Sreedhar's Journey

Are you listening? One of the most important skills to have in adult learning, where you incorporate facilitated learning or coaching, is the skill of listening. Some term this as "active listening". Many of us instinctively try to get to the point without listening to everything the other person is saying. We do not embed in our listening the sincere action of seeking to understand.  I had this problem once at a tyre repair shop where I stopped the mechanic part way through his explanation of the problem and the solution he applied. Yes, I am guilty as charged. John is seeking listening followers of Jesus Christ. Revelation 2:29 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. As the Spirit of God speaks through John, we see very different issues and possible consequences for each church mentioned. As I read this it can be easily seen today in the condition of churches in different parts of Asia and the world. Losing first love for God. Going through t...

Ready for the end of the world? Ready for death? I am sure many reading this are indifferent to this question. You don't care. But if you care about what you eat each day. You care about who you meet. You care about your health. And perhaps, you even care about people, your community and/or the environment. Then, you are avoiding the question about being ready for the most important event of your life, because you don't know the answer. John writes about this in Revelations. Revelation 1:3 Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near. The time is near!  In the KJV it says, the time is at hand!  The revelation given to John is difficult to completely appreciate because He is sharing God's perspective on time (from eternity to eternity).  In the human context, time cannot be stored.  If you missed it, you missed it.  It is spent.  You cannot redeem time.  It is...

Recently I alluded to the fact that I am not perfect. Yes, I may be a messenger of God, but I am not perfect.  He who is perfect is God. I follow Him. It would be a mistake to reject the message of God because of the messenger. God is working on me and He is not finished me yet because of my humanness.  Until I receive my immortal body I have the propensity to sin. But this is not a licence to sin. We constantly look to the power of the Holy Spirit to help us overcome sin. In this regard God has helped me greatly. In this chapter and book, Jude reminds us to constantly be on guard for our failings. Jude 1:24-25 Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, Be glory and majesty, Dominion and power, Both now and forever. Amen. It is God who is able to keep you from falling. If we try, we will fail. God enjoys keeping us from falling. He loves us deeply, ...

How do you handle people who don't seem to like you? You may say, ignore him. Or, speak to others close to the situation to clear the air about the matter. Or, confront the person and clear the matter directly. In many cases ignoring would work, but if the person continues to speak against you then this may not be the right approach. 3 John 1:9 I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, does not receive us. Yes, the church is filled with humans that are fallen sinners needing the continued work of God. Thankfully, we do not follow men but Jesus. Jesus never fails. John finished the letter by saying that there is much to be said but he will say it in person. This is a good leader and this approach to resolving the attitude of a poor leader is a good one. 3 John 1:12 Demetrius has a good testimony from all, and from the truth itself. And we also bear witness, and you know that our testimony is true. There are still others with a great tes...

Asians are very welcoming of people and allow others to visit our homes at short or no notice. I believe many other cultures have this practice as well.  Sometimes we would also stop our personal plans to accommodate visitors. Today, these surprise visits may not start with a knock on the door, but with a text message. How many would do this? 2 John 1:5 And now I plead with you, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment to you, but that which we have had from the beginning: that we love one another. John writes this letter addressed to an Elder who is a lady. She is urged to love one another, as is told by God. What is the extent of love that we ought to show? What are the practical ways? The biggest thing is to love and accept them in spite of their many shortcomings. I have met many unlovable people in my lifetime, but praise God for the power of the Holy Spirit. I am able to love. However, while we love, John warns us that we should reject false teachings. 2 John 1:9-11 W...

If you were to die tomorrow, how sure are you of going to heaven? Or, let me rephrase the question. If you were to die tomorrow, do you know what is going to happen to you? Death is no respecter of age. You can go at anytime, and this question is for everyone. John the Apostle, in his letter, is clear. When you believe in Jesus you KNOW you have eternal life. 1 John 5:11-13 And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God. What happens when you believe? The Spirit of God comes to you and becomes your God-sent Comforter for all circumstances. He gives wisdom and strength to live out your life. Yes, challenges and hardships may not go away, but you have God by your side. I...

I recently spoke about hating someone. Today, I want to talk about loving someone. Do you love anybody in this world? If you don't, you need Jesus. He loved us to death before we first knew Him. John has much to say to us in this chapter about love. 1 John 4:17-19 Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. We love Him because He first loved us. If we know the perfect love that comes from God, we will feel secure. We know that we will be taken care of. The problem in today's circumstances are that many, if not most, are growing up or have grown up in homes where they do not get the God ordained parental love and care. There is much fear and this can only be dealt with God's perfect love. The psychological trauma of growing up in a loveless ho...

Do you hate anyone? Don't answer! In my lifetime have I hated anyone? Yes. It was difficult for me. It came from a feeling that I was betrayed or let down. But by God's help every single one is released from this painful position. The Apostle John addresses this. 1 John 3:6 Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him. When we have God operating in our lives we have the power to overcome feelings of hurt and anger. For this reason we are able to obey His command to love. Through our own strength and nature, it is impossible. In fact there is a question mark about whether God truly lives in a person if they dislike someone. 1 John 3:16-17 By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? We love because He first loved us. Our human co...

What is your home address? In my lifetime I have lived in many homes, and my challenge is giving an address that is truly permanent. Just when we thought we bought our permanent home, we moved. We are now in the third home that we own. Much of what we own in this world is located there, including most of our children. But is this our home? 1 John 2:15-17 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. As a follower of Jesus Christ I have a better home. I wish I could give the government, banks and our service providers heaven as my permanent address. In reality that is the truth. I live in this body and present address for a fixed time. That which lasts forever is in eternity. This is ...

Darkness is the absence of light. Darkness is not the presence of something else. All cultures thrive on the presence of light and is symbolic of all things good. When the first strokes of light come with sunrise, something special happens in our body, soul and spirit.  Go read about it.  As a person in a relationship it goes one step further for me. A new and special day is anticipated.  My life takes on the perfect light given by God.  1 John 1:5 This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. Are we going to resist and go into darkness? We cannot be doing both. We would be short changing ourselves.  When you are lost in a cave, you always towards the light. It is the most sensible thing to do.  Since God is light, we need to walk towards Him.  He illuminates and allows us to walk and not stumble. He allows us to be aware of the dangers around us and make wise decisions. 1 J...

I have shared before this familiar question, "Are we there yet?". Every parent and child should remember it. It runs in our human nature. We are impatient to see things happen. I like what Peter says. 2 Peter 3:8-9 But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. Do we have the same patience with people as God? But truth be told. When the whole world has had the privilege of having the gospel of Jesus Christ demonstrated and presented to them, the end will come.  Peter urges restraint and being reminded to know and follow Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 3:17-18 You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; but grow in the ...