Have you ever watched a thrilling movie and missed to see the climax at the end? Have you ever read a touching novel only to discover that the author had left the last chapter of the story unwritten?
Beginnings are good but it is the end what matters most. For each one of us the end will come. Death is that reality each one of us will face.
But if death be the end of all, then surely life has not much meaning. We are then just pawns on the chess board someone is moving at his will and pleasure.
The Gift
See, the last chapter in the life of each one of us is death. It is this reality that should make us think. We cannot worry about it and keep it away. It will come at a time none of us can foresee.
The Bible says, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23 ESV Bible).
Wages is what is deserved. And death is what we earn because we sin against God. There is no goodness in any one of us that can earn us an exemption from death.
Then there is the gift. That gift is given free of cost. That gift is a sacrifice of love paid in the blood of Jesus on the cross. Nothing more is needed for your salvation. But the simple faith in him who died to take away your punishment.
Look at the reactions of his disciples: They found it difficult to believe. They were filled with fear. But joy also. Some worshipped him while others doubted. It took some time for them to really believe that Jesus is indeed alive.
Like Jesus, your last chapter can be different too. If you believe in him, the risen life of Jesus will flow into your life as well.
God who raised Jesus from the dead with extraordinary display of his mighty strength and power will give life to your dead bodies and raise you up to be with him for ever.
The blood of the cross of Jesus is sufficient to wipe your past clean and his risen life is the sure hope for your future with him. May the Spirit of God make your heart overflow with this hope with his great might and power.
When he was born, wise men saw his star and came from the east to worship him and present him with gifts. They knew that he was born king.
After he had performed the miracle of feeding the five thousand with five loaves and two small fish, the people tried to make him king by force. He withdrew from them.
For his kingdom is not an earthly kingdom. And his rule was not to be established by armies and show of power.
Instead at the appointed time and prophetic hour he chose to ride to Jerusalem on a donkey signifying a peaceful conquest of hearts. We call that Palm Sunday.
The people hailed him as king with joyful shouts of “Hosanna.” But he knew that in a few days’ time the same crowds would cry out, “Crucify him.”
Yet he rode to Jerusalem with people waving palm branches and children shouting accepting the truth that he is king the expected Messiah or Saviour or Deliverer or the Anointed One.
Even Pilate the Roman Governor while he was questioning Jesus during the trial exclaimed, “You are a king, then!” The answer was Yes. But Pilate did not understand that Jesus’ kingdom was not of this world.
And when Jesus died on the cross Pilate had an inscription above him which said Jesus was king.
This king is asking in all humilty, “Do you truly love me?” If the answer is”Yes,” you have crowned him king in your heart. And love for him enables you to obey his commands.
And he will reign. Lord God Almighty. Forever. Hallelujah. For he is King of kings and Lord of Lords. Amen.
–Featured image courtesy: Clker-Free-Vector-Images on Pexels
“Have mercy on me O God according to your unfailing love.” This is how the well-known prayer of King David starts in Psalm 51. He is confessing and repenting of his sins in this prayer.
Three Players
“Have mercy on me O God according to your unfailing love.” There are three players here.
One, is me. Someone who is a sinner. Someone who is in need of God’s mercy.
Second, there is God. He alone can show mercy.
Three, there is “hesed,” the Hebrew word which is translated variously as unfailing love, steadfast love and lovingkindness. This word cannot be fully translated as it talks about the richness of God’s love which talks about God’s loyalty towards his people even when they have failed. He keeps his side of his promise to love his people and you as an individual. And he is faithful.
2 Unchanging and 1 Changing
“Have mercy on me O God according to your unfailing love.” Again, in this prayer there are 2 that doesn’t change and 1 that changes always. You and I change. But God and his unfailing love (hesed) does not change.
There is no need to guess. You and I know how quickly we keep changing. And we keep falling. Therefore mercy is needed.
There is no need to look at our goodness. It won’t ever measure up to God’s standards of holiness. So we are in need of God’s mercy.
Come to God
“Have mercy on me O God according to your unfailing love.” Yes, come to God with the burden of your sins; the shame of them and feelings of guilt. He is willing to forgive and cleanse you from all your sins. The blood of Jesus on the cross will do that for you. What a joy it is to be forgiven.
If this is your prayer from.a broken heart, God will listen and answer.
Mercy is something none of us deserve or can claim. And only God can show mercy. We cannot earn it in any way.
Only a realization of our sinfulness in God’s sight will move us to pray like this.
If our hearts are hardened like clay in the sun we will turn a deaf ear to the Spirit of God showing us our sins.
But if our hearts are sensitive, it can melt like wax and yield to the Spirit of God’s penetrative light revealing our hidden motives and actions based on pride.
Pray
So let us pray: “Have mercy on me O God according to your unfailing love.”
Like David, let us hold to God’s steadfast love, unfailing love or lovingkindness. It won’t let go of you even when you have sinned and rebelled against God. It won’t let you go even when you have failed.
God’s hesed or unfailing love will give you yet another chance to repent, turn away from evil, be forgiven, and have a brand new beginning in life once again.
David is pinning his hope for forgiveness entirely and fully and completely on God’s hesed towards him. It is God’s mercy alone not our goodness. So let us put our hope entirely on God’s unfailing love. He will show you mercy today and now.
യേശുദാസൻ തിരുമേനിയുടെ 85-ആം ജന്മദിനം (2010 February 14) പ്രാർത്ഥനാപൂർവ്വം കുടുംബാംഗങ്ങളോടൊത്ത് ആചരിക്കാൻ ആലോചിച്ച സമയം. അന്ന് എനിക്ക് ഒരു ആഗ്രഹം തോന്നി. തിരുമേനിയുടെ ജീവിതത്തിലെയും ശുശ്രൂഷയിലെയും മികച്ച നിമിഷങ്ങൾ ഫോട്ടോകൾ ചേർത്തുവച്ച ഒരു കോഫി ടേബിൾ ബുക്ക് പുസ്തകമായി (Coffee Table Book) പ്രസിദ്ധീകരിക്കണം. അത് ഇനിയുള്ള തലമുറകൾക്ക് ഒരു പ്രചോദനമാകും എന്ന് വിചാരിച്ചു. പല ദിവസങ്ങളും തിരുമേനിയുടെ ഭവനത്തിൽ ചെന്ന്, തിരുമേനിയുടെ ഔദ്യോഗിക ജീവിതത്തിലെ നിർണായക നിമിഷങ്ങളെക്കുറിച്ച് ചോദിച്ച് മനസ്സിലാക്കാൻ ശ്രമിച്ചു.
അങ്ങനെ ഒരു സംഭാഷണത്തിനിടയിലാണ്, LMS (London Missionary Society | Later name changed to Council for World Mission) ദ്വിശതാബ്ദി “സ്വപ്നം കാണാൻ തുനിയുക” (Dare to Dream) എന്ന ആശയത്തെ ആസ്പദമാക്കി ലണ്ടനിൽ 1995-ൽ ആഘോഷിച്ച അവസരത്തിൽ, ഒരു പ്രത്യേക യോഗത്തിൽ പ്രസംഗിക്കാൻ മൂന്ന് പേർക്ക് മാത്രമേ അവസരം ലഭിച്ചുള്ളൂ എന്ന് തിരുമേനി പറഞ്ഞത്. അതിൽ ഒരാൾ ഇംഗ്ലണ്ടിലെ എലിസബത്ത് രാജ്ഞി. മറ്റൊരാൾ ആഫ്രിക്കൻ ഭൂഖണ്ഡത്തെ പ്രതിനിധീകരിച്ച് ബിഷപ്പ് ഡെസ്മണ്ട് ടുട്ടു. പിന്നെ, ഏഷ്യൻ ഭൂഖണ്ഡത്തെ പ്രതിനിധീകരിച്ച് യേശുദാസൻ തിരുമേനി.
വളരെ ആവേശത്തോടെ ഞാൻ തിരുമേനിയോട് ചോദിച്ചു: “അതിന്റെ ഫോട്ടോ ഏതെങ്കിലും ഉണ്ടോ?” അതിന് തിരുമേനി പറഞ്ഞ മറുപടി എന്നെ വല്ലാതെ നിരാശപ്പെടുത്തിക്കളഞ്ഞു: “എടാ, ഫോട്ടോ എടുക്കണം എന്ന് ചിന്തിച്ചുകൊണ്ടല്ലലോ നമ്മൾ പ്രസംഗിക്കാൻ അങ്ങോട്ട് പോകുന്നത്.”
ഒരു ഫോട്ടോ പോലും തന്റെ മഹിമ കാണിക്കുന്നതിന് വേണ്ടി സൂക്ഷിക്കാൻ ശ്രമിക്കാത്ത ഒരു മനുഷ്യൻ. അതാണ് യേശുദാസൻ തിരുമേനി.
യേശുദാസൻ തിരുമേനി എന്നാണ് യേശുവിൽ മറഞ്ഞ മോസ്റ്റ് റവ. ഡോ. ഐ. യേശുദാസൻ ബിഷപ്പിനെ ഏവരും സ്നേഹത്തോടെ വിളിച്ചിരുന്നത്. അഖിലലോക സഭാ കൗൺസിലിന്റെ (WCC) കേന്ദ്ര കമ്മിറ്റി അംഗമായും (1983–1991), ആദ്യം ഡെപ്യൂട്ടി മോഡറേറ്റർ (1980-’81), പിന്നീട് തുടർച്ചയായി മൂന്ന് കാലയളവുകൾക്ക് (1982-’88) ദക്ഷിണേന്ത്യ സഭയുടെ (ചർച്ച് ഓഫ് സൗത്ത് ഇന്ത്യയുടെ) (Church of South India) മോഡറേറ്ററായും, 17 വർഷം ദക്ഷിണ കേരള മഹായിടവകയുടെ മൂന്നാമത്തെ ബിഷപ്പായും സേവനം അനിഷ്ഠിച്ചു (1973 to 1990). ആ കാലഘട്ടം മഹായിടവകയുടെ ചരിത്രത്തിലെ സുവർണ കാലഘട്ടമായി അറിയപ്പെടുന്നു. ആത്മീകവും ഭൗതീകവും സാമൂഹികവുമായ സമഗ്ര വളർച്ചയുടെ കാലഘട്ടമായിരുന്നു അത്. തന്റെ ശുശ്രൂഷയിൽ ഉജ്ജ്വലവും ഉത്കൃഷ്ടമായ നേതൃത്വം കാഴ്ചവെച്ച വ്യക്തിയായിരുന്നു യേശുദാസൻ തിരുമേനി.
നൂറാം ജന്മദിനം | 14 February 2025
Bejoy Peter delivering sermon on the occasion of the 100th birthday of Bishop Jesudasan at St. Luke CSI Church
ബിഷപ്പ് അങ്കിൾ എന്നു ഞാൻ സ്നേഹപൂർവം വിളിച്ചിരുന്ന യേശുദാസൻ തിരുമേനിയുടെ പ്രാർത്ഥനാനിരതമായ ജീവിതത്തെ ആസ്പദമാക്കി അദ്ദേഹത്തിന്റെ നൂറാം ജൻമദിനവുമായി ബന്ധപ്പെട്ട ആരാധനയിൽ (ഫെബ്രുവരി 16 ഞാറായഴ്ച 2025) CSI St. Luke സഭയിൽ പ്രസംഗിക്കുവാൻ എനിക്കു അവസരം ലഭിച്ചതു ദൈവകൃപയുടെ ധാരാളമായ അനുഗ്രഹമായി ഞാൻ കരുതുന്നു. തിരുവനന്തപുരം ജില്ലയിൽ അമരവിള എന്ന ഗ്രാമത്തിൽ കരിയിൽത്തോട്ടം കുടുംബം സ്ഥിതി ചെയ്യുന്ന പ്രദേശത്തു തന്റെ പൈതൃകമായി ലഭിച്ച കുടുംബവീട് St. Luke സഭയായി മാറ്റപെടുന്നതിനു അദ്ദേഹം തന്റെ അവസാനത്തെ ആഗ്രഹം എന്ന നിലക്ക് മഹായിടവകക്ക് കൈമാറുകയായിരുന്നു.
ദാസ്യ നേതൃത്വത്തിലെ ഉത്കൃഷ്ടത | Excellence in Servant Leadership
ബിഷപ്പ് യേശുദാസൻ തന്റെ പേര് അന്വർത്ഥമാക്കുന്ന വിധത്തിൽ സ്വയം യേശുവിന്റെ ദാസനായി കരുതിയിരുന്നു. “ക്രിസ്തുവിനായി ഞങ്ങൾ മൂഢന്മാരാകുന്നു” (“We are fools for Christ” | 1 കൊരിന്ത്യർ 4:10) എന്ന വിശുദ്ധ പൗലോസിന്റെ വാക്കുകളിൽ നിന്നാണ് അദ്ദേഹം ധൈര്യം കണ്ടെത്തിയത്. തനിക്കായി ഒന്നും നേടുവാനോ കീർത്തി സമ്പാദിക്കുവാനോ അദ്ദേഹം ഒട്ടും താത്പര്യം കാണിച്ചിരുന്നില്ല. ബഹുമാനവും അദ്ദേഹം ഒരിക്കലും അന്വേഷിച്ചിട്ടില്ല. എന്നാൽ ഈ സാധാരണ മനുഷ്യനെ, ദൈവത്തിന്റെ വിനയശീലനായ ദാസനെ, ദൈവം അതിശയകരമായ രീതിയിൽ ഉയർത്തി. സ്ഥാനമാനങ്ങൾ അദ്ദേഹത്തെ തേടിയെത്തുകയായിരുന്നു.
സഭാ നേതൃത്വത്തിലും, എക്യൂമെനിക്കൽ പ്രസ്ഥാനങ്ങളുടെ അമരത്തും, പൊതുസമൂഹത്തിന്റെ മദ്ധ്യേയും അദ്ദേഹം കൈവരിച്ച അത്യപൂർവ്വ നേട്ടങ്ങളെക്കുറിച്ച് നമ്മൾ എത്ര മഹത്വമായി കരുതുന്നു എങ്കിലും, തന്റെ കല്ലറക്കൽ ലൂക്കോസിന്റെ സുവിശേഷത്തിൽ നിന്നുള്ള ഒരു വാക്യം (Luke 17:10) എഴുതണമെന്നായിരുന്നു അദ്ദേഹത്തിന്റെ ആഗ്രഹം. അതോടൊപ്പം “കർത്താവിന്റെ അയോഗ്യ ദാസൻ, നിന്റെ സ്നേഹമുള്ള കൈകളിൽ വീഴുന്നു,” എന്ന വരിയും.
Bishop Jesudasan’s tombstone in M. M. Church Cemetry, LMS Compoiund, Thiruvananthapuram.
ജനാധിപത്യ നേതൃത്വത്തിലെ ഉത്കൃഷ്ടത | Excellence in Democratic Leadership
യേശുദാസൻ തിരുമേനി ബിഷപ്പായിരുന്ന കാലത്ത്, ചർച്ചയിലുള്ള വിഷയം സംബന്ധിച്ച് അഭിപ്രായമറിയിക്കാൻ ആഗ്രഹിച്ച എല്ലാവർക്കും അതിനു അവസരം നൽകിയിരുന്നു. അജണ്ടയിലുള്ള വിഷയങ്ങൾ നന്നായി പഠിച്ചു, നല്ല തയ്യാറെടുപ്പോടെ മാത്രമേ അദ്ദേഹം മീറ്റിംഗുകളിൽ പങ്കെടുക്കുമായിരുന്നുള്ളു. വ്യത്യസ്തമായ കാഴ്ചപ്പാടുകൾ പങ്കുവെച്ചവരെ ശ്രദ്ധാപൂർവം കേൾക്കുകയും ചെയ്തു.
