First Thing First

The beginning of this month was full of pressure as I had to finish many works before the due dates. One was writing a report to the brothers concerning the recent literature tour to the North East India, the other was a preparation for Greek final exam, and yet another one was to take care of my family's need. In the midst of all these,  I received a phone call informing me of a sister who met with an accident and was admitted to a private hospital in Gurgaon. Amidst such pressure and tide schedule, I could not multi-task, as each of them required my physical presence and personal attention. Only if I were omnipresent! But the fact was not.

The option I had was to choose the most important one at that moment; to attend to what was most urgent. So I visited a sister in need at the hospital, spent time with her and her son, and took care of them; even the following days in many practical matters. Then I took time to write a report, and also took care of my family's need. Then finally, before the due date, prepared well for my Greek final exam and took the exam, satisfactorily.  And after all that, visited the needy saints for shepherding almost every evening. 

Life is really worth the living. Thank God that I did not get bored of idleness. On the contrary, I wished if only I had more time.

As far as my responsibilities were concerned I was satisfied at least that the Lord graced me to accomplished what I need to. Praise the Lord!

First thing first, is a good principle to follow in life. None can predict what will happen next, but as one faces life, take care of the most important thing first, and still not neglecting the others on the list of "To Do". First thing first, in every work of life, in every walk of life.

How to discern what is first, is by the inner sense of life, by the Lord's leading, and the understanding and interpretation of things on priority basis by the renewed mind.

First thing first, and all will be well. That's an experience of life. 

Light, Life and Love

1 John  1:5 And this is the message which we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.

God's divine light dispels darkness caused by Satan. Many have been blinded by Satan, including many believers who are supposed to be the sons of light. However, if by the Lord's mercy, God's light shines upon them, light will dawn in the one shined upon. The higher the intensity of the Light, the higher the life growth will be. Light produces life; the stronger the light, the higher the life. Lack or deficiency of light causes darkness and eventually to death.

We must always be open to the Lord's shining of the divine light. And even pray that the Lord will shine upon us each day, even brighter and brighter.

John 14:6 Jesus said to him, I am the way and the reality and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me.

Life is the issue of light. Different degrees of light produces different level of life. The highest light produces the highest form of life. Our being must be under the shining of God's light that we be sons of light in reality.

1 John 4:8 He who does not love has not known God, because God is love.1 John 4:16 And we know and have believed the love which God has in us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God and God abides in him.

When we are in the light and life operates in us, we will indeed be the manifestation of the sons of light. God who is light and life, is also love. The divine life can flow in the sons of light. Light produces life, and life flows out love.   

God is light, God is life and God is love. This God is in Christ as the Spirit who is in our spirit. So we have light, life and love and we can also be light, life and love! The more God is constituted into us, the more His attributes becomes our virtues. Light, life and love is ours, and can even become us.

Praise the Lord! 

Lord, shine on me as light, flow into me as life, and fill me with You as love; 

That I can shine out Your light, minister life, and love all that You would love. 

Operation Spiritual

Words does not suffice to thank God enough for all His tender, fine and intimate care for His children. Especially in this age of the Body, Christ the Head operates through the members of His Body and operates in the members. A very fine and specific operation was done yesterday; I called it "Operation Spiritual."

For a healthy body, a normal and timely health check-up is needed. For spiritual health too, God carries this out in His sovereignty. Yesterday, a brother whom I treasure so much since the time I came to serve the Lord full-time, fellowshipped with us (a few brothers from both Delhi and Gurgaon) and "operated us spiritually." It was a great help and blessing to me personally; I believe the same happened with my fellow brothers too. Diagnosis from "God's operation theater" results in the following prescriptions:

The Word of God 
The Word of God must be eaten daily and digested normally. Any lack in the Word of God results in spiritual deficiency issuing in many minor and major problems. A balanced healthy intake of the Word of God must never be neglected or overlooked. The Word of God must become flesh in the believers. Our living must be the living out of the Word of God. 

Prayer and Pray-reading the Word
Personally and corporately, there must be regular prayer. Brothers serving in the church must come together regularly for prayer. We serve God by prayer. Before any work is carried out, there must be prayer. Brothers must learn to pray and pray and pray until the Lord breaks through in them and moves through them. With God, impossibilities become possibilities through prayer.

Accompanying prayer, there must also be the pray-reading of the Word of God. Only the digested Word in the believers can be the constitution and living out of the Word of God. Whenever brothers come together, there must be prayer and pray-reading the Word of God. This will change the inward being of the brothers.

