GodSprings

GODSPRINGS

MORNINGS WITH THE LORD IN THE WORD

Dear Friends

I hope and pray that all is going well with you and your household. 

I plan to start with a daily devotions called ‘GodSprings’ from Jan 1. I had started a group called Broken to Connect during the Great Lent last year. I received personal messages from many saying they would like to receive the devotion but not within a group just because there would be a beep sound every now and then when someone responds.

This time because of that reason I plan to send these through broadcast message so that it will be delivered personally. But for that you will have to save my WatsApp number - +91 9888767966 if you wish to receive these devotions. For those whose number I don't have and you wish to be a part of this journey I will also be posting daily devotions on this blog. 

In every season of life, no matter how old or how young you are, there will be something that will conspire to keep you from having a daily devotional life. I wrestle with this almost every day. I get in my chair and all of a sudden I’m thinking of fifty other things I’ve got to do. It’s incredible what things come to my mind. I’m convinced the enemy knows that if he can get me distracted and derailed there, he’s going to throw my day and my life off-kilter.

I believe that becoming a good person is not the call of Christianity. Learning how to abide in fellowship with God is the call. And through the relationship, you become more like Christ and He transforms  us, one day at a time, into the person He is making us to be. It isn’t about our ability to be righteous, but our walk with God who is the Author of faith and righteousness.

Through these devotions ‘GodSprings’ my goal is to do two things. Change the way we look at the Christian faith, and help us gain a deeper understanding of what it means to walk with God.

Keep me in your prayers. Hoping to stay connected through the word of God. 

Jijo Achen 

Sermon Excerpt - 11th Jan - Am I a 24*7*365 Christian

¹³ “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy^[a] that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. ¹⁴ For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few. ¹⁵ “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. ¹⁶ You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? ¹⁷ So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. ¹⁸ A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. ¹⁹ Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. ²⁰ Thus you will recognize them by their fruits. ²¹ “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. ²² On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’²³ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ Matthew 7:13-23

Reporters and city officials gathered at a Chicago railroad station one afternoon in 1953. The person they were meeting was the 1952 Nobel Peace Prize winner. A few minutes after the train came to a stop, a giant of a man - six feet four inches with bushy hair and a large mustache stepped from the train. Cameras flashed. City officials approached him with hands outstretched. Various people began telling him how honored they were to meet him.

The man politely thanked them and then, looking over their heads, asked if he could be excused for a moment. He quickly walked through the crowd until he reached the side of an elderly black woman who was struggling with two large suitcases. He picked up the bags and with a smile, escorted the woman to a bus. After helping her aboard, he wished her a safe journey. As he returned to the greeting party he apologized, "Sorry to have kept you waiting."

The man was Dr. Albert Schweitzer, the famous missionary doctor who had spent his life helping the poor in Africa. In response to Schweitzer’s action, one member of the reception committee said with great admiration to the reporter standing next to him, "That’s the first time I ever saw a sermon walking."

Preparing the sermon for last Sunday I had a tough time. Every time I read the portion I don’t know why but there was a voice which was haunting and asking me whether I am also one of the false prophets Jesus is talking about? Have I delivered the word without any flaw? Did I do it for my own benefit or for the betterment of the Church? I am happy that God helped me with the sermon. That’s when I was reminded of the illustration I shared above and came with the topic “Am I a 24*7*365 Chrisitan?”

Christ never calls us to be a part time Christian. He calls us to be 24*7*365 days Christian. How can we be that is explained as Christ comes to the end of his famous Sermon on the Mount.

1.       When I Walk The Road And Take The Step That Jesus Took I Become A 24*7*365 Christian (Mat. 7:13-14)

What exactly was the Sermon on the Mount? It was the life that Jesus wanted the disciples and his followers to follow. This is the longest discourse that Jesus has with the disciples and the followers. If we take into account everything that Jesus said and analyze it with the kind of life Jesus lived they both are in congruence to each other and tells the world such a life is also possible.  

We love to take broad ways for they are easy to travel and the majority takes those. The youngsters want to make more money infact quick money and they are ready to do anything for it.

