*The Winnowing Tray...* "Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat." (Luke 22:31) When the Lord Jesus Christ lived on earth as a man, He spoke to His disciples about His approaching death. Addressing Peter, Jesus said, "Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren" (Luke 22:32). When grain is placed in a winnowing tray and tossed, it is thrown up and down repeatedly. Only the grain itself knows the agony it endures until it is purified. Similarly, Satan obtained permission from Jesus to sift the disciples. After granting this permission, Jesus declared, "I have prayed to God that your faith may be strengthened." Just as Satan had requested, Peter endured imprisonment, beatings, and great suffering; yet, the Scriptures testify that he fought the good fight and remained a faithful witness for the Lord until the very end. True to Jesus' command—"When you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren"—thousands upon thousands of people were saved through Peter. God performed mighty works through Peter's hands: 5,000 people were saved in one sermon, and 3,000 in another. There were even those who were healed simply by Peter's shadow falling upon them (Acts 5:15). Even though he was the same Peter who, just days earlier, had denied Jesus, wept bitterly, and sworn oaths... The Lord took him into His hands. God preserved him so that his faith would not depart from him. With the Lord's permission, we too may have passed through experiences where we were winnowed like grain. Our faith, too, may have been tested on many occasions. We must realize that it is only because the Lord intervened in our lives that we have not turned away from God to this day. *He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold* (Job 23:10). Amen.🥰

*The Prayer of the Helpless...* "He will not despise the prayer of the destitute; He will accept their plea" (Psalm 102:16). Our God is a God who hears prayer. He accepts not only the words we speak when we open our mouths in *distress*, but also the tears we shed as prayer. He blesses us by answering in due time. The only son of a widow from the town of *Nain* had died. The Scripture tells us that Jesus, seeing the weeping mother's tears, was moved with compassion; He approached, touched the bier, and raised the young man back to life. Similarly, *Hagar*, who had been sent away with her child, sat at a distance in the wilderness—saying, "I cannot bear to watch the child die"—and wept aloud. This weeping, too, was accepted as prayer in God's presence. God heard the voice of the child. Even during *difficult times when we cannot pray*, our tears move God to act. *In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words* (Romans 8:26). Amen.🙏

*Dead Faith...* "...as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also" (James 2:26). A body needs the *spirit* to function; without it, it is dead. Likewise, faith that does not manifest in works is useless. Just as the spirit is essential for the body, *the works we do* are essential for our faith to be revealed. It is based on our actions that those around us judge the kind of people we are. James writes that sending away a hungry person with mere words like "be at peace and be happy," without providing the necessary food, constitutes a dead work. It is written that Abraham, the father of faith, obeyed God's word and *dared to offer his son as a sacrifice*. Abraham's actions were necessary to demonstrate the faith he held in the Lord; that is why he took Isaac all the way to the place of sacrifice. We believe in God. That is good. But faith alone is not enough. The Scripture says, *"You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!"* (James 2:19). *The faith we place in the living God must also be a living faith.* Amen.🎉❤️

*By their fruits you shall know them...* "Therefore, by their fruits you will know them" (Matthew 7:20). We derive the benefits of a tree through its fruit. *A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit* (Matthew 7:18). Thus, *every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.* When Jesus speaks about false prophets, He begins by saying, "Beware of false prophets," before teaching this passage. False prophets are those who perform miracles in His name without obeying Jesus' words. They cast out demons, prophesy, and perform many miracles in Jesus' name. Yet, Jesus says to them, *I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!* (Matthew 7:23). This is because even the devil can perform miraculous signs. The Bible states that the magicians of Egypt replicated many of the miracles Moses performed in Egypt. Examine the lives of those who teach you God's word. Paul counsels Timothy, asking, *If a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?* (1 Timothy 3:5). Even Paul, who wrote many books of the New Testament, says, *I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified* (1 Corinthians 9:27). In that case, we must reflect on just how carefully we ought to live our lives. *Do not participate in the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them* (Ephesians 5:11). Amen.

