Gentleness

- Boaz Battula
  3rd year 
  Aerospace engineering


1 Corinthians 13:1-4 (NIV)
“If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,but do not have love, I gain nothing.Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.”

Whenever we talk to others we should check ourselves to see if we're gentle with our neighbors. We may speak in tongues and sing praises and worship him , this is all fine but if we don't have love in us then all the praises and speaking in tongues is of no use just as Paul is telling the people in Corinth. If we don't have love in us we'll be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal, a disturbance to our neighbors. Here, the first three verses talk about 'the necessity and advantage of the grace of love'

The “excellent way” mentioned at the close of the former chapter(ch 12), is not just what we call charity in our common use of the word i.e alms giving, but it refers also to love in its fullest meaning; true love towards God and man. Without this, the most glorious gifts are of no account to us, of no esteem in the sight of God. A clear head and a deep understanding, are of no value without a benevolent and charitable heart. There may be open and lavish hands, where there is not a liberal and charitable heart. Doing good to others will be of no meaning to us, if it is not done from love towards God, and goodwill to men. If we give away all we have, while we withhold the heart from God, it will be of not profit. Nor even the most painful sufferings for others is of any value if it does not come out of love. How deluded are those who look for acceptance and reward for their good works, which are as scanty and defective as they are corrupt and selfish! It is love and the right heart that must precede all of this.

1 Corinthians :13:4
“LOVE IS PATIENT AND KIND,LOVE DOES NOT ENVY OR BOAST, IT IS NOT ARROGANT OR RUDE.”
True love is such a beautiful thing cause it suffereth long...under provocation of evil from others we should receive them gladly!! Love is kind, the positive side of love...extending good to others. We read about it in James 3:17. “But wisdom from above is first pure.”
Reading ahead, we find that Love does not. envy..we should not be jealous. As we go on and meditate on this chapter Paul explains clearly how to live in this world a life of gentleness and true love.

If we read the last verse (1 Corinthians:13:13)
“SO NOW FAITH, HOPE AND LOVE ABIDE THESE THREE; BUT THE GREATEST OF THESE IS LOVE.” 

 Paul says, faith, hope and love will abide but genuine hope and faith, i.e faith with works will be possible only because of love, so he goes on to say that greatest of these is LOVE.

Shall we check our lives today? Are we showing love to others? Am I a good example to my neighbors? Does my life reflect the love and gentleness of Christ above all else?
Let us be gentle and loving because the greatest of these is LOVE. God bless you!

BECOMING LIKE JESUS

- Annie Preethisa

  4th year, Electronics and instrumentation engineering

We all have role models in our life. Gandhi or Sachin Tendulkar, maybe? Have you ever told anyone Jesus is your role model?

Here let us answer three basic questions we may have-

• Why should I become like Jesus?
•  How can I become like Jesus?
•   What will happen if I become like Jesus?

WHY?

God announced that we were created to be like him in the very first of the Bible itself. Genesis 1:26: “God said, ‘Let us make people in our image, to be like ourselves.’” We were created in the image of God, in fact, in all of God’s creation; we are the only ones to be created in His image. We are intellectual, relational and above all, we have a conscience which tells us right from wrong.

 Romans 8:29, “For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son so that his Son would be the firstborn, with many brothers and sisters.”

So it isn't really a choice we are given, it is God’s plan for us that we become like his Son. It’s only for us to realize it and walk in accordance. The more you try to deviate from God’s plan, the more harm we will be causing ourselves.

If you don’t align yourself with God, the world will pull you into its level of immaturity, and you won't even realize it, which is dangerous!  You need to be somewhere, either here or there. God promises fullness and peace and the world promises nothing that really lasts. Where do you want to be?

HOW?

Jesus was perfect. And becoming like him is beyond us.  However, the good news is, God didn't abandon us saying “become like me”. He has his way of accomplishing his will.

God plays a part- It maybe beyond you to become like Jesus, but when God is at work within you, it is not your power but God’s power in you. And God’s power is capable of all things. Philippians 2:13: “For God is working in you, giving you the desire to obey him and the power to do what pleases him.” It is God who gives you the desire and God who gives you the power to fulfill it.

