Day 4

Genesis 13; Genesis 14; Genesis 15; Genesis 16; Genesis 17

Day 3

Genesis 9; Genesis 10; Genesis 11; Genesis 12

Day 2

Genesis 5; Genesis 6; Genesis 7; Genesis 8

In Chapter 5 we read about From Adam to Noah.

In Chapter 6 we read about the Wickedness in the World and Flood

In Chapter 7 About flood continues

In Chapter 8 Noah's sacrifice pleased God.

Read with me Holy Bible in a Year

Reading the entire Bible in an year is a challenge. But, Reading and Meditating with a purpose to know God more and to know his will for our lives leads to the interest in Reading it. So, Reading does not stop only with the verses read on a particular day, but pondering upon it, asking God what is it for me today, what should I obey in, what should I do etc must also be included.

So, Lets start today being the 1st Day of the Year.


Bible study tools

https://www.biblestudytools.com/bible-reading-plan/passage/?q=genesis+1:1-31;+genesis+2:1-25;+genesis+3:1-24;+genesis+4:1-26

Day 1: 1st January 2019 - Tuesday

Genesis 1; Genesis 2; Genesis 3; Genesis 4

The Beginning
1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. 3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4 God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day. 6 And God said, “Let there be a vault between the waters to separate water from water.” 7 So God made the vault and separated the water under the vault from the water above it. And it was so. 8 God called the vault “sky.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the second day. 9 And God said, “Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear.” And it was so. 10 God called the dry ground “land,” and the gathered waters he called “seas.” And God saw that it was good. 11 Then God said, “Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds.” And it was so. 12 The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. 13 And there was evening, and there was morning—the third day. 14 And God said, “Let there be lights in the vault of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark sacred times, and days and years, 15 and let them be lights in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth.” And it was so. 16 God made two great lights—the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars. 17 God set them in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth, 18 to govern the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good. 19 And there was evening, and there was morning—the fourth day. 20 And God said, “Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the vault of the sky.” 21 So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living thing with which the water teems and that moves about in it, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. 22 God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the water in the seas, and let the birds increase on the earth.” 23 And there was evening, and there was morning—the fifth day. 24 And God said, “Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: the livestock, the creatures that move along the ground, and the wild animals, each according to its kind.” And it was so. 25 God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. 26 Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” 27 So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. 28 God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” 29 Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. 30 And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds in the sky and all the creatures that move along the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food.” And it was so. 31 God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day.


Genesis 2
1 Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array. 2 By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. 3 Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.
Adam and Eve
4 This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created, when the LORD God made the earth and the heavens. 5 Now no shrub had yet appeared on the earth and no plant had yet sprung up, for the LORD God had not sent rain on the earth and there was no one to work the ground, 6 but streams came up from the earth and watered the whole surface of the ground. 7 Then the LORD God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. 8 Now the LORD God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed. 9 The LORD God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. 10 A river watering the garden flowed from Eden; from there it was separated into four headwaters. 11 The name of the first is the Pishon; it winds through the entire land of Havilah, where there is gold. 12 (The gold of that land is good; aromatic resin and onyx are also there.) 13 The name of the second river is the Gihon; it winds through the entire land of Cush. 14 The name of the third river is the Tigris; it runs along the east side of Ashur. And the fourth river is the Euphrates. 15 The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. 16 And the LORD God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.” 18 The LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” 19 Now the LORD God had formed out of the ground all the wild animals and all the birds in the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. 20 So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds in the sky and all the wild animals. But for Adam no suitable helper was found. 21 So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and then closed up the place with flesh. 22 Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. 23 The man said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man.” 24 That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh. 25 Adam and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame.

Genesis 3
The Fall
1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” 2 The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, 3 but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’ ” 4 “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. 5 “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves. 8 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the LORD God called to the man, “Where are you?” 10 He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.” 11 And he said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?” 12 The man said, “The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.” 13 Then the LORD God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” 14 So the LORD God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, “Cursed are you above all livestock and all wild animals! You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life. 15 And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.” 16 To the woman he said, “I will make your pains in childbearing very severe; with painful labor you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.” 17 To Adam he said, “Because you listened to your wife and ate fruit from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘You must not eat from it,’ “Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat food from it all the days of your life. 18 It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. 19 By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.” 20 Adam named his wife Eve, because she would become the mother of all the living. 21 The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them. 22 And the LORD God said, “The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever.” 23 So the LORD God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken. 24 After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.