*The Double-Minded Person...* "A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways" (James 1:8). Some *wrong decisions* we make can turn our entire lives upside down. We often make these wrong decisions—whether knowingly or unknowingly. The *ways of the double-minded* are just like this. As the Scripture says, *No servant can serve two masters...* (Luke 16:13); we must either be under God's rule, or the devil will rule over us. In the Old Testament, the people of Israel faced a situation with the *prophets of Baal* on one side and *Elijah, the prophet of the Lord*, on the other. Even when Elijah asked the people, *"How long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him"* (1 Kings 18:21), the people answered him not a word. The reason was their *double-mindedness*—a desire to lean toward whichever side promised victory. Ultimately, after Elijah had slain all the prophets of Baal, the people of Israel shouted, *"The Lord, He is God!"* According to the Bible, *double-mindedness* signifies a lukewarm state. God detests this, as it is written: *"So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth"* (Revelation 3:16). If we remain *lukewarm* in our spiritual lives, the Lord will withdraw from us; that is, He will *vomit* us out of His mouth. Let us not be slothful, but diligent; let us be fervent in spirit... (Romans 12:11) Amen.🎉

The driver on the highway is safe not when He reads the signs, but when He obeys them.

*Scattering Generously...* "There are those who scatter and yet increase; there are those who withhold more than is right, but it leads to poverty. A generous soul will prosper; he who waters will also be watered himself" (Proverbs 11:24-25). A farmer’s land consistently produced excellent harvests year after year, and he frequently received awards for the quality of his crops. Observing this, a journalist approached him and asked, "How does your land always yield such superior crops? What is the secret?" The farmer replied, "I share my crop seeds with the neighbors who farm the land next to mine." Surprised, the journalist asked, "But by giving away your best seeds, aren't you helping your competitors? Doesn't that result in a loss for you?" The farmer explained, "That is precisely where the secret lies. When they plant the seeds I give them and the crops mature, the wind carries pollen from their fields to mine. If my neighbors were using inferior seeds, the pollen drifting over to my land would also be of poor quality, resulting in inferior crops for me. To ensure a high-quality harvest on my own land, I must ensure my neighbors have high-quality seeds as well. Through this beneficial cross-pollination, my crops thrive." He truly understood a profound philosophy of life: to reap a bountiful harvest himself, he needed his neighbors to succeed with good seeds too. Similarly, in our own lives, if we wish to live in peace, we must remember our neighbors and our families in our prayers, desiring that they, too, may live in peace. If we wish to be happy, everyone around us must also be happy. The scripture says, "He who waters will also be watered." When we do good to others, it will certainly yield great rewards for us; our children will be blessed. The Bible states, "The generous soul will prosper." Whether in our church, community, or workplace, when we care for the well-being and happiness of others, God will help us to be happy. *Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.* (Psalm 37:3) Amen. (Shared) 😍👍

*Run for Your Life...* "So it came to pass, when they had brought them outside, that he said, 'Escape for your life! Do not look behind you nor stay anywhere in the plain. Escape to the mountains, lest you be destroyed'" (Genesis 19:17). The Lord resolved to destroy the people of the cities of *Sodom and Gomorrah*, who were consuming sin as freely as water, and sent His angels there. Because of the promise the Lord had made to Abraham, the angels hastened to rescue *Lot and his family* from destruction, urging Lot to leave and bringing him safely outside the city. The Lord destroyed the cities just as He had said. Although God had commanded, *"Do not look behind you,"* Lot's wife looked back at the place she had left and turned into a *pillar of salt*. We must learn to flee from the very things the Bible warns us against—things we are told not to look at, turn toward, touch, or do. Even walking slowly away from sin is dangerous, for our minds might change while we walk; that is why the Scripture says, *"Run."* Fearing the sin of adultery, Joseph fled the scene, leaving even his garment behind (Genesis 39:12). If we look back at what we have forsaken, our lives are no longer secure. The Bible says, *"As a dog returns to its own vomit, so a fool repeats his folly"* (Proverbs 26:11). If we wish to escape and enter into eternal life, we must turn away from sin and keep running every single day. Amen.🔥

