The Psalmist prayed on behalf of her community “give us aid against the enemy, for the help of man is worthless” (Psalm 108:12). One of the reasons for this prayer is the psalmist’s confidence in God. The psalmist was sure that “with God we will gain victory, and he will trample down our enemies” (Psalm […]
The Bible is the story of people responding to God in faith but also of those who doubted him. Genesis is the book of the beginnings of many things. The origin of the created order, human life, sin, and the list could go on. But it also records the origin of faith and doubt. Sin […]
Miracles are displays of God’s power over human body, and nature that he created at his will.
The cliché “exercise your faith” accentuates human effort, while miracles are purely what God does at his discretion. Nothing may happen however hard your exercise your faith unless God makes the move!
Jesus taught that praying is committing to act; he expects us to commit to what we pray for. The disciples whom Jesus asked to pray for laborers are the first batch of laborers that he had in mind. They may pray for more laborers like them, but they cannot shun their personal responsibility to be harvesters that they prayed for. Praying for a cause is committing to that cause. Without that commitment prayer turns useless.
“My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast! I will sing and make melody!” Psalms 57:7 Can anyone sing when surrounded by hungry lions? When surrounded by enemies who intend to harm us there is no time to sing or to think of singing. But the Psalmist says, “My heart is steadfast, O […]
Scarecrows are placed on farms to scare the birds away. Even though the scarecrows have only a skewed resemblance to human beings who can harm them, birds go nowhere near them. But some birds are smart enough to tell the scarecrow from a real human. They know that they are just hay for the body, a broken pot for the head and still. These birds also know that the scarecrow is placed where there is something to eat. No one puts a scarecrow where nothing is grown. Instead of being scared away, they dare to land on the scarecrows to enjoy the feast the ripe field offers. This is the difference between faith and fear. (Click the title to read further.)
Centurion’s faith was commended because his faith came from his experience and his recognition of Jesus’ authority. In Jesus he saw more than a Galilean tramp. In Jesus he saw a man who has authority over all sickness. That belief is what the Bible calls faith. Faith involves how we perceive the divine. Jesus Christ is not just a Galilean carpenter.
The journey with the risen Christ is exciting. “The longer I serve him the sweeter he grows.” But why?
Faith is not just believing something but acting on God’s commands even if they seem ridiculous.
God’s demands more than just the willingness to obey but to go the full extent of obeying him.
Paulson Pulikottil 