എല്ലാവരും അവരുടെ അഭിപ്രായങ്ങൾ പ്രകടിപ്പിച്ച ശേഷം മാത്രമേ തിരുമേനി സംസാരിക്കാറുള്ളു. ആ സമയത്ത് ആരെങ്കിലും ഇടപെടാൻ ശ്രമിച്ചാൽ, അദ്ദേഹം ഉറച്ച നിലപാടോടെ, നിർണായകമായ അധികാരത്തോടെ, “ഇപ്പോൾ ബിഷപ്പ് സംസാരിക്കുന്നു” എന്ന് പ്രഖ്യാപിക്കുമായിരുന്നു. അങ്ങനെ ഇടപെടാൻ ശ്രമിച്ചവർ “Now the Bishop is speaking,” എന്ന വാക്കു കേൾക്കുമ്പോൾ അദ്ദേഹത്തിന്റെ യഥാർത്ഥ നേതൃത്വത്തെ തിരിച്ചറിയുകയും ശാന്തരാകുകയും ചെയ്തിരുന്നു.
കാലത്തിന്റെ ചുവരെഴുത്ത് | അഗ്നിസ്ഫുടമായ വാക്കുകൾ
അദ്ദേഹം CSI മോഡറേറ്റർ ആയിരുന്ന അവസരത്തിൽ സിനോഡിൽ (Synod) ബിഷപ്പുമാർക്ക് വിരമിക്കേണ്ടതില്ല എന്ന വാദം ചിലർ അതിശക്തതമായി ഉന്നയിച്ചു. മറ്റു സഭാവിഭാഗങ്ങൾക്കു ഉള്ളതു പോലെ നമുക്കും ബിഷപ്പ്മാർ മരണം വരെ അധികാരത്തിൽ തുടരണം. അതു ബിഷപ്പ് എന്ന പദവിക്കു സ്ഥായിയായ (permanent) സ്വഭാവം കൊണ്ടുവരും എന്ന് ശബ്ദയാനമായ സംവാദം നടന്നു. ഈ ചർച്ചക്ക് അവസാനം കുറിച്ചത് യേശുദാസൻ തിരുമേനി നൽകിയ ചരിത്രപരമായ മറുപടിയാണ്.
ദൃഢതയോടും ഉൾകാഴ്ച്ചയോടുമുള്ള യേശുദാസൻ തിരുമേനിയുടെ കാലത്തിന്റെ ചുവരെഴുത്ത് എന്നു പറയാൻ സാധിക്കുന്ന അഗ്നിസ്ഫുടമായ വാക്കുകൾ ശ്രദ്ധിക്കുക:
“Are you permanent? Am I permanent? None of us is permanent.”
ഈ വാക്കുകളാണ് ബിഷപ്പുമാർ 65 ആം വയസ്സിൽ വിരമിക്കണം എന്ന ചരിത്ര തീരുമാനം എടുക്കുന്നതിൽ നിർണായകമായത്. പുതിയ തലമുറക്ക് നമ്മൾ മാറി കൊടുക്കണം എന്നും അവർക്കു മാത്രമേ കാലം ആവശ്യപ്പെടുന്ന വേഗത്തിൽ തീരുമാനങ്ങൾ എടുത്തു മുന്നോട്ടു പോകുവാൻ കഴിയു എന്നാണ് തിരുമേനി ഇതേ പറ്റി പിന്നീട് ഒരു സ്വകാര്യ സംഭാഷണത്തിൽ പറഞ്ഞത്.
പ്രൊഫഷണൽ നേതൃത്വത്തിലെ ഉത്കൃഷ്ടത | Excellence in Professional Leadership
തിരുമേനി അദ്ധ്യക്ഷനായ യോഗങ്ങളിൽ പ്രൊഫഷണലിസത്തിന്റെ ചിന്തയും ലക്ഷ്യബോധവും അദ്ദേഹം കൊണ്ടുവന്നിരുന്നു. ഒരിക്കലും സമയം കളയാതെയും, എല്ലായ്പ്പോഴും കൃത്യസമയത്തെത്തിയും, യോഗങ്ങളെ ബിസിനസ് രീതിയിൽ നടപ്പാക്കിക്കൊണ്ട് അതിൽ അച്ചടക്കവും ക്രമവും കൊണ്ടുവരികയും ചെയ്തു. തിരുമേനിയുടെ മരണ ശേഷം, അന്നത്തെ CSI മോഡറേറ്റർ, “യേശുദാസൻ തിരുമേനി ഓരോ യോഗത്തിലും കൊണ്ടുവന്ന ദൈവസാന്നിദ്ധ്യത്തെ” കുറിച്ച് പരാമർശിച്ചിരുന്നു.
തിരുമേനി ഓരോ ദിവസവും പുലർച്ചെയുളള സമയം ദൈവവചനം വായിക്കുന്നതിനും ധ്യാനിക്കുന്നതിനും ചിലവഴിച്ചിരുന്നു. ഈ സമയത്തു പ്രാർത്ഥനയിലൂടെ ദൈവസാനിധ്യം ആഴത്തിൽ അനുഭവിച്ചിരുന്നതാണ് അദ്ദേഹത്തെ ഈ വിധത്തിലുള്ള ദൈവഭക്തിയുള്ള നേതൃത്വത്തിലേക്ക് നയിച്ചത്. തിരുമേനിയുടെ സ്വകാര്യ ദൈവാനുഭവം, പൊതുജീവിതത്തിൽ അദ്ദേഹത്തിനു പ്രൊഫഷണൽ ആയ മുന്നേറ്റം നൽകി.
സമൂഹ നേത്യത്വത്തിലെ ഉത്കൃഷ്ടത | Excellence in Community Leadership
ദൈവം തന്നെ ഇടയപരിപാലനത്തിനു ഏല്പിച്ച ജനങ്ങൾ ഭൂരിഭാഗവും ദരിദ്രരും തളർന്നവരും പാർശ്വവത്കരിക്കപ്പെട്ടവരുമാണെന്നു ബിഷപ്പ് യേശുദാസനു അറിയാമായിരുന്നു . അദ്ദേഹത്തിന്റെ ഹൃദയം എപ്പോഴും അവരുടെ കൂടെയായിരുന്നു. കേരളത്തിലെ രാഷ്ട്രീയ നേതാക്കളും, അവരുടെ വ്യത്യസ്ത പ്രത്യയശാസ്ത്രങ്ങൾക്കപ്പുറമായി , തിരുമേനിയുടെ ഹൃദയം ദരിദ്രർക്കായി നീതി ഉറപ്പാക്കാനാണ് തുടിക്കുന്നതെന്ന് അറിഞ്ഞിരുന്നു.
അദ്ദേഹം ഒരു കുഞ്ഞാടുപോലെ സൌമ്യനും താൻ സേവിക്കുന്ന ജനങ്ങളിൽ ഏറ്റവും എളിയവന്ന് എപ്പോഴും സമീപിക്കാവുന്ന വ്യക്തിയുമായിരുന്നു. എങ്കിലും ദരിദ്രർക്കായി നീതി ഉറപ്പാക്കുന്നതിനു ശബ്ദം ഉയർത്തുന്നതിലും സഭയിലെ എല്ലാ അഴിമതികളേയും വിമർശിക്കുന്നതിലും അദ്ദേഹം ഒരു സിംഹം പോലെ നിലകൊണ്ടു.
എക്യൂമെനിക്കൽ നേതൃത്വത്തിൽ ഉത്കൃഷ്ടത | Excellence in Ecumenical Leadership
യേശു തന്റെ ശിഷ്യന്മാർ സ്നേഹത്തിൽ ഒന്നാകണമെന്ന്, “അവർ എല്ലാവരും ഒന്നാകേണ്ടതിന്നു” പ്രാർത്ഥിച്ചു, (യോഹന്നാൻ 17:21). ഇത് ദക്ഷിണേന്ത്യ സഭയുടെ മുദ്രാവാക്യവുമാണ് (Motto). ബിഷപ്പ് യേശുദാസൻ ഈ പ്രാർത്ഥന യാഥാർത്ഥ്യമാക്കാനും പ്രകടമായതാക്കാനും വിവിധ സഭാവിഭാഗങ്ങളെ ഒന്നിച്ചുകൊണ്ടുവരുന്നതിലൂടെ എപ്പോഴും ശ്രമിച്ചുകൊണ്ടിരുന്നു. ദൈവജനത്തിനിടയിൽ ഈ ഐക്യം സാധ്യമാക്കുന്നതിന് അദ്ദേഹം എപ്പോഴും ദൈവത്തിന്റെ ആത്മാവിൽ ആശ്രയിച്ചിരുന്നു. “ദൈവരാജ്യം ഭക്ഷണവും പാനീയവുമല്ല, നീതിയും സമാധാനവും പരിശുദ്ധാത്മാവിൽ സന്തോഷവും അത്രേ (റോമർ 14:17) ” എന്ന് അദ്ദേഹം ശക്തമായി സമർത്ഥിച്ചു.
ഈ ഐക്യം വിശ്വാസികളുടെ തലത്തിൽ സാക്ഷാത്കരിക്കുന്നതിന് അദ്ദേഹം നിരവധി പ്രവർത്തനങ്ങൾ ആരംഭിച്ചു. ഇന്നും അദ്ദേഹത്തിന്റെ എക്യൂമെനിക്കൽ ദർശനവും ദീർഘവീക്ഷണവും വളരെ ആദരവോടെ കരുതപ്പെടുന്നു. മറ്റ് സഭാവിഭാഗങ്ങളുടെ തലവന്മാരുമായി അദ്ദേഹം ഉഷ്മളവും ഹൃദ്യവുമായ ബന്ധം പാലിച്ചു. മറ്റ് മതസ്ഥരും സംഘടിപ്പിച്ച യോഗങ്ങളിലേക്കും അദ്ദേഹം ക്ഷണിക്കപ്പെട്ടിരുന്നു.
ആത്മീയ നേതൃത്വത്തിൽ ഉത്കൃഷ്ടത | Excellence in Spiritual Leadership
ബിഷപ്പ് യേശുദാസൻ കരുണയുള്ള ഒരു വ്യക്തിയായിരുന്നു. ഹൃദയം തകർന്നവരോടൊപ്പം കരയുവാൻ മടി കാണിക്കാത്ത ഒരു വ്യക്തി. വേദനയുടെയും കഷ്ടതയുടെയും സമയങ്ങളിൽ ഒരു ദൈവദൂതനെ പോലെ യേശുദാസൻ തിരുമേനി അവരെ ഭവനങ്ങളിൽ സന്ദർശിച്ചതായി അനേകർ പറഞ്ഞു ഞാൻ കേട്ടിട്ടുണ്ട്. അദ്ദേഹത്തിന്റെ പ്രാർത്ഥനകൾ ദൈവത്തോടുള്ള ഒരു ആത്മീയ ബന്ധത്തിന്റെയും പരിചയത്തിന്റെയും സ്വരത്തിലായിരുന്ന. ലളിതവും ശിശുസദൃശവുമായ വാക്കുകളിൽ അദ്ദേഹം ദൈവത്തെ ഭയഭക്തിബഹുമാനത്തോടെ “നീ” എന്നു പറഞു സംബോധന ചെയ്തിരുന്നു .
വ്യക്തതികൾക്കും വ്യക്തിഗത ആവശ്യങ്ങൾക്കും കുടുംബങ്ങൾ, സഭകൾ എന്നിവയുടെ ആവശ്യങ്ങൾക്കും വേണ്ടി ദൈവത്തോട് പക്ഷവാദം ചെയ്യുന്നത് അദ്ദേഹത്തിന്റെ വിശ്വസ്തമായ ശീലമായിരുന്നു. വെള്ളിയാഴ്ചകളിൽ അദ്ദേഹം ഉപവാസം ആചരിച്ചിരുന്നു. അദ്ദേഹത്തിന്റെ ഹൃദയം നിറഞ്ഞ പ്രാർത്ഥനകളുടെയും കണ്ണീരുകളുടെയും ഫലമായി പലരും അനുഗൃഹീതരായി.
അദ്ദേഹത്തിന്റെ പ്രാർത്ഥനകൾ ദൈവത്തിന്റെ സ്തുതികളെ പ്രതിധ്വനിപ്പിച്ചു. പ്രതിസന്ധികളിൽ അദ്ദേഹം അക്ഷോഭ്യനായി നിലകൊണ്ട്, “യേശുവിന് സ്തോത്രം” എന്നും “പറഞ്ഞുതീരാത്ത ദാനം (യേശു) നിമിത്തം ദൈവത്തിന് സ്തോത്രം” (2 കൊരിന്ത്യർ 9:15) എന്നും പറയുമായിരുന്നു. “ദൈവം കാൽവരി ക്രൂശിൽ യേശുവിലൂടെ പ്രകാശിപ്പിച്ച സ്നേഹം…” എന്നത് അദ്ദേഹത്തിന്റെ പ്രാർത്ഥനകളിൽ പല അവസരങ്ങളിലും മുഴങ്ങി കേട്ടിരുന്ന വാക്കുകളായിരുന്നു.
അദ്ദേഹം നിരവധി പുസ്തകങ്ങളും ലേഖനങ്ങളും രചിച്ചു, അതിലൂടെ തിരുവെഴുത്തുകളിൽ അദ്ദേഹത്തിനുള്ള ആഴമുള്ള ജ്ഞാനം മറ്റുള്ളവർക്ക് പകർന്നു കൊടുക്കുവാൻ സാധിച്ചു. ദൈവത്തിന്റെ ജനം ദൈവത്തിന്റെ ഉദ്ദേശ്യങ്ങളുമായി യോജിച്ചുനിൽക്കുമ്പോൾ, ദൈവത്തിന്റെ ആത്മാവ് വ്യക്തികളെയും കുടുംബങ്ങളെയും മാത്രമല്ല, മുഴുവൻ സമൂഹങ്ങളെയും പരിവർത്തനം ചെയ്യുമെന്ന് അദ്ദേഹം വിശ്വസിച്ചു.
ഒരു അനുഭവകഥ
യേശുദാസൻ തിരുമേനിയെ കുറിച്ചുള്ള എന്റെ കുട്ടികാലത്തെ ദീപ്തമായ ഒരു ഓർമ പങ്കിടട്ടെ. ഒരു ദിവസം മുതിർന്നവർ സ്ത്രീകൾ കുട്ടികൾ ഉൾപ്പെടെ ഏതാണ്ട് 20 പേർ ഒരു വാഹനത്തിൽ തിരുമേനിയെ കാണുവാൻ LMS കോമ്പൗണ്ടിൽ സ്ഥിതി ചെയ്യുന്ന Bishop’s Houseലേക്ക് വന്നു. ഏതോ പാവപ്പെട്ട ഗ്രാമീണ മേഖലയിലുള്ള സഭയിൽ നിന്നുള്ളവരാണെന്നു കാഴ്ച്ചയിൽ എനിക്കു തോന്നി. അവരുടെ ആഗമനോദ്ദേശ്യം തിരുമേനിയോട് സംസാരിച്ചു കഴിഞ്ഞ നേരത്ത്, തിരുമേനി അവരെ ഉള്ളിലെ ഒരു ചെറിയ മുറിയിലേക്കു ക്ഷണിച്ചു.
ഞാനും അവരുടെ കൂടെ ചെന്നു. അപ്പോൾ ഒരു കർട്ടൻ മാറ്റി തിരുമേനി ആ മുറിയുടെ ഉൾവശം കാണിച്ചു അവരോടു പറഞ്ഞതു: “ഇതു എന്റെ പ്രാർത്ഥനാ മുറി” എന്നാണ്. അവിടെ ഞാൻ നോക്കുമ്പോൾ ഒരു മേശ ഒരു കസേര ഒരു ബൈബിൾ ഒരു പായ് എന്നിവ മാത്രമേ ഉണ്ടായിരുന്നുള്ളു.
