Short Reflection from Galatians 1-6

[Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (BRW-M) as a daily reading update (reflection) from each chapter of the Bible]

[8:22 am, 15/02/2022] S.R:

𝔾𝕒𝕝𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕒𝕟𝕤 𝟙:𝟚𝟜

"And they were glorifying God because of me."

I want Christians to glorify God because of me (God's grace working in me)

I want non-Christians to glorify God (becoming worshippers) because of me (by means of evangelism)

I want fellow leaders to glorify God because of me.

Is "because of me" egoistical and self-centric? Well, Nah! Paul said so. May you be wrong every time and Paul be right! 😎😂

 

𝔾𝕒𝕝𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕒𝕟𝕤 𝟚:𝟚𝟘

"I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me."

One of my favorite Bible verses. It's not enough to memorize John 3:16, this verse must complement well! 🙏👍😇

 

𝔾𝕒𝕝𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕒𝕟𝕤 𝟛:𝟚𝟞

"For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus."

Not only is our Lord Jesus Christ the Son of God, we are also sons of God through faith.

Jesus is the original/unique Son of God; we are the adopted sons of God.

 

𝔾𝕒𝕝𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕒𝕟𝕤 𝟜:𝟙𝟡

"My children, with whom I am again in labor until Christ is formed in you-"

This is what a pastor should be known for!

 

𝔾𝕒𝕝𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕒𝕟𝕤 𝟝:𝟙𝟛

"For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another."

𝔽𝕣𝕖𝕖𝕕𝕠𝕞! That's the word!

 

𝔾𝕒𝕝𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕒𝕟𝕤 𝟞:𝟡

"Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary."

A good verse to encourage those who are rich in good works. Today, while I was praying in one of our church member's homes, I quoted this because they were rich in hospitality and serving the church!

Short Reflection from 2 Corinthians 1-13

[Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (BRW-M) as a daily reading update (reflection) from each chapter of the Bible]

[6:20 pm, 02/02/2022] S.R:

𝟚 ℂ𝕠𝕣𝕚𝕟𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕒𝕟𝕤 𝟙:𝟙𝟙

"you also joining in helping us through your prayers, so that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the favor bestowed on us through the prayers of many."

One of my main jobs as a pastor is to make every church member a prayerful person!

 

𝟚 ℂ𝕠𝕣𝕚𝕟𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕒𝕟𝕤 𝟚:𝟙𝟚-𝟙𝟛

"Now when I came to Troas for the gospel of Christ and when a door was opened for me in the Lord, I had no rest for my spirit, not finding Titus my brother; but taking my leave of them, I went on to Macedonia."

Someday, I would like to recall such similar incidents in my life, not that I want to be worried, but the compassion and relationship I have with others!

 

𝟚 ℂ𝕠𝕣𝕚𝕟𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕒𝕟𝕤 𝟛:𝟙𝟠

"But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit."

Biblically speaking there's nothing called backsliding Christian. That's poor terminology for a real problem. Every Christian is becoming better and better day by day.

 

𝟚 ℂ𝕠𝕣𝕚𝕟𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕒𝕟𝕤 𝟜:𝟙

"Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we received mercy, we do not lose heart,"

Gospel Ministry workers can't afford to be discouraged but actually is discouraging. I think all works and professions are too discouraging at certain times, and maybe rightly so, but not the Gospel Ministry for the mercy and grace of God abounds!

 

𝟚 ℂ𝕠𝕣𝕚𝕟𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕒𝕟𝕤 𝟝:𝟚-𝟜

"For indeed in this house we groan, longing to be clothed with our dwelling from heaven, inasmuch as we, having put it on, will not be found naked. For indeed while we are in this tent, we groan, being burdened, because we do not want to be unclothed but to be clothed, so that what is mortal will be swallowed up by life."

But, do we groan???

 

𝟚 ℂ𝕠𝕣𝕚𝕟𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕒𝕟𝕤 𝟞:𝟙𝟙-𝟙𝟛

"Our mouth has spoken freely to you, O Corinthians, our heart is opened wide. You are not restrained by us, but you are restrained in your own affections. Now in a like exchange--I speak as to children--open wide to us also."

Sometimes leaders are the problem, but other times, people are the problem like the Corinthians!

 

𝟚 ℂ𝕠𝕣𝕚𝕟𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕒𝕟𝕤 𝟟:𝟙𝟘

"For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death."

