Day4: Sworgiya Pithave
(Abba Father)
The GPS is an amazing thing! They didn’t have it back then in Jesus’ times. Sadly. Thankfully.
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In our perfectly planned lives when God does a re-routing, those of us who are obsessive planners – like… to the detail, usually border on crazy trying to ‘get it all back together'. Our mood goes for a toss, we begin to snap at the slightest of things, a hundred questions begin to bubble non-stop - Which way? Why is there a stop? How long is the journey? What’s the ETA? What’s the point? Etc etc etc.
Hmmm. What happened? We’ve lost control.
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The disciples must have felt pretty much the same way when one day Jesus suddenly planned on a different route from what they were accustomed to – which involved crossing through a ‘forbidden’ territory called Samaria. Not only was it unfamiliar, but was also a ‘disliked’ territory. You see the Jews (that’s the disciples) never mixed with the Samaritans! They both were like high-school enemies – they stayed sweetly away from each other.
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But then… Jesus kinda mixed up the routes, getting the disciples soo-not-excited about the whole journey - coz they just couldn’t seem to get the “why” of it! But then, exactly on this journey (John 4), responding calmly to this bunch of already cranky/tired/hungry disciples, Jesus says - “My nourishment comes from doing the will of God, who sent me, and from finishing his work.”
Umm. Okay. So what did you just say!?
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The brief Samaria re-routing ended up in the salvation of a whole village! Changed lives for generations to come. And the Father was pleased. It was “HIS WILL” that Jesus showed up at the chosen place, at the chosen time for the chosen person. (That’s what Jesus was saying!) You see… God our Father is actually the Master of Planning! You just can’t beat him!
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This little bit called – THE WILL OF GOD - is what makes the re-routing happen in our lives, making an otherwise convenience-dictated life have a point, a purpose, a richness at the end of it. And yet, as much as He is the BOSS of it all, He never would over-take your free will. In His unreasonable graciousness, He gave us all – free will! And He would let us decide – if we give-in to the re-routing or hold on to the controls. Ah… What a God!
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May our lives be truly nourished in the WILL of God. And let us be those who sing this beautiful song as an earnest prayer of our own hearts!
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“Swargiye Pithave nin thiru hitham, swargathile poley bhoomilum aagane” translated famously as - Our Father in Heaven, let Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven!
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Prayer:
Father, I come to you today seeking your will for my life. I’ve strayed away on my own, willingly giving in to the pleasures of this world and selfishly satisfying the desires of my flesh. I realize today that my life has a bigger purpose than all this. Help me to make my way to your heart and do what pleases you today. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
Scriptures:
Matthew 6:9-10 (NIV)
“This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven."
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Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.