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“Terms Emphasize Redeemer's Message Saves! (T.E.R.M.S)”

Ramesh C. Reddy
Publisher

SCRIPTURE:
"People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them." (Mark 10:13-16, NIV)

APPROACH QUESTION:
"What terms do you keep in life?"

OBSERVATIONS:
I asked myself what were the people doing?
People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them!

I asked myself what did the disciples do?
The disciples rebuked them!

I asked myself what was Jesus' reaction to the disciples actions?
1. When Jesus saw this, He was indignant.
2. Jesus said to them, "Let the children come to me."
3. Jesus said to them, "Do not hinder them."
4. Jesus said to them, "For the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these."
5. Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the Kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it."
6. Jesus took the children in His arms.
7. Jesus put His hands on them and blessed them!

Today, I decided to look at  response 4.

INTERPRETATION:
I asked myself the significance of Jesus telling the disciples: 'For the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these?'
The significance is in the fact that the disciples placed no value in the children but saw them as a hindrance to their own time with the Lord. The Lord on the other hand wanted the disciples to see that the Kingdom of God does not operate on man's terms but God's terms. By using children, Jesus made this point very clearly to the disciples because in a lot of cultures children were not valued as significant contributors to society but Jesus showed the disciples that it is children that show what it means to be part of the Kingdom of God. But more than that Jesus was letting the disciples know that He does not operate in their terms but on God's terms.

IMPLICATIONS:
I saw important implications for my own life. I learned that I cannot operate on my own terms because when I do I will be like the disciples who just did not get it that Jesus had to use the children to make a point. Instead, I need to operate on the terms of the Lord.

I ask you now dear friend, on whose T.E.R.M.S do you operate in life?
Dear friend, on whose terms you operate in life will determine your own destiny. If you operate on the terms of human flesh then you will reap the destruction of the human flesh but when you operate on the terms and conditions of the Lord, you will reap the benefits of living by the Spirit of the Lord.

"For where there is the Spirit of the Lord, there is freedom."

This freedom is not dependent on our own efforts or doings but totally on the efforts of the Lord in our lives. When you think about children, they are totally dependent on their parents to take care of them. In the same way, the Lord wants us to be totally dependent on Him for Him to take care of us so we can experience the Kingdom of God. It is the terms set by the Creator. They are terms based on grace and only grace.

"It is by grace we are saved through faith and not of our own works lest any man boast." (Ephesians 2:8)

So, the terms we operate in life should be the terms set by the Lord of Heaven and Earth who understands us more than we can ever understand ourselves. For He is the Author of our life. Who better to turn to than the One who created us to give us life. He has the copyright to our lives and no one else can take credit for us. What better way to learn about our Savior's love than to turn to His instruction manual for our life: The Bible! Praise the Lord.

His terms and conditions are all based on grace alone through faith and not of our own works. We see that grace displayed in Genesis all the way to Revelation.

Once we try to attain God's favor by our works, then we have already broken the terms and conditions of the contract between God and us. God's contract and covenant was based on His signature in blood, the Blood shed on the cross of Calvary to redeem us and save us by His grace alone. It is nothing we can do on our own to earn His grace. His grace is based on His unconditional love for us. Once we leave that path, we are trying to find Salvation on our own and we will fail.  We have to be like children totally dependent on grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.  It is like being children because no matter what is done, loving parents will love them. That's God in our lives who loves us despite our mess ups when we are dependent on Him.

"Unless the Lord builds the house, our toiling is in vain!" (Psalm 127:1)

"While we were yet sinners, Jesus Christ died for us!" (Romans)

Terms Against the Germs!
By Ramesh C. Reddy (Written on Fri, May 07, 2010)

Saved by grace
By His terms
Paved the race
Against my germs

There is only One
Who gets the job done
He's God's Holy Son
Jesus is His Name
For me He came
Grace is His aim

All my days
With all the sins I face
He takes my case
My penalty He pays

There is only One
Who gets the job done
He's God's Holy Son
Jesus is His Name
For me He came
Grace is His aim

Life was hanging on a thread
Because of the sins I dread
Until the antidote came in red
Savior became my Living Bread

There is only One
Who gets the job done
He's God's Holy Son
Jesus is His Name
For me He came
Grace is His aim

Can't live it on my own
Will become a dried bone
Unless I follow the Lord's tone
From Heaven's phone

There is only One
Who gets the job done
He's God's Holy Son
Jesus is His Name
For me He came
Grace is His aim

Listening to His Word
Taking His Spirit's Sword
Experiencing His love poured
Living in one accord!

