Reflections

Jonah

2008-08-03T06:55:00.000-07:00

The last frontier is the frontier of forgiveness.
'I will never forgive
As long as I live.'

Under the scorching sun
The prophet sat,
Half-stunned,
Unable to comprehend divine compassion,
For what God would care
For the beasts of the earth and the birds of the air?

For what God would have relented
When Nineveh repented?
'How can I be merciful when they are so cruel?
There is no justice in this wicked world!'

O Lord, Your forgiveness
Is far beyond human selfishness.
On a perishing plant Jonah felt so much pity
He ignored 120,000 innocent children in a great city!

[Published under the name Tom Prato in Poemhunter.com]

Marah and Elim

2008-08-03T06:53:00.000-07:00

Text: Exodus 15.22-27

Immediately after the wonderful deliverance at the Red Sea, and the song of Moses and Israel, we have the experience of Marah. What is the Lord trying to teach us here? We must remember that it is the Lord who is leading the Israelites, and He brings them into the wilderness of Shur. The wilderness is a place of trial and testing. Three days, and there is no water - an unpleasant experience. And then they come to Marah, where the waters are bitter - a very painful experience. This is like adding insult to injury!

The people are upset and they grumble at Moses [or rather, God!]. The Lord allows these unpleasant experiences in our life. And often we reach breaking-point. We get angry and upset with God. But actually God is allowing this unpleasant experience in my life. This is the cross I have to bear; this is the 'light affliction' which Paul mentions.

Moses cries out to God, and the Lord shows him a tree. The tree is thrown into the waters of Marah, and the waters become sweet. The tree is the cross, Gal 3.13, 1 Pet 2.24. We have to pray, 'Lord, give me grace to bear this trial. Help me to overcome!' We need the Lord's help in this bitter situation. This trial has been given to me by God. I have to accept it, submit to it, and ask God to teach me valuable lessons out of it.

What lessons? The Lord has brought me out of Egypt; but that is an outward deliverance. The Lord has to bring me out of my 'self-centredness'; which is an inward deliverance. The cross is applied to all the stubborn and self-willed areas of my life. It is a 'statute and regulation' in the believer's life. God tests us. What will our reaction be? What is it that comes out of us when we undergo a trial? Is it a flood of complaints, full of self-pity and self-centredness? God's grace is more than sufficient to help me bear that 'thorn in my flesh', 2 Cor 12.9. And in due course, God will remove that thorn.

In verse 26, God is emphasizing the matter of obedience. Faith and obedience go together; it is the 'obedience of faith', the 'submission of faith', the humility and patience and long-suffering and meekness of faith. 'I will put none of the diseases on you which I have put on the Egyptians'. Those diseases were the plagues that fell on Egypt. God does not want to chastize us. We have to pray, 'Lord, take away that which is stubborn and stiff-necked in my life. Lord, I cannot do it, but You can do it!'

'I am the Lord who heals you.' He is dealing with our souls, the health of our souls; it is what Peter calls the 'salvation of our souls'. Our intellect, our emotions, our will - all brought under subjection to His will, His mind, His heart. We must have the mind and heart of Christ; and it takes a long time!

But here is the good news! Every trial properly accepted and borne with grace leads to Elim. The Lord is leading me step by step through the wilderness. There are trials and testings. But by His grace, I will overcome! I will overcome the complaint, the bitterness, the resentment. I will say, 'Lord, thank you for this bitter cup.' Every time we overcome, we come to Elim. There is abundance, an inward spiritual enlargement, reflected by 'twelve springs of water' and 'seventy date palms'. The twelve apostles [Luke 9.1, 2] were like twelve springs of water; the seventy disciples [Luke 10.1, 17] were like date palms. We become like springs of water; we provide sweetness and health like date palms.

The Reward of Perseverance

2008-08-03T06:10:00.000-07:00

This verse cleverly illustrates the reward of perseverance.

Two frogs fell into a deep cream bowl;
The one was wise, and a cheery soul;
The other one took a gloomy view,
And bade his friend a sad adieu.
Said the other frog with a merry grin,
"I can't get out, but I won't give in;
I'll swim around till my strength is spent,
Then I'll die the more content."
And as he swam, though ever it seemed,
His struggling began to churn the cream,
Until on top of pure butter he stopped,
And out of the bowl he quickly hopped.

