stephen-on-bible

Ask folks about what ‘leadership’ is primarily about, the following may be few responses from them: • It is about leading. • It is about delegating. • It is about managing. • It is about controlling. • It is about organizing. • It is about overseeing. • It is about serving . There is no argument in the assertion that a leader’s function is to lead, delegate, manage, organize, oversee and serve. However, I believe, these are not his primary task. There is something which comes ‘first’ before all these. In fact, without doing 'this' foremost thing he would be a failure in the following. It can be said that ‘this’ qualifies him to do the rest. What could be that first and the most important characteristic of a leader? Leading Oneself A leader, before leading others, leads himself well. A leader, before managing others, manages his habits well. A leader, before organizing things, organizes his life well. A leader, before exerting healthy control, practices self...

The other day, my dear friend Kamal and I were traveling back home after having our ministry meeting. As we were conversing on our way, he made an insightful comment. When we go through suffering, we generally tend to comfort ourselves and others by reviving the focus on the reward that we would be receiving in heaven. True, we do receive a great reward on the Last Day when we endure trials, for it is written, “Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him” (Jas 1:12). But then, why don’t we also realize the rewards that we get here on earth because of afflictions? Kamal further talked about the blessings that we receive as a result of suffering in this world. What could be those rewards? As I was reflecting on our conversation, the following Scriptures come into mind. Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the test...

Few days back I was at home taking care of my second son, Joe. In my conversation with him, I used words in my vernacular language, which is generally used by elders in our culture - “You have no shame.” He is just three years and eight months old. When he heard, he repeated back those words to me, “You have no shame.” I told him, “You shouldn’t speak like that to elders.” He replied without hesitation, “Such words should not be spoken by anyone, whether younger ones or elders.” Those words came to me like a slap on my face. I apologized to him for using those words. He then gave back his usual cute and mesmerizing smile. My son taught me that day that every person, whether young or old, deserves respect. Often times, I have observed, we elders do things which we don’t expect our younger ones to follow. We think we have the right to speak and do anything and the children are forbidden to do such, even no right to question us. But should not we set a good example to them about how they ...

Note: The following message is a continuation of the previous topic: "Fathers, Love Your Children's Mother" The word ‘woman’ isn’t a sign of weakness but a living example of meekness. She is not a reflection of inferiority but of humility. She has been created by the Living God, not to manifest either smallness or haughtiness, but gentleness and kindness. What's more, she has been blessed with a grand privilege to exemplify submissiveness. Therefore, is it not unfitting for a mother to behave disrespectfully towards her children's father? Disrespect One major problem husbands have with their wives is-DISRESPECT. And this problem had jeopardized many families, including the lives of children. I once came across a true incident of a successful doctor who had an affair with an office secretary who wasn’t nearly as good looking as his wife. When asked by the counselor, “What did you see in her?” he replied, “She made me feel more comfortable.” “Whenever I went h...

(I think fathers deserve special attention in parenting because their influence upon the children cannot be underestimated in regard to how they treat their mother. I share the following message not as a perfect father but as a man who loves to be a mature dad.) “What is the most important thing I can do for my children?” asked a father to an elderly man. “Love their mother!” was the response. I am glad for those men who are loving and caring towards their wives but this isn’t the case with many. Let’s be honest and ask—what description comes into the mind of our children when they hear the term ‘father’? What impression do they have about fatherhood? Does the term ‘father’ or ‘daddy’ or ‘papa’ bring a sense of security and care to children because of the way he treats their mother or does that term sound scary and disappointing? Making the Lives of Children either Better or Worse A young girl confided to me: I hated my dad because of his rudeness and anger towards my mom. He...

He was not an apostle. He didn’t hold any high ecclesiastical office. He held an ordinary responsibility, just to serve food to the Hellenistic Jewish widows. Perhaps, in our modern terminology, we can call him “waiter.” Yes, Philip’s ministry can be called, “The Waiter’s Ministry.” He is an example in the history of Christianity about how God can use ordinary people to do extraordinary things. He went in the fullness of the Holy Spirit to Samaria and did an awesome ministry. Many came to the Lord. People got baptized. Amazing wonders and miracles took place. Now, what is the secret of his astounding ministry? A life lived under the full control of the Holy Spirit. During the peak of his successful ministry, one day Philip was told by an angel of the Lord, “Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” Later, the Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.” He obeyed the Lord, leaving his successful ministry in Samaria, and eventually leads...

Have you ever wondered why God at times doesn’t help us in overcoming our weaknesses? Why is it when we cry out to God to free us from our moral failures, He seems to hide Himself from us, as if He is not willing to come for our aid? We may be pleading to God to deliver us from vices, such as anger, lust, anxiety, impatience, greed…etc, and yet we find ourselves again and again staining ourselves with these evils, and therefore thinking, “When will God help me in these areas to live a life of an overcomer? If God wants me to be holy why is He not answering my prayers for holiness?" God shuns the prayers of proud As I was pondering over this issue, the Spirit of the Living God taught me an important lesson. One of the reasons God doesn’t help us in our weaknesses, no matter how much we pray (even fast), is that we are not compassionate towards others’ weaknesses. How highly critical we are towards the weaknesses of other people! How unkindly we criticize others’ failures! How car...