for Those Who are Resolved to Guard Their Relationship With Him and Rely on Him in All Circumstances

Our faith is shaken when our dreams are shattered. When our plans crumble and God seems to have taken us away from our dreams, we may find it too difficult to trust in God’s infinite wisdom. When our experiences do not match our expectations, we begin to question what we have long believed! In the midst of profound struggles, we have no answers, just questions and that’s the time our faith wavers. But it is very shocking to find Abraham resolving to depend on God and rely on Him and His promises at a time when it is impossible to trust God in normal circumstances. The thought for our reflection this Friday morning is, “Our God is Looking for Those Who are Resolved to Guard Their Relationship With Him and Rely on Him in All Circumstances”.

He said to his servants, 

“Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will be back to you”
(Genesis 22:5)

Normally when we reach the point of doing something we are not happy to do, we become nervous or agitated emotionally. But as we read the story of Abraham going to the mountain to offer his son Isaac as a sacrifice, we do not find his resolve in anyway weakening. 

When Abraham drew near the appointed place, he left behind his servants and proceeded alone, “together” with this son
(Genesis 22:6).

How was that possible to Abraham?

1. That was possible because of Abraham’s unshakeable RELIANCE on God.

The servants would not have understood what was happening. But Abraham’s assurance to them that he and his son “will worship and then will be back to them”. It appears as if Abraham was convinced that the test would not necessarily lead to the death of his son. He knew that God had a plan to bless and not to harm his son Isaac. So he was confident that he would return with his son after worshipping God. That was because he relied totally on God’s promises and obediently followed His instructions. At times to stress and difficulties, are we relying on ourselves or our wealth or other human form of assistance or on God?

2. That was possible because of Abraham’s unshakeable RESOLVE to guard his relationship with God.

We know that God had instructed Abraham to sacrifice Isaac as a sacrificial offering and he was ready to do that exactly. Abraham is here portrayed as someone who is willing to forgo every aspect of the promised blessing including the one of becoming “Father of many nations” for the sake of his relationship with God. Why? Because, to Abraham, all other blessings were subordinate to his relationship with God who had led him faithfully till then. Are other relationships or studies, or o jobs or businesses or ministry responsibilities coming between us and our relationship with God? 

Relying on God and resolving to guard our relationship with God may at times require throwing off everything that hinders us from being faithful to Him. That may even include relationships which we think may stand between us and God. That reminds us of Apostle Paul’s words: 

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord”
(Romans 8:38-39).  

Blessed day.

Our God Gives Us Opportunities to Demonstrate Our Wholehearted Commitment To Him

Very often we find it too difficult to understand why God permits certain things in our lives. And when the things that God expects us to do are beyond our common sense, we begin to question Him. We struggle with obeying God especially when what He tells us to do, is not in line with what we are planning for ourselves. We also try to convince ourselves that we know what is better for us and our life. But we fail to realize that when God tells us to do something He has His own divine purpose in our lives as well as our own good. The thought for our reflection this morning is, “Our God Gives Us Opportunities to Demonstrate Our Wholehearted Commitment To Him”

“Then God said, Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about.” Early the next morning Abraham got up and saddled his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac”
(Genesis 22:2-3) 

Any normal human being would find it difficult to digest and understand the above command of God to a father to sacrifice his own son as a burnt offering. Though it would have been confusing to Abraham too, it is surprising to see him believing that God always knew what he was doing. Theoretical knowledge about “obedience” and “faith” are inferior to practical obedience and faith that have been testedthrough the experiences of life. This particular command is definitely another test of Abraham’s obedience and faith in His God. Abraham demonstrated his wholehearted commitment to God in two ways:

1. By being obedient to God 

The phrase, “Early the next morning” clearly reveals that Abraham’s obedience was implicit. Further, Abraham’s three day journey to the mountain would have given him enough time to consider all the consequences of what God had asked him to do. But, as one who had gradually learnt to obey God, Abraham did not find it difficult to obey God again by going to sacrifice his son Isaac. Are there commandments of God that we have disobeyed or deliberately delayed in obeying?

2. By being ready to renounce his personal rights

The test in Genesis 22, demanded Abraham to renounce any personal right over his only son. Isaac who was a God given gift to Abraham, in reality belonged to God. Thus when God asked Abraham to sacrifice Isaac as an offering, Abraham realized that the divine will of God concerning Isaac should be given priority over his own right over his son. Thus, accepting that his own future and that of his son Isaac, were in the safe hands of God, Abraham was willing to renounce his own right over his son and sacrifice him. Do we give the divine will of God priority over our own rights and desires in our lives?

