Hidden (Krypto) Treasures

To get pearls, one must dive deep!

Christian Republic Day

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On January 26, 2011

In Christian, Independence Series

The 26th day of January  is one of the national holidays in India which is celebrated to signify the replacement of the Government of India Act 1935 by the Constitution of India, which would henceforth serve as the governing document. This date was chosen in honor and in memorial of the declaration of independence of 1930.

In our life as well, we need to have a declaration of independence from the legalistic (laws) and ritualistic aspects  of religious government and the Constitution of Love should replace this. Such independence can only come from the recognition of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Once we believe in Him, we are no longer under the condemnation of the law, but are governed by His Constitution of Love (for God and for all mankind). When we believe, we are made free, independent of the forces of this world, and in dependence of Him.

Have you believed in Jesus Christ and accepted him as your Lord and Master? If so, when was that. In other words, when is your Christian Republic Day?
If you have not believed in Jesus Christ, delay no further. Today is the day of Salvation (2 Corinthians 6:2). Today can be your Republic day!

Mine was September 30th, 1990.

Romans 8:2 (KJV)
2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

2 Corinthians 6:1-2 (KJV)
1 We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.
2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)

Le Phénomène Humain

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On January 25, 2011

In Christian, Quotable Quotes

In the 1955 acclaimed book, Le Phénomène Humain (The phenomenon of man), paleontologist, philosopher and Jesuit priest, Pierre Tiehard de Chardin, writes “We are not human beings having a spiritual experience; we are spiritual beings having a human experience.” World renowned author, Stephen Covey, is attributed to have paraphrased this Tiehard saying into “We are not human beings on a spiritual journey; we are spiritual beings on a human journey.”

Jesus Christ counseled His followers to store up treasures in heaven and not on earth. Our journey is to culminate in a final destination which is more about God’s presence than just God’s place (heaven). To be with God, in His presence, is what and where heaven is and our life events should aim toward our eternity with Christ.

A wise Chinese adage prescribes that a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. The journey to being in God’s presence, starts with one step as well. That step is to believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only begotten Son. When we believe, our citizenship is in heaven henceforth (Philippians 3:20) and we are all pilgrims on a journey to a place whose builder and maker is God (Hebrews 11:10).

Points to ponder:

  1. Do you believe in Jesus Christ?
  2. Have you taken that first step of believing in response to the First step of reconciliation and relationship building that God took toward you?
  3. When our time on the earthly journey is over, would those who survive us, be able to say of you and me, “He/she was a spiritual being on a human journey”?
  4. As a pilgrim, are we making progress?
  5. Would this be your/my phenomenon?

Matthew 6:19-21 (KJV)
19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Le Phénomène Humain

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On January 25, 2011

In Christian, Quotable Quotes

In the 1955 acclaimed book, Le Phénomène Humain (The phenomenon of man), paleontologist, philosopher and Jesuit priest, Pierre Tiehard de Chardin, writes “We are not human beings having a spiritual experience; we are spiritual beings having a human experience.” World renowned author, Stephen Covey, is attributed to have paraphrased this Tiehard saying into “We are not human beings on a spiritual journey; we are spiritual beings on a human journey.”

Jesus Christ counseled His followers to store up treasures in heaven and not on earth. Our journey is to culminate in a final destination which is more about God’s presence than just God’s place (heaven). To be with God, in His presence, is what and where heaven is and our life events should aim toward our eternity with Christ.

A wise Chinese adage prescribes that a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. The journey to being in God’s presence, starts with one step as well. That step is to believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only begotten Son. When we believe, our citizenship is in heaven henceforth (Philippians 3:20) and we are all pilgrims on a journey to a place whose builder and maker is God (Hebrews 11:10).

Points to ponder:

  1. Do you believe in Jesus Christ?
  2. Have you taken that first step of believing in response to the First step of reconciliation and relationship building that God took toward you?
  3. When our time on the earthly journey is over, would those who survive us, be able to say of you and me, “He/she was a spiritual being on a human journey”?
  4. As a pilgrim, are we making progress?
  5. Would this be your/my phenomenon?

