My Experience with Christ

A Slice of Manna 1-November-2021

Have a Blessed day with God !!

In Him,

Br. Santosh Thankachan

Perth, WA

A Slice of Manna 2-November-2021

Have a Blessed day with God !!

In Him,

Br. Santosh Thankachan

Perth, WA

A Slice of Manna 3-November-2021

Have a Blessed day with God !!

In Him,

Br. Santosh Thankachan

Perth, WA

A Slice of Manna 4-November-2021

“For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory”

“क्योंकि हमारा पल भर का हल्का सा क्लेश हमारे लिये बहुत ही महत्वपूर्ण और अनन्त महिमा उत्पन्न करता जाता है।”

- 2 Corinthians 4:17

There is no lack of struggles for Paul and for him, the sorrows and pain are regular partners, as he proclaims the good news of the gospel to others. Paul knew very well that its God who with His abundant mercy, gave him and all of us this work to do, so we must not give up (2 Corinthians 4:1). While serving the Lord we may be pressured in every way, but be assured we are not crushed; we are perplexed and unsure of finding a way out sometimes but we are never driven to despair; we are pursued, persecuted and hard-driven from all sides (family, work, friends, relatives, society), but we are not deserted to stand alone; we may be struck down to the ground, but rejoice for we are never struck out and destroyed (2 Corinthians 4:8,9).

Apostle Paul says we are vessels so that God might use us. We are earthen vessels so that we might depend on God’s power and not our own (2 Corinthians 4:7). He was sure his trials were working for him, not against him (2 Corinthians 4:16,17). When we live by faith in Christ, we get the right perspective on suffering. In 2 Corinthians 4:17 we see some eye-opening comparisons Paul makes, light affliction - the weight of glory; momentary - eternal; working against us - working for us. Do we keep eternity in view like Paul when we endure our life struggles today? But we must always remind ourselves that unless we yield to the Lord, turn to His Word, and trust Him to work, our suffering could make us far worse Christians. What are your agony and torment today my dear brothers and sisters? Let us try to put it in the scales against our eternity on the other and see if it measures much? in our sufferings and afflictions, instead of becoming critical and bitter, and going from bad to worse, let us grow “from glory to glory”. God is with you; He is your eternal refuge (Deuteronomy 33:27) and He will be with you in experiences of fire and water (Isaiah 43:1-3)

“The Lord gets His best soldiers out of the highlands of affliction.” - Charles Spurgeon

Have a Blessed day with God !!

In Him,

Br. Santosh Thankachan

Perth, WA

A Slice of Manna 5-November-2021

“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart, Be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.”

“मेरे मुंह के वचन और मेरे हृदय का ध्यान तेरे सम्मुख ग्रहण योग्य हों, हे यहोवा परमेश्वर, मेरी चट्टान और मेरे उद्धार करने वाले!”

- Psalm 19:14

David through Psalm 19 reveals that the perfect revelation of the Lord instils a clean fear of God in us that endures forever, it involves understanding of God’s perfect Law that transforms a soul (a rebellious and lost soul) and gives us an understanding of His commandments that enlightens our darkened eyes or rather our dim vision about His kingdom and His Love. What this great revelation about omniscient and omnipotent God does in the lives of a sinner is that it brings a firm conviction about his/her sins or secret faults. The daily deeper revelation about our God will urge us to Pray and Confess to our God to save us from our recurring presumptuous and daily sins. No doubt that if we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). On the contrary, Unconfessed sins, even if committed ignorantly, can grow within the heart, and begin to rule over us, and this can lead to our committing willful disobedience.

