Who is the Boss?

Who is the Boss?

Many years ago, I was listening to a lecture on marketing.  The lecturer made an interesting observation on the advertisement commercials. He said that the purchasing decision in a family rests now with the children rather than the adults.  Majority of the advertisements target children who then persuade the parents to buy the particular brand they like. Who is the boss in your family?

 
In the first century, the early Christians were persecuted because they confessed “Jesus is Lord” instead of “Ceaser is Lord”.  Paul writing his pastoral letter to the Colossian church emphasizes the supremacy of Christ over all creation using the words of an ancient hymn Jesus is the image of the invisible God – the creator, the sustainer, the redeemer, the head of the church and the reconciler of all creation – visible and invisible including thrones, powers, rulers and authorities (Colossians 1:15-23).  Paul then writing to the church at Philippi again using an ancient hymn reminds them that God exalted Jesus to the highest place, giving him the name above all names so that at his name every knee will bow and every tongue confess and acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord (Philippians 2:6-11).  Who is your boss?

Even though we confess Jesus Christ is Lord of our lives, like many back seat drivers, who keep giving instructions to the car driver, we give instructions to Jesus our Lord as to how our life should span out.  We often forget that Jesus the Lord of all creation is the Lord who is in control of our lives.  We easily become disappointed over delays, discouraged over deferment and despair in denials.   Our enemy uses these occasions to bring doubts about the Lordship of Christ.  Who is the boss of your life?

If Jesus is in control and if he is the boss, we need to allow Him to direct our steps every day.  But our human desires conflicts with God’s will.   Therefore we must learn to submit our will to His will and be transformed through the renewal of our minds.  It is only through daily submission, we will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:2) 

As Jesus continues to become the Lord of our every area of our lives, we can then help others to make Jesus the Lord of their lives and soon every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord.  John Amalraj

Don’t be surprised – We are growing!

Don’t be surprised – We are growing!

We all know the difference in the taste of drinking Tea  - from a pre-mix sachet or hot water infused with a tea bag contrasted with real Indian chai / Tea – made by boiling tea leaves in milk and water for fifteen minutes or more.  The difference in the taste is because of the process that goes into making tea.

Once Jesus explained about how the kingdom of God looks like through a parable and made a point that the growth of the kingdom of God is not instant – it takes time and it is a process.  The farmer / sower goes about sowing the seeds and then he waters every day – he sleeps and wakes up and does not know what is happening beneath the soil – until one day all by itself the seed produces the grain - he first sees the stalk, then the head, and the full kernel in the head – once it is ripe – he starts the harvest (Mark 4:26-29). There is a process.  We see everything of God’s creation and there is a process. Nothing in fact is instant.  Some may be quicker than the others – but a process is nevertheless involved.

The growth of God’s kingdom is a process – whether we see it or not.  If God’s rule has to become a reality in our life – it is a process.  It is not like one day –we hear a sermon –repent and the next day –we are fine.  It is a process – which involves listening to God’s word daily by hearing, reading and obeying – as every area of our life slowly submits itself to the rule of God.

Peter writes in his epistle saying that we have been born again through an imperishable seed – which is the word of God. (1Peter 1:23) He further exhorts us to grow up in our salvation by craving for pure spiritual milk – God’s word like new new-born babies. (1 Peter 2:2)  If we want to grow into maturity - we should not depend on milk only but feed on solid food – training to distinguish good from evil. (Heb 5:12-14)  Finally, James exhorts us that the testing of our faith produces perseverance and that will help us to grow into maturity (James 1:3-4).

God is a gentleman – he does not force His will on us.  He has given us freedom to make choices to grow.  As we make a choice everyday to obey Him we are submitting to His rule.  As we do this we are growing the kingdom of God.  John Amalraj