എന്തു കൊണ്ടന്നെന്ന് എനിക്കറിയില്ല ഈ ഒരു നിമിഷം നാൽപതു വർഷങ്ങൾക്കു ശേഷവും ഇന്നും മനസ്സിൽ മായാതെ നിൽക്കുന്നു. തന്റെ ഔദ്യോഗിക ഉന്നതികളെ കുറിച്ചൊന്നും വാചാലനാവാതെ യേശുദാസൻ തിരുമേനി പ്രാർത്ഥനയെ ഉയർത്തിക്കാട്ടിയത് എത്ര മഹത്തരമാണെന്ന് ആ നിമിഷത്തിലേക്കു തിരിഞ്ഞു നോക്കുമ്പോൾ എനിക്കു മനസ്സിലാവുന്നു.
ക്രൂശു-കേന്ദ്രീകൃത ദൈവശാസ്ത്ര നേതൃത്വത്തിൽ ഉത്കൃഷ്ടത | Excellence in Cross-centred Theological Leadership
യേശുവിന്റെ രക്തത്താൽ ദൈവം ഒരു പുതിയതും ജീവനുള്ളതുമായ വഴി നമുക്കായി തുറന്നിരിക്കുന്നു, അതിലൂടെ നമുക്ക് ദൈവത്തെ സമീപിക്കാനും (എബ്രായർ 10:19, 20) പാപമോചനം പ്രാപിക്കാനും ദൈവത്തിനും മനുഷ്യർക്കും ഇടയിൽ നിരപ്പ് പ്രാപിക്കാനും കഴിയും എന്ന് യേശുദാസൻ തിരുമേനി ഉറച്ചിരുന്നു. യേശുവിന്റെ ക്രൂശിലൂടെയും അവിടെ പ്രകടമാകുന്ന ദൈവത്തിന്റെ സ്നേഹത്തിലൂടെയും എല്ലാ തിന്മയെയും ജയിക്കാനാകുമെന്നും അദ്ദേഹം വിശ്വസിച്ചു. ദൈവത്തിന്റെ വചനമായ യേശു ജഡം ധരിച്ചു മനുഷ്യനായി നമ്മിലൊരുവനായി; അവനിലൂടെ ദൈവം നമ്മോട് അടുത്തുവന്ന വിധത്തെക്കുറിച്ചും അദ്ദേഹം ഉത്സാഹത്തോടെ സംസാരിച്ചിരുന്നു.
അദ്ദേഹത്തിന്റെ ദൈവശാസ്ത്രം ക്രൂശിനെ കേന്ദ്രീകരിച്ചതും ജനങ്ങളെ മുൻനിറുത്തിയുള്ളതുമായിരുന്നു. ഒരുവശത്ത് ദൈവത്തിൽ മഹത്തായ വിശ്വാസം കാണിക്കാനും മറുവശത്ത് സഹാനുഭൂതിയും സ്നേഹവും നിറഞ്ഞ ഹൃദയത്തോടെ തന്നെ ഭരമേല്പിച്ച ജനത്തോട് അടുക്കാനും ഈ ദർശനം ബിഷപ്പ് യേശുദാസനെ സഹായിച്ചു. “ക്രിസ്തുവിൽ ഞങ്ങളെ എപ്പോഴും ജയോത്സവമായി നടത്തുകയും എല്ലാടത്തും ഞങ്ങളെക്കൊണ്ടു തന്റെ പരിജ്ഞാനത്തിന്റെ വാസന വെളിപ്പെടുത്തുകയും ചെയ്യുന്ന ദൈവത്തിന്നു സ്തോത്രം” (2 കൊരിന്ത്യർ 2:14) എന്ന് അദ്ദേഹം വിശ്വസിച്ചു.
നേതൃത്വത്തിന്റെ സ്വരത്തിലെ ഉത്കൃഷ്ടത | Excellence in The Voice of Leadership
ദൈവത്തിന്റെ കൃപ യേശുദാസൻ തിരുമേനിയുടെ മുഖത്തെ പ്രകാശിതമാക്കിയിരുന്നു. ഒരു പ്രഭാഷകൻ എന്ന നിലയിൽ, ആ പദത്തിന് സാധാരണയായി അർത്ഥമാക്കുന്ന രീതിയിൽ അദ്ദേഹത്തിന് കരിസ്മ (charisma) ഉണ്ടായിരുന്നില്ല. എന്നിട്ടും, അദ്ദേഹത്തിന്റെ പ്രസംഗങ്ങൾ അവയുടെ ആഴം, ചിന്തയുടെ വ്യക്തത, ദൈവവചനത്തിൽ അടിസ്ഥാനമാക്കിയുള്ളത് എന്നിവയ്ക്ക് ഓർമ്മിക്കപ്പെടുന്നു. 1983-ൽ കാനഡയിലെ വാങ്കൂവറിൽ നടത്തിയ “ദി ഫീസ്റ്റ് ഓഫ് ലൈഫ്” (The Feast of Life) എന്ന പ്രസിദ്ധമായ പ്രസംഗത്തിന്റെ വിശകലനം കാണുക.
അദ്ദേഹത്തിന് സ്വാർത്ഥ താല്പര്യങ്ങളൊന്നും ഉണ്ടായിരുന്നില്ല, സ്വന്തമായി ഒന്നും സമ്പാദിച്ചു കൂട്ടിയതുമില്ല. താൻ നേതൃത്വം നൽകിയ ജനങ്ങളുടെ പൊതുനന്മ മാത്രമായിരുന്നു ലക്ഷ്യം. അതിനാൽ സംസ്ഥാനത്തെ രാഷ്ട്രീയ നേതൃത്വം അദ്ദേഹത്തിന്റെ അഭിപ്രായങ്ങളെ ബഹുമാനത്തോടെ കേട്ടിരുന്നു.
ടീം ബിൽഡിങ്ങിലെ നേതൃത്വത്തിലെ ഉത്കൃഷ്ടത | Excellence in Leadership in Team Building
ഒറ്റയ്ക്ക് പ്രവർത്തിക്കുന്ന രീതിയായിരുന്നില്ല ബിഷപ്പ് യേശുദാസൻ അനുവർത്തിച്ചിരുന്നത്. സഭാനേതൃത്വം നല്ല സംസ്കാരം ജീവിച്ചുകാണിക്കുമ്പോൾ മാത്രമേ അത് പഠിപ്പിക്കാൻ കഴിയൂ എന്ന് അദ്ദേഹം മനസ്സിലാക്കി.
അതുകൊണ്ട്, സത്യസന്ധതയുള്ളവരെയും അവരുടെ സ്വന്തം മേഖലകളിൽ മികവ് പുലർത്തിയവരെയും അദ്ദേഹം തിരഞ്ഞെടുത്ത്, സഭാ ഭരണത്തിലും പ്രവർത്തനങ്ങളിലും പ്രധാന പങ്കുവഹിക്കാൻ അവരെ കൊണ്ടുവന്നു. ഈ ടീം വർക്ക് ആയിരുന്നു അദ്ദേഹത്തിന്റെ ജനനേതൃത്വത്തിലെ വിജയത്തിന് നിർണായകമായത്. എല്ലാവരുടെയും സംഭാവനകളെക്കുറിച്ച് അദ്ദേഹം വളരെ ബോധവാനായിരുന്നു. വ്യക്തിപരമായ ബന്ധങ്ങൾ പാലിക്കുന്നതിനും മറ്റുള്ളവരുടെ നേട്ടങ്ങളിൽ സന്തോഷിക്കുന്നതിനും അദ്ദേഹം വളരെ ശ്രദ്ധാലുവായിരുന്നു. പുഞ്ചിരിയും പ്രശംസാ വാക്കുകളുമായി അദ്ദേഹം എല്ലാവരെയും പ്രോത്സാഹിപ്പിച്ചു.
നേതൃത്വത്തിൽ നിന്ന് പടിയിറങ്ങുമ്പോൾ അദ്ദേഹം തന്റെ വിടവാങ്ങൽ പ്രസംഗത്തിനായി തിരഞ്ഞെടുത്ത ദൈവവചനം , ടീം വർക്കിനെക്കുറിച്ചുള്ള അദ്ദേഹത്തിന്റെ തത്വചിന്തയെ യഥാർത്ഥത്തിൽ പ്രതിഫലിപ്പിക്കുന്നു: “ഞാൻ നട്ടു, അപ്പൊല്ലോസ് നനെച്ചു, ദൈവമത്രേ വളരുമാറാക്കിയതു.” (1 കൊരിന്ത്യർ 3:7 വിശുദ്ധ പൗലോസിന്റെ വാക്കുകൾ).
ആത്മപരിശോധന മാതൃകയാക്കുന്ന നേതൃത്വത്തിലെ ഉത്കൃഷ്ടത | Excellence in Leadership in Modelling Self-Introspection
ബിഷപ്പ് യേശുദാസന്റെ പെരുമാറ്റ ശൈലി ഉന്നതമായതും മാന്യവുമായിരുന്നു. താൻ എത്തിച്ചേർന്ന ശ്രേഷ്ഠമായ സ്ഥാനങ്ങളുടെ ഔന്നത്യവും മഹത്ത്വവും യഥാർത്ഥത്തിൽ എല്ലാവരുടെയും മുന്നിൽ അദ്ദേഹം ഉയർത്തിപ്പിടിച്ചു.. സി.എസ്.ഐ. മോഡറേറ്ററുടെ പദവിയെ അദ്ദേഹം സത്യസന്ധതയോടും പരാമർത്ഥഹൃദയത്തോടും ദൈവിക നേതൃത്വവും ഉള്ള ഒരു ബഹുമാനപ്പെട്ട സ്ഥാനമാക്കി മാറ്റിയതിൽ ഇത് വ്യക്തമായി കാണാമായിരുന്നു. ദൈവം ഉയർത്തുന്നതനുസരിച്ചു ദൈവത്തിന്റെ മുമ്പിൽ അദ്ദേഹം താഴ്മയോടെ നിന്നു.
അദ്ദേഹത്തിന്റെ ഒരു മറക്കാനാവാത്ത ശീലം എന്നത്, എല്ലാ വർഷവും ഓഗസ്റ്റ് 5-ന്, അദ്ദേഹം ബിഷപ്പായി അഭിഷിക്തനായ ദിവസം, എല്ലാ പ്രവർത്തനങ്ങളിൽ നിന്നും വിശ്രമിച്ച് പ്രാർത്ഥനയിലും ആത്മപരിശോധനയിലും ദിവസം മുഴുവൻ ചെലവഴിക്കുക എന്നതായിരുന്നു. ആ ദിവസം തന്റെ ജീവിതത്തിൽ ദൈവത്തിന്റെ വിളിക്ക് വിശ്വസ്തനായി നിൽക്കുന്നുണ്ടോ എന്ന് പരിശോധിക്കുകയും ആലോചിക്കുകയും ചെയ്തു.
ഈ ആത്മപരിശോധനക്കു അദ്ദേഹം യേശുവിന്റെ ക്രൂശാണ് മാനദണ്ഡമാക്കിയത്. “സമൂഹത്തിൽ ഏറ്റവും നല്ലവരെന്ന് ആദരിക്കപ്പെടുന്നവരും തങ്ങൾ എന്തുമാത്രം പാപികളാന്നെന്ന് മനസ്സിലാക്കണമെങ്കിൽ യേശുക്രിസ്തുവിന്റെ ക്രൂശിനു മുന്നിൽ നിന്ന് സ്വയം പരിശോധിക്കണം.” [യേശുക്രിസ്തുവിന്റെ ക്രൂശുമരണവും തിരുസഭയും ഒരു വിഹഗ വീക്ഷണം” എന്ന തലകെട്ടിൽ യേശുദാസൻ തിരുമേനി എഴുതിയ പ്രബന്ധത്തിൽ നിന്നു എടുത്തത്. ക്രൈസ്തവ ദീപിക ജൂലൈ 2010].
അദ്ദേഹത്തിന്റെ നേതൃത്വത്തിലെ ശ്രേഷ്ഠത എന്നത്, മറ്റുള്ളവരോട് പ്രസംഗിക്കുന്നതിന് മുമ്പ്, യേശുവിന്റെ ക്രൂശിനു മുന്നിൽ നിന്ന് ആത്മപരിശോധന നടത്താൻ അദ്ദേഹം തയ്യാറായി എന്നതാണ്.
യേശുവേ നിന്റെ രൂപമീയെന്റെ
കണ്ണുകൾക്കെത്ര സൗന്ദര്യം
ശിഷ്യനാകുന്ന എന്നെയും നിന്നെ-
പ്പോലെയാക്കണം മുഴുവൻ
എന്ന പാട്ടുപുസ്തകത്തിലെ തനിക്കു ഇഷ്ടപ്പെട്ട 282-ആം ഗാനം തന്റെ 85-ആം ജന്മദിനത്തിൽ ഗായകസംഘം പാടണം എന്ന് അദ്ദേഹം നിർബന്ധമായി ആവശ്യപ്പെട്ടതു ഈ ആത്മപരിശോധനയുടെ തുടർച്ചയാണെന്നു നമുക്ക് മനസ്സിലാക്കാം.
അദ്ദേഹത്തിന്റെ നേതൃത്വ പൈതൃകത്തിലെ ഉത്കൃഷ്ടത | Excellence in His Leadership Legacy
യേശുദാസൻ തിരുമേനിയെ ഇന്നും ജനങ്ങൾ വലിയ ആദരവോടെ ഓർക്കുന്നു. താൻ നേതൃത്വത്തിൽ ഇരുന്ന കാലത്തിലെ മഹാന്മാരോടൊപ്പം അദ്ദേഹം ധീഷണാശാലിയായി നടന്നിരുന്നു. എങ്കിലും ജീവിതത്തിന്റെ ഒടുവിലത്തെ വർഷങ്ങളിൽ ഒരു ചെറിയ വീട്ടിൽ (Bishop’s Cottage ) വസിച്ച് താഴ്മ പുലർത്തിയ ഒരു ജീവിതമായിരുന്നു അദ്ദേഹത്തിന്റേത്. ഇന്നും നമുക്ക് ഒരു മാതൃകയായി കാണാനും പിന്തുടരാനും കഴിയുന്ന ഒരു വ്യക്തിയായാണ് അദ്ദേഹം ഓർമ്മിക്കപ്പെടുന്നത്.
അദ്ദേഹം ജീവിതത്തിന്റെ അവസാനം വരെ ദൈവത്തിന്റെ വിളിക്ക് വിശ്വസ്തനായിരുന്നു, ഓഫീസിൽ നിന്ന് വിരമിച്ച ശേഷവും കർമനിരതനായി ജനസേവനം തുടർന്നു.
അദ്ദേഹം തന്റെ ജീവിതം മുഴുവൻ യേശുവിന്റെ മുഖത്തേക്ക് നോക്കി, ആ നോട്ടം അദ്ദേഹത്തിന്റെ ജീവിതത്തെ മാറ്റി മറിച്ചു—അന്ധകാരത്തിലും ദാരിദ്ര്യത്തിലും മറഞ്ഞിരുന്ന ഒരു കൽക്കരികട്ടിയിൽ നിന്നും ശാശ്വതമായ തിളക്കവും പ്രകാശവും ഉള്ള ഒരു വജ്രമായി അദ്ദേഹത്തെ മാറ്റിയത് യേശുവിലേക്കുള്ള നിരന്തരമായ നോട്ടമായിരുന്നു. അനേകരുടെ വാക്കുകളിൽ, “യേശുദാസൻ തിരുമേനി ഒരു വിശുദ്ധനായിരുന്നു, കൂടാതെ തന്റെ ഭൗമിക ജീവിതത്തിൽ യഥാർത്ഥത്തിൽ അദ്ദേഹം യേശുവിനെ പ്രതിഫലിപ്പിച്ചു.”