One of the fascinating things that revelation of our God and His will does in our lives is that it helps us live a life that’s always pleasing to Him. God wants to hear our words as “sacrifices” that please Him. Scripture says, by our words, we will be acquitted, and by our words, we will be condemned (Matthew 12:37). The words we speak begin with the thoughts in our hearts (Matthew 12:33–37) so it’s important that we meditate on God’s Word and God’s works regularly. If we delight in God’s Word, then we will naturally meditate on it too and give an expression of His truth with our lips, and this will help to keep us from all sins (Psalm 119:9–16,23,24,47,48,77,78,97–99). ‘Acceptable’ refers to the sacrifice being without blemish and if sacrifice is not acceptable to the Lord, then the worshiper (you and me) is also not accepted by the Lord. David’s prayer about words of his mouth and meditation of his heart being acceptable to God is a prayer that God may approve and accept him as well ultimately. When it comes to our words and thoughts of our hearts of our heart, are we sure that God accepts it? Do we delight to Please God through our Words and our meditation of His Word?

“Prayer that is born of meditation upon the Word of God is the prayer that soars upward most easily to God’s listening ears.” - R.A. Torrey

Have a Blessed day with God !!

In Him,

Br. Santosh Thankachan

Perth, WA

A Slice of Manna 6-November-2021

Have a Blessed day with God !!

In Him,

Br. Santosh Thankachan

Perth, WA

A Slice of Manna 7-November-2021

“Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.”

“जिस ने अपने आप को हमारे लिये दे दिया, कि हमें हर प्रकार के अधर्म से छुड़ा ले, और शुद्ध करके अपने लिये एक ऐसी जाति बना ले जो भले भले कामों में सरगर्म हो॥”

- Titus 2:14

After giving a brief quality of a sound Church (Titus 2:1-10) to his partner and fellow worker in Christ Titus (2 Corinthians 8:23), apostle Paul gave some really important sound doctrine to Titus to share with believers, young men and servants of God equally. Simply put forth Paul reminds Titus to exhort others that the Grace of God (His unmerited favour and blessing) has appeared for the deliverance from sin and the eternal salvation for all mankind (Titus 2:11) and this Grace of God not only teach us but also train us to reject and renounce all ungodliness (irreligion) and worldly (passionate) desires, to live discreetly (temperate, self-controlled), upright, devout (spiritually whole) lives in this present world (Titus 2:12). This essence of living a Holy life is to prepare us for the glorious appearance of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus.

Paul reminds us that our Christ has redeemed us and “we are His people”, His personal possession. When we were sold under sin, we should praise His Name, because He came and died for us paying the price to set us free. Redeemed (Agorazo) as in Revelation 5:9 means purchasing a slave right off the auction block. That is what Jesus did for us when He died on the cross. He paid the full price that we might go free from the penalty of sin. Redeem (Exagorazo) as in Galatians 5:9 means “To take off the market”. In other words, Jesus paid the price for us, and we are no longer up for sale! He bought us and He intends to keep us. Finally, Redeemed (Loutron) as in 1 Peter 1:18 means “To release after the payment of the purchase price”. After our Jesus Christ redeemed us, He removed us from the sale and then set us free, not free to go and sin, but free to go and serve the Lord our God. Do you know you are only redeemed by the blood of Christ that is shed on the cross? Have you consciously and wholeheartedly accepted this free gift of salvation?. Being born in a Christian family is not a guarantee that you are saved. You need Jesus today. Stop making excuses for your traditions and ask yourself did you really accepted Christ as your Saviour. Jesus has promised eternal life for those who believe in Him and accept Him as their personal Saviour. He is coming soon. Are you Ready?

“That the sinless Son of God must die upon the Cross to redeem us shouldn’t make us feel good about ourselves but ashamed, for it was our sins that nailed Him there.” - Dave Hunt

Have a Blessed day with God !!

