Abraham-From promise to an oath.

Hebrews 6:13-15

“When God made his promise to Abraham, since there was no one
greaterfor him to swear by, he swore by himself, saying, “I will
surely bless you and give you many descendants.” And so after
waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised.”

In Hebrews chapter 6, Apostle Paul is emphasizing the need to persist in faith
and hope to reach the inheritance God has in store for his children who
obey him.In the above verse we see Abraham, the father of faith as a vivid
example so that we are encouraged not to limit the certainty of Gods promises.
A promise is a word of assurance or a guarantee that someone will do a certain
thing in future: it is a reason to hope for. I personally cherish the promises God
gave me and I believe all of us will be happy to acknowledge the fact that the
Almighty God has time and patience to talk to us personally and has some
blessings kept aside for each of us. I was so inclined to the above verse where
God is swearing on himself to double confirm a promise given to Abraham.
Let’s go to the book of Genesis where God is giving promises to Abraham and
see how the above promise where he swears on God himself is so distinct
from the rest of the promises given to Abraham.

In Genesis 12:1-3 we see God’s call on Abraham’s life where he was asked to
leave his homeland, relatives and fathers home to a land God is yet to show.
The first set of promises were given at that time and those blessings were
manifold (Personal,to all his generations, all nations). From this point
Abraham trusts the promises of God and he is moving according to the
desire of God. The second promise is given after Abraham separates from
Lot and lives in the land of Canaan (regarding the inheritance of land,
generations) Genesis13:14-17.The third promise is given after Abraham
rescues Lot from the King of Sodom and here God talks to Abraham about
his concerns and we see Abraham is doubting whetherhis own son will be
his heir?And God shows him the stars in the sky and reconfirmsthe
promise and that is where it is recorded Abraham believed in God
(Genesis 15:1-6).We also need this kind of reconfirmations from God at
times to reconcile to the promises of God. The fourth time God gives his
promise to Abraham and Sarah together, but this is after an interval of
more than ten years, and in the course of time Abraham became the father
of Ishmael through Sarah’s maidservant Hagar.But God strengthens them
again in due season, God talks to Abraham specifically, your own wife Sarah
is going to give birth to a son, he should be called Isaac andthere is going
to be an everlasting covenant with his descendants. (Genesis 17:1-8).
The fifth promise was given at the oaks of Mamre where the three visitors
specify the time of fulfillment of the promise (Genesis18:1-15). The sixth
promise to Abraham is given after the birth of Isaac right after the test of
Abraham’s faih Genesis 22:17, 18.

The test of Abraham’s faith was not an easy one. God is asking for something
really precious in the life of Abraham. Isaac was not just an answer to Abraham’s
prayer; but was the result of God’s promise, result of almost twenty-five years of
wait, and the descendant on whom God has set all the promises given to
Abraham, a person who should be a channel of blessing to many nations. God
is asking Abraham a sacrifice of his hope. A covenant blessing was also laid
between God and Abraham that is an everlasting covenant and Abraham had
total trust in the nature of His God, that he will never break His covenant.
Abraham did not argue with God for a compromise but trusted His God and
obeyed him. God was pleased by Abraham’s act of obedience and moved the
promise he had for Abraham to a next level an oath.While overcoming a
test of faith our promises would be turned into oaths,they would
be of extreme importance in the sight of God because the security of our
faith matters to our Father. Here God had sworn on Himself so that his
words for Abraham were final and whatever maybe the circumstances God did
not want to rethink about the manifold blessings he gave to Abraham. The oath
confirmed the covenant or the promise given so that we, the heirs of this
blessing from Abraham should recognize the unchangeable nature of God’s
counsel.

How much value have you given to the promises of God? Bible says because
of two things there is reason for us to trust in God’s promises; it is impossible for
God to lie and also because we should have a strong hope to rely upon; His
promises will come to pass. If you are having an unfulfilled promise from God
in your life, trust in God as it is certain that he is faithful to make you see your
promises come alive with your own eyes .All you need is to have the patience
to wait because while you are in the valley there is a molding going on so that
you can stand strong in the mountain top to proclaim God’s love and mercy.
I believe a valid reason prevails for every second your blessing is delayed and
it shows the concern, love and perfect will of our father in your life. Like
Abraham let’s be able to endure the test of obedience in Christ so that our
promises shall find a deeper meaning in the sight of God.

