Posted: August 30th, 2010 | Author: Ashish Kuriakose | Filed under: Weekly Devotional | Tags: Bathsheba, David, forgiveness, sin | No Comments »
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Today’s reading:
Psalms 51: 7 – 11
“Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
Oh, give me back my joy again;
you have broken me—
now let me rejoice.
Don’t keep looking at my sins.
Remove the stain of my guilt.
Create in me a clean heart, O God.
Renew a loyal spirit within me.
Do not banish me from your presence,
and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me.” (NLT)
Extended reading: 2 Samuel 11, 12
In his DVD, Today, when Brian Doerksen sings “Refiner’s Fire”, he asks all men to stand up in the arena and tells the women to pray over their men. What did they pray for? To keep them pure. To keep their men’s hearts clean. Brian Doerksen understood that we live in a world with a lot of distractions. Distractions that keep us away from our family, our real purpose, our destiny.
Psalm 51 was written by David after the prophet Nathan faced him with his sin. David stole another man’s (Uriah) wife (Bathsheba) and got her husband killed (2 Samuel 11). He takes Bathsheba as his wife after and thinks everything is alright. But the Lord sends Nathan, the prophet to confront David with his sin (1 Samuel 12).
1 Samuel 12: 7 – 10 says, “Then Nathan said to David, “You are that man! The Lord, the God of Israel, says: I anointed you king of Israel and saved you from the power of Saul. I gave you your master’s house and his wives and the kingdoms of Israel and Judah. And if that had not been enough, I would have given you much, much more. Why, then, have you despised the word of the Lord and done this horrible deed? For you have murdered Uriah the Hittite with the sword of the Ammonites and stolen his wife. From this time on, your family will live by the sword because you have despised me by taking Uriah’s wife to be your own.”
Please note here, David is a man with a lot of clout – political, military, personal. He has to say just one word and Nathan is a dead man. This could have been the world’s best cover-up. Back then, there were no pictures or emails or Internet..in fact, no proof. No proof in worldly terms. But David’s reaction is in vs. 13 “Then David confessed to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.””.
He goes on to write one of the greatest psalms. A psalm of humility. Of repentance. Of forgiveness. A psalm of restoration.
There is nothing we can hide from God, whoever we may be. When faced with sin or stuck in it, the only thing we can do is fall at the mercy seat of God. It does not matter what we have done. David stole, committed adultery and murder. He was forgiven. Verse 13 continues “Nathan replied, “Yes, but the Lord has forgiven you, and you won’t die for this sin.”
And please, don’t wait for someone or even God to expose you or your sin. When you are convicted within, it is better to confess to Him.
What do I pray?
Lord, forgive me of my iniquity. I confess my sins. Wash me in the Blood of Jesus. Make me pure. Keep me pure. Let me be holy and separated for You. In Jesus’ name.
(If this thought has blessed you, won’t you let us know? Comment here or send us an email to feedback [at] simplyhim [dot] com)
Did you read the Bible today? Click here to read (This plan is a yearly plan where you can read the full Bible in a single year.)
Posted: August 18th, 2010 | Author: Ashish Kuriakose | Filed under: Weekly Devotional | Tags: David, life, success | No Comments »
Today’s reading:
Revelation 19:1
“After this, I heard what sounded like a vast crowd in heaven shouting, “Praise the Lord!
Salvation and glory and power belong to our God.” (NLT)
Extended reading: 2 Samuel 5:17-25
There is a small difference in the King James Version. It reads, “And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God”. It adds the word honor there. The four things mentioned here:
* Salvation
* Glory
* Honor
* Power
Really belong to God. But look at what we do with these. Look at how we get things done everyday. We take pride in the fact that we have power. We take glory for all the work that we do. We revel in the limelight of our greatest inventions and discoveries. Breakthroughs and findings are named after the scientists who found them. We crouch under the people who have power and rule proudly over whom we have power.
We are offended if we are not given the honor we deserve (or not deserve). We misuse authority. We seek the very things that is supposed to belong to somebody else, in this case, God. We take what is rightfully His and give Him little credit for what we have.