*My Unbelief...* "Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, 'Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!'" (Mark 9:24) A man brought his son—who had been possessed by a mute, unclean spirit since childhood—to Jesus' disciples. However, because the disciples were unable to cast it out, they brought the boy to Jesus. The father pleaded with Jesus, saying, "It has often thrown him into fire and water to kill him. If You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us." When Jesus said to him, "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes" (Mark 9:23), the man cried out with tears, "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!" Unbelief had arisen in the father's heart because Jesus' disciples had failed to heal the boy. Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, saying, "You deaf and mute spirit, I command you, come out of him and enter him no more!" Then, screaming and convulsing him violently, it came out. Even after years of being saved and accepting God, unbelief can sometimes arise within us when certain things are delayed. Like that father, we need not hesitate to express our unbelief. Even if we fail to express it, God knows it. So, shall we look to the Lord and say, "Help me overcome my unbelief"? Amen.❤️

*In the Midst of the Sea...* "So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and when the morning appeared, the sea returned to its full depth, while the Egyptians were fleeing into it. Then the Lord overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea" (Exodus 14:27). The Lord brought His people out of the yoke of Egyptian slavery with *miraculous signs*. Although Pharaoh, shaken by the Lord's terrible plagues, had let the Israelites go out of fear, he later asked, *"Why have we done this, that we have let Israel go from serving us?"* and pursued the people of Israel with his army. The Red Sea lay ahead, and Pharaoh's army was behind. Terrified by this, the people cried out to the Lord. A miracle, the likes of which had never occurred anywhere else in the world, took place there. The Lord parted the sea and made a way for His people. The waters stood like walls on both sides, and the Israelites walked through. The presence of the Lord surrounded and guided the people, moving both before and behind them. Yet, Pharaoh hardened his heart and continued to pursue the people. The Lord waited until Pharaoh's army was right in the middle of the sea and then, at the precise moment, caused the waters to close back over them. Pharaoh and his forces were swallowed up in the depths of the sea. This passage serves as a testimony that even when struggles press in on us from *the front, back, left, and right* in life, if we look solely to the Lord, He will miraculously guide us at the right time. *....Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, and which have not entered the heart of man, are the things God has prepared for those who love Him* (1 Corinthians 2:9) Amen🥰

*Still Waters...* "He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters." (Psalm 23:2) David, the author of this Psalm, sings while envisioning himself as a sheep and the Lord as a Shepherd. Just as the *Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep* (John 10), the shepherd’s entire focus remains on the sheep. The shepherd leads them to places rich in pasture and clear water. Since sheep struggle to drink if the current is too swift, the shepherd searches for "still waters"—calm, gentle waters—and guides them there. Some translators interpret "still waters" as a body of water in a peaceful setting or a gently flowing stream. Furthermore, when the water is clear, objects beneath the surface are easily visible, allowing the sheep to avoid potential dangers. Only a shepherd who understands all these factors can safely protect the sheep, even in the wilderness. The sheep remain safe only as long as they stay under the shepherd's guidance; straying away puts their very lives at risk. If we place ourselves in David's position and regard the Lord as our Shepherd, we need not fear any harm. No matter how many adversaries rise against us, God stands as our Protector. We may not know where to find the green pastures, clear waters, and safety essential for our lives; however, the Lord knows where they are and is fully capable of leading us to them. David sings, "Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You" (Psalm 56:3). Let us, however, trust in the Lord not only when we are afraid but at all times. Amen.

*Moses Accuses You...* "Do not think that I shall accuse you to the Father; there is one who accuses you—Moses, in whom you trust" (John 5:45). The Jews living during the time of the New Testament held their forefathers—such as Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Moses—in high esteem. In the Scriptures, we read of them arguing with the Lord Jesus Christ, asking, "Are You greater than our father Abraham?" (John 8:53) and citing "the Law of Moses." Yet, it is surprising that those who desired to fulfill the requirements of the Law of Moses failed to believe a profound truth that Moses himself had spoken. That truth is what Moses declared regarding the Lord Jesus: "The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your midst, from your brethren. Him you shall hear" (Deuteronomy 18:15)—a statement they could not accept. Jesus concludes by saying that Moses himself will accuse before God those who refused to accept Him, despite Moses having spoken these very words. Jesus asks them, "If you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?" (John 5). To this day, the Jews do not accept the truthful statement: "He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him" ​​(John 5:23). Amen.💯

An idol is anything you love more than God, fear more than God, and serve more than God. Never be idle about idols in your life. 🔥💯🙏

