Repentance

Many a time we associate repentance with unbelievers and thereby distance ourselves from what I think is one significant process in which we can be molded into God's image. David in the Psalms was conversing with God with a broken spirit and contrite heart (Psa 51). God can only use broken pots to build the new jar he wants us to be. If we continue to be "stiff necked"(Acts 7:51)  and powered by our insolence then little does God have to do in our lives. If we think we have our "own gods" that will come to our rescue and fail to realize the importance of repentance then we are missing the point of our calling.

When was the last time we went to God with that humble spirit and broken heart? If we do not go to God with that emptiness how can God fill us up?. We need to empty the sin in us and run into His arms to fill us up. There is nothing that can draw us away from God if we repent and there is nothing that can draw us near to God if we do not repent. Just as we are belligerent in our prayers to call upon our "Abba Father!" for our needs, maintaining that level of transparency of our heart with God is called for. Contriteness is what God is looking for. The main theme of the prophets of the old testament -Isaiah, Jeremiah,.. was to bring back the hardened hearts(Heb 3:7-19) of the people who inspite of tasting the goodness of God, went back to the "imaginations of their heart". What was God looking for? Repentance! In the new testament - John the Baptist(Mk1:4) ,Jesus(Mat 4:17), Peter(Acts 2:38) and Paul (Acts 20:21) spoke the need of the hour. Repentance!

If we are perfect what is the purpose of God sending His Son to die for us and the Holy Spirit to be with us. Jesus rightly points it out by saying that "It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick; I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners." It is interesting to observe the profundity in prophet Jeremiah's statemet "Can the Ethiopian change his skin Or the leopard his spots? Then you also can do good Who are accustomed to doing evil."(Jer 13:23) Do you see the ultimate reality of life? We are accustomed to do evil! Yes we do have a God who gives us the power to overcome sin but at the same time our very fallen nature causes us to sin. Paul expounds about godly sorrow that brings us to repentance unto salvation and not unto death in his letter to the Corinthians(2 Cor 7:8-11).

Repentance that leads to the acceptance of our limitations and worship that leads to the acknowledgment of God's omnipotence is humility.It is not just a phase of emotional breakdown but a process of spiritual turnaround!

I am saved...now what?

For those of you who are reading my post and are not yet saved or do not know what it means, there is something you need to know. God loved you that He gave His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. Make that prayer in your heart. 

Welcome to the family!

Now that we are saved..what next? I am not sure how many of us have actually thought of what we intend to do or accomplish after we have received the free gift of salvation. What am I called to do?

It is a call to love and serve. To love is a decision. To serve is an honor. (Matt 22:37-39)

It is a call to live and follow. Live in the world and hate it. (Jam 4:4) Live by the Spirit (Rom 8:5,13) and experience abundant life (John 10:10). Followership requires our complete submission and total surrender to God’s will. It is no longer us but Christ who lives in us. (Gal 2:20, 5:24)

It is a call to obey. Obedience is better than sacrifice (1Sam 15:22). You will learn to obey if you know and understand God (Jer 9:24).  We ought to hold God in utmost reverence and reciprocate it by keeping His commandments. There cannot be two ways about it. (Deut 10:12, Ecc 12:13)

It is a call to call. We are called to be his disciples and in turn are commissioned to go make disciples for Him. (Matt 28:19)

It is a call to suffer.  Rejoice in your suffering (Matt 5:11,12, Jam 1:2) that you may enjoy the pleasures of eternity. (Rom 8:18, 2Cor 4:18)

It is a call to be holy. We are called to set apart ourselves from the sin that besets us and be holy just like our father in heaven is holy. (Heb 12:1, 1Pet 1:16)

It is a call to be rewarded. Run the race with faith (2 Tim 4:7). Do not grow weary of good works (Gal 6:9) and you will be rewarded (Rev 22:12).Not on earth but in heaven! (Luke 6:23).

It is a call to…the list can go on. But I would like to end with this.

Salvation is present but reward is both present and future.

Salvation is free but reward is earned!

Salvation cannot be lost but reward can be lost.

Salvation is the beginning but reward is in the end!

Let us therefore work to earn those rewards in heaven and not on earth.(Matt 6:19-21)

One heart and/or a pair of hands??!! (Continued....)

Since I got a feedback that my previous post needs to "be written in English" and should "have the common man in mind", I am summarizing it below.

All I meant to make you think through the post is

• Are you seeking God as one who simply gives what you ask for? Or is God more than that to you?
• Are you pretending to serve God by giving only your hands and not your heart?
• Do you know what it requires to dwell in the house of the Lord?

I hope I was able to put my point across.Signing off...