Genesis 4
Cain and Abel
1 Adam made love to his wife Eve, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Cain. She said, “With the help of the LORD I have brought forth a man.” 2 Later she gave birth to his brother Abel. Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. 3 In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the LORD. 4 And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering, 5 but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast. 6 Then the LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? 7 If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.” 8 Now Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.” While they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him. 9 Then the LORD said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?” “I don’t know,” he replied. “Am I my brother’s keeper?” 10 The LORD said, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground. 11 Now you are under a curse and driven from the ground, which opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. 12 When you work the ground, it will no longer yield its crops for you. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth.” 13 Cain said to the LORD, “My punishment is more than I can bear. 14 Today you are driving me from the land, and I will be hidden from your presence; I will be a restless wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.” 15 But the LORD said to him, “Not so ; anyone who kills Cain will suffer vengeance seven times over.” Then the LORD put a mark on Cain so that no one who found him would kill him. 16 So Cain went out from the LORD’s presence and lived in the land of Nod, east of Eden. 17 Cain made love to his wife, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Enoch. Cain was then building a city, and he named it after his son Enoch. 18 To Enoch was born Irad, and Irad was the father of Mehujael, and Mehujael was the father of Methushael, and Methushael was the father of Lamech. 19 Lamech married two women, one named Adah and the other Zillah. 20 Adah gave birth to Jabal; he was the father of those who live in tents and raise livestock. 21 His brother’s name was Jubal; he was the father of all who play stringed instruments and pipes. 22 Zillah also had a son, Tubal-Cain, who forged all kinds of tools out of bronze and iron. Tubal-Cain’s sister was Naamah. 23 Lamech said to his wives, “Adah and Zillah, listen to me; wives of Lamech, hear my words. I have killed a man for wounding me, a young man for injuring me. 24 If Cain is avenged seven times, then Lamech seventy-seven times.” 25 Adam made love to his wife again, and she gave birth to a son and named him Seth, saying, “God has granted me another child in place of Abel, since Cain killed him.” 26 Seth also had a son, and he named him Enosh. At that time people began to call on the name of the LORD.



In Genesis 1 we can understand that God is Everlasting, He creates, he is God of Order. The significance of Beginnings leads us to understand that "Everything is created" and created by God himself. Heaven and Earth is mentioned mainly because as humans we live in this planet earth, there is no point mentioning about other planets or stars etc. The Bible is to the point, details descriptions of each and everything mentioned is for our understanding only.

In Genesis 2 we see the purpose of creating Human: God in his own image created us, this is the foundation for many countries to treat everyone equal and to consider us as special created beings when compared to other living creatures. This leads us to be more compassionate, caring, loving etc as we are the image bearers of the God who created us.

In Genesis 3: We see

Answers to Skepticism

Many has different questions: If What Jesus claimed to be the Truth, only Truth. Then such and such things must be also true. Ex: The Whole World should have been with one religion, in fact many of the prominent world religious leaders come together and try to form such thought. But, Jesus claims exclusive. He did not say, "You have many Ways to enter into heaven", "He said, I am the Way, the Truth and Life no one comes to the Father except through me".

Many have taken the materialistic world to prove their theories, Ex: Rain drops that forms River, River flows from different parts and then gets collected into the Ocean. So is the life and ways to God, Good deeds should overcome the bad deeds, working towards attaining salvation by pleasing gods, visiting pilgrimage etc.

There are more than one flaw here:

First: The genetic fallacy (also known as the fallacy of origins or fallacy of virtue) is a fallacy of irrelevance that is based solely on someone's or something's history, origin, or source rather than its current meaning or context.

https://musingsonscience.wordpress.com/2013/01/24/all-religion-is-culturally-conditioned-truth/


Romans 1:25 NIV
They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator--who is forever praised. Amen.


Thinking God as a Box:
Those who have described God can't be True, or there are many ways for god have indeed put God in a Box, they forgot that God can't be restricted. They need to answer what is outside the Box, God is not containable.

Relativity: What are we to relate God with, some people in the name of God have done good, some have done bad. Should we limit God with what people do? Has not he given the conscience to know Good and Bad? Should not we pass the light to the future generations? is it enough if I know the Truth? Some have defiled the Temple of God, by defiling their own bodies in immoralities, some have defiled the Temple by War and waging war against others, God will certainly deal with it. But, as for us we need to obey his word, and the love for Good Works should be an outflow of the Joy of the Salvation, which is a free gift for the Faith in Jesus.

Romans 3:21-31 New International Version (NIV)
Righteousness Through Faith
21 But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness is given through faith in[a] Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25 God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement,[b] through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— 26 he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.

27 Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. Because of what law? The law that requires works? No, because of the law that requires faith. 28 For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law. 29 Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too, 30 since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith. 31 Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law.




Some have even claimed to have done great things if only they were born at the time of Christ.

