Proverb 24 : 30 – 34.

Field of the lazy man – Field is the place to work hard, to reap the harvest or grains, to feed us and others. But the lazy man will not plough, or plant or work hard to bring the harvest. So his field was overgrown with thorns and was covered with nettles ( it will sting or irritate the skin). Thorns and nettles are the signs of curse. If we are lazy to meditate the word of God, or pray, our field can’t yield grains to feed us and others.

When we are lazy to meditate the word of God, pray or sow the word of God, even the servants of God can’t reap the souls or feed the souls.

Also it’s stone wall will be broken down. That means it will loose it’s protection. Since it is open, the devil can enter into the heart of the lazy man easily.

Since there was no harvest, poverty will come. He will not have his food. He can’t sell any grains to get money and so poverty will come.

We should not give any place for laziness. Many people say a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest and they sleep even up to 10 – 11 am on Sundays. They ignore morning prayer, meditation of the word of God or worship. Let us not give place to laziness which will create thorns and nettles or curses. Let us not be lazy in the bed, like the doors,which turn on hinges. Proverb 26: 14.
The soul of a lazy man desires, but he will have nothing. Proverb 13 : 4. He will not get any heavenly blessing. Because of laziness, the building decays.Through idleness of hands, the house leaks. Ecclesiastes 10 : 18.

Yes, let us not be lazy. Let us work hard. Let us be active to use our time, opportunity and talents. Amen. Hallelujah.

Dr. Padmini Selvyn.

GO, TELL!

Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest is a faithful messenger to those who send him; he refreshes the soul of his masters.
[Pro 25:13]

Much of the Nativity narrative is centered on message-delivery.

Angels delivered messages to Zacharias, Mary, Joseph, the Shepherds. The star delivered a silent message to the Magi.

And Christmas itself celebrates JESUS, God’s Message made visible (the Word made flesh). Christmas celebrates JESUS, God’s faithful Messenger of whom Isaiah prophesied:

How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the Messenger who announces the Good News, “All is well.” He brings the Good News- announces salvation, and tells Zion, “Your God reigns!”
[Is 52:7 GW]

Every word & action of Jesus revealed God’s message of forgiveness, repentance, reconciliation and a new life – God’s invitation to His Table of Grace.

What Jesus had to say was so important, that God sent another messenger – John the Baptist – ahead of Jesus, to prepare the way (the hearts of people) to receive the actual message.

All of us can remember the paper-darts flying around the room, lunch-boxes being snacked on, arm-wrestling etc that went on when the teacher left the room… But, there was always a class monitor, whose task it was to tell us when the teacher was coming; to make us stop fooling around, and sit down with our books ready for the next lesson.

John the Baptist’s role was bit like that of the “class monitor”. He called out to the people to stop fooling around (to repent), to get ready to listen to Someone who was coming who would bring The Message of Grace and Peace from God.

And now, in Christ, we have been called out from the graves of lust, and the kingdom of darkness, so that we may taste and see that God IS good.

And having tasted of His goodness, we are sent out as God’s messengers to invite others to the banquet of Love – God’s Table of Grace.

[Pro 25:13] shows us that a faithful messenger refreshes the heart of the one who sent him.

It refers to the time when runners (couriers) would run carrying a message from one person to another… often over long distances. Sometimes they carried written message, but most often, they memorised what they were to say and conveyed it.

So a faithful messenger had to:
🗣️ Go. There’s no point having a message if you don’t actually get up and go
🗣️ know the message. A messenger’s job is to convey the desires of his master. So, a messenger must understand what his master wants to say, and how… and convey it exactly.
🗣️ make it to the end. It required strength and endurance on the part of the runner to carry the message to the destination.
🗣️ deliver the full message. A good messenger would convey the exact message given to him by his master/sender.
🗣️ return. A good messenger would not camp out at the place he was sent to. He would return back to the master and be ready to carry the next message.

🤔 Am I a reliable messenger? Do I refresh the heart of God? Something to think about as we sing Go tell it on the mountain

Or… as we sing…
🎶
Take my feet and let them be
Swift and beautiful for Thee…
Take my lips and let them be
Filled with messages from Thee
🎶

AD