Abraham’s implicit obedience and his renouncement of his own right over his son, speaks volumes of his wholehearted commitment to God. Missionary to Africa Andrew Murray said, 

“Just as a servant knows that he must first obey his master in all things, so the surrender to an implicit and unquestionable obedience must become the essential characteristic of our lives". 

Shall we surrender our lives totally to God to obey Him at any cost? Shall we determine to give God’s will priority over our own rights? 

Blessed Day!

God Takes Us Through Tests To Help Us To Grow In Our Relationship With Him

Evangelist and brother-in-law of Dr Billy Graham, Dr Leighton Ford once said, 

“God loves us the way we are, but too much to leave us that way”. 

The Bible clearly reveals how God worked in the lives of individuals in order to enable them to grow in Spiritual maturity. The low points of life that they experienced were God designed tests to teach them lessons that they would not have learnt in any other way. Thus it is out of deep love for us and His desire that we should grow, that God often provides opportunities to demonstrate our commitment to Him and to grow in maturity. This morning our thought for reflection is, “God Takes Us Through Tests To Help Us To Grow In Our Relationship With Him."

“And it came to pass after these things, that God did test Abraham”
(Genesis 22:1).

The phrase, “And it came to pass after these things” reveal that Abraham had been on a spiritual journey with God. In that journey, full of tests, Abraham experienced both successes as well as failures. Abraham’s failures helped him to realize his own weaknesses and his successes helped him to grow more in His knowledge of God. Just as every temptation from the devil is to destroy our commitment to God and integrity, every test that God permits in our lives is to strengthen us and help us to grow in spiritual maturity. We need to keep in mind two important aspect of our God who “tests” us. 

1. God knows when to test us.

The incident recorded in Genesis 22 can be considered as the climax of God’s ongoing interaction with Abraham. God tested Abraham when He first asked him to leave his own people and to go the country that he would show him (Genesis 12:1-3). He later tested him by delaying the fulfillment of his promise to make him the father of many nations (Genesis 17:5). God did not test Abraham severely until He was sure that Abraham was prepared to face it.  When God realized that Abraham was ready to wholeheartedly trust Him as his Eternal God, God brought His test to the highest level. Satan will attack us when we are off guard but not our God. Are we questioning God, thinking that He is testing us without knowing if we are prepared to face it or not?

2. God knows how to help us to pass the tests. 

All of us would have experienced teachers who would like to give surprise tests. Some teachers would even ask questions from topics they would not even have covered during their lectures. But our God is one who prepares us for his “spiritual tests” appropriately and even assists us by giving special grace and wisdom to face the tests. Knowing very well that Apostle Paul was well equipped to face any test in his life, God took him through very difficult tests. But He said to him, 

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weaknesses”
(2 Corinthians 12:8). 

Have we forgotten the grace and strength of God that has been sustaining us during our times of tests and weaknesses? 

Our God knows our strengths and weaknesses. Our God wants us to grow in our relationship with Him. Let us not conclude that our God does not understand our tests and trials. He knows when to allow us to face a test and how to help us to successfully go through the test. His grace would be sufficient to us when we face tests throughout our life. With that faith let's begin this day! 

Blessed day!

Our God Plans Our Future, Provides Our Needs and Fill Us With His Promises His Presence to Face Our Future

There are times when we find ourselves in circumstances in life that we don’t ask for and question why God would allow such things to happen. Sometimes we have answers for such questions but more often we do not have answers at all. But the comforting part of being a child of God is that we understand from the Bible that God allows such difficult circumstances in order to enable us to recognize who He is. The moment we understand who He is, it becomes easy for us to be empowered by God to handle any situation in life. The thought for our reflection this morning is, “Our God Plans Our Future, Provides Our Needs and Fill Us With His Promises His Presence to Face Our Future”

'“Lift the boy up and take him by the hand, for I will make him into a great nation”. Then God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water. So she went and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a drink. God was with the boy as he grew up'
(Genesis 21:18-20)

At a time when Hagar was worried about her son Ishmael’s life and his future, God spoke to her the above words to ensure her that He was in control of his life. 

