Demands of Jesus - Always Pray and Do Not Lose Heart - 3

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus

We have been learning about the demand of Jesus to pray. In the previous session, Part 1 & Part 2, we received an answer to our why we should pray, Jesus says: because God is very much inclined to hear and answer our prayers - which is not surprising, since prayer is designed to magnify God's glory while sustaining our joy in Him. Now let us understand on How we are to pray...

HOW? Simplicity

The readiness of God to answer and His perfect knowledge of what we need before we ask means that we should be simple in our wording and reject anything like a repetitive mantra that would imply God is aroused by our monotonous incantations. "When you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him" (Matt.6:7-8).

HOW? With Perseverance

This does not mean that there is no room for perseverance in prayer. In fact, Jesus is explicit in telling us to be persistent in prayer over a long period of time, if necessary, as we seek some crucial breakthrough in the cause of righteousness for His glory (Luke 11:5-8; 18:1-8). The point is not to finally break God's resistance but to discover, by patient prayer, God's wisdom as to the way and time the prayer should be answered. He is not disinclined to help His children and glorify His name. He simply knows better than we do when and how the answer should come. Therefore, our persistence in prayer shows both our confidence that God is our only hope and that He will act in the best way and the best time in response to our persistent pleas.

HOW? Through His Death and In His Name

The confidence that we have in prayer is owing to Jesus. He did not just teach us to pray - He died for us and rose again to remove insuperable obstacles to prayer. Without the death of Jesus, our sins would not be forgiven (Matt. 26:28) and the wrath of God would still be against us (John 3:36). In that condition we could expect no answers to prayer from God. Therefore, Jesus is the ground of all our prayers. This is why He taught us to pray in His Name. "Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son" (John 14:13; 16:23-24). Ending our prayers "in Jesus' name, Amen' is not a mere tradition; it is an affirmation of faith in Jesus as the only hope of access to God.

Dear Brothers and Sisters, I know stop here. We have understood 3 aspects on How we are to pray to our Father in Heaven. May the grace of our Father, the love of our Savior Jesus, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be a guidance unto us to keep on praying on our knees and in our hearts. Please do keep our spiritual fathers, especially our father, H. G. Zachariah Mar Theophilus, who is undergoing treatment for cancer in US  and please do keep me a sinful servant in your prayers.

Your Brother in Christ Jesus

Jobin

Source: What Jesus Demands from the World - John Piper

Demands of Jesus - Always Pray and Do Not Lose Heart - 2

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus

It has been a month since I last posted on the series on "Demands of Jesus". I had been busy with some personal matters and was also in the transfer process from Cochin to Pune in India on work related matters. We have been learning about the Demands made by Jesus of His followers for the past few months. In the previous session, we started to learn about Jesus' demand to keep on praying and we were learning on WHY should we pray. We learnt one of the reasons being that prayer glorifies our God - Prayer is designed by God to display His fullness and our need. Prayer glorifies God because it puts usin the position of the thirsty and God in the position of the all-supplying fountain.

Now let us look into the second reason why Jesus asked us to pray

WHY? For our Joy
The other purpose Jesus came to accomplish was our joy. Everything He taught was aimed to free us from eternal-joy-killers and fill us with the only joy that lasts - joy in God. "These things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves" (John 17:13). One of His most pervasive teachings for our joy was the teaching on prayer, and He made His motive explicit: Our joy. "Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full" (John 16:24). The most wonderful thing about prayer, as Jesus demands it, is that it is perfectly suited to secure God's glory and our joy.

These are great incentives for us to obey Jesus' demand that we "always... pray and not lose heart" (Luke 18:1). To these He adds other incentives, because He is so eager for us to feel hopeful in our praying. He says, for example, "Your Father knows what you need before you ask Him" (Matt. 6:8). The point is that we don't need to multiply pious phrases in prayer hoping that we might awaken God's attention or inclination. He is our caring Father, and He is all-knowing. He will answer. Then Jesus underlines God's readiness to answer by comparing Him to a human father, but pointing out that God is far more eager to answer than human fathers:

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you... which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in Heaven give good things to those who ask Him! (Matt. 7:7-11)

So in answer to the question why we should pray, Jesus says: because God is inclined to hear and answer our prayers - which is not surprising, since prayer is designed to magnify God's glory while sustaining our joy in Him.