The moral, you ask? Oh, it's easily found.
If you can't get out, keep swimming around!

Be Perfect with the Lord, your God

2007-03-29T05:43:00.000-07:00

The chief hindrance in the way of obedience to this command [‘Be ye perfect with the Lord your God,’ Deut 18.13] lies in our misapprehension of what religion is. Man was created simply to live for God, to show forth His glory, by allowing God to show how completely He could reveal His likeness and blessedness in man. God lives for man; longing in the greatness of His love to communicate His goodness and His love.

It was to this life, lost by sin, Christ came to redeem us back. The selfishness of the human heart looks upon salvation as simply the escape from hell, with so much of holiness as is needed to make our happiness secure. Christ meant us to be restored to the state from which we had fallen – the whole heart, the whole will, the whole life given up to the glory and service of God.

To be wholly given up to God, to be perfect with the Lord our God, lies at the very root, is the very essence, of true religion. The enthusiastic devotion of the whole heart to God is what is asked of us.

Shoe Cleaning, Connaught Circle

2006-12-07T03:57:00.000-08:00

Shoe Cleaning, Connaught Circle
Originally uploaded by Prato9x.

Captured this little girl getting her shoes/sneakers cleaned with a brush and presumably soap/detergent. She finds the process very interesting. The cleaner must have charged Rs 10 for the job.

What you gather from the photo is this:
1. The girl is from the South. She is presumably Tamilian. That is why you finding those shocking red socks worn with blue sneakers.
2. The girl's dress must have been purchased in a Delhi market, where lots of such fancy dresses are obtained cheaply.

On the Merry-go-round, Nokia N72

2006-12-06T02:18:00.000-08:00

On the Merry-go-round, Nokia N72
Originally uploaded by Prato9x.

Shot at a Children's Playpark near the Lake.

Sorry about getting the other kids into my shot in the bottom right foreground. Couldn't help it. Was rushed for time. I was very keen to try out my new Nokia N72.

[The hand at the left is the girl's father trying to take a snap of his daughter.]

Girl Surprised

2006-12-04T23:41:00.000-08:00

Girl Surprised, originally uploaded by remusse.

This poor little girl
Was eating an orange
On the steps.
I said, ' Little girl, look up!'
And caught her by surprise.

You can see that she is poor
By the vitamin deficiency marks
On her face.

Child, Park Bench, Nokia N72

2006-12-04T23:25:00.000-08:00

Child, Park Bench, Nokia N72, originally uploaded by remusse.

Walking through the Park
With my cameraphone
I saw this little child
Standing with her hands
On the park bench.
Needed to capture this
For posterity.
Is the draped with
The American flag?
Like the lines of the bench
Her sweater
And the shadows behind
Not to mention
The stars and stripes.

Early Morning Prayer

2006-06-02T20:12:00.000-07:00

‘My voice You shall hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer to You, and will look up.’ Psalm 5.3

I will direct my ‘prayer’ as an arrow, and after that, ‘I will look up’, to see if it has hit. When the prayer is directed in the morning, the ‘look up’ lasts all day. – Dr Charles Stanford.

There are many early risers mentioned in the Bible. These men of God found solutions to life’s problems by directing their prayers to the One who would hear and assist them in the endeavours for the day. Before the day began they received the confidence necessary to shoulder responsibilities.

Abraham rose early in the morning to stand before the Lord [Gen 19.27]. Jacob rose early in the morning, to worship the Lord [Gen 28.18]. Moses rose early to build an altar to god [Exod 24.4] and to meet God at Sinai [Exod 34.4]. Hannah and Elkanah rose early to worship God [1 Sam 1.19], Job rose early to offer sacrifices [Job 1.5], David awakened early for prayer [Psalm 119.147; Psalm 57.8]. Hezekiah rose up early and gathered the rulers of the city and went up to the house of the Lord [2 Chron 29.20]. The Son of God rose early to go to a solitary place to pray [Mark 1.35]

[Extracted from 'Streams in the Desert', Vol 2. by Mrs Charles Cowman]

The Overcomers' Secret

2006-05-24T20:49:00.000-07:00

These are wise words from the man of God, Bro. Bakht Singh, written in his book, 'the Overcomers' Secret'. It will do us good to ponder over them, and ask God to prove them in our lives.