In Him,

Br. Santosh Thankachan

Perth, WA

A Slice of Manna 8-November-2021

“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me”

“मैं मसीह के साथ क्रूस पर चढ़ाया गया हूं, और अब मैं जीवित न रहा, पर मसीह मुझ में जीवित है: और मैं शरीर में अब जो जीवित हूं तो केवल उस विश्वास से जीवित हूं, जो परमेश्वर के पुत्र पर है, जिस ने मुझ से प्रेम किया, और मेरे लिये अपने आप को दे दिया।”

- Galatians 2:20

The cross of Jesus or Crucifixion of our Lord Jesus will continue to have a significant lifelong impact on those who have decided to follow Jesus and carry His cross as per His commandment (Luke 9:23). Without lack of words, New Testament speaks volumes on our sharing with Jesus in many ways. The true disciples of Jesus share Jesus in His Death (Romans 6:4), in His Resurrection (Ephesians 2:6; Colossians 2:13; 3:1), in His Life (Galatians 2:20) and also in His Crucifixion (Galatians 2:20; Colossians 2:20). In the context of Galatians 2 which speaks about how the believer is made right with God, we need to really understand that we are not literally crucified with Christ, but the phrase crucified with Christ is symbolic of a deeper spiritual truth.

The first spiritual truth in being crucified with Christ means that we are no longer under the penalty of the Law. That penalty was paid by Christ on our behalf. When Christ was crucified, it was as if we were crucified with Him. The second truth it signifies is that we are now made New creation as Paul writes to the Romans “When we were baptized, we died and were buried with Christ. We were baptized so that we would live a new life, as Christ was raised to life by the glory of God the Father.” (Romans 6:4, Read Romans 6:3-14 for an extended discussion on this subject). Being crucified with Christ also demands our unfailing commitment to the One who loved us unconditionally (Matthew 10:38, 1 Peter 1:8). Have we been crucified with Christ, If Yes, How can we be sure of that? It is shown and declared by our lives which we no longer live according to the sinful lusts and desires of our flesh, but it is lived by Faith daily denying ourselves (Matthew 16:24). We must learn to deny our own self will daily and take up our cross onto which our self-will is to be nailed because that is what Jesus did. Jesus always lived to fulfill the will of His Father (Luke 22:44). Now the question for us is what approach to life do we choose? Do we deny ourselves or live for ourselves? Do we take the cross or just ignore the cross? Do we forsake the world and its passions, or do we live to gain the world? To be crucified with Christ means to give yourself wholly to Christ and share in His shame and death.

“To be a follower of the Crucified Christ means, sooner or later, a personal encounter with the cross. And the cross always entails loss.” - Elisabeth Elliot

Have a Blessed day with God !!

In Him,

Br. Santosh Thankachan

Perth, WA

A Slice of Manna 9-November-2021

Have a Blessed day with God !!

In Him,

Br. Santosh Thankachan

Perth, WA

A Slice of Manna 10-November-2021

“Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”

“मत डर, क्योंकि मैं तेरे संग हूं, इधर उधर मत ताक, क्योंकि मैं तेरा परमेश्वर हूं; मैं तुझे दृढ़ करूंगा और तेरी सहायता करूंगा, अपने धर्ममय दाहिने हाथ से मैं तुझे सम्हाले रहूंगा॥”

- Isaiah 41:10

If food, water and shelter are the basic necessities of the Human body then Comfort in times of Fear, Guidance in times of Hopelessness and divine Strength in times of spiritual impoverishment are some very basic needs of any human soul. While all the world religions try to cater to these basic needs through one’s own human efforts, our Almighty God says these are not something that we can produce on our own merit but these are the outcomes of trusting God in the thick and thin of our life experiences. Psalmist says, “when I was burdened with worries, you comforted me and made me feel secure.” (Psalm 94:19). When the Lord is our light and our salvation then we will never be afraid of anyone or anything (Psalm 27:1).

God today commands all His children just like He told Joshua (Joshua 1:9) to be strong and courageous and not to be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord our God is always with us wherever we go or whatever situations we are in. Those who do not know God will always falter and always be afraid, but we have confidence in our God that He is with us. God through prophet Isaiah shows His unchanging Love for His people and His desire to encourage them to trust Him for their future. Remember that in midst of the storm, our Lord Jesus came to His disciples, and he did not leave them to struggle alone. What’s more, our Lord Jesus came to them using the very waves they feared as His vehicle. Every trouble that brings fears of an unknown future inside us is the very vehicle God uses sometimes to put our Confidence in Him more and trust Him. Does your life situation bring fear to your heart today? Does it make you anxious? Then tell your heart that Almighty God will be with me to strengthen me and sustain me through all the storms of my life. Believe God, you will never weather a storm alone!

