Kingsly's Scribbling

We all need to choose better things in life. Things that really matter in life. The wise King Solomon's words can be helpful for us to choose things in life. In Ecclesiastes 7, "Better" is a key word in this chapter. Here is what he says: A good name is better than fine perfume The day of death better than the day of birth   House of mourning is better than house of feasting Frustration is better than laughter Rebuke of a wise person is better than praise from fools The end of a matter is better than its beginning Patience is better than pride   We better ponder on the better things.  

In the famous story that Jesus ever told, the prodigal sons (Sons because both needed to come back into the house and to understand the love of the father), i am sometimes the wayward son who landed in the pig pen and at other times i am the religious elder brother working harder to earn the father's love. I keep shuffling between these sons. May be you too are. One day you may want to leave the father and wander and lose everything and be with the pigs. Some other days, you are the tired, angry elder brother trying to earn your love from the father. But the father loved both the prodigals and invited them to come back home. Come home sons. This father lets us go and make our own choice. This father is waiting, running, pleading, and celebrating your return. That's the image of God Jesus gives. Come home sons.

The problem with today's preachers is that there are so many good orators. They are eloquent, they have a good flow of language and they take the audience captive for 45 minutes to few hours. But they seem to lack power. One of the reasons Moses gave, when he was called by God, was "I am not Eloquent". Because he thought that to serve God and to speak for God and to convince people of the power and freedom of God he needed to be eloquent. But God needs people who will simply hear from God and speak the simple yet powerful Truth (Jesus is the Truth). One of my friend told me that in a court room, all that is needed from a witness is that he will speak the simple truth he has heard and seen. To be a witness my friends, you don't have be eloquent but just hear and see and experience God and say just what he says. I pray that we would have more powerful witnesses in our pulpit than powerless eloquent orators.

One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me. - Mark 10:21 This story is about a Rich Young Ruler. He was religious, successful, young and strong.  But still he comes to Jesus and asks him, " What do I still lack?" - Matt 19:20  He asks a good question to Jesus. Ask good questions to Jesus. Jesus answer him and says he lacks one thing. And that one thing is to leave everything and following Jesus.  Jesus is demanding. He looks at you and me and says you lack one thing. Focus only on me and leave out everything else.  Jesus just asks for one thing. That's everything. Follow Jesus. Because he is everything.    

There’s a young boy here with five barley loaves and two fish.- John 6:9 When Jesus wanted to feed the thousands, the answer came in the form a young boy.  A young boy who was willing to give away his lunch for Jesus.  A young boy who was willing to give it all to Jesus.  A young boy who did not do it for applause from people. ( We never know is name or do not see people thanking him after the lunch.)  A young boy who was poor (we know he was poor by his simple lunch) but who was really rich in love for Jesus and people.  Even today, Jesus wants to meet the needs of the hungry crowd and he is seeking for "Some Young Boys".  Can it be said to Jesus about you, "There's a Young Boy Here..."?

...I would rather speak five understandable words to help others than ten thousand words in an unknown language... 1 Corinthians 14:19 I personally feel, the pulpit these days do not even have 5 understandable words to help others. Paul's longing was to speak a few words that would help people in their spiritual journey.  It is sad to not even hear five understandable words to help others. I pray for all who are preaching tomorrow (Sunday) that they would preach few words yet power words from the word of God and help people. 

As I listen to my boys speak, i realize that they use the words I use often. Most of the conversion they  have is using the words that I have spoken to them. They have learnt to speak to their father using the words they have heard their father speak. This is very true as we pray. The more we know the words of God, our Heavenly Father, the more we could communicate to God. As we hear his words from the bible we began to use them and meaningfully start to communicate to God. If you want to learn to pray (speak to God), then hear his words as he speaks to us and then use those words to talk back to him.

In Mathew 6, Jesus addresses the issue of worry. Jesus answers the issue of worry by asking a few questions. Here are the questions for you to ponder: 1. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? 2. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? 3. Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? 4. And why worry about your clothing?  5. Why do you have so little faith? On one particular occasion when Martin Luther greatly discouraged. Seeing him unresponsive to any word of encouragement, one morning his wife appeared dressed in black mourning clothes. Luther asked her, ‘Katharine, why are you dressed in mourning black?’ ‘It seems,’ his wife replied, ‘that God must have died.’” A life filled with worry is living like God is dead.      

If you have been hanging out with Jesus long enough, then you probably know that Jesus asks a lot of questions. He asked more than 300 questions in the gospels. And people ask him more than 150 questions. But he gives a direct answer only to 3 questions. For the rest of the questions, Jesus answers with another question, tells a story or remains silent. Yes, Jesus is the answer. But he is also the question. Try answering a few questions of Jesus. What are you looking for? Do you love me? Where is your faith? Why don't you understand what i am saying? Why do you call me Lord, Lord and do not do what i am saying? Will you give up your life for me? We expect God to answer our questions. God too expects us to answer his questions? By answering those questions we may have meaning and purpose in life. Jesus is the Question.

Jesus knew the scriptures very well. In fact, Jesus quotes the scriptures from 24 different old testament books. He quotes the scripture during his 40 day temptation. He quotes the scripture even when he was on the cross (Psalms 22:1) Jesus was a person who was filled with scriptures and knew when to use them and how to use them. It was kind of a GPS for his life with which he navigated through his life. As a follower of Jesus, we need to follow his example of knowing and learning the scriptures. If the word of God was important for Jesus, it is definitely important for us. Here are some practical tips: Read a small portion of the bible Daily. Memorize a bible verse every week ..(at least you have 52 at the end of the year) Use bible verse to pray. Discuss a bible verse with your friends every week.