There is only One
Who gets the job done
He's God's Holy Son
Jesus is His Name
For me He came
Grace is His aim

Amen!

May you come to follow the terms of the Lord to live your life! Amen!

"Terms Emphasize Redeemer's Message Saves!" (T.E.R.M.S)/"Whose T.E.R.M.S do you follow in life?"

Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for teaching me about living on your terms and your ways Oh Lord instead of on my own terms which will fail, for unless you Oh Lord build our lives, our toiling is in vain. Thank you for loving the children so much and teaching the disciples. In the process you have taught me. Thank you again for your grace to fight the germs. I love you Jesus and need you. Take me as I am and mold me into what you want me to be. Help me to live for you Jesus. Thank you for dying for my sin and coming back to life to save me. Thank you for your shed blood on the cross to absorb all of my sin's flood. As the song goes Oh Lord, 'Who am I Lord, that the Lord of the earth would care to know my name, that would care to know my hurt....Yet you do Oh Lord all because of your grace and not for anything I can do to run the race. Thank you so much Jesus! In Your Name I pray Jesus! Amen!

You don't have to be locked away anymore for Christ is here to free you and give you peace to LIVE out your actions.

If you are reading this and do not know Jesus as your Lord and Personal Savior and 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. You can invite the GREAT PHYSICIAN right now as you make this your prayer.

Dear Jesus, I want to be free. I don’t know everything about you. I still have a lot of questions. What I do know is that you died on the cross for my sins. When it comes to sin, I am a paralytic Oh Lord. I am infected with this deadly disease known as sin. I am not perfect but a sinner who needs your cleansing blood to clean me of my sin. I confess to you my sin and repent of my sin. I know you have forgiven me when you died on the cross and shed your blood. I want to accept that forgiveness. Thank you for shedding your cleansing precious blood for me. You were nailed to the cross because of me. It is like I actually held the hammer and pounded the nails. Thank you for willingly dying for me Jesus. Thank you for taking the shame and pain for me. Thank you for doing that to set me free. I come to the cross and ask you for your healing in my life. Thank you for the power of your love using your Blood to redeem all humanity that comes to you. Thank you for coming back to life to save us and give us Eternal Life as we yield to you. Your blood can heal us where we are. I love you Jesus. I want you Jesus. Even with my questions, I come to you now and accept you into my heart. Please Jesus come into my heart and make my heart your home. Give me a transfusion of change. Live in me Jesus and I will live for you and serve you the rest of the days of my life. I thank you Jesus for coming into my heart and making my heart your home. Thank you for living in me Jesus. I acknowledge you now as my Lord and Personal Savior. Please be the Lord and Savior of my life. Thank you for being my Lord and Personal Savior Jesus and because of what you have done for me when God looks at me, He now sees me covered in Your blood and His judgment passes over me. Thank you that you have heard my prayer and answered me. Thank you for being with me Lord and Personal Savior! Thank you for saving me. Please fill me with your Holy Spirit. Thank you Jesus I now belong to you and never need to be alone! You will always be with me and have given me Salvation.  Thank you that you have heard my prayer and answered me! Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!

May my spoken words and unspoken thoughts be pleasing even to you, O Lord my Rock and my Redeemer." (Psalm 19:14)

No matter what you feel in your heart, know that Jesus has come in and resides with you! You are not alone! To make your walk strong with the Lord, spend time in prayer talking to Him as you would to a friend. You don’t need special words to talk to the Lord. Spend time in His Word reading Psalms and turning them into prayer. Next allow God to heal you and speak to you through the Gospel of John or Gospel of Mark before moving on to other Books of the Bible! Slowly, let the Lord show you to which Scriptures He wants you to go to next. It is also important to be part of a body of believers to help you grow in the faith. Find a Bible believing church that preaches the Word of God from Genesis to Revelation proclaiming Jesus Christ our crucified and risen Lord who brings us hope, healing, and help! But beware of churches who do believe in the Word of God completely but there is no freedom in Christ but legalism involved.

