Righteousness Reasoning (Part-1)

There were these two guys - Munna and Sam. Sam knew Munna to be a simpleton, and imagine his astonishment when he found Munna in the police station. Sam went and enquired what had happened, to which Munna replied defensively, "See, I have done two good things, but they have brought me here saying I have to be punished."
"What!" - Sam replied. "Surely there must be some mistake. What did you do, Munna?"
Munna replied, "See, there was this man bleeding from his head by the side of the road, with no one to care. And it was I who took him to the hospital, in an auto-rickshaw"
"And there was this huge stone right in the middle of the road, hindering traffic. I took it with both my hands, and threw it to the side. For these things, I have been brought here."
Sam pacified Munna and went to talk to the police officer-in-charge. "Sir, I know him to be simple. He says he did only good, how can you bring him here?" started Sam.
With an impudent face, the officer replied, "Ha! Did nothing at all would be okay. Didn't you ask him how the person got hurt and found bleeding? The rock that he threw hit the poor fellow on the head"

What an interesting story! Everyone is bound to their own perceptions and reasoning, until the law (police officer) takes charge based only on the result of what happened, no matter how good your intentions.

The kingdom principle works exactly 180 degree opposite; the Spirit searches the intents and motives of the heart. Have you ever wondered WHY you do what you do? You maybe a Sunday-school teacher, an elder, a song-leader, or part of the choir group or even the one who preach occasionally. WHY DO YOU DO WHAT YOU DO?

As a simple example, if you are an evangelist telling the good news of Jesus Christ, have you ever wondered why you do what you do? I know many would answer - "to plunder hell and to populate heaven" or "I can't see souls perishing in darkness and want them saved" or "The great commission gives us explicit directions to go and preach" or some such things.

I agree all these are valid statements. But it came as a revelation as I read through the verses popularly called as "The Great Commission" found in Matt. 28:19-20. I began to wonder why people leave out verse18.

Jesus explicitly spells out the reason for our mission- "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore..."

The "Why?" for our mission must be primarily focussed on this: ALL AUTORITY HAS BEEN GIVEN TO JESUS in heaven and on earth. That is WHY WE GO where we GO; That is WHY WE DO what we do. Go ahead now - evangelise.

Be blessed in Jesus.

Gift of Righteousness

A father had 2 sons. One of his sons, the elder one, emigrated to the US after his education and by and by became a very wealthy man. His younger son meanwhile languished in his own country, India and barely managed to make a living. By and by, this younger brother became so poor that he could hardly support himself and despaired for his life, when the news came that his elder brother had passed away, and left all his wealth to him-the younger brother. Through a lawyer, and a proper will, the younger brother was invited to inherit the wealth, and citizenship. He dressed his best and boarded a flight and landed at his late brother's place and had everything transferred to his name, as per the will.

By this time, a small group had gathered there, and a press reporter nearby, could not stop himself from asking, "Sir, so how much have you inherited from your brother?". As everyone waited for his answer, the younger brother said in a fair-pitched voice, "630 billion US dollars, and 5 paise". Although in awe, a quizzical look passed through the face of the reporter as he quipped, "So, what is '5 paise?' Is it worth much? Where did you have it?" The younger brother replied, "The dollar part and billions belong to my brother. But as I was travelling from my home country to here, i put my hand in my shirt pocket; and lo, and behold, I did have some money-this 5 paise" as he proudly showed it around.

A bystander mockingly said "Oh, but don't you know a 5 paise is worth nothing, either here or in your own country".

Although this is a story of my own imagination, it brings out the point I want to make: that this is what people say concerning RIGHTEOUSNESS. That we will somehow be accepted by God, when we do the right things. That our righteousness really amounts to something. But Romans 6:21-23 talks of the righteousness of God APART from the law-i.e., apart from doing good or doing bad. It says, "But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ TO ALL and ON ALL WHO BELIEVE. For there is no difference, for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God,.."

What a pity, that the younger brother wanted to cling on to his old currency, however worthless; how is it possible that we mix different currencies and have an addition? There is no mathematical conversion formula between the righteousness of man and the righteousness of God. Isaiah says that all our righteousness are like FILTHY RAGS (Isaiah 64:6). (dirty ugly smelly).

God is able to fully deal with our sins; though they are as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow (Is. 1:18), but how will He be able justify you, if you hold on to your own "righteousness"? (Luke 18: 10-14). How can you freely receive the gift of righteousness (Rom. 5:17) when your hands are full of your own "righteousness"?

Brother, the gift of righteousness is freely given to all who believe in the person of Jesus Christ (Rom. 3:22). He has paid the penalty for all of our sins on the cross, that we may receive the righteousness of God credited into our own account. Our Father in heaven sees you as good, acceptable and perfect through Jesus Christ, and declares "This one is righteous!". No more do you have to fear the judgment of God, because of this righteousness of God.

Great is His love toward you, and great shall be your PEACE. Amen.

Grace and Love: 1905 Welsh Revival Song

Here is love, vast as the ocean,
Lovingkindness as the flood,
When the Prince of Life, our Ransom,
Shed for us His precious blood.
Who His love will not remember?
Who can cease to sing His praise?
He can never be forgotten,
Throughout Heav’n’s eternal days.

