Restoring the Fortunes

‘For I will restore their fortunes and have compassion on them’ ~ Jeremiah 33:26

 

Throughout the history of the nation of Israel, we find a common phenomena. Whenever they disobeyed God, forsaking his ways and laws, they were invaded by ruthless armies from the surrounding nations. There was destruction on every front. Scores of people were mercilessly killed, livestock and cattle was ravaged, flora and fauna was rampaged, gold, silver and other precious articles from the temple were taken away. Above all these, the joy and peace of the people was stolen. Grief and mourning prevailed.

God forewarned them of such devastation through his prophets who at times spoke severe words  pointing out to the wrath of God who set about to discipline the chosen nation. But God also spoke words of comfort and assurance that he would avenge the enemies of Israel who went too far in plundering Israel. God promised prosperity and favour: streets will again be filled with children playing; each man siting under his own vine and fig tree; gold, silver and precious articles of the temple will be restored; the land will yield its harvest and the sound of music and singing will fill the air. Above all these, the joy, peace and glory of Israel – who is the LORD himself – will return.

God’s love for his own is such that though he chastises us, he longs to see the fortunes, the fortunes of Christ restored in our lives. What ‘fortunes of Christ’ need to be restored in your life? Has sin dampened the joy and fervor of serving Christ? Has the enemy of your soul stolen the peace of God that makes you trust him? Has worry and anxiety vexed your heart and mind that you can no longer enjoy sweet fellowship with the LORD?

Trust him my friend. He will restore the fortunes of Christ in your life again. God says, “And this too shall pass….this time of gloom and sorrow….this season of difficulty and troubles….this phase of challenges and trials….and the joy, peace and glory of Christ will certainly come.”

 

Prayer – “Dear Heavenly Father, I thank you for loving me so much that you want to see me restored with the blessings and the abundant life in Christ Jesus. Forgive me for going astray from you. Help me walk in your way and  live by your words. Amen.”

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Pouring the Oil

‘I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last ‘ ~ John 15:16

In the watches of the night Jacob had a dream he would never forget. He saw a stairway resting on the earth with its top reaching to the heaven and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. God spoke reassuring his faithfulness to keep the covenant promised to Abraham and Isaac and his continued presence to guide Jacob. Enthralled by such an encounter with the Almighty, early the next morning, Jacob took the stone placed under his head, set it up as a pillar and poured oil on it. The pouring of oil consecrated it from all other stones, because the experience of having a vision of God bore deep significance to Jacob.

In Exodus 30:25-29 we read of the clear instructions God gave  to Moses about the fragrant oil. Measured portions of liquid myrrh, fragrant cinnamon, cane, cassia and olive oil was to form the fragrant blend. This was then used to anoint the Tent of Meeting, the ark of the Testimony, the furniture and all the articles and accessories used in the tabernacle. Aaron and his sons too were anointed – a sign of consecration, of being set apart for service for the Almighty.

When we come to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as our personal Saviour, God pours the Holy Spirit into our lives. Like Aaron and his sons, we become consecrated, set apart for the display of God’s glory and splendour. We carry about us the fragrance of the Lord Jesus Christ wherever we go. Like the carefully measured portions of spices and oils that make up the anointing oil, the fruit of the Holy Spirit manifests itself in various character traits causing that sense of ‘consecration’, of ‘being set apart’, ‘holy’, ‘sacred’, and ‘different.’

God said, “Go and bear fruit – fruit that will last.” When we allow the Holy Spirit to work freely, the fragrance of Christ spreads to other lives impacting them in one way or the other. Let’s produce fruit that lasts.

Prayer – “Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in my life. Help me live by the Holy Spirit’s leading and bear fruit that lasts for your glory. Amen.”

 

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From Evil to Good

“I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten” ~ Joel 2:25

When Jacob visited Pharaoh’s courtyard, Pharaoh asked him, “How old are you?. Jacob rather than telling only his age, said  “The years of my pilgrimage are a hundred and thirty. My years have been few and difficult, and they do not equal the years of the pilgrimage of my fathers.” Indeed he had a painful life journey – running away from his brother Esau for fear of death, being cheated by Laban, enduring hard labour as he looked after Laban’s flocks, painful family issues, Rachael dying before him and Joseph reported to have been killed by a ferocious animal.

