Be Intimate with God

Mark 7:6

“He answered and said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me.”

Late, one Sunday afternoon, a man was at home viewing football on TV. He held on to the remote, when suddenly the phone rang. He walked over to the phone with the remote in his hand. Even while on the phone, he was interested in keeping up with the game so as not to miss any big plays. Since he couldn’t see the TV, he figured that at least he could half listen in, and pointing the remote in the direction of the TV, attempted to turn the volume up. Nothing happened because he was too far from the TV. It’s not that the remote didn’t work, and neither was it because the TV didn’t work. He was not in the vicinity of the TV.

Sometimes we think that God doesn’t work, when in reality, the problem is that we’re simply too far. It’s not that Jesus doesn’t work; it’s not that the Bible doesn’t work, and it’s not that the Holy Spirit doesn’t work. If we are not in the vicinity, then it will certainly seem that way. Closeness and intimacy with God is what provides the full experience of walking with Him. The writer of Hebrews admonishes, “…let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water (Hebrews 10:22).” “Let us draw near to God and He will draw near to us (James 4:8a).”

Stephen Thomas

Stephen is an ordained Christian Minister and a Bible teacher who is a mentor to several youth leaders in Crossway Church and around the globe. He is a regular visiting Speaker in Crossway Church, New Delhi. He can be reached at stephenthomas6400@hotmail.com

Fear the Lord!

Psalm 111:10

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all those who do His commandments. His praise endures forever."

The reverence and fear of God is the starting place for wisdom. When we drive our cars at 100 kmp in a zone that allows only 70 kmp, and notice a police car parked ahead on the side of the road, we slow down. In fact, a whole series of things straightaway sets into motion. First, our hearts starts to pound faster, and heavier. Our brains notify our legs to let go off the accelerator and ease down on the breaks, without slamming on it. Our eyes look down on the speedometer to ensure that the speed is reduced, then we look in the rearview mirror to see if we have been caught or not. The presence of the policeman has produced a healthy respect for the law. That is, we adjust to the law out of respect for the policeman's authority. One may not like his authority, may not want his authority, or may even be rebellious to his authority--but we still respect it. Think about the utter foolishness and irreverence of a person who, in spite of noticing the policeman speeds up?

Do we as Christians, live our lives according to our own set of laws because we do not respect God or acknowledge His rule over every area of our lives? Just as we respect the laws set up by this world irrespective of the presence of worldly authority, the expression of our fear of God is characterized by how we acknowledge His authority. Truly fearing God means that He is the reference point wherever we go or whatever we do. That is why Isaiah writes, "The Lord of hosts, Him you shall hallow; let Him be your fear, and let Him be your dread (Isaiah 8:13)."

Stephen Thomas

Stephen is an ordained Christian Minister and a Bible teacher who is a mentor to several youth leaders in Crossway Church and around the globe. He is a regular visiting Speaker in Crossway Church, New Delhi. He can be reached at stephenthomas6400@hotmail.com

Behold, All Things Have Become New!

2 Corinthians 5:17

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”

Have you ever wondered the mechanism behind the breaking of kernels of popcorn? It is only due to an “Explosion of moisture.” You see, every kernel of popcorn has moisture within. When popcorn is exposed to a heat source in adequate amounts, the moisture heats up creating steam. When steam rises within the shell of the popcorn, the pressure builds up, until the shell is no longer able to withstand the pressure, and the external shell of the popcorn finally splits open. What once was a small, hard little object has now increased in size and has become soft and fluffy. In fact, sometimes it’s even hard to notice the shell, after the popcorn pops. The old outward appearance is now dominated by the characteristics within.

God has seated deep down within the souls of every human being something that is ready to respond to the right environment. When the Holy Spirit begins to “cook” our divine nature so that the steam of our new life begins to rise and press through this outer shell called the body, we begin to “pop.” We will begin to look, act, talk, and walk differently because the change occurring on the inside will show up on the outside.

Stephen Thomas

Stephen is an ordained Christian Minister and a Bible teacher who is a mentor to several youth leaders in Crossway Church and around the globe. He is a regular visiting Speaker in Crossway Church, New Delhi. He can be reached at stephenthomas6400@hotmail.com

Be Strong in the Lord!

Ephesians 6:10

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.”

A little boy one day was trying to pick up a rock. He said to his father who was standing close by, “Dad, it’s too heavy.”  “Son, you can do it,” dad replied.  The boy strained and tried, but he said, “Dad, it’s too heavy.”  He replied again and said, “Son, you are not using all your strength.”  “Dad, I am.  I am.  It’s too heavy,” the boy retorted.  He replied yet again, “Son, you’re not using all your strength.”  Frustrated, the boy asked, “Dad, why are you continually saying I’m not using all my strength?  It’s too heavy.”  The father walked close to the son, and put his arms around his son, and in a calm and gentle voice replied, “I know you’re not using all your strength, because you haven’t asked me to help yet.”

Too often we try to resolve all our problems on our own.  We even look to others for solutions, and sometimes even put our confidence in them; only to be left disappointed. “It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man (Psalm 118:8).  There is more strength available to you than what you have. This is why Paul confidently writes to the Colossian believers, “To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily (Colossians 1:29).”  Be strong in the strength of His might.

Stephen Thomas

Stephen is an ordained Christian Minister and a Bible teacher who is a mentor to several youth leaders in Crossway Church and around the globe. He is a regular visiting Speaker in Crossway Church, New Delhi. He can be reached at stephenthomas6400@hotmail.com