My Dear Brothers and Sisters, I greet and bless everyone in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. The blessed word that God has given for you today, is from the book of Psalms 92:12, “The Righteous Shall flourish like a Palm tree. He shall grow like a Cedar in Lebanon.”
My Dear Brothers and Sisters from the above context we understand the beauty, the erectness, the stateliness and the growth of the palm tree. All this is the symbol of the prosperity, and the happiness of a righteous man. The Palm tree is constantly green and flourishing, spreads its branches very wide and grows to a vast size. The tree affords refreshing shade to travellers. It also produces dates a very sweet luscious kind of fruit. It is a most beautiful tree. And in every way, an invaluable treasure to the inhabitants of those hot countries. And hence it is considered as a fit symbol of the flourishing state of a righteous man.
My Dear Brothers and Sisters, The Bible says, the righteous grow like a Cedar, in Lebanon. They are immensely large, Some of them are nearly 35 to 40 feet tall. They flourish for ages. And are always, green. When cut down they yield a most beautiful, kind of wood, brown in colour, solid, durable, and in some sort incorruptible. The Cedars as well as the palm trees when compared to the short lived and withering grass are a striking illustration of the well founded durable, and continually increasing virtue and happiness of the truly righteous in opposition to the momentary, trifling and perpetually decaying prosperity of the wicked.
My Dear Brothers and Sisters, The Cedar is a noble and long lived tree. The Bible says, As the days of a tree, are the days, of my people. Just as the Cedar waves its mighty branches in perpetual verdure over the mountains, the truly godly man under all adversities retains the joy of his soul and continues to make progress in the divine life. Though the grass makes hay for the oxen the Cedars help in building the temple of the Lord. The palm trees too were planted within the very house of the Lord, and their presence there was ornamental, appropriate and highly suggestive. They were best emblem of the righteous, a fat, and flourishing old age – a peaceful end – a glorious immortality.
My Dear Brothers and Sisters, God sometimes grants prosperity to wicked men in displeasure. Yet they flourish but for a moment. Hence let us seek for ourselves the salvation and grace of the Gospel. Let us be anointed by the Holy Spirit, and share the Redeemer’s glory. It is from his grace, by his word and Spirit, that believers receive all the virtue, that keeps them alive. And makes them fruitful. The text tells us not only what the righteous is but what he shall be, come what may. The good man shall flourish and flourish in the noblest manner. May the Lord help you also to be righteous and walk worthy of the Lord God.
Prayer: Our loving heavenly Father, we thank You for this blessed day. Dear Lord, help us to grow in the Lord daily like the trees that brings forth fruit in its season. Lord let our days be like the trees that live long. Teach us to enjoy peace and grow fat like stall fed calves. Make our lives a blessing to others.
In Jesus name we pray.
Amen.
My Dear Brothers and Sisters, I greet and bless everyone in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. The blessed word that God has given for you today, is from the book of Psalm 86-7 , “ In the day of trouble I will call upon You. And You will Answer me.”
My Dear Brothers and Sisters, When poverty and wretchedness is felt by us then we plead to God for His mercy. The best thing to do is to commit ourselves to God’s keeping. You are one whom God have set apart for Himself and has made you partaker of your sanctifying grace. It is a great encouragement to prayer life. You have learnt to trust in Him. We may expect comfort from God, when we keep up our communion with God. A man who makes God his refuge will feel assured that God will interrupt and save him from all his troubles. He had firm confidence in God at all times, an unwavering belief that God is a hearer of prayers.
My Dear Brothers and Sisters, from the above passage we see how God answers anyone who called on His Name. It is useless to cry to those who cannot or will not hear. But Jehovah the living God really does help to those who call upon Him. The above passage reveals that David believed the Lord to be a living and potent God and indeed to be God alone and hence he resolved in every hour of trouble to call upon Him. There was one such blind man called Bartimaeus, who believed in Jesus. He heard that Jesus and His disciples were coming to Jericho. And a great multitude followed him. Bartimaeus sat by the roadside begging and when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus son of David, have mercy on me.” Many warned him to be quiet but he cried out all the more. Jesus son of David, have mercy on me.”
My Dear Brothers and Sisters , Hearing his loud cry Jesus knew that the blind man was badly in need of help, So Jesus stood still and commanded his disciples to bring the blind beggar up to Him. So the disciples said to him, “Rise, He is calling You.” And throwing aside his garments he rose and came to Jesus.”Jesus asked him, what do you want Me to do for you? The blind man said, to him, “Rabboni help me receive my sight.” Then Jesus said, to him, “Go your way, your faith has made you well.” And immediately he received his sight.” He did not ask Jesus for money. But he asked for his sight, so that he might work hard and make his living. He did not want to beg anymore. Thus God heard his cry and performed a miracle for him and delivered him from his bondage.
My dear Brothers and Sisters, what trouble do you have today? What problem are you facing at the moment? Are you going through depression? Or is it financial difficulty? Is there some kind of disease in your body? Have you some sort of fear about the future of your children? Are you scared that the debtor will catch hold of your neck for not paying your dues? Is there a boil in your body and you are worried that it might be cancer. Call unto Jesus, He will help you overcome your problems. All those who called on his name, “Jesus” He has never let go of them. He never disappointed them either. So call upon His name. And He will solve all your problems. He is able to do exceedingly, abundantly above all that we ask or think. He is able to save to the utmost. He is able to save to the uttermost, those who come to God, through Him. Call on His name He will answer you. God bless you.
Prayer: Our loving heavenly Father, we thank You for this blessed day. Lord teach us to have faith in You like the blind man. Help us to cry out to God in times of distress and not approach others, who cannot be of any help. Make us to rely on You for all our need. Lord open a way where there seems to be no way. Lord be merciful to us and help us in our daily walk of life so that we may not lack any good thing.
