Realities of life series- Dr. Johnson Cherian

1 Corinthians 10:14
Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry.

We were 5 people travelling in a section of a train compartment from Chengannur to Ernakulam in Kerala. Funny that all 5 of us, though strangers should be involved in the same activity. Necks bent forward, fingers intermittently working furiously, all 10 eyes were glued to our own idols. Different colours, sizes, all were rectangular though; the gadgets kept us busy. At the stops, every neck took a break, had a snack or tea and then were back in their own worldsl More patients being readied for the Ophthalmologists and Orthopeditians. That aside, how come this idol got a stranglehold over our lives? A couple of decades back, people were not so addicted to devices as they are now to this gadget called mobiles. There was the idiot box then, which at least did not make necks bow. For those addicted to television, here was another added addiction vying jealously for it's share and succeeding enormously.

Earlier idols were put on pedestals and worshipped. Now many hold them in their hands day in and day out. Most place them at arm's length at night too, as if their life depended on it.

So what's the Christian's stand?
Are we going to go as the world goes? No doubt, mobiles and cell phones have made life easier, but where do we draw the line between it being a useful device and an idol?
I doubt whether believers care!

Is it too late for you and me to give less importance to this man made thing and spend more time with our Creator?....Spending more time in genuine prayer, worship and meditation of the Word of God!

Christian exiles in Mobileland. It's time to return.

Realities of life series- Dr. Johnson Cherian.

Whereas you don`t know what your life will be like tomorrow. For what is your life? For you are a vapor, that appears for a little time, and then vanishes away. (James 4:14)

Ambulances with sirens wailing whiz past regularly on the main road adjoining my house. Every time it happens, I wonder who might be lying sick or injured in it. Perhaps someone had a heart attack or someone must have been in an accident. The ones travelling with the patient must be sore anxious or terribly upset thinking what may happen next. Perhaps it must be the first time they must be travelling at such high speeds. If you have been in the situation either as a patient or as one travelling with one, you would have your story too. Things like these are sobering experiences. Ah...The fraility of human life. So every time the siren wailing ambulance speeds by, I pray a silent prayer for the ones travelling in it and also mutter a "Thank you Lord" for him sustaining me and my loved ones for the day.

Realities of life series- Dr. Johnson Cherian

Job 16:2
Job replied, "I have heard many things like these; you are miserable comforters, all of you!"

When you pass through different trials in this earthly Christian life of yours, you may rarely find people who really care for you. In fact, the numbers won't be too hard to count on your fingers. Some would be like Job's friends who showed they had great concern, but ended up giving him advice by the barrels; advice that he did not need. He wanted someone who would listen to what he had to say in his misery, but could find none. Even nowadays it's difficult to find listeners, there are more of advisers. And when people hear your woes, there will be many who will immediately say, "We will be praying for you", but there will be few who would faithfully do it. Also it's rare to hear someone ask, "What shall  I  pray for you?"
You may not be wanting prayers from all, perhaps a few kind words, that's all.....but you will find most saying, "We will be praying" and that would include idol worshippers too and you would be caught in a situation where you cannot say, "Please don't pray", for that would be snobbish, so you keep quiet and suffer silently.

Trials in the Christian believer's life can bring the best and worst of emotions as we see in the life of Job. It will be like playing on a see-saw; an up and down faith game. One day, there's faith that God will deliver; another day, depression and sadness, wondering where God is or why the delay in deliverance. You are not alone though...
The Apostle Peter writes,
1 Peter 5:8-10
Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings and the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.

So hang in there...don't give up.

Inspirational Christian Audios-30

http://radio3142.com/?name=2018-02-14_15082017final.mp3

365 Blessings- March 21

He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. (Isaiah 40:29)

Spiritually and physically, most of us grow weary and weak at one time or the other. It just happens, even to them who live very close to the Lord. Moses was a man who spent much time in the presence of the Lord. God spoke to him like a man speaks to his friend. Twice he fasted and prayed for 40 days and was continually in God's presence during those days. Yet there were times when Moses became weak and weary. Perhaps the burdens on his life were too great and he snapped under the pressure of it all. It happens to most of us. And does God understand? Yes, he does.

The Bible says,
As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust. (Psalm 103:13, 14)

Yes...he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust.

We need to continually lean on the Lord for he is the fountain of strength, both spiritual and physical. The verses following the title verse here say,
Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. (Isaiah 40:30, 31)

Are you feeling weak spiritually or physically these days? God doesn't condemn you for not being spiritually strong like you were before. He understands the bodily pain and weakness that you suffer. God will renew your strength. He will build you up with the Holy Spirit. You will soar on wings like eagles and that will bring glory to him.

Always remember...He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.

Inspirational Christian Clip- Proverbs 22:10,11

Inspirational Christian Clip- Bible Assurance/Declaration/Promise 23

Inspirational Christian Audios-29

http://radio3142.com/?name=2018-02-14_14102017final.mp3

365 Blessings- March 19

Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. (Hebrews 7:23- 25)

How wonderful a promise! It says that Jesus, the permanent high priest, always lives to intercede for everyone who comes to God through him. Even when there is no one praying and interceding for you, Jesus is, because you are invaluable to him. When you are ill and tired and weary and can't pray, Jesus is interceding for you. When you are in mental agony and cannot bring words in your heart and mouth as prayer, Jesus is interceding for you. Can you believe that?

The Bible says,
Such a high priest meets our need - one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. (Hebrews 7:26)

Jesus is the perfect intercessor. A human intercessor may have faults and sins in his life which may be a hindrance to his prayer being answered, but here is someone who is holy, blameless and pure; whose prayer God will surely answer. He is set apart from sinners and exalted above the heavens.

Not only Jesus, but even the Holy Spirit intercedes for us in the presence of the father.
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. (Romans 8:26)

And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will. (Romans 8:27)

The next time when you feel that you are all alone and that there is no one to pray and intercede for you, remember these promises. Jesus, the permanent high priest and the Counselor, the Holy Spirit are always there, continually interceding for you in the presence of the Father.

Inspirational Christian Clip- Proverbs 22:8,9