As a professional, it is not too late to join a church! As a student, it is not too late to join a fellowship on campus this  new year of 2010! May the Lord's presence and peace fill you with His love now and forever! Amen!

Friend, if you have prayed this prayer and meant it in your heart, you are a new creation in Christ and all old things are passed away and everything has become new! You may feel something or may not but don’t base it on feelings but base your new life in Christ on the promises of our Savior who will never leave you nor forsake you! Amen!

Spend time in His word and let the Lord speak to you! Start out in the Gospel of John! You can also check out the Gospel of Mark which are the devotionals I have been going through.  Learn from Jesus through study and prayer. Also find yourself a church fellowship and a college fellowship you can be part of where you can be part of a community of believers to supplement your own walk with the Lord. Let it be a Bible-believing and Bible-breathing church! Believe in Bible LIVE Eternally!

Feel free to email me at reddy4hisglory2004@yahoo.com if you want to meet to study the Bible, pray with, talk about Spiritual issues or whatever is on your mind! My number is 412-641-9426

"This is my work and I can do it only because Christ's mighty energy is at work within me." (Colossians 1:29, TLB)

Express Your View

2010 DEVOTIONALS:

Mark 10:13-16: "What H.I.N.D.E.R.S you from coming to Jesus?" (May 04, 10, 8:23 a.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

Mark 10:13-16: "What does who do you V.A.L.U.E. in life tell about you?" (Mon, April 05, 10, 9:54 a.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

"What does the C.R.O.S.S mean to you?" (Sat, April 03, 10, 11:49 a.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

John 12: "Will you be the offspring of the S.E.E.D cultivated?" (Mon, March 29, 10, 10:09 a.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

John 12:3: "What costly S.A.C.R.I.F.I.C.E will you make for Jesus remembering His stinky/dirty feet?" (Sat, March 27, 10, 11:06 a.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

Proverbs 23: "What  has  A.L.C.O.H.O.L done to you in life?" (March 20, 10, 9:17 a.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

Mark 10: "What do you do with an I.N.T.E.R.R.U.P.T.I.O.N in life?" (March 13, 10, 11:40 p.m.)

Mark 10:13: "Why S.H.A.R.E Jesus with others in life?" (March 09, 10, 4:59 a.m) By Ramesh C. Reddy

Mark 10:13: "Why B.R.I.N.G Doggy Poo to Jesus?" (March 08, 10, 9:01 a.m) By Ramesh C. Reddy

Mark 10: "When have you become an A.D.U.L.T.E.R.E.R in life and what now?" (Feb 24, 10, 9:31 a.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

Mark 10: "Why D.I.V.O.R.C.E the one you marry in life?" (Feb 22, 10, 12:15 p.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

Mark 10: "What do you do with what is P.E.R.M.I.T.T.E.D in your life?" (Feb 20, 10, 10:08 a.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

1 Corinthians 13: "How will you be someone's V.A.L.E.N.T.I.N.E using 16?" (Feb 13, 10,  12:16 p.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

Mark 10: "Who do you become an A.T.T.R.A.C.T.I.O.N to and why?" (Feb 05, 10, 9:43 a.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

Mark 9: "How can you be a S.A.L.T in someone's life today?" (Feb 04, 10, 11:27 a.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

Mark 9: "What do you help your friends E.S.C.A.P.E from?" (Feb 03, 10, 12:30 p.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

Mark 9: "Why bother with H.E.L.L in life?" (Feb 02, 10, 2:39 p.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

Mark 9: "When are you planning to cut your hand, foot, or eye to escape Hell?"" (Feb 01, 10, 1:41 p.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

 Mark 9: "Why heed Jesus' W.A.R.N.I.N.G in your life?" (Jan 30, 10, 12:41 p.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy