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In more than three decades of my Christian life, I have been blest by 2 types of Daily devos'
(matter not exceeding 500 words) in universal Christian literature. Not only those Devos'
which have a different theme everyday but also the ones which revolve around a certain
theme over a period of time, say a fortnight, have richly edified me. In fact, both
styles have their own inherent advantages. If the former style caters to the varying
spiritual needs of a christian from day-to-day, the latter aims 'to ground'
a child of God in a certain subject in order he derives the full benefits of the
deep insightful study of a certain topic, spread over a fixed span of time.
In my Daily devo page, I have consciously tried to go in for 'a blend of both the
styles' whereby within a constant theme, I would be aiming to focus on different
facets of it which admittedly is a closer imitation of the 'Constant theme' style
than the 'Varying topics' one.
Having dwelt on the topics
- “The Christian journey”
- “ The Conquest of Canaan” and the
- “Lent season”.
in the previous months, now in the months of April and May, considering that
post resurrection of Christ (one of our concluding themes’ you would remember
in the meditations of March, was Resurrection), birth of the Church was a
landmark event in Biblical history, I want to cast the spotlight on the Book of
Acts (which records the birth and growth of the Church). This would ensure to a large
extent continuity of thought albeit under the ambit of new subject.
Once again, let me wish you a happy and an edifying read…
Suresh Manoharan
April 24th
Third Party Certification
And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying,
These that have turned the world upside down are come hither
also - Acts 17:6 (KJV)
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Yesterday, we meditated on the
impact the Apostles transformed demeanor had on the Jewish religious leaders…a
look of genuine astonishment at their new-found confidence may have at best
registered itself on the countenance of Jewish religious hierarchy. But the Apostles
passionate approach to God-ordained work allied with their stupendous miracles,
which continued to draw a massive following elicited, as we see in the
above-captioned Scripture portion, a reaction from Church opponents that defies
conventional wisdom.
We of the 21st century Market-driven, highly competitive economy are
increasingly observing a tendency in the Companies’ to incorporate in their
advertising profile “a third-party certification”. Reason? The world may not notice if the Business houses’ blow
their own trumpets about their product or service quality but third party
certification… it is a different cup of tea altogether! The rational world would always take
the word of the NEUTRAL PARTY (read third party) with no selfish stakes in the
organization, it is certifying, seriously.
If third-party certification itself carries, so much of weight in modern-day, ultra-competitive markets,
consider a scenario when the BIGGEST COMPETITOR in the Industry, gives his
business rival a certificate of being a World-shaker? Unthinkable, isn’t it?
Yet, that is what happened in the First Century competitive “SPRITUAL MARKET”.
The Church received it’s accolade of “turning the World upside down”, not from
its insiders or well-wishers but from it’s bitter enemies.
Amazing isn’t it! HALLELUJAH! By the way, how are we faring in the “local spiritual market”?
Prayer:
Father, we see persecution coming our way, as we sincerely go about Thy mission.
While persecution is a sign, that we have shaken-up the adversary’s domain, give us the strength,
to continue Thy work, enthusiastically. In Jesus’ name. AMEN.
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