Bishop’s Cottage where Bishop Jesudasan lived after his retirement.
അനുബന്ധം
P. Christudas
1800 കളിൽ എപ്പോഴോ മിഷനറിമാരുടെ പ്രവർത്തന ഫലമായി യേശുവിനെ അറിഞ്ഞ നല്ല കായികാഭ്യാസിയായിരുന്ന സുബ്രമണ്യം. അദ്ദേഹത്തിന്റെ മൂത്ത മകൻ ജോഷ്വ. ദൈവത്തിൽ തീക്ഷണമായ വിശ്വാസം ഉണ്ടായിരുന്ന, നല്ല പ്രാർത്ഥന ശീലമുണ്ടായിരുന്ന ജോഷ്വ എന്ന കരുത്തനായ മനുഷ്യന്റെ 9 ആൺ മക്കളിൽ മൂത്ത മകനായ Rev. J. Isaiah യുടെ മകനായിരുന്നു യേശുദാസൻ തിരുമേനി. എന്റെ പിതാവ് പി. ക്രിസ്തുദാസ് രണ്ടാമത്തെ മകനായ പത്രോസിന്റെ മകനാണ്. യേശുദാസൻ തിരുമേനിയും കൊച്ചു ദാസ് എന്ന് കരിയിൽത്തോട്ടം കുടുംബാഗങ്ങളുടെ ഇടയിലും അമരവിള സഭയിലും അറിയപ്പെട്ടിരുന്ന എന്റെ പിതാവും തമ്മിൽ ഗാഢമായ സഹോദര ബന്ധം നിലനിന്നിരുന്നു. പലയിടത്തായി ജീവിതമാർഗങ്ങൾ തേടി പോയ കുടുംബാംഗങ്ങൾ തമ്മിൽ സ്നേഹ ബന്ധം നിലനിറുത്തുന്ന കണ്ണിയായിരുന്നു എന്റെ ഡാഡി.
1962 ൽ അമരവിള സഭയിൽ മഹായിടവകക്കു ആകെ മാതൃകയായി ആദ്യമായി Poor Fund (സാധു സംരക്ഷണ നിധി) നടപ്പാകുന്നതിൽ ഒരു സുപ്രധന പങ്ക് വഹിക്കാൻ എന്റെ പിതാവിനു ദൈവം കൃപ ചെയ്തു. മഹായിടവകയുടെ നന്മയും വികസനവും മുൻനിറുത്തി പലരേയും നേതൃത്വത്തിലേക്കു കൊണ്ടു വരുവാൻ നിർണായകമായ റോൾ വഹിക്കുകയും അതിനായുള്ള ചർച്ചകളുടെ നാഡീകേന്ദ്രമായി പ്രവർത്തിക്കുകയും ചെയ്ത എന്റെ പിതാവിനെ Kingmaker എന്നാണ് മഹായിടവകയുടെ ആദ്യ സെക്രെട്ടറിയും പ്രഗത്ഭ പട്ടക്കാരിൽ ഒരാളായിരുന്ന Very Rev. Philip David അച്ചൻ വിളിച്ചിരുന്നത്.
ഞങ്ങളുടെ പൂർവപിതാക്കന്മാർ കായികാഭ്യാസികളും മർമ്മചികിത്സാവിദഗ്ധരും സിദ്ധവൈദ്യത്തിൽ നൈപുണ്യം ഉള്ളവരുമായിരുന്നു. ഒരു കാലത്തു അവരുടെ വിശ്വാസത്തോടൊപ്പമുള്ള ചികിത്സാശുശ്രൂഷയുടെ ഓർമ നിലനിറുത്തി കൊണ്ടാണ് യേശുദാസൻ തിരുമേനി തനിക്കു പരമ്പരാഗതമായി ലഭിച്ച കുടുംബവീട് യേശു ശിഷ്യനും വൈദ്യനുമായിരുന്ന ലൂക്കോസിന്റെ നാമധേയത്തിൽ ഒരു ദൈവാലയമായി മാറ്റണം എന്ന് തീരുമാനിച്ചത്.
It was the time we had planned to prayerfully celebrate the 85th birthday of Bishop Jesudasan (February 14, 2010) with family members. I then had a desire to publish a Coffee Table Book that would compile photographs capturing the most significant and finest moments of the Bishop’s life and ministry. I thought it would serve as an inspiration for future generations.
For several days, I visited him at his home, trying to understand and document the defining moments of his official life.
During one such conversation, Bishop Jesudasan mentioned that during the LMS (London Missionary Society | Later renamed the Council for World Mission) bicentenary celebration in London in 1995, around the theme “Dare to Dream,” only three people were given the opportunity to speak at a special gathering. during the event. One of them was Queen Elizabeth of England. Another was Bishop Desmond Tutu, representing the African continent. And the third was Bishop Jesudasan, representing the Asian continent.
With great enthusiasm I asked my Uncle, “Do you have a photograph of that moment?”
His response deeply disappointed me: “Hey, we don’t go there to speak while thinking about taking photos!”
A man who never sought to preserve even a single photograph to showcase his own greatness—that was Bishop Jesudasan!
Bishop Jesudasan
Bishop Jesudasan. That was how people lovingly called the late Most Rev. Dr. I. Jesudasan, who exhibited excellence in leadership in his ministry during his tenure as member of the Central Committee of World Council of Churches (WCC) (1983-1991), as Deputy Moderator (1980-’81) and then Moderator of the Church of South India (CSI) for three consecutive terms (1982 to 1988), and as the 3rd Bishop of South Kerala Diocese for 17 years regarded as the golden period in its history (1973 to 1990).
It was a period of holistic growth—spiritual, material, and social—for the diocese. Bishop Jesudasan, who exhibited brilliant and exceptional leadership in his ministry, led this growth from the front.”
Bejoy Peter delivering sermon on the occasion of the 100th birthday of Bishop Jesudasan
The sermon I had the joy, honour, and privilege of delivering on the occasion of the 100th birthday of Bishop Jesudasan, my Uncle, at the St. Luke’s CSI Church, Kariyilthottam, Amaravila, a village in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday 16th February 2025, focused on the prayer life of Bishop Jesudasan. This church stands where his ancestral home had been and as his last wish it was deeded to the diocese to. build a church.
Excellence in Servant Leadership
Bishop Jesudasan considered himself a servant of Jesus. That is what is name means in his native tongue Malayalam. He found courage in the words of St. Paul, “We are fools for Christ” (1 Cor. 4:10). He showed no interest whatsoever in gaining anything for himself or acquiring fame. He never sought honour for himself. But God exalted this ordinary man, a humble servant of God, in extraordinary ways. Positions and honours sought him out.
Yet in spite of all that we consider his phenomenal achievements in church leadership, ecumenical and social standing; he asked that his tombstone bear the words from the Gospel of Luke (17:10). And also inscribe the words “An unworthy servant of the Lord, falls into they loving hands” along with it.
Bishop Jesudasan’s tombstone in M. M. Church Cemetry, LMS Compoiund, Thiruvananthapuram.
Excellence in Democratic Leadership
During his tenure as Bishop, he always gave space to everyone who had something to say, allowing them to share their opinions on the topic under discussion. He came to meetings well-prepared on the agenda items and listened attentively to those who held opposing views.
After everyone had their say, he would finally rise to speak. If someone attempted to interrupt him at that moment, he remained firm and, with decisive authority, declared, “Now the Bishop is speaking.” Those who tried to heckle him would then recognize his true leadership and settle down.
The Writing on the Wall of Time | Fiery Words
When he was the Moderator of the CSI (Church of South India), during a Synod (the highest decision-making body) meeting, some strongly argued that bishops should not retire. They reasoned that, like in other church denominations, CSI bishops should remain in office until death, as this would bring a sense of permanence to the role of a bishop. A heated, intense vocal debate ensued. What brought this debate to a decisive conclusion was the historic response given by Bishop Jesudasan.
Bishop Jesudasan. with his firmness and insight, spoke words that can be called the “writing on the wall of time”—fiery words worth noting:
“Are you permanent? Am I permanent? None of us is permanent.”
Later, in a private conversation, Bishop Jesudasan reflected on this decision, saying, “We must step aside for the new generation. Only they can move forward at the pace that the times demand.”
Excellence in Professional Leadership
He brought a sense of professionalism and a sense of purpose to the meetings he chaired. He never wasted time, was always punctual, and brought discipline to the meetings by conducting them in a business like fashion. After his demise, the then Moderator of the CSI remarked about “the presence of God he brought into every meeting.”
It was his daily habit of early morning quiet times with God in reading the Bible and prayer that helped him bring this kind of a godly leadership to all meetings. His private time with God gave him the professional edge in public life.
Excellence in Community Leadership
Bishop Jesudasan knew that a vast majority of the people God had called him to shepherd were poor, downtrodden and marginalized. His heart was always with them. Even the political leadership of the Indian State of Kerala irrespective of ideologies knew that his heart beat with the thoughts of helping the poor and brining them social justice.
He was gentle like a lamb and always approachable to the least among the people whom he served. But he was like a lion when he championed their cause for justice and spoke against all kinds of corruption within the church.
Excellence in Ecumenical Leadership
Jesus had prayed that his disciples be united in love, “That they all may be one (John 17:21 which is the motto of the Church of South India as well).” Bishop Jesudasan was always looking forward to making this prayer real and tangible by brining denominations together. He always relied on the Spirit of God to bring about this unity among God’s people. He truly championed that the kingdom of God is righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit (Ref. Romans 14:17).
There were several initiatives he took to make this unity happen at the grassroots level. Even today his ecumenical vision and farsightedness is held in high esteem. He maintained a warm and cordial relationship with the heads of other denominations and he was invited to many meetings organized by people of other faiths too.
Excellence in Spiritual Leadership
Bishop Jesudasan was a man of compassion and someone who would weep with the broken hearted. I have heard people describe him as an angel of God who visited them in their time of pain and suffering. His prayers had a tone of familiarity with God addressing him “You,” with reverence and adoration in simple childlike words.
He had a faithful habit of interceding with God for the personal needs of individuals, families, and churches. He observed a fast every Friday. Many were blessed through the fruit of his heartfelt prayers and tears on their behalf.”
His prayers echoed the praises of God. In crises, he stood firm and unshaken. and was often heard saying: “Praise be to Jesus,” and “Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift (Jesus)! His often repeated prayer was: “May the love of God that shone through Jesus on the cross . . .”
He authored many books and wrote many essays that showed his deep understanding of Scripture. He believed that when God’s people aligned themselves with God’s purposes the Spirt of God would move and transform not just individuals and families but entire communities.
An Anecdote
Let me share a radiant childhood memory of Bishop Jesudasan. One day, a group of about 20 people comprising of elders, women, and children arrived in a vehicle to meet him at the Bishop’s House located in the LMS compound. From their appearance, I felt they were from a poor church in a rural background.
After they had spoken with him about the purpose of their visit, the Bishop invited them into a small room inside. I, too, followed them in. Then, drawing aside a curtain, the Bishop revealed the interior of the room and said to them, “This is my prayer room.”
As I looked inside, I saw that the room contained only a table, a chair, a Bible, and a mat. I don’t know why, but that moment has remained vividly in my mind even after forty years.
Looking back at that moment now, I realize how profoundly the Bishop upheld the power of prayer without making any effort to highlight any of his achievements in life.
Excellence in Cross-centred Theological Leadership
Bishop Jesudasan championed the truth that God had opened a new and living way through the blood of Jesus shed on the cross through which we could approach God (Hebrews 10:19, 20), find forgiveness of sins, and also reconciliation between God and men. He also believed that the victory over all evil is possible through the cross of Jesus and the love of God on exhibit there. He spoke passionately about how God came near to us in Jesus, the Word of God become flesh, human just like us.
His theology was cross-centred and people focused. This vision helped Bishop Jesudasan show great trust in God on one hand and be near to the people he shepherded with an empathetic and loving heart. He believed that God “leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him” (2 Corinthians 2:14).
ഒരാളായിരുന്ന
Excellence in The Voice of Leadership
Bishop Jesudasan had the grace of God lighting up his face. As a speaker he did not possess charisma in the way that word is popularly understood. Yet his sermons are remembered for their depth, clarity of thought, and grounding in God’s Word. Kindly see the analysis of his famous sermon, The Feast of Life, delivered at Vancouver Canada in 1983. As he had no vested interests—only the common good of the people he led—the political leadership of the State listened to his opinions with respect.
Excellence in Leadership in Team Building
Bishop Jesudasan was not a one-man show. He understood that culture can only be taught as it was lived out by the top church leadership.
Therefore, he found people of integrity and having a track record of excellence in their own respective fields and brought them to key roles in the church administration and activities. This teamwork was crucial to his success in leading the people. And he was very conscious of the contribution of every one of them. He was very particular about keeping personal relationships and rejoiced in the achievements of others. He encouraged everyone with his smiling face and words of appreciation.
The words he chose for his farewell speech as he stepped down from leadership truly reflect his philosophy of team work: “I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow.” (Words of St. Paul in 1 Corinthians 3:7).
Excellence in Leadership in Modelling Self-Introspection
Bishop Jesudasan had a manner of conduct that was dignified exhibiting a true knowledge of the Chair he occupied and elevating its stature in the eyes of all. This was more than evident in the way he made the CSI Moderator’s post an honoured one with his reputation of integrity and godly leadership. The more God exalted him in leadership roles, the more he humbled himself before God.
One of his unforgettable habits was to take a day off from all activities on 5th of August, the day he was consecrated as Bishop and spend the day in prayer reviewing and reflecting on whether he is staying true to the call of God in his life.
The cross was his touchstone. In one of his articles he wrote:
“Those who are respected as the best in society must examine themselves before the cross of Jesus Christ to realize how great sinners they are.”
(Christava Deepika: July 2010 Article titled: The Crucifixion of Jesus Christ and God’s Church—A Bird’s Eye View). His excellence in leadership was that he was willing to do this self-introspection standing in front of the cross of Jesus before he preached to others.
“Jesus, how beautiful is Your form to my eyes!
Make me, Your disciple, wholly like You.”
യേശുവേ നിന്റെ രൂപമീയെന്റെ
കണ്ണുകൾക്കെത്ര സൗന്ദര്യം
ശിഷ്യനാകുന്ന എന്നെയും നിന്നെ-
പ്പോലെയാക്കണം മുഴുവൻ.
The 282nd song from the Malayalam Hymn Book, which he particularly loved, was one he insisted the choir sing on his 85th birthday. This can be understood as a continuation of his practice of self-introspection:
Excellence in His Leadership Legacy
The legacy he left behind is that even today his name is spoken with great admiration as he had exhibited a life of humility (living in his small cottage in later years) even while he walked with dignity along with the great men of his times. Even today he is spoken of as a role model whom we can look up to and emulate.
He was a man faithful to God’s call on his life till the very last. He prayerfully continued to serve the people even after retirement from office.
He looked to the face of Jesus all his life and that look transformed his life from a lump of coal in obscurity and poverty to that of the enduring shine and brilliance of a diamond. In the words of many, “he was a saint and during his earthly life he truly reflected Jesus.”
Bishop’s Cottage where Bishop Jesudasan lived after his retirement.Bishop Jesudasan–Positions Held, Books Authored. പ്രവാചകദൗത്യം was published in 2013 while he was on his deathbed.Click the logo to see all editions of Sunday Sermonettes on LinkedIn
My dear friend, you are no failure if you can tell God, “I love you.” It was Peter who said “Lord, I love you.” after his dismal failure. And it happened thus: It was early morning by the seashore of Galilee.
