Jesus loves me, This I know

Many years ago, I think in 2006, I met a man in Mumbai. He was a praying man. The moment he saw me and heard that I'm from a Marwadi, Maheshwari family, he started weeping. I thought I had hurt him in some way. After a few minutes, he held my hand tightly and said to me, “I've been praying for the Marwadi community for many, many years. Until now, I haven't seen a single Maheshwari follower of Jesus. My God is a prayer-answering God.” I recalled him a few times during my tough times, particularly after divorce and false allegations that broke my heart and ruined my ministry. My friends and well-wishers suggested that I could go back to Hinduism. There's nothing for me in Christianity. I remembered Mahindra Georgekutty Chayan and how he praised God for Manoj (Man of Jesus) –his answered prayer, a miracle. I thought, “How can I disappoint that praying man by going back to Hinduism?” So, I decided to persevere in Christ come what may.
Today, I'm back in the seminary where I was studying when adversity struck me like lightning six years ago. I find my peace, my purpose, my dignity at the foot of the cross. When I pray in the fisherman's chapel, I recall the times I prayed many similar prayers with my mentor and friends. It seems awkward that I never progressed in my educational or ministry qualifications over the past years. Even so, I'm freer and happier in Christ than before. The cross is the place where injustice met justice, only to be extinguished; hatred met love to be consumed completely; and death met life to be swallowed up fully. Therefore, at the cross, and only at the cross, I surrender my soul, my whole being. I'm in awe of Jesus. If the lion hadn't been a lamb, I would have never surrendered to him. No tyrant can make me bow, but I had no answer to the unconditional love that makes me wow day after day. 💝👍
Love is gentle. It never forces the beloved. Love, sometimes, admits defeat for the sake of the loved one. Jesus died, but he rose also. He did both because he loved humanity passionately. Now, we have a human at God's right hand, more powerful than demons and more compassionate than angels. He knows. Hatred met love at the cross to be extinguished forever. I don't believe in right and wrong as much as I believe in love and hate. When I say that, I mean that we cannot reduce the gospel to a set of principles or doctrines. The good news for us is a person –our King and Shepherd– and our intimate relationship with Him. We were not bad, and Christ made us good. We were dead, and now we are alive to love so that we might love our Messiah King passionately. His love is not judgmental. It defends the indefensible in us. All I can say is, "Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so... Amen."

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