Experiencing Christ in Mysuru Visit

Since we completed the proofreading project earlier than expected and we had some free days, for the sake of taking care of the visiting saints from abroad, I proposed a two-day trip to Mysuru and Coorg. In fellowship, the brothers all agreed and I made all the plans for vehicle and hotel booking with the help of some local brothers. 

In Mysuru, we visited almost all the tourist sightseeing places that we could visit in one whole day; Mysore Palace, Car Museum, hilltop view of the city, and other places of interest. In the city, we also had a time of lovefeast with a brother's family. Here, I learned a very important lesson in service and coordination.

Our day in Mysuru was very tiresome, at least for me. Since that was right after the project and I was busy settling many official matters, I was physically worn out. By the end of the day, I was completely weak and kept sneezing and coughing. That drew the attention of my brothers and they requested me to take a good bed rest. Initially, I felt I could handle it, but in the night I was really tired, I had a body ached and slight uneasiness. 

The next day morning, we were to visit Coorg. But one of the brothers had a special concern for my health and requested that I stay back just to rest the whole day. In the morning, I was informed that I should take a rest and not go to Coorg. Initially, I felt I was fit enough to go after the night's rest. But deep within me, I realized that that was the Lord's speaking. The crucial point was not whether I was healthy enough to go to Coorg, but whether I was willing to take the fellowship of the brothers contrary to my own natural feeling and decision. Whether I was healthy or not, one of the members of the Body felt that I should stay back and rest. I better listen to the voice of the Lord through the Body. I denied my personal feeling of being well and took the brothers' fellowship. I willingly decided to stay back. 

In fact, I was actually well and good to go. But since the word had already spoke and a brother already expressed his strong feelings, I took that as a spiritual test for me in my service to listen to the fellowship of the Body. To submit and obey the leading of the Lord through the brothers and to not rebel in any way, even in my attitude, was the lesson the Lord graced me to learn. 

And Samuel said, Does Jehovah delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of Jehovah? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed, than the fat of rams. For rebellion is like the sin of divination, And insubordination is like idolatry and teraphim. 1 Samuel 15:22-23

So, I stayed back and took a good rest. In fact, that rest gave me enough time to make up for the many chapters of the Bible I could not read as per my schedule the past few days. Therefore, I could make up all the lag. That was the Lord's sovereign arrangement.

The next day, we headed back to Bengaluru. Again, according to the feeling of the brothers we vacated our stay at the convention center and checked into a hotel room for two more nights near the airport. In all these, I denied my opinions and amened the brothers' fellowship. The Lord reminded me again and again to always go along with the flow according to the fellowship of the brothers. All the outward sightseeing, eating out, hotel stays, and traveling around kept aside, I learned very important lessons of coordination, fellowship, and exercise to be in one accord with all my fellow brothers and sisters.

These were my experiences of Christ in Mysuru visit and a non-visit to Coorg.  Lord, thank You for the grace that enabled me to learn a very important spiritual lesson on obedience and submission.