“Come and have breakfast,” said the Risen Jesus as he invited 7 of his disciples to the breakfast of fish and bread on a fire of burning coals he had prepared for them.
A great drama was to follow. Jesus confronted Peter because of his failure. Peter had denied knowing his Master after Jesus was arrested and taken to be crucified to bleed and die for you and me.
But surprisingly there was no condemnation in the voice of Jesus. Only the question, “Do you love me?” Peter said “Yes Lord, I love you.”
God is simply looking for love. What God values is your heart. Your simple expressions of love. Just tell him, “O God, I love you.” It doesn’t matter how much you have failed. Simply say: “I love you.”
You might be hurt and broken. You might not feel like saying it. But say “O God, I love you.” You might be afraid of God for many reasons. It doesn’t matter, just tell, “O God I love you.”
You might not be sure whether God will accept you. He certainly will. Just go ahead and tell him of your love for him; however feeble or weak it is.
Jesus had earlier called Peter to help others to experience God’s love for them. In Jesus’ own words, Peter was called to be a “fisher of men.” But Peter was discouraged by his failure. Peter’s heart was broken by that one look from Jesus before he was led away to be crucified.
Peter had gone outside and wept bitterly that night. But Jesus, after rising from the dead, had sent a special message to Peter and met with him one-on-one to encourage him. Yet he went back to his old trade of fishing in the sea and took 6 of his friends along with him.
But that night they caught no fish, nothing. Though they were experienced fishermen they had nothing to show for their labour. Jesus called out from the shore and said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” They did so and caught a huge number of fish.
It was only then they realized it was the Lord who was standing on the shore. That reminded Peter of an earlier miracle which was similar. By the shore of the same sea, Jesus had called him. This was the place of his first love when the holiness and love of God he saw in Jesus had compelled him to forsake all and follow him.
Now Jesus was reminding Peter of his first love. It had grown cold. He was an utterly broken man thinking that God cannot love him anymore.
See, Jesus has nothing to do with people who are full of pride and full of their importance and having no need of God in their lives. But he came to touch broken men and women who are full of sorrow and shame because of their sins, mistakes, and failures.
He is simply asking you, “Do you love me?” Peter was hurt when Jesus asked the same question to him the third time.
But it was love that made Peter say, “I love you Lord,” three times for he had denied his Master thrice. Jesus forgave Peter and got love in return. For Jesus himself had said on an earlier occasion that he or she who is forgiven much, loves much.
Peter was restored to a place of leadership and usefulness. The cowardly Peter, later touched by the Spirit of God, became a bold firebrand for Jesus.
And he truly became a fisher of men because he dared to say, “O Jesus, I love you.” Yes, friend, your life is no failure if with all your heart you can tell God in your brokenness, in your shame, in your defats, “O Lord, my God and my Saviour, I love you.”
Featured image courtesy: Photos by Danny Greenberg on Unsplash and Dark Indigo on Pexels Microsoft Designer
This Post is based on the incident recorded in the 21st Chapter of the Gospel of John in the Bible.
“Who despises the day of small things?” (Zechariah 4:10a Bible). These words should inspire hope in you because they beam a light on what the Spirit of God can do in your life even if it is in ruins right now. So get started on rebuilding your life right now. Do not despise the small beginnings of this change or transformation.
Do remember that if there is one thing that has made people fail, it is that they never get started. Some people never begin because they fear failure. Others think too much about what people will say. A few think about a perfect beginning and postpone it for a later date. And it never happens.
And if there is one thing about success you would like to know, it is to start small. Most of the things that are begun with the help of the Spirit of God are humble beginnings. They are mostly like a shoot out of dry ground. It doesn’t promise much. But God will see to it that it is watered and it flourishes in spite of extreme circumstances it finds itself in.
If your life is in ruins, and you think all hope is lost; God is encouraging you to start rebuilding your life once again with his help. It will be an effort that will be accomplished not on your human strength or power but by the Spirit of God. It calls for your reliance on God and his unlimited resources.
You need not look at your insignificance and lose heart, for it is God who is on your side. You might face discouragement looking back at the lost glory of your past; the seeming impossibility of the present task, and also the opposition you are facing. But God’s purposes would prevail.
You just begin the task. The beginnings will seem small and humble. But God will do a great work. And its accomplishment will bear the stamp of God’s glory in it as well.
Today, when you begin to realign your life to God’s purposes, you might feel disheartened by the slow progress you are making. God is encouraging you today not to despise the small beginnings you are making.
What you are now attempting can become a source of inspiration, a lampstand that gives light continually with the oil supplied by the Spirit of God, and a significant milestone in the plan of God to call others to his love and care.
And opposition is not a sign that your beginning was a mistake; but it is probably the surest sign that you are on the right track. God is building resilience in you through the opposition. He is teaching you to rise above discouragement like how an eagle uses the might of the wind to rise higher.
Yet there will come a moment when God will demolish the mountain-like opposition and help you complete the task that you have begun to do with his help. When God acts; there is no chance for the opposition to stand against you.
All this requires a shift of focus from your side. Stop looking at your smallness or the smallness of your beginnings to rebuild your life. Instead turn your focus to the Spirit of God who is mighty to accomplish what human strength can never do.
Yes, there is hope for you because there is no limit to what the Spirit of God can do to rebuild and transform your life from small beginnings so that it will blaze with the glory of God.
Photo by Marcin Jozwiak on Pexels | Microsoft Designer
The shortest message of Christmas is: “Baby Jesus in Bethlehem and in my heart.” Even a child can understand this. But there are two truths here that we should not miss:
One is the historical reality of Christmas. When you write today’s date you are affirming the fact that Jesus came to divide history with His Story.
The second truth is about the current reality of Christmas. Jesus came to bleed and die on the cross for the forgiveness of your sins. So that your history can be remade into brand new life by his story.
And this new life is eternal. That is the hope of Christmas and the joy and peace it brings to you now when you trust in Jesus.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” — Jesus Christ | John 3:16 Bible
Audacity is courage or confidence of a kind that other people find shocking. We are now talking about that kind of courage or confidence to hope in God. It becomes shocking as you continue to hope in God when people are against you and perhaps all circumstances look negative. For the Bible confidently declares, “I am the LORD; those who hope in me will not be disappointed.”
The audacity of hope in God is what you can hold on to when you lose control over your life, when people turn against you for no reason, when fortunes take a plunge downwards, and money to make both ends meet seems hard to come by. Hope encourages you to persevere in the midst of troubles of various kinds including illness, depression, and burnout.
Hope is the expectation and the confidence you have about the good that God is capable of bringing out of adverse situations and circumstances you find in your life. It takes a long-term view rather than being shortsighted and having a grumbling attitude in life. It gives you the courage to wait for God to act on your behalf.
In other words, the consumerist world we live in encourage us to grab things now, gratify our desires now, lust for more now, and instantly do things now; be it on credit. That kind of greedy attitude does not work with God. For he delights in those who hope in him and are willing to wait for his perfect time to act on their behalf.
The audacity of hope in God helps you rejoice even when you’re defeated and down. It is not positive thinking but something deeper that expresses its confidence in God even when outward circumstances are gloomy, and dark, and seems to be hopeless. For God is the source of all hope and he is the One who can cause you to abound in hope or overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit given to us.
The Bible speaks about Abraham, who is known as the Father of faith, believing in hope against all hope, and holding on to what God had promised him. And he was rewarded for his expectant faith in God after waiting long years for it. That perhaps is the secret: Looking to God with expectation and anticipating the good that he is going to do in spite of nothing-seems-to-be-happening days, months, or years.
Here we stand on sacred ground. The promises of God seem unbelievable when people and circumstances are against us. There might be delays. And there might be no indication from God that he is going to do something far above what we have asked or imagined. It is at these moments of silence that our faith is tested. Yet let us believe on in hope.
When you keep on praying and no answer seems to come by, it is the hope that God will listen and answer that gives you the ability to ask, seek, and knock without losing heart and courage. Persistent prayer and untiring enthusiasm to seek God’s face is what turns hope into reality.
The audacity to hope gives you the boldness in prayer to claim God’s promises. It says, along with King David, “You, O LORD, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light.” (Psalm 18:28). For it is when darkness surrounds us that we need to hope and trust in God all the more.
And it is when you have this kind of a buoyancy in hope or have optimistic faith that you see a small cloud the size of man’s hand rise on the horizon. It is just a small sign of the abundance of rain that is coming. And you can be assured that your prayers are being answered in response to your hope in God.
Yes, believe that hope in God will not leave you disappointed. You’ll certainly be a better man or woman for holding on to hope when despair clouded your mind. Yes, God is able to do immeasurably more than you ask or imagine. And when the object of your hope is Jesus and his precious blood he shed on the cross for the forgiveness of your sins, there is the overflow of hope not only for this life but also for the life to come which is eternal. He is the greatest dealer and leader in hope the world has ever seen.
“And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.” — Romans 5:5
Into this brokenness there walks in someone who was himself rejected, despised, wounded, bruised and forsaken.
To those who find it difficult to forgive themselves, he says, “Your sins are forgiven.” To those who are rejected, he opens his arms wide like when they were stretched out on the cross.
After all, at the end of the day, you need someone who understands; don’t you? Do not shun him thinking you are beyond help. There is no one else like him who comes to your help when you are hurting.
He never said, “I love you!” But Love was never on exhibit more plainly than when he was lifted up on the cross. He bled for you that you may belong to him. His promise to you is not an easy life but his presence with you in your troubles.
Yes dear friend, he walks in when everyone else has rejected you and walked out on you. His name is Jesus. He is your glorious hope who will make life shine bright once again for you.
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I remember the emotion I felt when I read the first five books of the Bible for the first time. The realization that I stand in front of a holy God hit me with full force then.
Often we think of God as God is love. That is true. But the one unique thing about God is that he is holy.
I have no clue how to describe the holiness of God. In simple terms, he is separate from us because of his holiness. Glory, splendour, majesty, worship, awesome, beauty, unapproachable light; are all words that are associated with his holiness.
God’s Holiness is Incomparable
Often we compare ourselves with others and think, “I am better than him or her.” But God is inviting us to be holy like him. And it is impossible by any human effort.
Why? When Moses, who twice spent time with God forty days and nights on a mountain, asked God to show him God’s glory; he was told: “You cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.”
Prophet Isaiah, likewise, had a vision of God seated on his throne and heavenly angels calling out to one another non-stop in his presence:
“Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.”
His response as he cried out was: “Woe to me! I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips.”
Simon Peter, who was a disciple of Jesus, had his first encounter with Jesus when his fishing boat was empty after a hard night’s toil in the sea of Galilee. Jesus told him to put his nets into deep water and there was a huge and miraculous catch of fish. Then Peter fell at Jesus’ knees and said: “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man.”
All these examples show us that not one of us qualifies to stand before God. The Bible says that all our righteous acts, which means all the good deeds that we do, are like filthy rags or really dirty clothes before God. They cannot earn us our salvation.
God’s Holiness Will Search Us Out
As we stand before God, his light will bring out all the hidden things in our heart and mind—even those things, minute things, that we might have forgotten. There is no escape. Every single thought; every single word; every act that we did will all be shown for what they truly are:
“Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.”
Can we stand before this holy God? No. There is a huge separation between God and us because of his holiness and because of our sinfulness.
God’s Holiness Demands Sacrifice of Sinless Blood
Therefore God himself made a way for us to approach him. He sent Jesus as a human being to bleed on the cross and die for all the sins that we have committed. As we look to Jesus and accept the truth that he died for you and me; God cleanses us from all our sins by his blood.
How is that possible? It is because Jesus lived a sinless life. And the sacrifice of his broken body and blood has all the merit in the world to give us the right to come before God without fear. For the Bible says,
“And without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.”
And since Jesus shed his sinless blood for you; that is the only way we can go to God who is holy. He is inviting us to be holy like he is. As you look at your own sins; you might feel like giving up because being holy is impossible. But God is coming near to you in Jesus; loving you and accepting you just as you are.
God Is Commanding You and Me to Be Holy like He Is
But he won’t leave you just as you are today. He will work on you and put in your heart a desire to be holy like Jesus. And he will also make you holy like him.
That is why the Bible calls us to repent of our sins. In popular terms, it is like making a U-turn from the wrong way and moving on in the right way.
As we walk on the roads, dust and other dirt will definitely stick to us. And therefore we take a bath everyday. It is the blood of Jesus that washes us clean every moment from all sin in our lives so that we too can share in God’s holiness.
It is a process; and not just a one-time event. So the bible asks us to purify and cleanse ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God. So let us fear God and shun all evil and constantly increase in desire to be holy like God.
“I am the LORD your God; consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy.”
Can you expect to rise above your defeats? Yes you can, God helping you.
Can you find strength to go on in spite of all failures you have faced? Yes you can. For God’s Word says to you:
“Those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” 1
You might have made mistakes; but that is how life is. Not one of us is perfect; and it is foolish to think that all those who succeed do it perfect all the time.
Now life for you might have slowed down; it might have even come to a standstill.
He comes to give you strength. His love is neither weak nor sentimental. What he sees when he looks at you is unparalleled beauty arising out of what has been wrecked.
There is a voice of hope that whispers courage in your heart. He is asking, “What are you doing here lying down on a bed of despair, my child?”
You cannot lock yourself in your room and expect to hide from him. When he has business to do with you; he will walk right in. For he holds the key to your life; didn’t you know?
Your heartaches are his concern even when you think no one cares.
Never will he ask you to walk alone. You might not recognize his presence with you; for he loves to see you walk by faith and not by sight. He is there by your side when you are losing grip on the rocks you climb.
Still believe: When you have lost your strength and you feel that you can longer fly; he will lift you high. And make you climb the heights.
You can soar on wings like eagles on high for it is love that brings him near and touch your hurting life.
Never give up for there is a finishing line. And he is waiting there to see you cross the line.
It doesn’t matter you stumbled and fell many times. But all that now counts is that you did not lose faith in God who bled on the cross for you and did not lose sight of the finishing line.
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God knew you before anyone else knew you. It is an amazing foreknowledge. You were seen in his radar before any scan could see you.
I know you by name.
God calls each star by name. Such is his immense wisdom and power which holds them. And he is longing to be friends with you. To have a personal relationship with you. He, therefore, calls you by name and says, “You are mine.”
I know your thoughts.
When your heart is proud and unresponsive, he knows it. When your heart is broken and you are humble in your attitude, he knows it. He knows when you feel like a failure and he knows when you are nesting evil thoughts. Everything in your mind is laid open and bare before him.
I know your deeds.
Our system of evaluation is based on what we see. God’s standards are different. He weighs our deeds on a different scale. He looks at our motives and judges our deeds accordingly. Will you and I pass this test?
I know the plans I have for you.
When God’s people were in exile and captivity because of their sin, rebellion, and disobedience; he sent them a message through a prophet. God made a promise that after several decades he would bring them back to their own land. The plans he had were for their good; to prosper them, and not to harm them. His plans for you are also for good; to give you hope and a future even when your circumstances look hopeless today.
I make known the end from the beginning.
God often spoke through prophets and predicted events in the future. As he knows what lies ahead; it is wise to ask him to lead and guide you. He will not only guide you continually; but to the very end. His counsel is always wise and best. Therefore listen to his voice. You will hear him say, “This is the way, walk in it.”
I know your love for me.
The old fire has gone out. The romance is no longer there. You are doing lip service to me but your heart is not in it. What wrong did I do to you that you have forsaken your first love for me? Therefore return to me. I have loved you with an everlasting love. “Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken,” says your God.
I know your secret sins.
