While starting with God takes much internal efforts and strides, finishing with God requires double the effort. The finish line requires a mobilization of all our wills in order to make it over. Not realizing this, many remain comfortable and so do not finish well, they do not finish with God. That is why the … Continue reading ‘The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride’ – (Ecclesiastes 7:8)
‘Go back to Egypt, for all the men who wanted to kill you are dead’ – (Exodus 4:19)
Sometimes, in order to make to our destination, we need to tread paths our footprints have been before. Although this may seem like a regression, it is in fact a progression. When God told Moses to go back to Egypt after being away for 40 years, Moses at first did not understand why. It was … Continue reading ‘Go back to Egypt, for all the men who wanted to kill you are dead’ – (Exodus 4:19)
Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour’ (1 Peter 5:8).
Nothing good comes out of the devil. Those who are in his clutches by default or by desire are turned upside down and emptied. It is therefore crucial to ‘Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour’ (1 Peter 5:8). It seems like the … Continue reading Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour’ (1 Peter 5:8).
“Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first” ~ Matthew 20:8
God is a giver. In fact, giving gifts is synonymous to His nature. That is why ‘He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor’ (Psalm 112:9). And we are the poor, for everything we have, even to our very being is courtesy of God. Those who are tempted to think otherwise, ‘What do you … Continue reading “Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first” ~ Matthew 20:8
“For we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal” – 2 Corinthians 4:18
Heaven is not just a state; it is also an actual place. Earth is not just our dwelling place; it is a stopping place. We are not merely fleshly beings possessing a spirit, but we are spiritual beings with flesh and blood. But we often times get caught up in the here and now, and … Continue reading “For we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal” – 2 Corinthians 4:18
“Not all the people will have to go up against Ai. Send two or three thousand men to take it and do not weary all the people, for only a few men are there” – Joshua 7:3
When the Israelites were preparing to attack Ai, they saw that the small town could easily be conquered. They said, ‘Not all the people will have to go up against Ai. Send two or three thousand men to take it and do not weary all the people, for only a few men are there’ (Joshua … Continue reading “Not all the people will have to go up against Ai. Send two or three thousand men to take it and do not weary all the people, for only a few men are there” – Joshua 7:3
“Do you think that these Galileans (whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices) were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will perish” – Luke 13:2-5
Evil reigns, God holds backs. Nations rage, God looks on. ‘Surely the eyes of the Sovereign Lord are on the sinful kingdom’ (Amos 9:8). Wicked men flourish, as the devil applauds on. The righteous are left asking, ‘How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our … Continue reading “Do you think that these Galileans (whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices) were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will perish” – Luke 13:2-5
“For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven” -(Matthew 5:20)
Jesus said, ‘Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfil them’ (Matthew 5:17). But on the surface level, the Law of Moses and the Gospel Christ seem to juxtapose each other. In fact, ‘the letter kills, but the Spirit … Continue reading “For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven” -(Matthew 5:20)
“Take Joshua son of Nun, a man in whom is the Spirit and lay hands on him . . . Give him some of your authority so that the whole Israelite community will obey him” – (Numbers 27:18,20)
He watched him call forth plagues, he watched him part the Red Sea, he watched him speak to God face to face, and he watched him lead the people. Joshua watched Moses. Although he himself was a valiant tribal leader and Moses’ assistant, Joshua thought Moses to be exceptional. Approaching at the brink of his … Continue reading “Take Joshua son of Nun, a man in whom is the Spirit and lay hands on him . . . Give him some of your authority so that the whole Israelite community will obey him” – (Numbers 27:18,20)
“Let the Righteous One strike me – it is a kindness; let him rebuke me – it is oil on my head. My head will not refuse it” – (Psalm 141:5)
One of the things God says is, ‘See, I will refine and test them, for what else can I do because of the sin of my people?’ (Jeremiah 9:7). When we go astray, God corrects us by refining and testing us, not by harming us. That is why David said, ‘Your rod and your staff … Continue reading “Let the Righteous One strike me – it is a kindness; let him rebuke me – it is oil on my head. My head will not refuse it” – (Psalm 141:5)
Decoded Word 