In Christ Jesus,
Smitha Thomas.

Jesus will never forsake you.

Hebrews 13:5-6

“Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.”

     This particular verse lit my spirit today,I understood this verse can really uplift us, not just in the beginning days of Christian walk but its a promise to be held close to our heart each day as we walk with our Saviour. The relationship (or connection)  of the first part of the  verse with the second part was something I missed all these days.  The word covetous is some kind of an extreme desire to own something that belongs to someone else and Bible teaches us it is wrong to desire the things that belongs to others.We may be covetous about someone’s life and dream to be in their shoes,someone’s job, someone’s attitudes and stands,dressing sense ,personality,spiritual life and the list can go on and on ;but this particular situation can shake our trust in God,we will loss our state of contentment and start ignoring all the blessings God gave in our life. The reason is our attention will shift from God and we involuntarily choose to take His divine provisions  granted and we just plead to God for more blessings without thinking, does that suit me?Here our relationship with God is becoming single sided without trying to listen what he wants to say. Here it is said “Let your conversation be without covetousness” that says when we become unthankful and loss our contented state our conversations start reflecting that.Negative thoughts and unfair opinions flow out of us and we become one depressed soul in the hands of Satan. When our mind is filled with jealousy and envy our thoughts starts to divert away from Grace of God and our thoughts and words become selfish ,greedy and demanding.

          Out  of a believer God does not want this kind of covetous nature, but He wants us to stay clear of all that and have a heart that is filled with content and love.If we look unto heaven counting our blessings Jesus is saying “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee”. By being a  child of God ,Jesus gives us this everlasting promise- he wont leave us. Today, do you believe that Jesus wont leave you alone to face the deserted  situation you are going through?There are many who pass by us when we are in this world, but only one person is there by us through out this journey called life and He is Jesus,today hold onto this promise –He will never forsake you. If you trust in this promise, apply it in faith- let your spirit see in faith the intangible presence of Jesus over all areas of your life. Now there is no more chance for fear which comes from outside through the words and deeds of man, and also the fear that is ignited in our own heart sensing the world outside or the result of our thought process from our covetous thoughts  because, Jesus is there by your side and  He will not desert  you.If you feel that no one is understanding your circumstances and if you are left alone just tell Him in faith ,Father its your promise you will never leave me, nor forsake me.I need your presence in my life.I need to feel it. Reach out in faith,definitely the doors of heaven will open for you and all your fear ,emptiness and agony will be replaced and replenished by the heavenly peace which passes your understanding.

In Christ Jesus,

Smitha Thomas.

The name that protects.

JOHN 17:11

“I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name—the name you gave me—so that they may be one as we are one”.

    I would like to briefly explain the context for the  above verse.  John  chapter 17 is a chapter of prayer ,where Jesus  intercedes to the Father in heaven ,for  his disciples.Jesus knew that His time to be betrayed was near and He knew that His Father would give Him strength to fulfill his purpose in earth but here Jesus is deeply concerned about his disciples, who were with him throughout his ministry .They believed him and  followed him trusting he is Messiah,but Jesus knew once they will be left alone they will go weak in their faith.If the world did not believe the Son of God how could they appreciate His disciples? Jesus knew the trials they are going to face in the  days  ahead  will be great and out of his deep concern,love and anguish ,Jesus   is asking God to  provide protection to His disciples.This protection comes to anyone who believes in the name of Jesus,for he knows that anyone who believes in Him will be hated by the world .Today do you understand that there is a power in the name of Jesus, a power that unites us with spirit of Christ , a power  that instills within us to be conquerors of the world, a power that protects us from all the bindings of flesh- this power is nothing but the power of holy spirit that works within us  to help us  unify  with the nature of Christ.If you are reading this post with a fear that makes you feel lonely,inadequate or being hated by all  just understand if you hold upon the saving grace of Jesus, he will offer protection in all areas of your life.              The protection Jesus offers to you and me is out of his deep love towards us knowing our nature of flesh.Only the name of Jesus can protect you from the power of death and provide you with eternal life.