Matthew 6:19-21 (KJV)
19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

The Gospel is to not merely meant to be preached …

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On January 24, 2011

In Christian

Often we hear about and are encouraged to preach the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which assures God’s gift of eternal life to all who believe in Him, but the Gospel is not merely meant to be preached. There is absolutely no doubt that those who believe in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Master are commissioned to fulfill his work of reconciling all others who have not yet believed to God, by preaching His Truth (Luke 9:60), but there is more. More than just mere declaration of the Gospel, there needs to go hand in hand, a demonstration of the Gospel. We need to keep ourselves unspotted from the world (James 1:27), being in the world yet apart from it. We must live our lives in such a manner, that those who see us will glorify God the Father, who is in heaven (Matthew 5:16).

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is not merely meant to be preached, but to be proved! It is not merely meant to be declared, but to be demonstrated.

Point(s) to ponder:

  1. Are you/I preaching (declaring) the Gospel of Jesus Christ?
  2. Are you/I proving (demonstrating) the Gospel of Jesus Christ?

Luke 9:60 (KJV)
60 Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God

Matthew 5:16 (KJV)
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Noticed by God

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On January 21, 2011

In Christian

Ruth was a stranger in the household of Boaz, who takes knowledge of her and eventually marries her, becoming her kinsman redeemer. When Ruth finds grace in the eyes of Boaz, she fell on her face and bowed to the ground and questioned as to why Boaz should show his grace and take knowledge of her? In other words, she wondered as to why, she, a Moabites (foreigner/stranger), was noticed by Boaz?

We were once strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world (Ephesians 2:12). But God in his abundant grace took knowledge of us, and sent us His son Jesus Christ and when we believe in Him, we are no longer strangers but fellowcitizens with the saints and of the household of God (Ephesians 2:19). From being strangers of God, we are noticed by God.

What is our response to being noticed by God? It should be the same as that of Ruth. We must fall down and worship him by bowing before Him, for such knowledge of being known of God is too wonderful (Psalm 139:6).

Ruth 2:10 (KJV)
10 Then she fell on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, and said unto him, Why have I found grace in thine eyes, that thou shouldest take knowledge of me, seeing I am a stranger?

Ephesians 2:12-17 (KJV)
12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;
16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.
18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

Reuben

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On January 20, 2011

In Christian, Reuben

Our beloved son, Reuben turns five years old today (January 20, 2011). We named him Reuben, because in Hebrew it means ‘Behold, a son’. The first time, the doctor told us of his birth, she said something like ‘Look, a child’.

Interestingly, as I pondered on what to write on this day, upon research in the Scripture, I learned that the announcement of the birth of Jesus Christ was in like manner as well. God spoke through the voice of his prophets, before Jesus’ birth saying “Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and bring forth a son” (Matthew 1:23). God spoke through His angel to Mary, and said “Behold, you shalt conceive in your womb, and bring forth a son, and shall call his name JESUS.” (Luke 1:31). Jesus means Savior (Matthew 1:21) and all who believe in Him shall escape death and inherit eternal life.

For those who have not believed in Jesus, God is still telling you the same thing, He has been through the ages, “Behold, a son” who is called Jesus; “Behold, MY son” – He shall save you from your sin. Will you let Jesus be born in your life? God is saying, “Reuben”.

Matthew 1:20-24 (KJV)
20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.
21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,
23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

Luke 1:31-33 (KJV)
31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.
32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto  him the throne of his father David:
33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

Jesus Christ – our Visa

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On January 19, 2011

In Christian

When one does not know Jesus Christ as their only means to Salvation in this world and in the one to come, then they are destined to perish, for the wages of sin is death (physical and spiritual) but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ, the Lord. Jesus is the Son of God, who paid the wages of our sin by His self sacrificial excruciating death on a Cross. But what if one has this foreknowledge of who Jesus Christ is and what He has done for the Salvation of mankind and still continues to reject this knowledge; then what? When one willfully rejects the knowledge of Christ, then there is no possible outcome but a sad one of being rejected by God Himself, for there is no other means to God the Father, except by believing in Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ is The visa to God. Without Jesus’ stamp in the passport of our lives, the entry into God’s kingdom will be denied. God would have to reject us if we reject His Son.

Hosea 4:6 (KJV)
6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.

