Christmas Worship & Message_This One shall be Peace

 
Venue: GEMS Church, Sikaria, Bihar
Date: 12th Dec 2010
Language: Tamil to Hindi

Timings:
Songs: 00:00:00 to 00:21:34
Message: 00:21:35 to 00:51:00
Worship: 00:51:00 to 01:10:00

Living with a loss

Verse:

Ruth 1:1-22 Ruth 1 (ESV)

 

Message of the day:

‘Mother hangs herself after hearing the news that her only son was killed by miscreants’, read the headlines of ‘Times of India’. Going through a loss is difficult and living with the loss is much more difficult. It could be the loss of life, honor, job or property. The loss of those so dear and near to us is a terrible thing to bear. It was very difficult for me when my grandfather, who brought me up, died. He was the bread-earner of our family when he died and his death had put the future of our family at stake.

People try to avoid places, persons and programs that would bring back bad memories. Because that could be haunting. Relatives, friends and others visiting war memorial of soldiers who died in Vietnam War or that of the victims of 9/11 in the U.S. or 26/11 in Mumbai, break down.

Naomi lost her husband and her two sons in a foreign land. The responsibility of running a family of widows fell on her. You may also be living with a loss of someone dear to you. The thought of that person might bring tears to your eyes. The loss of that person might have put you in cross-roads. You could be dumb-struck, not knowing what to do. Naomi not only learned to live with her loss, but set an example to her daughter-in-laws. Naomi not worrying about her own loss, sought the interest & comfort of others.

The Lord allows loss in our life, so that we might sympathize with such people. So that we could become a pole of hope on which others can lean. Naomi’s life was an inspiration to Ruth. That enabled Ruth to put her trust in her mother-in-law and follow her. Naomi and Ruth came to Bethlehem at the beginning of the harvest. (Ruth 1:22) When we stop worrying about our losses and start caring for others, God will make new beginnings and instil new hope in our life and that of the others. You could be a channel of God’s blessing in the lives of others.

Prayer:

Lord, when I think about the loss that I have had, it is terrible. I can’t stop worrying, but only cry. Thank you for teaching me this beautiful truth from Your Word. Give me the strength to bear my loss and help me to bring back joy in the faces of those who are hurt and down with their losses. Help me to seek those who are discouraged, tired, torn within & hopeless and make me a blessing in their lives. In Jesus name, Amen.

Does the end justify the means?

Verse:

Her heads judge for a bribe, her priests teach for pay, and her prophets divine for money. Yet they lean on the Lord, and say, “Is not the Lord among us? No harm can come upon us.” (Micah 3:11)

Message of the day:

Most of the time, most of the people are concerned only about the end result. And to achieve their goal they are willing to take any means. Either be it academics or job related or administrative or political or even ministry. The popular adage which has become the ethos of our society is “by hook or crook”.

The saddest state is to see this happening in Christian ministries too. The reason why people take up any sort of means is that they want instant results. There are also many such motivating factors. One such is money. Almost all start well, but as years pass by they become insensitive to the voice of God and fail to apply the Scriptures to every area of their life. They even preach but do not practice.

God’s ministers and leaders eventually do things because it brings money, either for them or for their organization. Planning is not wrong, but money should not be the motivating factor for our ministries. And because the outcome is wonderful and many people testify of their blessings, they think that whatever ways they adopted are right. Miracles, signs & wonders and great testimonies do not validate the methods. One, our God is a compassionate God who does miracles for the people and He uses anyone who is available. That doesn’t mean that the minister is right with God. Every person, be a minister of God or a person working in a company has to introspect himself and weigh his ways according to the Scriptures and should seek to live a life pleasing unto God. We are accountable to God for every thought & action of ours.

We need to wake up to this truth before it’s too late. We need to ask God to give us a sensitive heart and a God-centered vision and a vision driven ministry.

Prayer:

Many a times I act because something pleases me or I think is right or I just follow a popular leader or a model. Lord, help me always to evaluate my means according to Your Word, before I venture into action. Forgive me my past actions and give me the grace to be firm & consistent in this decision of mine. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.