1. Nothing of man can by any means last forever... Whatsover is of God will last forever; it will not be shaken or moved. The work of God may begin in a simple way, but it will abide for ever.

2. Like Daniel and his three friends, we also may have to go through many refining fires, but all these sufferings will help us to become overcomers. Eventually we will become more than conquerors in everything. Through God we will destroy the works of Satan and put him to shame, provided we are willing to pass patiently through the time of our preparation.

3. If you want to be an overcomer you should never doubt God. Even if He takes you through fiery trials, you have no right to question Him. Believe that His way is perfect and is the best for you, and that whatever He is doing in your life, it is all for your good. That is true faith.

4. A true Christian must overcome all temptations. We should refuse, at any cost, to defile ourselves in any way. We should not adopt worldly and sinful methods to get promotion or gain.

5. We should never fear to take a bold stand for God. The Lord knows how to protect His own. He will see to it that no harm comes to us when we stand for the Word of God and the testimony of our Lord. There is really no need for us to try to save our lives by defiling ourselves.

6. If we want to be overcomers, we will certainly be persecuted by the enemy more than others will be.

7. All the persecution which came against these faithful young men [Daniel's three friends] only proved to be the means of their promotion, and also of confounding the king and the princes of Babylon.

[Extracts from the book, The Overcomers' Secret, from chapters 2 and 3, based on Daniel chapters 2 and 3. Read the book!]

Divine Compassion

2006-04-12T02:27:00.000-07:00

Divine compassion will reach out
And touch the lonely bier
And bring to life the widow’s son
And wipe away her tears;
Will grasp the young girl by the hand
And say, 'Little lamb, arise! ’
And the child leaps up from her bed
To her parents' great surprise.

Divine love will embrace
Little children in its arms,
As a hen covers her chicks
Under feathers soft and warm;
Divine compassion
In those nail-pierced hands
Laid on a poor bent-up woman
Made her stand
Erect and at ease,
And praise the God of mercy
For her miraculous release.

Tom Prato

The Blood of Christ as it operates Godward

2006-01-17T22:48:00.000-08:00

The Blood of Christ is shown to operate effectually in three ways - Godward, manward and Satanward. There is absolute need for us to appropriate the values of the Blood if we are to go on...

The Blood is for atonement and has to do first with our standing before God. We need forgiveness for the sins we have committed, lest we come under judgment; and they are forgiven, not because God overlooks what we have done but because He sees the Blood. The Blood is therefore not primarily for us but for God...Throughout the Old and New Testaments the word 'blood' is used in connection with the idea of atonement, over a hundred times, and throughout it is something for God...

In Leviticus 16 we find that on the Day of Atonement the blood was taken from the sin offering and brought into the Most Holy Place and there sprinkled before the Lord seven times...No man entered the tabernacle, except the high priest. He alone took the blood and, going into the Most Holy Place, sprinkled it there to make atonement before the Lord. Why? Because the high priest was a type of the Lord Jesus in His redemptive work [Heb 9.11,12]. It was a transaction between the high priest and God in the Sanctuary, away from the eyes of the men who were to benefit by it. The blood was presented to God as something He had accepted, something in which He could find satisfaction.

In Exodus 12.13 the shedding of the blood of the passover lamb in Egypt for Israel's redemption is one of the best 'types'...of our redemption. The blood was put on the lintel and on the doorposts, whereas the meat, the flesh of the lamb, was eaten inside the house; and God said: "When I see the blood, I will pass over you'. The blood was not meant to be presented to man but to God, for the blood was put on the lintel and on the doorposts, where those feasting inside the house would not see it...

God is the One who demands that the Blood be presented, in order to satisfy His own righteousness... The Blood of Christ wholly satisfies God...The Blood is first for God to see. We have to accept God's valuation of it. We have to believe that the Blood is precious to God because He says it is so [1 Pet 1.18,19]. If God can accept the Blood as payment for our sins and as the price of our redemption, then we can rest assured that the debt has been paid. If God is satisfied with the Blood, then the Blood must be acceptable...A holy and righteous God has the right to say that the Blood is acceptable in His eyes and has fully satisfied Him.

[Extracted from The Normal Christian Life by W.N.]