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus, we have now understood on 'WHY' Jesus asks us to pray without losing heart. In the following series, we will understand on How are we to pray and What are we to pray and For Whom are we to pray. 

May the love of our Heavenly Father, grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the Fellowship of the Holy Spirit guide us all to pray unceasingly to our Father. Please do keep this sinful servant in your prayers.

Your Brother in Christ Jesus

Jobin

Source: What Jesus Demands from the World - John Piper

Demands of Jesus - Always Pray and Do Not Lose Heart - 1

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus

We have been learning steadily about the demands that Jesus makes of His followers. In this session let us now concentrate why Jesus asks us to pray. 

And He told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. - Luke 18:1

But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. - Matt. 6:6

Jesus intends to create a praying people. His demand is clear, and the issue is so important that He tells us why, how, for whom, and what we are to pray. And though we might think that the Son of God would be above the need to pray, He sets the example for us, as a perfect human being, by rising early in the morning to pray (Mark 1:35) and seeking times alone to pray (Matt. 14:23) and sometimes spending the whole night in prayer (Luke 6:12) and, in the end, preparing for His suffering by prayer (Luke 22:41-42).

WHY? FOR THE GLORY OF GOD

Why did Jesus think prayer was so important for His followers? The reason is that prayer corresponds with two great purposes of God that Jesus came to accomplish: God's glory and our joy. Jesus said: "Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son" (John 14:13). Prayer is designed by God to display His fullness and our need. Prayer glorifies God because it puts usin the position of the thirsty and God in the position of the all-supplying fountain.

Jesus knew the Psalms and read Psalm 50:15 where God, like Jesus, demands that we pray for help and shows that this gives glory to God: "Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me." Prayer is designed as a way of relating to God, so that it is clear we get the help and He gets the glory. Jesus said that He had come to glorify His Father. "I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do" (John 17:4). Part of what God had given Him to do was to teach His disciples to pray, because when we pray in Jesus' name, "the Father (is) glorified in thee Son" (John 14:13).

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus

This is just the beginning of the next session of why we are meant to be a praying people to the Lord. In the next session we will see why prayer is for our joy. Let the mercy of the Father, the love of Jesus and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all.

Please do keep me in your prayers

Your brother in Christ Jesus

Demands of Jesus - Do Not Be Anxious About the Threats of Man - 3

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus

In the last session, we were learning about some of the reasons why Jesus said not to be anxious about the threats of man, to not to be afraid to speak clearly and openly what Jesus taught us - even if it costs us our lives in the end. Let us look into some more reasons why Jesus says so...

EVEN THE HAIRS OF YOUR HEAD ARE ALL NUMBERED

Fourth reason Jesus says to not fear to speak the truth, but to be courageous and speak clearly and openly is because God is always giving close and intimate attention to all you do. Jesus says, "Even the hairs of your head are all numbered" (Matt. 10:30). In other words, the suffering you may undergo in speaking the truth is not because God is disinterested in you or unfamiliar with your plight. He is close enough to separate one hair from another and give each one a number. Fear not; He is close. He is interested; He cares. Be of good courage, and speak the truth whatever the cost.

NOT ONE OF THEM WILL FALL TO THE GROUND WITHOUT YOUR FATHER'S WILL

Finally, fear not because God will not let anything happen to you apart from His gracious will. "You are of more value than many sparrows." "Not one of them will fall to the ground without your Father's will" (Matt. 10.29, 31). Jesus' point is: God governs the world right down to the smallest events like birds falling to the ground. Therefore, no harm can befall you but what God wills. This confidence has given great courage to the followers of Jesus for centuries. Many have spoken in the words of missionary Henry Martyn, "If God has work for me to do, I cannot die." We are immortal until the work God has for us is done.

SO DO NOT FEAR THE FACE OF ANY MANY

Therefore, the demand of Jesus stands, and there is sufficient reason to obey it with joy and courage. Don't be anxious about the ordinary needs of life, and don't fear the threats of man. Don't yield to the spirit of age that woos us into peaceful silence when the truth is being trampled. "Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth," Jesus said. "I have not come to bring peace, but a sword" (Matt. 10:34). Not the sword of steel, but the sword of truth that gives life to all who believe. Love the truth, therefore, and what you learn from Jesus in the solitude speak from the housetop. And do not fear the face of any man.

