What Amazing Love

In our religious fervor, we are careful to perform several religious observances – as a matter of routine. How true it is that sometimes we practice only a ‘form of godliness’ but deny the power of practical living.

Many of us fast, sometimes through Lent, but particularly on Good Friday. We go to Church and listen again to the seven words of our dying Jesus on the Cross. The First Word of Jesus as He hung in agony on the Cross was “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do!”

“Forgive them”, Jesus pleaded.  Who was ‘them’ – the soldiers who drove the cruel nails through His flesh? Was it the Jewish Sanhedrin who condemned him so maliciously? Was it Herod and Pilate who played games with Him, as they tossed Him around mocking and torturing Him? Or was it the crowd who had listened to his loving words of Truth & healing but was now mocking Him relentlessly? Whoever it included, they had all alike rejected & condemned Him in the place of the notorious criminal Barabas! He didn’t deserve all this…yet He pleaded not for Himself but for those who had wronged Him so grievously & treated Him so shamefully! Yes, His forgiveness reaches out to you and me and for all the sins we commit against Him! What amazing love!

How do we respond to this love? Are we bitter over the wrongs done to us? See Jesus on the Cross again! As Jesus forgives, let us forgive others and experience the release into the joy of Jesus’ resurrection victory.

On March 8, we celebrate The International Women’s Day with the theme: “Make it Happen.”  We’ve had Conventions and Resolutions, but we see that violation of women continues. This year may we make serious efforts to implement the laws and “Make it Happen”- first beginning with ourselves.

In this issue we find it appropriate, therefore, to have the Theme: “Power of Love”.

Our articles communicate the message of love in our attitudes and relationships, and the experience of the joy of the Resurrection in our lives. We have also articles that speak of pain and deep hurts inflicted by those who exploit and victimize others for their pleasure and profit.  Our articles, offer healing of these hurts that comes only as we trust in Jesus.

Our Cover story on Jayasheela Gowda, shares her turmoil as she searches for the true God. She speaks of the conflicts she goes through as she emerges from her old life to the new one in Jesus amazing love. Her responsive love for Jesus now makes her a radiant witness for Him, in the film industry.

Read on… And may Jesus speak again as he offers us His life in all its fullness!