Hotel at Delour Ridge, Kalimpong

2005-12-26T00:50:00.000-08:00

Message for December 25th - Seven Names of Jesus in Matthew 1 and 2

2005-12-21T09:59:00.000-08:00

This morning I was reading my Bible. I had finished Revelation and was starting again from Matthew. I was thinking about my Christmas ministry. What should I speak about? I was in familiar territory, Matthew 1 and 2, and I had spoken on parts of it in earlier years. I asked the Lord, Give me something fresh, Lord! After some time the Lord started revealing something new.

Do you know that there are seven names or titles for the Lord Jesus in those first two chapters of Matthew? These are the names: Son, Jesus, Immanuel, King of the Jews, Ruler [Shepherd], Young Child, Nazarene. There are over 200 names for the Lord Jesus in the Bible, but here in the beginning of the New Testament we have seven names.

She has bring forth a Son, 1.21. Isaiah says, The virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, 7.14. He is the Son, the Son of God and Son of Man, the Firstborn Son. In Matt 2.15b, we hear the words of Hosea, ‘Out of Egypt I called My Son’. Israel, nationally, was a son, Exod 4.22; but Christ was the greater Son. There is the thought of Sonship here. This is my Beloved Son, Matt 3. Bringing many sons to glory, Heb 2.

You shall call His name Jesus, 1.21. Jesus is His human name; speaks of His humanity. I Jesus are the words in Rev 22. You and I can identify with Jesus, who came in the flesh, who was a man, who lived on earth 2000 years ago. But Jesus means Saviour, for He will save His people from their sins. It was by the shedding of His precious blood that He saved us from our sins.

They shall call His name Immanuel, 1.23. Immanuel means, God with us. God dwelling with man. This is a wonderful thought. He came and dwelt with His own, the Jews, 2000 years ago. Today He dwells in my heart. Tomorrow we will dwell with Him in the heavenly city. The truth is, God is our dwelling-place, He is our home. Our hearts will never be at rest till we dwell with Him. He dwelt among us, and in the spirit He still dwells in us!

The magi called Him King of the Jews, 2.2 He was the Messiah the Jews were waiting for; but they did not know it. God opened the eyes of the magi, and they followed the star and came – to Bethlehem? No, they were ‘wise’ men; their human wisdom brought them to Herod in Jerusalem. They were responsible for the deaths of hundreds of children in the district of Bethlehem, 2.16. They were not wise men; they did not follow the star all the way. They lost the star in Jerusalem, but God in His mercy showed them the star again, 2.10. We need that light too! A heavenly, divine light.

King of the Jews. That was the title that they nailed to the cross. Matt 27.37. That was Pilate’s question, Matt 27.11. And yes, Jesus was a King, the King of kings. They crucified the King of the Jews.

Then we have a fifth title. In Micah 5.2, He is called a ‘Ruler who will shepherd My people Israel’. He is a leader who will govern; the government shall be open His shoulder. He is a Shepherd who goes before His flock. The Messiah is one who not only redeems, but also rules. The scepter shall not depart from Judah till Shiloh [Messiah] comes, Gen 49.10. When the Messiah comes, He will rule the world.

The sixth title is young Child. You find it so often in Matt 2. He is not a Babe in a manger; He is a Child in a house. Unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given. A little child, perhaps a year old. God reducing Himself to a Babe, a little Child. The amazing boldness of God! We cannot think of God as a young Child. He was in the arms of Mary. Oh, He was a Babe, a Child, a Youth, a Man. No one can say that God does not sympathize with me; He knows all our weaknesses and infirmities. He is not a faraway God; He was in a mother’s arms. God was willing to reduce Himself to that extent. He was totally dependent on His mother. Can you imagine God would do that?! And Mary, his mother, was not immaculate; she was just like us. With, perhaps, a purer and more loving heart. But she too had the failings of a woman and mother.

But I would like to draw your attention to the last title. He shall be called a Nazarene, 2.23. Why did He choose Nazareth? Could He not have stayed in a better city? Can anything good come out of Nazareth? It was a bad city; we know that the people of Nazareth wanted to kill Jesus! And yet, He chose to live in Nazareth. He is not Jesus of Bethlehem, or Jesus of Jerusalem, but Jesus of Nazareth. He was despised of men, and lived in a despised city. And yet today we can say, In the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk! There is power in that Name. Oh, you have to go through the shame and reproach of the cross to come into the power of God.