God’s people play a part- God’s people, the church, our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, are all there to support us and hold us together in our journey towards becoming like Christ.  Romans 1:12, “I'm eager to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours. In this way, each of us will be a blessing to the other.”  If you want to be like Christ, you need to be surrounded by like-minded people who will help you. This is one of the main reasons why fellowship with fellow Christians is very important.

The Word plays a part- You are molded by the things around you and by what you hear. How do you know what to follow and what not to? Whom should you listen to? Should you follow some great philosopher and his doctrines on life? Should you listen to a successful businessman who he seems to have got it all right? Should you listen to your friend? How about if I say you should listen to your creator. He created you and not just in any random manner but “fearfully and wonderfully”. I am sure he knows how to run your life too! The Word tells us everything we need to know, and makes us more and more like Christ. It is the tool God gave us to assist us in fulfilling his purpose for us.

You play a part- Unless you are willing to commit to God’s way and willing to accept his plan for you, this entire journey of becoming like Christ will just be miserable. Committing to God’s will is being able to accept things even when you may not like it, all with the greater understanding that God knows how to handle your life and everything he does will only take you one step further towards fulfilling his immediate purpose in your life- becoming like Christ.

WHAT?

This question doesn't really need answers. Everything written above should give you a picture of how our life will be if we decide to become like Christ- we will be walking according to his plan and by walking according to his plan, we will receive the fullness and peace that the world cannot give. However, remember that our relationship with God is not incentive based.  If it were, we wouldn't even have half the blessings we have in our lives today.  If you start counting what you get for the good you do, you will realize that God has only been giving and you have only been receiving.

It was God’s desire from the very beginning that we be confirmed to his image. He has an eternal home for us and he wants to make us perfect before he can take us there to be with him because nothing imperfect can exist in his presence. Though this may sound scary, remember that for those who ask the Lord to help them with this task, his mighty power will work in them and guide them. So ask the Lord today to help you!

KEEP THE FIRE BURNING

-Benedict John

The Bible often refers to us as the light of the world, a burning lamp and a city on a hill. But what is the condition of that light today? How bright is the fire on that lamp burning today?

Luke 8:16 says that,” no one lights a lamp and hides it in a clay jar or puts it under a bed. Instead they put it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light.”

How is that fire that each of us carry burning today?

a) Is it burning brightly for all to see?

b) Is it dimming day by day?

c) Or has it been puffed out by the circumstances and situations that surround us today?

The word of God in Leviticus 6:8-13 talks about how Aaron and the priests were to keep the fire on the altar for burnt offerings burning all the time. Every morning they were to get rid of the previous days' ashes, add new firewood, arrange the burnt offering on the altar and burn the excess fat. They were clearly instructed to keep the fire burning continuously, it was to never go out.

I want to share with you a few things that the Lord has been teaching me in order to keep that fire burning all the time. To be that light of the world every single day!!

Firstly, we've got to get rid of yesterdays ASHES!! the past doesn't define who we are. Your yesterday may be full of hurt, disappointment and sorrow or may be its been full of accomplishment and success but neither guarantees that the fire will be burning today.

Isaiah 43:18 says,”forget the former things, do not dwell on the past”. So get rid of every failure or pride from the past and throw those ashes out.

Secondly, we've got to add the FIREWOOD of the Word of God every single morning. Yesterdays firewood wont suffice to keep that fire burning today. Every morning we've got to seek His face, spending time reading His word and praying because without the firewood, the fire is going to die out. Romans 12:2 talks about the renewal of the mind and every single day our minds need to be renewed with His word to get rid of everything that hinders that fire.

Thirdly, we've got to arrange the BURNT OFFERING on the altar. Romans 12:1 talks about offering our lives as living sacrifices pleasing to God. We've got to surrender and submit to His plans and purposes in our lives every single day to keep that fire burning. Abraham obeyed and submitted to God's command to put Isaac on that altar and God blessed him.

Finally, we've got to burn the EXCESS FAT. All the excess fat of sin, the trash talk, that ungodly relationship and every thing else that does not conform to the word of God but seeks to take His place in our lives needs to be burnt on that altar. Hebrews 12:1 says, “ therefore since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked for us.”

Matthew 5:14 says, "you are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden."

God bless you as we all persevere to keep that fire burning for the glory of His name!