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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
May 3rd
An omnipyschologist
About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city,
Peter went up on the roof to pray. He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while
the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. He saw heaven opened and something
like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. It contained all kinds of four-footed animals,
as well as reptiles of the earth and birds of the air. Then a voice told him, "Get up, Peter. Kill and eat."
"Surely not, Lord!" Peter replied. "I have never eaten anything impure or unclean."
The voice spoke to him a second time, "Do not call anything impure that God has made clean."
This happened three times
– Acts 10:9-16
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While it is good to praise God for the blessings, He showers upon us it is all the more commendable to praise
Him for WHAT HE IS! It is when we extol Him for his unique traits, that He is more pleased! While on the
subject of praising Him for His special attributes, we may have praised God for his omnipresence, omniscience and omnipotence,
but have we ever praised Him for He being an omnipsychologist?
While continually to dwell on the Cornelius’ conversion, now we cannot blame the main protagonist of the
account –Peter- for his prejudices’ at a time some fundamentalist Jews sadly used to pray “Thank God for not
making me a Gentile” . Hadn’t he grown-up in Jewish culture steeped in religious exclusivism? Oh how he needed,
some real growing up to do in the new way of life! Oh what a wonderful way in which the Lord conditioned his mind,
equipping him, mentally as it were, for the task ahead of visiting an “unclean” gentile home! With a bizarre vision,
the good Lord prepared him for an epoch-making mission. Eon’s back, didn’t the good Lord do the same in the case of
that radical prophet Elijah? He fed him using unclean (Leviticus 11:15)
ravens -a temporary arrangement during a
severe famine-so that the prophet would have no qualms, when presented with a permanent arrangement, of dining alongside
a gentile widow
(1 Kings 17:1-16) for 3 years!
Prayer:
Father, what a wonderful omni psychologist Thou art, preparing Thy servants mentally for the assignments,
which would come their ways. We praise Thee once again in Jesus’ name. AMEN.
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