Encouraging Thoughts

✨ *Encouraging thoughts* ✨

*A Man Who Was Made Blind So That He Could Truly See*

Before his encounter with Christ, Saul of Tarsus was a zealous persecutor of the church. The Bible tells us that “as for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison” (Acts 8:3). We also see that he was breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord (Acts 9:1-2). Outwardly, Saul was powerful and confident—but inwardly, he was spiritually blind, unable to see the truth of God’s love and mercy revealed in Jesus Christ.

On the road to Damascus, the Lord Himself stopped Saul in his tracks. A dazzling light from heaven struck him down and left him physically blind for three days. Yet this moment of darkness became the turning point of his life. In his physical blindness, God opened his spiritual eyes. When his sight was restored through Ananias, Saul could now truly see—his own brokenness, the grace of God, and the truth of Christ. The persecutor became the persecuted, and the enemy of the church became one of its greatest apostles, later known as Paul.

Paul’s story reminds us that no heart is too hard for God to change and no person is beyond His grace. God can take the most unlikely person and transform them into a powerful instrument for His glory. As believers, this also challenges us to reflect Christ in our words, attitudes, and actions, so that others may see His love through us—just as Paul did after his conversion.

Let us trust that the same God who changed Saul can change us daily—shaping our hearts to love what He loves and to walk in His light.

*📖 VERSE TO REMEMBER 📖*

*2 Corinthians 4:6*

For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

🙏 *PRAYER*🙏

Our heavenly Father,

As Thou didst open Saul’s eyes, open ours also, that we may see Thee in our everyday lives, walk in Thy light, and live for Thy glory.

Amen.

✍️ ✍️ ✍️ ✍️ ✍️ Sis Shincy Jonathan, Australia 🇦🇺

Mission Sagacity Volunteer

Encouraging Thoughts

*एक नई शुरुआत के लिए शुद्ध*

जैसे-जैसे हम एक नए साल में प्रवेश कर रहे हैं, हम में से बहुत से लोग एक नई शुरुआत की इच्छा रखते हैं—आशा, शांति और उद्देश्य से भरी एक नई शुरुआत।

बाइबल में, हम सीरिया के राजा की सेना के सेनापति, नामान के बारे में पढ़ते हैं। वह एक महान और सम्मानित व्यक्ति था, अत्यंत पराक्रमी और कई लोगों द्वारा आदरणीय। फिर भी, अपनी सारी सफलता और पद के बावजूद, उसे एक गंभीर समस्या थी—कोढ़। यह एक ऐसी बीमारी थी जिसे वह स्वयं न तो छिपा सकता था, न ठीक कर सकता था और न ही उसका उपचार कर सकता था।

इसी तरह, चाहे हम कोई भी हों—अमीर हों या गरीब, शिक्षित हों या अशिक्षित—हम सब में एक बात समान है: पाप। जिस तरह बाइबल के समय में कोढ़ लोगों को समाज से अलग कर देता था, वैसे ही पाप हमें परमेश्वर से अलग करता है। यह एक ऐसी समस्या है जिसका कोई भी मानवीय प्रयास पूरी तरह से समाधान नहीं कर सकता।

जब नामान कोढ़ से चंगाई पाने के लिए एलीशा के पास गया, तो उसे किसी नाटकीय चमत्कार की उम्मीद थी। इसके बजाय, उसे कुछ बहुत सरल करने के लिए कहा गया—यरदन नदी में सात बार डुबकी लगाना। पहले तो वह क्रोधित और निराश हुआ। उसे यह बात समझ में नहीं आई। लेकिन जब उसने खुद को नम्र किया और आज्ञा मानी, तो उसकी देह फिर से वैसी ही हो गई और एक छोटे बच्चे के समान शुद्ध और नई हो गई।

आज, बहुत से लोग सोचते हैं कि उद्धार अच्छे कर्मों से आता है—गरीबों की मदद करना, चर्च जाना, प्रार्थना सभाओं में भाग लेना, या एक "अच्छा" जीवन जीना। हालाँकि ये चीज़ें अच्छी हैं, लेकिन वे हमें बचा नहीं सकतीं। उद्धार केवल विश्वास के माध्यम से आता है।

जैसे नामान को भरोसा करना पड़ा और आज्ञा माननी पड़ी, वैसे ही हमें यीशु मसीह के पूर्ण कार्य पर विश्वास करने के लिए बुलाया गया है। यीशु हमारे पापों के लिए क्रूस पर मरे और तीसरे दिन फिर से जी उठे। जब हम उन पर विश्वास करते हैं और उन्हें अपने व्यक्तिगत उद्धारकर्ता के रूप में स्वीकार करते हैं, तो हमें क्षमा मिलती है, उनके शुद्ध करने वाले लहू से धोया जाता है, और एक नया जीवन दिया जाता है।

इस नए साल में, परमेश्वर हमें केवल संकल्पों या अस्थायी बदलावों से कहीं बढ़कर कुछ दे रहे हैं। वह हमें मसीह में एक नया हृदय, एक नई शुरुआत और एक नई पहचान प्रदान करते हैं। जैसे नामान को नई देह मिली, वैसे ही हम भी उनमें एक नई सृष्टि बन सकते हैं।

📖 याद रखने योग्य वचन 📖 2 कुरिन्थियों 5:17 "इसलिए यदि कोई मसीह में है तो वह नई सृष्टि है: पुरानी बातें बीत गई हैं; देखो, सब बातें नई हो गई हैं।"

✍️ ✍️ ✍️ ✍️ Sis Shincy Jonathan, Australia 🇦🇺

Transaltion ---- Bro Job Matthew Abraham, Delhi

Mission Sagacity Volunteers

Happy new year 2026, Encouraging Thoughts

*WASHED FOR A NEW BEGINNING*

As we step into a new year, many of us desire a fresh start—a new beginning filled with hope, peace, and purpose.

In the Bible, we read about Naaman, the commander of the army of the king of Syria. He was a great and honourable man, mighty in valour, respected by many. Yet, despite all his success and status, he had one serious problem— *leprosy.* It was a disease he could not hide, fix, or heal by himself.

In the same way, no matter who we are—rich or poor, educated or uneducated—there is something common to all of us: *sin* . Just as leprosy separated people in biblical times, sin separates us from God. It is a problem no human effort can fully cure.

When Naaman went to Elisha seeking recovery from leprosy, he expected something dramatic. Instead, he was asked to do something very simple—to dip himself seven times in the Jordan River. At first, he was angry and disappointed. It didn’t make sense to him. But when he humbled himself and obeyed, *his flesh was restored and became like that of a little child—clean and new.*

Today, many people think salvation comes through good works—helping the poor, going to church, attending meetings, or living a “good” life. While these things are good, they cannot save us. *Salvation comes only through faith.*

Just as Naaman had to trust and obey, we are called to believe in the finished work of Jesus Christ. Jesus died on the cross for our sins and rose again on the third day. When we believe in Him and accept Him as our personal Saviour, we are forgiven, washed by His cleansing blood, and given a new life.

This New Year, God is offering us more than resolutions or temporary change. He offers us a new heart, a new beginning, and a new identity in Christ. Just as Naaman received new flesh, we too can become a new creation in Him.

📖 *Verse to Remember* 📖

*2 Corinthians 5:17*

_Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new._

✍️ ✍️ ✍️ ✍️ Sis Shincy Jonathan, Australia 🇦🇺

Mission Sagacity Volunteer