I know that you have tried to avoid them but have failed time and again. Your good deeds will not save you. Trust in the blood of my Son Jesus shed on the cross for you. You are clean and purified because of faith in his blood. Your heart is washed whiter than snow. So don’t be disheartened. Don’t be discouraged. Rise up from your bed of defeat. Walk away from evil. And be clothed in garments of praise.
I know your prayers.
God says: “I have heard your prayer and seen your tears.” He sees your unspoken desires; your inaudible groans, and silent lifting up of your heart to his throne of grace. He listens to your every sigh; and even what you are unable to share with your most intimate friend. Therefore do not lose heart. He is near you. He is with you. He is in you. And he is for you. He answers when you call. And he will show you great and mighty things you do not know in response to your prayers.
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Do you consistently speak words of hope or do you speak words of despair? The power of words we use is immense. Some of their impact even time cannot erase.
But from where do words pour out? Jesus spoke the truth when he said: “For out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks.” Yes, speech is an outflow of the abundance of good or bad we store up in our hearts.
Words spoken do carry great power. In fact, the wise King Solomon said, “The tongue has the power of life and death; and those who love it will eat its fruit.” It is no secret that words affect us, influence our emotions, and colour our relationships.
So let us strive to build others up through our words. Let us encourage others; and let us avoid diminishing people in front of others. A little bit of kindness in our hearts can make the words we speak have a healing touch. It can become a lifeline of hope to a discouraged person.
But an empty vessel cannot pour out water. Likewise life-giving thoughts have to be stored up in our hearts to give life-giving words to others.
In other words, motivational speaking is effective only when the speaker is overwhelmingly thinking of uplifting the audience and painting for them the possibilities that life and the future holds for them.
His or her words should help the listeners look away from their current reality which might look like a wet blanket of despair to the future that is like a door wide open to what each of those persons can become.
Your words therefore can throw open God-gifted possibilities in the life of people. So store up God’s Spirit-filled wisdom in your heart; and your words will truly ignite hope for others. Let your mouth always speak the good, the lovely, and the inspiring that your heart is full of.
But inspiring words do not happen by chance. It has an intense and intimate connection with what our character truly is. And character is not formed in a day or two. It is shaped over the years.
For we are shaped not only by what we allow to influence us but also by what we make an honest effort to avoid. For if we avoid the baggage of words that are acidic like slander, gossip, and mocking others; our mouths will speak only of the beautiful things stored up in our hearts.
Then when we talk; our conversations will turn out to be pleasant; filled with kindness like food seasoned with salt. It will taste good and preserve relationships in contrast to having a bad taste and destroying others.
Let us therefore keep our eyes and ears open to store up good things in our hearts so that when we speak they will bring words of cheer, hope, and comfort out of the abundance stored up there.
“But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgement for every careless word they have spoken.” — Jesus Christ
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Jesus told the paralyzed man “Friend, your sins are forgiven.” People were crowding around Jesus. So his friends had lowered him on a mat before Jesus from an opening made through the tiles in the roof of the house. They had faith that Jesus would heal him. And they were desperate to get him to Jesus.
It was clear to all that the man needed physical healing. Some of our needs are obvious like this. But when you come to Jesus, he often confronts you with a deeper and greater need than the physical. It is a need that nobody can help you with. It is your need to find forgiveness and peace with God.
When Jesus said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven,” the religious people who had gathered there began to think, “Who can forgive sins but God alone?” They were right. Only God could forgive the sins of any man or woman. But they failed to understand that Jesus was God in human flesh.
Knowing their thoughts, Jesus asked them whether it was easy to say, “Your sins are forgiven,” or to say, “Get up , take your mat and walk?”
It brings us to the question of authority. The government or a bank can decide to cancel debts that individuals or organizations owe them. This is because they have the authority to do so. But when it comes to sins; no human agency or individual has the authority to forgive. It is an act of God’s mercy alone.
That also tells you there is nothing you can do to earn God’s forgiveness. No self-punishment, no pilgrimage, no acts of charity, no good deeds are enough. But if your heart is broken and you humbly seek God for his mercy; he will certainly forgive. Remember, no man or woman on earth can forgive sins. Only God alone can forgive.
And there is no limit to God’s forgiveness. There is no sin, however greatly it has stained your life, that God cannot forgive. Jesus shed his blood on the cross so that all can find forgiveness for their sins. He not only forgives when you tell your sins before him; but his blood also cleanses you from all sins.
Sometimes, you look at your own goodness and think there is no need for God’s forgiveness in your life. But is that true? The Bible declares, “There is no difference, for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God.” And all of us know that there are thoughts, attitudes, words, and actions that are not right in my life and your life as well.
The point is that when such wrong things happen in our lives, you and I owe God a huge moral debt that not one of us can pay. The only solution is to take it to God and seek his forgiveness. Then, if you are truthfully earnest, God will tell you. “Friend, your sins are forgiven.” That settles it forever.
God hurls your sins into the depths of the sea and sweeps away your offenses like a cloud when he forgives you. Even though he has kept your secret sins in the light of his presence, when he forgives; he will remove them from you as far as the east is from the west. How sweet and comforting to hear Jesus tell you: “Friend, your sins are forgiven!”
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Read more on the healing of the paralytic man in the Gospels of Matthew 9:2–8, Mark 2:1–12 and Luke 5:17–26.
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Each one of us has stared into the face of despair at some point in our lives. No hope. No one to say words of comfort. No one who understands. We, at such moments, question God’s care for us. But there is one Name that you can call upon at such times. It is the name of Jesus.
The name of Jesus brings to you God’s love and compassion. For God is merciful to those who call on him. When you speak the name of Jesus, all heaven is ready to come to your help and aid.
Many people, even those who have not known Jesus as an intimate friend, have called upon the name of Jesus while in danger and have found help. The Bible says, “The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.” You find that true in the name of Jesus. Yes, there is divine protection in his name.
The name of Jesus is also a lover’s password. The more you love God, the more you fall in love with the name of Jesus. For in that name is contained the fullness of God’s being and character. When you speak the name of Jesus with love for him in your heart, it draws you close to God.
So fall in love with the name of Jesus. When he becomes the object of your thoughts and conversations, he draws near to you. There is no other name like the name of Jesus to release God’s love and power and authority in whatever situation you find yourself in. His name means your salvation.
For, the primary meaning of the name Jesus is that he will save his people from their sins. “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” Your burdened heart because of guilt or shame of past sins will find a sweet medicine in the name of Jesus. His name is forgiveness if you are willing to turn away from wrong.
The Bible also says, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” So there is hope for you. There is healing in his name and deliverance from all kinds of oppression of your mind for God has given the name of Jesus extraordinary power and authority. Even demons are subject to the name of Jesus who made peace between God and you through his blood shed on the cross.
When you trust in the name of Jesus, you are moving from ignorance to truth, from darkness to light, and from death to life. When you trust in the name of Jesus, you receive a rich welcome to God’s family as his child.
Like how one of the thieves crucified along with Jesus became one. He said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, today, you will be with me in paradise.” Yes, today, now, this moment, you can become a child of God in Jesus’ name.
And when you are his child, prayers in his name are always heard and answered. It is a child’s privilege to ask; for there is freedom to access God the Father’s presence at all times. Be bold. Ask with confidence in the name of Jesus. It is God’s great joy to listen to you speak the name of his Son. And he will answer your prayers.
Finally, when you speak the name of Jesus and proclaim his name to your friends; there will come a change in you. Slowly but surely, you begin to capture the loveliness of the character of Jesus in you. So fall in love with the name of Jesus, the name that is above every name! Sunday Sermonettes | The Glorious Hope of Seeing You in Jesus’ Likeness
Life is like that. The calm of life is suddenly broken by the unexpected changes that come. And it is quite natural that we become afraid when our boat is caught in the storm.
Remember it was the same sea Jesus and his friends had travelled many times before. But the challenge of the storm this time was totally new. And all the wisdom of past experiences failed to give the friends courage in the sight of this present danger.
As we look at this incident; there are many simple lessons we can learn from it:
One, just because Jesus is in the boat with you and me, doesn’t mean that the storm won’t come. Life’s struggles are common to all. Some storms do threaten to drown us. And being afraid is a normal reaction at such times.
Even though the friends of Jesus who were with him in the boat were experienced fishermen; they were afraid. They came to Jesus, sleeping on a cushion, woke him up and asked, “Teacher, don’t you care, if we drown?” For the waves threatened to sink the boat.
Second, Jesus sleeping is no sign that he does not care. Often, we expect him to do something in our desperate situations. And he seems to be totally not available to attend our frantic prayers and calls of distress.
At such times, it is quite natural to find fault with God for the troubles we face in life. But don’t ever forget that Jesus, the Son of God, is with us in our boat; even in the storm.
Third, we find the disciples waking Jesus up. It was after talking to the crowds and teaching them during the day that Jesus was sleeping. He, as a human being, was just like us. He became tired, hungry, and thirsty like any one of us.
But Jesus did not become angry with his friends for waking him up. He immediately got up and took care of the storm. So don’t you worry to call him 24 x 7 in any of your crises in life. He understands. And he helps because he too was caught in the storm.
Fourth, we find Jesus having authority over the winds and the waves. There is no situation or difficulty in our lives he is not able to handle.
When frightening situations seem to overwhelm and destroy us, our emotions will give us no rest. We will be tossed about on the rising waves. Yet, let us find courage in this true incident that Jesus is in control even when the circumstances are all against us, and threatening to drown us.
Again, one word from Jesus, the wind died down and it was completely calm. He stood up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet, Be Still.” The storm is not the end of the story. The command of Jesus is.
He, with you and me in the boat, is the greatest assurance we can have in life. He won’t throw you or me away. But will act when it is needed.
Finally, his question to his friends, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” is a challenge to each one of us. His friends had seen him do a lot of miracles. They had seen impossibilities turn to triumphant possibilities with Jesus. Yet the storm drove the wits out of them!
But when calm had come, the friends were terrified and they asked: “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!” The storm had rocked their boat; but it also made the friends of Jesus get a real glimpse of who he truly is.
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Based on Mark’s Gospel Chapter 4: Verses 35 to 41
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Jesus is calling you to himself. You cannot stay where you are to answer that call. You have to take a step forward. He is inviting you to a life of daring into the unknown. He is not promising you a bright future. He is simply promising himself.
Many people are disappointed because they look for material benefits when following Jesus. But Jesus pointed out that he had no place to rest his head unlike birds of the air which have nests and foxes which have holes or dens to retire to at the end of the day. So he was not promising an easy life to anyone who chose to follow him.
Jesus also demands for himself the highest priority you can give when he invites and commands you to follow him. He is asking for your best love towards him. All other loves you have will appear like hate compared to your love for him. Perhaps this is hard to swallow.
Then look at role models; we have many. But when we look closely; there are so many things we find in them that can disappoint us. With Jesus, the more you look at him, the more you talk with him, the more you think of him, his loveliness only increases. He is not asking you to follow rules; he is simply calling you to follow him.
That also means that even when he seems to be absent in our struggles of life; he is always there. Though at times, he seems to have forsaken us; he is there. For he who said, “Come, follow me,” will not leave us or forsake us in times of our distress. He has gone ahead of us. Our role is to keep our eyes focused on him; and him alone.
Following Jesus can be a lonely journey at times. Some of your best friends might hate you because you follow Jesus. Your close relatives might not be as enthusiastic as you are in following Jesus. But Jesus is not calling you to follow him with a crowd. His call to you is personal.
Following Jesus demands that we focus on him; and try to avoid distractions. It is not easy. We are surrounded by gadgets that steal away much of our precious time. So to focus on Jesus, you need to make deliberate choices:
Instead of reaching out for your mobile to check for messages or updates the first thing in the morning; why not spend five minutes thanking God for the gift of a new day. Ask him for his help, presence, wisdom, and guidance to do all that you need to do that day.
“Come, follow me,” is both an invitation and a command. You are free to accept or disobey. The choice is entirely yours. But if you reject Jesus and his call; you are missing a journey along with the One who loved you and gave himself on the cross for you where he bled and died.
There are so many broad paths in this world that lead to destruction. But Jesus is inviting you to follow him along the narrow way and find life.
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No one in all human history has been introduced to the public in this fashion. The forerunner of Jesus, John the Baptist, cried out when he saw him: “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.” The question is what does this intro mean to you?
First of all, it is an invitation. To look closely at this person.
He is described as a Lamb. Gentle. Not rebelling and crying out against all the sufferings inflicted on him as he was led to the cross. To bleed and die for all of us.
Secondly, lambs were used for sacrifice. An innocent animal’s blood had to be shed for God to turn away from punishing someone who had done wrong. The Bible calls all wrongdoing and rebellion against God, sin.
When the forerunner said, “Look, the Lamb of God,” he was saying to the people that all those animal sacrifices in the past were looking forward to this Man sent from God to die for all.
Thirdly, he was like a sacrificial lamb roasted over the fire as God’s judgement and wrath against all our sins fell on Jesus on the cross.
In that sense, Jesus is your substitute. He died in your place. The punishment for all your sins that should have rightly come upon you; the whole of it came upon him. Yes, the Lamb of God has taken away your punishment.
Finally, in the sacrificial system, a lamb that was to be sacrificed had to be without blemish, without spot, and without defect of any sort. So the priest would examine a lamb carefully to make sure it is perfect before sacrificing it.
The invitation to you is to look and examine this Man closely. What is the fault you can find in him? If you can’t find any; look to him in faith. It was sacrificial love for you that took him to the cross. If that doesn’t prove that God loves you; nothing else will.
One look of faith is enough to fall in love with him.
“Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.”
Above all, we are called to look beyond time and into the heavens to see and experience the mighty thundering songs of praise, adoration, and worship that belongs to the victorious Lamb of God who has triumphed:
“Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honour and glory and praise.”
Yes, in heaven, the songs of praise revolve around the Lamb who bled and died to remove our sins from us.
“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honour and glory and power, for ever and ever!” “Amen.”
“Hallelujah!
For our Lord God Almighty reigns,
Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory!
For the wedding of the Lamb has come.”
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This post was last updated on 6th February 2025.
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It is impossible to grow in your career without being able to say No. If you say Yes all the time, that means you are being a people-pleaser. It means that you are not focused. It again means that you don’t set priorities. It also means others don’t respect your boundaries or are not even aware of them.
If you say Yes to everything; you are going to bleed your time, energy, resources, and money for the tasks others are responsible for. That means others easily make you work for them for nothing. A Yes man or woman does not realize that he or she is an individual worthy of respect and esteem like anyone else.
Now the question is how can you say No. You might be afraid that you will hurt people if you say No. That might be true. But we are not talking about saying No to genuine requests for help. Instead, you need to ask questions to find out the real intent of people asking for favours from you. If you discover that, you will be shocked to know that what they said to you to get things done was not sincere but only a mask to conceal the real motive of manipulating you.
Often there are people who want to get things done by dumping the task on the head of someone who is weak-willed. That is not delegation but just making use of you to get them some leisure time.
Now be courteous when you say No. Tell them you have more urgent priorities to deal with at the moment. Point out to them some other method or resource or help they can seek.
A No response comes from your realization of what you are called to do in life. The more you grow as a professional the more focused you should become. That can happen only if you learn to say No to anything that distracts from what you are converging in on life.
There is great power in 3 things when you think about Don’t You Quit:
First of all, trust in God. When things look hopeless and no one is in a position to help you and no door seems to open, God is still there. He is ever willing to help you. So hold on in faith. Don’t you quit.
Secondly, trust in the dream God has given you. There might be things that have gone wrong. You might have made mistakes and have had your share of failures. But the good Lord who put the dream in your heart wants to see it fulfilled. So sharpen your skills, raise your vision to higher goals, and bless people through your efforts. Hold on in faith. Don’t you quit.
