Calvary's Devotions With Prince Guneratnam

You are not alone living the Christian life. There are a lot of witnesses surrounding you. Thousands were before you and thousands in the present are living and serving our wonderful God. Jesus is the example of our faith, so look up to Him! He is “the author and perfecter of our faith.” He is like a finishing tape and every runner of the race is looking at it, so you look at Jesus and run the race. You can finish the race only if you have Jesus in your mind.

What is the difference between your kindness, help and generosity and unbelievers’ kindness, help and generosity? The difference is that they “wait” until something happens, then they respond and go to help. The Christian should go and help before the need happens! We need to look for opportunities to help. You need to take initiative to go and find out how your fellow Christian is doing and help him even before something happens so that your kindness or generosity may differ from the kindness or generosity of unbelievers.

In the Christian life there will be moments of differences of opinions and ideas, of disagreements with one another, different ways of doing things, but in those differences we should not be negative. They are not to create enmity or strife. All those differences make you an individual. In those differences we need to have the right attitude. They are to help us to complement each other, to make us more beautiful. We need to have unity in spite of differences and should finish objectives that God has put in our lives!

We have a choice of accepting or rejecting the truth. If you want to see God and experience His power in your life, then you have got to apply truth you had have been convinced of. You need to do something about the truth you have heard and have been convinced of. Deal with the message, not with the messenger.

What makes the difference? That is that we need to practice our faith!

He has power to heal. That through Him, we are more than conquerors.

Jesus, the lamb. Why a lamb? We may ask. Suppose we are 'something', how then can God make you into 'anything'. "To the humble, He draws near. To the proud, He puts afar off." Like the lamb, we are to be 'living sacrifices'… Maybe then, can we truly rely on our only dependence, the Shepherd.

Senior Pastor talks about Jesus, the Light. Jesus, the light - revealed salvation. He revealed the Father. He came to be our guide, and show us the way. He also reveals that which is to be avoided. At the same time, the Light brings life, and life brings growth. And we, are charged to be like Him. Are we shining like the light we ought to be?

Senior Pastor examines the meaning of repentance. Repentance is more than a mere confession. It is a turn. And perhaps, we ought to re-look at our lives, rise up and stop living the way we have. Like the prodigal son, let's go home and have that relationship with our Father once again.

Each new day, there is a refreshing of God's dew. And only when you are out there, can you experience that dew. The Bible speaks of an excellent example of devotion and courage - and in spite of much risk to their own lives, the couple Aquila and Priscilla were generous and availed their home to Paul.

Senior talks about faithfulness - that is success.

Prophecy is often misunderstood. It isn't just about foretelling, it is also forthtelling. Preaching is forthtelling: God's message spoken forth for the impartation of knowledge or a revelation. And that message can come through many forms; a sermon, a donkey, dreams or visions. It can also come through situations and even through the devil. So as prophecy and providence come, will we be there when it happens?

To find life, is to meet the way and the truth; the revelation of God's way that is Jesus. Yet, the reality about God's way is that it is often not a smooth ride. Nevertheless, the grace of God is always enough. And perhaps, that is THE life we need to find. For a day may come, that you may encounter a Gamaliel - because living in the revelation of God's way - there is always provision, ability and strength.

We are our own worst critic, they say. When in doubt, what do you do? Do you condemn yourself? Pastor Prince explores the story of Thomas upon seeing Jesus - suggesting that honest acknowledgment and confession of doubt - is really okay. Keyword being, 'honest'.

What is your nature? The recognition of a new nature - will have us gravitate to the Word; the things of God. Like milk to a baby, it must be natural. Perhaps you are struggling? Perhaps you are trying instead to teach the old nature, new and good things? If so, you've got it wrong. To have a new nature is to be born again. It is to give room for God to create a new nature - to be free of struggle; to be free to be good.

God's promises doesn't always happen the way we want it to. At times of non-happenings, giving up is easy. The difficulty is in surrendering our issue of timing for God's promises to happen, in its time. Consider this: God told Simeon that he will not die until he had seen the promise child. Everyday, Simeon anticipated the moment when he would meet the baby Jesus. Imagine having to do this for many days, months, years? On the other hand, promises might also happen in the midst of persecution or when fought for. David, had to fight to hold his ground before becoming king. Battle after battle, David fought. Like David, we must know when and how to fight; or like Simeon, we must know when to simply stand still. How does this speak to you and me?

The fear of the Lord, is the beginning of wisdom. This fear is not one that is paralyzing. Instead, it is one of reverence and awe bringing knowledge and understanding. To fear the Lord, is to know the Lord. David, the shepherd boy feared God. He also knew God. Eventually, that shepherd boy was brought to stand before the King. He became the next King.

Difficulties - it helps us find ourselves. Our character. Pastor Prince talks about the yoke that Christ has us carry. If grace comes out of breaking a stallion's will, perhaps the yoke that God has us carry must first break our will that our will becomes that of God's - that we be graceful. It is always constructive, never destructive.

Sharing of salvation's story should not be a burden. "The love of Christ, compels me to," says Paul. So must we be love-compelled to tell others about what God has done for us.

When facing hardship, there are times when human advice seems frail. Job had that sort of problem. The advice that Job's friends gave him was far from sound and it compounded his already disturbing circumstance. We are reminded now to retreat and pour our hearts out to God instead; the Holy Spirit, our comforter. Often, what God has to say is far more comforting than that of friendly advice. He will lead, guide and reveal his purpose and will.