The Biblical Lifestyle (Ephesians 4: 25-32): Devotional Thought from Church History.

Spiritual and god fearing lifestyle would bring many to Christ. Whereas our ungodly and contentious lifestyle would certainly be a stumbling block for one’s salvation. Therefore, Apostle Paul in Ephesians 4: 25-32 exhorted believers to be distinctive in the areas of Morality (V: 25), Moods (V: 26-27), Money (V: 28), Mouths (V: 29-30), Manners (V: 31-32).

John of Monte Corvino the Franciscan was the first Catholic missionary to China in 1289. He worked largely in the Mongol tongue, translated the New Testament and the book of Psalms and had baptized 6000 converts. His successor Blessed Odoric arrived China in 1326 his 16 years faithful hard work had brought 20,000 converts to the Church.  But, the soar relationship, argument and contention between the Franciscan Friars and Nestorians (open this link to know Nestorianism https://carm.org/nestorianism) had slowdown the growth of the Church at that time in China.  The other notable Roman Catholic missionary to China was Matteo Ricci the Jesuit (1552 – 1610). He de-westernized himself completely, learned Chinese language, culture and Confucianism one of China’s major religions thoroughly. He worked among the educated and elite people in China.  His work among them had brought 2000 genuine Chinese believers to Christian faith. But, the other Roman Catholic missionaries like Franciscans, Dominicans and Augustinians envied the growing success of the Jesuits. They carried the case to Rome and the Jesuits appealed to the Chinese emperor their supporter. Finally, missionaries’ attack on each other made the emperor to expel all the missionaries from China.

Can you imagine the impact we would have in our society if we lived according to the Biblical lifestyle? The lifestyle of Righteous and faithful would heal the frictions in our families and society, and that, would bring many to Christ and to His salvation. But, the contentious and argumentative lifestyle would cause great damage to our families, society and to Christ’s Church. Let’s pray to God, “Holy Spirit take control of my life make me the kind of person you want me to be”. Amen.

Yours in His service

G. Paul Raj 

I Will Sing of My Redeemer 1 Peter 1:18-19

Once, Pastor A.J. Gordon presbyter of a Church in Boston bought the birds from a boy carrying them in rusty cage. He took the birds to his garden and let those struggling creatures soar into the sky. When the birds were redeemed and released it seemed to him as if they were singing, ‘Redeemed, redeemed, redeemed!” Like those redeemed birds, we have thousands of reasons to praise God, and the chief among them is we are redeemed not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ (1 Peter 1:18-19; 1 Timothy 2:6).

There is joy, peace and hope in “singing of our Redeemer” even in the midst of our trials.  Philip Paul Bliss the writer of the hymn “I Will Sing of My Redeemer” dedicated his entire life to sing praises to his Redeemer. Bliss and his wife Lucy traveled extensively, spreading the Gospel through singing. In December 28, 1876 evangelist D.L. Moody invited them to serve the Lord through their singing in his evangelistic meeting held at Chicago. In that meeting Bliss told that “He will not meet them again as He’s Going to his Hometown Tomorrow. His words and song proved to be prophetic. On the 29th of December, 1876, Bliss and his wife boarded a train back to Pennsylvania. As their train was crossing over a river in Ashtabula, Ohio, the bridge suddenly gave way and all the carriages fell into the freezing waters below. He escaped through the window, but enter into glory in trying to save his wife. After his death the hymn “I Will Sing of My Redeemer,” was found in a piece of baggage among Bliss’ belongings.

Friends, because we have a Redeemer, we are forgiven. We have a Redeemer, to intercede for us in our weakness and in the time of our trouble.  Since we have Redeemer we have comfort in life, that though we fall we shall not be utterly cast down. Since our Redeemer lives, this shall be our faith that we shall see Him when we reach our eternal Hometown. Therefore let’s not forget to “Sing of our Redeemer” at all time.

Yours in His service

G. Paul Raj

SEEK GOD AND YOU WILL FIND HIM (JEREMIAH 29:14)

The meaning for the word “SEEK GOD” in Jeremiah 29:14 is to give ultimate priority to God. But, God’s people in exile gave priority to everything else except to God who was nearer to save and to deliver them (Jeremiah 2:13). Like God’s people in exile we too are busy and self – observed to seek God.

Blaise Pascal, one of the greatest intellects of the Western world, had an unquenchable thirst to learn. He was born into an upper – class family in central France on June 19, 1623. After his mother’s death his father moved his family to Paris. There he homeschooled his three children, starting with the study of languages that they wouldn’t be preoccupied with the fascination of mathematics. But, precocious Basil had taught himself geometry and wrote a book on the geometry of cones at the age of sixteen. Pascal invented the first mechanical calculating machine when he was nineteen. Pascal also originated the theory of probability. In the field of physics he discovered a principle known as Pascal’s Law, which is the foundation of modern hydraulics.

God was not too far to this genius. His thirst for God and for His Word prompted him to read Bible thoroughly. Pascal’s inquiring mind devoured Bible as well as scientific data. Just as he learned geometry on his own, so his spiritual journey to belief was a private one. On the night Pascal put his faith in Christ he wrote: God of Abraham, God of Isaac, God of Jacob, but, not of the philosophers and scholars (WORLDLY)……… He is to be found only by the ways taught in the Gospel……… “Righteous Father, the world has not known thee, but I have known thee”……. Let me not never be separated from Him.  Before he died Pascal wrote a classic defense of the Christian faith that published posthumously under the title PENSEES.

Pascal found God because he sought Him. Likewise, God sought Pascal and found him. Are you seeking God? Do you give priority to God in all the areas of your life?  “If you look for me in earnest, you will find me when you seek me, I will be found by you,” says the Lord. Jeremiah 29:13-14.

Yours in His service

G. Paul Raj