Learn to be compassionate!

"Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me" Mathew 16:24

 "If someone does wrong to you, forgive that person because the Lord forgave you" Col 3:13               

  "I have always had hard time following this command", these are my words, but does this sentence sound familiar to you? 

Cross was never a symbol of our own burdens, it is the symbol of others' burdens. Jesus wasn't carrying burdens of his own sin on the cross, was he? He was carrying ours. 

I remember a guy during my college days, who liked to sleep under the fan during the whole summer and we would be left with no other choice than to sleep in the corner, sweating like pigs. Unlike him, for guys like us both sleeping in the corners, who are from part of the state where even summer heat doesn't  have the sting, to sleep in such circumstances in one of the hottest places in the state was beyond description. The worst part was not over yet. After a few months winter came and we were so happy that we won't have to suffer the summer heat anymore. But the winter nights were too cold to bear. I was so pleased that I was not the one who has to be under the fan. Suddenly without any signs he changed his place forcing us to move under the fan. We didn't argue with him for it, guessing it would be a silly fight to have. Maybe we were just stupid, as the world would refer it or maybe we were so noble. Even though I was displeased with him, I felt sorry for him later. How can he bear troubles in life if he can't even bear the climate around him? Sometimes when we are so weak to handle our problems we tend to put the burden on others. Don't we? 

    Anyway, we let him sleep comfortably; we took his burdens out of compassion for him.  And that was just the beginning, we were there for him from then on financially as guardians, emotionally as friends and he started returning the favour little by little and ultimately he became our best friend. 

Our friendship remained in my mind for longer and so was this question. Was I just plainly stupid or was I noble that day?  Then I came to know about a guy, whom everyone loves for carrying the burden of our sins on the Cross out of compassion for us. He is celebrated as God's Promised redeemer. If it was God's plan to carry our troubles, then for sure we couldn't have been  stupid in carrying our friend's burden. After all God is not stupid, He is Holy.

 I still remember the exact words my friend had told about us in a gathering of all the classmates, on our last working day. "Because of my roommates and their help, I and my family survived. I wish I had taken their blessings, touching their feet, after receiving my first month salary". And finally he shed a few drops of tears.  Amazing what love can do, it can light up the deepest dungeons of our lives.

Jesus said, "a bad tree cannot bear good fruit". I thought if I can bear at least a few good fruits, God can't reject me as a bad tree. I don't know for some reason my plan didn't work, leaving me with no other option than to accept that I am a bad tree.

Now the real problem started. How can good fruits ever come out of me if I am stuck as a bad tree? How will I ever be able to carry a cross?

Jesus came to my rescue, "He himself bore our sins" in his body on the cross, so that I(we) might die to sins and live for righteousness"1 peter 2:24. He switched place with me just like we had switched places under the fan with our friend. The only difference is, unlike me, HE VOLUNTEERED! He took my sins upon Him and gave me His holiness.

I couldn't believe what Jesus had done for me on the cross? He had turned me into a Good Tree. Every day I take my anxieties of my mistakes to the cross and leave it there and he gives his holiness to me instead, so that I can bear good fruits.

All I have to do is accept the gift of righteousness and holiness. The bible says, "how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ." Romans 5:17. I know God is not going to force feed it to me, he is too gentle for that. He expects me to accept and believe in it in my own will. It is precious enough to make me say that, 'I wouldn't drop it for the whole world'. Jesus for sure knew it, that is why he says, "For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" Mark 8:36.

 Don't you dare ask me after reading all this, "Yeah I understand Jesus has forgiven us all. But what did you do from your part? How did you train yourself to be kind hearted?". I have already told you the answer for that. You cannot train a bad tree to bear good fruits. I receive the holiness by confessing everyday in my prayers; "I am the righteousness of God in Christ". I keep reminding myself, my worth and value is not in what I do, it is in Christ. We should know who we are in Christ!

Does it sound too good to be true? You think it is blasphemy? Do you feel like shouting at me, "How dare you claim that you have the righteousness of the Almighty Himself?  I won't be surprised if you do. But before asking me all your questions open your bible and read 2 Corinthians 5:21. You will find this there, "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him."

Are you confused? I was too. But we aren't the first ones! This was the reason the religious leaders Crucified Jesus. They killed His disciples one after another for the same reason. They were also confused, it was too good for them to believe, and they feared it might be blasphemy. I heard a preacher state a fact that, during Paul's time the Hebrew equivalent of the word GOSPEL literally meant TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE NEWS.

But Jesus' disciples had seen too much by then, to live in disbelief. They had seen God showing compassion to poor and do miracles to the weak, through Jesus. They had seen God accept the sacrifice of Jesus and raise Him from the dead as an acknowledgement. They were sure that a New Covenant has been made between The God and man. They wanted to spread this Good news no matter what happens; to them it was something worth dying for. Holy Spirit strengthened them to fulfil their wish.

Let me tell you how much I enjoy this Good News by quoting the words of Joyce Meyer, "We are going to have to meditate on this for the rest of our lives and will still be drawing sweet nectar out of this revelation and this truth. Seventeen years I have been studying this, and tonight standing in front of you as your teacher I am EXCITED about a deeper revelation on my righteousness through the Blood of Christ. How can this do anything but make us better?".

Tears of joy fill my eyes every time I think what Jesus has done for me!!!

Daily Grace Inspiratio​ns From Joseph Prince Ministries

1 Corinthians 2:2 For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

The apostle Paul, in his letter to the Corinthian church, said that he determined to know nothing among them except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. In other words, Paul, who wrote two-thirds of the New Testament, had his mind full of Jesus and His finished work.