I will not say more. This is Jesus, Immanuel, King of Israel, Wonderful Saviour, Loving Shepherd, Almighty God, Christ our Lord.

Jericho - What led to the defeat at Ai

2005-12-18T21:55:00.000-08:00

I've been writing about Jericho. Check out my blogs at http://procyon6x.blogspot.com and http://procyon7x.blogspot.com

Achan was attracted by the beautiful Babylonian garment. He hid it and the shekels of silver and the wedge of gold in the earth under his tent. One man, smitten by covetousness, brought about a shocking defeat at Ai. What a great responsibility lies on us children of God! How careful we must be regarding the things of Babylon, the things of this world, regarding money and riches. [You cannot serve God and Mammon.]

It is clear that the lust of the eyes is involved. The world has its own magnetic and gravitational attraction. The enemies of the cross set their minds on earthly things [Phil 3.18]. We have to set our minds on heavenly things [Col 3.2].

In the New Testament, we are warned about the world by our Lord Jesus, and by Paul, James and John. John is emphatic that the world or kosmos [worldly system] is a great danger to believers, and James declares that those who love the world are enemies of God, Jas 4.4. Our Lord Jesus prayed in His high-priestly prayer in John 17 to protect the disciples from the world. Paul talks of the spirit of the world, 1 Cor 2.12; the wisdom of the world, 1 Cor 3.19; and the 'fashion' of the world, 1 Cor 7.31. He goes further to mention worldly lusts, Tit 2.12. Peter points to the corruption in the world through lust, 2 Pet 1.4 and 2.20; James warns about the defilement of the world, Jas 1.27; while John elaborates in 1 John 2.15-16 about the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye and the pride of life - pointing out that if anyone loves the world, the love of the Father [agape love] is not in him. They all declare that Satan is the god of this world, and the sinister force behind all the deceitful attractions of 'Babylon'.

How careful we must be about being drawn into the world. Remember Lot's wife, Luke 17.32. Remember Demas, 2 Tim 4.10. Many spiritual lives end in tragedy because of being drawn into the world. The world is our great enemy. Hence all those stern warnings of James and John, which unfortunately remain unheeded by the majority of evangelical Christians today.

Jericho - Healing of the Water by Elisha

2005-12-18T21:40:00.000-08:00

I've written about Jericho in my blog, 'Promises', at http://procyon6x.blogspot.com
The subject relates to our overcoming the world. The background text is 2 Kings 2, the journey of Elijah and Elijah. Gilgal deals with the flesh, Bethel relates to idolatry, Jericho signifies the world. Through faith and the power of the cross, we have to deal with the flesh, with idolatry and with the world.

Jericho is very attractive, but we find that the water is bad and the land is unproductive, 2 Kings 2.19. The trees are bearing fruit, but the fruit are falling off before they become ripe. This is causing frustration. No wonder, Solomon calls all the attractions of the world as 'vanity of vanities'. The best things of the world can never satisfy the spirit. Jericho is under a curse, and Elisha deals with the situation with a 'new vessel' which contains 'salt'. The salt is thrown into the source of the water. The incorruptible salt speaks of Jesus Christ. We are 'new vessels' [new creations in Christ] can bring health and healing to this God-forsaken world, even as Jesus said, 'You are the salt of the world!'. Jesus Himself is the True Salt. Only the gospel of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ can bring salvation [healing] to this accursed world.

View from Japanese Pagoda, Darjeeling

2005-12-09T01:21:00.000-08:00

Martha and Mary

2005-11-15T01:41:00.000-08:00

The text we are meditating upon is from Luke 10:38-42. It is a scene from Bethany, the little village not far from Jerusalem. The home of Martha and Mary, two sisters who loved the Lord, along with their brother Lazarus.

Martha invited Jesus into her home. She was busy preparing many things for the Lord. She was distracted with all her preparations. The hustle and bustle of the kitchen was too much for her. She was annoyed that her sister was not helping her, but was sitting at the feet of Jesus, listening to His word. She complained to the Lord, 'Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Tell her to help me.'

The Lord's reply was rather strange. He said, 'Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things! Only a few things are necessary, really only one, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.'