If you haven’t read this week’s extended reading yet, I recommend you do – click here. You see how David handled a situation. A situation which required leadership, authority and power. David was surrounded by his enemies – the Philistines. He was king and he had an army but he does not make his decision on his own. He enquires with God. God says, “Yes, go ahead. I will certainly hand them over to you.”
David goes out against the Philistines and beats their pants off (vs. 20). Look at the very next verse. It starts, “The Lord did it!” David exclaimed. “He burst through my enemies like a raging flood!” (vs. 21). Can you believe that? David had just won against the very people who wanted to destroy him right after he took the throne. This was his opportunity at a major PR showcase. It would definitely help increase the people’s faith in the new king. But before anyone got any ideas, David proclaims, “The Lord did it!”.
The passage gets interesting because the Philistines come back for their idols. Sincerely, you think David would just take off and beat their pants off again. C’mon, he did it the first time. I am sure the Lord would do it for him the second time too. But David asks the Lord again and this time God had a different strategy. It worked and David won. Again.
Verse 25 reads “So David did what the Lord commanded, and he struck down the Philistines all the way from Gibeon to Gezer.”
David gave full credit to God. He didn’t keep anything for himself. All power, honor and glory to God.
Pontius Pilate once tried to convince Jesus saying, “Don’t you realize that I have the power to release you or crucify you?” Then Jesus said, “You would have no power over me at all unless it were given to you from above. (John 19: 10, 11)
It is true. This world tells you that you are in control. That you can have all the control. That is a lie.
Give credit where it is due. God deserves all glory, honor and power. And only He can save us all. He is our true source of success.
What do I pray?
All glory, power and honor belong to You. I trust You to live my life for your glory. I depend on You for guidance for my daily walk in this world. I know victory is mine if I walk with You. In Jesus’ name.
(If this thought has blessed you, won’t you let us know? Comment here or send us an email to feedback [at] simplyhim [dot] com)
Did you read the Bible today? Click here to read (This plan is a yearly plan where you can read the full Bible in a single year.)
Posted: August 14th, 2010 | Author: Ashish Kuriakose | Filed under: Weekly Devotional | Tags: forgiveness, philemon, redemption | No Comments »
Today’s reading:
Philemon 1:15
“It seems you lost Onesimus for a little while so that you could have him back forever.” (NLT)
Extended reading: Philemon
I love stories of redemption. The book of Philemon talks about one.
If you have never read that small book (or page), here is a quick rundown. There is a rich man called Philemon who is also a Christian believer. He has a servant called Onesimus, who steals from Philemon and runs away. I am assuming he gets caught and meets Paul in prison, who gives him the Gospel.
Onesimus may have finished serving his time and Paul encourages him to go back to his master, Philemon. It would actually be safe to do something like that in our times than back then. In those days, Philemon had the authority to get him flogged, executed even. That was the law back then. I could understand if Onesimus was reluctant to go back, if he was.
So Paul not only convinced Onesimus to go back but vouches for him. He requests Philemon to accept him back. And not just as a slave but as a brother in Christ.
There are two things here – for Onesimus, going back means getting punished. He found new life with Paul and he could stay there. He could have a free life. Start afresh. But he decides to go back.
For Philemon, accepting Onesimus meant lowering his standards. What if other servants thought it was okay to steal from him? His honor would take a beating because instead of punishing the rogue servant, he has to aceept him and Paul says as a brother.
True repentance and forgiveness. I don’t know what happened to Onesimus. It doesn’t say in the Bible. But I am going to safely assume that Phil accepted him back. Before their meeting, both must have spent a lot of time in prayer. Praying for grace and strength for what they have to do. For the Holy Spirit to guide them and to help with the right words to say at the right time.
Many of us find ourselves on either side at differnt points in our life. Sometimes we need to forgive. Sometimes we need to ask forgiveness. Both are very difficult things to do. It is more than just saying sorry. It is about setting things right. It is about the heart more than just the words. Sometimes we give up and sometimes, we give in.
Are you ready?
What do I pray?
