The habits that produce results

From the desk of Mrs. Baby Abraham . . . . . .

The habits that produce results

Acts 10 1-48

CORNELIUS

The character study of Cornelius .

Cornelius being a Centurion, in charge  of the Italian regiment ,

experienced something which all the pious people there could not experience. He is far away from his native land. He has no access to worship his “ gods “.  Among strange people , amidst not so friendly atmosphere, how he conducted himself has  captured the attention of  ONE who  sees everything ! Even without our knowledge , this is how we get unexpected help in various circumstances .

 May be it is an answered prayer of some one whom you helped sometime. May  be it is an answered prayer of your family members or friends  or some well wishers .

Cornelius  receives a straight answer to his bewilderment . In

 verse 4   , he is informed that “ Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before God “ . Very often we wonder about unanswered prayers and unfulfilled dreams. Verse 2 describes his regular habits and behavioural pattern. He was a devout man ,

One who feared God with all his household,

Who gave alms generously,

And prayed to God always  .

V 44 shows how the holy spirit was given to Cornelius and his family and all the friends who had assembled there in his house to hear he sermon of Peter .  While Peter was sill speaking, they were anointed !! There was no laying of hands, no blowing on them , no sprinkling of water or immersion in water . Hence one who discern the thoughts and feelings of our heart determines who is worthy and who is not worthy.  There is no need to put mark by others which amount to nothing. After all what are they doing ? How will be the condition of their heart if  it is made “ an open book “!! Is there anything praiseworthy in their attitude, talks, gesturers , running up and down . We are not animals or toys to be played with .  If everyone keep  their respected positions and behave, the relationship will remain pristine. Otherwise it  is a torture for every one .These behaviour linger in the mind and spoils the thought process and quality of work. Can anyone do any work if some one keep on chirping or whistling or making one or two selected noises to pester all the time. These are childish and immature behaviour. Leave these and do everything responsibly and to the best of your ability . If an Italian Centurion in Caesarea , Judea by his purity while being an army officer could experience such great revelation , how much more our priests, yogi, Mullas , police  , ministers and other spiritual leaders can do for their own family and for their friends and nation as a whole . Like the fragrance of Jasmine or rose  ,  the purity of life and behaviour spread to all areas of government and private enterprises in the nation.

The LEADER” paves the way. Gradually, it becomes the “ way of life “ for the entire nation without further admonitions and law enforcement by forceful methods .  Set the true way and people will follow it once they recognise that it  is beneficial for them in the long run . As in the business world , “ customers are always correct “ and if their opinions are given proper consideration and followed up, lot of major improvements and modifications can be brought in to the production as well as sales and research and development , there by great progress can be achieved. Concerning religion, it seems, there is no “ give in “  , no modern interpretation of rituals, no explanation of rituals, what it stands for, why it was done in that way etc.   In Tamilnadu, recently during the cyclone , a girl of nine or ten year old was made to stay outside the house because of the menstruation. At night a coconut tree fell on her and she died. Do the parents have

the  “ right “ to cry over her dead body ??? We are so considerate to our cows, goats, buffalos, dogs and cats . We will never leave them in an unsafe place during cyclone with heavy wind, and heavy rain. Are our own children  not  even of the value of a 
cow ? Cows give milk every day and we get money. From the child to get some money, we have to wait for twenty or more years. Since it is a girl, you may have to spend more money for education, food and upkeep and marriage. What consolation, she died by an accident of tree falling on her during the cyclone . How hard hearted are we as parents ????!!!

Can we be called parents ? It is a sacred name . Are we worthy of it ?

V. “ What God has cleansed ,

You must not call common “

Once you accept the power of  God in creation and sustenance, then we are from one source, our origin is from the same “one “.

Just as roses of different colours, hibiscus of different colours, chrysanthemum of different colours, plantain of different varieties, coconut of different varieties, , we admire all, we use them for the same purpose, we cultivate them with equal amount of care, water, fertilisers, there is “ no partiality “ before the creator. 

He / she just painted them in different colours, with different fragrance as we make cakes of different flavour, different colour, different ingredients . We relish all of them .

THE IMPATIENCE OF THE holy Spirit in bestowing  the “ gifts of the Holy Spirit “ is evident here. Once approved, no time is wasted to empower them. As we select candidates for any designation, once accepted , they are drawn into their corporate, or government or hospital etc .

Acts 2 clearly displays how after their vigilant prayers, the transforming  incident occurs .

Exodus 18 : 19 -26

1.    select people who are able, such as fear of God,

2.    men of truth, hating covetousness

3.    and place such people over them to as rulers

Deuteronomy 16 : 19

1.    people who do not pervert justice,

2.    who do not show partiality,

3.    nor take  bribes,

4.    for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise , and twist the words of the righteous .

5.    follow what is altogether just ,

6.    judge the people with just judgment

Acts 11 : 15 – 18  , Acts 10 :  44 – 48

Where purity is assured, things just happen for good. That is the main reason why people gather around saints and sages and holy places . What is it that make them and the places distinguished and separate from others and other places . That is the condition of “ maturity “ for the divine to perform. As preparation for the surgeries , diet and  lifestyle is controlled and regulated , there by conditioning the body for the speedy recovery after the surgery . We clean our hand before having food, that is a very simple preparation to prevent a multitude of infections . For prevention certain parameters, for modification and advancement of technology , different set of parameters , for cordial and harmonious life, different set of parameters, for excellent educations and skills, different set of parameters. Unless the pre-requisite conditions are fulfilled , no desired results occur. How many checks and re -checks before we launch the satellites ! The greater importance attributed, greater will be the attention and care given to them. Otherwise we never get desired results . In the physical realm , if  the conditions should be so perfect, how much more in the spiritual realm where as far as we know, purity and holiness are the ultimate values required . Blood stained hands cannot receive it unless and until purified ???!!!!

numbers 11 : 28 , 29

Eldad and Medad  of the seventy ,though remained in the tent, were given the same gifts , because they were worthy to be elected .

“   When two or three gather together  in My Name “

Within ourselves,  can our own body, mind, spirit be in

complete “ unison and balance and harmony  “ , when we speak to each other, when we praise someone, when we give wise opinions , do our words match what we think in our mind , when we give some thing , how our mind bless them or despise them. If we cannot have that unity in our words, thoughts and actions, how can it happen when two or three or hundred or lakh people come together , the result is so different from what we planned earlier . Therefore to

achieve “ common goal “ our minds should be enlightened so that there is some balanced perception which will bring our motives and plans to be achievable  by co-operation .  What a great responsibility for teachers and priests . They can do it . India can do it .

**********************************************************