Matthew 23:29-31 New International Version (NIV)
29 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous. 30 And you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ 31 So you testify against yourselves that you are the descendants of those who murdered the prophets.

Encouragement words in the time of Discouragement

God's words are full of encouragement. Every Person from Adam to Jesus was tempted. But, Many fell into the hands of the temperor, only Jesus won all the battles. Today, if we have failed in some of the areas we should never get discouraged, looking at Jesus we should run, who is the source for our strength. The Bible says, 1 Corinthians 10:13 (ASV) There hath no temptation taken you but such as man can bear: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation make also the way of escape, that ye may be able to endure it.

David fell sone time into sin, but repented. Got the forgiveness from God that is offered for us all. 

Psalm 119:92 (ASV) Unless thy law had been my delight, I should then have perished in mine affliction.

Psalm 119:50 My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life.

Hebrews 2:18 Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.



1st Peter 5:7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

Weak things of the World

Poor, Unhealthy, unfortunate situations, conditions  etc. often people say it is because of the "Sin". But since our thoughts are not as God's many a times we tend to fail in understanding the whole picture.

1 Corinthians 1:18 NIV
For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

For thousand of years though God has revealed himself in various ways and finally through Jesus Christ his Son. People of all ages misunderstood the concept of God. Moving from Renaissance to the Age of Reason. People thought that God could have been emerged to fill the Gaps of Doubt. The answer to the questions of Why, Why are we here, Why the Universe, etc. But their shifting lens have cracked, what they look into now is a lie, deception. Postmodern though has no place for Truth, Facts, History etc. Its how you feel it, what makes you give more pleasure etc.

The World is not enough, The Universe is Expanding: Two very important aspects that is happening now around the World. One is People moving far away from God, People moving closer to God than ever before. In a sense it all looks like the individual has the freewill to choose and there has never been a restriction from God. His Sovereign over rules everything, even the heart of man is directed by God. The illogical question would be, "If God is in control of everything, why sufferings?" because control of everything depends upon the belief and faith of everyone, we cry and suffer because it is human lives that are lost in calamities, but we also worry for the things of this World that gets destroyed. If we consider people as things and things as people, then it is our hearts that are deeply wounded and that needs remedy.

Hardening of Hearts:
It is the Heart that is Hardened that gets broken. These Broken pieces God uses to Glory his Name.

Exodus 14:4 NIV
And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and he will pursue them. But I will gain glory for myself through Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD." So the Israelites did this.

Blindness of Hearts:
It is by the eye of the Heart that we see the Spirit. If that eye is blinded what is the use of the natural eye that if sees or not sees anything.

2 Corinthians 4:The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,”[a] made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.

Gifts of the Holy Spirit

Remember we call "Holy Spirit" not only "Spirit God" or "Spirit" because as Jesus mentioned In John 16 about Holy Spirit:

John 16 New International Version (NIV)
16 “All this I have told you so that you will not fall away. 2 They will put you out of the synagogue; in fact, the time is coming when anyone who kills you will think they are offering a service to God. 3 They will do such things because they have not known the Father or me. 4 I have told you this, so that when their time comes you will remember that I warned you about them. I did not tell you this from the beginning because I was with you, 5 but now I am going to him who sent me. None of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ 6 Rather, you are filled with grief because I have said these things. 7 But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. 8 When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 about sin, because people do not believe in me; 10 about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; 11 and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.

12 “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. 13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 14 He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. 15 All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.”


Jesus encourages us to stand for Truth, no matter what happens. This is exactly what is happening in the World around us. People of Faith are persecuted to the point of Death. But, we should not fear because: We are told to Expect this, We need to fear God Alone. More over Apostle Paul says:

2 Timothy 3:12 In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,

God is in control, John 15 Jesus says about Pruning means "to purify".


Jesus said about "Unclean heart is more dangerous than Unclean hands -

Matthew 15:20 These are what defile a person; but eating with unwashed hands does not defile them." 

Purity, Holiness, Perfect is impossible for us without the help of God the Holy Spirit.

1. So, the Gifts of the Holy Spirit is given for us to be like God. Gifts are given to help others, to build up the Church.

The Rich and The Poor

The World tells us to become Rich. But, God tells us that we should be "Rich in doing good things". James warns to the Rich, many other too warn and give us an idea about what it means to follow the Riches of the World to that of following God. Jesus told that we should treasure up the Heavenly things, Jesus also told that we can either serve God or Money, not both.

Person who chases two rabbits catches neither. – Confucius or Romanian Proverb.