Lord, help me forgive those who hurt me. Help me seek forgiveness from those who I have hurt. Thank You for your forgiveness that I have, through Your blood. Help me forgive just like you forgave me.
(If this thought has blessed you, won’t you let us know? Comment here or send us an email to feedback [at] simplyhim [dot] com)
Did you read the Bible today? Click here to read (This plan is a yearly plan where you can read the full Bible in a single year.)
Posted: August 6th, 2010 | Author: Ashish Kuriakose | Filed under: Recommended | No Comments »
For those of us who have accessed Google Earth to see what our house looks like from the sky, this would be very interesting. Have you wondered how it would have looked when Moses and the Israelites crossed the sea? Or when Noah found dry land after the whole earth was flooded?
James Dive is an artist who used images from Google Earth and recreated scenes from the Bible like the parting of the Red Sea, Jesus’ crucifixion, Noah’s Ark in the floods and Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.
Moses & the Israelites cross the Red Sea
Jesus' Crucifixion from above
Noah's Ark finds dry ground in the floods
Adam & Eve in Paradise
The 31-year-old, from Sydney, Australia spent more than three months painstakingly researching the Biblical locations on Google Earth. He then combined them on a computer with 3D models of iconic elements from the religious text. The artist who is a member of Sydney based art collective The Glue Society, said: ‘We like to disorientate audiences a little with all our work and with this piece we felt technology now allows events which may or may not have happened to be visualized and made to appear dramatically real. As a method of representation satellite photography is so trusted, it has been interesting to mess with that trust.’
It is great to see art being used for the kingdom. What do you think of this? What scenes from the Bible would you like to see from up above?
Posted: August 2nd, 2010 | Author: Ashish Kuriakose | Filed under: Weekly Devotional | Tags: communion, cross, heaven, lord's table | No Comments »
Today’s reading:
1 Corinthians 11: 23-26
“On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and said, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this to remember me.” In the same way, he took the cup of wine after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood. Do this to remember me as often as you drink it.” For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the Lord’s death until he comes again.” (NLT)
Extended reading: 1 Corinthians 11: 17 – 34
The master was implicated with a crime that did not make much sense. And to be sentenced to death on the cross seemed such a dirty political game.
The armies were ready (Matthew 26: 53). Archangel Michael had got his legion of angels ready for battle. It was not really going to be a battle. There was written record of one angel taking out 185,000 humans (2 Kings 19). Today, the whole earth will just have to be eradicated (maybe, except for the select few who followed him). It happened during Noah’s time (Genesis 7: 23). This time, they rejected their very Maker.
The crowd had reached Golgotha. Some cheering. Some wailing. Some quarelling. Some challenging. Some astonished and some solemn. They stripped Jesus of his robe and drew lots to decide who gets it. They threw Jesus on the piece of wood and were going to drive the nails into his hands. This needn’t be. Michael looked for the signal from the Father. There was none. Maybe He was waiting to make a dramatic entry right after. Kill em all – get the Prince of heaven back safe. Show them who is in control.
Jesus was raised up in between two criminals. Michael looked again for the signal. None.
Jesus asked for a drink. No signal yet.
(What’s keeping Him?)
It was only when Jesus cried out “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that heaven realized that there was not going to be a signal. “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” The Father had forsaken His Son. On the cross. What shame! What pain! Did this have to be?
The human race was going to get another chance. And this time, it cost the most.
But maybe one day when they break the bread and drink the wine, they may understand the love that bore the pain. They may get a glimpse into what should have been theirs but was spared the misery and shame.
What does the cross mean to us? It is more than just a divider of the times. The cross represents who we are or who we should have been. The cross tells us that we don’t need to be punished. The cross tells us we are free. Free to live life to the fullest. Full of what God has in store for us. And only because of what Jesus did on the cross.
Go ahead and partake of the bread and wine that represents what our God did for us.
What do I pray?
Lord, thank You for the cross. Thank you for bearing my sin and my shame. Thank you for setting me free. Help me understand what You did for me. And help me live my life for Your glory. Help me put You first in my life and shine Your light in this world. In Jesus’ name..
