"அந்தந்த நாளுக்கு வாழுதல்"

"அந்தந்த நாளுக்கு வாழுதல்"

_“எங்களுக்கு வேண்டிய ஆகாரத்தை இன்று எங்களுக்குத் தாரும்”_ (மத்தேயு 6:11).

அந்தந்த நாளுக்கு அதினதின் பாடு போதும் என்று வேதம் சொல்லுகிறது. ஆனால் நம்முடைய வாழ்க்கையில் அந்தந்த நாளுக்குரிய கிருபைகளைப் பெற்று ஆண்டவருடைய பெலத்தைச் சார்ந்து வாழுகிற அருமையான வாழ்க்கையை நாம் விட்டுவிடுகிறோம். மேலும் “ஆகையால், நாளைக்காகக் கவலைப்படாதிருங்கள்; நாளையத்தினம் தன்னுடையவைகளுக்காகக் கவலைப்படும்; அந்தந்த நாளுக்கு அதினதின் பாடுபோதும்” (மத்தேயு 6:34). ஆனால் மனிதன் அநேக விதங்களில் கவலைப்படுகிறவனாகவே இருக்கிறான்.

நாம் வாழுகிற இந்தக் குறுகிய கால வாழ்க்கையில் கவலையினாலேயே நம் வாழ்க்கையின் பெரும் பகுதி வீணாய்ப் போகிறது என்பதை நாம் அறியாமல் இருக்கிறோம். ஆனால் ஆண்டவர் சொல்லுகிறார் அந்தந்த நாளுக்கு அதினதின் பாடு போதும். பாடுகள் நம்முடைய வாழ்க்கையில் உண்டு. ஆனால் அதை தேவனிடத்தில் ஒப்புக்கொடுத்து அவருடைய வழிநடத்துதலுக்காக ஜெபிப்போம்.

நாளைக்காக நாம் கவலைப் படுவதினால் நம் சரீர அளவோடு ஒரு முழத்தையாகிலும் கூட்ட முடியாது என்று வேதம் சொல்லுகிறது. நம்முடைய தேவை என்ன என்பதை அவர் அறிந்திருக்கிறார். அவர் நம்முடைய தேவையைச் சந்திப்பார் என்பதையும் அறிந்திருக்கிறோம். அவரைச் சார்ந்துகொள்வது என்பது நம் வாழ்க்கையில் ஒவ்வொரு சூழ்நிலையிலும் வெளிப்படுத்தப்படும் என்றால் அது எவ்வளவு நன்றாய் இருக்கும்! அவ்விதமான வாழ்க்கையே கர்த்தருக்கு மகிமையாக இருக்கும் என்பதில் சந்தேகமில்லை.

"காலை வணக்கம்"

"இந்த நாள் தங்களுக்கு ஆசீர்வாதமான நாளாக அமைவதாக"

Face to face

"Face to face"

"In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple"_ Isaiah 6:1

Being face-to-face with famous people can be pretty scary and exciting. I’ve met a few people in the past. When you see these people ‘from the TV’ in real life, it’s a bit weird!

It’s easy to get a bit tongue-tied when meeting famous people. And it’s easy to get a bit obsessed with the celebrities we follow on Twitter, wishing we were anything like them. But that’s nothing compared to what Isaiah saw “in the year that King Uzziah died” (ISAIAH 6:1). Isaiah experienced something so amazing and terrifying that nothing could compare to it—he stood face-to-face with God!

In a vision, God showed Isaiah who He really was. What Isaiah saw totally changed him. He saw God’s awesomeness. He got a fresh understanding of God’s holiness. He saw the massive difference between his sinfulness and God’s perfection. He heard God’s voice, and he spoke with Him.

Today, we can see God in the Bible and in the Spirit’s work in and through us. And we can spend personal time with Him in prayer. But one day in heaven, we will see Him face-to-face (1 JOHN 3:2). Now that will take our breath away!

"NEVER FORGET HOW AMAZING IT IS TO MEET WITH GOD!"

"Good morning."

"Have a blessed week ahead"

UNEXPECTED - A 4-Day devotional study

"UNEXPECTED"

A 4-Day Devotional Study on Jesus' Teaching in Luke 13-14.

*"How God Uses Suffering for Good"* Day-1

*_"Jesus answered, 'Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way?'"_* (Luke 13:2).

Read Luke 13:1-9.