Sorrow accompanied by a change of lifestyle!

 

[7:07 am, 09/02/2022] S.R: @Chakhuangam, Today is the 40th day of our update. And I just want to acknowledge that you are the most consistent person among all the 50+ participants. You are even more consistent than me! In that you put up your update between 00:00 to 01:00 AM every day! A person like you should become an IAS officer! 👍The rest of us in this group should be glad to have you become our DC saheb! 🙂

 

𝟚 ℂ𝕠𝕣𝕚𝕟𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕒𝕟𝕤 𝟠:𝟚𝟜

"Therefore openly before the churches, show them the proof of your love and of our reason for boasting about you."

Paul often boasted about others whom he had mentored. In fact, he even said that they were his crown, his joy, and his comfort.

Even in day-to-day life we often say, "Bro, I am proud of you" when someone we know achieves something great.

Likewise, it's appropriate that I boast about @Chakhuangam for his consistency! 😇

I want to boast about all of you in other groups! 😎 And let me know if I can help you boast about me.

Paul was a boaster! 😎😂

 

𝟚 ℂ𝕠𝕣𝕚𝕟𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕒𝕟𝕤 𝟡:𝟛-𝟜

"But I have sent the brethren, in order that our boasting about you may not be made empty in this case, so that, as I was saying, you may be prepared; otherwise if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we--not to speak of you--will be put to shame by this confidence."

It's okay to impress one another! It's okay to plan to impress one another.

 

𝟚 ℂ𝕠𝕣𝕚𝕟𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕒𝕟𝕤 𝟙𝟘:𝟙𝟛

"But we will not boast beyond our measure, but within the measure of the sphere which God apportioned to us as a measure, to reach even as far as you."

Boasting has its areas, sure!

 

𝟚 ℂ𝕠𝕣𝕚𝕟𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕒𝕟𝕤 𝟙𝟙:𝟛𝟘

"If I have to boast, I will boast of what pertains to my weakness."

Boasting that magnifies, glorifies, popularizes, or sanctifies God is a holy boasting!

 

𝟚 ℂ𝕠𝕣𝕚𝕟𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕒𝕟𝕤 𝟙𝟚:𝟡

"And He has said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.’ Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me."

One of my favorite Bible verses in this book!

 

𝟚 ℂ𝕠𝕣𝕚𝕟𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕒𝕟𝕤 𝟙𝟛:𝟙𝟜

"The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all."

One of the most loved benedictions is from Paul to the Corinthians in this verse! 😇👍

Short Reflection from 1 Corinthians 1-16

[Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (BRW-M) as a daily reading update (reflection) from each chapter of the Bible]

[6:51 am, 17/01/2022] S.R:

𝟙 ℂ𝕠𝕣𝕚𝕟𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕒𝕟𝕤 𝟙:𝟚

"To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, 𝕊𝕒𝕚𝕟𝕥𝕤 𝔹𝕪 ℂ𝕒𝕝𝕝𝕚𝕟𝕘, with all who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours:"

If there's any Christian community in the Bible that is so unworthy to be called saints, it's the church of Corinth. When we read the following chapters, we see how sinful they were before and even after their conversions.

Yet, God called them "saints" in the words of Paul, why? Because it's not what we do that made us saints. We are made saints by His calling!

Praise God that I am a sinner, at the same time, a saint because He has called me in Christ!

 

𝟙 ℂ𝕠𝕣𝕚𝕟𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕒𝕟𝕤 𝟚:𝟙𝟞

"For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, THAT HE WILL INSTRUCT HIM? But we have the mind of Christ."

According to Philippians 2, this mind of Christ includes humility.

 

𝟙 ℂ𝕠𝕣𝕚𝕟𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕒𝕟𝕤 𝟛:𝟛

"For you are still fleshly. For since there is 𝕁𝕖𝕒𝕝𝕠𝕦𝕤𝕪 and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like mere men?"

Who does not struggle with jealousy, btw?

Yesterday, I just met a man who will be going for theological studies. I thought he was going abroad. When he said that it was in India, Nagaland, I was relieved!

Wretched man, I am! 🤦‍♂️

 

𝟙 ℂ𝕠𝕣𝕚𝕟𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕒𝕟𝕤 𝟜:𝟙𝟞

"Therefore I exhort you, be imitators of me."

Jesus commanded us to imitate Him.

Paul commanded us to imitate him.

