Issue No.079 January, 2011 ; Christian's Supreme Priority

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"Grace & Peace" is an e-periodical for spiritual
enlightenment,
edification and encouragement.
Issue No.079 January,
2011

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In this issue:-

Perspective:- Christian’s
Supreme Priority

Out line: -One Thing

Anecdote: - Quantity vs Quality

News & Views:- - No TV Day

Perspective:-

Christian’s Supreme Priority

Most believers entered in to this New Year with a set of new goals and
programme to succeed somehow. It’s always good to review our performance
and reschedule our activities to attain maximum result. Though such an
exercise is possible at any moment, the beginning of a year is
particularly a very unique occasion to review and rearrange our life’s
priorities.


Since our life is too short and the opportunities are limited we should
be very clear about our priority. What is the most important
responsibility of a Christian? To succeed as a Christian, what should be
on the top of our activities? If we are not sure about this, it is very
difficult for us to progress as the Lord expects from us.

Eternal Value

The Lord Jesus referred to
this while rebuking Martha for her worry and murmuring. “But one thing
is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken
away from her.” Luke 10:42. What was that good thing Mary had chosen?
While Martha was worried over the household tasks, Mary was calmly
sitting at the feet of Christ and listening to Him. The Lord says, not
only Mary’s action was a good and essential thing but it has eternal
value as well. Yes, this should be the supreme priority for a Christian:
Be at the feet of Christ and learn from Him. Among the many other
crucial agendas for this New Year is it our top-most priority?

Gospel Truth

In fact
the gospel call includes such a great responsibility. But sad thing,
often we don’t give more importance to this aspect of the gospel truth.
Notice Matthew 11: 28, 29. In v.28 the Christ calls sinners to come and
find forgiveness and rest from the burden of sin. In v.29 we have the
next step, “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me………and you will find
rest for your souls.” Coming to Christ as an enlightened sinner and
finding rest and salvation is not enough; we ought to take His yoke upon
our shoulder. That is to walk with Him; stay close to Him.


The Lord very clearly refers to the result of such intimate association
with Him. Not only He will teach us many precious spiritual truths, we
will also know more of Christ Himself. Then we shall find rest for our
souls. Notice carefully the reference to two aspects of rest in a
believer’s life. The first rest that the Lord gave is in-connection with
the forgiveness of sins and salvation from the penalty of sin. The
second aspect of rest refers to peaceful and serene life of a Christian
in his every day life. That depends upon our personal relation with
Christ.

Training Centre

Mark
writes about the main aim of Christ in choosing the disciples. “Then He
appointed twelve, that they might be with Him and that He might send
them out to preach.” Mark 3:14. It was while they were alone with Him,
Christ explained the meaning of the parables He spoke in public. Also it
was an opportunity for them to clear their doubts on various other
issues. Cf. Mark 4:10, 34. In short we can say it was at the feet of
Christ disciples were moulded and prepared for spiritual service.


In fact the Lord made it very clear later, “And you will also bear
witness, because you have been with Me from the beginning.” John 15:27.
Before one can speak about Christ, He wants us to be with Him and learn
from Him. It is at His feet one is prepared for fruitful Christian life
and service.

Experimental
knowledge

The most important aspect
of this wonderful training programme at the feet of Christ is that more
than mere theological truths, we will know more of the Lord Himself.
That exactly is the purpose of God. Jeremiah 9:24. Our salvation takes
place as a result of knowing who Christ is. Cf. John 17: 3. This
knowledge is not just an intellectual understanding of certain facts but
experimental: deep, intimate acquaintance. Our spiritual growth also
depends upon such personal relationship with Christ. 2Peter 3:18.


Our spiritual life commences and continues with the knowledge of Christ.
Yes, true Christian life is not based on just believing certain
doctrinal points but having a very personal and living relationship with
the Lord Jesus Christ. Not even some truths about Christ like His
person, perfections, work etc, we need to know Himself. That’s why it is
imperative for us to maintain an intimate relationship with the Lord by
being close to Him as often as we can. Even the Lord Jesus Christ wants
such a friendly relation with us! Cf. John 15:15.

Paul’s Priority

Notice the words of Apostle
Paul. Around 25 years after his conversion he says, “That I may know Him
and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His
sufferings….” Philippians 3:10. Paul finds this as the most important
goal of his life and counts all other things as loss and rubbish. V. 8.
Is it your priority this year? Are you willing to consider all other
things as secondary for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ as
Paul did?


How can we stay close to Christ today? It is through the meditation of
His word and prayer. As we read His precious word and commune with Him
in our quite time our heart is refreshed by that still small voice of
the Spirit of God. There we are revived, challenged, encouraged and even
moulded.

Godly witnesses

Yes, I believe every
spiritual development takes place at this quite moment. Consider the
life of any great men of God in the past all of them enjoyed very
personal quite time with the Lord. They knew their Lord more. They heard
the word of God very personally and that made them truly spiritual and
strong witnesses for Christ. Let this be our New Year goal. Not just a
goal, but deliberately and purposely experience it day by day.

“Close to Thee, close to Thee,
all along my pilgrim
journey saviour,
Saviour let me walk with Thee.”

To all
our esteemed readers, we sincerely and prayerfully wish such a wonderful
spiritual life and subsequent success in every aspect of life all
through this New Year 2011.

NTK

One Thing

1.
Desired. Psalm 27:4

2.
Lacking. Mark 10:21

3. Needful. Luke 10:42

4. To Know. John 9:25

5. To Do. Philippines 3:13

Anecdote: -

Quantity vs Quality

A story is told of two
armies facing each other ready for battle. One army had twice the
force of the other. The commander of the bigger army sent an
ambassador to the chief of the smaller army asking them to surrender
considering that they were grossly outnumbered.

In reply to this
suggestion, the commander of the smaller army called one of his men,
handed him a sword and said, “Fall on this.” The man obeyed instantly.
He then called another soldier, handed him a spear and said, “Fall on
this.” The man immediately fell it. He called a third and pointing to
a precipice said, “Leap over it.” The man immediately jumped.

Turning to the
ambassador, the commander said, “Go and tell your chief that I have
ten thousand men who will unhesitantly die at my words. If your
commander surrenders it is all-right, if not, the battle begins.”

The ambassador returned
to the commander shaken up and begged him to surrender saying, “An
army of such men is invincible regardless of numbers.”

News & Views:-

No TV Day

Hindustan Times, one of the
leading English Dailies in India is organizing a No TV Day in Mumbai on
January 29, 2011. Their effort is to encourage the people of Mumbai to
spend their time productively rather than wasting before the idiot box.
Through sustained………More

NTK

Worthy Quotes:-

Goals

“If you aim at nothing, you
hit it.”

_____________________ Author Unknown

“No one can be making much of his
life who has not a very definite
conception of what he is living
for.”

_________ Henry Drummond

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“He
awakens me morning by morning; He awakens my ear to hear as the learned.” Isaiah
50:4b

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Grace & Peace