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*Stretch out your hand...* "Then He said to the man, 'Stretch out your hand.' And he stretched it out, and it was restored as whole as the other." (Matthew 12:13) In the four Gospels, we see that the Lord Jesus Christ healed many sick people during His earthly ministry. Notably, Jesus performed a great number of these miracles on the Sabbath day itself. This was because the priests and Pharisees, having forgotten the true purpose of the Sabbath, had turned it into a burden for the people. Therefore, declaring that "the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath," the Lord Jesus Christ specifically performed healings on that day. On one such Sabbath, Jesus saw a man with a withered hand in the synagogue and said to him, "Stretch out your hand." He stretched it out, and it was restored just like the other. Although he knew he could not stretch out his withered hand, he was healed when he did so, driven by the faith within him. God—who "calls those things which do not exist as though they did" (Romans 4:17)—blessed him with complete healing. In our own lives, too, when we look to God with faith instead of dwelling in anguish over what we lack or our weaknesses, the Lord is sufficient to bless us, saying, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness" (2 Corinthians 12:9). Amen. 🔥🙏

*Rust Will Bear Witness...* "Your gold and silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have heaped up treasure in the last days" (James 5:3). During His earthly ministry, the Lord Jesus Christ revealed many truths about the Kingdom of Heaven to the people. On this earth, man is transient, and the treasures he accumulates are equally impermanent. However, the good deeds performed during one's lifetime are neither stolen by thieves nor destroyed by moths and rust. That is why Jesus Christ taught: *Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal* (Matthew 6:20). James writes that if even treasures gathered through righteous means can be ruined by moth and rust, then those amassed through unrighteous means will corrode and testify against us. In accordance with the verse, *For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also* (Matthew 6:21), let us perform the good deeds God expects of us and store up those treasures in heaven. Amen. 🙏👍

*One Another...* "You shall not steal, nor deal falsely, nor lie to *one another*." (Leviticus 19:11) God gave His people the commandment not to wrong *one another* when selling something to a neighbor or buying something from him. (Leviticus 25:14) If our love is sincere, we should be devoted to one another in brotherly love and outdo *one another* in showing honor. (Romans 12:10) As the Holy Spirit strengthens us, we become filled with goodness and all knowledge, and capable of admonishing *one another*. (Romans 15:14) We have been called to the freedom of Christ; therefore, we must serve *one another* in love. (Galatians 5:13) Since we are members of *one another*, we are all united as one body; therefore, putting away falsehood, let each one speak the truth with his neighbor. (Ephesians 4:25) Jesus has forgiven even our unforgivable sins; therefore, we must be kind and compassionate to *one another*, forgiving each other just as God in Christ has forgiven us. (Ephesians 4:32) Since we are living in the last days, we ought to admonish *one another* with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. (Ephesians 5:19) Just as Jesus the Son obeyed the Father in all things, we too must submit to *one another* in the fear of God. (Ephesians 5:21) Since the Day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night, we must comfort and edify *one another*. (1 Thessalonians 5:11) The Word of the Lord says that when we speak against *one another*, we speak against the law and judge the law. (James 4:11) Therefore, if we wish to avoid judgment, we must not grumble against *one another*. (James 5:9) If we desire healing, we must confess our faults to *one another* and pray for *one another*, for the fervent prayer of a righteous person is very powerful. (James 5:16) God has given gifts to each of us; like good stewards sharing the gifts we have received, we must help *one another*. (1 Peter 4:10) We must submit to *one another* and clothe ourselves with humility; for God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. (1 Peter 5:5) Bearing with *one another* and forgiving *one another*—just as Christ forgave you—is essential if anyone has a grievance against another. (Colossians 3:13) Amen. 🎉