*In Jesus' time, it was commonly taught that suffering is always judgment. For example, when Jesus' disciples encountered a man born blind, they asked Him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" (John 9:2). And Jesus took time to correct this false understanding of God's Word. Truly, He offered a wake-up call—offensive to those who believed they had no need to repent.*

*But before we turn to Jesus' correction, let's be reminded of the ways God uses our suffering in this world for our good.*

*First, suffering helps to purify God's children. Just as fire cleanses that which is pure and valuable, so too are we purified by times of suffering. God allows us to walk through seasons of suffering to produce within us perseverance, character, and hope (see Romans 5:3-4).*

*Second, suffering brings us closer to God. Paul endured that which was "far beyond [his] ability to endure" by relying on God (2 Corinthians 1:8-9). God is with us, strengthening us and comforting us.*

*Third, suffering empowers us to have compassion on others who suffer. As God comforts us in suffering, we are equipped to then comfort others (see 2 Corinthians 1:4).*

*Finally, suffering prepares us to bear more fruit. When we have that peace that transcends understanding in situations the world says should crush us, it bears witness to the eternal hope we have in our sovereign, faithful God. So don't waste your affliction. Let it polish your testimony.*

*The crowd that had gathered to listen to Jesus beginning in Luke 11 had no such understanding of suffering. And goaded by Jesus' hard teaching, they tried to highlight their righteousness by bringing up two recent disasters—deadly disasters that, in their eyes, were clear indications that those who suffered had been deserving of such horrific pain (see Luke 13:1-5). The crowd wanted Jesus to affirm their belief system and their piety. But His response took them all by surprise.*

*Jesus made it clear that those who died were not worse sinners than those who survived. He assured the crowd (and us) that we are living on borrowed time; we all need to repent. It is only because of His astounding love that God allows sinners to live. He is patient because He longs for us to respond to His merciful invitation to receive salvation through His Son. All tragedies are loving warnings to turn to the Lord and escape the righteous judgment that is coming.*

Prayer: *Father, thank You for Your patience with me. Thank You that You have called me out of darkness and brought me into the Kingdom of light. Help me to see seasons of suffering as opportunities to draw near to You and point others to the hope of glory through Jesus Christ. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.*

"Freedom from Performance" - Day - 7

*"FREEDOM THROUGH SURRENDER TO CHRIST"*

A 7-Day Devotional Study 

*"Freedom from Performance"* Day - 7

*_"[F]or all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus"_* (Romans 3:23-24).

*All people yearn to belong and to be known. In the quest for relationship and acceptance, people often seek to please, but who we are pleasing has eternal consequences. Let’s look at some different kinds of "pleasers."*

*The People-Pleaser: Some people spend their whole lives trying to please other people. Consider the adult child of a very successful businessman who feels obligated to take over the family business. He may not have the temperament or the natural skills to follow in his father’s footsteps, but he trudges on in an unfulfilled life out of a sense of duty and obligation.*

*Likewise, many Christians continually look at what others are doing to make sure that they personally measure up to others’ expectations. When the apostle Paul was accused of people-pleasing, he made it clear how incompatible this life was for the Christian. He wrote, "If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ"* (Galatians 1:10).

*The Self-Pleaser: We have all watched highly successful businessmen or star athletes ruin their health and families in the process of trying to achieve personal goals. They become obsessed with fulfilling their own expectations or meeting their own needs.*

*Similarly, many Christians fall prey to serving the god of self. Paul warned in Romans 2:8: "But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger." Jesus calls us to a better way: "So do not worry, saying ’What shall we eat?’ or ’What shall we drink?’ or ’What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well"* (Matthew 6:31-33).

*It is easy to fall into the performance trap whether we are performing for others or ourselves. When we do this, we actually live a life of bondage. Instead of true liberty in Christ, we live like slaves.*

*Contrast a life lived in the performance trap to the life of another group of people—God-pleasers. They continually ask themselves, What does the Lord want me to do? What is the will of God? Is what I’m doing today glorifying Him or bringing glory to me? God-pleasers live their lives in total dependence on Him. They surrender themselves to Christ daily, knowing that having a relationship with Almighty God brings infinite fulfillment and that God Himself has provided the means for their acceptance into His courts—Jesus Christ.*

Prayer: *Father, help me to remember that I should be seeking to please You today, not others and not myself. Help me to be a God-pleaser. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.*

"True Freedom" - Day - 6

*"FREEDOM THROUGH SURRENDER TO CHRIST"*

A 7-Day Devotional Study 

*"True Freedom"* Day - 6

*_"They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity—for 'people are slaves to whatever has mastered them'"_* (2 Peter 2:19).