“Be assured, if you walk with Him and look to Him, and expect help from Him, He will never fail you.” - George Mueller

Have a Blessed day with God !!

In Him,

Br. Santosh Thankachan

Perth, WA

A Slice of Manna 11-November-2021

“Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.”

“और दाऊद बड़े संकट में पड़ा; क्योंकि लोग अपने बेटे-बेटियों के कारण बहुत शोकित हो कर उस पर पत्थरवाह करने की चर्चा कर रहे थे। परन्तु दाऊद ने अपने परमेश्वर यहोवा को स्मरण करके हियाव बान्धा॥”

- 1 Samuel 30:6

Conflicts whether small or great have the tendency to shake us to the core. When conflicts come from outside, we know the enemy and we may have some strategies to confront those but when we are faced with conflicts from within (our family, friends, and those whom we know and love) then it leaves us utterly broken and helpless. David’s conflict with Amalekites is evident in 1 Samuel 30 where we see that enemy kidnapped the women and everyone from youngest to oldest from Ziklag (1 Samuel 30:1,2). They had killed no one but had carried them off as they went on their way. It is not surprising that even today one of the cunning ways of Satan discouraging Godly people is to attack their families and their children. A broken family, relationships that are getting weak, children who are lost in the world are all signs of how the Enemy take us captive spiritually today.

In the context of 1 Samuel 30, David too lost all his family members just like others, but he was greatly distressed because the people spoke of stoning him, for all of them were embittered, each man for his sons and daughters. Does it sound familiar when we ourselves are going through similar struggles and pain as others but still we are blamed and accused rather unjustly by others? But even in one of the darkest hours of his life, when David himself had lost everything, it is written that he “encouraged himself in the Lord his God” (1 Samuel 30:6). How did he manage to do that? It happened because, at this crucial juncture, David not only prayed for God’s guidance, but he asked for insight to understand God’s promises and His covenant with His people. It is there only he could truly learn God’s ways and understand his own path. He desperately needed God’s divine wisdom to make the right decisions, avoid the traps, and reach the goal. When faced with similar situations do, we play the victim or trust God and become a victor? When you see the enemy taking your children and family captive, do we approach people for help or lift up our hearts to the Lord who is our only source of encouragement? David reminds us today that “When the Outlook is bleak, try the Up look”.

“I am mended by my sickness, enriched by my poverty, and strengthened by my weakness.” - Abraham Wright

Have a Blessed day with God !!

In Him,

Br. Santosh Thankachan

Perth, WA

A Slice of Manna 12-November-2021

Have a Blessed day with God !!

In Him,

Br. Santosh Thankachan

Perth, WA

A Slice of Manna 13-November-2021

Have a Blessed day with God !!

In Him,

Br. Santosh Thankachan

Perth, WA

A Slice of Manna 14-November-2021

“And he said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, And naked shall I return there. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; Blessed be the name of the Lord”. In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong.”

“मैं अपनी मां के पेट से नंगा निकला और वहीं नंगा लौट जाऊंगा; यहोवा ने दिया और यहोवा ही ने लिया; यहोवा का नाम धन्य है। इन सब बातों में भी अय्यूब ने न तो पाप किया, और न परमेश्वर पर मूर्खता से दोष लगाया।”

- Job 1:21,22

One of the most painful and hard to bear accounts of human sufferings mentioned in the bible without a doubt is of Job. None of us I believe will ever go through so much anguish and suffering in the span of time as Job went through in his lifetime. It has been written in the bible that Job lost everything during his time of affliction. He lost his family, his finances, his health, and his friends, yet through it all, he never lost his faith or his relationship with the Lord. Through his life job demonstrates to us what should be our supreme duty to God as we pass through the dark valleys of life. Psalmist David says, “Even when I go through the darkest valley, I fear no danger, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me” (Psalm 23:4).

