Avarice

"Put avarice out of your lives and be content with whatever you have; God himself has said: I shall not fail you or desert you, and so we can say with confidence: With the Lord on my side, I fear nothing. What can human beings do to me?" (Hebrews 13:5)

What is avarice? Avarice is extreme desire to amass wealth. It is greed. To be avaricious means to be immoderately fond of accumulating. Avarice is wanting more than we need today because of fear of shortages in the future. Fear of what the future holds causes avarice. Lack of faith in God and his loving providence causes fear.

Lord, grant me strong faith in your powerful and loving providence so that I can leave tomorrow completely in your hands.

Call and Gifted

"For the gifts and calling of God are irrevocable." (Romans 11: 29) – New Revised Standard Version

"For the gracious gifts of God and his calling are irrevocable." – Revised English Bible

"For the gifts and call of God are irrevocable." – New American Bible

"There is no change of mind on God's part about the gifts he has made or his choice." – New Jerusalem

I shudder when I apply this scripture to myself. I flash back to 1972 when I had a great desire to be a friend and companion of Jesus. I abandoned that dream for many years. About 1992, that dream started slowly but surely to come back to me. Today I want nothing else but to be a friend and companion of Jesus. Certainly God has not revoked his gracious gifts to me or his calling.

My God, I thank you for your faithful love. May your gifts and call to me not be ineffective in Jesus name. Amen!

Decorum in Mission

"If you enter house anywhere, stay there until you leave the district. And if any place does not welcome you and people refuse to listen to you, as you walk away shake off the dust under your feet as evidence to them." (Mark 6: 10)

This is a detailed instruction to the apostles on how to behave in mission field. Proper decorum must be observed at all times. No jumping from place to place. Jesus taught his disciples to expect failure and rejection. And also how to deal with them when they happen. Lord teach me how to use these ideas in my work.

Trusting God to provide

"And he instructed them to take nothing for the journey except a staff, no bread, no haversack, no coppers for their purses. They were to wear sandals but, he added, 'Don't take a spare tunic." (Mark 6: 8-9)

Trust me completely for all that you need for this mission. After all, it me who sends you. Do you imagine that I am so poor? Or perhaps you think that I am such a careless and heartless employer? When I fed 7000 people with a few loaves and fish, how left over did you gather? I want you also to be free of every unnecessary baggage. Seek first the kingdom of God and his justice and God will always take care of all your needs.

Lord Jesus, I hear you well this morning. I believe I am where I am because of your call and your leading. Teach me how to follow you, how to trust you completely in this mission.

The Mystery of Jesus

"With the coming of the Sabbath he began teaching in the synagogue, and most of them were astonished when they heard him. They said, 'Where did the man get all this? What is this wisdom that has been granted him, and these miracles that are worked through him?" (Mark 6:2)

The people who were amazed by the teaching of Jesus in the synagogue knew that the wisdom of Jesus was granted from above. The Old Testament taught them that wisdom is a gift of God. God grants wisdom to those who fear him, desires wisdom and study his word. The people also knew that the power of Jesus to work miracles came from above. Jesus was a mystery to them.

Lord Jesus, teach me that I may teach like you. Grant me much wisdom for your work. Amen.

Discipline and Fruitfulness

"Of course, any discipline is at the time a matter for grief, not joy; but later, in those who have undergone it, it bears fruit in peace and uprightness." (Hebrews 12:11)

Today, I can bear testimony to the truth of the above scripture. When in 1995, God was shaping new attitudes in me with regard to family, health, money, tools, jobs and food, I was full of grief. What terrible suffering, I thought to myself at the time. Today, I enjoy every moment my calm and confident attitude vis-à-vis money, health, job, family, tools and job. It is not that I am perfect. I am still in the race heading towards the goal.

God's training for me is bearing "fruit in peace and uprightness" and perseverance. Thank you Father.

Your training

"Perseverance is part of your training; God is treating you as his sons. Has there ever been any son whose father did not train him? If you were not getting this training, as all of you are, then you would be not sons but bastards." (Hebrews 12: 7)

How is God training me in perseverance? Through delays, obstacles and disappointments. God teaches me to wait. God teaches me to begin again after every fall. Yes, I have learned to be ready to make a fresh beginning.

Train me

"My son, do not scorn correction from the Lord, do not resent his training, for the Lord trains those he loves, and chastises every son he accepts." (Hebrews 12: 5)

This word of God transformed my desert experience in 1995. I had lost everything including my health. I kept awake at night wondering what was going on in my life. I could not see an end to my situation. Then one Sunday, I heard the above scripture proclaimed from the altar. It was addressed to me. I believed what I heard. I felt immediately peace and knew that I had an answer to all my queries to God. That Sunday afternoon, I confided in my journal what happened. It is almost 12 years since the private revelation and events since then had vindicated that the desert experience was God's greatest blessing and gift to me.

