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In more than three decades of my Christian life, I have been blest by 2 types of Daily devos'
(matter not exceeding 500 words) in universal Christian literature. Not only those Devos'
which have a different theme everyday but also the ones which revolve around a certain
theme over a period of time, say a fortnight, have richly edified me. In fact, both
styles have their own inherent advantages. If the former style caters to the varying
spiritual needs of a christian from day-to-day, the latter aims 'to ground'
a child of God in a certain subject in order he derives the full benefits of the
deep insightful study of a certain topic, spread over a fixed span of time.
In my Daily devo page, I have consciously tried to go in for 'a blend of both the
styles' whereby within a constant theme, I would be aiming to focus on different
facets of it which admittedly is a closer imitation of the 'Constant theme' style
than the 'Varying topics' one.
Having dwelt on the topics
- “The Christian journey”
- “ The Conquest of Canaan” and the
- “Lent season”.
in the previous months, now in the months of April and May, considering that
post resurrection of Christ (one of our concluding themes’ you would remember
in the meditations of March, was Resurrection), birth of the Church was a
landmark event in Biblical history, I want to cast the spotlight on the Book of
Acts (which records the birth and growth of the Church). This would ensure to a large
extent continuity of thought albeit under the ambit of new subject.
Once again, let me wish you a happy and an edifying read…
Suresh Manoharan
May 10th
A Ring of truth
“…I went away into Arabia, and later I returned to the city of Damascus. Then three years later…”
- Galatians 1:17-18
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Only those who are well-trained would ever get into the “Boxing ring with a spring in their feet”
is an age-old truth. A boxing ring reserved for ship-shape “heavyweights” is not the one for overweight
souls who may be more at home in the Golf greens on a lazy week-end. Ditto the same in the Spiritual realm.
A disciple who spends long hours at the feet of the Lord absorbing the “truth” as it were, is better equipped to
stand-up for the cause of THE TRUTH
(John 14:6), than any spiritual huckster. Now Apostle Paul was not trained
alongside Peter and other “spiritual heavyweights” (read the other Apostles) during Christ’s ministry on Earth.
So how did the good Lord train him? By drawing this blessed soul into the deserts of Arabia for 3 years soon
after his dramatic “on the road to Damascus” conversion experience.
At a time the Roman Emperors were being worshipped as God, Greeks had differing mind-boggling Philosophies
(Acts 17:21),
and Mosaic Law held sway over the Jewish World , there in solitude and only in the presence of the Dear Lord,
Paul learnt how to stand-up for the cause of THE TRUTH. So complete was his training at Lord’s feet that
this erstwhile sober student of Law
(Acts 22:3)
raised strictly in Jewish tradition went on to declare that Law is
now “obsolete” in the face of Grace obtained through faith
(Romans 3:27-28), besides standing up for the cause of
THE TRUTH with conviction before the Greek philosophers
(Acts 17:16-34) or Roman officials in tow with Jews
(Acts 24).
All in all the good Lord in Arabia shaped Paul into “fighting fit pugilist” before throwing him into the ring.
Want to take the Gospel successfully to all the four corners of the World… a la Apostle Paul? Firstly,
you need to have Jesus “in your corner”. Simply put, get trained at his feet, properly.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, Your disciples were World-shakers…nothing less. All because,
they spent time at Your feet, learning from You. We humbly submit our selves at
Thy feet to learn more before we teach more about THE TRUTH. AMEN.
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