In all of our lives when we have to go through such deep valleys of grief and pain, we can react in one of two ways. We can either move toward God, or we can move away from Him. Looking at Job First, he looked back to his birth “Naked came I out of my mother’s womb.”, Everything Job owned was given to him by God, and the same God who gave it had the right to take it away. Then Job looked ahead to his death: “and naked shall I return”. Nothing that we acquire between our birth and death would go with us into the next world. Finally, Job looked up and uttered a magnificent statement of faith: “The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord”. What is our outlook when we go through our deep and dark valleys? Do we look back, look ahead and finally be able to look up. It takes real faith to say in the midst of sorrow and suffering, “Blessed be the name of the Lord”. Every trial, no matter how bad it is, is a good thing for us (Romans 8:28; 2 Corinthians 4:17; Romans 8:18) as through those God is merely moulding us in His image.

“Trouble affects folk differently. Trouble is like hot weather, it sours the milk, but it sweetens apples.” - Joseph Lincoln

Have a Blessed day with God !!

In Him,

Br. Santosh Thankachan

Perth, WA

A Slice of Manna 15-November-2021

Have a Blessed day with God !!

In Him,

Br. Santosh Thankachan

Perth, WA

A Slice of Manna 16-November-2021

“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”

“इसलिये पहिले तुम उसे राज्य और धर्म की खोज करो तो ये सब वस्तुएं भी तुम्हें मिल जाएंगी।”

- Matthew 6:33

We as children of God should never be too old to learn. One of the most important lessons we must never be too old to learn is “Teach us to number our days carefully so that we may develop wisdom in our hearts.” (Psalm 90:12). Most of us don’t have time or don’t want to take time to think about these eternity defining questions. Our Lord Jesus in Matthew 6:33 clearly told His disciples and each one of us that keep “First Things First”. We must keep “FIRST the Spiritual, then the Temporal” else we will be the most unfortunate of the lot who even though knew the truth about eternity but chose to deliberately ignore it and suffer judgment and eternal separation from God in Hell once our short life is over.

While we can discuss, talk and debate this for hours but to just put everything in a simple perspective Jesus asked us to set priorities RIGHT. For most of us, everything rises and falls right here. If our priorities are misaligned, then our life will not be in order too. If your priorities are not right, then we can never be right too. But how do we really know if we’re truly seeking God’s kingdom first? There are questions we can ask ourselves. Where do I primarily spend my energies and resources? Is all my time and money spent on goods and activities that will certainly perish, or in the services of God the results of which live on for eternity? Am I focused on pleasing God or trying to please men and society at large? Are my priorities defined and guided by the Word and Will of God or is it defined by peer pressure or a desire to be ahead of others always? While we may see our needs (which are basically our wants) as riches or advancement in life and society but maybe God knows that what we truly need is a time of poverty or solitude to come closer to Him. Maybe we see grand success in all areas of life as our needs today but maybe God knows that those successes are going to fill us with pride and further take us away from His kingdom and our own salvation and hence God allows failures, brokenness and even loss at times. Please remember that Lord is not just someone we passively accept. He is someone whom we must actively seek. Jesus taught us that our focus should be away from this world, its status and its lying allurements and it should always be placed upon the things of God’s kingdom. Are you Kingdom Ready? Are you sure that your priorities today are right in the light of your eternity?

“When you seek God first in your daily pursuits, He promises to add unto you those things which you were pursuing (as long as they are in His will). Placing Him first in your life should be your daily goal, the main pursuit in the midst of all your other pursuits.”

- Paul Chappell

Have a Blessed day with God !!

In Him,

Br. Santosh Thankachan

Perth, WA

A Slice of Manna 17-November-2021

“Surely I have calmed and quieted my soul, Like a weaned child with his mother; Like a weaned child is my soul within me.”