During my college days I was a die hard fan of the reality show Roadies which came on MTv. I don’t know if the show is still on. The participants had to do certain dare and show their perseverance and strength and the winner would receive fame and money. One task was to stand on the stage of a big auditorium complete naked for 4 hours. People would be there to see them and also a telecast to be done outside the stadium. The audience would pass comments and they would have to stand as if nothing has happened. I thought none of them will be ready to do such a heinous task. But to my surprise all went in for it? What might have made them to do it? Its nothing but fame and money.

Recently the most talked about movie is the Aamir Khan’s PK. Many things have been highlighted as to how religion and religious heads make fools of the people. I too had a chance to watch the movie. Many things have been brought out and it helped me also to think being a religious leader of a church whether I also force such things on my congregation. The person PK is a normal person and he cannot be compared to a actual Christian. Why you may ask? Its because he is also in the search of finding a God who will do things as he wants it to be done? A God who satisfies his desire and urge. But Jesus never speaks of such a religion. Today’s prosperity gospel also talks about the same thing. Accept Jesus and all your hardships will vanish. Accept Jesus and you will rise high. Jesus never ever in his ministry talked about such a thing happening. But He did say one thing that you need to travel through small difficult paths and also you will have to carry your cross. Which means its not easy at all. But Jesus says you can travel these difficult paths – when I walk the road and take the step that Jesus took.

2.      When Others Benefit From My Life I Become A  24*7*365 Christian. (Mat. 7:16-20)

When God has planted you, you are to bring forth good fruit. Though it says good tree will bear good and bad will bear bad it doesn’t mean we are predestined to do so. When God planted Adam and Eve in the Garden they were to bear good fruit but there choice of benefiting their own lives by becoming like God rather than forgoing the temptation and becoming a blessing to all.

Also why has the example of tree and fruit being given? Because it lives the most self-less life. Whether it be good or bad, no tree can have its own fruit. It lives for somebody else. It dies for somebody else. Humans on the contrary live for ourselves and die for ourselves.

Its been found out that an average Malayalee/South Indian, majority more than 75% all live to earn something just to settle down and to accumulate wealth so that he/she can buy a house in Ludhiana/Delhi/Mumbai or any other part of India/abroad where they left for from their hometown at the age of 18 or 20 in search of job. They travelled to unknown places, endured the extreme weather and conditions. In this journey they tried to accumulate wealth for a safer future with no touring, no extra spending. Very well and good. But when you analyase it at the end what is it that you get? When you have enough money to spend on touring and enjoying the world you are only in a position to spend it for yourself buying medicines and treatment. A sad but true fact even the children whom you thought will be for you seeing your lifestyle have started to give priority only to self.

We need to have a correct understanding of our God our religion. Doug Nichols, Bothell, Washington wrote: “While serving with Operation Mobilization in India in 1967, tuberculosis forced me into a sanitarium for several months. I did not yet speak the language, but I tried to give Christian literature written in their language to the patients, doctors, and nurses.

Everyone politely refused. I sensed many weren’t happy about a rich American (to them all Americans are rich) being in a free, government-run sanitarium. (They didn’t know I was just as broke as they were!)
The first few nights I woke around 2:00 A.M. coughing. One morning during my coughing spell, I noticed one of the older and sicker patients across the aisle trying to get out of bed. He would sit up on the edge of the bed and try to stand, but in weakness would fall back into bed. I didn’t understand what he was trying to do. He finally fell back into bed exhausted. I heard him crying softly.

The next morning I realized what the man had been trying to do. He had been trying to get up and walk to the bathroom! The stench in our ward was awful. Other patients yelled insults at the man. Angry nurses moved him roughly from side to side as they cleaned up the mess. One nurse even slapped him. The old man curled into a ball and wept. The next night I again woke up coughing. I noticed the man across the aisle sit up and again try to stand. Like the night before, he fell back whimpering.

I don’t like bad smells, and I didn’t want to become involved, but I got out of bed and went over to him. When I touched his shoulder, his eyes opened wide with fear. I smiled, put my arms under him, and picked him up. He was very light due to old age and advanced TB. I carried him to the washroom, which was just a filthy, small room with a hole in the floor. I stood behind him with my arms under his armpits as he took care of himself. After he finished, I picked him up, and carried him back to his bed. As I laid him down, he kissed me on the cheek, smiled, and said something I couldn’t understand.