Dear brothers and sisters, I have now completed the Demand of Jesus to not to be anxious about the threats of man. Hope that you all enjoyed and learnt from these series. Will come soon with more of Jesus Demands. Stay tuned. Meanwhile do uphold me in your prayers.

Your brother in Christ Jesus

Jobin George

Demands of Jesus - Do Not Be Anxious About the Threats of Man - 2

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus

In the last session, we learnt that we should be courageous to talk about Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. We should  be courageous to stand for Jesus in the dark and unsavory world, in which we are now living. Now let us look at some of the reasons why we should have courage to be standing for Christ, even if it means death of our life and everything we might hold dear in our life.

THEY WILL MALIGN YOU LIKE THEY DID JESUS

When we consider Matthew 10:26, Jesus says, "SO [therefore] have no fear of them." In other words, fearlessness should flow from what Jesus just said - "If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of His household."

Jesus reasons such: "Your mistreatment for speaking the truth is not some unexpected, random, meaningless experience; instead it's the same way they treated me, and so it's a sign that you belong to me. So don't be afraid of the names they call you when you speak out plainly. Those very names bind you and me together."

NOTHING IS COVERED THAT WILL NOT BE REVEALED

Secondly, in the middle of the same verse 26 - "So have no fear of them; FOR nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that  will not be known." How are we to be made courageous here?

It gives us assurance that the truth we are speaking will triumph. It will be vindicated in the end. People may reject it ow. They may call it demonic. They may cast it out. They may try to bury it and hide it from the world ad pretend that it does not exist. But Jesus says, "Take heart in the cause of truth, because in the end all truth will be revealed. All reality will be uncovered. Ad those who spoke it with clarity and openness will be vindicated.'

FEAR NOT, YOU CAN ONLY BE KILLED!

Thirdly, Jesus says, fear not, you can only be killed! "And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul" (Matt. 10:28). In other words, the worst thing your opponents can do to you when you speak the truth is kill your body. And that leaves the soul untouched and happy in God forever. But if you keep silent, if you forsake the path of truth and fall in love with the praise of men, you could lose your very soul. If you want to fear something, fear that! But don't fear what man can do to you. All he can do is dispatch your soul to paradise. Fear not.

Your Brother in Christ Jesus

Jobin George

Demands of Jesus - Do Not Be Anxious About the Threats of Man - 1

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus

In the last session, we completed why Jesus demands us not to be anxious about our daily necessities, but even is we gain a measure of victory over the fear that all our needs will not be met, there remains another gut-wrenching fear that we all face. The fear of speaking the truth when it might cost us our lives. Jesus deals with this fear in Matthew 10:24-31. It is especially relevant in our day as the likelihood increases that tolerance will hold sway for everyone, except the person who claims that everyone must give absolute allegiance to Jesus.

The aim of Jesus in Matthew 10:24-31 is to give us the courage to speak His truth with clarity and openness no matter what the cost. Throughout the command, Jesus makes three repetitions of the command do not fear.

Verse 26: "So have no fear of them."

Verse 28: "Do not fear those who kill the body."

Verse 31: "Fear not therefore; you are of much more value than many sparrows." 

Jesus' aim is clear: Be fearlessly courageous. But courageous to do what? Let's concentrate on what Jesus demands us to courageously do.

WHAT YOU HEAR WHISPERED, PROCLAIM UPON HOUSETOPS

Jesus has something very specific in mind that is threatened by fear and advanced by courage. he says in Matthew 10:27-28, "What I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear whispered, proclaim upon housetops. And do not fear..." We all can relate to this fear. We face it constantly in our daily lives. We are afraid to speak about Jesus to this world, fearing what others will think about us. We fear we might lose our comfortable positions in this world when we proclaim the Word of God. This is the fear that Jesus focuses in this passage: the fear of speaking clearly (in the light) and openly (on the housetops) when that speaking might get you into trouble.

So here's the demand: "Don't be afraid to speak clearly and openly what I have taught you, even if it costs you your life.

