I asked
myself what their reaction was after the questions.
And they took offense at him.
I decided to focus on points
2,3, & 4 today.
Interpretations:
I asked
myself what is the significance of their questions comparing Jesus to
His earthly family.
They saw his earthly family to
be people like them who were ordinary citizens. Now when Jesus came back
to His hometown, they are amazed at His teachings filled with wisdom and
that He even does miracles. For them it is not computing that Jesus can
do all that He is doing. They were putting Jesus in a box, LIKE DAN
BROWN DOES IN THE DA VINCI CODE, trying to
figure Jesus out by their own earthly understanding. They were expecting
Jesus to be like His earthly family but that was not the case, NO MATTER
WHAT LIES THE DA VINCI CODE PRESENTS AS FACT, because
Jesus had a calling from God and had an identity they were not willing
to accept. This is evidenced by the fact that they took offense at him.
Implications:
I saw important implications for
my own life. I was born into a Hindu family and raised in a Hindu family
for a few years. Later, my mom who was a devout practicing Hindu gave
her life to Jesus Christ so He can become her Lord and Personal Savior.
IN ESSENCE MY MOM WAS LIVING A PAGAN LIFESTYLE THAT THE DA VINCI CODE SO
MUCH APPLAUDS. A PAGAN IS DEFINED AS ANYONE WHO DOES NOT FOLLOW
MONOTIESM. YET THIS IS A LIFESTYLE THAT IS NOT TRUE AS DAN BROWN WANTS
YOU TO BELIEV. My mom had become a follower of Christ after watching one of many Billy
Graham Crusades. At that point she raised us with Christian principles
but I had never given my life to Christ till six years after my mom
became a follower of Christ. As an Indian, I expected people to
automatically assume I was either a Hindu or Muslim. And they did!
While a campus minister, I attended
a University of Pittsburgh Association of Chaplaincies (UPAC) meeting
once and there was a representative from a group that automatically made
the comment, “let’s see what the representative from the Muslim group
has to say”. He automatically assumed I was Muslim even though I was a
follower of Christ representing InterVarsity Christian Fellowship at the
meeting.
Another time a student from
India came up to me and said, “I cannot believe you are a Christian.
That is so rare because most Reddy’s in India that I know are Hindus.
You are from the Reddy name and are a Christian.”
He had posed a question, “Aren’t
you a Reddy” like they posed the question, “Isn’t he Mary’s Son" etc.
However rather than taking
offense, I answered him! He wanted to know what made me become a
follower of Christ and to know what changed my identity from the
people he knew that had the Reddy last name. The answer is Jesus Christ
who has changed my mom, all my brothers, and me. Now we wait on the Lord
for Him alone to save my dad.
My dad is not a believer in
Christ but he does not also worship Hindu idols in the home or at temple
so that is a blessing for us. Instead, he has his own belief about God
and considers himself a Hindu. Yet, he is the one that bought my mom her
first Bible and has asked us to pray to Jesus for him couple of times.
In my life, it showed me when
the Lord gives a new identity it will not be like my family’s identity
or the people who have the same last name as I do. Instead, it will be
an identity that comes from Jesus Christ and living for Him. At times
that could offend family members and those that I come in contact with
who do not share the same belief. It could also offend people who think
"I cannot believe he went from being Hindu to Christian." The bottom
line is it is because of Jesus Christ calling me to be His own.
I ask you
now dear friend where is your identity.
Dear friend, when others see you and know about you, do
they see you being similar to your family line or do they see something
different about you. If your family line is serving Christ and so are
you, then it is great. What if your family line is not serving Christ,
then where do you take your identity from. You can take it from your
family line but then you will not be any different from them.
But, if you choose to do what
Jesus did and adhered to a higher calling, then you too can have a new
identity. I am not talking about plastic surgery or a makeover but an
identity on the inside that changes your outlook of life on the outside.
Now when people see you, they can start seeing Jesus Christ and His ways
becoming an identity you want to follow. Yeah, some could take offense
at that but just as Jesus continued to do what He was called to, you can
too as Jesus will help you and guide you. Yes, He will friend!
No matter where you have been,
what your life has been like, how people have perceived you, Jesus
Christ can give you a new identity in Him. Oh, Yes He can friend! Now is
the time of Salvation.
Maybe you have messed up badly and feel like your life will never
change, maybe you have been hurt so badly and feel like it cannot get
any worse, maybe you have been stepped on all your life and feel like
you cannot get up anymore. Though your future seems futile, I want you
to know there is hope. Not the kind of hope that's wishful thinking but
a real inspiring hope.
How many wonderful opportunities you have missed, it's not too late for
you to change your life around. As this Summer of 2006 goes on, you can become a
new person. I don't mean change your name or your face but you can be
changed on the inside that will change your lifestyle on the outside. NO
ONE WHO HAS READ THE DA VINCI CODE HAS HAD THEIR LIFE CHANGED FOR THE
BETTER BUT THOSE WHO HAVE READ THE BIBLE AND GIVEN THEIR LIFE TO JESUS
CHRIST AS THEIR LORD AND PERSONAL SAVIOR HAVE BEEN TRANSFORMED AND
CHANGED.
If
you are discouraged and think, there is no way I can have my life
changed around, I want you to know that with Christ all things are
possible. Jesus loves you so much more than anyone can love you. We have
limits on love based on what others do for us but Christ's love for you
is unconditional. For unto us a child was born and that child was baby
Jesus who later died for our sins and came back to life to save us. If
we do so much for those we love and our love is limited, think about how
much Jesus will do for you whose love is unlimited.
