 Dear Church,
This is one of the Discipleship Trainings. Practical experiences speak a lot more than theoretical learning. Jesus always took his disciples through many life-giving experiences. This is one among those. This happened within the synagogue. Nothing can slip away from His eyes. Jesus was at the temple with the disciples. Here he witnessed something which he used to teach the disciples about giving. He sat across from the treasury of the temple and watched many rich people put in large sums of money. Then a poor widow came along and put in two small copper coins. Jesus teaches the disciples that the woman gave more than the rich. The poor woman, as a widow, would have had no source of income after her husband’s death. Therefore the two small copper coins were all she had - and yet she offered them to God. The rich, on the other hand, had a lot of money to spare. So what they offered to God was just loose change, money they did not depend on. This is one of the roles and natures of Christian discipleship. It should not come under compulsion. It should come voluntarily, willingly and with eagerness. We need to know for what cause we are giving before we give. If the offering is for the Church and its growth, the giving makes us a partner of His kingdom work. If the offering is supporting other Christian organizations, we are indirectly serving Him through this way. We see different churches display this message ‘for giving donations, contact…’ at the upfront before the service begins. In general, people of the world have this opinion that Christians run their churches for their benefits. Our God is a Sovereign God and He can provide from nothing. He can kindle hearts and do unimaginable things. At the same time, I agree it is the church leadership team’s responsibility to let the congregation know the church’s current finance situation and its need. It is up to the congregation to decide and increase their giving or giving if not giving. Our church treasurer will be in touch with you regarding this. Jesus is teaching the disciples that it is not the amount of money given that is important, but rather the sacrifice made in the offering. God Bless, Amutha
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Dear Church,
How adaptive are we? I would say Ashurst is extremely good in adapting to changes. We have learnt through this pandemic how to fit ourselves to the changes that have happened for the past a year and a half. We have proved our covenantal relationship with God, with fellow believers and with the church. A great thing to notice and appreciate is that we are all staying together in God’s love and unity. None of the effects of the pandemic in closing and opening the church have disrupted our faith. We can congratulate ourselves for our faithful and committed life to Christ. This is a kind of persecution we are facing together. Let us be strong and stay closer to God at such a time like this. Rules may be posted on limited church attendance, not allowing us to open our mouth for singing. These cannot bring any hindrances for our gathering. We have learnt to sing quietly and soulfully. We have trained to build the bridge while we cross through the stream. In the time given, we have learnt to be effective in giving pastoral care to one another. This is an evidence for the Baptists to be called as the ‘priesthood of all believers’. Our eyes are fixed on Jesus. We may be surrounded with storms, but that cannot distract our focus on Him. Let us pray that Ashurst stands as a firm foundation on truth. Let us continue doing our good deeds and spur one another with God’s love. Let us encourage one another to stand firm against the war that we are in now. Let us wear the armour of God and be the soldiers of Christ. Let us remember that we are living in an ‘enemy-occupied territory’, so be aware of the potential distractions or temptations that might potentially hinder our spiritual growth. Let us be faithful, available and teachable so that we can become a more effective disciple of Jesus Christ. God Bless, Amutha He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds - Psalm 147:3 Dear Church,
Let us comfort those who mourn! The world still has not come out of the pandemic yet. When the number of cases are decreasing and reaching almost zero in the England, we hear the terrific devastation in countries like India, Indonesia, Brazil, Turkey, etc. due to Covid. Many of our church families have loved ones in India and this is shaking us here. How can we comfort the families who lost their loved ones? What words of comfort can be shared with those who are hospitalized and struggling for oxygen intake? How can the families here be encouraged? When this pandemic is travelling on one side, we hear about the Israel-Palestinian airstrikes. About 240 people lost their lives. The people in both the nations are living in darkness expecting when the next bomb will fall down. Where is God’s love? Why is there hatred between people? Whatever the reason, can’t people forgive one another? When will there be reconciliation? We receive peace recently with the countries coming together for a common agreement of not striking each other over the Gaza strip. Can we expect this decision to be sustained? In all these difficulties, we forgot about the persecution in Nigeria. International Christian Concern said that according to the rights group Intersociety Rule of Law, 1,470 Christians were murdered and over 2,200 were abducted by jihadists in the first four months of 2021. Where is it heading to? The lives no longer have value. People do whatever they prefer. When will this come to an end? They are persecuted because they belong to Christ. What should we do? How can we comfort those who mourn? As children of God, we should intercede for these people in their sufferings. We pray for God to move the mountains in their lives. We support them financially and in whatever way we can. Let us ask God to melt our hearts. Let us ask God to pour down His love in us so as to share it with others. Let our hearts cry for the suffering. God Bless, Amutha "Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me". Psalm 51:1 Dear Church,
Let us learn to live the New Life in a New Normal! The lockdown is slowly easing off; schools are opened (with Covid lateral flow tests twice a week) and churches have reopened their doors (with restriction). This gives confidence to people to peek their heads out and look forward to a New Life. How would it be? Will we go back to our normal life as we were before? Or do we need to adapt ourselves to a New Normal living? This all depends on how far the virus is controlled. It is like Noah sending the bird and checking whether the flood is over. We are now checking by slowly easing off the lockdown to see whether the dove comes back with the freshly plucked olive leaf in its beak. Noah would have seen the world in a new way when he came out of the ark. The whole world would have looked empty for him as the flood wiped off all except those who were travelling with him. He had to start a New Life. But the beginning of his New Life was amazing. He sacrificed burnt offerings, gave thanks to the Lord who saved him, his family and his animals. He requested for a renewed relationship with God. Shall we ask God to create a new heart in us and pray to him to put a new Spirit within us? While we step into this New Normal, let us be prepared to expect changes and challenges. Let us prepare our hearts to adapt to the new lifestyle. Let us have a New Opening to God in Prayer. Let us seek for a New Purpose to live the life of Jesus. Let us strive to obtain a New Attitude which is seen supremely in Jesus. Let us come forward and take New Responsibilities to shine out for Jesus. God Bless, Amutha In Christ, we have strength for today and a bright hope for tomorrow! His resurrection brings hope in the lives of the believers. What If Christ was not resurrected on the third day? What if the tomb was not found empty? What if the women did not see the risen Christ at dawn? What if the disciples saw the dead body of Jesus in the tomb? What if Thomas did not touch and feel the wounds in our Saviour’s hands and side? What if the 500 did not meet with the risen Lord? What if the two disciples did not walk with Jesus on their way to Emmaus?