*One Greater than Solomon...* "The Queen of the South came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and indeed, one greater than Solomon is here" (Luke 11:31). Solomon's wisdom was immeasurable, vast as the sand on the seashore (1 Kings 4:29). People not only in Jerusalem but in all the surrounding nations knew of Solomon's wisdom. It is written that the Queen of Sheba set out from her land after hearing about Solomon; such was the renown of his name. Yet, Solomon—wise as he was in the Old Testament—spoke primarily of earthly matters, constantly referring to what happens "under the sun." In the New Testament, however, our Lord Jesus Christ always speaks in parables concerning the things of heaven. According to the verse, "Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks" (Matthew 12:34), Solomon's heart revolved around the world, whereas the heart of the Son of God spoke of the divine. A woman traveled from the ends of the earth upon hearing of one man's wisdom. Yet, the Lord—the very Fountain of Wisdom—lived on this earth and ministered among us as a man. If we disregard His wisdom, the generation of Sheba will condemn us on the Day of Judgment. *The Queen of the South came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and indeed, a greater than Solomon is here. Therefore, on the day of judgment, that queen will rise up with this generation and condemn them* (Luke 11:31). On the day of judgment, she will condemn us, asking: "I traveled from the ends of the earth with offerings and treasures to hear Solomon's wisdom; yet how could you disregard the wisdom of the Lord—who is in your midst and dwells within you?" Moreover, unlike the Queen of Sheba, we do not need to travel from the ends of the earth to hear the Lord's wisdom. The Queen of Sheba brought treasures to Solomon; for us, however, the Lord's wisdom is free. *...and indeed, a greater than Solomon is here...* (Luke 11:31) Amen. 🎉

*The Lord Will Rise Upon You...* "For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; but the Lord will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you." (Isaiah 60:2) Our Lord is extraordinary. Therefore, we—who serve and worship Him—are also special. Even when darkness surrounds everything else, there will always be light around us. This is a tremendous grace that the Lord bestows upon His people. Darkness covers the earth, and deep gloom surrounds the people dwelling within it. When the Lord was about to afflict the Egyptians, He told Moses, "Stretch out your hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt—darkness which may even be felt." Moses stretched out his hand toward heaven, and "there was thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days. They did not see one another; nor did anyone rise from his place for three days. But all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings." (Exodus 10:23) This is the mercy God shows to His children. It is not limited to the people of Israel alone; God's mercy is revealed in the life of everyone who believes in and accepts Him. *No matter the state of the people around us or how dire the circumstances may be*, God will not forsake us. He will continually shine upon us. "I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness." (John 12:46) Amen. 🔥

*Awe-inspiring Wonder...* "Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain" (Psalm 139:6). David, the author of this Psalm, penned his experiences out of a deep awareness of the Lord's presence. We ought to relate these truths to our own lives. There are times when even those closest to us do not know what we are thinking; yet, the Lord perceives our thoughts and reflections from afar. The verse states, *"...You discern my thoughts from afar"* (Psalm 139:2). The Lord has precisely calculated every step we take, every time we sit down or rise up, and every word we speak throughout our lives. Though there are countless millions of people on earth, God is aware of every individual's movements. Moreover, the Lord’s hand presses upon us to draw us close to Himself. If He presses upon us from the *front* and we seem to retreat, His hand will seek and find us from *behind* as well. David sings, *"You hem me in—behind and before; You have laid Your hand upon me."* Only in this state can we remain at the *center of the Lord's will*. *God has searched us and knows us.* Amen.🔥

