Years of conditioning through experiences get us into a rut. The rut gets comfortable. It becomes familiar. Our focus gets narrower. We don’t look elsewhere. It’s no use. We’re stuck in a rut. 

For some, it becomes part of their personality. For some, it defines identity. It’s hard to know how many, but for some, it becomes bondage. 

How does one get out? That’s difficult. It took years to get into this, and may take years to get out. But once the person is conscious about their situation that is the first step out. Then they must have the desire to get out. Unfortunately, I’ve dealt with many who’d rather remain. 

Maybe it’s comfortable being uncomfortable. Maybe the pain of change is greater than the pain of remaining in the rut. 

But once the desire is there, with prayer, encouragement, and counseling, there is hope. I’ve seen people who remain, and those who get out. What a relief when they get out. It’s a relief for those who help them, and a new life for those who get out. 

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Don’t give up on people who are stuck in a rut. 

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“What we believe has divided us, but who we believe in will unite us.”*

Beliefs are internalized as convictions. Convictions run deep, and get attached to the person’s identity. Could identity be the cause of divisions?

But the relationship with Christ is common for those with various convictions stemming from differing beliefs.

So, it’s unity in relationship and diversity in belief?

* (I heard this quote from Satish Kumar, pastor of Calvary Temple, Hyderabad. Quote originally attributed to Billy Graham).

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What an amazing paradox.
The title (Hebrew YHWH Sabaoth) shows God as the “Commander of the armies of heaven” – he is the divine warrior, majestic, powerful, sovereign over all cosmic forces. This title is common in the prophets.
Yet in the same prophecy, YHWH is referred to as the “Servant” (Isaiah 52–53).

This Servant is:
Despised and rejected
A man of sorrows
Wounded for others
Led like a lamb to the slaughter
Observe the paradox:
God of Hosts: He has power, armies, victory, and cosmic authority.

Suffering Servant: weakness, humiliation, suffering, sacrifice
We commonly understand that victory comes through strength. But in the suffering servant, God accomplishes his task through suffering. But the Lord of Hosts is not without power. He put his power aside and came down to earth as Jesus Christ, the suffering servant. 

In Christ, God presents himself meek and lowly while possessing all power and authority.
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When we point a finger, there are three fingers pointing back at us.

That’s scary.

But we’re never afraid. It feels good to point fingers. It makes us feel validated. Vindicated.

After all, they’re wrong. (And that may be accurate).

Then I observe three fingers pointing at me and remember the words of Jesus.

“So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, ‘He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.’”
— John 8:7 (NKJV)

But why do I keep pointing fingers?

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The teachings of Jesus and all the miracles that he performed were carefully tailored to present the Kingdom of God to Jews and non-Jews alike.

This is what Jesus said about his parables:
“To what shall we liken the kingdom of God? Or with what parable shall we picture it?” — Mark 4:30 (NKJV)

Here is what he said about his miracles, especially when he cast demons out:
“But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you.”
— Matthew 12:28 (NKJV)

There was no coercion. There was no pressure. Jesus had no quota to fulfill. Although he was compassionate toward all those who suffered, He was focused in his approach. He gave a clear and compelling invitation to the Kingdom.

Take it or leave it.
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In the parable of the talents, the man who received only one talent identified his master as a thief. And he was not afraid to say it to his face. He was that sure of his assessment. Take that.

“Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed.’ ” (Matthew 25:24)

According to his own assessment, his master’s wealth was unreasonable. His wealth was built on something other than physical work that this servant was used to. As a matter of fact, that’s all the wealth building knowledge that he has. According to that, his boss was certainly a crook. How else would he continue to amass such wealth? The master surely doesn’t work as hard as this servant does.

The servant’s limited understanding and experience caused him to conclude that his master was a thief. And he was convinced enough that he called him out – possibly before the others.

The servant had no understanding of assets and how assets could be leveraged to continuously build wealth and earn an income.
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When someone has benefited from a system, relationship, or belief for a long time, leaving it can create complications. There’s that uncomfortable feeling of admitting “I was wrong,” or “I stayed for years in something I now reject.”

Because of that, people sometimes construct another “reason” for leaving that protects their self-image. And maybe they’ll protect their conscience too. 

What’s the reason behind the reason? That’s what’s being hidden. Maybe it’s good not to know. Let it rest. 

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All people live life experiencing the effects of sin. The only solution to the problem of sin is Jesus’ death on the cross which was cruel and gruesome. But this had to happen. Jesus willingly gave himself up for us. Below, we look at how the death of Jesus on the cross delivers us from the effects of sin, bringing us to freedom from sin and a relationship with God.

The Romans Road to Salvation is a list of verses describing the “road” to salvation using verses from the book of Romans (from the Bible).

1. What is our problem?
The universal problem is that all have sinned.

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).

“As it is written: ‘None is righteous, no, not one’” (Romans 3:10).

2. What is the problem with sin?
The wages of sin is death.

“Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned” (Romans 5:12).

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23).

3. How does God forgive sin?
God provided a way for our sin to be forgiven and not held against us any longer.

“But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

4. What happens when we receive forgiveness?
Salvation brings us peace with God.

“Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1).

“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).

“For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39).

5. How can you receive that forgiveness?
We personally receive forgiveness and salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.

“Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved” (Romans 10:9,10).

“For ‘everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved’” (Romans 10:13).
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If you’re ready to be free from the grip of Sin in your life, contact me using the “Email Me” section of this blog.
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God’s kingdom is quite expansive. He is more generous than we’d like to admit. In
Matthew 13:47, fishermen cast a dragnet into the sea and “gathered some of every kind” into the net.

Although there was a separation at the end, it is crucial to note that an opportunity is given to “every kind.” Even my kind. The kind others may not care about. Others may despise them. The misfits. All are given an opportunity in the Kingdom.

Of course, at the end, there will be a day when God separates the wicked from the just. But this dragnet theology of mercy gives me an opportunity to be part of the Kingdom. To develop a relationship of love and obedience to the King.
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It is better to give than to receive, right?

Usually.

For some people, giving becomes their identity. But what if you spent time with someone who is hurting? Without giving them anything. They don’t really need anything other than your presence. But some people can’t do that. They have to give.

Isn’t giving good? Yes, but if one’s identity is tied to what they can give, then it gets complicated.

Then the idea is: “I am what I give,” so I must give.

Such people also have difficulty receiving. Receiving requires humility. That complicates the identity struggle.
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