The Journey 16

 The Journey 16,

Monday January 16

Read: Luke 19:1-10

                When Tsunami struck the Indian coast, lot of people went through total misery and pain. They lost their homes, their livelihood. One of the positive things that happened at that time was the sudden mushrooming of different organizations that came up to help these tsunami affected people. Huge amount of money started flowing in from all corners of the world to help the affected people. It was only a few years later, that the common people came to know that most of these organizations swindled a lot of money that came through donations for their own personal benefits. What a tragedy, when people suffer, there were others who devised means as to how to “ make hay while the sun shine”. It is a sad reflection of our society where we are ready to do anything to gain money or fame.

Today in the United States we remember Martin Luther King, whose untiring efforts led to social discrimination of the African American people. We always need to remember his vision for the country “ I have a dream that my 4 little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the colour of their skin but by the content of their character”. A leader who focused not what he will get, but how what he can he can give, so that others have a better life.

On Monday’s we meditate on transformation in our personal life and we are meditating this  month on the life of Zacheus. Here is a man who total focus in life is how to “ make hay while the sun shines”. He was detested by people, and nobody wanted to have any fellowship with him, because he as a person whose sole intention was to make money no matter, whether other person is going through pain or suffering. As a tax collector he would have been ruthless because of his greed. His focus was always on himself and what he could get out of any situation. That is when he realized that life is worth living when the focus is not what I can get, or how popular I can be, or how rich I can be on the contrary the focus on what God can do in  my life and what the Lord can do in my life. It is this inner quest that led Zacheus to go to  meet Jesus. Personal transformation begins when we live or move to a higher level in life where we are not governed by what we can get, but rather what we can give to others so that through that giving and sacrifice our life itself gets transformed.

What are you more conscious about “what you want to receive or what you want to give?. The answer will tell you whether you are ready for transformation in your life through Jesus Christ?

Let us Pray:

Lord sorry that we are often concerned about what we want to get in life rather than what we can give. Help us to sacrifice so that we understand that it is in giving that we receive. Amen

One Year Bible Reading Plan

Genesis 30-32, Mathew 25-27, Psalms 30-32, Proverbs 20-21