“निश्चय मैं ने अपने मन को शान्त और चुप कर दिया है, जैसे दूध छुड़ाया हुआ लड़का अपनी मां की गोद में रहता है, वैसे ही दूध छुड़ाए हुए लड़के के समान मेरा मन भी रहता है॥”

- Psalm 131:2

One of the greatest blessings of Trusting God on this earth is that it quietens our hearts in midst of all possible turmoils and fills us with hope even in the face of extreme hopelessness. Psalmist David says “I am content and at peace. As a child lies quietly in its mother’s arms, so my heart is quiet within me.”. David’s coming closer to God in days of his adversity, times of grief and moments of sorrow, fills him with Peace just like a weaned child is filled with content in its mother’s arms. Just like a weaned child who embraces his mother out of a desire for love, closeness, and companionship, in a similar manner, David’s humble desire is to draw nearer and nearer to God.

Such a desire to draw closer to God arises only when we deliberately renounce our pride and arrogance before God just like David prayed when he was going to Worship God. He says “O Lord, my heart is not conceited. My eyes do not look down on others” (Psalms 131:1). When we come before God and Pray then we must not be like the Pharisee who prayed about how good he was, but we must be like the tax collector who asked for God’s mercy as he was a sinner. (Luke 18:9-14). No wonder Jesus said it was the tax collector who went home justified before God. A person’s attitude is indeed important to God when they come before God to Pray. God’s goal for us is emotional and spiritual maturity (1 Corinthians 13:11; 14:20; Ephesians 4:13–15), and God sometimes has to wean us away from good things in order to give us better things. Let’s not forget that to accept God’s will in the losses and gains of life is to experience that inner calm that is so necessary if we are to be mature people. Have you learned to quieten yourself in the presence of God?

“As we pour out our bitterness, God pours in His Peace.” - F.B. Meyer

Have a Blessed day with God !!

In Him,

Br. Santosh Thankachan

Perth, WA

A Slice of Manna 18-November-2021

“Cast your bread upon the waters, For you will find it after many days.”

“अपनी रोटी जल के ऊपर डाल दे, क्योंकि बहुत दिन के बाद तू उसे फिर पाएगा।”

- Ecclesiastes 11:1

Diligence is the effort to do one’s part while keeping faith and reliance on God. Diligence is the degree of proper attention applied or care that is taken in various life situations or spiritual endeavours especially when it concerns our Faith and our adherence to Christian principles. King Solomon shares “The Value of Diligence” for the children of God in Ecclesiastes 11:1-8. Diligence is the opposite of slothfulness (a disinclination to work or exert ourselves) and Bible clearly admonishes us that in all the work we are given, we must do the best. We must work as though we are working for the Lord, not any earthly master (Colossians 3:23, 24).

Solomon reminds us that we must be willing to do something good and take a risk, usually without expecting much in return. It’s a case of casting our bread upon the waters – who knows how the favour will be repaid to you by someone someday. When we trust Jesus Christ as our Savior, we kind of married an adventure because it means living by faith and expecting the unexpected always. Whether it’s the merchant sending out his ships (Ecclesiastes 11:1–2) or the farmer sowing his seed (Ecclesiastes 11:3-6), a great deal of faith is required, because neither the merchant nor the farmer can control the circumstances. However, if the merchant and the farmer waited until the circumstances were ideal, they would never get anything done! Life has a certain amount of risk to it, and that’s where faith comes in. If God tells you to go and do something, then Pray, Go and Do it. Sometimes the risk that God tells us to take is to protect us from something in the future. Are we ready to take risks for our God today? Did we disregard God’s voice when He told us to do something? Life is an ADVENTURE — live by Faith.

“Faith is a record of great risks taken.” - Winkie Pratney

Have a Blessed day with God !!

In Him,

Br. Santosh Thankachan

Perth, WA

A Slice of Manna 19-November-2021

Have a Blessed day with God !!

In Him,

Br. Santosh Thankachan

Perth, WA

A Slice of Manna 20-November-2021

Have a Blessed day with God !!