1. Our God plans our future.

God’s words to Hagar, “for I will make him into a great nation” echo His promise to Abraham regarding Ishmael in Genesis 21:13.  We know very well that Hagar and Ishmael were not part of His covenant or His chosen people. But He still promised to make Ishmael into a great nation. Do we face a bleak or uncertain future?

2. Our God provides for our present.

The sentence “She saw a well of water” is a testimony to God’s faithful provision to meet Hagar and Ishmael’s immediate need. God’s provision of water in the wilderness at a time when Ishmael was dying due to thirst, reminds us of God’s provision of water in the wilderness for the Israelites, later. Are we doubting God’s ability to provide to meet the need that we are facing desperately now?

3. Our God’s promise of His presence would be all sufficient for us.

The Bible says “God was with the boy as he grew up”. No matter what Ishmael’s situation was then, since God promised to be with him, Ishmael did have a bright future. We read that God gave Ishmael favour in the eyes of others and provided him with the skill to become an archer (Genesis 21:20). Are we finding it difficult to ignore our circumstances and trust that God's presence would be with us as He promised?

Let’s put our total trust in His plans, His provision and His promise of His presence. Let’s end today’s reflections with Thomas a Kempis’ prayer in his book “The Imitation of Christ”.

“In thee, therefore, O Lord God, I put all my hope… For many friends shall not profit, nor strong helpers be able to succor, nor prudent counsellors to give a useful answer, nor the books of the learned to console, nor any precious substance to deliver, nor any secret and beautiful place to give shelter, if Thou Thyself do not assist, help, strengthen, comfort, instruct, keep in safety… To hope in Thee above all things is the strongest solace of Thy servants”. 

Amen! 

Blessed weekend!

Our God Enquires and Encourages Us When We Are Hopeless

It is true that in addition to the numerous troubles by which we are deeply discouraged daily, there is almost no day on which some new pain or anxiety does not visit us. Charles Spurgeon said,

“Discouragement … creeps over my heart and makes me go with heaviness to my work … It is dreadfully weakening”.

But, what an encouragement to know that our God is never blind to our tears, never deaf to our prayers and never silent to our pain. Our thought for reflection this Thursday morning is, “Our God Enquires and Encourages Us When We Are Hopeless”.

God heard the boy crying, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, “What is the matter, Hagar? Do not be afraid; God has heard the boy crying as he lies there” 
(Genesis 21:17)

Abraham’s failure to care and provide for Hagar and Ishmael directly contrasts with God’s care and provision for them in the wilderness. And wilderness would have been the last place for them to expect any human assistance or help. Thus, at a time when Hagar was just expecting her son to die tragically due to lack of food and water, she heard a caring call from heaven.

1. God enquired with care and concern.

It is important to note here that the personal name Ishmael means “God hears” (Genesis 16:11). Thus, when Ishmael cried God heard and He immediately responded by asking, “What is the matter, Hagar?”. Just as the sobs of Hagar and the cry of Ishmael were not overlooked by God, our groaning and sorrowful sighs never go unnoticed by God. In a place where there was no one to speak a word of comfort to Hagar, God enquired with care. Are we often discouraged that there is no one in this world to enquire how we are and what we are going through? 

2. God encouraged through words of comfort.

Hagar was afraid that the worst could happen to her son Ishmael in the wilderness. Knowing her mental state very well, the Angel from Heaven encouraged her by saying, “Do not be afraid; God has heard the boy crying as he lies there”. The very purpose of those words was to drive away the fear and hopelessness from Hagar and give her a new confidence that God would help her. Are we afraid of what is going to happen in our family, at work place and in our life?

Bible teacher Warren Wiersbe says,

“When it seems as if God is far away, remind yourself that He is near. Nearness is not a matter of geography. God is everywhere. Nearness is likeness. The more we become like the Lord, the nearer He is to us”.

Did not our Lord Jesus Christ turn to His Father at times of discouragement and always found Him very near? Let us too, turn to Him and He will be near to us.  The God who enquired Hagar with care and encouraged her through words of comfort when she was hopeless, enquires and encourages us too this morning, through His Word. 

“The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth" 
(Psalms 145:18). 

Have a blessed day!

Our God Sees Our Tears and Hears Our Cry Even When Others Ignore Them

When we experience unbearable sorrow and grief, we normally try to pour out our sorrow by sharing it with someone dear and near to us. But when there is no one to share or give a listening ear, what do we do? We grieve over our sitution in silence though we try to outwardly put on a brave front. This Wednesday morning our thought for reflection is, "Our God Sees Our Tears And Hears Our Cry Even When Others Ignore Them".