Beloved, God wants your mind full of the cross of Jesus. He wants you cross-conscious.

But what does it mean to be cross-conscious?

To be cross-conscious is to see Jesus, who loves you so much that He willingly died for you on the cross. To be cross-conscious is to look to Jesus, who offered His own body to be punished, so that your body can be free from all punishment.

To be cross-conscious is to fix your eyes on Jesus, who has provided for your deliverance and victory at the cross. At the cross, all your enemies were vanquished. All your diseases were destroyed. Your poverty was removed at the cross. Your sins were wiped out at the cross.

When the Israelites tasted bitterness in the waters of Marah, God showed Moses a tree, which he cast into the waters, making them sweet. (Exodus 15:2326) The tree represents the cross, which turned the bitter waters sweet. Today, Calvarys tree has turned your bitter situations sweet. Because of the cross, you can expect to see the bitter situations in your life made sweet!

When the Israelites were bitten by serpents in the wilderness, God told Moses to put a bronze serpent on a pole. The pole represents the cross and bronze speaks of judgment. Those who beheld the serpent on the pole lived because they saw their problemthe deadly serpentnailed and put to death on the cross. (Numbers 21:69)

Today, you too will not die but live when you see all your sins judged at the cross, and with them, all your sicknesses, diseases, pains, failures and defeats! At the cross, all that is deadly in your life has been removed!

Daily Grace Inspiratio​ns From Joseph Prince Ministries

John 14:26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things

If you are asking whom or where you can go to to get the help you need, ask no more. Just turn to God who has already promised you the Helper, the Holy Spirit whom He has sent in Jesus name to dwell in you.

The Holy Spirit will teach you all things. Yes, teach you all things! Do you really believe that? Or are you like some who believe that you seek Gods counsel only for spiritual things, but consult professional help for all other things in your life?

God does not want you to run to and rely on worldly wisdom. Now, there is nothing wrong with going to a doctor or engaging a financial consultant, but God wants you to come to Him first for counsel and direction. That is why He has sent the Holy Spirit, the Counselor (John 16:7, NIV), to teach you all things. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth and He will guide you into all truth. (John 16:13)

The apostle John said, But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things (1 John 2:20, 27)

So the way God teaches you is through the anointing within. It is a continuous anointing. In any particular situation, He is anointing you from within, teaching you by the presence or absence of His peace.

For example, a deal you are considering may sound very reasonable. But if you dont have the peace in your spirit, dont sign on the dotted line. Sign only when you have the peace. Be led by His peace and you will find that your heart will not be troubled, neither will it be afraid. (John 14:27)

When you follow that peace which only God can give to you as an inward witness, good things and even miracles will come forth!

Daily Grace Inspiratio​ns From Joseph Prince Ministries

Romans 8:31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

Are you faced with challenges in your life right now? Are you having marital problems and financial woes? Maybe your child is going astray or an old illness has returned. What then will you say to all these things?

Do you know what God wants you to say? He wants you to say, If God is for me, who can be against me?

If you knew that the President or the Prime Minister was for you, you might believe that everything will be okay. But you have an even better backing! The Bible tells us that God, the Almighty, the Creator of the heavens and the earth, is for you! What problem can fasten its grip on you when the Almighty God is for you? Can the devil come successfully against you with God on your side?

If God is for you today, if God is for you right now, you dont have to moan, If only I had thisIf only I didnt say that And you dont have to worry about the future: What if this happensWhat if we dont have enough My friend, regretting the past and worrying about the future wont change anything. Look to your heavenly Father, instead. Because He is for you at this present moment, you can be confident that He will help you and provide for you.

Beloved, God sent His Son to die for you. And Jesus gave you a blood-bought right to an abundant life full of meaning and purpose! He gave you a blood-bought right to walk in divine health all the days of your life! He gave you a blood-bought right to His supply even when the economy goes down!

You have all these things not because you deserve them, but because Jesus shed His blood and gave you the right to have them. All these blessings are yours today because God is for you! And if God is for you, who can be against you!

Daily Grace Inspiratio​ns From Joseph Prince Ministries

2 Peter 1:2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord,

If you would like to walk in a greater measure of Gods favor, 2 Peter 1:2 says that grace, which is the undeserved favor of God, and peace, can be multiplied to you. Peace is the word shalom in Hebrew. Its definition includes wholeness, health, safety and provision. So when you walk in divine favor and peace, you will walk in blessings in every area of your life!

But how do the undeserved favor and shalom of God increase in your life?

It is not by your laboring or toiling to earn it. The Bible says that it comes as your knowledge of Jesus and His finished work increases. It comes as you learn more about and believe that through Jesus one sacrifice at the cross, God removed all your sins, gave you His righteousness as a gift and put you in Christ to enjoy everything Jesus has. Gods favor is multiplied in your life when you simply believe that the favor of God that is on Christ is also on you because of what Jesus work at the cross has accomplished.

Today, you dont have to struggle for favor. Just release it by speaking forth Gods Word in faith. On your way to work, say, Gods favor surrounds me as with a shield. (Psalm 5:12) As you continue to speak Gods favor over your life out of a revelation of Jesus finished work, you will see more of it being released.

When I first entered the workforce, I began to declare the favor of God in my job. Every time I was given a new assignment, I proclaimed that the divine favor of God was on me. The company began to prosper and I was blessed financially. By the time I left the company to serve God full-time, my income had increased so that I was in the top 15 per cent of earners in my age group in Singapore.

Today, in your workplace or at home, begin to declare the favor of God by faith. Expect to receive preferential treatment wherever you are. Say, I am surrounded with the favor of God because of Jesus finished work. I have favor before God and man! And see Gods favor work for you!