(If this thought has blessed you, won’t you let us know? Comment here or send us an email to feedback [at] simplyhim [dot] com)
Did you read the Bible today? Click here to read (This plan is a yearly plan where you can read the full Bible in a single year.)
Posted: July 27th, 2010 | Author: Ashish Kuriakose | Filed under: Weekly Devotional | Tags: encouragement, positive | No Comments »
Today’s reading:
Acts 23: 11
“
That night the Lord appeared to Paul and said, “Be encouraged, Paul. Just as you have been a witness to me here in Jerusalem, you must preach the Good News in Rome as well.”” (NLT)
Extended reading: Acts 23
Have you heard the story about two patients in a hospital room, one of whom described the park he saw from his bedroom window in such vivid details that it gave so much hope to the man in the other bed, he was inspired to live through his time at the hospital? The story takes a twist when the man next to the window dies and the person in the other bed gets to go back with his family but just before he leaves, he checks out the window through which his friend saw the beautiful world outside. It did not make much sense to him when all he saw was a brick wall across the window. His friend had used his imagination to liven a boring hospital room. Words that gave him hope. Words that encouraged his friend to look forward to getting out of the hospital.
This world could use encouragement now, more than ever. The economic crisis, earthquakes, volcanoes, terrorist attacks, tsunamis, unemployment, increasing crime rates, foreclosures seem to be the current buzz words. “Be encouraged” is something we would love to hear. It feels good when someone tells us “It’s gonna be okay!”
Paul was not having a field day. He stands up for his faith and gets slapped on his face for it. “Gazing intently at the high council, Paul began: “Brothers, I have always lived before God with a clear conscience!” Instantly Ananias the high priest commanded those close to Paul to slap him on the mouth.” (Acts 23:1, 2)
Next, he heard that there were people ready to assassinate him the very next day (vs. 12).
But God had plans for Paul. “Just as you have been a witness to me here in Jerusalem, you must preach the Good News in Rome as well.” If you noticed, when God makes the plans, he plans them well. Read verses 23-24 for the arrangements He got done for Paul – Then the commander called two of his officers and ordered, “Get 200 soldiers ready to leave for Caesarea at nine o’clock tonight. Also take 200 spearmen and 70 mounted troops. 24 Provide horses for Paul to ride, and get him safely to Governor Felix.”
Paul had a complete motorcade to take him to Rome. He did not have to sneak out or make any plans of his own. Paul was treated as royalty.
What are you going through today? What are you expecting this week? God says, “Be encouraged”. He has plans for you. And He will make sure that you are taken care of well. Just stand for Him. Be His witness.
What do I pray?
Lord, thank You for Your provision. I understand that I don’t have to worry about what I am going through because You are in control. I trust in You. I will stand for You. Help me, Lord to make a difference for You. Help me not to be overwhelmed by my circumstances. But let my focus be always on You. In Jesus’ name..
(If this thought has blessed you, won’t you let us know? Comment here or send us an email to feedback [at] simplyhim [dot] com)
Did you read the Bible today? Click here to read (This plan is a yearly plan where you can read the full Bible in a single year.)
Posted: July 23rd, 2010 | Author: Ashish Kuriakose | Filed under: Thoughts | Tags: love, what God has called us for | No Comments »
We do not serve God because he is a dictator of sorts who expects us to worship him or serve him. He does not expect us to bow down, prostrate before him and give him non-meaningful worship. He expects us to love him first. Love him first and then worship flows. Love him and then we bow down to him. Hug him. Raise our hands to him. Smile at him. Open our hearts and mouths to sing. Love him first and we will keep quiet. Listen to what he has to say.
Love him because he loved us first.
When we realize who God is, we also realize who we are. We are small. Helpless. Unable. We are not possible. We are a speck. A mere dot in something so big, the dot is never thought of in the first place to be forgotten later.
When we realize what God has done for us, we realize who we are. We are big. Resourceful. Able. We are possible. Giants. We are that dot who got the chance to be remembered.
When we realize what God has done for us, we realize what we can do. We are scientists. We are philosophers. CEOs. Doctors. Spacemen. Mountain climbers. River-rafting champions. We are world-changers. People-changers. We take care of the needy. We show compassion to the poor. We direct the lost. We shine the light to the searching.