*Satan will entice you to use your freedom to sin. But true freedom means we are free from sin—free to serve Christ and live holy lives.*

*Read 2 Peter 2:17-22. One of Satan's cleverest tactics is to entice us into slavery by giving it a new name: freedom. Schooled in the art of seduction, he will keep at it until he overpowers the voice of the Holy Spirit—if we let him.*

*In verse 19, Peter warns us that false teachers will promote a false, unbiblical 'freedom' that actually gives us license to sin. They will twist the Truth, saying we are free to sin because God's grace will cover it.*

*If Christian freedom is not properly understood, it can be easy for us to fall into this trap. But here is the Truth: When the Bible speaks about our freedom in Christ, it is referring to freedom from sin—and freedom to serve Christ. Before Christ came into our lives, we were slaves to sin, but since Christ has saved us, we are free from that merciless slave master (see Romans 6:15-23). By the Spirit, we now have power to say no to our lusts and joyfully serve our Lord Jesus.*

*Friends, let us not be allured by Satan's arguments of cheap grace. Jesus said, "If you love me, keep my commands" (John 14:15). Train yourself each day to reject unrighteousness and experience true freedom in Christ. It's never too late to serve Him with your whole heart today.*

Prayer: *Lord, I rejoice in the freedom You have secured for me in Christ—freedom to live in the peace and joy of holiness. Show me how I can serve You today. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.*

"Everything We Need" - Day - 5

*"FREEDOM THROUGH SURRENDER TO CHRIST"*

A 7-Day Devotional Study 

*"Everything We Need"* Day - 5

*_"His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness"_* (2 Peter 1:3).

*Power for Christian living does not lie in hard-to-attain experiences. It comes from realizing God has already given us everything we need.*

*Read 2 Peter 1:3-4. Have you ever been frustrated trying to chase the next spiritual experience? Or felt that something was missing in your life with God? If so, you are not alone. Many of us have been there. Truthfully, our problem is not that we lack what we need—it is that we have not fully appropriated all that He has already given us.*

*When we first receive Christ, we receive everything we need to live a godly life (2 Peter 1:3). We are filled with the Holy Spirit and become recipients of every covenantal promise of God—promises like:•"[T]hose who hope in the LORD will renew their strength" (Isaiah 40:31).•"[W]hoever believes in [Christ] shall not perish" (John 3:16).•"[I]n all things God works for the good of those who love him" (Romans 8:28).*

*Today, before you search for the next mountaintop experience, remember the promises of God. Before you give in to depression and despair, remember the promises of God. And long before you say, "It’s too late for me," remember the promises of God. As you allow these precious promises to permeate your mind, you will participate in the "divine nature," living in the abundance of all that Christ has given you (2 Peter 1:4). He has already given you everything you need; don’t let anything hold you back from living fully for Him.*

Prayer: *Father, I know Your promises are sure and unchanging. Thank You that my experience of Your presence has no bearing on the Truth that You are with me. Thank You for empowering me with Your Spirit so that I can live abundantly with joy, holiness, and hope. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.*

"Truth and Freedom" - Day - 4

*"FREEDOM THROUGH SURRENDER TO CHRIST"*

A 7-Day Devotional Study 

*"Truth and Freedom"* Day - 4

*_"Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel"_* (Philippians 1:27).

*Do not be casual about attacks on Truth, for they are attacks on your individual freedoms as well as on our nation. Truth and freedom are inextricably linked. Many Christians are concerned about the systematic loss of religious and political freedom in our time as our culture flees Truth in favor of sinful, self-pleasure that only enslaves. That's why it is paramount that churches stand firm in Christ and faithfully proclaim His Word. History has shown that as the church goes, so goes the society. Jesus said it clearly in John 8:32: "Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."*

*What might be the consequences to our nation if Christians falter in fighting for God's Truth to prevail? Is God's Truth an important factor when you make business, financial, or political decisions? What do you need to do to help guard Truth and freedom? Develop more intimacy with the Lord in prayer? Learn more about God's Truth from the Bible?*

*God is sufficient to give you wisdom and power in these areas if you only ask. Pray that God will strengthen you to contend for the faith and for Truth in your home, work, and community. Prayerfully approach your decisions as a family member, neighbor, and citizen.*

Prayer: *God, help me to always carefully consider Your Truth so that I live in accordance with the unadulterated Gospel and proclaim this Good News in word and deed. I know You are the only source of freedom. Give Your church in this nation strength to stand firm for Your Kingdom and glory. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.*

"Uncompromising Truth" - Day -3

*"FREEDOM THROUGH SURRENDER TO CHRIST"*

A 7-Day Devotional Study 

*"Uncompromising Truth"* Day -3

*_"The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners"_* (Isaiah 61:1-2).