Thank you Father, for training me. I am all yours. Train me as you see fit.

Do not be afraid

"But Jesus overhead what they said and he said to the president of the synagogue, 'Do not be afraid; have faith." (Mark 5: 36)

Jairus approached Jesus believing that he could heal her daughter. Before Jesus could do that, a storm broke: Jairus' daughter died. Everything seemed lost. Jairus would have thought: "If only the Master had hurried and arrived while the child was still alive, he could have done something." Jesus knowing what Jairus was thinking, urged him not to waver in his original belief inspite of the new development.

I started the Enterprise with firm belief that this is God's will for me. Then I encountered fierce storms and saw many giants. I panicked. "O Lord I am sinking. Save me!" The Lord reached out his hand and grabbed me. He said to me: "Emmanuel, do not be afraid; only have faith. Maintain the faith which you had originally in the Enterprise. I will not fail you nor forsake you." Thank you, Jesus. These are sweet words.

Persistent Desire

"My daughter,' he said 'your faith has restored you to health; go in peace and be free from your complaint." (Mark 5: 34)

What truth is the above snippet of scripture teaching me today?

Faith that is firm is also patient, the Prophet Isaiah teaches. This woman's persistent search for health led her to all sorts of ineffective remedies. She had tried everything. At long last, she came to Jesus. Her persistent desire shows her faith. Jesus rewarded her faith with healing.

Today, I seek healing in a number of areas in my life. If I am to learn from this woman's example, I do not need to try all sorts of ineffective remedies before coming to Jesus. I need to be persistent in my desire for healing. Faith that is firm is also patient. Patient hope is never disappointed, scripture teaches.

Opposition from sinners

"Think of the way he persevered against such opposition from sinners and then you will not lose heart and come to grief." (Hebrews 12:3)

Today is Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent. Lent is a time for resolutions, a time to begin afresh. It is a season of grace, a season that God himself calls "a favorable time; a very acceptable time." Lent is also a time for great temptations. When we enter into the spirit of Lent, we move into the desert. The desert is a place of struggle; it is a place and time for spiritual warfare. Those who are opposed to God will oppose us. Hebrews 12:3 urges us to be steadfast in the face of "such opposition from sinners." In order not to falter, we should fix our eyes on Jesus who "persevered against such opposition from sinners." If we do not fix our eyes on Jesus, then we "will lose heart and come to grief."

Wait on God

"My son, when you come to serve the LORD,

stand in justice and fear,

prepare yourself for trials.

Be sincere of heart and steadfast,

incline your ear and receive the word of understanding,

undisturbed in time of adversity.

Wait on God, with patience, cling to him, forsake him not;

thus will you be wise in all your ways.

Accept whatever befalls you,

when sorrowful, be steadfast,

and in crushing misfortune be patient;

For in fire gold and silver are tested,

and worthy people in the crucible of humiliation.

Trust God and God will help you; trust in him, and he will direct your way;

keep his fear and grow old therein.



You who fear the LORD, wait for his mercy,

turn not away lest you fall.

You who fear the LORD, trust him,

and your reward will not be lost.

You who fear the LORD, hope for good things,

for lasting joy and mercy.

You who fear the LORD, love him,

and your hearts will be enlightened.

Study the generations long past and understand;

has anyone hoped in the LORD and been disappointed?

Has anyone persevered in his commandments and been forsaken?

has anyone called upon him and been rebuffed?

Compassionate and merciful is the LORD;

he forgives sins, he saves in time of trouble

and he is a protector to all who seek him in truth."

Sirach 2: 1 - 11

Eyes fixed on Jesus

"Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, who leads us in our faith and brings it to perfection." (Hebrews 12: 12)

In the Enterprise, I fix my eyes on Jesus all the time.

I feel inspired by the example of Jesus and the saints. When I think of the joy which lay ahead, I persevere.

What joy am I presently looking forward to?

Joy of my ministry. Joy of growth in friendship and companionship with Jesus.

Cloud of Witnesses

"With so many witnesses in a great cloud all around us, we too, then, should throw off everything that weighs us down and the sin that clings so closely, and with perseverance keep running in the race which lies ahead of us." (Hebrews 12:1)

Who are my witnesses and my inspirations?

• Peter
  
• Paul
  
• John the Evangelist
  
• Augustine
  
• Ignatius Loyola
  
• Francis Xavier
  
• Peter Canisius
  
• Louis de Monfort
  
• Therese of Lisieux
  
• Dominic
  
• Vincent de Paul.
  

These and many more are my patron saints. These and million others have completed the race, proving that it can be done. Why can't I? Anthony Robbins, the motivational writer would say: Seek their strategy. Unilever PLC will put it this way: Go for the best practice.

What are the things that weigh me down? What excess baggage am I carrying here and now?

