"I see a believer NOT walking in the truth of the gospel of Christ. However, it's NOT my sphere of ministry. It's their pastor's responsibility. Let me not intervene, disturb peace for possibly few people, & most probably get into trouble!" - This was my state several years back.    But, one day, Galatians 6:1-2 convicted me.  To understand Galatians 6:1-2, we look at its immediate context. In Chapter 5, Paul describes the "Fruit of the Spirit." In Chapter 6, he explains how that fruit looks in action - specifically, how a spiritual person should treat a fellow believer whose actions deviate from the truths of the gospel. The core messages are - restoring those who sin with gentleness, staying humble to avoid the same traps, and sharing the weight of life’s struggles. 1. On Restoring Others Gently The goal of Galatians 6:1 is not punishment, but "restoration." Following are the other verses that share this focus. James 5:19-20 - "My br...

  In the NIV Bible, the most famous mention of being "poor in spirit" comes from Jesus during his Sermon on the Mount. Key Verses (NIV) 1.  Matthew 5:3 - "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." 2.  Isaiah 66:2 - "These are the ones I look on with favor - those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at my word." 3.  Psalm 34:18 - "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." 4.  Proverbs 16:1 - "Better to be lowly in spirit along with the oppressed than to share plunder with the proud." What does it mean to be "Poor in Spirit"? When we hear the word "poor," we usually think of someone who doesn't have much money or many toys. But Jesus wasn’t talking about money! Being "poor in spirit" is about how we feel in our hearts toward God. 1. It means having an "Empty Cup" heart. Imagine we have a cup. If the cup is al...

The battlefield has never been out in the open; it has always been the quiet, chaotic terrain of my mind. I have learned the hard way that the devil and his demons do not often appear as monsters in the dark, but as whispers in our thoughts, designed to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10). My journey began years ago in a season of profound disillusionment. I came to the crushing realization that the love I received from those around me was a counterfeit. It was transactional—people did not love  me ; they loved my performance, my results, and the sense of worthiness I provided them. Feeling bankrupt in a loveless world, I decided to check out. I attempted to exit this life by my own hand. But right at the precipice of death, a counter-acting thought pierced through the darkness. It was a truth I hadn't considered: I do not own myself. The realization was sharp and immediate. As Scripture says, "You are not your own; you were bought at a price" (1 Corinthians 6:19-20) . ...

This is a deeply painful and serious situation. It is of the utmost importance to address this with extreme care, compassion, and clarity. Before we turn to the Bible, we must state something unequivocally: **Our safety is the number one priority.** What the abuser is doing is a crime and a profound sin. What the ones who should have protected us are doing is a horrific betrayal of their God-given duty to protect us. Their "solution" is not a solution; it is an attempt to cover up a terrible evil and dispose of their responsibility.  Please, if we are in this situation or know someone who is, let us reach out to a trusted adult outside the situation (a teacher, a school counselor, a pastor we trust) or a professional organization that can help. In the US, the National Sexual Assault Hotline is 800-656-HOPE or RAINN's website. We need to be safe. With that vital foundation laid, let's carefully and gently look at the principles of Christ from the bible to navigate the...

Proverbs 23:4-5 (NIV): 4 Do not wear yourself out to get rich; do not trust in your own cleverness. 5 Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle. This proverb delivers a powerful two-part warning about the pursuit of wealth. "Do not wear yourself out to get rich...":  This is not a command to be lazy or to avoid work. Instead, it's a warning against making the accumulation of wealth the central, all-consuming purpose of our life. The phrase "wear yourself out" (or "toil") implies an exhaustive, life-draining effort. It cautions against sacrificing our health, family, integrity, and relationship with God on the altar of financial gain. It's about priorities. "...do not trust in your own cleverness.":  This part addresses the source of our security. The pursuit of riches often involves relying on one's own schemes, intelligence, and business acumen. The proverb ...

Exodus 4:24 (NIV) “At a lodging place on the way, the LORD met Moses and was about to kill him.” Meaning in its immediate setting What has just happened (4:18-23): Moses has finally accepted God’s call at the burning bush (chapters 3-4) and is on his way back to Egypt with his wife Zipporah and their sons. God has told him what to say to Pharaoh and has warned that judgment will fall on Egypt’s firstborn if Pharaoh refuses to let Israel (God’s “firstborn son”) go. The crisis (4:24-26): Suddenly the LORD confronts Moses and intends to kill him. Zipporah “took a flint knife, cut off her son’s foreskin and touched Moses’ feet with it. ‘Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me,’ she said. So the LORD let him alone.” What the text itself explains: Verse 26 concludes, “(At that time she said ‘bridegroom of blood,’ referring to circumcision.)” The LORD’s lethal anger is therefore linked to the boy’s lack of circumcision. Why uncircumcision was so serious: Genesis 17:9-14 (NIV) records God’s...

Indian Govt. leaders decided to introduce reservation system based on caste as a reparation justice. Can we review this decision in the light of the principles of Christ as we can read and understand from the bible? Reviewing a government policy like the caste-based reservation system through the lens of Christ's principles requires careful consideration, as the Bible does not provide a direct blueprint for modern governance. Instead, it offers timeless principles of justice, mercy, and human dignity. Using the bible, we can explore principles that both support the spirit behind such a decision and offer cautions regarding its implementation. Principles Supporting the Spirit of Reparation Justice The motivation behind the reservation system—to provide justice and uplift communities historically oppressed for centuries—finds strong resonance with core teachings of Christ. 1. Championing the Poor and Oppressed Jesus began his public ministry by quoting the prophet Isaiah, making it h...