I wish we could understand this. The Lord Jesus is saying, 'Only a few things are necessary.' He doesn't stop at that; He says, 'There is really only one thing necessary.' What is that? To sit at the feet of Jesus; to sit at His feet and listen to His word. We are so restless; so troubled about many things; so worried. We never stop to wait on the Lord, to sit at His feet [as it were] and hear His still small voice. Be still and know that I am God; or 'cease striving' and know that I am God, Psalm 46.10

If only we could be still, sit still, wait in His presence, be silent in the presence of the Lord. If only we could hear His voice, if only our ears were attuned to His still small voice. Lord, speak to me, give me ears to hear. We rush through our morning meditations. We don't wait for the Lord to speak to us. His are the words of eternal life. We live not by bread alone, but by the words He speaks, by hearing His voice. Faith comes by hearing His voice.

O Lord, give me a circumcised ear to hear Your voice; give me a circumcised heart to love You and desire You only.

Gilgal

2005-11-04T23:30:00.000-08:00

I was preaching on 2 Kings chapter 2, the journey that Elisha took with Elijah down to the Jordan. They began at Gilgal, proceeded to Bethel, went down to Jericho, and finally crossed over the river Jordan. There must be some meaning to these names. They speak of spiritual principles and the journey itself speaks of spiritual progress. I meditated on this chapter, especially the portion relating to the journey.

Then the Lord spoke to me.
Gilgal means 'no place for the flesh';
Bethel means 'no place for idols';
Jericho means 'no place for the world';
Jordan means 'no place for the self'.

Gilgal is where the Israelites first camped when they crossed the Jordan and came into the Promised Land. This is where the 12 stones taken out of the Jordan were set up, presumably in a circle because Gilgal means 'circle of stones'. Those 12 stones speak of identification in death, burial and resurrection. We note that 12 stones were taken from the river bank and placed in the Jordan. Those stones speak of the 12 tribes and of us.

Gilgal is where the Israelites were circumcised. The flesh has to be put away. The circumcision was done with 'sharp knives'. It must have been painful. Gilgal is where they celebrated the Passover. This is where they ate the produce of the land; unleavened bread and parched grain. The manna ceased. Gilgal is where the Lord said, 'I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you.' The reproach of the flesh. We know how carnal were the Israelites who roamed the wilderness for 40 years; they longed for meat and the food of Egypt. Egypt is a symbol of the flesh, Isa 31.1, 3.

Gilgal was the base camp for Joshua's military operations. It is as if every time we must start from the Cross, because Gilgal points to the Cross.

Speaking of the flesh, we are reminded of Saul. In 1 Samuel 15, we find that he kept the best of the sheep and cattle and did not destroy them. He also spared Agag the Amalekite. It was Samuel who hacked Agag to pieces before the Lord at Gilgal. The flesh cannot be spared.

The reproach of Egypt is contrasted with the reproach of Christ. In Hebrews 11.26 we find that Moses chose the reproach of Christ instead of the riches and pleasures of Egypt. Do we identify ourselves with the Cross of Christ. Paul tells us there is the offence or reproach of the Cross. The Cross is so sanitized and sentimentalized today that we forget the 'sharp knife'.

Gilgal speaks of all this. We cannot enter into our heavenly inheritance without going through the experience of Gilgal, which is the experience of the inward cross.

Bethel

2005-11-04T23:22:00.000-08:00

Continuing the subject of Elisha's journey with Elijah down to the river Jordan. We have already seen the meaning of Gilgal. Let us now look at Bethel.

Bethel is seen clearly in the life of Jacob. In Genesis chapter 28 we know how Jacob had a vision at Bethel. He saw a ladder or stairway to heaven. He saw the Lord standing above the ladder. He received certain wonderful promises in vv 13, 14 and 15. The promise of Gen 28.15 is especially significant, because it reflects the wonderful grace of God. God says He will do everything. Jacob need not struggle and strive for the blessing. What God has promised He will perform.

Jacob declared that this stairway is the gate of heaven and this place is none other than the house of God. Our Lord explains it this way in John 1.51. Speaking to Nathaniel He says, 'You shall see heaven open and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.' So that ladder/stairway speaks of the Cross, of Jesus Christ and Him crucified. The Cross is the entrance to the House of God. Of course, Jacob has a glimmer of light, but his faith is not strong. His mind is set on earthly things, despite the vision of heaven.

