Category: New Testament

Lamp & Light

Featured ~ Sowmya Gali

Psalm 119: 105

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

Proverbs 6: 23

For these commands are a lamp, this teaching is a light, and the corrections of discipline are the way to life.

Imagine holding a candle or a lantern in a dark place! We can’t see farther than a few feet. When we hold the lamp in front of us, we can see the ground that is in front of us, maybe a couple of feet. The lantern casts light in front of us just for a few steps. However, we can see our feet and the ground we are walking on. As we focus on the ground on which our feet stand, then we are confident in the next step. If the Word of God is our lamp to our feet, and Jesus our firm ground, we can take our next step confidently in this wayward, wily world. One step at a time with just enough light for a few steps at a time leads us to trust in Him wholly.

Jesus, the Word incarnate, the Light of the world, who knows the path ahead better than anyone else, will lead us on. Trust only Him! His word is the only Light that can guide us through this dark, dreary, and deadly world. Satan is deft to distract us from the path that Jesus is leading us on. With Jesus’ guiding light, we can see clearly, the ugliness of such distractions. If we are on the path walking hand in hand with our Risen Savior and rooted in the Word of Truth, then we will be able to see clearly to persevere to stay on the right path.

Dear Beloved, our lives on this planet are abounding with darkness, lurking dangers at every corner and overwhelming distractions that are innumerable. How often we do trip and fall into the traps the devil has laid out for God’s saints! Allow Jesus, the Bread of Life, the Word of Truth and Grace, and the true Light of the World to be your lamp and light for this journey on this earth.

Pierce Your Ear

Featured ~ Sowmya Gali

Psalm 40: 6

Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but my ears you have pierced…

Deuteronomy15: 16, 17

But if your servant says to you, “I do not want to leave you,” because he loves you and your family is well off with you, then take an awl and push it through his ear lobe into the door, and he will become your servant for life.

After Israelites entered the Promised Land, God gave them several instructions as to how they should conduct themselves before the Lord and towards their brethren. Right after the instructions about cancelling debt of a fellow Hebrew in the seventh year, God gives this interesting instruction to Israelites about Hebrew slaves working under rich masters. A fellow Hebrew who offers himself or herself as a slave to a rich Hebrew master is permitted to remain a slave for six years and must be allowed to go free in the seventh year. However, if the slave chooses to remain a slave to this kind master, because the slave loves the master, the master must pierce the slave’s ear by pushing an awl through the earlobe into the doorpost. Then the slave will remain with his master for life.

In Psalm 40, King David after experiencing God’s goodness, mercy and love, decided to remain God’s servant for life. His desire was to remain in the house of the Lord forever. He was so confident of his faith and love towards his Master, that he offered his ears to be pierced. We do not know if David literally got his ear pierced on the doorpost of the tabernacle where the Lord dwelt. His heart’s desire was such that he longed to remain a servant or slave to his Master because he loved God, the kind Master and His family. David knew that he would be well off if he remained in God’s house. That is why he is a man after God’s heart.

Are we ready to get our ears pierced? Are we longing to remain in God’s house forever? After witnessing His love, mercy and faithfulness, can we be any complete elsewhere? Do we love our Master enough to remain in His house forever? Do our hearts carry such passion for our kind Master that we are willing to become His servants forever?

God is seeking willing hearts to join His family.