*Lot—The Veil...* "And the Lord said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him: 'Lift your eyes now and look from the place where you are—northward, southward, eastward, and westward'" (Genesis 13:14). We read in the Bible that from the day the Lord called Abram, Lot traveled along with him. One day, a dispute arose between the herdsmen of their respective flocks. Consequently, Lot chose to separate from Abram and settled near Sodom. After Lot had separated from him, the Lord God spoke to Abram and made a promise: *"All the land which you see I give to you and your descendants forever. And I will make your descendants as the dust of the earth... Arise, walk in the land through its length and its width, for I will give it to you"* (Genesis 13:17). Every name in the Bible holds a meaning. The name "Lot" means "veil" or "covering." Just as one cannot lift one's head to look upward when wearing a veil, the Lord did not tell Abram to "lift up his eyes and look" as long as Lot—that "veil"—was with him. In our own lives, too, there may be things or people around us acting like veils that prevent us from looking up. When the Lord chooses and calls us, we must step out from under such influences. Otherwise, God Himself will remove that veil. The Scripture speaks of Lot, describing him as a righteous man who was tormented in his righteous soul day after day by the lawless deeds he saw and heard (2 Peter 2). Although Lot was righteous, God waited until he parted ways with Abraham—or until the Lord Himself caused that separation. Even if the people around us are good, it is wise to separate from them when God instructs us to do so. There is no doubt that the Lord will bless us abundantly when that veil is removed from us. Amen. *லோத்து என்னும் முக்காடு...* "லோத்து ஆபிராமைவிட்டுப் பிரிந்தபின்பு, கர்த்தர் ஆபிராமை நோக்கி: உன் கண்களை ஏறெடுத்து, நீ இருக்கிற இடத்திலிருந்து வடக்கேயும், தெற்கேயும், கிழக்கேயும், மேற்கேயும் நோக்கிப்பார்" (ஆதியாகமம் 13.14) கர்த்தர் ஆபிரகாமை அழைத்த நாள் முதல் ஆபிரகாமோடு கூட லோத்துவும் அவனோடே பிரயாணம் செய்வதை வேதத்தில் வாசிக்கிறோம். ஒரு நாள் இருவருடைய மந்தை மேய்ப்பவர்களுக்கும் இடையே வாக்குவாதம் ஏற்படுகிறது. எனவே லோத்து தன் இஷ்டப்படி ஆபிரகாமை விட்டு பிரிந்து சோதோமுக்கு அருகில் குடிபெயர்ந்து போகிறான். இப்படி லோத்து ஆபிரகாமை விட்டு பிரிந்த பின்னர் தேவனாகிய கர்த்தர் அவனோடே இடைப்பட்டு *நீ பார்க்கிற இந்தப் பூமி முழுவதையும் நான் உனக்கும் உன் சந்ததிக்கும் என்றைக்கும் இருக்கும்படி கொடுத்து, உன் சந்ததியைப் பூமியின் தூளைப்போலப் பெருகப்பண்ணுவேன்....நீ எழுந்து தேசத்தின் நீளமும் அகலமும் எம்மட்டோ, அம்மட்டும் நடந்துதிரி. உனக்கு அதைத் தருவேன்* (ஆதி 13:17) என்று வாக்கு பண்ணுகிறார். வேதத்தில் காணப்படும் ஒவ்வொரு பெயருக்கும் ஒரு அர்த்தமுண்டு. லோத்து என்ற பெயருக்கு *முக்காடு* என்று அர்த்தம். எப்படி முக்காடு போட்டிருக்கும் போது தலையை உயர்த்தி நிமிர்ந்து பார்க்க முடியாதோ அதைப்போலவே *லோத்து என்ற முக்காடு* ஆபிரகாமுடன் இருந்த வரை கர்த்தர் ஆபிரகாமிடம் *உன் கண்களை ஏறெடுத்துப் பார்* என்று சொல்லவில்லை.‌ நம்முடைய வாழ்க்கையிலும் நாம் நிமிர்ந்து பார்க்கக்கூடாதபடி அநேக முக்காடுகள் போன்ற காரியங்களோ அல்லது மனிதர்களோ நம்மை சுற்றி இருக்கலாம். கர்த்தர் நம்மை தெரிந்து கொண்டு அழைக்கும் போது அதை விட்டு நாம் வெளியே வர வேண்டும். இல்லையென்றால் அந்த முக்காட்டை தேவனே எடுத்துப் போடுவார். *நாள்தோறும் அவர்களுடைய அக்கிரமக்கிரியைகளைக் கண்டு கேட்டு நீதியுள்ள தன்னுடைய இருதயத்தில் வாதிக்கப்பட்ட நீதிமானாகிய லோத்தை அவர் இரட்சித்திருக்க,..* (2 பேதுரு 2) என்று லோத்தைக் குறித்து வேதம் சொல்லுகிறது‌.‌ லோத்து நீதிமானாயிருந்தாலும் அவன் ஆபிரகாமை விட்டு விலகும் வரை அல்லது கர்த்தரே அவனை விலக்கும் வரை தேவன் காத்திருந்தார். நம்மைச் சுற்றி இருப்பவர்கள் நல்லவர்களாக இருந்தாலும் தேவன் அவர்களை நம்மை விட்டு விலக்கச் சொல்லும் போது விலக்குவது நல்லது. முக்காடு நம்மை விட்டு விலகும் போது கர்த்தர் நம்மை அபரிமிதமாக ஆசீர்வதிப்பார் என்பதில் சந்தேகமில்லை. ஆமென்🎉

