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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 topic of Christian journey and the “Conquest of Canaan”
in the previous months, now in the month of March, considering that
we are in the season of Lent, I intend to focus on the subject- “Lent season”.
Once again, let me wish you a happy and an edifying read…
Suresh Manoharan
6th Lent Day
The wave pattern
“As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened,
and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. And a voice from heaven said,
"This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased." -
Matt 3:16-17
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Whilst continuing to reflect on our theme of “Jesus’ temptations in the wilderness”
which is the cornerstone to our Lenten Season meditations, today let us come to the TIME when
Jesus as per the Divine plan was exposed to the satanic enticements and draw lessons from this
“TIME FACTOR” in the spiritual realm.
All along the pages of Old testament, a pattern resembling a wave with its intermittent crests
and troughs would be visible to the discerning, when it comes to studying the ebb and flow in
the spiritual lives of His chosen ones’. No sooner had Israel been delivered from Egypt came
the Pharoah pursuing her with his army, so much so, their exhilaration borne out of their
new-found liberty briefly turned to a moment of severe testing
(Exodus 14:5-31). No sooner
had Hezekiah led a spiritual revival in his sin-ravaged country that the wicked Sennacherib
came against him
(II Chro 31-33) necessitating fervent intercessory prayer for deliverance from
this evil potentate. We see a similar pattern unfold in the life of Jesus’ too, the “high” of Baptism,
when he received the heavenly commendation was immediately followed by his wilderness experience.
Later in his ministry also, we would observe that his “mountaintop” transfiguration experience
was followed by an encounter with the powerful Evil spirit, which his 9 disciples had failed to
expel from the stricken boy
(9:28-43).
The lesson, this spiritual wave pattern holds for all of his modern-day chosen ones’
is that we need to be wary of Satanic allurements at all times. A mountaintop experience
as it were, would not make us immune to his assaults. That’s why Paul lovingly admonishes us
in his epistle “Therefore let him that thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he fall.”
-I Cor 10:12.
Yes, it’s tough to adapt when there are sudden changes in the spiritual environment.
Jesus coped up with them with aplomb; we too can depending on His power
(Philippians 4:13)!
Prayer:
Father, your holy scriptures teach us so many lessons, we need to take hold of in our spiritual
lives and apply. Enable us to be not only the “hearers” of your Word but also “doers” of the same.
In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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