The next morning another patient woke me and handed me a steaming cup of tea. He motioned with his hands that he wanted a tract. As the sun rose, other patients approached and indicated they also wanted the booklets I had tried to distribute before. Throughout the day nurses, interns, and doctors asked for literature.

Weeks later an evangelist who spoke the language visited me, and as he talked to others he discovered that several had learned about the love of Christ of His offer of Salvation as a result of reading the literature. What did it take to reach these people with the gospel? It wasn’t health, the ability to speak their language, or a persuasive talk. I simply took a trip to the bathroom.

The distance between me and my neighbor and the society where I live is short and very near. But the hardness in our heart makes it a distance too long to travel. Don’t forget Christ demands our lives to be a benefit for others to become a 24-7 Christian.

3.      A Relationship With God Which Does More Than Talking Makes Me 24*7 Christian. (Mat. 7:21-23)

Jesus very boldly states it’s not you who say Lord Lord who will win the favour of God but who does the will of God. What Jesus was asking was true relationship. Only if I am deeply in love or related will I go to any extent to help. Whether it be in relationship or personal life what matters is what I do rather than what I say.

It’s said that in most of the marriages the love fades as the year passes by. When we survey why such changes takes place we find that the promises given before the marriage hardly survives as both take each other for granted.

Similar is the case with our relationship to God. It’s a one sided relationship. We ask him to do certain things. Just like our families. There are very few families where both husband and wife take decisions. In all the families its either one who takes the decision and the other has to abide. In certain families it’s the husband whereas in other families it’s the wife who has the say. How many take the decisions in common? One of the resolution that I have taken is to take decision together with my Lord and wife. From the time we have been married its, I who have taken all the decisions. One or more times she has very sarcastically commented to recollect what I teach the youngsters who prepare themselves for marriage. I know where she is hinting at. It is very difficult to change ourselves but for a healthy relationship certain things needs to be changed. I am sure even if I don’t change she will continue to accept everything I say but there needs to be some congruence in my talking and doing.

It’s only the depth in the relationship which will make a certain person to go to any extent to make the other happy. The cross is the perfect example of that. But do I have such a relationship with my master is the pertinent question we are to answer.

During my tenure in Karol Bagh MTC as the Asst. Vicar I met an elderly lady whom all call fondly as Jacob aunty. She is well over 75 years. But she would come everyday to church and would sit on the 2^nd bench. Now because of age and as Uncle is also not well he coming to church has reduced. She has arthritis problem and has difficulty to walk. I reminded of one situation wherein Moni Achen the then vicar with whom I served told her “Dear Aunty why do you come all the way till the railings to take the Holy Communion. If at all you come just stand why do you kneel down with such great difficulty.” To this Jacob aunty replied, “Dear Achen my heart has already reached the railings and when the heart reaches I cannot stop my legs from going there.”

What a reply. It made me wonder does my heart reach to Church before I reach? Does my heart have a craving to take and lead the most precious Holy Communion? Or is Jesus talking about me when he says it’s not who calls Lord Lord. Do I have a relationship with him?

A Seed in the soil is much better than seed in the hand. It’s all about association. With whom do I want to be associated with?

We are called to be Christians not just on Sundays and Special Days like Christmas and Easter but 24*7*365 days we are called to bear His name. Three things which the portion spoke to me how we can be so is what I tried to meditate upon

1.       I need to  Walk The Road And Take The Step That Jesus Took to Become A 24*7*365 Christian

2.      When Others Benefit From My Life I Become A  24*7*365 Christian.

3.      When my Relationship With God Does More Than Talking it Makes Me 24*7 Christian.

May God help us to live according to our calling. God bless us all. 

Introspecting 2014 and Rediscovering Journey for 2015

Luke 12:22-34

²² And he said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. ²³ For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. ²⁴ Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! ²⁵ And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? ²⁶ If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest?²⁷ Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. ²⁸ But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! ²⁹ And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. ³⁰ For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. ³¹ Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you.