*A One-Day Journey...* "And Jonah began to enter the city on the first day’s walk. Then he cried out and said, 'Yet forty days, and *Nineveh shall be overthrown!*'” (Jonah 3:4) The sin of Nineveh, the capital of Assyria, had reached the presence of the Lord. The Lord sent His prophet, Jonah, to Nineveh to warn it. Walking through the city for a full day, the prophet warned the people that *Nineveh would be destroyed in 40 days*. In biblical times, a "one-day journey" covered a distance of approximately 40 kilometers. The Word of the Lord declares that *our Jesus is greater than Jonah* (Matthew 12:41)—Jonah, who walked that distance and saved the people's lives from destruction. For the people of Nineveh were saved because Jonah undertook *just a one-day journey*. In contrast, our Lord Jesus Christ continues to deliver His Word to us today through various means, *to save us from eternal destruction*. It is not merely a *40-kilometer journey* like Jonah's; Jesus continues to teach us throughout our entire lives. Indeed, *goodness and mercy* follow us *all the days of our lives* (Psalm 23:6). Amen. *ஒரு நாள் பிரயாணம்...* "யோனா நகரத்தில் பிரவேசித்து, ஒருநாள் பிரயாணம்பண்ணி: இன்னும் நாற்பதுநாள் உண்டு, அப்பொழுது *நினிவே கவிழ்க்கப்பட்டுப் போம்* என்று கூறினான்" (யோனா 3:4) அசீரியாவின் தலைநகரமான *நினிவேயின் பாவம்* கர்த்தருடைய சமூகத்தில் எட்டியது.‌ கர்த்தர் தம்முடைய தீர்க்கதரிசியான யோனாவை நினிவேக்கு அனுப்பி அதை எச்சரிக்கிறார்.‌ பட்டணத்திற்கு சென்று ஒரு நாள் முழுவதும் நடந்து *40 நாட்களில் நினிவே அழிக்கப்படும்* என்று தீர்க்கதரிசி ஜனங்களை எச்சரிக்கிறார்.‌ வேத நாட்களில் ஒரு நாள் பிரயாணம் என்பது ஏறக்குறைய 40 கி.மீ தூரமாகும்‌. அத்தனை தூரம் நடந்து ஜனங்களுடைய ஜீவனை அழிவிற்கு தப்புவித்த *யோனாவை விட நம் இயேசு பெரியவர்* ( மத் 12.41) என்று கர்த்தருடைய வார்த்தை சொல்கிறது.‌ ஏனென்றால் யோனா *ஒரே ஒரு நாள் பிரயாணம்* செய்ததினால் நினிவே ஜனங்கள் காக்கப்பட்டார்கள். நம்முடைய கர்த்தராகிய இயேசு கிறிஸ்துவோ *நித்திய அழிவிலிருந்து நம்மை காக்கும் படிக்கு* இன்றும் தம்முடைய வார்த்தையை நமக்கு யார் மூலமாவது தொடர்ந்து கொடுத்துக் கொண்டே இருக்கிறார். யோனாவைப் போல *40 கிலோ மீட்டர் தூரம்* மட்டுமல்ல.‌ நம்முடைய வாழ்நாளெல்லாம் இயேசு போதித்துக் கொண்டே இருக்கிறார்‌. அதாவது *ஜீவனுள்ள நாளெல்லாம் நன்மையும் கிருபையும்* ( சங்கீதம் 23.6) நம்மை தொடர்ந்து கொண்டே இருக்கிறது. ஆமென்❤️

