His name is being trusted

While going house to house inviting families to church I met Tom. He vigorously mentioned that he is against organized religion and that he finds that all people are good irrespective of their faiths. I had a good time speaking with him and I shared my personal testimony about how I became a Christian. And spoke about how God's love was what attracted me to Jesus. We got to pray for him and left. In a way Jesus did the same during His days though I have much more to learn about His ways. Jesus also came against organized religion in His time of ministry. Jesus speaks here strongly to Pharisees.

Matthew 12:3-5

But He said to them, “Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him: how he entered the house of God and ate the showbread which was not lawful for him to eat, nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests? Or have you not read in the law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath, and are blameless?

In this chapter, we read about everything from the sabbath to the casting out of demons. Jesus spent time in the synagogue and outside. He spoke to all peoples. He spoke against the ways of the religion of the day. Though they had the holy scriptures, they did not follow them. He had strong words for the Pharisees when they questioned the source of the power He demonstrated through healing and deliverance. All Jesus was doing was fulfilling prophesy from the holy scriptures.

Matthew 12:18-21

“Behold! My Servant whom I have chosen, My Beloved in whom My soul is well pleased! I will put My Spirit upon Him, And He will declare justice to the Gentiles. He will not quarrel nor cry out, Nor will anyone hear His voice in the streets. A bruised reed He will not break, And smoking flax He will not quench, Till He sends forth justice to victory; And in His name Gentiles will trust.”

And in His name Gentiles will trust! This is taken from Isaiah 42:1-4. This is a prophecy of Jesus. There is nothing wrong with being organized as long as the Holy Spirit is honored in His unique work among us. Many times He will do something that is different and we are unfamiliar with it. But, it is always consistent with the Word of God. We need to hear and obey so that many will put their trust in Him.

Father, help me know what I should do each moment and in every occasion so that your Name is glorified.

Comments

My Journey of Faith

Sreedhar standing to the left of his grandfather in the center Almost 55 years ago a son was born to a Hindu family. The parents were 2nd generation Malaysians raised in a rubber estate near a small town called Sungei Petani in Northern Malaya at that time. This first child was given much love and care by their parents and had the privilege of growing up in 3 different states of Malaysia, most of which was in Petaling Jaya. He was blessed with his first domestic airplane ride when he was 10 years old, and made his first trip by airplane to Bangkok at the age of 11. In the mid 1970's the family moved to a large house in a relatively exclusive neighborhood in Petaling Jaya. This was a result of the favor his father, aged about 35 at that time, had in the workplace,. As a result, this son grew up in a mostly multicultural environment with Indian, Chinese and Malay children. In the process, his perspectives became cosmopolitan and racially neutral. On...

Stand and raise your hands

I apologize if I offend anyone, but I feel free to lift up my hands when I worship the Lord. I would do it while standing up. It is only natural when you are worshiping the Almighty God, creator of heaven of earth. He is after all the God loves me and redeemed me by dying on the dying on the cross. The Psalmist agrees with me on this one. Psalm 134:1-2 Behold, bless the Lord, All you servants of the Lord, Who by night stand in the house of the Lord! Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, And bless the Lord. There are key elements to be observed here in this chapter being shared by the Psalmist. The familiar ones are us blessing God, doing it with hands raised, we doing this as servants of God. But a new element that I did not see before is doing all this at night, though it may have been said in other parts of the Word. The Psalmist ends with acknowledging God as the one who made heaven and earth. Reflection from 2016: Speaks to me about ...

All must engage

There are so many conflicts in the world today that it is very difficult to keep up. The other day I shared about the problems in Venezuela. And then there are more bombings aimed at Israel. And yet again, notwithstanding that some of you reading this may feel it unfair, Israel is preserved. Psalm 69:35-36, For God will save Zion And build the cities of Judah, That they may dwell there and possess it. Also, the descendants of His servants shall inherit it, And those who love His name shall dwell in it. There is a promise, and only God knows how it will be fulfilled. The impossible becomes possible because God is in charge. The trajectory for His Word to go forth to all peoples is set. Much evil is trying to prevent this. But, no weapons formed against us shall succeed. The technologies in place today allows instant reach of billions. The people of God have been prepared for this day, and now must be mobilized to engage in this ministry of reconciliation. There is no time to waste wh...

Marriage is permanent

I am in the last chapter of the Song of Solomon and it continues in intensity about the value of love. It is priceless. It is equated to a mother's love in some sense. Money cannot buy it. The Song of Solomon 8:2 I would lead you and bring you Into the house of my mother, She who used to instruct me. I would cause you to drink of spiced wine, Of the juice of my pomegranate. If your interest is temporary illicit love, stop because it cannot be bought or earned. It is a God thing. Our relationship with our beloved wife is like a mother's. Do not take it lightly as it is a new permanent relationship. Don't enter it in haste. Consider it carefully and once the relationship is consummated it is permanent. Someone asked Lee Yen how many years we have been married. I am not sure why the question was asked. My relationship with Lee Yen is as permanent as my relationship with my Mum. Yes, till death do us apart. Praise God. Father, thank you for the wife...

I have decided to do right today

Have you been told off for something that you may or may not have done wrong? How did you feel? I usually feel rotten. I get a mix of guilt and anger, but these situations have tremendously reduced with my growing relationship with God. You want to say many things to justify your actions (or inaction), but it is usually of little value. Accept everything said (or written) as good feedback, and do better the next time. Amos 1:2 And he said: “The LORD roars from Zion, And utters His voice from Jerusalem; The pastures of the shepherds mourn, And the top of Carmel withers.” Amos the prophet must have been in great fear as he spoke. So many negative things against so many people. The pronouncement of judgement can make you angry or repent. I am reminded of King David's reaction to Nathan the prophet when he confronted him about his relationship with Bathsheba. He cried out to God and repented. Many of Israel's kings never repented and the Lord c...

You need the desert experience

Is smoking good for you? There has been much research done on the effects of smoking. Much education has been given on what this means to an individual that smokes. In the process, governments around the world have raised taxes on tobacco and cigarettes, and highly restricted locations where smoking is allowed. With all this, people still smoke. The same thing happened at the foot of Mount Sinai. Exodus 32:4, And he received the gold from their hand, and he fashioned it with an engraving tool, and made a molded calf. Then they said, “This is your god, O Israel, that brought you out of the land of Egypt!” They have just watched Egypt face plague after plague, and crossed the mighty Red Sea. They saw the pillar of cloud and fire. Still they are unclear of who God is. Moses brought down the tablets and broke them in anger. He stopped God from wiping out Israel, but he proceeded to have the instigators of idol worship killed. It is clear that the people of Israel, while in Egy...

Sreedhar's Journey

Search This Blog