What is our Pursuit of Life, what are we trying to chase? Why?

https://www.google.co.in/amp/s/www.littlethings.com/father-son-poor-people/amp/

The fallen world after the sin of Adam and Eve has become so obsessed with material things, that God has to allow the Global Flood through out the World to cleans the effects, except Noah and 8 who were saved shows that Materialism that today haunts many. God in his Word has Warned many a times not to be deceived in "Possessions".

Luke 12:13-21 New International Version (NIV)
The Parable of the Rich Fool
13 Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”

14 Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?” 15 Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”

16 And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. 17 He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’

18 “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. 19 And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’

20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’

21 “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”







Luke 16:19-31 New International Version (NIV)
The Rich Man and Lazarus
19 “There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. 20 At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores 21 and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.

22 “The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. 24 So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’

25 “But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. 26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’

27 “He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, 28 for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’

29 “Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’

30 “‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’

31 “He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’”











1 Timothy 6:17-19 New International Version (NIV)
17 Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 19 In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.





2 Corinthians 8:9 NIV
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.






James 1:9-11 New International Version (NIV)
9 Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position. 10 But the rich should take pride in their humiliation—since they will pass away like a wild flower. 11 For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich will fade away even while they go about their business.




1 Timothy 6:6-11 New International Version (NIV)
6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9 Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

Final Charge to Timothy
11 But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.




Perspectives of Rich and Poor:
Many have a bias that only God bless the Rich. Poor he ignored, cursed. etc..

But God himself became poor for the fact that he loves them, Jesus' ministry started by announcing his Birth to the Shepherds, then when he proclaimed the words of Isaiah.

Luke 4:18-19 New International Version (NIV)
18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
    because he has anointed me
    to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
    and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,
19     to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

Also in the Beatitudes,

 Luke 6:20-26 New International Version (NIV)
20 Looking at his disciples, he said:

“Blessed are you who are poor,
    for yours is the kingdom of God.
21 Blessed are you who hunger now,
    for you will be satisfied.
Blessed are you who weep now,
    for you will laugh.
22 Blessed are you when people hate you,
    when they exclude you and insult you
    and reject your name as evil,
        because of the Son of Man.

23 “Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their ancestors treated the prophets.

24 “But woe to you who are rich,
    for you have already received your comfort.
25 Woe to you who are well fed now,
    for you will go hungry.
Woe to you who laugh now,
    for you will mourn and weep.
26 Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you,
    for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets.


So, in God's perspective neither Rich nor Poor, but the one who treasures him and the one who seeks his kingdom first matters, moreover the Rich should help the poor by serving and the Poor should Trust in God. 

Trusting God At All Times

Trust is build over a period of time, but Trusting God should be at all times. Initially it looks difficult. Noah was a faithful man, When God told him to build the ship. He did not question, but trusted God. When people put doubts in his mind, he did not weaver in his Trust, because the God is Trustworthy, he will not change. When he was criticized and made fun, he still Trusted God. Because God is Able to do more than what we think, feel, act or even imagine.

Jesus tells about the Foolish and Wise Builders. In which trusting God has its reward and not trusting him results not only in disappointments, but also severe consequences in life. Our Foundation in Faith is To Trust God at all times. Not when the situation looks good, not when things turns out to be perfect, not in people who promises. But our trust should be in God.

shadrach meshach abednego is a classical example with Daniel in lion's den.

Habakkuk 3:17 NIV
Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, 18 yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior.

Trusting in God produces positive results, the words at times of our trouble will be different only if our Trust is in God, Paul says:

Philippians 4:4
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

Thinking that affects our Imagination

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things. - Philippians 4:8

Thinking is a very conscious act, that affects our imagination. Imagination is sacred. When Jesus was tempted in the wilderness, devil showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. It was a direct attack to the Imagination to the God in Flesh, but Jesus replied “It is written,

“‘You shall worship the Lord your God,

    and him only shall you serve.’”

Imagination is a powerful resource, it has made humans to reach greater heights. But, it has also made him act out of the will of God. If our thinking is not correct, if our perspective of Life is not as what God wants, we might lose this wonderful Gift of God. God gave us the choice to choose the right things in life, the first Mankind choose the wrong thing by disobeying God. But, the sin was broken when the Messiah, Son of God was crucified on the cross. It is said that his crown that was made in thorns pierced his head. It was to make our thoughts right. In this agonizing moment Jesus cried out to the Father saying, “Father forgive them for they know not what they do”.

Sunil Chelladurai


Quotation:
Imagination is a sacred gift of God that needs to be used for the right purposes. For which we need to cultivate good habits and Positive Thinking, Which is Godly Thinking.


A Thought for the Day:
We need to be careful on what we Think, because that affects our Imagination.