Scriptures commanded us to imitate good behaviour.

Likewise, friends, imitate me in updating regularly!

 

𝟙 ℂ𝕠𝕣𝕚𝕟𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕒𝕟𝕤 𝟝:𝟡-𝟙𝟘

"I wrote you in my letter not to associate with immoral people; I did not at all mean with the immoral people of this world, or with the covetous and swindlers, or with idolaters, for then you would have to go out of the world."

Indeed, evil company corrupts good morals. Let's be mindful of those we associate.

And in the secular world, when we make friends with godless people, let's do so to influence them and not to become like them.

 

𝟙 ℂ𝕠𝕣𝕚𝕟𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕒𝕟𝕤 𝟞:𝟙𝟚

"All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything."

Nice verse to memorize. That's why I don't drink. That's why I don't gamble. That's why I don't text girls after 11:00 PM

That's why.... 😂

 

𝟙 ℂ𝕠𝕣𝕚𝕟𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕒𝕟𝕤 𝟟:𝟙

"Now concerning the things about which you wrote, it is good for a man not to touch a woman."

Indeed, one should touch only his woman that also after marrying her!

 

𝟙 ℂ𝕠𝕣𝕚𝕟𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕒𝕟𝕤 𝟠:𝟠

"But food will not commend us to God; we are neither the worse if we do not eat, nor the better if we do eat."

This is why I disagree with my Seventh-Day Adventist friends to eat pork! 😎

 

𝟙 ℂ𝕠𝕣𝕚𝕟𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕒𝕟𝕤 𝟡:𝟙𝟞-𝟙𝟟

"For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for I am under compulsion; for 𝕨𝕠𝕖 𝕚𝕤 𝕞𝕖 𝕚𝕗 𝕚 𝕕𝕠 𝕟𝕠𝕥 𝕡𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕔𝕙 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕘𝕠𝕤𝕡𝕖𝕝. For if I do this voluntarily, I have a reward; but if against my will, I have a stewardship entrusted to me."

There are sometimes I want to stop preaching, but it also means I want to stop living. Woe is me if I don't enjoy the Gospel!

 

𝟙 ℂ𝕠𝕣𝕚𝕟𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕒𝕟𝕤 𝟙𝟘:𝟛𝟙

"Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God."

This is my go-to verse in counselling, evangelism, and discipleship. This week alone, I have sat down with 2 different individuals, explaining it. Everyone ought to know, memorize, and be able to explain this!

 

𝟙 ℂ𝕠𝕣𝕚𝕟𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕒𝕟𝕤 𝟙𝟙:𝟙𝟜

"Does not even nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a dishonor to him,"

𝕀𝕟𝕕𝕖𝕖𝕕, nobody thinks a guy with long hair is a normal guy!

Go cut your hair, if you don't want to be abnormal! 😎

 

𝟙 ℂ𝕠𝕣𝕚𝕟𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕒𝕟𝕤 𝟙𝟚:𝟚𝟟

"Now you are Christ's body, and individually members of it."

Every day I go to church, I have to remember this truth. When I take bath, I make sure that everything in me is clean. Likewise, in church, my goal is for everyone's sanctification!

 

𝟙 ℂ𝕠𝕣𝕚𝕟𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕒𝕟𝕤 𝟙𝟛:𝟚

“If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.”

Love is the greatest and noblest among all virtues. But we often fail to understand love. God loves us perfectly and we still ask, "Does God love me?"

So, don't just give in to anything at the chorus of "love love love"

Some people love chicken and eat them. Some people love their Gfs and kill them. Etc., etc.

 

𝟙 ℂ𝕠𝕣𝕚𝕟𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕒𝕟𝕤 𝟙𝟜:𝟙𝟚

"So also you, since you are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek to abound for the edification of the church."

 To build up one another in Christ! 😊👍

 

𝟙 ℂ𝕠𝕣𝕚𝕟𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕒𝕟𝕤 𝟙𝟝:𝟛-𝟝

"For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve."

The most important Christian doctrine is the Gospel of Jesus Christ that He came to die for sinners!

 

𝟙 ℂ𝕠𝕣𝕚𝕟𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕒𝕟𝕤 𝟙𝟞:𝟚𝟚

"If anyone does not love the Lord, he is to be accursed. Maranatha."

The greatest tragedy is not loving Christ. Learn to cherish Christ. Learn to love Him more and more day by day!