*One formerly evangelical leader complains that orthodox, conservative Christianity has "shown a pervasive disdain for other religions of the world," whose members we should view "not as enemies but as beloved neighbors, and whenever possible, as dialogue partners and even collaborators."*

*Although Jesus was a master at listening and asking questions to get to people’s real needs, He never compromised the Truth.*

*In a post-Truth world, embracing all belief systems as equal may sound like an open-minded, openhearted idea. But Jesus was intolerant of falsehood. That’s why He declared, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6, emphasis added).*

*When I see speakers and authors working so hard to force God’s Word to say what it clearly does not say, I hear the apostle Paul whispering in my ear, "The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits" (1 Timothy 4:1). In Jesus’ high priestly prayer before going to the cross, He prayed, "Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth" (John 17:17). All too often, however, we have polluted God’s Truth with borrowings from the false religions and philosophies of our culture. No one is sanctified by adulterated "truth."*

*If we as individuals reject or distort God’s Truth, we rob the Truth of its power to set us free. The result: We become morally and spiritually enslaved. And when an entire culture rejects God’s Truth? That culture opens itself up to bondage.*

Prayer: *Lord, thank You for the power of Your Truth to set me free—to set free every soul who calls on the name of Jesus. Help me to proclaim salvation to my community through the unadulterated Gospel—boldly and without fear. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.*

"Remember All Christ Has Done" - Day -- 2.

*"FREEDOM THROUGH SURRENDER TO CHRIST"*

(A 7-Day Devotional Study)

*"Remember All Christ Has Done"* Day -- 2.

*_"When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross"_* (Colossians 2:13-14).

*In our battle for freedom from our addictions, our only hope for victory is found in what Christ has already accomplished to set us free. We can only be transformed by renewing our minds constantly in the Truth of the Gospel, remembering the richness of His grace every morning, every evening, and every moment in-between.*

*Read Colossians 2:6-15. Though I have been walking with the Lord for over fifty years, I have never ceased to be amazed at the price God paid for my salvation, at what it cost Jesus to mount the counteroffensive into Satan's territory, so that I might have freedom from the bondage of sin.*

In this passage from Colossians, Paul describes the glorious way Christ has brought us into spiritual fullness:•Christ made us alive when we were dead in sin (v. 13).•Christ forgave us our sin, canceling any condemning accusation against us (v. 14).•Christ disarmed Satan and all his demons of any power they had over us, triumphing over them by the cross (v. 15).

The Truth of this passage is so humbling as we examine the incomprehensible gift of God's love and grace that it demands we cry out with Paul, "Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! . . . ’Who has ever given to God, that God should repay them?’ For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen" (Romans 11:33, 35-36).

*We must not be blasé about what is the greatest miracle of all time: We have been received back into fellowship with God. Christ did all and gave all so that we might have all—everything we need for life, godliness, and freedom. By delivering us from our slavery to sin, He has given us the power to silence Satan’s every accusation because the grace of God in the perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ is sufficient to pay the ransom of our every sin (see 2 Corinthians 12:9).*

*When you are struggling with guilt and shame, confess your need for Christ and allow Him to burst open your cell door by the power of the cross. You are more than a conqueror through Christ (see Romans 8:31-39). So, tell your addictions, "You have no claim over me. I am free. My debt is paid in full. Christ came from heaven to give me life, and that I now have abundantly in Him."*

Prayer: *Father, thank You for the amazing gift of Your love and grace that has canceled my debt and ransomed me from the grave. May I live boldly and righteously in the new life You have given me. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.*

"Give Your Life to God" - Day-1

*"FREEDOM THROUGH SURRENDER TO CHRIST"*

(A 7-day Devotional Study)

*"Give Your Life to God"* Day-1

*_"Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life"_* (John 12:25).

*The wisdom of God usually confounds man's intellect. In fact, some of the greatest Truths in the Bible are paradoxical. Giving away things does not seem like the best way to receive blessing. And it does not seem right to show mercy and kindness toward those who do wrong to us. But these are actions believers are encouraged to take, and God promises blessings to those who do them.*

*However, one of the most difficult Biblical Truths to understand is this: To truly take back your life, you must surrender it to God. In order for us to live in freedom, free from bondage to sin and Satan, we must make ourselves subject to Christ.*

*Jesus' moment of victory came when He surrendered His life on the cross. When Jesus committed His Spirit into God's hands, He relinquished control and let God work the most amazing triumph in the history of mankind. No longer would people have to pay the just penalty for their sins. Suddenly, there was forgiveness for all who would receive it through Jesus' death and resurrection.*

*Likewise, our moment of victory comes when we decide to give away our lives. When we make the conscious decision to quit trying to run our own lives and allow God to have control, we win. Our cry of weakness is actually our greatest moment of strength. It is the point when we stop trying to be good Christians and rather internalize the Gospel—understanding our need for a Savior and our utter inability to save ourselves. This is when we truly invite the grace of God to work in our lives so that the Holy Spirit transforms us day by day into the likeness of Christ as we submit to God.*

*Surrendering to God does not mean you are weak. On the contrary, it means you are a person who knows where your greatest strength lies.*

Prayer: *Lord, make Your Truth real in my life today, and help me understand the power that comes when I surrender fully to You. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.*