Love him, because he first loved us.
Expect great things not because you need them. Expect great things not because it will make you popular. Not even because you have not been treated right all this time. Expect great things not because you deserve them.
Expect great things because he is able to do great things. Expect great things because you don’t deserve them but he still gives it to you. Expect great things because he gives you a chance.
Heaven is filled with reluctant people who decided to give God a chance.
Posted: July 20th, 2010 | Author: Ashish Kuriakose | Filed under: Recommended | Tags: free, music | No Comments »
Everyone loves free. K-LOVE Radio partners with artists/record companies to provide you access to free songs from christian artists.
Here’s two:
Starry Night by Chris August
Out of my hands by Jars of Clay
(Simply Him is not affiliated with K-LOVE Radio or any of the artists / record companies listed here.)
Posted: July 19th, 2010 | Author: Ashish Kuriakose | Filed under: Weekly Devotional | Tags: honor, promises, word | No Comments »
Today’s reading:
1 Samuel 18: 3, 4
“And Jonathan made a solemn pact with David, because he loved him as he loved himself. Jonathan sealed the pact by taking off his robe and giving it to David, together with his tunic, sword, bow, and belt.” (NLT)
Here is a quick backgrounder – Jonathan is King Saul’s son. David is the latest hero in Israel and is also one of the commanders of Saul’s army. Jonathan is David’s best friend. The people love David better. Saul becomes jealous and starts to hates him. Saul wants him dead.
Now we think something like that would change the friendship between Jonathan and David. Nope. In fact, it grows stronger. Jonathan helps David escape from his own father’s schemes. But Saul had a reason and he says it in 1 Samuel 20: 31, “As long as that son of Jesse is alive, you’ll never be king. Now go and get him so I can kill him!”. David was getting so popular that the legal heir of the throne, Jonathan would not stand a chance against him. Saul, as any good father would do, was looking out for his son. But his methods were questionable.
Meanwhile, David and Jonathan’s friendship grew strong. And Jonathan died in battle and David becomes king of Israel. Read what David did – One day David asked, “Is anyone in Saul’s family still alive—anyone to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?”. David remembered his promise to his best friend. He adopted Jonathan’s son, Mephibosheth and gave him all the property that once belonged to his grandfather Saul, and he let him eat there with David at the king’s table!” (2 Samuel 9)
David didn’t have to do any of this. Saul was dead. The man who sought David’s life was gone. This was the same man that made David’s life miserable by keeping him on the run always. Now all of Saul’s family was dead, except for this one crippled guy. For the way Saul treated David, he was not obliged to do anything for anybody in Saul’s family. But David was not a man of circumstance. He was a man of his word. He kept his promise to Jonathan, just as Jonathan kept his word to David. David did not let Saul spoil the relationship between them.
So who are you? A man of circumstance? A woman who is swayed by the wind? Or are you someone who keeps your word? You do not have to do it on your own. Listen to what Jonathan said, “And may the Lord make us keep our promises to each other, for he has witnessed them“. 1 Samuel 20: 23.
What do I pray?
Pray the Lord to help you keep your word. Apologize for words not kept. Seek him. Trust him. Ask guidance to live a life where you can trust Jesus and people around you can trust you as well.
(If this thought has blessed you, won’t you let us know? Comment here or send us an email to feedback [at] simplyhim [dot] com)
Did you read the Bible today? Click here to read (This plan is a yearly plan where you can read the full Bible in a single year.)
Posted: July 15th, 2010 | Author: Ashish Kuriakose | Filed under: Thoughts | No Comments »
For Technorati: FTPQXKXTPBXY
There have been movies made about machines taking over the planet and the human race as we know it. And today, we are closer than we have ever been. Okay, the real deal is that I am trying to work out the registration of this blog on Technorati and they need to see some identification. The above code tells them this is I.
I may have gone too far calling it world-dominion-of-the-machines but they insist on putting this as a post. I may delete this post once this verification process is over.
So what are you up to today?
