Again and again and again….
Bringing about discipline, cleanliness and maintenance of books, became an arduous task in my school, despite repeatedly telling them, children turn up with disheveled dry hair, dirty clothes, incomplete home work and dirty torn books. I decided to do one thing, I typed out all the points that had to be reiterated everyday, took a print out and gave it to the teacher and told her to announce it in the morning and evening ‘everyday’ during the assembly time. When the home work is not done, children are reprimanded and necessary punishment given in the assembly, this instilled fear in them. Now, there is a marked improvement among our children, since the parents themselves are undisciplined and disorderly, the onus fell on me. I do the same thing even with my own family and at church, I keep talking and preaching, until it gets into their system. The big boys are trained in covering and labeling the note books for all the children, pencil boxes are issued to the children and they are taught to bring them to school everyday. Punctuality is strictly not only preached but also adhered to, both in our school and church.
Peter, the disciple of Jesus after preaching and teaching for many years, still during the twilight days of his life, keeps ‘reminding’ the people again and again the ways of God, read:
• 2 Peter 1:12”For this reason I will not be negligent to remind you always of these things, though you know and are established in the present truth.
• Yes, I think it is right, as long as I am in this tent, to stir you up by reminding you..’
Jesus after preaching day in and day out during His time on earth, came back to His disciples after crucifixion and appeared to two dejected disciples who were on their way to Emmaus and encouraged them again by preaching, beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself. (Luke 24:27) This particular scripture pierced my heart like a spear and the burden of Christ has been my inspiration in my ministry, to keep preaching despite disappointments and discouragements.
Keep talking! Keep explaining the ways of God and encourage your family to read the Word and gather together in prayer everyday. I repeat everyday, not when you feel like and when you have the time. Such ‘imperatives’ got to be said everyday!
• The Lord said, Deuteronomy 6:7“You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.
• You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.
• You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”
When we are nonchalant about the ways of God and give more importance to work at office and home, that’s when we stagger during times of calamity. We live in an illusion of bubble peace that would be broken at any time. Are you hearing me? I today speak to elderly people as well! Hear me please! There are many out there, spending time with news papers, grandchildren and TV; yet they daringly ignore God. Repent! Spend regular time with God, in order to have the assurance of meeting God after death. Let this message be like sticking needles in your skin, and shaking you from complacency with a false belief that everything is really well around us.
Joshua during the last days of his life, severely warned the people to keep away from idols and live a holy life: “If you forsake the LORD and serve foreign gods, then He will turn and do you harm and consume you, after He has done you good." (Joshua 24:20) Let me repeat, ‘He will turn and do you harm and consume you!’ We need leaders like Joshua who would preach with boldness and explain the true nature of God. We have been living in a dream world and worshiping ‘ infant Jesus’ that is carried and cuddled by mother Mary. Beware! Jesus is coming again as a Judge not carried by mother Mary but in a white horse! Repent and set right your life if you want to be spared from being thrown into hell!