"Then there are others who receive the seed in thorns. These have heard the word, but the worries of this world, the lure of riches and all the other passions come in to choke the word, and so it produces nothing." (Mark 4: 15-20)

Proclaim

"Go home to your people and tell them all the Lord in his mercy has done for you.' So the man went off and proceeded to proclaim in the Decapolis all that Jesus had done for him. And everyone was amazed." (Mark 11: 19 – 20)

"I will be a witness to you in the world, O Lord. I will spread the knowledge of your name among my brothers." (Psalm 18:50; 21:23)

Lord, will you help me do this? I know the answer. Thank you Jesus.

Babel

"The Lord came down to see the city and tower that they had built. Then the Lord said: "If now, while they are one people, all speaking the same language, they have started to do this, nothing will later stop them from doing whatever they presume to do. Let us then go down and there confuse their language, so that one will not understand what another says." Thus the Lord scattered them from there all over the earth, and they stopped building the city. That is why it was called Babel, because there the Lord confused the speech of all the world. It was from this place that he scattered them all over the earth." (Genesis 11: 5 – 9)

God shows in this story that he is in control of events and not man. He is the Lord of history who brings low the pride of man whenever he wishes. God's loving providence governs everything.

"The Lord brings to nought the plans of nations;

he foils the designs of peoples.

But the plan of the Lord stands forever,;

the design of his heart, through all generations."

(Psalm 33: 10-11)

The Power of Faith

"These were men who through faith conquered kingdoms, did what was upright and earned the promises. They could keep a lion's mouth shut, put out blazing fires and emerged unscathed from battle. They were weak people who were given strength to be brave in war and drive back foreign invaders." (Hebrews 11: 33)

I too can overcome through faith.

Through faith, we overcome the world. (1 John 5: 4-5)

"And this is the victory that has overcome the world – our faith. Who can overcome the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God."

Light and Guidance

The Lord will guide me always (Isaiah 58:11)

You will guide me (Psalm 31:3)

Let your good Spirit lead me (Psalm 143:10)

Lead me in the everlasting way (Psalm 139:24)

Lead me in your truth (Psalm 25:5)

The Lord will guide me continually (Isaiah 58:11)

With your counsel you will guide me (Psalm 73: 24)

I will lead the blind by a way they do not know (Isaiah 42: 16)

He will lead them to springs of water (Isaiah 49:10)

 

I lead them with cords of love (Hosea 11:4)

I lead you in the way you should go (Isaiah 48: 17)

The Lord directs his steps (Proverbs 16:9)

The Lord has guided me (Genesis 24: 27, 48)

However far away I go, your hand leads me (Psalm 139: 10)

You lead them to your holy habitation (Exodus 15: 13)

(Roget's Thesaurus of the Bible)

Waiting for the Lord / Expectation

1. Wait for the Lord (Psalm 27: 14; 37:34)
   

• Wait patiently for him (Psalm 37: 7)
  

  
   

1. I wait for you (Psalm 25: 21)
   

• For you I wait all day (Psalm 25: 5);
  

  
   

1. I wait for the Lord more than a watchman wait for the morning (Psalm 130: 5-6);
   

• I wait for God my savior (Micah 7:7)
  
• I wait patiently for the Lord (Psalm 40: 1)
  
• I wait in silence for God (Psalm 62: 1, 5)
  
• We wait for you (Isaiah 26: 8, 33: 2)
  

  
   

1. Those who wait for the Lord renew their strength (Isaiah 40: 31)
   

• Those who wait for the Lord will inherit the land (Psalm 37: 9)
  
• Blessed are those who wait for him (Isaiah 30: 18)
  
• May those who wait for you not be ashamed through me (Psalm 69:6)
  
• This is our God for whom we have waited (Isaiah 25:9)
  
• The Lord is good to those who wait for him (Lamentation 3: 25)
  

  
   

1. Be like men waiting for their Master (Luke 12: 36)
   
2. Saul was told to wait 7 days for Samuel (1 Samuel 10: 8; 13:8)
   
3. David will wait until word came (2 Samuel 15; 28)
   

 

(Roget's Thesaurus of the Bible)

Spirit of fear

"God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power and of love, and of a sound mind." (2 Timothy 1: 7)

Very often in his ministry, Jesus Christ tells us: "Do not be afraid." The truth is that when we look around us, we see so many things to cause us fear. We live our human condition in an environment of insecurity and fear inducing events. Let us consider some of these for a moment:

• Family
  
• Money
  
• Health
  
• Job
  
• Food
  
• Tools
  

These are things that cause us worry and fear. Why did Jesus tell us so often not to be afraid? First, God's loving providence provides and protects us in every situation. And the naked truth is that there is nothing we can do to change the situation that causes us fear. Then consider the Holy Spirit that God has given us – "the spirit of power and of love, and of a sound mind."