Thirdly, trust that a comeback is possible for you. Don’t lie down. Don’t give in to despair. It might take longer than you think. Progress might be painfully slow. But every step you take is forward. Every failure is just going to increase your resolve to succeed. So hold on in faith. A comeback will truly showcase to the world how God showed mercy to you. Don’t you quit just at the verge of victory.
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This post was inspired by the Movie HOOVEY | INSPIRATIONAL TRUE STORY | PATRICK WARBURTON
Hope is in short supply in today’s world. But let me remind you of how to overflow with hope. If you are feeling tired and having no strength; if you feel powerless and weak; hold on. Even if you think God has forgotten you; don’t give up. For this promise of God from Isaiah 40:31 is for you:
“But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”
What does this promise mean to you today? First of all, it reminds you to focus on God and not your problems. You have to hope in the Lord. You have to make a deliberate effort to turn your eyes away from all your troubles and failures and focus on God and his great power, mighty strength, and infinite wisdom.
Secondly, when you hope in the Lord, you will start to expect God to act in your life. Faith will begin to rise in your hearts. For the Bible says in Hebrews 11:1 that “faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” This kind of hope is not wishful thinking. Instead, it is based on God’s promise and assurance in our lives that he will not leave us nor forsake us.
Thirdly, when you hope in the Lord, there is bound to be action. There will be renewal of strength. You will soar on wings like eagles; you will run and not grow weary, and you will walk and not be faint. Therefore, cheer up. Take heart. Make God the focus of your thoughts. And strength will flow into your lives.
Finally, many people lose hope today as they focus on their past sins, present failures, and future worries. See, the blood of Jesus has the power to cleanse you from all your past sins, redeem your life from present failures, and keep your mind in perfect peace as you hope and trust in him.
So be filled with hope today. As Paul wrote in Romans 15:13, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Let your cup overflow with hope today. God has heard your prayers and seen your tears. From the ashes of your defeat, hope will rise. And God will act on your behalf. Therefore, look to the God of hope today.
Welcome 2024 with hope in God. Out of loss in previous years; there can yet come a sprout out of the stump left.
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January 2, 2024 | Treasure Hunt
Life is a treasure hunt. You need to restrain restless pursuit of the things of the world to find things of true value.
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January 3, 2024 | Taste
What adds taste to life is not salt, sugar, or pepper; but love and togetherness. Even in simple dishes, they add abundance.
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January 4, 2024 | Mirrors
Mirrors don’t tell truth; they only tell us what we like to hear. We look at mirrors that show us our smiling best; but shun God’s Own Mirror which show us as our hearts truly are.
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January 5, 2024 | Prayer
We pray to God to change our negative circumstances. But God often gifts you grace and courage to rise above them. He first of all makes you bold before he changes difficult situations. Therefore never lose heart; never lose hope. Keep on praying. God hears. God answers.
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January 6, 2024 | Failures
Do not wallow in self-pity when you fail. Instead, look up and rise up now out of your bed of despair. Trust God. There is hope for your tomorrow.
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January 7, 2024 | Be Still
There are moments in life when the best thing to do is to remain still and trust God to do the impossible. Then it becomes Himpossible.
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January 8, 2024 | Space Exploration
Each scientific discovery tells us how small we human beings truly are. The stunning progress of Science and Technology, especially in Space exploration in recent years; should move us to worship God the Creator, who gave us life: for his holiness, greatness, wisdom, mighty power, majesty, and glorious splendour.
The vastness of unending Space; its marvellous beauty; its stillness and laws that govern the perfect order in which stars and planets move; speak volumes of God’s incomparable greatness.
It is not scientific spirit that rejects God or deny his existence; but simply our pride that does not accept our smallness.
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January 9, 2024 | Hope in God
God says, “Those who hope in me will not be disappointed.”
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When we listen to gossip, it can crush someone like this beautiful and innocent butterfly. Say a deliberate NO when people tell you negatively flavoured stories of others. Imagine if the story is about you. How would you feel? You can make this world a better place by refusing to listen to gossip. Yes, you can!
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January 11, 2024 | Winning
Winning at the highest level of competitions is all about: One, a burning desire to win, and Two, staying calm under pressure. Without these two; all hard work, game plan, practice, and fan support will go wasted.
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January 12, 2024 | Professional and Personal Growth
God’s best work of art in us comes through cutting away like how grape vines are pruned to produce luxuriant fruit. What are we willing to put the chisel to in our lives that even when producing pain will enable growth and fruitfulness?
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January 13, 2024 | New Every Morning
We all fail miserably at times. And then we feel like giving up and calling ourselves failures. But God is willing to gift you yet another chance; always. For “his compassions never fail. They are new every morning.”
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January 14, 2024 | Your Look Matters
So many of our thoughts start with seeing. Therefore it is important to keep an eye on what we look at. If we look too long at what is not rightfully ours; it can lead to coveting. And that can explode like a volcano; destroying trust and relationships.
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January 15, 2024 | Smile
Never forget to smile; never fail to shine a ray of hope with your smile. For you are counted richer than a billionaire if you can gift a smile.
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January 16, 2024 | Mockers
Many sit in the seat of mockers in today’s world. They try to outsmart their competitors by laughing at their expense and making fun of them. But it won’t last long. Mockers will surely fall one day.
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January 17, 2024 | Simple Words
Simple words can have great impact in communication. “I have good news for you,” need not be said as; “The report that I am going share with you is profound and impactful.” Simplicity in choice of words hides greatness within it. So, go for simple words when you communicate.
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January 18, 2024 | God Remembers You
When troubles come; it is easy to lose heart and get discouraged. But the Hebrew Poet and King David found comfort that God stores all his tears in a bottle, writes them on a scroll, and keeps a record of them. Let us be thankful that God values each one of us as individuals; and he remembers our tears.
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January 19, 2024 | Do Not Be Apologetic
You might have heard many speakers begin saying, “I’m not thoroughly prepared,” or “I am not knowledgable about this topic; but will still try to say a few words,” or something apologetic like this. Why spoil audience expectations like this? Instead, start positively and with joy and the audience will echo the same to you quickly.
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January 20, 2024 | God Cares for You
So many of us worry to death each day. The only antidote to worry is to trust in our Heavenly Father who cares for even a sparrow no one is worried about a bit at all.
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January 21, 2024 | Postpone Death If You Can
Almost anything can be postponed; except the day of death. That surely is a compelling reason for mindful living today.
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January 22, 2024 | The Blood of Jesus
The blood of Jesus on the cross is the greatest hope ever gifted to all.
A poem written on Good Friday, April 6, 2012.
January 23, 2024 | Running On Track
It is not speed, power, or efficiency; but what is more fundamental is whether you are running on track? Planets, stars, and galaxies obey heaven’s laws and follow their God-ordained orbits and there is order, harmony, and peace. So run on the track assigned and find success.
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January 24, 2024 | Follow Up
Call it leadership, management, or plain common sense, “follow up” is what gets things done. Neglect it at home, office, or anywhere else; and you’re undone.
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January 25, 2024 | We Speak What Our Hearts Are Full Of
Jesus said, “For out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks.” We have felt the power of angry words bursting forth at us from someone.
Often daily, we too hurt others with words. These are no accidents. It is coming from what we have stored up in our hearts.
Let us try to store good so that what spills out from our mouths even in angry moments are gentle words. Is it difficult? Yes. Is it impossible? No. Let us give it an honest try even though we have failed multiple times in this regard in our speaking.
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January 26, 2024 | Authority and Power
Authority and power are given. It is wise to use them with humility; for it is God who changes times and seasons.
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January 27, 2024 | A Matchstick Can
You can be a simple matchstick. Yet you can light many torches. Do not look at your insignificant appearance. But look at what God can do through you.
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January 28, 2024 | Valentine Gift Heart Love
There is power in love. Not many forget the first time you met true love! Here’s a story of love lifting up someone from the slimy pit; and restoring that person to dignity. Lavished love! Amazing love! Everlasting love!
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January 29, 2024 | Failures Come Because You Don’t Aim High
Some failures, though not all, happen because your goals are meek. Set your standards higher than normal. And that will help to bring out the best in you. Even if you fail then, you would have outshined your previous best. No failure is final when you have the guts to dare an audacious goal.
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January 30, 2024 | Take a Short Break
Long hours of intense coding can break you. Take short breaks in between. For your code matters; but your life and health matters most.
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January 31, 2024 | Forgiven Much, Love Much!
Forgiveness is the true colour of love. When God forgives, he asks no questions why you sinned or failed? He only asks, “Do you love me?” If you are forgiven much, you can love him much more!
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These are inspirational words & images originally published on LinkedIn in January 2024. They are short snippets of wisdom motivating you to better living. They are words of hope.
A warm good morning to you all in the matchless name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
The topic for today is obedience. Isn’t it lovely that the New Testament begins with the story of one man’s obedience. The Bible says: “When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.” The lesson for us is that one man’s obedience can impact history. So it is important for us to obey. This is especially true for us children as Paul wrote in Colossians 3:20, “Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.”
Now let me point out a few thoughts about obedience.
First of all, obedience can take us through difficulties.
Our supreme example of obedience is that of Jesus Christ who obeyed God to the point of bleeding to death on a cross. The writer of Hebrews says, Jesus learned obedience from what he suffered. It tells us that the path of obedience is not always smooth. It might lead us through difficulties and suffering. But these pressures of life will transform us from an ordinary lump of dark charcoal to a priceless diamond that shines brilliantly.
Secondly, obedience is not about obeying rules but it is about a personal love relationship with Jesus Christ.
In John 14 Jesus said, “If you love me, you will obey what I command.” Therefore obedience is an outflow of our love relationship with God. We can obey God with joy when we believe that God is good all the time. We can obey God when we believe that God has our highest good in mind when he commands us to do something. Therefore let us obey God because we love him.
Thirdly, obedience is about faith.
Let us look at Abraham, the father of faith. In Hebrews Chapter 11, that great roll call of faith, it is said “By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.” He went because he trusted in God.
Let me conclude by saying that God always warns us when we try to disobey him. If we do not listen we will sink like the great ship Titanic which ignored warnings about icebergs ahead. Let us not be like Prophet Jonah who ran away from God in disobedience; or like King Saul who lost his kingdom due to disobedience; but let us be like Joseph who obeyed God and left his footprints on the sands of time. Amen.
It is easy to say God is dead. Atheists believe that there is no God. There might be logic in their argument. Questions like: “If there is a God, why is there so much suffering in this world?” or “Why do people who profess to believe in God, do wrong things?” or “Isn’t it enough that I just be living a good life; trying to help others and not doing harm?” do not have easy answers.
Having said that, let me try to raise a few concerns.
Man is busy trying to explain origins dating back to billions of years. But while they are proposing theories; the reality of cold dark death bites. Why death?
Secondly, most human beings wear dress.
Forget about fashions; but think of normal wear. Why this distinction? If man is a social animal as many love to term it; why is man different from all other animals, birds, and reptiles in this regard? Isn’t it that the shame of the original sin in the Garden of Eden is haunting all men and women even today?
Thirdly, man thinks. And he expresses his thoughts through words.
As Dr. Samuel Johnson said, “Language is the dress of thought.” But why so many languages in the world. Well, the world had one speech and language at the dawn of human history. Was it not God who scattered men all around the world by confusing their languages because of man’s rebellion against him?
I do agree that love has been corrupted much. But then you will all agree that love is that which affirms us that we belong. It is love that reduces friction and makes hope-filled waiting possible. Who put love within man’s heart in the first place? If not God, then who? So then, Is God Who Gave You Life, Dead?
Champions have a different mindset. One thing that makes them different from others is their ability to raise their game to highest performance when situations demand it from them. Let us look at some the highlights of a champion’s mindset.
First of all, champions don’t think defeat.
They are realistic with who their competition is. But they don’t allow that to intimidate them. Often the best opponent and the toughest teams bring out the best in them and help them bring out their best performance.
Secondly, champions enjoy their game.
They workout, toil, and spend long hours in practice. All these are tolling on the mind and body. But they persevere because they enjoy what they do. Even when they sleep they dream of enjoying their game. This undoubtedly makes them raise their game to highest performance while on the field.
Thirdly, champions don’t give up till the very last.
They have the ability to bounce back from early setbacks if it happens. They keep cool under pressure. They anticipate in hope till they catch the opponent relaxing for perhaps a split second and turn the tables around. Often champions show their true colors by unbelievable comebacks especially during final moments of a game. This is performance at its very best.
Fourthly, champions treat victories differently.
They are happy; but they are dissatisfied with even their best performance. Always, they strive to find what they could do better next time. No champion relaxes on reaching a summit. They treat it as history and focus sharply on the next game coming up. Looking forward is one way champions raise the level of their game to highest performance.
Finally, champions sense it when their fans, the situation, and the watching world is expecting them to perform.
They adapt to even hostile situations and deliver under pressure. Perhaps this one distinguishes a champion from others. They raise the level of their game to highest performance when all is against them.
To conclude, you too can be a champion if you strive to win, have that killer instinct, and a never give up hope-filled attitude until you win.
Your look matters. What you see is what makes you think. Looking up at the twinkling stars is what made the poet ask, “How I wonder what you are?” Likewise looking at the beautiful can trigger your imagination to see diamonds in every twinkle in the sky.
That kind of look of wonder and imagination was in the past. Today people are hooked to what they see on the screen or in the streets. When you engage with what you see; you imagine, you think, and you act on your thoughts. So it is important to know that your look matters.
What you look at constantly can feed your mind. It can create a web which links to emotions. So it is up to you to choose what links you like to create. Remember it all starts with what you choose to see. Unlinking the hooks you have created is not easy like how you unlink when you write a piece of code. So be careful for your look matters.
There are a lot of things you cannot avoid seeing. Life is busy and your eyes and sight collide with too much visual information, entertainment, and enticement through the media too. Like there are censoring boards and editors in the movie world, you should consciously have filters in place which will weed out unwanted images and thoughts.
Otherwise, distractions can easily make you slip and fall. And it all starts with what you look at. The choice is yours. Make a wise decision not to look at what is wrong, what is tempting, and what can lead you down to a slippery path to destruction. Please God and you will have the courage to say no to the glittering things of life that appeal to your eyes. So watch what you look at; for your look matters. Read Your Look Matters on LinkedIn
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I share with you this classic mistake I once made in my speech which I remember the most. The occasion was a sermon I delivered in my Church.
It was a few weeks after the Tsunami had struck South East Asia in December 2004. So I started off talking about it. In the third sentence of my sermon I said, ” A few days later the . . .”
At that point my mind went blank. I was standing in the pulpit. It was a raised platform. Around three to four hundred people were looking intently at me. I had no sermon notes with me. I simply had to go on.
I knew I had to say a word starting with the letter M. But it was not coming to mind. So I substituted with another word starting with the letter M. And this is what I said:
“A few days later themagnanimity of the tragedy struck us.”
The moment I said that in my mind’s eye I could see blue and red lights flashing and hear alarm bells ringing. But I couldn’t stop to analyze. I had to go on.
The sermon went ahead well with a few more mistakes but not as classic as the one I just mentioned. Truly “magnanimity” was a disaster.
The magnitude (which was the word I should have said) of my mistake is clear because magnanimity means generosity!
Truly a classic mistake.
But the point is that it did not stop my journey as a public speaker. I continue to speak even now.
Therefore you need not fear mistakes. Let them come.
Often there is nothing much I can do to correct the mistakes made in speech as with the case of “magnanimity” of the tragedy.
So I understand that it simply shows me as a human being capable of making mistakes, maybe time and again.
But beyond that I see that I can trust him who hung on a cross and bled for me to integrate my life’s failures and mistakes into what he is shaping and moulding me to be.