On the mount of crucifixion,
Fountains opened deep and wide;
Through the floodgates of God’s mercy
Flowed a vast and gracious tide.
Grace and love, like mighty rivers,
Poured incessant from above,
And Heav’n’s peace and perfect justice
Kissed a guilty world in love.

RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW

Am reposting an article by Alan Smith.


Though skeptical of his teenage son's new found determination to build bulging muscles, one father followed his teenager to the store's weight-lifting department, where they admired a set of weights.

"Please, Dad," pleaded the teen, "I promise I'll use them every day."

"I don't know, Michael. It's really a commitment on your part," the father said.

"Please, Dad?"

"They're not cheap either," the father said.

"I'll use 'em, Dad, I promise. You'll see."

Finally won over, the father paid for the equipment and headed for the door. After a few steps, he heard his son behind him say, "What! You mean I have to carry them to the car?"

That story reminds me somewhat of my commitment to follow Christ. Like Peter, who said, "Even if everyone else abandons you, I never will...Even if I have to die with you..." (Matthew 26:33,35, GOD'S WORD), I am committed to serving God in every big way imaginable. I am prepared to die as a martyr if the situation arises. I am prepared to serve as a missionary in foreign fields when my life situation allows me to. I am prepared to offer large sums of money to the cause of Christ whenever I "strike it rich."

However, I am sometimes hesitant to serve God in small ways right here, right now. I'm hesitant to use the $5.00 in my pocket to help someone in my presence who is in need. I'm hesitant to give up the time it takes to watch one TV show to spend some quiet time with God. I'm hesitant to show grace and forgiveness to someone who has hurt me deeply. I'm hesitant to speak up and talk about Jesus for fear of what someone might think. I'm insistent on getting my way and always being right, and so I'm hesitant to say, "I'm sorry."

Father, please forgive me. I have such grand dreams of ways I can serve you, and I tend to overlook the many ways I can serve you right here, right now. Help me in my resolve to be committed to you in all ways, both small and great. In Jesus' name, amen.

"He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much." (Luke 16:10)

Have a great day!

Rose Bud

A young, new preacher was walking with an older, more seasoned preacher in the garden one day. Feeling a bit insecure about what God had for him to do, he was asking the older preacher for some advice. The older preacher walked up to a rose bush and handed the young preacher a rosebud and told him to open it without tearing any of the petals. The young preacher looked in disbelief at the older preacher and was trying to figure out what a rosebud could possibly have to do with his wanting to know the will of God for his life and ministry. But, because of his great respect for the older preacher, he proceeded to try and unfold the rosebud while keeping every petal intact... It wasn't long before he realized how impossible this was to do. 

Noticing the young preacher's inability to unfold the rosebud without tearing it, the older preacher began to recite the following poem:

It is only a tiny rosebud, A flower of God's design;

But I cannot unfold the petals , With these clumsy hands of mine.

The secret of unfolding flowers, Is not known to such as I.

GOD opens this flower so sweetly, Then, in my hands, they die.


If I cannot unfold a rosebud, The flower of God's design,

Then how can I have the wisdom, To unfold this life of mine?

So, I'll trust in Him for leading, Each moment of my day.

I will look to Him for His guidance, Each step of the Pilgrim's way.

The pathway that lies before me, only my Heavenly Father knows.

I'll trust him to unfold the moments, Just as He unfolds the rose

An Irish Blessing

~ An Irish Blessing ~

May the blessings of light be upon you.
Light on the outside, Light on the inside.

With God's Sonlight shining on you,
may your heart glow with warmth like a turf fire
that welcomes friends and strangers alike

May the light of the Lord shine from your eyes
like a candle in the window,
welcoming the weary traveler

May the blessing of God's soft rain be on you,
falling gently on your head,
refreshing your soul with the sweetness
of little flowers newly blooming.

May the strength of the winds of heaven bless you,
carrying the rain to wash your spirit clean-
sparkling after, in the Sonlight.

May the blessing of God's earth be on you,
and as you walk the roads, may you always
have a kind word for those you meet.

May you understand the strength and power of God
in a thunderstorm and in winter,
the quiet beauty of creation,
and the calm of a summer sunset

And may you come to realize that insignificant
as you may seem in this great universe,
you are an important part of God's plan.

May He watch over you and keep you safe from harm
Amen.

When You

Author Unknown

When you are tired and discouraged from fruitless efforts...
God knows how hard you have tried. 

When you've cried so long and your heart is in anguish...
God has counted your tears. 

If you feel that your life is on hold and time has passed you by...
God is waiting with you. 

When you're lonely and your friends are too busy even for a phone call...
God is by your side. 

When you think you've tried everything and don't know where to turn...
God has a solution. 

When nothing makes sense and you are confused or frustrated...
God has the answer. 

If suddenly your outlook is brighter and you find traces of hope...
God has whispered to you. 

When things are going well and you have much to be thankful for...
God has blessed you. 

When something joyful happens and you are filled with awe...
God has smiled upon you. 

When you have a purpose to fulfill and a dream to follow...
God has opened your eyes and called you by name. 

Remember that wherever you are or whatever you are facing...GOD KNOWS!!