Proper Person
Out person matters a lot in the Lord's work. The Lord's inward working in us is necessary to deal with all the negative hidden germs within. There are many blind spots which are veiled from us, but could be seen by others, especially by the more matured brothers in the Lord. When we are open to fellowship, the Lord will grace us to deal with all these negative elements and heal us. Only by such inward healing, we can become a proper person- a useful vessel to the Lord.

Not Playing Politics 
Brothers should never play politics in the church, especially in administrative affairs of the church. Everything should be done by prayer and fellowship in coordination. Self ambition, opinion, pride and preferences must all be put to the cross, and resurrection life should prevail. All that we do must be in resurrection, in the new man.

Not Perfectionist
While we desire that every work done must be the best as we serve the Lord, who is the best of all, and indeed, we must give our best to the Best of the best. But one danger must be avoided. Do not be a perfectionist. Though it is best to be perfect in all our works, we must also be flexible to be adjusted and meet the urgent need. Our desire for perfection should not hinder the progress of the Lord's work. We must be flexible to meet the need of the time even if the work is not hundred percent perfect.

Coordination 
No one can serve the Lord alone. In the age of the Body, we must serve the Lord in the Body in coordination. One who does not learn to coordinate does not know the Body and cannot serve the Lord in the Body. God is not after individualistic spirituality, but after a corporate-built-up Body. Only the Body can fulfill the desires of the Head. 

Legality Versus Looseness
There must be a balance between legality and looseness. On the one hand, we must not be legal, yet we must not be loose either. Whenever necessary, we must exercise discipline and chastisement, but at the same time, we must be flexible, supplying life to the saints. We must not be too loose either where things get out of control and become a mess. Strictness must be balanced, so also looseness, so that life may be ministered to the saints for the building up of the Body of Christ. 

My Day

Generally I do not celebrate my birthday nor other's. But it's a good reminder of how time flies. Today, even as I turned thirty eight I still feel I should have been twenty years younger. Often I have to be reminded again and again that I am a father of three children already. Sometimes, it's hard to believe. Nevertheless, the fact is the fact.

This morning in my time with the Lord, the Word of God that touched me was on prayer from Mark 11:24, "For this reason I say to you,  All things that you  pray and ask,  believe that you have received them,  and you will have them." Amen to the word of God, and so shall it be. 

The Lord's speaking these days have been on prayer. Not the very mere act of prayer but a prayer according to God; a prayer in oneness with God in His heart's desire, will and intention for the fulfillment of His economy on the earth. But how can one pray such a prayer? There is an urgent need to wait upon the Lord and muse on His Word to the extend that one is fully blended and mingled with God. When this state is reached, then one can pray a genuine prayer according to God. And such prayer will always be answered. This is my birthday gift, a message on prayer from the Lord today. Amen. 

This morning after our family morning revival and prayer time, my son and daughter greeted me a "Happy Birthday" with a handmade card made by both of them. My wife told me that they planned it out last night and got up early morning today and made it. As a father, to cherish them I took our family out for lunch at KFC where they ate their favorites. Its  not about day or food or drink, but about the love, care and concern of a family in humanity. In their happiness was my happiness too. Praise the Lord for the family God blessed us with and the day I could spend with them!

And today too, we had the whole afternoon brothers' prayer and fellowship on the importance of prayer, the word of God, being a corporate vessel and living a life of faith. This fellowship from the brothers in the Body was quite precious and edifying. It reminded me again of the basic principles of a Christian life and church life for the Lord's testimony and the carrying out of God's economy. 

Later,  the church's prayer meeting was soaked with a genuine burden on prayer. Then our regular daily family prayer, and finally rested for the day. 

Praise the Lord for this day! That's how I spent my day, my "birthday."

Lord, grace me to be a genuine man of prayer.

Ten Years of Blessed Bond

The Lord is faithful and gracious in leading us thus far in our marriage life for these ten years. Ten years ago, we got married "today", the same weekday, Saturday. As I woke up in the morning the Lord reminded me of His faithfulness in our marriage life. So I decided to take my family out for dinner. I spoke my heart to my wife which she also felt good about.

After spending considerable time with the Lord in prayer and the word, I got down to study Greek as I had to write my final exam in a couple of days. In between, my two daughters need to see the doctor whom we consulted lask week for health checkup. Then I needed to pick up a brother, who came to Gurgaon on a business tour, for lovefeast, shopping and fellowship. My schedule was so tight. Yet, the Lord graced me to take things easy and carry out my responsibility. Deep within me, I was reminded again and again, all is well. For I was concerned about my studies and I needed time to study it really well; I don't want to do any half hearted job. I wanted to do my best in everything I put my hand into. When all these coincide, I just need to learn to be sober and calm and take things easy, one at a time, first thing first.