Our faith would be futile. There would be no good news for us. No gospel would have come into manifestation. Christianity would not have emerged. This would become another religious cult of the world. Christ’s resurrection is the hope for tomorrow. His resurrection is the anchor for our belief. All these knots of uncertainties were loosened in the empty tomb. This gives us strength for today also. This gives us an assurance that we are worshiping the risen, living Saviour. This gives us confidence in approaching Him as He has ears to hear, eyes to see and a heart to feel. Jesus’ resurrection is important for several reasons; it is a witness to the immense power of God Himself; validates who Jesus claimed to be, namely, the Son of God and the Messiah; proves His sinless character and divine nature; not only the supreme validation of His deity but also validates the prophecies that foretold in the Old Testament about Jesus’ suffering and resurrection; also authenticates His own claims that He would be raised on the third day. “Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:58). God Bless, Amutha Then I turned my face to the Lord God, seeking him by prayer and pleas for mercy with fasting and sackcloth and ashes. Daniel 9:3
We are now in the season of Lent, a period to be observed as the ‘time of repentance’. Fasting, putting on sack clothes and rolling on ashes were the expressions of mourning which the Israelites observed in the Old Testament. By these means they went before God pleading for His mercies. Over the centuries Lenten observances have developed a much more "sacramental" value. Some Christian denominations believe that giving something up for Lent is a way to attain God’s blessing. But the Bible teaches that grace cannot be earned; grace is “the gift of righteousness”. We, the new covenant Christians received this grace and this grace is reigning in our hearts. Having said, we are not immune to sin. Human nature and choice yield us to commit sin and we need forgiveness. When we get into His presence to seek for His repentance, we anticipate deeper intimacy with the Lord. Let this be a time of union with God’s Spirit; a time of renewal in our inner chamber; a time of spiritual healing from the Lord Almighty; a time of strengthening our relationship with God; a time of confession and consecration. Let our everyday be a day of repentance and thanksgiving and not just in the Lenten season alone. Lent should not be a time of boasting of one’s sacrifice or trying to earn God’s favor or increasing His love. God’s love for us could not be any greater than it already is. Instead of pondering over what to give up for the Lord, let us submit ourselves asking Him to help us to get rid of things that are unpleasant to Him. God Bless, Amutha At the beginning of every year, we hear predictions from politians, economists, geologists, etc. about what we would face and how the year would be. We have heard no such forecasts for this year 2021! We learnt from this pandemic to start seeing things present around us. We scrutinize ourselves at the end of the day and say thanks to God that we have survived that day. It is like the Israelites depending on the ‘Manna’ for the day and proceeding forward with contentment. Some tried to share the Manna for the next day and some murmured about eating the same Manna every day. Of course, God’s plan was established at the end. Let us ask God to give us that contentment and dependency on Him!
As we see the pandemic stretching into 2021, a wave of fear is floating around these days! God’s word, ‘don’t be afraid’, is a recurring statement which we need to hear each day as even His close disciples had to hear when they were caught up in their fears, doubts and uncertainties. Let us be courageous people remembering His great presence always with us. Particularly when people are affected by Corona, His presence will be much closer and He does not need to keep social distancing! Yes, Covid-19 has a power to affect our outer body but it cannot touch our inner being. Nothing can separate us from the love of Christ. Let us ask God to give us that courage in Him! In this continuing uncertain future, let us remember Mary’s prayer from Luke 1:38, 38“I am the Lord’s servant,” “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Let this be our prayer too, committing ourselves to the will and work of God. God Bless, Amutha Let us hope for great things to come from the Lord in 2021!
Every one of us lifts our hearts with hope while starting the New Year! We learnt a lot in 2020! We learnt how to live in contentment with available resources, learnt how to spend isolated times, learnt what quietness means from our busy life style, learnt to work hard, learnt to spend time conversing with family, learnt to help one another, learnt to pray for each other, learnt to use technology and learnt to be so adaptive with the changes in lockdown. God let these learnings for our formative to face the future. When God allows suffering, He provides endurance. When God allows struggles, He strengthens us. When God allows difficulties, He delivers solution. Learning from the encountered experiences enables us to lean on God. This pandemic has taught us that we cannot plan anything within our own human capacity and understanding. Our reliance on God has been greatly evidenced from the year 2020! I remember these lines from this hymn, ‘Yesterday's gone sweet Jesus and tomorrow may never be mine, So for my sake teach me to take one day at a time’. I find it so appropriate to the present situation. In everything, we should be dependent on God, looking above and waiting for the manna for that day’s survival. Limited providence teaches us to be dependent on God. Let us lean on Him who is our strong fort! Let us abide in His Word which is our guide! Let us trust in His unchanging presence which will be the hope for the year 2021! God Bless, Amutha |
amutha devarajRev. Dr Amutha Devaraj is the minister at ADBC. This blog is an excerpt of her articles appearing in the monthly magazine "News and Views" Year 2020 |
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