In Genesis 35, the meaning of Bethel is made more clear. It is here that Jacob tells his family to 'put away the foreign gods [idols] that you have with you'. He says, 'Purify yourselves and change your garments.' He testifies to God's faithfulness. Here he builds his first true altar to God, and he calls the place El Bethel, which means 'God of Bethel'. His eyes are upon God, even more than the House of God. Here God confirms his new name, Israel. Here God gives him a special promise, Gen 35.11, which speaks of fruitfulness. Fruitfulness through the inward work of the Cross; the same fruitfulness which Jesus speaks of in John 12.23. The same fruitfulness that Abraham experienced after he was 'emptied'; the same fruitfulness that Job experienced after he was 'broken'.

God did not appear in a vision at El Bethel, but He came and talked with Jacob and went up to heaven, Gen 35.13-15.

It is another matter that Bethel became a place of idolatry in the history of Israel. Here Jeroboam set up his golden calf.

If we want to serve God in His house, we must be crucified Christians, and there must be no place for the flesh or for idols. The reference made by Jacob in Gen 35.2 is to Rachel's favourite household gods [she wanted to have a claim on the property of Laban]. The TV can become a household god; property can become an idol in the heart. Apollos can become an idol in the Corinthian church, just as any celebrity speaker in evangelical circles. We need to come into direct contact with God, into intimate communion with Him. But this is not possible without the inward work of the Cross.

Mary Jones and her Bible

2005-10-08T03:38:00.000-07:00

Did you know the story of Mary Jones and her longing to own a Bible of her own? This is a story of the late 18th century. Mary was born in a little Welsh village. Her father was a handloom weaver by trade. Mary was brought up in a home that loved the Lord Jesus. But in Mary's home, her parents being poor, there was no Bible. In those days Bibles were both scarce and very expensive, and Mary's family could not afford to have one. Mary attended school walking the two miles back and forth without a grumble. She joined a Sunday school, where her desire for the Word of God increased. She took to reading the Bible in the home of lady who owned one, but soon she had a strong desire to own a Bible of her own.

The ten-year old girl formed a great resolution: "I must have a Bible of my own, even if I have to save for it for ten years! " She did scores of odd jobs for her neighbours, and scrimped and saved for many years. Finally, after six years saving, she had enough money to buy a Bible of her own. She walked barefoot twenty-five miles to the town of Bala to purchase her Bible. There she was told that all the Welsh Bibles were sold out and there was none for her. How disappointed she was! It was all over, she thought, all in vain. The years of praying, and saving, and waiting; the long walk, the weariness and pain, all of no use.

Seeing her plight, Rev Charles, who sold the Bibles, was so moved that he procured a Bible for her at once. Overcome with joy and thankfulness, Mary was reduced to sweet and happy tears. Touched by the sight of a poor young girl walking 50 miles to and fro to purchase a Bible, Rev Charles felt he could never rest until some means were established to supply the pressing need for Bibles in Wales and England. In the winter of 1802 he visited London, and told the touching story of the little Welsh girl to the Religious Tract Society. Great sympathy was aroused, and after two years - in 1804 - the British and Foreign Bible Society was established. The first resolution of Executive Committee of the Society was to bring out an edition of the Welsh Bible for the use of Sunday Schools, and the first consignment of these Bibles reached Bala in 1806.

Mary's Bible, now in possession of the British and Foreign Bible Society, contains in her own hand-writing this statement: "I bought this in the 16th year of my age. Mary Jones, the true owner of this Bible." She lies buried in a humble churchyard, and few know the important part that she played in the founding of the great institution, the British and Foreign Bible Society.

Adapted from 'Twelve Clever Girls', by J.A.W.Hamilton, Pickering & Inglis Ltd., London, 1937

Queen Victoria

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You may have seen the famous picture which represents Queen Victoria presenting a Bible to a dark-skinned Prince, declaring that it was the secret of England's greatness. Happy Empire whose sovereign loved and reverenced the Word of God. We are not surprised at the wonderful changes for the better which took place under wise rule, nor at the love and sympathy which made her visit the lowly crofters' cottages and help the stricken and distressed.

The story told by an octogenarian whom she visited near Balmoral gives the secret of all her greatness. This old lady ventured to inquire: "May I ask your Majesty a question?" Receiving an affirmative reply, she queried: "Will your Majesty meet me in the Paradise above?" To which the Queen replied: "Yes, by the grace of God, and the all-availing Blood of Christ, I will meet you there." The only ground on which sovereign, subject, or any other sinner shall ever be there.

