Articles

0 THE GRACE OF GOD AT WORK IN US - 2 Corinthians 12: 1-10

• by Patrick
• 18-01-2021

            Some years back, I was driving on the freeway and fell into a ditch. I did not know how I survived that accident. The ditch was so deep that no one on the surface level could see me or my car. But then I heard the voice of God telling me to come out through the car window and I did. When I came out and for a long time, I kept asking myself “how did I survive this accident, how did I come out of that hole.? I realized it was certainly not by any capabilities of mine but the grace of God.             I know everyone must have had one experience or the other in life that has made him ask a similar question like I did many years ago. For instance, some people have been told they will never have a child but God gave a different verdict and gave them children. Some were told they had 6 months to live, but God kept them much longer than the doctor predicted. Some people lost their jobs and surprisingly got hired in better organizations. Some have unruly kid who mysteriously turned a new leaf. All these would not have been possible without the grace of God in our lives. Saint Paul highlighted his own dilemma that made him ask God for deliverance but the Lord said to him “my grace is sufficient for you, for my strength is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:7-9). What is grace?             Grace is an unmerited favor shown to us by God through Christ Jesus. It is favor from God that delivers us from sin. It keeps us safe from danger and comforts us in our difficult moments. God’s grace is an empowerment to us. It is a divine power over evil in our lives. That is why the book of Hebrews 4: 16 says "Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." The importance of God’s grace             The Lord will not allow our problems to drown us because he is with us always. We can overcome evil, difficulties and temptations through his grace.  Hence Philippians 4: 13 says "I can do all things through him who strengthens me." In acknowledgement of God’s grace saint Paul says “we are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.” (2Corinthians 4:8–9). The grace of God is sufficient in every aspect of our lives. By this grace, God keeps us up, defends us and delivers us from trials and tribulations. Why we still pray for the grace of God             We continually pray for the grace of God because we need the grace of God to function daily. That we are alive today is by the grace of God and not because we are strong, smart, educated, has well-paying jobs, medical insurance or rich. We can recall how many people have died from this COVID 19 pandemic despite wearing mask and social distancing and other diseases. But the grace of God has kept us alive. Many of us will not have cried for help bitterly in the past if we had realized the grace of God in our lives. Many have suffered tremendously in the past because they forgot to activate the grace of God in their lives. The grace of God makes us strong in faith, bring us closer to God and make us aware of God’s ever presence in our lives. How we get the grace of God             The grace of God is free to everyone. We only have to ask and it will be given to us. Psalm 121:1-2 says “I lift up my eyes to the mountains, where does my help come from?  My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth”. Though, we may have been challenged on all sides by life troubles including the COVID 19 pandemic, they are all a blessing in disguise because they have brought us even closer to God. Without the grace of God, there is not much we can do. In John 15:5, the Lord tells us “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” The grace of God is upon you             We are surrounded by so many uncertainties. Where do we get help if not from the grace of God? Saint Augustine was not a saint as a youngster but his mother prayed for the grace of God upon him and indeed, he became converted into the popular saint Augustine we all know today. Are you one of us those wondering when their sons/daughters/spouse/boss will change for the better? The grace of God is sufficiently available to convert and change these people. Do you have a health condition bothering you and you have been told it is chronic? The grace of God can heal and transform you.  What are your life difficulties, and trials? No matter what it is, ask for God’s grace and your life will never be the same again.             My beloved, the grace of God is at work in you at all time and circumstances. The same way God delivered saint Paul so will he deliver you. The grace of God is upon you and with you. Do not look around in your challenges as if you have no helper. The grace of God is available and ever ready to help you through your life challenges. No matter what you are passing through, always remember the word of God “my grace is sufficient for you (2Corinthians12:9). May the grace of God that surpasses human understanding fill your lives today and always in the name of Jesus. Amen!

0 GREAT FAITH - Matthew 15: 22–28

• by Patrick
• 15-01-2021

            Jesus said to the Canaanite woman, " O woman, great is your faith” (Mathew 15: 28). A Canaanite woman came to Jesus and said, help me my daughter is tormented by a demon. Jesus didn't say a word to her (it was as if Jesus was ignoring her). To make it more challenging to this woman, the apostles said to Jesus, " send her away because she keeps calling out after us"(Mathew 15: 23).  Jesus said to her, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Mathew 15: 24).  It is not good to give the children’s food to the dogs" (Mathew 15: 26).  But the woman replied, “even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the table of their masters” (Mathew 15: 27). Jesus then replied, O woman great is your faith! (Mathew 15: 28). What is it that makes her faith great?   1. She had absolute trust in Jesus  2. She was determined to get help from Jesus.  3. She remained humble.  4. She had knowledge of who Jesus is, hence was able to say to Jesus “Lord, help me.”  5. She became a member of the household of God.              Unlike this Canaanite woman, a lot of us today would have instead called out to Jesus saying; you have no right to talk to anyone like that? Some would have called Jesus a liar, a fake prophet or even contacted their lawyers to charge Jesus for harassment. Some others would have reported Jesus to the Bishop, left the church or left God entirely. However, in the face of all these seemingly rejections from Jesus, this woman remained calm and focus on Jesus, whom she trusted. Her faith is a challenge to all of us today and our society where people are easily offended, lack the knowledge of content and ability to even take jokes. This woman understood the content in which Jesus was talking with her; it was all about her faith and being a member of the household of Israel.                How did this woman become a member of the household of Israel? It was by her faith. This woman and Saint Paul became a member of God’s household by their faith. The bible says, “The foreigners who join themselves to the Lord, ministering to him, loving the name of the Lord, and becoming his servants, them I will bring to my holy mountain and make joyful in my house of prayer” (Isaiah 56: 5-7).  Jesus said to her, “be it done to you as you believe (Mathew 15: 28). Jesus as a teacher was using this woman’s story to teach his disciples, and all of us the demands of faith. Many of us have this feeling of entitlement and as such have already fashioned a way and time frame, they want God to answer them. Unfortunately, this is not the way God works. We need to come to God in humility and meekly lay ourselves bare before Jesus.              As we read and hear about Jesus teachings on faith, how will you and I allow it to penetrate our lives? What will you and I do differently?  Will we bring our sons and daughters who are on drugs or living ungodly lives to Jesus for healing as the woman did for her daughter who was tormented by an evil spirit? Will we swallow our pride and bring our marriage disputes to Jesus, no matter how difficult and how long it has been and ask Jesus for help?             Let us challenge ourselves positively. Jesus said to the Canaanite woman, “Let it be done for you as you wish.” This woman demonstration of faith got her a title from Jesus as a woman of great faith and more importantly, her daughter's health was restored. The bible says “without faith no one can please God” (Hebrews 11:6-8). Therefore, let us go to God in faith bearing in mind that there are no disappointments or will there be regrets for anyone who will take his problems to Jesus in faith. For in him is our strength and help.  Amen!