An Ancient Advice

VERSE: Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but {rather} in speech, conduct, love, faith {and} purity, show yourself an example of those who believe. 1 Tim 4:12

Timothy was the son of a Jewish mother, who had become a Christian believer, and of a Greek father. Timothy's home was in Lystra in the Roman province of Galatia in what is now Turkey. Paul, the apostle had written to Timothy advising him to be an example to those who believe.

This world we live is slowly becoming extinct of examples among the youth. Paul tells Timothy to be an example in five things among believers: speech, conduct, love, faith and purity. Paul is advising Timothy to be an example among believers!?!

Well, shocking it maybe, I think it is something that was required and is required. The Church requires young people who can be examples for this generation. The world lacks people who say the right things, who do the right things, who show genuine love, who believe in God and those who believe in purity. The new believer has nowhere to look but in the church for such examples of encouragment, genuine faith, love and purity in thought and action.

THOUGHT: Are you ready for this challenge? If you are young, are you ready to be an example among believers?

All verses have been quoted from the New American Standard Bible, Copyright (c) 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved.

Do you believe that I am able to do this?

VERSES:
Mat 21:21 And Jesus answered them, Truly I say to you, if you have faith (a [14] firm relying trust) and do not doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, Be taken up and cast into the sea, it will be done.

Mat 9:28 When He reached the house and went in, the blind men came to Him, and Jesus said to them, Do you believe that I am able to do this? They said to Him, Yes, Lord.



When I first got the news that I was moving to Mumbai(Bombay), I was filled with excitement as well as uncertainity. I wasn't sure of many things especially how I would arrange my accomodation. For those who know Mumbai, it happens to be one of the most costliest cities to live in India and finding accomodation can be a nightmare.

After staying at a hotel for nearly four days we decided, we needed to shift into a new flat. We had only one evening to find a place to stay. We started at 4pm and had not found a place to stay even after looking for one for 4 hours. We were taken to some places that we couldn't even call a place to stay. It was getting frustrating when God reminded me of those two verses I mentioned above. Our mountain was getting a place to stay and God was asking me whether I was ready to believe that He is able to do this? It was that simple. I knew God was in control. All I needed to do was to believe like the blind men.

As we were almost giving up, one of my colleagues got a tip from his friend that a place may be available in Andheri that was quite close to one of our offices. We decided to pay a visit to the place though it was getting late. By 9:30pm, we finally reached the place. We were impressed because it had all the amenities that we required. All that it required was FAITH that HE will do it.

THOUGHT: Many times in our life when uncertainty strikes us, God asks this one simple question, Do you believe that I am able to do this? What will be your answer?

Glow for it!

VERSE: You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. Mt 5:14-16 (New King James Version)

Jesus says that believers are the ‘light of the world’. After this, He goes on to say that a city set on a hill cannot be hidden. When one becomes a Christian, he or she starts taking stands or making decisions that may not always be popular with others. Or he or she may do things that most other people may not care about or things that people may find strange. In any case, it’s hard for a committed Christian to always be ‘low-profile’. Things in his life will make him stand out. According to Jesus, that’s the idea of being a Christian.

One may try to underplay these differences for fear of offending people or inviting mockery. It’s not always easy to make ‘that difference’ in one’s Christian walk. But placing a lamp below a basket defeats the very purpose of its existence. ‘For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, has shone in our hearts to GIVE the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.’ (2 Cor. 4:6) Jesus died on the cross for our sins, that we may be called children of God. This knowledge is not just like a paragraph in a text book but it is a ‘light’ that takes people from the darkness of sin into the life of freedom, hope and purpose in Christ. Like the verse says, Christians are here so this ‘light’ can be GIVEN.

God has made the way to eternal joy through Jesus. Believers have found this way. But we are in a world so darkened by sin; many people can never find this way. The believer’s challenge is to show people in word and deed that Jesus and His saving grace makes the difference in life, so that God’s name can be glorified.

God has made the way. Glow for it!

THOUGHT: We as Christians are the light of the world. How bright are we shining?