So be encouraged today to speak. Mistakes need not prevent you from achieving the best that God has kept in store for you.
A young woman in England was troubled in her mind. She felt herself unworthy to come to Jesus. A Swiss evangelist, Cesar Malan who was visiting the town told her, “Come just as you are.” But she was not willing then to come to Jesus. It was only 12 years later that those five simple words would impact her.
She became invalid and was confined to her room. And then one night in 1834 the burden of the lost condition of her heart and soul became unbearable and she, Charlotte Elliott, thinking on those five words, “Come just as you are” came to Jesus.
She simply came with her sense of unworthiness and uselessness. That night she wrote the words of the hymn Just as I am. She said in that hymn that she was coming to Jesus not because of any claim she had to make. Instead, she was trusting the blood of Jesus the Lamb of God which was shed for her and his invitation to come to him. She said that she was not trying to clean herself but instead she was coming to the blood of Jesus which can cleanse all dark spots.
Just as I am, without one plea,
but that thy blood was shed for me,
and that thou bid’st me come to thee,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
Just as I am, and waiting not
to rid my soul of one dark blot,
to thee, whose blood can cleanse each spot,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
My dear friend, would you like to come to Jesus today? Bring your sins, your guilt, your shame, your sense of unworthiness; bring it all to him. He has not only invited you to come, but he is also eagerly waiting to see you return to him. Will you come? Will you return to his love today?
See, God’s love is not about emotions. But it is practical and sacrificial. He showed his love for you on the cross where Jesus bled and died for you. This is the central truth in all human history.
You have to look to the cross and the blood of Jesus to come to God. There is no other way. It is a narrow way. Many people reject this way because they want a way to God which is easy and popular and based on their own goodness.
But there is no other way to God. For the Bible says, in Hebrews 9 and verse 22 “and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” (NIV) And again, the night before he was crucified, Jesus said, in Matthew 26 and verse 28, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”
Yes, the blood of Jesus has tremendous power to cleanse and to forgive. Because it is sinless blood;
because it is innocent blood;
because it is the blood of the Son of God fully and willingly surrendered to his Father’s will;
because it was poured out as sacrifice to the very last drop;
and because it speaks words of forgiveness even today,
it has in it the power to cleanse and forgive all your sins.
There is not one sin in your life, however great and evil it is, that the blood of Jesus cannot wash clean.
Your every secret sin, every act of disobedience, every act of rebellion against God; all their bright red scarlet stain can be washed as white as snow in the blood of Jesus. Just come to him with a sincere and broken heart; ready to turn away from evil and darkness to the light of God.
In 1 John Chapter 1 verse 7, the Bible says, “But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.” (NKJV). “And the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.” My dear friend, there is cleansing power in the blood of Jesus.
The one thing you need to do is to walk in the light. Do not run away from God when the Spirit of God convicts you of sin in your life. Like King David, agree with what the Spirit of God is showing you and say, humbly say, “I have sinned against the LORD.”
When you thus confess your sins before God, the Bible says in 1 John Chapter 1 verse 9: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Let me read that again: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” So, you can find forgiveness with God and cleansing from all your sins by the blood of Jesus.
You can come again and again to the blood of Jesus every single time you become conscious of a wrong thought, a bad word, or a sinful action from your side. For the blood of Jesus is a cleansing fountain as said in Zechariah Chapter 13 and verse 1. You cannot exhaust its cleansing flow and power.
Therefore, do not hesitate to wash yourself in the blood of the Lamb of God. Yes, do not hesitate to wash yourself in the blood of the Lamb of God. That is the only way you can enter the holy presence of God. In fact the Bible says in Hebrews Chapter 10 verse 19 that we can have confidence to enter the presence of God in the most holy place in heaven by the blood of Jesus. With boldness and freedom, we can definitely enter the presence of God by the blood of Jesus.
It further invites us to draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith. That means you need not doubt. God will welcome you for sure when you come to his presence through the blood of Jesus. This is the significance of the curtain of the temple being torn in two; from top to bottom when Jesus died on the cross.
For the blood of Jesus removes all barriers and opens the way for you to come to the presence of God. The door in heaven is open for you. The curtain, the body of Jesus, was broken for you. So come boldly; come with boldness and with confidence that Jesus your high priest in heaven is bringing you near to God by his precious blood shed on the cross of Calvary.
Yes, the blood of Jesus has permanently opened a new and living way for you to approach God. Do not hesitate when you become conscious of sin. The moment you realize you have sinned; come to God confessing your sin and be cleansed and forgiven by the blood of Jesus. The blood of Jesus makes it possible for you to have access to God at all times.
Do you find it unbelievable? Then think on what Pastor Stuart Silvester had to say about this. He once had a conversation with a friend of his who frequently flew his small private plane in and out of Toronto International Airport. He asked the pilot if he ever faced problems taking off and landing a small craft at an airport that was dominated by so many large jets. His friend responded, “My plane may be small, but I have the same rights, the same privileges, and the same access to that airport as anyone else—even the jumbo jets!” “the same access to that airport as anyone else
Yes my dear friend; don’t think yourself small or insignificant when you to come to God through the blood of Jesus. You have equal access to the throne of grace just like any giant of faith you might know. You are always welcome to go to God crying out Abba Father, crying out My Dearest Daddy, through the Spirit of God dwelling in your heart.
So draw near to God now. For the blood of Jesus has the power to make you stand before God having your past wiped clean. Come to God with a heart that is truthfully and sincerely hurt by all your sinful attitudes, thoughts, words, and actions. Ask God to help you turn away from all that is wrong in your life. The Bible calls that repentance, and it is godly sorrow that leads you to repentance.
Isn’t it sad that you still trust in your self-righteousness? Now what does that mean? You think by going to church regularly, by prayer and Bible reading, by giving tithes, by your church traditions, by your good deeds, by going on a pilgrimage, doing penance, and so on you can earn access to God. Impossible. It is your pride that makes you think so. The cross of Jesus is where man’s pride ends. No one can come to God except through the blood of Jesus shed on the cross.
So humble yourself before God. The Bible says in Ephesians Chapter 1 verse 7, “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins.” “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins.” The Bible says again in 1 Peter Chapter 1 verses 18 and 19 that we were redeemed not with perishable things such as silver and gold “but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.” “but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or spot.”
The sacrifice of Jesus was costly. As I mentioned earlier, Hebrews Chapter 9 verse 22 says, “And without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” The blood of Jesus has purchased your pardon and freedom. There is absolutely nothing in you or your possessions with which you can clear the debt that you owe God to clear you from all your sins. Only the blood of Jesus redeems. So come to this cleansing fountain now itself.
When you do so, God justifies you. For the Bible says in Romans Chapter 5 verse 9: “Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him.” “Since we have now been justified by his blood.” Now what does it mean? It means that God will not count your sins against you. In simple terms, it means you have a clean new beginning in your life; a brand new beginning in your life. It means that as God looks at you through the lens of the blood of Jesus, it is as if you never ever sinned.
Dr. Warren Wiersbe talks about Dr. Roy Gustafson who has the finest illustration of justification he has ever heard. It seems that there was a man in England who put his Rolls-Royce on a boat and went across to the continent to go on a holiday. While he was driving around Europe, something happened to the motor of his car. He cabled the Rolls-Royce people back in England and asked, “I’m having trouble with my car; what do you suggest I do?” Well, the Rolls-Royce people flew a mechanic over! The mechanic repaired the car and flew back to England and left the man to continue his holiday.
As you can imagine, the fellow was wondering, “How much is this going to cost me?” So when he got back to England, he wrote the people a letter and asked how much he owed them. He received a letter from the office that read: “Dear Sir: There is no record anywhere in our files that anything ever went wrong with a Rolls-Royce.” “Dear Sir: There is no record anywhere in our files that anything ever went wrong with a Rolls-Royce.” That is justification!
It results in you having peace with God. In Romans Chapter 5 and verse 1 we read, “Therefore since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” This is “through faith in his blood” as is made clear in Romans 3 and 25. So if you trust in the blood of Jesus, God’s anger against you is turned away from you because of Jesus’ blood. Romans 3:25 is a very important verse which specifically mentions the object of faith which saves. That is faith in the blood of Jesus is what saves. Many non-believers accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, a divine healer, a worker of miracles, and a powerful prophet. That is all true. But that kind of faith is not enough to save. What saves you from eternal hell is your faith in his blood! So come to this cleansing fountain of blood and find peace with God.
And he will heal your wounds which were caused by sin. The Bible says in Isaiah Chapter 53, “the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.” He will also restore you to friendship with God. For, “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us.” 2 Corinthians 5:21. All the sin of the world was placed on Jesus the Lamb of God who came to take away the sin of the world. Why? To reconcile us to God. It simply means that through the blood of Jesus, God is telling you and me, “I will be friends with you.” Will you believe that? Come to the cleansing fountain of the blood of Jesus.
When you trust his blood for your salvation, sin that separated you and God is removed. The shame and guilt of sin is also taken away. That brings you into close connect and fellowship with God. Instead of enmity with God, there will be peace with God.
God has also brought you out from Satan’s dominion and darkness and evil and given you the power to lead a life that becomes increasingly holy. See, Jesus took the punishment for sins that should have come upon you and me on his body broken on the cross, to set us free! Does that mean we will never sin again. Not at all. But the blood of Jesus puts in our heart a new attitude which hates sin and evil.
In spite of that, a sinless life might not be possible, for we all sin against God from time to time knowingly or unknowingly. Therefore we need repeated cleansing by the blood of Jesus from day to day and moment by moment. So when you allow the blood of Jesus to operate in your life and submit to the powerful influence of this cleansing fountain, there will be a gradual dying to all the wrong desires as God gives you a stronger desire to be holy like him. In Hebrews 13 verse 12 we read: “So also Jesus suffered and died outside the city gates to make his people holy by means of his own blood.” The Bible calls this sanctification. It is the process by which we consistently turn away from all that is evil and become increasingly holy in our lives.
Sanctification refers to the moment by moment cleansing we all need through the blood of Jesus. Imagine you taking a walk on the road. When you come back home even though you didn’t deliberately touch any dirt, lot of dust and other matter will have accumulated in your body mixed with your sweat; isn’t it? Likewise as we live in the world things we happen to see and hear defile our mind and spirit.
Often this defilement discourages us. Then we need to consciously seek the cleansing through the blood of Jesus. We also need to separate ourselves from all known sin in our lives. And then there are matters that make our consciences unclean. We may not be aware of all that. Yet if we consciously seek the cleansing by the blood of Jesus he will do it for you.
After mentioning about the outward cleansing achieved through the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those ceremonially unclean in Old Testament times, the writer points out the inward sanctification as well: “How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God.” Hebrews Chapter 9 verse 14. Let me read that again for you. “How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God.”
How does sanctification happen in your life? Let us listen to what Jesus said in John Chapter 6 verses 53 to 57, “I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him.” Even the disciples of Jesus who listened to him say this found this a hard teaching and they were offended. So what does this mean?
Drinking his blood simply means that we allow the blood of Jesus to have an unrestrained and unrestricted influence in our lives. When we allow that to happen, it leads us to the deepest and intimate union and closer walk we can have with God. Therefore there is a great sense of nearness to God’s presence when you go to him in prayer through the blood of Jesus. From now on, practise the presence of God through the blood of Jesus even while you work or study or play or drive your car. Thus you can always experience God near and have his joy in your life. But like that disciples even today many are offended by the mention of the blood of Jesus. It certainly is not popular.
And when you allow the blood of Jesus to have an unrestrained and unrestricted influence in your life, you also have victory through the blood of Jesus. As the Book of Revelation Chapter 12 verse 11 says, “they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb.” That means there is victory over sin and Satan, and protection and deliverance from all forces of evil and darkness in the precious blood of Jesus Christ, your Lord and Saviour. In today’s world filled with all kinds of evil, temptations, distractions, worries and anxieties, depression and discouragement; your means of victory over all of it comes through the blood of Jesus. So look to Jesus and his shed blood on the cross. That is the banner of your victory. Wave it high.
Let me end with the story Billy Graham told of a boy who lost his way. a police officer was on night duty in a city in northern England. As he walked the streets, he heard the sound of a quivering sob. Shining his flashlight into the darkness, he saw a little boy in the shadows sitting on a doorstep with tears running down his cheeks. The child said, “I’m lost. Please take me home.” “I’ll be glad to take you home. Where do you live?” the officer replied. But the little boy was so tired and so scared that he couldn’t remember his address. The policeman began naming street after street, trying to help the boy remember where he lived. He named the shops and the hotels in the area but the little boy could give him no clue. Then he remembered that at the centre of the town stood a church with a large white cross that towered high above the rest of the city. The policeman pointed to the cross and said, “Do you live anywhere near that place?” The little boy’s face immediately brightened up. He said, “Yes, sir. Take me to the cross and I can find my way home.”
This day let me point you to the cross and the blood Jesus shed there for you. That is the only way home to God and to heaven and to life eternal.
The blood of Jesus shed on the cross has the power to cleanse you from all your sins.
The blood of Jesus sanctifies you by giving you power to live a holy life.
The blood of Jesus redeems you by delivering you from the power of Satan and darkness and evil.
The blood of Jesus justifies you giving you a clean brand new beginning in life
The blood of Jesus heals you especially from the brokenness of your heart caused by sin.
The blood of Jesus gives you access 24 x 7 to the throne of grace in God’s presence.
The blood of Jesus gives you victory in your fight with the world, with your sinful nature and with the devil.
The blood of Jesus gives you protection from the evil one.
And the blood of Jesus reconciles you with God and let you be friends with him.
So come to the Lamb of God. Wash your robes white in the blood of the Lamb and as recorded in Revelation Chapter 5 sing the praises of heaven saying:
“Because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.”
“Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honour and glory and praise.”
“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honour and glory and power for ever and ever.” Amen!
“Surely the day is coming; It will burn like a furnace,” says the Bible.1 These words written by God-breathed inspiration nearly 2400 years ago is moving at the speed of light to its fearful and inescapable prophetic fulfillment.
Surely that day is coming. People can laugh at it, scorn at the improbability of it, and mock the truth of it. But it will come. If you see warning signs and are not motivated to watch out; you alone are responsible.
Surely that day is coming. Look around you. Take earthquakes or floods or storms, wars, or the pandemic. Whether man-made or natural; there are enough warnings in these events for watchful living.
This present world is reserved for burning with fire.2 The elements will melt with fervent heat, 3 so says the Bible. It also says that our God is a consuming fire 4 and it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. 5
Surely that day is coming. It will burn like a furnace. Will you be motivated for watchful living? Will you strive to find safety, refuge, and shelter under God’s wings 6 and the blood of Jesus, the Lamb of God7 before that great day of burning, the day of the LORD8, comes?
ഞങ്ങളുടെ പൂർവപിതാക്കന്മാർ കായികാഭ്യാസികളും മർമ്മചികിത്സാവിദഗ്ധരും സിദ്ധവൈദ്യത്തിൽ നൈപുണ്യം ഉള്ളവരുമായിരുന്നു. ഒരു കാലത്തു അവരുടെ വിശ്വാസത്തോടൊപ്പമുള്ള ചികിത്സാശുശ്രൂഷയുടെ ഓർമ നിലനിറുത്തി കൊണ്ടാണ് യേശുദാസൻ തിരുമേനി തനിക്കു പരമ്പരാഗതമായി ലഭിച്ച കുടുംബവീട് യേശു ശിഷ്യനും വൈദ്യനുമായിരുന്ന ലൂക്കോസിന്റെ നാമധേയത്തിൽ ഒരു ദൈവാലയമായി മാറ്റണം എന്ന് തീരുമാനിച്ചത്.