³² “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. ³³ Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. ³⁴ For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

A wealthy man was sitting in his balcony when a little ant caught his eye. It was carrying a big leaf several times more than its size. The man watched it for more than an hour. He saw that the ant faced many impediments during its journey, paused, took a diversion and then continued towards destination. At one point the tiny creature came across a crack in the floor. It paused for a little while, analyzed and then laid the huge leaf over the crack, walked over the leaf, picked the leaf on the other side then continued its journey.

The man was captivated by the cleverness of the ant, one of God’s tiniest creatures. The incident left the man in awe and forced him to contemplate over the miracle of Creation. It showed the greatness of the Creator. In front of his eyes there was this tiny creature of God, lacking in size yet equipped with a brain to analyze, contemplate, reason, explore, discover and overcome. Along with all these capabilities, the man also noticed that this tiny creature shared some human shortcomings.

The man saw about an hour later the creature had reached its destination – a tiny hole in the floor which was entrance to its underground dwelling. And it was at this point that the ant’s shortcoming that it shared with the man was revealed. How could the ant carry into the tiny hole the large leaf that it had managed to carefully bring to the destination? It simply couldn't!

So the tiny creature, after all the painstaking and hard work and exercising great skills, overcoming all the difficulties along the way, just left behind the large leaf and went home empty-handed.

The ant had not thought about the end before it began its challenging journey and in the end the large leaf was nothing more than a burden to it. The creature had no option, but to leave it behind to reach its destination. The man learned a great lesson that day.

This is what is going to happen to us also. The worldly journey will end at the six foot hole and what is it that we are taking? Nothing. As we enter a new year are we burdened with this fact?

There is a famous malayalam song "Samayamaam radhathil njaan" in which the 5^th stanza is thus: 

Bhaarangal Koodunnathinu Onnum Venda Yaathrayil

Alpamappam Vishapinnu, Swalpam Vellam Daahikkil

(Do not carry unnecessary load which hinders your journey; For hunger some food, for thirst a little water)

As we enter the new year we need to look back on our journey and make new discoveries or re-discover the truth to enter 2015. The year 2014 was a journey in which we had our aspirations, dreams and were running madly to achieve it. We need to be still for a moment and check if we made the right discoveries and I hope the gospel portion will help us in the same.

Introspecting 2014 And Rediscovering A Journey For 2015.

To understand the gospel portion in its fullness we need to recognize why and for what Jesus said so. This becomes clear when we start reading Chap. 12.

Jesus used the conflict between the two brothers to teach His followers a “life lesson.” “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” (Luke 12:15)

What was the problem with these brother’s inheritance issue? They asked a genuine question? On closely observing we find why Jesus got agitated and had to explain it in full detail.

1^st - They both wanted something they hadn’t earned.

Very few kids “deserve” and have earned the money they received from an inheritance. If after the death of my parents they leave a share of inheritance for me, I cannot say in its true sense its mine. Because I don’t deserve a penny of it. Because I have not worked a little for it. It’s they who have toiled. All children can say that they owe their parents far more than they could ever repay.
2^nd – These brothers were willing to sacrifice their relationship with each other… for the sake of possessions and money.

3^rd – They were putting their trust in riches rather than God.

Jesus diagnosed their problem and then He told a little parable and an explanation to describe what caused this kind of attitude and how our journey should be. If we are also travelling with the same mindset we need to rediscover certain things.

1.        Am I Able To Re-Discover The Simple Element Of Gratitude? Luke 12:13-21

In interpreting this parable, it will be critical to assess carefully what the farmer's error is. He is not portrayed as wicked - that is, he has not gained his wealth illegally or by taking advantage of others. Further, he is not portrayed as particularly greedy. Indeed, he seems to be somewhat surprised by his good fortune as he makes what appears to be reasonable plans to reap the abundance of the harvest. What is wrong, we might therefore ask, about building larger barns to store away some of today's bounty for a potentially leaner tomorrow? Nothing, we might answer, except...