In Christ Jesus,

Smitha    Thomas

A good Soldier.

  ^{II TIMOTHY 2:3,4}

“You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.  No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.”

      The above portion is part of a letter from Apostle Paul to Timothy,his son in Christ.In Christian life we are enrolled in a war which could be seen only with eyes that perceive beyond our sense of physical vision,its about a spiritual warfare between truth and lie,life and death,eternity and hell,light and darkness.When Christ has set us free through His blood ,from the powers of darkness ,when we accept Him as our Lord and Savior,and when He reveals to us the depth of eternity and the price of a soul – we are enrolled to be a soldier in His army.Being in the army of Christ,we have to fight against the powers of darkness,our own body that’s carnal,against  everything that builds lie against the truth in the gospel and also against sin. But being in this army does not make us victorious-for sure this army will succeed ,but the battle is of individual meaning for each soldier.Like any battle,the attitude of the soldier have a  definite role in the outcome of his result,we can either fight the enemy till death or can let go at some point due to a weakness or a wrong move. Likewise in spiritual warfare,we should be able to endure the attacks from Satan through unforeseen angles,but this battle could be won only through the grace of God.Here all our own power or wisdom goes tarnished and success comes only through the word of God .Also in a spiritual warfare we are commissioned by our Heavenly Father, and each of us have  a different mission to complete.To be a successful soldier we should be able to complete the work assigned to us,but its very challenging ;as we live in this world there could be many scenarios that pull us back from  what we are entitled to do.But if we are unable to prioritize the work God has entitled on us ,we would never be able to please our God – to some it is the responsibility of a shepherd,to some it is to break the word of God,some are assigned to support the weak,for some it is to be on their knees and  do intercession or to edify one another.What ever be the part God has set aside for us,do it with the attitude of that good soldier who sees victory as being able to accomplish his entitled mission by  toiling hard to overcome the flesh as per the word of God.

In Christ Jesus,

Smitha Thomas.

Freedom in Christ.

Galatians 5:1  “ It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”

       What is the freedom or the liberty that we have in Christ?Does this mean that we have the freedom to do everything we wish for?No,it doesn’t say that.It is the freedom from the grip of sin ,the bondage by which we were enslaved to hell, the authority Satan always declared over us from the time we were born on earth. When we accept Christ ,this yoke of slavery is removed-the yoke of sin that was too heavy for us to carry is removed from us and Christ declares you are no more a slave,I have set you free from the captivity of Satan, hell and destruction.So once we are in Christ our past sin is forgiven through the blood of Christ Jesus.Satan cannot claim us by reminding us about our past,Its over –its all paid .It is for this freedom that Jesus set us free,but now we need to listen carefully –we have to stand firm and do not get back again into the slavery from which God have set us free.Our past is forgiven- true, but still we are in flesh ,temptations towards sin is always in front of us. Here is the importance of what the apostle is saying ; the firm steps to overcome sin in our life.If we yield to sin at any point it have this grip over us to burden our spirits into the yoke of slavery.If you were set free by Christ and you are once again feeling the grip of sin over you, this is the right time to identify your stand against sin.Are you firmly resisting sin ?or  accommodating a little room for sin for the convenience of life? Take this step of  faith and ask God to help you resist the sin that’s trying to overpower you, ask Him for more of his power and grace.Let no rituals ,culture or ethics that could not be proved through the word of God enslave you. Enjoy the freedom that God granted to us in our spirit-it is the liberty to boast in Christ even in trials.

A song from the valley…

A valley dark and deep ,

never seen before.

I lift my hands to you,

I cant be alone .

Journey …through this narrow lane is of pain,

full of mystery.

When I am in this valley

I seek for you, more and more

more and more…

This valley makes me dry

takes my whole courage,

It is of deep agony…

No one likes in there

not prepared to pause,

IMPOSSIBLE to turn around.