"When the water in the skin was gone, she put the boy under one of the bushes. Then she went off and sat down nearby, about a bowshot away, for she thought, "I cannot watch the boy due." And as she sat there nearby, she began to sob. GOD HEARD THE BOY CRYING..."
(Genesis 21:15-17).

Hagar's situation is really very pathetic. Abraham sent away Hagar and her son with some food and some water without even thinking what they would do when the little food and little water were used (Genesis 21:14). Further, Hagar and Ishmael were in the wilderness, where there was no one to assist them.

1. Hagar faced a dead end.

The Bible says,

"When the water in the skin was gone, she put the boy under one of the bushes". Then she went off and sat down nearby..."
(Genesis 21:15,16a).

That reveals that Hagar realized that there was nothing else she could do than to sit down, helpless. Are we going through a situation that is like a dead end and we feel helpless?

2. Hagar almost faced the death of her son.

The writer of Genesis gives words to Hagar's sorrowful thoughts:

..for she thought, "I cannot watch the boy die." And as she sat there nearby, she began to sob
(Genesis 21:16b).

Are we facing some serious loss or pain that we do not know what to do next and we are just sobbing like Hagar?

How soothing and comforting are the words

"God heard the boy crying"..!
(Genesis 21:17a).

Do not those words reveal that even when no one else is there to see and help us when we go through a sorrowful situation, God will? David said,

"In my distress I called to the Lord; I cried to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears"
(Psalms 18:6).

Even as we begin a new day, let us keep our eyes fixed on our God, who sees our tears and hears our cry. Others may ignore us but not our God.

Blessed day!

Our God Receives Those Who Are Rejected By Others

I am not sure how things are at your end at this point of time. Probably life has been too hard for some of us and at times feel as if we are in an isolated island though surrounded by people. In spite of trying our best often to adjust and fit ourselves into situations we fail and then come to the conclusion that life and people around us are not fair to us at all. This Monday morning the encouragement from God’s Word is that our God will definitely be fair to us. Our thought for reflection is, “Our God Receives Those Who Are Rejected By Others”.

And she (Sarah) said to Abraham,

“Get rid of that slave woman and her son, for that slave woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with my son Isaac”
(Genesis 21:10).

As we all know, the idea that Abraham should have a child by Hagar was originally Sarah’s idea. Hagar was just caught up in a scheme that was not of her own making. Hagar truly was an innocent party who was being used as a pawn in an important game devised by Sarah and Abraham. Thus as readers, our sympathy goes to Hagar and her son Ismael. Why? Because of two reasons:

1. Hagar and her son were “ridiculed” undeservingly.

Hagar and Ishmael had names, but Sarah deliberately avoided using them but preferred to refer to them as “that slave woman and her son”. She did that out of disgust towards Hagar and Ishmael and to show how much she disliked them. But God while speaking to Abraham, referred to them in a politer way:

“Do not be distressed about the “boy and your maidservant”
(Genesis 21:12).

Do we feel hurt when people ridicule us and put labels on us to show how much they dislike us?

2.  Hagar and her son were “rejected” cruelly.

Sarah instructed Abraham to “get rid” of Hagar and Ishmael as she felt that Hagar and especially Ishmael had no right to share in the inheritance of her own son Isaac. God’s reassurance to Abraham that He would take care of Hagar and her son, clearly revealed that Sarah’s harsh and cruel rejection and treatment of her maidservant did not receive divine approval:

“I will make the son of the maidservant into a nation also, because he is your offspring"
(Genesis 21:13).

Are we feeling cruelly rejected by those who were once very close to us and who once used us for their advantage?

Ridicule and rejection are evidences of someone else’s perception of us and need not necessarily be the evidence of our own flawed nature or character. The only approval that truly matters is our God’s approval of our character, nature, actions and behaviour. Our worth does not depend on the acceptance or rejection of others but on our position in Christ. God’s Word reminds us this morning that God and life both have greater plans for us. Our God receives us when we are ridiculed and rejected by others. Let’s begin this new week with the confidence that though ridiculed and rejected by others we are important to God because of our position in Christ and we are rightly within God’s divine plan.

Blessed day and fruitful week ahead!