In Jesus name we pray.
Amen.
My Dear Brothers and Sisters, I greet and bless everyone in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. The blessed word that God has given for you today, is from the book of Ecclesiastes 12:1 says, “Remember now Your Creator in the Days Of Your Youth. Before the difficult days come and the years draw near. When you say, I have no pleasure in them”
From the above context, we realize that the above passage is an exhortation, to young people, to be religious and not to put it off to old age. It is a call to young people to think of God and mind their duty to Him while they are young. Remember now your creator, in the days, of your youth.
My Dear Brothers and Sisters, King Solomon exhorts the young to enjoy the bright, brief, blossom time of their youth because spontaneous action is more characteristic of youth. The advice is especially suitable for them for what is begun early is likely to last and be strong. It is hard for older men, to turn to God if they have forgotten him in early days. It’s a shame to plan to give God only the dregs of life. The important lesson of this passage is a combination of hearty youthful glee and true religion. Solomon wants you to consider that God is your creator , your loving and affectionate father.
My Dear Brother and Sister, Solomon says, that in youth memory is strong and tenacious. And young people can remember anything. So He encourages young people to remember God in their youth. So that they may have long and blessed life, so that they may be saved from the corruption and misery of this world. It would prevent them from the evils they entail upon themselves by giving way to sinful practices of their own hearts.
In youth faith, hope, and love will be in the best tenor, and their greatest vigour. And it will be easier for youngsters to believe in hope, pray, love, obey and bear their cross. Now you are young but you have no certainty of life. Tomorrow may not be yours. Therefore there is very little time left when you grow old. The evil days will come and the years in which you will be obliged to say alas we have no pleasure in them. And the worse thing is that the heart has become hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
My Dear Brothers and Sisters, are you thinking whether to turn to God or not. Have you considered about yourself at any point of time that you should seek the Lord while you are young enough to serve Him. Don’t postpone the time of your calling. You need to give your priority to God. God says, they that seek Me shall find Me. When you give importance to God, then He will turn His face towards you and start blessing you. He will answer all your prayers. The Bible says, David walked wisely before God. And therefore he increased more and more. As the Lord of Heaven was with him. David was known to be a man near unto God’s own heart. So God blessed him to be the king of Israel for 40 years. God will bless you too in a similar way if you offer yourself to the service of God. God bless you.
Prayer: Our loving heavenly Father, we thank You for this blessed day. Lord we thank you for cautioning us that we need to seek God at an early period of time and not serve Him when we are old and have lost all our strength and good health. Teach us to look up to God when we are energetic and smart. Help us to utilize our time carefully and usefully. Bless us Oh Lord according to your mercy.
In Jesus name we pray.
Amen.
I greet and bless everyone in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. The blessed word that God has given for you today, is from the book of Genesis 50:20, “ But as for you, you meant evil against me, But God meant it for good, in order to bring it as it is this day to save many people alive.”
In the above context we see that Joseph has forgiven his brothers, who sold, him into slavery. He says that although they meant harm upon Joseph it worked out for good according to Gods plan. They thought to do evil, against Joseph. But God meant it unto good, in order to the fulfilling of the dreams, and the making of Joseph a greater blessing to his family. God’s counsel alone shall stand. God often brings good out of evil and promotes the designs, of his providence, even by the sins of men. Joseph assures them of the continuance of his kindness, to them. He says, “Fear not, I will nourish you.”’ The above verse shows that Joseph was a man with an excellent spirit, and we learn from him to render good for evil. He did not complain his brothers of their wrong behaviour but he would be kind to his brothers. He did not hold them in suspense, neither did he seem jealous of them though they had been suspicious, about him. Even though they were unkind to him, he comforted them. In order to banish all their fears, he spoke kindly to them.
Those whom we love and forgive we must not only do well for them but also speak kindly to them. Joseph wept at the distress, and doubt of his brothers, when they all fell down before him, entreating his forgiveness. Joseph removes all their fears, by saying “Am I in Gods stead that I should take revenge? He very well knew that God had judged them, and turned their sinful deed into a blessing. He assures them of his brotherly kindness toward them.
The intentions of the brothers were bad. They planned to take away his life and make him a slave all the days of his life. But God meant it unto good. He designed that good should come by it and he brought good out of it. This verse shows how bad things in life, can result in unexpected good outcome. . With the power of the forgiveness of sins, all trespasses may become right again. And bad things may become good again. The key is how we handle, life’s events, and the choices we make to influence outcomes.
Whatever evil you have faced in life, whatever evil and unsuccessful results, you had experienced recently, God is changing such things in your life, and God who breaks the barriers is descending upon you in a mighty manner. If you want to be successful, in the way, you go, you need to do two things. Firstly never go away from God and secondly be always dependent upon God. Joseph was one such person who always depended upon God. He was an honest man before God. And he trusted on the Lord alone. And so he was successful. Has anyone wronged you in your life? Has your boss shifted you to a different location? or have they delayed your promotion for various reasons? Depend on the Lord, He will turn the curse into a blessing for you. He is ever watching the thoughts and actions of men. God will deal with those who have wronged you. Continue to depend on the Lord Jesus Christ He will perfect that which is imperfect. And just as God turned the evil for the benefit of Joseph the same God will change the situation for your good. So be cheerful in the Lord. God bless you.
Prayer: Our loving heavenly Father, we thank You for this blessed day. Lord we thank You for turning the evil, for our good. Help us to be depended upon God. May we learn to be ever faithful to God. Teach us to handle every situation that rises up in our life carefully. May we understand the ways of God, and always, rely on Him for our sustenance.
In Jesus name we pray.
Amen.