Rest of Jesus' words are motivation - five reasons why we should have courage in the cause of truth, which I would be glad to share with you in the upcoming days. May the grace of God, The Father, the love of Jesus Christ, His Son and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

Please do uphold this sinful brother in your prayers.

Jobin George

The above extract has been take from the book "What does Jesus demand from the world" by John Piper.

Demands of Jesus - Do Not be Anxious About the Necessities of Daily Life - 5

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus

Christ is Risen! Indeed, He is Risen! Wishing you all a very Happy Easter. Before the Great Lent we were learning about some of the demands of Jesus and in particular His demand to not be anxious about our daily lives. In Part 4, we were learning about the reasons why Jesus said such a demand. We learned that by being anxious we do not add anything to our lives and also that our Father in Heaven loves us so  much that He would take care of our needs. Now moving forward, lets see some more reasons why Jesus says not to be anxious about our daily necessities...

YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER KNOWS THAT YOU NEED THEM ALL

The fifth and sixth reasons why a follower of Jesus shouldn't be anxious are given in Matthew 6:32. We shouldn't be anxious about what we eat or drink or wear because "[fifth reason] the Gentiles seek after all these things; and [sixth reason] your Heavenly Father knows that you need them all." Anxiety about the things of this world puts us on the same level with the world of unbelievers. It shows that we are really very much like the world in what makes us happy. And Jesus assumes that we will not want to be like that. It also shows that we don't think our Father in Heaven knows our needs. Or perhaps we don't think He has the heart of a loving Father. Anxiety shows that we are too close to the world and too far from God. So don't be anxious-the world has nothing eternal to offer, and your loving heavenly Father knows your needs now and forever.

ALL THESE THINGS WILL BE ADDED TO YOU

The seventh reason not to be anxious is that when you seek the kingdom of God first, He works for you and provides all your needs. "Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added unto you" (Matt. 6:33). "All these things" does not mean everything we think we need, but everything we really need. And real needs are determined by what God calls us to do, not what we feel like doing. God will give us "all these things" that we need to fulfill His calling on our lives.

TOMORROW WILL BE ANXIOUS FOR ITSELF

The last argument is, "Do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Let the day's own trouble be sufficient for the day" (Matt. 6:34). In other words, God has appointed to each day its portion of pleasure and pain, as the old Swedish hymn says, especially the last  two lines of this verse:

Day by day, and with each passing moment,

Strength  find, to meet my trial here;

Trusting in my Father's wise bestowment,

I've no cause for worry or for fear.

He Whose heart is kind beyond all measure

Gives unto each day what He deems best-

Lovingly, its part pain and pleasure,

Mingling toil with peace and rest.

So don't misappropriate God's allotted troubles for tomorrow. That is, don't bring them forward into today in the form of anxiety. Believe that God will be God tomorrow. Tomorrow there will be grace for tomorrow's troubles. That grace is not given today.

The main point of all this is clear and unmistakable: Jesus does not want His followers to be anxious. He does not secure His kingdom by keeping His subjects in a state of worry. On the contrary, according to Matthew 6:33, the more primary and central His kingship becomes in our lives, the less anxiety we will have.

Source: What does Jesus Demand from the World - John Piper

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus, with this I now finish Jesus' demand for not to be anxious about our daily necessities. Let us all be more trusting in His abundant grace to carry us through our daily troubles.

Please do keep this sinful brother in your prayers.

Jobin George

"The Lord bless you and keep you; 

The Lord make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; 

The Lord lift His countenance upon you, And give you peace." - Numbers 6:24-26

Tuesday before Palm Sunday – Commentary on Gospel Reading

St. Luke 9:18-27 and St. Mark 10:32-45

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus

We are now just 5 days away from when we will be celebrating and remembering our Lord’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem Temple. Our church has prescribed the following reading - Gospel according to St. Luke 9:18-27 and St. Mark 10:32-45 for the Tuesday before Hosanna / Palm Sunday. Dear friends, since the first part of both the readings is common and the message same, I would take them both together, but the second part I will be concentrating on the reading from the Gospel of St. Mark.