Whether or not you have a career, academic degrees, boy or girl friend,
husband or wife, family, fame, fun, fortune, etc, that is not what
Christ sees in you. He sees you as being so precious and special in His
sight and wants to take care of you. No matter where you have been or
what you have done, you can come to the Savior. Your age does not matter
as the Lord can make an impact in your life. He reaches out to you with
Helping Hands.
You have a golden opportunity this Summer of 2006 to have the Lord on
your side. Let me assure you, the transformation you will see in your
own life. When Christ touches the hearts of those who come to Him, there
life will never be the same again. You will have a totally new
perspective on life as you spend daily time with Him praying, spending
time meditating on the Word of God, and being in fellowship with body of
believers, His Church. Even as you face the storms of life, the winds
cannot shake you for you will have a firm foundation on the Rock, Jesus
Christ.
No matter what has happened in
the past, you can have a new start in Jesus Christ. This does not mean
whatever you hoped for in the past, the Lord will just ignore. Now you
have Jesus Christ in your life and you can take to Him all your hopes
and dreams. He will be the Lord of the Past. If it is regarding a
career, academics, or a relationship, take it to Jesus in prayer. If you
feel weak or strong about any situation, take it to Jesus in prayer. If
it is His will for you, He will confirm it to you in His perfect timing.
If it is not His will, He will reveal that too! Wait upon Him; be not
afraid but believe! He watches over you. You can belong to Jesus and
know He will not keep anything from you that He knows is right for you.
Yes, friend!
In the middle of the night
one day, I was in turmoil about a situation I was hoping to get an
answer one way or the other. Waiting for an answer seemed so hard but
rather than allowing the turmoil to take over me, preventing me from
sleeping, I prayed and prayed to Jesus. Later, I kept claiming God’s
promises stating them to myself from A-Z until I fell asleep.
When I fell asleep an amazing
thing happened. I saw a figure climbing up the mountain and
then saw the clothing to be dazzling white. It was Jesus I saw in my
dream climbing up the mountain. I said to myself wow, that’s similar to
what I saw in a biblical cartoon when I was young.
When I woke up, Jesus’ words,
“Don’t be afraid; just believe” kept
resonating in me.
I do not know what the outcome
of the situation I have been praying for will be. But, this I know that
Jesus has not forgotten about me and I need to wait upon Him in prayer
for my identity is in Him. I do not really know what all
this will eventually transpire into but having my identity in Christ
will get me through and all who are followers of Christ. Jesus used the
mountains to pray a lot and I need to continue to be in prayer knowing
Jesus is watching over me. He is watching over you too friend!
No matter how you feel, when you
come to Jesus, you can know He is with you; He is mighty to save; He is
delighted in you; He will quiet you with His love and sing songs of
exultation because you are His. Yes, He will friend! That is exciting to
know! You are destined to win with Jesus giving you a new identity! Yes,
you are friend!
May you rest in His power
knowing Immanuel delivers emancipation now, transforms identity,
touching you! Amen!
“Now to him who is able
to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his
power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in
Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”
(Ephesians 3:20-21, NIV)
“Immanuel Delivers Emancipation Now, Transforms
Identity, Touching You!” (I.D.E.N.T.I.T.Y)/
“Where is your identity?”
If
you would like to invite Jesus Christ into your heart and make Him a
daily part of your life, you can this very moment. You will never be
alone. You can claim God's promises for you in the Bible and see them
come true, before your eyes, in His wonderful timing. You don't have to
wait for a special time to come to the Lord. You can come right now as
you pray this prayer, meaning it in your heart.
Prayer:
Dear Jesus, I am a sinner Lord. I am so sorry for
my sins. I confess my sins to you. I confess the wrong things I have
done and messed up my own life. I need you Lord right now and in the
years to come. I have gone my own way and have not found what only you
can give me. You alone have the words of Eternal Life. You alone love me
unconditionally for who I am. I thank you Jesus. I accept you Jesus into
my heart. Thanks Jesus for coming into my heart. Thanks for forgiving me
of all my sins. Thanks for giving me a new identity in you. I
acknowledge you as my Lord and Personal Savior as I believe in my heart
that you died and came back to life to save me now and forever. I give
myself to you and ask you to be in control of my life. Thank you Jesus
through the days, we can do things together. Thanks for being my
Lord and Personal Savior. Thank you Jesus you have heard my prayer and
answered me. Thanks Jesus for changing me and helping me through life's
storms and winds. In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!
Friend you may feel something
or may not feeling anything but do not go by your feelings. When you ask
Jesus to come into your life, He will and does. He will take over from
here as you depend on the Lord and let Him work in you and through you!
This is exciting friend! May each one that came to know Jesus be filled
with His Holy Spirit forever more and those that know Jesus come to know
Him more and more! Amen!
Get yourself involved in a campus Bible study,
fellowship, and most of all find a Bible believing church and be involved
to grow in your Christian walk with the Lord. They all need to be
supplements for your own precious time with the Lord in prayer and
meditating on His Word. If you need a Bible, please let me know!
As the movie DaVinci Code opened across the
theaters on May 19, 2006, which speaks against the church and most importantly
degrades the Name of Jesus Christ, we need to make ourselves available to
speak the truth to the falsity presented in the movie and the novel. If you
plan to watch the movie or have read the book and have questions or your
faith seems to be shaken, please email me or give me a call at 412-720-4579
so we can discuss the false claims in the book that are presented as fact
even though the book itself and the movie is presented as fiction. May the
Lord bless you and guide you!
If you need anyone to talk to, pray
with, or study the Bible with this Spring or Summer of 2006, you can email
me at reddy4hisglory2004@yahoo.com or call me at 412-720-4579.
Please do not hesitate. One-one Bible studies
can be so powerful to because the Holy Spirit is still in the
midst.
"This is my work and I can do it
only because Christ's mighty energy is at work within me." (Colossians
1:29, TLB)
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