Queen Victor - a clever girl, a brave woman, a beloved wife and mother, and a humble servant of the Lord Jesus, she, 'being dead, yet speaketh'.

From the book, 'Twelve Clever Girls', by J.A.W.Hamilton, Pickering & Inglis Ltd., London, 1937

Tangmin's Fantastic Shot in Yunan Province, China

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白水台, originally uploaded by tangmin.

Happy mother, new born child

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Happy mother, new born child, originally uploaded by procyon8x.

Takdah Market

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This is a small market centre in a place called Takdah somewhere between Darjeeling and Kalimpong. Lots of colour.

Gangtok school children

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This photo was taken near the Darjeeling Zoo on a bright sunny day in April 2004. I would love to send this photo to the school in Gangtok. All the children are from Sikkim, and they had chartered a bus for a sight-seeing visit to Darjeeling.

Thoughts on Reading Hebrews

2005-03-29T01:30:00.000-08:00

I’ve read this book several times. But I still haven’t understood it. I need more experience. We understand the Bible only through experience. It is a living word, and as we go through various experiences we begin to understand it more clearly. What have I understood in my recent reading of this book? The thrice-repeated phrase: ‘He sat down’. ‘He sat down’ means ‘It is finished’ – it speaks of the Final Word, the Finished Work and the ‘Resting of Faith’ in our Lord Jesus Christ.

This book starts by saying that God has finally spoken to us ‘in His Son’. God is not speaking through the prophets; He has spoken through His Son, or rather, ‘in His Son’.

‘Thou art My Son,
Today I have begotten Thee’
This quotation from Psalm 2 is not talking about the Incarnation. It is talking about the Resurrection. The Son has come through death and burial into resurrection. The travail of the cross has resulted in triumph and enthronement. Jesus Christ has accomplished the work given to Him. He has ‘sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high’. He has come through as Son of Man, so that man can fulfil his great destiny as seen in Psalm 8.

Jesus went through the agony of the cross and came into resurrection-ascension. He is now on the throne. There He intercedes for us as our heavenly High Priest. He is able to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them, Heb 7.25. He is the Son made perfect forever. He has offered the perfect sacrifice, which is Himself. His is the perfect, finished work, the Finished Work of the Cross. He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, ‘sat down at the right hand of God’, Heb 10.12.

The third time we come across this phrase is in Heb 12.2. There it says, Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, for the joy set before Him [what is that joy? Is it not the ‘bringing of many sons to glory’? Heb 2.10] endured the cross, despising the shame, and ‘has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God’.

It is a Finished Work of the Cross, a perfect once-for-all-time work, that has brought us into the very presence of God, into the most holy place [Heb 10.19], where the sevenfold spiritual mysteries of the ‘golden altar of incense’, ‘the ark of the covenant covered with gold’, the ‘golden jar of manna’, ‘Aaron’s rod which budded’, ‘the tables of the covenant’, ‘the cherubim of glory’ and the ‘mercy seat’ have to be appreciated and enjoyed by us. We now enjoy the blessings of the New Covenant by faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. Faith is ‘faith-rest’. The ‘living Word’, Jesus, is the ‘final statement’. The Cross in all its aspects of death-burial-resurrection-ascension is a Finished Work.

We have to go outside the camp of Judaism, legalism, denominationalism and religion [modern Christianity] – seeking the city which is to come, a city with foundations [an unshaken kingdom] whose architect and builder is God, the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem – Mount Zion, to which the writer says, ‘we have already come’, Heb 12.22. Therefore, by faith resting in the Final Word, the Finished Work, the Fullness of God seen in our Lord Jesus Christ, let us continually offer up the ‘sacrifice of praise’ and glory in Him and what He has done.

Madame Guyon

2005-01-27T03:45:00.000-08:00

A little bird I am
Shut from the fields of air,
And in my cage I sit and sing
To Him who placed me there,
Well pleased a prisoner to be
Because, my God, it pleaseth Thee.

My cage confines me round,
Abroad I cannot fly,
But though my wing is closely bound
My soul is at liberty -
For prison walls cannot control
The flight, the freedom, of the soul.