In Him,

Br. Santosh Thankachan

Perth, WA

A Slice of Manna 21-November-2021

Have a Blessed day with God !!

In Him,

Br. Santosh Thankachan

Perth, WA

A Slice of Manna 22-November-2021

“But as one was cutting down a tree, the iron axe head fell into the water; and he cried out and said, “Alas, master! For it was borrowed.”

“परन्तु जब एक जन बल्ली काट रहा था, तो कुल्हाड़ी बेंट से निकल कर जल में गिर गई; सो वह चिल्ला कर कहने लगा, हाय! मेरे प्रभु, वह तो मंगनी की थी।”

- 2 Kings 6:5

The story of Elisha’s disciples cutting wood along the bank of the Jordan river to build a house for the dwelling is not uncommon for many Christian readers. As one of the disciples was cutting the wood the iron axe heard falls into the river. Apparently, the disciple has borrowed the axe from a lumberjack and the price of such a piece of iron in the bronze age would have been substantial which was the cause of concern for the disciple. Well, we all may know how prophet Elisha causes the iron to float on top of the water, where it can be retrieved and returned to its owner. But this small story does teach us some very valuable lessons in how God faithfully works on our behalf in a time of crisis—in those times when we cry out “Alas!”.

We Christians even when we are doing everything right, may lose our passion, or our cutting “edge” in our family life, professional life, and our spiritual lives. Even being pastors or ministers we may be preaching, praying, parenting, and trying to lead but we too can lose our passion and zeal to continue at times. In reality, Christians who are going to church every week, serving, studying, and working hard, can lose their passion and fall into depression and spiritual listlessness. But just like Elisha’s disciple, when we realize that we have lost our cutting edge for the kingdom of God, we must be willing and determined to do the one thing which matters most and that is, we must “Call upon our master our God without delay”. Psalmist David says, “When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their distress and troubles.” (Psalm 34:17). When we lose our cutting edge and are struggling to keep up spiritually then we must remind ourselves that the eyes of the Lord are toward the uncompromisingly righteous person and His ears are open to their cry. When we lose our Peace, Joy and Passion to face struggles and sorrows then we must be willing to do one thing and that is we should never quit on our master, but rather we must move closer to Him. The principle apostle James gave is very valuable for each one of us “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.” (James 4:8). Are we determined to call upon our master when we lose our cutting edge? We will get back our cutting edge when we are determined to know nothing except our Lord Jesus Christ and Him crucified. God must become our passion, rather than your past time and we must be willing to turn to Him first when we lose our edge. We can’t fix ourselves (our job, family, careers, children, health and spiritual stamina) – But GOD Can!

“Prayer is not so much an act as it is an attitude - an attitude of dependency, dependency upon God.” - A.W. Pink

Have a Blessed day with God !!

In Him,

Br. Santosh Thankachan

Perth, WA

A Slice of Manna 23-November-2021

“And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.”

“और उस से हमें यह आज्ञा मिली है, कि जो कोई अपने परमेश्वर से प्रेम रखता है, वह अपने भाई से भी प्रेम रखे॥”

- 1 John 4:21

Apostle John writes this epistle to help Christians separate Truth from lies, Brothers from enemies, Light from darkness and in many of his arguments Love is the key or the criterion to understand these differences. No wonder why 1 John 4 finds its place among the other few chapters in Bible that focus most on Love (the others being Psalm 136, 1 Corinthians 13, Hosea 3 etc.). Apostle John begins the chapter focusing on “Love for God and one another” (1 John 4:1-6), then he talks about “Knowing God Through Love” (1 John 4:7-11), then he tells his readers how to “See God through Love” (1 John 4:12-16). He then tells the mystery of how this Love for God is spiritually completed (1 John 4:17-19) and finally, He admonishes his readers that this Love for God is shown in our Obedience by Faith (1 John 4:21, 21).