In the Gospel according to St. Luke 9:18-20, Jesus asks His disciples to say who He is to them. Just as He asked His disciples about who He is to them, He is also constantly asking who He is for us. The Christian faith is not just limited to say that we are followers of Christ, but Jesus requires you to take a stand on our beliefs for ourselves. It is not what others believe, but in whom you believe in. Who do you say Jesus is?

In both the Gospels, St. Luke 9:21-22 and St. Mark 10:32-34 Jesus tells His disciples about His death by the hands of elders and priests and teachers of religious law. But the disciples would seldom understand what Jesus meant by all this, since they all still expected the Messiah to come as a conquering king. He spoke to them the words about resurrection, but they heard only His words about death. Jesus often spoke in parables, therefore the disciples must have thought that His words on death and resurrection were another parable they weren't astute enough to understand. How many of us think on the same lines. We read our Lord’s words in the Bible and still we do not understand Him. We still go far from Him.

In the Gospel of St. Mark, we are said that two of Jesus’ disciples went to Jesus with a request of being seated at the places of honor beside His glorious throne. As stated before, the disciples were still assuming that the Lord would be a conquering King and when His throne is established they wanted to have seats of honor. We too think along the same lines. How many of us would love to have glorious life here on earth? We think that accepting and following Christ would give us monetary stability, long and peaceful life here on earth. But Jesus’ Kingdom is not of this world, it is not centered in palaces and thrones but in the hearts and lives of His followers.

How many of us are willing to suffer for Jesus? James and John said they were willing to suffer, and yes they suffered indeed. James died as a martyr (Acts 12:2), and John was forced to live in exile (Revelation 1:9). It is easy for us to say that we would endure anything for Christ, and yet many of us complain about the most minor problems. We may say that we are willing to suffer for Christ, but are we willing to suffer the minor irritations that sometimes come with serving others?

James and John wanted the highest positions in Jesus’ Kingdom. But Jesus told them that true greatness comes in serving others. In today’s age, greatness is measured by personal achievement. In Christ’s Kingdom however it is service which will make one great. Rather than seeking to have your needs met, look for ways that you can minister to the needs of others.

“For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give His life as a ransom for many.” – St. Mark 10:45

This verse not only reveals the motive for Jesus’ ministry but also the basis for our salvation. A ransom was the price paid to release a slave. Jesus paid a ransom for us because we could not pay it ourselves. His death released all of us from our slavery to sin. The disciples thought Jesus’ life and power would save them from Rome; Jesus said his death would save them from sin, and even greater slavery than Rome’s.

Hope you have blessed Lenten season

May the Lord Almighty bless you and keep you in all your ways.

Your Brother in Christ Jesus

Jobin George 

March 9 - Forty Martyrs of Sebaste

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus

On March 9th, the church remembers the 40 Martyrs who died for their Christian faith in Sebaste. What makes it more amazing is that the martyrs were all soldiers of the Roman Empire during 320 A.D. They were soldiers of Legio XII Fulminata (Armed with Lightning). These soldiers are recounted in the martyrologies for their stand for their faith against persecutions Licinius. The earliest mention of these martyrs is done by Bishop Basil of Caesarea.

Account of Martyrdom

The story of these mysterious martyrs unfolds in the city of Sebaste during the reign of Emperor Licinius in 320 A.D. A garrison of Roman soldiers-- 40 in number -- were stationed in this remote Armenian town. While they were bold, courageous soldiers, they were also devout Christians. Upon hearing of this in Rome, the infuriated Emperor issued an edict, stating that those throughout the Empire who would not worship pagan gods would be tortured and put to death. An additional contingent of soldiers was sent to Sebaste to see exactly where the loyalties of these 40 Christians actually stood.

We are told that to a man, all forty soldiers refused to reject Christ. A cruel death was planned for them. It was bitterly cold in Sebaste at this time of the year, and they were forced to remove their clothes and stand along the shores of a frozen lake, looking across the waters at the glowing fires of the pagans -- where they could go if they would renounce the Lord. Still they refused! As death approached, a band of angels came down from heaven and placed crowns on the heads of these dying saints. It is said that one of the Roman guards was so moved by this glorious sight that he removed his own garments and rushed to die himself at the side of these Christian warriors.