*Can any good come from it...?* "Nathanael said to him, 'Can anything good come out of Nazareth?' Philip said to him, 'Come and see.'" (John 1:46) Bartholomew—also known as Nathanael—was one of Jesus' disciples and hailed from the Galilee region. Another disciple, Philip, found Nathanael and invited him, saying, "We have found the One of whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph." Nazareth, a small village located about 40 km from the main area of Galilee, was considered an insignificant and undesirable place. Knowing this, Nathanael asked, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Nathanael knew—based on Micah 5:2—that Jesus was to be born in Bethlehem. Philip led him to Jesus, even though Nathanael harbored doubts about how the promised Messiah—the Christ—could possibly come from Nazareth. God remembered individuals whom the world deemed insignificant—such as Leah, Rachel, and Hannah—and caused their faces to shine with His favor. It was from Nazareth—a place considered insignificant, yet chosen by the Most High God to be the origin of His Son's earthly arrival—that goodness flowed forth to the entire world. (Luke 1:26) In Jesus' time, there were many historically renowned and great cities. We read of Jesus speaking of Capernaum, which was "exalted to heaven" (Luke 10). Even though there are prosperous nations like Egypt, God always looks towards the lowly. *Though the Lord is exalted, He looks upon the lowly...* (Psalm 138:6) Amen. *யாதொரு நன்மை உண்டாகுமோ...?* "அதற்கு நாத்தான்வேல்: நாசரேத்திலிருந்து யாதொரு நன்மை உண்டாகக்கூடுமா என்றான். அதற்குப் பிலிப்பு, வந்து பார் என்றான்" (யோவான் 1.46) இயேசுவின் சீஷர்களில் ஒருவரான *நாத்தான்வேல் எனப்பட்ட பர்த்தொலொமேயு* கலியேயா பகுதியைச் சேர்ந்தவன். மற்றொரு சீஷனான பிலிப்பு என்பவன் நாத்தான்வேலைக் கண்டு, நியாயப்பிரமாணத்திலே மோசேயும் தீர்க்கதரிசிகளும் எழுதியிருக்கிறவரைக் கண்டோம், *அவர் யோசேப்பின் குமாரனும் நாசரேத்தூரானுமாகிய இயேசுவே* என்று சொல்லி அழைக்கிறான். கலிலேயாவிலிருந்து ஏறக்குறைய 40 கி.மீ. தொலைவில் அமைந்துள்ள சிறு கிராமமான *நாசரேத்* என்னும் ஒரு ஊர், முக்கியத்துவம் இல்லாத, யாரும் விரும்பாத இடமாக அமைந்திருந்தது. இதை அறிந்திருந்த நாத்தான்வேல், *நாசரேத்திலிருந்து யாதொரு நன்மை உண்டாகக்கூடுமா?* என்று கேட்கிறான். *மீகா 5.2 ன் படி இயேசு பெத்லகேமில் பிறப்பார்* என்பதை அறிந்திருந்த நாத்தான்வேல் *இனி வரப்போகும் வாக்குப் பண்ணப்பட்ட மேசியாவான கிறிஸ்து* எப்படி நாசரேத்திலிருந்து வருவார் என்ற சந்தேகத்தோடே இருக்கும் அவனை பிலிப்பு இயேசுவிடம் அழைத்துச் செல்கிறான். வேதத்தில் அற்பமாக எண்ணப்பட்ட நபர்களான *லேயா, ராகேல், அன்னாள்* போன்றவர்களை தேவன் நினைத்தருளியிருக்கிறார். அவர்களுடைய முகங்களை பிரகாசம் அடையவும் செய்திருக்கிறார். உன்னதமான தேவன் தம் குமாரனை இந்த பூமிக்கு அனுப்புவதற்கு தெரிவு செய்த அற்பமாய் என்னப்பட்ட நாசரேத்திலிருந்து தான் இந்த உலகத்திற்கே நன்மை புறப்பட்டு வந்தது. (லூக்கா 1:26) இயேசுவின் காலத்தில் வரலாற்று பிரசித்தி பெற்ற எத்தனையோ பெரிய பெரிய பட்டணங்கள் இருந்தது. *வானபரியந்தம் உயர்த்தப்பட்ட கப்பர்நகூமே...* (லூக்கா 10) என்று இயேசு சொல்லுகிறதை வாசித்திருக்கிறோம். எகிப்து போன்ற செழுமையான தேசங்கள் இருந்தாலும் தேவன் எப்பொழுதும் சிறியவைகளை நோக்கிப் பார்க்கிறவராக இருக்கிறார். *கர்த்தர் உயர்ந்தவராயிருந்தும், தாழ்மையுள்ளவனை நோக்கிப் பார்க்கிறார்....* (சங்கீதம் 138.6) ஆமென்