Overall, a Love filled chapter that culminates with a divine notion that if God so loved us in this incredible way, then we also ought to love one another. Here we can see that it is for the seventh time apostle John uses the phrase “If a man says …” !! which denotes a warning against pretending. An immature Christian who is not growing in his love for God may think he has to impress others with his “spirituality.” This mistake turns him into a liar! Spiritual honesty brings peace and power to the person who practices it. A Christian who lacks confidence in God will also lack confidence in God’s people. On the other hand, if a Christian chooses to be Right with God, then everything will be right between him and other people as well. Because he lives in open honesty with the Father, he can live in honesty with other people. Love and truth go together. Do you love your Father in Heaven? Does this Love for God enable you to be honest with others and obedient before Him? Are you trying to impress others with your “Spirituality” today? Remember, when our hearts are confident toward God, there is no need for us to pretend, either to God or to other people.

“Our Lord told His disciples that love, and obedience were organically united. The final test of love is obedience.” - A.W. Tozer

Have a Blessed day with God !!

In Him,

Br. Santosh Thankachan

Perth, WA

A Slice of Manna 24-November-2021

Have a Blessed day with God !!

In Him,

Br. Santosh Thankachan

Perth, WA

A Slice of Manna 25-November-2021

Have a Blessed day with God !!

In Him,

Br. Santosh Thankachan

Perth, WA

A Slice of Manna 26-November-2021

" ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ "

“हे शाऊल, हे शाऊल, तू मुझे क्यों सताता है? पैने पर लात मारना तेरे लिये कठिन है।”

- Acts 26:14

As Saul was persecuting Christians and was travelling to Damascus with letters from the High priest to capture any men or women who were followers of Christ, we see that on the same Damascus road Saul was converted and he himself became the ardent follower of Christ. As Paul recounts his conversion before King Agrippa he said, when he and soldiers with him were all fallen to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick repeatedly against the goads”. Saul who was converted by his divine encounter with Jesus Christ was the one who was actually rebelling against his creator not knowing who this Jesus was.

Rebelling against God (sometimes knowingly in our foolishness or arrogance) is like an ox who is trying rebel against the farmer by kicking out at the prick (which farmer uses to steer the ox in the right direction) but in the process resulting the prick to be driven deeper into its flesh. The more the ox rebels the more it suffers. Jesus was telling Paul that his rebellion against God was losing a battle because his actions were as senseless as an ox kicking against the goads. Today also, just like Saul many of us still rebel against God by disobeying His commandments deliberately. We all are invited by our Heavenly Father to Believe His Son for eternal life (John 3:16), then consciously Obey Him in Water Baptism, thereafter, live faithfully following all his commandments and in His Holiness daily. When we are not heading in the direction God wanted us to go then our master has to goad (“direct or steer) us in the right direction. King Solomon writes there is severe discipline for him who forsakes God’s way; and he who hates reproof will eventually die physically, morally, and spiritually. (Proverbs 15:10). Sadly, our constant disobedience to God makes us like a foolish ox who drives the goad deeper and deeper by rebelling against its master. How long will we rebel against God? How long will it take for us to Obey God? Time is short, Jesus is coming soon, so it is better to heed God’s voice and listen to our conscience. Let us not punish ourselves anymore by resisting our Creator our God.

“When your thoughts and opinions become intellectual gods in rebellion against the Word of God, you are in idolatry.” - John Hagee

Have a Blessed day with God !!

In Him,

Br. Santosh Thankachan

Perth, WA

A Slice of Manna 27-November-2021

Have a Blessed day with God !!

In Him,

Br. Santosh Thankachan

Perth, WA

A Slice of Manna 28-November-2021

Have a Blessed day with God !!

In Him,

Br. Santosh Thankachan

Perth, WA

A Slice of Manna 29-November-2021

Have a Blessed day with God !!

In Him,

Br. Santosh Thankachan

Perth, WA

A Slice of Manna 30-November-2021

Have a Blessed day with God !!

In Him,

Br. Santosh Thankachan

Perth, WA

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