Names of the 40 Martyrs

Ss. Cyrion (Quirio), Candidus, Domnus, Hesychius, Heraclius, Smaragdus, Eunoicus, Valens, Vivianus, Claudius, Priscus, Theodulus, Eutychius, John, Santhias, Helianus, Sisinius, Angius, Aetius, Flavius, Acacius, Ecdicius, Lysimachus, Alexander, Elias, Gorgonius, Theophilus, Dometian, Gaius, Leontius, Athanasius, Cyril, Sacerdon, Nicholas, Valerius, Philoctimon, Severian, Chudion, Aglaius, and Meliton are commemorated by the Church on March 9.

Hymns

Troparion

Together let us honor the holy company united by faith,

Those noble warriors of the Master of all.

They were divinely enlisted for Christ,

And passed through fire and water.

Then they entered into refreshment praying for those who cry:

Glory to him who has strengthened you!

Glory to him who has crowned you!

Glory to him who has made you wonderful, O holy Forty Martyrs!

Kontakion

You abandoned all earthly armies,

Cleaving to the heavenly Master, O Forty Martyrs of the Lord.

Having passed through fire and water, O Blessed Ones,

You have fittingly received heavenly glory and many crowns.

Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHS7U6RCr2U&playnext=1&list=PL55D3DB4417DCCE9D&feature=results_video

4th Friday of the Great Lent - Gospel Reading - St. Luke 17:1-10

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus

As we near the blessed Passion Week, we are being taught more and more important life changing lessons by our Lord. From today's reading, I will be concentrating on the following key verses - 

"There will always be temptations to sin, but what sorrow awaits the person who does the tempting!... So watch yourselves!" - St. Luke 17:1-3

"If another believer sins, rebuke that person; then if there is repentance, forgive." - St. Luke 17:3

"If you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, 'May you be uprooted and thrown into the sea,' and it would obey you!" - St. Luke 17:6

Dear friends, in our daily lives we all face temptations of some kind. From the smallest truths to committing adultery and fornication to murder and to so many of the other faults, we are constantly being tempted to choose the correct path. And Jesus knows that we are always tempted and He understands our pains because He has undergone the same pains and tribulations and He empathizes with us. But He warns those who tempt others. We as followers of Jesus are never meant to lead others astray by tempting them to commit sins. In today's time when corruption is at our doorsteps every day through television programs and internet.While we must guard against physical abuse, we must also be aware of and work against the mental and spiritual corruption that are caused by unfiltered and unsupervised internet surfing and television viewing can bring.

Also Jesus focuses on the "little children" who can be new disciples. It is a burden for the parents and teachers to bear to give training and correct treatment to these young ones, so that they are able to fight the spiritual and mental battle that awaits them tomorrow and to make them theologically sound.

Secondly, Jesus tells us that if there is a believer whom we believe is sinning, then we are to go and point out his sin with the purpose of restoring him or her to God and to fellow humans. We are also meant to check our attitudes when you are to rebuke that person. Are you rebuking that person in love? Are you willing to forgive? Unless rebuke is tied to forgiveness, it will not help  the sinning person.

Lastly, when the disciples ask Him to show faith for such radical forgiveness, Jesus gives an example of a mustard seed. He said that our faith should be like a mustard seed. But what is faith? Faith is complete trust and loyalty to God that results in a willingness to do His will. Faith is not something we use to put on a show to others. It is complete and humble obedience to God's will, readiness to do whatever He calls us to do. The amount of faith is not as important as the right kind of faith - faith in our all powerful God. Hence He uses the example of the mustard seed.

Mustard seed is small, almost invisible, but the seed will spread, first underground, then later sprout above the ground. Like a tiny seed, a small amount of genuine faith in God will take root and grow. Although the changes are gradual and imperceptible, soon this faith will have produced major results that will uproot and destroy competing loyalties. We don't need more faith; a tiny seed of faith is enough f it is alive and growing.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus

Hope that this Lenten season would be a blessing unto you all, and may you have ever growing seeds of faith in your heart for your Almighty and All Knowing and Ever Loving God and Creator, Who was willing to send His beloved Son for you and for me to be crucified for our sins so that we might not perish.

Please do uphold me, a sinful servant in your prayers.

Your Brother

Jobin George