Knowing Knowledge

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On January 18, 2011

In Christian

Hosea 4:6 cautions that “God’s people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” The Apostle Paul exhorts believers to have an yearning to know Jesus Christ and that such knowledge supersedes all else (Philippians 3:7-10). But what if you already know that Jesus Christ is the Only begotten Son of God and that He is the only means to getting right with God, because He paid the sacrifice of our sins with His life? What next?

Think about this, if you needed a blood transfusion to stay alive and a friend of yours stepped in to give his blood to save your life, what would your attitude toward that person be? For a lifetime and more, you would be grateful to that person. Jesus’ blood was shed so that there could be remission (forgiveness) of not only your sin and mine, but that of the whole world. With this knowledge must come gratitude and love and with increased knowledge must come increased love (Philippians 1:9).

So to know the truth (knowledge of Jesus Christ) is freedom from destruction; a.k.a. life and love and to not know knowledge is destruction; a.k.a. death.

Philippians 1:9 (KJV)
9 And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;

Hosea 4:6 (KJV)
6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: …

I have a dream … Free at Last!

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On January 17, 2011

In Christian

America celebrates January 15 as a federal holiday in memory of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., an American clergyman, activist and influential leader in the African American civil rights movement, who is perhaps known best for his oratory prowess and his iconic speech ‘I Have a Dream’ in which he expressed his desire for all men to be free from the slavery of racial prejudice based on skin color. In fact, the speech ends with the words, “Free at last!, free at last! thank God Almighty, we are free at last!”

Just as Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. had a dream, that all men who are created equal (in the image of God) be free for any discrimination, so as well, the God of the universe desires that no one be discriminated from the Salvation gift made possible by the act of His Only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. He wishes that all come to repentance and that none perish (2 Peter 3:9). The Bible states that God does not slumber not sleep meaning that He is  ever-vigilant, but just for a moment, if you were to imagine that God did dream, what would His dream be? God’s dream would be that ‘man and woman is truly free at last; free from the slavery of sin and its wages, which is death.‘ Jesus expressed this when he said ‘Whoever commits sin is the servant (slave) of sin.’ (John 8:34). And when you know the truth (and Jesus said that He was the Way, the Truth and the Life), the knowledge of the truth of putting your trust in Jesus shall make us free from being slaves to sin and death. Whomever the Son of God (Jesus Christ) sets free, is free indeed.’ (John 8:36).

In other words, only in Jesus Christ is true freedom at last, and all who have believed in Jesus Christ can confidently say – “Free at last!, free at last, thank God Almighty, we are free at last!” If you have not believed in Jesus Christ, you should consider doing so right now, and become part of the fulfillment of God saying, ‘I Have a Dream!’

John 8:34-36,32 (KJV)
32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
33 They answered him, We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?
34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.
35 And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.
36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

Will Jesus have the need to whip you or me?

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On January 14, 2011

In Christian

One of the few emotional recorded incidents of Jesus Christ that catches a lot of attention was his act of righteous indignation and zeal, wherein he challenged the political and religious powers of His time on earth, as he entered into the Temple of God in Jerusalem, and using a whip drove those who were involved with selling and money changing out of the temple, overturning their money tables and proclaiming, “You shall not make my Father’s house (Temple), a house of merchandise/business/trade/marketplace.”

While this may seem like a one-time incident, hidden in this account, is the application of what transpired that day, which is aptly relevant in our lives today. The Bible states that we are the Temple of God (1 Corinthians 6:19). But the question that then remains is “What is going on within this Temple of God?” Are we busy with the business of trying to make ourselves some gain or are we about the Father’s business, as was Jesus (Luke 2:49)? In other words, if Jesus was to look into us, His Temple, would He need to do some Temple cleansing in you/me? Would Jesus have the need to make a whip and drive out the elements in us that don’t bring God the honor and glory?

John 2:13-16 (NLT)
13 It was nearly time for the Jewish Passover celebration, so Jesus went to Jerusalem.
14 In the Temple area he saw merchants selling cattle, sheep, and doves for sacrifices; he also saw dealers at tables exchanging foreign money.
15 Jesus made a whip from some ropes and chased them all out of the Temple. He drove out the sheep and cattle, scattered the money changers’ coins over the floor, and turned over their tables.
16 Then, going over to the people who sold doves, he told them, “Get these things out of here. Stop turning my Father’s house into a marketplace!”

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (KJV)
19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

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