07/01/2026
SCRIPTURE:
“Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God and saying, 'The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near:, repent, and believe in the good news.” (Mark 1:14-15, NIV)
Observations/Interpretations:
I asked myself what were the capabilities of Jesus?
Actions of Jesus:
1. Coming to Galilee after John was arrested.
2. Proclaiming the Good News of God!
3. Commanding with authority
Observations/Interpretations:
I asked myself whose company was Jesus in?
Jesus was in the company of the crowds to whom He spoke.
Observations/Interpretation:
I asked myself what do we learn about Jesus' commitment?
1. Jesus was committed to travel all the way to Galilee to proclaim the Good News of God in God's timing.
2. Jesus was committed to make people realize the kingdom of God has come near.
3. Jesus was committed to wanting people to repent and believe the Good News.
I asked myself what were the sayings of Jesus?
Sayings of Jesus:
1. The time is fulfilled.
2. The kingdom of God has come near.
3. Repent and believe the Good News.
Interpretations:
Why are the actions of Jesus significant?
It is interesting to know that Jesus came to Galilee after overcoming every temptation thrown by Satan at Him and after John, the Baptist was arrested. Jesus came so that He can proclaim the Good News.
We need to remember that John, the Baptist was the one who was proclaiming the Good News and preparing the way of the Lord. John also lets people know that there is more to the concept of baptism than being 'baptized in water'. John realizes that he is just a messenger and there would come One who baptizes with the Holy Spirit. John was preparing the people for a transition. He did not want people to regard him highly as opposed to the One who was to come. God allowed John to prepare the way and when John's time would come to an end, the people could be prepared for the transition. (Mark 1:1-8)
When John was arrested, there was a vacancy in the ministry area pertaining to 'proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins' and 'baptizing those that repented with water' (Mk 1:4-5).
Jesus finally came to preach in Galilee after John's arrest. Jesus said, 'the time is fulfilled'. This could refer to what John was proclaiming especially about the 'One who would come'. Jesus came to accomplish all that John was proclaiming. Jesus knows the perfect timing when things need to be done.
I asked myself, what do you think is the most important saying of Jesus and why?
I think the most important saying of Jesus is 'The Kingdom of God has come near:, repent and believe in the good news.' Jesus wanted people to turn away from sin that was hindering them from being close to God. This is what repentance is.
It is also interesting to realize that Jesus does not say, 'The Kingdom of God has come near:, believe in the good news.' but says 'repent and believe in the good news'.
(To be continued....)
Implications:
I asked myself what are the implications for my own life?
I am so blessed to realize that the Lord Jesus has the perfect timing for everything. Even when things look so depressive, He is still at work. I have always been blessed by the promise of the Lord that says, "Why be so gloomy Oh my soul, why be so depressed? Hope in God! Expect God to act. I shall have reason to smile again, for He is my Lord and my God"
I am reminded of a time when Pastor Josh told me when he was mentoring me, not to be sad that houses we really liked did not work out because our Lord Jesus will give us a place that we will like even more than what we wanted. In the Lord's timing, it has happened. It has been such a blessing to see how the Lord has worked it out in His timing. Thank you Jesus. Here I learned about the Lord's capability, commitment, and company when it comes to His perfect timing. We love the place we are at and how the Lord Jesus has used the place to bless so many lives including ours.
Many times we want things when we want it and the timing of the Lord can be very painful whether it is in our family life, ministry, etc. What has helped me so much is praying the song 'While I Am Waiting' by John Waller.
But the housing situation is nothing compared to what I went through 16 years ago after marring my lovely wife Chandraleela. When I married Chandraleela on July 30, 2010 in India, I had to be back in the states for my job within a week on August 05, 2010 but found out that my wife had to wait behind because of visa issues. Within less than a week of our marriage, she was still in India and I was in the U.S. on August 06, 2010.
It was a painful time for both of us. But, then my sister-in-law Sunandha's & Paul's wedding came in December 2010 and the Lord provided the financial means to go back to India. There I was reunited with my sweet wife for almost 12 days. Her love for me grew more and more in those days. BUT, alas, I had to come back to the states again but she could not accompany me because of the visa situation. It was very painful and saddening. My church Oakland International Fellowship kept praying for the day they would see us together here in the states.
Then, the summer time of June 2011 came. Lord provided a way again for me to be with my supportive wife Chandraleela and her loving family for almost 4 months. We enjoyed each other's company in different awesome ways. Then, August arrived but her passport was not in her possession because they sent it to the wrong address delaying the visa process again. We were so frustrated but kept praying to the Lord Jesus for His intervention.
Our brother-in-law Paul, helped us so much with the visa situation. One day we came across a church we had never been too and my wife felt we should go there. When we went there Pastor Vampati told us that he knew a sister at visa center who would look into the situation. After prayer and help from my sister-in-law's husband Paul, we eventually got her police clearance certificate and passport. But no VISA yet.
Then, the time came for me to leave for the states and again I could not take my wife with me. I delayed coming back to the states as much as I could hoping the time I was there she can get her visa and we can come together. It did not happen. BUT, the Lord allowed my job to give me an extension and then weather conditions in JFK delayed my trip on the last day. This gave my wife and I, 11 extra days together until Sept 08, 2011 when I had to leave her behind. That was the most difficult time to leave her as we had been together enjoying each other's company for 4 months in a row. But, we again knew the TIMING was not right because the Lord knows the perfect timing even though being apart was so hard. Pastor Hugo Cheng & Heather, Edwin & Marie and Calvin & Elise Chiang of Transformers small group encouraged me a lot and the whole church was praying for my wife's visa situation.
