Abiding Grace: Words for the Soul

Why do we study?  Simple answer could be; we study so that we may gain knowledge.  Employment is the byproduct of that knowledge.

All employed persons are not learned and all unemployed persons have no less knowledge either.  How our learning has shaped us, as a person, is what matters.

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Word by word, we learn how to read.  While reading we study, which is a part of our learning.  We learn to upgrade our thought, to shape our mind, and bring about change in our society, in the least.

There are words that are all-powerful; the Words of God.  His words are filled with love, mercy, and grace for every soul.  Powerful beyond imagination; to the saved and unsaved souls, even in their dilapidated state.

Studying Words for the soul

Theologians study the word of God to get better understanding of the Words, which would eventually bring them closer to God.  Yet not all theologians are filled by the Holy Spirit in their search for His fillings.  It is open to one and for all.

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In one bout of my Status Epilepticus; I came to witnessed how powerful His words are!  In my semi-conscious state, I was told, somehow, I was uttering words, which would not have happened in my fully conscious state.  And I had difficulty in recalling them.

During my ICU (Intensive Care Unit) stay, God’s presence visited us in the form of His words.  For some days, I was unable to have clear thought of anything and I could hardly recall what was really happening.  In that moment, hope came alive in the comfort of His words.

Several Bible verses came into my mind in time, which I told my wife or my attendants to read it out for me.  Those verses came at the right time and served it right for what was most needed.  Unfortunately, I am unable to recall all the verses in detail.

One after another, the verses came: the Name of the Book, Chapter, and Verses in detail.  I was so ‘blessed’ to study the Holy Bible several times in my normal condition, before I could even think this is bound to happen.

Just in time, came the verses like a flash of light.  I listened to the word of God, which give me hope even in my worst physical condition.  With great hope and assurance, I can slept peacefully again and again, in His words.  Some of the verses I could still remember are from; Lamentations 3:22-25, Ezekiel 37, Psalms 91 and many more.

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Here I wanted to emphasize that even when our Brain do not function properly, our God has till provided His words of hope to the soul.  So I am urging you to study and thrive on the Word of God, which would keep you going beyond the thought of human.

His word is a living word and He is also the living God.  When flashbacks of our life happen before us, we will need it the most.  So when we have time let us read, study and learn, as the school students learned, from word to word.  It will serve us good.

Word for every soul, laid bare to all of us in His flesh, during those earthly journey for a short span of time.  Let us study, meditate, and learn from the Word of God – the Holy Bible.  So that even in our most unwelcomed abnormal conditions, our mind might still pick up God’s word from the scrap of our memories, for our comfort.  Rather than studying other words, which might simply haunt us.

It’s only words, some may say, but it’s all powerful.  And His words will drag us closer to Him in His abiding grace.

Words; powerful enough to build a new relation with the Almighty!

 

Words spoken on the Cross

The time has come for the Son of God to bear the sin of humanity. His disciples are in awe of His words.  They were told what was going to happen next. Still it was hard for them to believe.  Jesus Christ was their Master but then He had to accomplish His great mission.

Jesus Christ prayed in the garden of Gethsemane; His soul exceedingly sorrowful, even to death.  “Let this cup pass from me, O my Father, if possible, nevertheless not as my will, but as you will.”*

In short, He was sentenced to death by the so-called righteous. Jesus Christ was condemned by the righteous.  He was tortured, bored His cross to Calvary.  He was lifted up on the cross, naked and humiliated.

Jesus Christ carried the sin of humanity with Him, so that we may live. I wanted to take you back to Mount Calvary to show empathy with His words.  I want to list out His last words as Jesus Christ was being crucified on the cross:

Here is your mother (John 19:27)

He saw His mother weeping at His feet.  He entrusted the disciples to take care of His mother, as He was on a mission.  Love for His mother as a human must be there.  He was very much concerned with what His mother has gone through.  Can you see the emotional pain both would have experienced at this time?

Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing. (Luke 23:34)

Vengeance is mine, declared the Lord.  But still, Jesus Christ seeks forgiveness for the evildoers to His Father.  The ‘evil inside us’ caused us to do things we don’t even understand.  Did you imagine what causes the human race to do such cruelty on another human being?  That needs to be conquered.  This is the height of forgiveness that we are being offered or we can enjoy because of the sacrifice of the Son of God Himself.

Truly I tell you; today you will be with me in paradise. (Luke 23:43)

Jesus Christ was hanged between two thieves, who were crucified because of their own sin. He spent his whole life with the outcasts, tax collector, prostitutes, and the downtrodden people.  To the two thieves, the law of the mankind had awarded them death.  Earthly beings cannot grant you life apart from death.  But here, the thieves had their golden chance for life, which the other still denied.  It marked the width of God’s mercy and salvation.

Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani.  (My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?) (Matthew 27:46, Mark 15:34)

When Jesus Christ bore the sin of humanity, the weight of sin was too much to bear.  God did not love sin.  Many times, we feel forsaken when we sinned.  The loneliness we experience, the emptiness was all because of sin.  Atonement for our sin was made by the blood of Jesus Christ.  In sufferings, if God is by your side you will find solace.  It signifies how sin had distance us from God.

I am thirsty. (John 19:28)

He was a human being.  He was dehydrated, lip parched.  These words reminded me of the conversation between Jesus Christ and the Samaritan woman.* Jesus Christ told her; whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.  The source of living water was drying up for you.  By His thirst we became welled up.

Father, into your hands I commit my spirit. (Luke 23:46)

In His sufferings, Jesus Christ shows the model of prayer.  Into yours I commit myself, use me, shape me, and mold me, to be useful for you.  I surrender all.  I surrender all my beings to you. Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.**  In happy and in hard times, in sickness and in health, I place my life at your hands.

It is finished. (John 19:30)

Jesus Christ uttered these words.  God in the flesh breathe His last.  A powerful word of victory has been declared.   He offered himself fully to God on behalf of mankind.  This is the word that changed the world.  The fortune of the world was overturned, for those who believe in.  A plan was fulfilled, salvation was made possible.

Now, many of those who are present and taking part in the scene did not recognized what was really happening.  Some cast lots for His cloth.  Some saw the unusual things as they unfolded.  They stood at His feet facing Him.  Just one person, the centurion, was recorded saying, “Surely, this man was the Son of God.”

Please consider these few questions: Where did you stand? Did you believe Him? Are you still a bystander near the cross?  Does it mean anything to you? Are you among the righteous that condemned Him?

*Matthew 26:42, John 4, Romans 12:1, Mark 15:39