Don’t know the depth of it

and can’t come out alone…

OH FATHER…. I CLING TO YOU.

take me to the shore.

Please do not leave me alone.

He answered me in His Majesty

“HERE I AM so close to you;

I shall be your guide-

your soul shall not dismay.

My light shall rise for you in obscurity

and my bread will satisfy  your souls drought.”

Diligently I sought him for an answer;

“ when will my night  turn into noon?

and it echoed in my soul

“ it will be way quick .”

Just as I was reminded of His grace

enormous before me to handle,

I confronted to him my last piece of puzzle

Where am I in this valley?

I am unaware of my position;

Did I just enter or am I nearing the exit?

I am unable to see the depth:

nor could I see the end of my way.

His consoling words ringed in my ears,

“Do you really need to worry about that-

when its my strength that prevails you

till the very end of this journey?

Nothing can endanger you,

when you are nestled by my spirit.

And he assured me one thing

I won’t be put  back in my old habitat

when I come out victorious -

from that dreadful valley,

but will be like a well-watered garden,

like a spring whose waters never fail…

 

In Christ Jesus,

Smitha Thomas.

Beyond the five porches of the pond of Bethesda

“When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole?” John 4:6

                 As  I was reading the gospel of John, chapter 4  for my daily devotion  I was captivated by the above verse.The scenario for this particular incidence is by the pool of Bethesda where a man who had a certain physical ailment meets Jesus after thirty eight long years of pain, anguish,despair , inadequacy and loneliness. Jesus went to Jerusalem for a feast and there was this pond called Bethesda, near the sheep market , and it had five porches.There was a great multitude of sick people lying in all the five porches. They were all lying there waiting for the angel of God to come down and stir the water,as the first person who went into the disturbed water would be made whole.

      The picture of the pond of Bethesda was not a pleasant one,there were sick people of all kind, many of them abandoned by their family.Many of them  were  blind,deaf and  crippled,some howling and wailing out of pain . For the past many years, this man that Jesus came searching for was lying in one of these porches,waiting for his turn  to be made whole.He might have tried number of times to go into the water when the water was disturbed,but before he could get into the water ,some one else stepped in. He was deserted by his family and friends, no one was there to help him out of his situation. For many years he was by the side of this pond,what he saw was sick people all around,some of them might been more troubled than him, all what  he heard was sad and desolate wailings of pain.He might have forgotten the life beyond the five porches of Bethesda.

        When Jesus came to Jerusalem the whole city was decorated for the festival.All were busy preparing for the feast, but  Jesus could not pass the sheep gates without paying attention to this man who was absolutely helpless,He saw him lying there and he knew he was lying there for too long.  He was by the side of the pond Bethesda, which in Hebrew meant mercy ,but he heard no word of mercy in years . Jesus asked “Do you want to be made whole?”I believe this was the question he was expecting from many others all these long years, an offer to move out of the porch of Bethesda but with wholeness in his spirit and body.To Jesus he says his helpless situation and Jesus replied “Rise, take up your bed and walk.”The man was made whole and he walked out of the porch of Bethesda and I believe a new life awaited him.

      Are you a person by the pond of Bethesda, waiting for your deliverer to come and lift you to become whole?The five porches depicts the five human senses ,through which we sense the world around us.When all our senses  testifies disappointment, add our agony and makes us think about the length of time we are going to be there by the side of that pond ,Jesus is watching you lie there for a long period and he is coming in search of you…If you are willing to believe he wants to tell you rise up and walk out of the porch of Bethesda.He says “I am going to give you strength to lift yourself from everything that’s binding you in your current position,you no longer have to be in this perishable situation, come with me lets go to Jerusalem , I am going to give you victory, but only if you believe” .Later in the chapter we see that this man who was healed by the pond is seen in the temple of God.Jesus can turn your sickness and mourning’s into joy that is everlasting. Believe that he can heal you,lift you and bring you out from your destitute situation to be whole in His sight. Matthew 21:22 “And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive”. May God bless you to enjoy the life beyond the five porches of Bethesda.

In Christ Jesus,

Smitha Thomas.