But God turned things over for good. Not only was Joseph kept alive and blessed, Jacob himself experienced some good things before he died. Having seen his plight, God gave him seventeen more years in Egypt to dwell in fertile Goshen. He could finally meet Joseph and even have all his children and grandchildren surround him before his last breath. He could bless them and see the promise of God coming true.

As scripture says “I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten”, so it is true in our lives also. Though we cannot expect the exactness of the promise of God to unfold, God does it in his own way.  But it is an encouragement for us that he will restore what has been eaten by the locust in our lives. He will heal the afflictions and bring in joy and fulfillment. God will also plant in us the purpose of our lives and enable us realise it. But in between there might be those long dreary years, wasted moments when nothing of significance happens.  Moses who was trained in Pharaoh’s courtyard and became a fine orator ans scholar, virtually did nothing for 40 years apart from looking after the sheep in the desert, away from all the pomp and show and privilege. Cut away from city life, he lived a secluded life, so much so that he lost his eloquence and skills. But God who sees the heart commissioned him and gave him forty more years of fruitful ministry.

When we are called to tread a  similar path, may this be true in our lives also. As we wait upon the Lord may God make our journey fruitful.

Prayer – “Dear Heavenly Father, I worship you for you are indeed a great and mighty God, who can repay the years that the locust has eaten. Thank you for your grace and love for me. I give my life to you. Amen.”

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Murky Waters

‘Like a muddied spring or a polluted well are the righteous who give way to the wicked.’

~ Proverbs 25:26

A muddied spring is a sad sight to see. In its downstream flow, the soil is carried along wherever the water course goes. You can’t expect fresh water to emerge from somewhere and dissolve the murkiness. No matter how much fresh water is added, residues of the soil still remain.

A polluted well is of no use at all. No one can draw water to quench thirst or wash the dust off weary feet. The watering troughs for the animals cannot be filled with such water. Nor can you water the plants. The stagnant water decays making it difficult for even sunlight to pass through.

So is a righteous man who gives way to the wicked, the man who compromises and makes a deal by bribing his way through in order to get what he wants. He disturbs the clarity and purity of the water of his soul. What is this water of the soul? It is the life giving water that Christ offers for those who believe in him. It is the power of the Holy Spirit and the strength of his Word that enables us to tide over difficult situations, problems and troubles. Like the polluted well that becomes of no benefit to others, so is the soul that goes the way of the world. For it can only think for itself. Like the muddied spring that brings forth no goodness at all, so is the soul that is entangled by its own greed.  The wickedness of the wicked has left its stains on him too. That’s why the Bible points out – ‘Guard your heart for it is the wellspring of life.’

The Bible comes to us loaded with wise sayings and parables that we can learn from. Neglecting to seek this wisdom or undermining its relevance only brings a heavy loss for the one who does so. No matter who we are, what position or title we hold, what are securities might be, we all need wisdom to live life well. And no one else can show us the way better that the Creator and Maker of our lives.  Give time to study God’s word. And save yourself a lot of trouble.

Prayer – “Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for showing me the path of life that is good for me. Help me store your word in my heart that I will be wise in what I do and say. Help me be strong and live up the convictions you plant within me. Amen.”

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Joseph of Arimathea

‘As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus’ ~ Matthew 27:57

Joseph of Arimathea ministered to Christ in a very unique way. We don’t hear him giving up his profession like Peter, James and John or sharing his wealth with the poor like Zacchaeus. He did something that no one else had probably thought of. He went up to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus, wrapped it in clean linen cloth and then placed it in a new tomb cut out from a rock. The Bible says he was a rich man and also a disciple of Jesus. And true enough, he showed respect, care and concern to his Lord. He did not leave Jesus’ body at the disposal of the angry crowd nor let it be treated as public property.

