Month: May 2019

Yesterday, we looked at the younger prodigal son; today we will look at the older son who remained at home.

The Pharisaical Attitude

He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now. He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him. But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

1 John 2:9-11

The younger son left home out of rebellion but the older one worked hard, carried out his duties and lived, what appeared to be, a blameless life. However, inwardly he was selfish and unforgiving in nature. When his prodigal brother returned home, he did not rejoice. This was because of the bitterness that had built up in his heart, resenting his brother for squandering away their father’s wealth. He saw his brother as one who had cheated his father so he refused to come into the house when his brother returned.

The father, however, was very patient with the older son. His heart of unconditional love that caused him to run out of the home to bring the younger son back, now makes him go to plead with the elder son for reconciliation.

The Pharisaical mentality is duty bound and full of self-righteousness. There was no room for love in the heart of the older son and he did not want to reconcile with the father or the brother.

In today’s context, there are many of us who could be like the older brother. Are we merely duty bound when it comes to serving the Lord? May the love of Christ pour into our hearts so that we serve Him in love and thereby love our fellow brothers and our heavenly Father.

Dear Lord,
I thank You that You first loved me. You have picked me up from the miry clay and set my foot upon a rock. Help me to reciprocate the same love that You have given me to my brothers and sisters in Christ. Amen.

We do not develop habits of genuine love automatically. We learn by watching effective role models – more specifically by observing how our parents express love for each other, day in and day out. Josh McDowell

Parent Model

Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from Him.

Psalm 127:3

In the story of the prodigal son, the father loved both his children. His sons, however, did not enjoy an intimate relationship with their father so they didn’t appreciate him or love him. In spite of this, the father’s response to them did not change. He showed both his sons the same unconditional love.

Through his rebellion, the younger son left home, but when he had lost everything and after experiencing great hardship, he came to his senses. It was then that he said with great regret, “How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger.” (Luke 15:17) This hard life lesson made him understand the love of the father and the blessings that even the servants in his household enjoyed.

On the other hand, the father waited patiently for a long time, enduring in faith. He did not count his losses or hold any offense against the prodigal son who had squandered his hard earned wealth. The father was a role model of unconditional love, forgiveness and generosity.

As parents, it is important for us to practise a walk of love because our children are watching us. It is our relationship with the eternal Father which will help us be a role model and win them over in our homes.
We are not perfect as we falter and make mistakes. However, if we do not cover up our failures but are humble enough to confess them before the Lord, He will restore and change us. Our family is a precious gift from God so let us love unconditionally, pray together and stay together.

Dear Lord,
I thank You so much that You have given me children. Help me to love them as You love and care for me. There is not a moment when You have let me down. May I never let my children down. Amen.

God bless you,
Theo and Manju

“I am not moved by what I see. I am not moved by what I feel. I am moved only by what I believe.” Smith Wigglesworth

Will You Touch Him?

Now a woman, having a flow of blood for twelve years, who had spent all her livelihood on physicians and could not be healed by any, came from behind and touched the border of His garment. And immediately her flow of blood stopped.” Luke 8:43-45

The woman in the above verse had come to the realization that none of her natural resources could find a cure for her physical needs. At this point, she would have been totally exhausted and every hope would have been drained from her.

According to the Levitical law, women who were ceremonially unclean had to be separated from the public. Having suffered for 12 years, this woman would have felt much pain and rejection in being separated from others for so many years.

However, when she heard that the Messiah was able to make the blind eyes see and the deaf ears hear, her hope rose. Even though the crowd that surrounded the Lord made it difficult for her to get near Him, and even though she knew that she was unclean and was forbidden to be in the presence of others, she was aware of who Jesus was. She understood the love and the grace of the Lord and she was willing to surpass all her cultural barriers to reach out and grasp just the edge of His garment. That was the moment that she had waited for all her life; that very moment when she felt life flow into her body and her issue of blood ceased instantaneously. At that moment, all her years of suffering ceased and became something of the past.

Some of us are in the same situation as the woman. We have been drained both physically and emotionally as we have toiled for years and seen no life. Let our faith not waver. Let us understand that He is a God of great love and measureless grace. If we come to Him with the same faith as this woman and hold on to His garment, life will flow into every impossible situation.

Dear Lord,

Help me to persist and believe that it is given to me when I ask You in prayer. Today I believe that I have already received and rejoice in You. Amen.

God bless you,
Theo and Manju

“When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives means the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving advice, solutions, or cures have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a warm and tender heart” – Henri Nouwen.

Binding up their wounds

But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him.

Luke 10:33-34

In the story of the Good Samaritan we see that he got down from the donkey, bandaged the wounded man, and took him to the inn. He also went the extra mile to pay for all the costs and said that he would reimburse on his return any additional expenses incurred.
The Priest and the Levite also had the opportunity to care for the wounded man, but they chose to walk away because they considered their work more important.

This story is related to us by Jesus, and is relevant to us today. Work schedules and our commitment to do good work, crowd in to the extent that we do not have time to care for the broken hearted and the wounded. We too pass by the wounded and do not care to stop.

The Lord is close to the broken hearted and to those who are crushed in spirit. Let us not lose the opportunity to care for and bring them to the inn. The opportunity may be at your door.

Oh Lord,

You said “come unto me all those who are burden and heavy laden”, and said You will give them rest. I pray that we too, with your strength, will be able to comfort and bind up the wounds of those who are crushed in spirit. Amen.

God Bless you,
Theo and Manju

“The family should be a closely knit group. The home should be a self contained shelter of security; a kind of school where life’s basic lessons are taught; and a kind of church where God is honoured; a place where wholesome recreation and simple pleasures are enjoyed.”

Billy Graham

Honour Your Father and Mother

“Honour your father and mother” – which is the first commandment with a promise – “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”
Ephesians 6:2-3

In the story of Joseph, we see he honoured his father and also cared for him until his death. Even though Joseph became the ruler of Egypt; a position where he had no lack and it would have been very easy for him to forget his beginnings, his heart was with his father and his family.

Exodus 20:12 says,“Honour your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you” . Though this is one of the ten commandments given by God, some people may find it hard to honour their parents due to their poor parenting and repeated failures.

Joseph forgave his brothers in order to restore the family unity and the bonds of love and we are also called to do the same. Mark 11:25 says that we need to forgive those who trespass against us, so that our Father in heaven may also forgive us our trespasses.
Unforgiveness is the root cause of disunity in many families, as the bitterness planted by the enemy will steal the joy and peace from the relationships between the parents and the children. Most importantly unforgiveness affects our relationship with God. On the other hand, it is a blessing to let go of the past and choose to forgive. The best solution is to forgive, love each other despite everything, and pray for each other. If we choose this, our homes will truly becomes the shelter of security and love.

Today God wants the hatred and bitterness to be laid down as He is the source of love who can give the strength to forgive.

Dear Lord,
I thank You for my parents. I did not choose my parents but You chose them for me. Therefore I come to You this morning and ask You to forgive me for any offences that I have had against them, and I release them to You and love them in the name of Jesus. Amen.

God Bless you,
Theo and Manju