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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 6th
No half-measures please…
So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they
(Cornelius and his relatives) asked Peter to stay with them for a few days -
Acts 10:48
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In the game of Soccer can a team be satisfied by moving the ball only up to the penalty area or the 18 yard
box as it is called without putting the ball into the net? NO WAY! Ditto the same in the spiritual realm.
The acceptance of the Gospel is complete only with the administration of Baptism to those who have received it.
We see Peter not being content with only preaching the Gospel to Cornelius and his relatives. As we near the end
of Chapter 10 (and our own meditation of 7 days on the conversion of Cornelius), we see not only the Holy Spirit
coming upon the committed audience of Peter but Peter himself ensuring that all the “new souls born in His
Kingdom” do “all that God requires”
(Matt 3:15) just like the Master Himself had done so uncompromisingly in the
matter of Baptism.
Is there a lesson for us there? Yes! Not only we need to preach the Gospel and even as God does His part of
making people respond to the Gospel, we need to administer full immersion water baptism to all those who
have come under the saving grace of the Redeemer. No half measures on baptism please…just as there can be no
half-measures in a goal-scoring effort!
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, You have set the example before us of doing “what all the Father requires”
in the matter of baptism. Enable us not to compromise on this crucial matter, at all times. AMEN.
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