 

As disciples of Christ we get several opportunities to minister to him by ministering to God’s people, especially those in need. One such opportunity is to lend support to those experiencing the death of a loved one. Preparing meals, organising the funeral service, ordering the coffin and the hearse van, arranging for delivery of funeral wreaths, booking condolence space in the newspaper, informing church and cell group members, picking up family members from the airport or railway station and much more. Extending support to those grieving the loss of a loved one will sooth their aching heart and uplift their spirits. Its a great feeling to know that someone cares and is willing to go the extra mile and do the needful without being asked or told.

 

Lets be mindful to help wherever and whenever possible.

 

Prayer – “Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for the many opportunities you give me to minister to you by helping the body of Christ. Give me a sincere and dedicated heart to serve others in need, especially those grieving the loss of a loved one. May your love shine through me. Amen.”

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Accepting Your Lot

 

‘But to the tribe of Levi he gave no inheritance, since the food offerings presented to the LORD, the God of Israel, are their inheritance, as he promised them.’ ~ Joshua 13:14

 

It must have been a very difficult proposition to accept. While the rest of the tribes got a share in the promised land, the tribe of Levi got none. They only got towns to live in, with pasturelands for their flocks and herds. Joshua 13:33 records – ‘But to the tribe of Levi, Moses had given no inheritance; the LORD, the God of Israel, is their inheritance, as he promised them. Theirs was a unique calling and along with it came unique expectations and regulations that must be kept. I wonder how did they feel when this was revealed to them. Their calling was not for a particular season or time, but for their entire life, passing from one generation to another. But this was the lot God Almighty had chosen for them. And hence it was the best though the human mind finds it difficult to comprehend.

 

Lets look at ourselves. How do we fair in this test of  life – accepting or rejecting our lot. At times we may find it difficult to accept things that cannot be changed and try hard to do so. We become angry with God and blame him and mess up our lives even more. While it is a natural tendency to compare ourselves with others on different points, we must not allow this to dominate our thinking. For that which dominates our thinking will inevitably influence our behaviour, perception and priorities.

 

Ephesians 2:10 says -’For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do’ Having a healthy godly perception of ourselves will help us face realities of life, accept them and overcome them. We all are a part of a bigger picture that God is working at, and each of us have a part to play. Our uniqueness contributes to the beauty of it. And  no doubt, God’s promises are always there and his loves never fails.

 

Prayer – “Dear Heavenly Father, forgive me when I compare myself with others more and think less of all that you have blessed me with. Help me believe that whatever you have chosen and ordained for me is the best. Help me accept my lot wholeheartedly. Amen.”

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Blessing Your Children

‘……he blessed them, giving each the blessing appropriate to him.‘ ~ Genesis 49:28

Genesis chapter 49 is said to be the longest poem of the book. Its a beautiful record of Jacob blessing his children. He gathers his children around and speaks into their lives. Clear specific words, each carrying a great depth of meaning and relevance were spoken not just for his twelve sons but even for the generation to come. This was not something ordinary, but rather a very significant moment in their lives. They were getting to know the path they would charter through life’s journey. The destiny of each tribe was being revealed in a sense. And Jacob had to be careful about what he spoke. But how did Jacob learn to do this? From where did he get the wisdom and knowledge to say what was relevant for that particular tribe?

Jacob was a man who had walked with God and seen many seasons of life, and the way God sustained him in all the troubles and difficulties he faced. He was no stranger to God’s faithfulness. The faith walk of his father Isaac and grandfather Abraham was very real to him. Though he did get a little doubtful of whether he would really see Joseph again, he did believe that God was faithful. Speaking words of blessings would not have come easy for Jacob, had it not been for his walk with God. No matter what happened in his life, he never let go of God.

As elders and parents, we have a prerogative and privilege to speak words of blessings into the lives of our children and the younger generation. If we live a life marked by unholiness and ungodliness, and speak negative and discouraging words, how will we fair when the significant moment of life arrives. Its true that life and death are in the power of the tongue. When God is still good and forbearing with us, speaking goodness and mercy into our lives because of which we are not consumed, how can we speak otherwise into young lives. We have a great responsibility. Its not just providing the basic necessities of life to them, but greater still is to guide them as God does.

Prayer – “Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for this privilege to care for the young lives you have placed in mine. I acknowledge my shortcomings. Forgive me and help me parent them like the way you do. Amen.”

 

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