Except for two things. First, notice the farmer's consistent focus throughout the conversation he has with himself: "What should I do, for I have no place to store my crops?" Then he said, "I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul...."

The relentless use of the first person pronouns "I" and "my" betray a preoccupation with self. There is no thought to using the abundance to help others, no expression of gratitude for his good fortune, no recognition of God at all. The farmer has fallen prey to worshiping the most popular of gods: the Unholy Trinity of "me, myself, and I." This leads to, and is most likely caused by, a second mistake. He is not foolish because he makes provision for the future; he is foolish because he believes that by his wealth he can secure his future: "Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry."

God may not need our money and our stuff, but we need to give it. It’s our way of being thankful for all that we’ve received. It’s a way of acknowledging the One who ultimately owns everything. It is a way for us to set our priorities in order, thereby making life much simpler.

He forgot the one simple element and that is to have gratitude towards God. What God does want, though, is our loyalty. What God does want is our acknowledgment. What God does want is a relationship with us.

As we enter a new year can we decide to have a thankful heart towards God and with humility accept that it is God who guided us?

2.      Am I Able to Re-discover God Was God Is And God Will Be The Supplier Of All My Needs? Luke 12:22-34

Why does the Lord command his disciples to not be anxious about anything? Certainly food and clothing are proper concerns. What makes these concerns foolish and harmful is thinking and acting anxiously about them. Jesus specifically says "do not be of anxious mind" (Luke 12:29). The root word for "anxiety" literally means "being of two minds".  An anxious person is divided, "tossed to and fro", and often paralyzed by indecision. Fear of failure or some bad outcome usually cripples those afflicted with anxiety.  What can free us from anxiety?  The apostle Peter tells us to "cast all our anxieties on God, for he cares about us" (1 Peter 5:7).  Trust and submission to God is the antidote to self-concern and anxiety for one's life.  Our Father in heaven knows our needs better than we do.  Do you place your security in what you possess or in God who possesses you as his beloved son or daughter?

Jesus uses the illustration of nature — the birds and the flowers — to show how God provides for them in the natural order of his creation. How much more can we, as his children, rely upon God's providential care? God is utterly reliable.  In the Lord's Prayer we are reminded that God is our provider when we pray: Give us this day our daily bread.  What is bread, but the very staple of life and symbol of all that we need to live and grow.  Anxiety is neither helpful nor necessary. It robs us of faith and confidence in God's help and it saps our energy for doing well. Jesus admonishes his followers to put away anxiety and preoccupation with material things and instead to seek first the things of God — his kingdom and righteousness.  Anxiety robs the heart of trust in the mercy and goodness of God and in his loving care for us.  God knows our needs even before we ask and he gives generously to those who trust in him.  Do you cast your cares and concerns upon the Lord with trust and faith?

One Achen who has motivated me to take up this ministry and vocation is Rev. Alex P. John. There are many stories and illustrations that I can say about him but I would like to state one thing which goes with the discussion here. Achen came to Baroda as the Vicar from Mundukod Mission in Karnatake. He was there for 5 years in this mission. They had two sons. One 6 years and the other 3 years. The elder son attended school for the first time when he came to Baroda at the age of 6. Out of curiosity and anxiety I one day asked Achen didn’t you at any time feel that how your child will study and all that? Why didn’t you ask for a transfer after 3 years was over? Achen with the usual smile and glow on his face which we can usually see when he speaks about God and his ways of providence told me, “ Jijo, its God who has blessed me with two children and its God who has placed me in this ministry. He knows what is best for me and so I didn’t ask for a transfer but waited for God’s time.”

As we enter a new year can we enter with this great hope and faith that the God of Yesterday has helped me to move forward Today and the same God will help me to overcome the hurdles of Tomorrow?

Dear Friends as we enter yet another year let us be thankful for giving us good strength, keeping us well and also for the hard times which has made us strong. Let us continue our discoveries in relation with our mighty Father. Let us not forget the rediscoveries we have made

1.       Am I Able To Re-Discover The Simple Element Of Gratitude?

2.       Am I Able to Re-discover God Was God Is And God Will Be The Supplier Of All My Needs?

God bless you all.