Are You Completely Cleansed?

"How can all my sins be cleansed and forgiven by God?" asked an 81-year-old auntie matter-of-factly. I had struck a conversation with her on the love of God in a bus ride this week. Though ignorant, as the conversation progressed, her facial expression betrayed a deep longing for an answer to a complete removal of guilt and condemnation which she has been carrying for more than eight decades! As soon as she completed her last sentence, she bid me goodbye and alighted the bus. She left me bewildered and also feeling a tinge of sadness. What came to my mind next was "What if she were to die today at 81 without her sins cleansed and forgiven?" This uneasy encounter led me once again to remember the many guilt-ridden souls whose sins are awaiting the cleansing power of Christ's blood to be completely wipe away.

I John 1:9 ESV "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

On Being A Discerning Christian

How does a discerning Christian overcome sins? He acknowledges that sin is pleasurable and sinful nature is alive and active inside him. However he has learnt to recognise the triggers that would tempt him to sin, and through a deliberate and spontaneous step of faith, he submits himself completely to the indwelling Holy Spirit by saying, "Nope, I am not going to think or do such thing for I am saved, loved and empowered by God".  This personal act of obedience clearly and promptly set clear boundaries with his sinful nature. Thus he affirms his love for God and increases his faith in Him as he keeps the source of temptation away, be it a thing, thought or the tempter.

James 4:7 ESV "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."

Faith in God Is A Meaningful Relationship

Faith begins with a relationship of love shown by God through which we experience a meaningful process of trusting Him for everything in our lives - work, family, health, ministry, friends, future plans and eternal destiny. In this trusting relationship, we discover our true worth in God's sight and our holy calling in His divine plan. To the degree where there is honesty, trust and love, we experience confidence in removing every "mountain" that seeks to hinder the purpose of God for our lives.

Mark 11:22-23 - And Jesus answered them, "Have faith in God. Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be taken up and thrown into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him.

Remembering the Poor And Marginalized

Everyday as we go to work or on the way home, we would bump into people with different physical disabilities at the mrt station and underpass whose livelihood is dependent on selling tissues or  strumming their guitar. As they stand and sing for hours almost daily, sometimes in a rather stuffy location, it makes one realises how resilient they are amid many life challenges. Healthy people may find it difficult to empathise. However each time we put something into their pocket or exercise any practical act of kindness, we are doing it for and behalf of Christ for the genuine poor and socially marginalized are always very close to His heart.

Matthew 25:35-36  ESV "For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.'"

Serving God With A Clear Conscience

Every Christian needs to have good self-awareness which is vital  for having a pure conscience. The Holy Spirit helps us to process our thoughts when we make time for self-reflection. Deliberately exercising this spiritual activity on a daily basis keeps us blameless, not sinless though, and enables us to serve God with a clear conscience. This is deeply pleasing to God for He wants us to worship Him in spirit and truth.

I thank God whom I serve, as did my ancestors, with a clear conscience, as I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day. 2 Timothy 1:3 ESV