Indeed, as per schedule all that I needed to do were done, satisfactorily. After prayer, pursuing and fellowship of the brothers in Gurgaon, we went for gospel preaching as a family. The brother from the US also joined us. The Lord led us to lead two unbelievers to salvation; the first fruit for the American brother. Then we went for lovefeast at a nearby Chinese restaurant, and I finally dropped my brother to the Airport.

This is how my wife and I spent our 10th anniversary together; fellowshipping, taking care of family matters, gospel preaching, feasting and blending. I know no better way. Thank the Lord for His grace.

In fact, I missed out on the cake which my wife loves. However, after lovefeast I needed to drop the brother to the Airport so we did'nt find time for the cake. Nevertheless, she understood. First things first.

A thought that came to me on this day is:

Ten years ago, the Lord blessed us as help-meet.

Ten years since then, we've been help-meet indeed.

Ten years we've proved, "God made us for each other".

Ten years our blessed bond- deeper, sweeter and dearer.

Ten years on and more so be, this "blessed-blended-bond".

Ten years more, yea, even more, until death do us part.

Lord, be our Head, the center and reality of our blessed bond.

An Accident or an Incident?

A family who were saved almost a decade ago and went through turmoil in their family life, and the son has just been recovered back to the fellowship after years of straying away from the church life has just went through the experience of admitting his mother in the hospital after she met with an accident yesterday, and I am here in the ICU visiting and praying for them. This is the family the church has been praying for, and personally I have the burden to visit them as much as I could. 

There may be a couple ways to interpret this case, but one thing for sure, the Lord has heard our prayer and this, perhaps, is a part of the answer. Not the accident per se, but the Lord's sovereignty in allowing things to happen so as to gain them for Himself, especially the sister who has gradually been trying to avoid the saints. Now it is a fellow member visiting visiting them whom she has been trying to avoid all these years. Sometimes, it takes a blow to be awakened from spiritual slumber. And the Lord is sovereign over all. 

Still considering and praying as to how to shepherd this family. I feel best to be with them for now and see in what ways practical help can be rendered. Words are not the remedy for this accident, just being with them in time of need is the best at the moment. As the need arises, helping them in the humanity of Jesus is the best way now. 

This accident I do not reckon it as one, but an incident to meet God face to face once again and be gained for Him completely. For there is no accident in life for the saints; even if there is one in reality, it is an incident to gain Christ. Come what may, in whatever circumstances, learn Christ, experience Christ and gain Christ. 

I only pray that this will turn out to their salvation and the bountiful supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ be upon this family.

Lord, heal my sister and grace my brother to experience You deeply and richly. May this accident be an incident unto the gaining of Christ.

A Surprise Visit

Eight years ago when a brother and I visited Jharkhand for the first time, our translator was a pastor who boasted of his "prayer ministry" and conducted weeks of "fasting prayer" with visions and waging spiritual warfare against Satan who appeared in a physical form of a serpent. We simply listened to whatever he had to say, anyway, he was our translator. Before I left, I gifted him a small book, "The Prayer Ministry of the Church" and that was the only hope I had for him at that time, in case, he read it at all.

Few years later, he was our coordinator when we preached the gospel in Ranchi. And another year down the line, he came for the full time training, though only for a year. And then, he began to start meeting with people in his hometown. Many things have transpired in his life with almost everyone opposing him in his hometown. Even at times, out of my goodwill I wanted to propose a literature tour and brotherly visit, but nothing worked out. 

Actually, the Lord was simply trying to gain this brother, and it became clearer by the years. Many of his old habit and constitution have to be dealt with; and dealing takes a good number of years. Life training are slow, gradual but definite, until the lessons are learned and the person gained through breaking, transformation and maturity. I am glad at least for one reason, my brother is being gained. God is more interest in person and his works. God needs people for His divine work, but not works per se. He must gain person according to His heart's desire first before He can carry our His heart's desire.

This brother gave me a surprise call a few days back, and day before yesterday, he landed up in our place for hospitality. Praise the Lord! The brotherly bond is so string even after years of geographical separation. We enjoyed morning revival and prayer together, and the constitution of the word in him is solid and strong. Now he has a strong burden for his state Jharkhand, and especially his hometown.  

Though a surprise visit, I thank the Lord for His faithfulness in taking care of His children. Despite all the outward troubles and opposition against the truth even from among the believers, the seed of the ministry of the word sown into him is alive and growing. He was less bothered by the reaction of people around him including his own wife. He definitely wants to stand firm for the truth, for the testimony of Jesus in his home town.

May the Lord gain our brother and his family for His testimony!