Wholly, To be full of…

Wholly, To be full of…

Wholly, To be full of…

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Therefore, Hebron became the inheritance of Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite to this day because he wholly followed the LORD, the God of Israel. (Joshua 14:14).
 
As I went through the cross-references for this passage, I noticed that the phrase “wholly followed the Lord” has been used six times in the Bible concerning Caleb alone. (Josh 14:8,9,14; Num 14:24, 32:12; Deut 1:36).
 
I wonder if I’ll ever be known as someone who ‘wholly’ followed the Lord. It’s remarkable what comparison with faithful saints of the past can do to you. At times they show remarkably similar imperfections as ours, but mostly they make us wonder how we have wasted our lives. One such remarkable saint was Caleb. He had the ticket to the promised land, along with Joshua. And all this because he ‘wholly followed the Lord’.
 
The Hebrew word for ‘wholly’ is ‘mah-lay’ which at the root of it means “to be filled’ or ‘to be full of’. The initial days of our salvation, there is such a radical change that we recognize that it’s not I but the Spirit whom God filled in me. We perceive ourselves to be full of the Spirit and testify ” It’s no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me”.
 
But now when you examine your life, would you give the Holy Spirit, credit for the life you are living today? Or is it the flesh, the world, that you live by?
 
Are you ‘full of’ the Spirit or are you ‘full of’ the world?
For some of you, this is a question to ponder upon, but to most of you, this is a rhetorical question.
 
God didn’t sacrifice His thumb for you. He did not sacrifice both His legs. He did not just bear a few scars for you. He sacrificed His one and only Son, whom He so dearly loved for you. He lived a Holy life and died for you. The God of heaven and earth gave Himself up, on the cross, wholly, for you. But have you given yourself up, wholly, for Him, for the cross, for the Gospel?
 
Setting an alarm to wake up early on Sunday, to sit on your bed and stream the church service is not ‘wholly’. Deciding to read a small devotional tagged with a small prayer at the end, is not ‘wholly’.
 
So, what does it look like to ‘wholly follow God’?
We don’t have to look further than Caleb here. Caleb prioritized seeking the will of God and obeying his commands. And we are to do the same; seek God’s will and obey his commands.
 
Read the Bible, that you may know the living God, and His will and seek Him for a greater measure of His Spirit that He may enable you to ‘wholly’ live for Him and honour Him.
 
For the same reason Jesus said “If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honour him (John 12:26).
 
Commit yourself today to follow Him ‘wholly’. Let the world primarily know you for your faith in, and service to your King, Jesus Christ.
God be with you.
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Walking in your Destiny

Walking in your Destiny

Walking in your Destiny

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John Piper recently posted a tweet that said, “God’s will for our life is that his will should become our will.”

I agree to that.

It’s easier said than done.

It seems easier to walk in your own will and desire than walk in the destiny that God has prepared for you.

Because we tend to walk by what we see.

But God desires the opposite for our life. He wants us to walk by faith and not by sight.

In other words, if there is anything in our life that we held on as a treasured possession, that we put our hard work, our hopes, and everything to it – because we see it. Be sure, one day, God will remove that out of your life.

I worked at The Bangalore Conservatory. I served in different positions. I loved my job. I loved the organization. I treated it as a baby. This organization was so precious to me that I spent countless hours planning, working towards achieving the goals. I spent my time, energy, sacrificed my family time to spend at BC. I gave it all. There are times when I’ve worked for 16 hours straight. I thought I’d spend most of my life here. But one day, things started to change. I heard God’s call to enter into full-time ministry. It was a tough decision. I prayed and finally said, Yes. The very thing that I regarded as precious; God took away. Why ?

Why ?

Because I put my hard work and hopes on what I saw. But God took me into a place to make me live according to what I believe and not in what I see. He wanted me to believe in him for my providence. He wanted me to believe in what he made me be. He wanted me to believe in what he spoke into my life several years ago. He wanted me to believe in what he has called me to do.

More than anything, He wanted me to believe in what he can do in my life more than what I can do by myself.

Fast forward, several months later. I have moved to Mangalore. I have met wonderful people; people who became like family to me. Started a church and became part of bible study group where I teach regularly.

So, How is life compared to the time when I worked at Bangalore Conservatory and now when I am in full-time ministry?

When I was working, I put my hopes and hard work in what I could see. I saw an institution that has the potential to become the best music degree institution in the country. I saw students, staff, and everything else. And I saw my providence in that. I put my hopes in what I saw.

And now when I am in ministry. God is teaching me to put my hopes and hard work in what I believe. I believe there is a call, there is a mission and I believe that one day a mega-church will rise up in this city that will lift the name of Jesus high.!

But now, what do I see? I see few people, a small group, challenging times, times when I walk around with coins in my wallet, and sometimes nothing.!

But God has been faithful to me. He has helped me live here for 6 months and continues to provide everything I need. Often times, the question I ask or ponder is why I don’t see anything materialize in the way I expect it to happen. Although I see a structure, I don’t see anything materialize.

But, I know, God is doing something in me. He is teaching me to walk by faith and not by sight. He wants to me to put my hopes and work in what I believe and not in what I see.

He wants me to put my belief in what he can do than what I could achieve by myself.

If I live according to what I see then I don’t need God’s help. But only when I live according to what I believe then I need God in everything. Without him, I can’t live. Without him, I can’t breathe. Without him, I can’t survive.

I believe one day a generation of young people will rise up for the name of Jesus. This city, Mangalore, is going to be on fire for God.

All this will come to fulfillment only if I continue to live according to what I believe.

I tell you, this is life. Though it’s challenging it is a fruitful life. It is satisfying. You will experience the amazing presence of God in an inexpressible way; I experience it every day. This is life. God provides in ways I can never imagine. He is faithful.

This is my destiny.

If God has called you walk into the destiny he has designed for you. Do not hesitate. Pray and prepare yourself. And say Yes Lord, and begin to walk. You will see him do mighty work in your life.

Always remember to set your eyes on what God can do through your life than what you could do by yourself.

The Past that Hurts

The Past that Hurts

We all have a past. If we look back, it hurts. Though there are good memories, if we look back there are memories that can hurt us. If you step outside and ask people in their mid 30's to share a memory from their past; they will answer with extra caution because they...

Know where to Hide

Know where to Hide

"Knowing where to Hide" is the key factor to living a christ-centered life. Job, a man found in the scriptures, whose piety and devotion towards God was far greater than any of the people living during his time. He would have lived around the time of the patriarchs;...