The freedom of choice

Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth. Matthew 19: 21,22

I have never met my dad's father. But I always thought that if I had met him, what would be the question I would have asked him? And that would be, why did you choose to follow Christ? I always imagine the huge courage and will of my grand father that made him to forsake everything and follow Christ at his times when Christians were isolated from the society. But what made him to do it, I wondered. Then I realized that the answer for the question was in my own conversion, why did I choose to follow Christ?

Though I was born in a Christian family, I realized that I had many chances to stray away from my faith. I remember the days my friends spoke about their religious rituals and invited me to participate, I remember the days my teacher in the school made us to believe Darwinism and big bang theory are true, I remember the days one my friend bragged about Quran and gave me pamphlets, I remember the days I read in my school lessons about Mahabaratham and Ramayana more than the Bible stories, I remember the days I had every chance to stray away from my faith. Yet, I grew up stronger in my conviction of whom I am going to follow for the rest of my life. And it is Jesus Christ.

I am called to quit of whatever I was doing, not to worry about to bury the dead, not to worry about the worldly possessions but take up the cross and walk from darkness to the light of life. Every one of us has a chance to choose to follow Jesus Christ, it’s not under compulsion or attraction, it is the decision from the depth of your heart. His sheep will listen to their Shepard’s voice and know them and will follow Him. Make a choice today, Follow Jesus!

Count it all joy... James 1:2

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. James 1:2-3

I met one of my friends in November 2014, he was happy and excited as he had a steady job and a good income. He was very optimistic about even opening his own business in the new year. The same friend called me last week, his voice was shaky and was barely covering the sob that was about to break out. He told me that he lost his job and all his money. A friend who anticipated glorious things to happen this new year, was staring at a bleak future. Life was punishing him for reasons unknown.

Well, this happens to everyone of us. The intensity of our trials may vary but there will be trials in everyones life and we all react to it. We exhibit anger, sadness, fear, disgust, etc., Human emotions are complex. But God makes complexity simple. He tells us to count it all joy ('How can I do it?' was my first reaction, 'crazy' was my second). But God made me to realize something beautiful through the words, 'let him' which is mentioned in the following verses of James 1st chapter. Yes, I can do it and after all, it is not crazy at all... I draw all my experience, all my knowledge, all my understanding and cast it all aside and let me absolutely surrender to God and acknowledge i am weak and He is strong. When I realize God reigns, I know that this is a testing of my faith and God who is in control will not let me be tempted beyond what I can bear (I Cor 10:13). So, Count is all joy!