In many international matches in games like cricket or football you might have seen some BIG teams trounce some other teams. The losing teams would have had plenty of talent; yet they end up losing.
If you analyze the reason for defeat, it would surprise you to note that the game was lost for the … Read the rest
To live a life that pleases God is definitely not easy, but it is also not impossible. We think that it takes major decisions to live a God-pleasing life. But the truth is far from it.
More than major decisions, what counts for a God-pleasing life are the simple choices we make everyday in the … Read the rest
Some say that worry accomplishes nothing. Well that is not entirely true.
Worry has caused many sleepless nights. It has taken away the joy of living. More important than all these it has paralyzed people from doing anything positive in life. So worry has accomplished many things. The only thing to note is that it … Read the rest
Who has not known discouragement! None without exception has passed through this dark valley.
Some, unfortunately fail to come out of this difficult experience and are still pulled down deeper into depression. So it is important for us to learn to come out of discouragement quickly into the brightly lit path of duty.
One of … Read the rest
We love to blame people or circumstances for the wrong we do. We do this because it is the easy way out of the situation. Sometimes we feel satisfied that there was a reason that made us sin. But is it the truth? Definitely not!
You can easily find out or make reasons that caused … Read the rest
To live a life of victory in the Christian walk it needs constant watchfulness.
This is because we have a powerful enemy who is constantly on the prowl. So in 1 Peter chapter 5 and verse 8 we are warned to be self-controlled and alert. This is because the enemy who is the devil prowls … Read the rest
Sin loves the rear-view mirror. It keeps you looking backward. And it often happens in two ways:
It can keep you in despair by reminding you of past sins; even though God says in Isaiah chapter 43 verse 25 that He is the One who blots out your transgressions and remembers your sins no more.… Read the rest
One of the polished arrows in the quiver of Satan is “The Deception of Tomorrow!” This arrow strikes the bullseye time after time. So it is time to raise the shield of faith to destroy this flaming arrow of the enemy.
How many times have you yielded to sin simply when you heard a voice … Read the rest
One of the major reasons why Christians fail to maintain a sinless walk is because they believe a lot of lies! Surprised to read this statement. Well, it is true.
One thing that we should be sure about is the source of all temptation. It comes from Satan. It can come from no other source. … Read the rest
In Matthew chapter 9 verse 28 we find a question asked by Jesus to two blind men who came asking Him to have mercy on them. Jesus asked them whether they believed that He was able to give them sight. They replied “Yes!”
We often approach Jesus with our sins which make us fall time … Read the rest
The Bible records, “From the fullness of his grace we have all received on blessing after another” (John 1:16 NIV).
But what is grace? In simple terms it is God showing His favor and mercy to man unconditionally. It is love that is shown when we do no deserve it.
Enabling Grace
The willingness and
When Jesus came to this world only few recognized Him as the Son of God. The Bible says: “He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him” (John 1:10 NIV). Therefore Christmas is also the story of the unrecognized Jesus.
Firstly, Jesus was unrecognized because
In the past, mostly angels announced good news. Christmas story is another testimony to this fact. An angel was sent to Joseph, Zechariah, Mary and the shepherds. Even on Resurrection morn, things were almost the same. An angel announced the good news that Jesus has risen (Matthew 28:5). And from then on, good news was … Read the rest
There are lots of news in the world. And there are many forms of media and many journalists. The question is what news have they got to communicate? Mostly the media today revolves around political, business, entertainment, cultural and sports news. Maybe it is putting it too simply, yet the truth of the matter is
It is of great comfort to note that the Christmas messages are full of this command: “Do not be afraid.” We find the angel tell this to Joseph (Matthew 1:20), Zechariah (Luke 1:13), Mary (Luke 1:30) and the shepherds (Luke 2:10). Angelic visitations were rare and an occurrence of the same was good enough reason … Read the rest
“The Word” refers to Jesus. He became flesh.
This is what John wrote about: “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched–this we proclaim concerning the Word of life” (1 John 1:1 NIV). When the Word … Read the rest
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end1(Isaiah 9:6, 7a NIV).
No one … Read the rest
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father,*[footnote] [emphasis added by author] [/footnote] Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6 NIV).
“Father!”
This word brings memories. For some it means a strong … Read the rest
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,1, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6 NIV).
A child! How can a child be “Mighty God?”
This is the mystery of Christmas … Read the rest
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be calledWonderful Counselor,1, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6 NIV)
We have a Wonderful Counselor in Jesus Christ. For He is the wisdom of God… Read the rest
The Bible speaks of God as our Heavenly Father. It also tells us that He is a giver of gifts. All His gifts are good. This truth is beautifully recorded thus: “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows” … Read the rest
“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14 NIV).
The virgin birth of Jesus was foretold almost seven centuries before it happened. It was a “sign.”
This sign shows that the sending of God’s … Read the rest
The shepherds were a blessed lot. The glory of the Lord had shone around them. They also got a heavenly Chorus to proclaim to them the birth of the Savior.
They were terrified by all this. But then the angel told them not to be afraid. He also told them that this was good news … Read the rest
We cannot forget the Spirit of God during Christmas. Without the Spirit of God no Christmas is possible!
Usually we tend to celebrate all the lesser things during Christmas. While we forget to adore the loving Holy Spirit, gently yet full of power working the will of God and bringing it to fruition during the
The birth of John the Baptist came about after an angelic visitation to his father Zechariah. He was born a few months before Jesus and later in life inaugurated the public ministry of Jesus by baptizing Him in the Jordan river.
John the Baptist was a Forerunner
He was the messenger sent with the good
“And a sword will pierce your own soul too” (Luke 2:35b NIV). The shadow of the cross was real even during the first Christmas. Simeon saw it. He told Mary about it.
Simeon also told that Jesus will be a sign that is spoken against. How true it is today!
Why did he specifically give … Read the rest
Not before he had seen the Lord’s Christ (Ref. Luke 2:26).
Simeon. He was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel. The Holy Spirit was also upon Him.
What a blessed man this was! He waited for the Christ. He was told by the Holy Spirit that he would not see
We cannot escape the subject of dreams as we deal with the Christmas story in the first two chapters of Matthew. It is mentioned five times (1:20, 2:12, 2:13, 2:19, 2:22). Four times Joseph is guided through dreams and the Magi once.
As we look at the nature of these dreams we understand that God
Luke 2:7 NIV–“because there was no room for them in the inn.”
Has He any room today? We have Him in our hearts all right! But how much room does He have?
Airline and car companies talk about “space” in their advertisements. Why is this important? We don’t want to be crammed. We don’t want
Jesus gave up all His glory in heaven to be born a child on earth. It is like the waters of the entire oceans reducing itself to a drop of water in a glass. Or it is like the Sun reducing itself to a small spark left at the end of burnt scrap of paper. … Read the rest