Then, my birthday came on October 05, 2011 and my wife was still not here. It was the second birthday after marriage without her by my side. When I was blowing out the candles, I made a prayer to the Lord asking Him this wish: "I want to go to India when my wife gets her visa and personally bring her back to the states with me."
Even while I was praying, I knew financially what it could do to me because I had already gone 3 times to India and now if it came this year, it would be the second time in less than 6 months. I knew only the Lord Jesus could make it possible. And HE did.
My wife received her visa and I was able to see her on December 23, 2011. Then, by God's grace and mercy we were able to celebrate Christmas together and land in the U.S. on New Year's Eve of December 31, 2011. On January 01, 2012, we celebrated New Year's together in Downtown Pittsburgh. Since, marriage we have not missed one Christmas together. Thank you Jesus!
Lord finally brought my precious wife and me together to be in the states in His perfect timing. It was painful to wait through those hours, days, weeks, months, and even a year and a half but Lord was growing us in Him during those times and helping us fall more and more in love with each other. Also, we had awesome prayer times together.
Even when we were apart we would share what we learned in our Quiet Times with each other. Pastor Hugo was so impressed when I told him that my wife and I share with each other what we leanred in our Quiet Times while she is in India and I am here. He told me that his desire for me was that we would continue this practice when she comes here too.
My wife would tell me, Ramesh all my friends are getting pregnant and I am not. Everytime she got a period, she would cry. I told her that I married her because I loved her whether she ever got pregnant or not. Then, I encouraged her, by reminding her the story of Abraham and Sara where Isaac was born when he was 100. But before that Sara became very impatient when Abraham was 88 and asked him to lay with Hagar to bear a child. Sadly, Abraham went ahead and did that bearing Ishmael. To this day there is conflict between the Isaac's (Israelites) and Ishmalites (Arabs). Sara did not want to wait on the Lord's timing. I was reminding my wife that our timing should not be based on what is happening in other people's lives but on God's timing. It was hard for me to share that over the phone because I could not hug her and comfort her physically.
Though we were married in July 30, 2010 and tried everytime for her to get pregnant, it did not happen while she was in India. In retrospect, we are so happy seeing the Lord's timing because if she had gotten pregnant, I would not have been able to be there for her. Now when she came to the states with me, my precious wife conceived by God's grace.
When Pastor Hugo and Heather were giving a dating talk at Transformers, that night Chandra was not feeling well. She decided to take a pregnancy test, and found out that she was pregnant. The Lord had opened up her womb in the right timing once she was here. Thank you Jesus! I have been able to be with my wife through each day, week, and month of pregnancy by His grace.
We know that is the Lord's timing and His perfect timing. The wait was painful but the timing became joyful. The results of me going back to India have been profound. Because of those times in India, I became more closer and closer to my mother in law, Paul, Sunandha, Vidhya, Elisha, and Pravallika. Every opportunity I get, I want to go back to India to see them and spend with my wife and children there as the Lord allows. After Chandra came here, the Lord gave us the opportunity to go to India again 5 different times. Now we get to spend time with Elisha's wife Sirisha too and 2 nephews and 4 nieces.
Now we have two beautiful, precious daughters Esther - 13+ and Evangeline 11+. We named her Esther because my youngest brother loved that name and it reminded us of Esther in the Bible especially the verse: "For you were born at such a time as this!" Thank you Lord Jesus! We named our other daughter Evangeline because we felt it was related to Evangelism, sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ and being a Messenger of the Good News.
An awesome promise of the Lord “But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” (Isaiah 40:31) has helped me so much.
I share this with you to show that the Lord's timing is the perfect timing even when we cannot understand it always. When the timing comes then, we can look back and say, 'if this had happened sooner, then we would have missed out on this and that' so thank you Lord for the right timing.
There is a timing for everything and the Lord Jesus knows the right timing. Jesus knew when the right timing was for Him to minister to the people. In the same way, Jesus knows the right timing for events in our lives. Even now, we wait on the Lord for different things in our lives knowing He has the perfect timing for everything.
I ask you now dear friend, what is your view of T.I.M.I.N.G in life?
Dear friend, many times in life we may feel rushed to do this and that: 'find a boy or girl friend quickly, get married, get a job, finish the degree, etc. Things need to get done but there is a timing for everything. When we follow our own timing, it is not effective than when we follow the Lord's timing. Wait on the Lord!
Jesus set an example for us. Jesus did not rush in to preach the Good News but waited for the appropriate timing. Only when John was arrested did Jesus come to proclaim the Good News.
From Jesus we can learn that there is a time for everything. Jesus loves you so much and wants you to rely upon Him even when you feel rushed to get things done. It would be more beneficial and fruitful when we allow our lives to follow God's perfect timing for us whether it involves relationships, academics, career, ministry, etc.
Don't be discouraged if something you want is not coming to you right away! God knows what you need and will provide it for you. You are His precious child and He will take care of you.
“For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD , "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11)
In nothing be anxious, but in everything by prayer and petition, let your prayers and supplications with thanksgiving be known to the Lord and the peace of God which transcends all understanding will keep your hearts and mind, quiet at rest as you trust in Jesus Christ! (Philippians 4:6-7)
"He will keep in perfect peace whose thoughts turn to the Lord, for in the Lord Jehovah is your strength!" (Isaiah 26:3)
We relied on and rested in the Lord Jesus Christ for His timing in our lives to find a home&storage, be reunited together, and multiple trips to India no matter what we saw as obstacles. You should too rely on the Lord Jesus for His timing. It won't always be easy but He will help you through and get you through as He has helped us.
Lord's timing is the perfect timing to follow not only in relationships but in all areas of our lives because He who created you and knows you by Name, knows perfectly well what you need and when you are need of it. His waiting time is for our own good to develop us more and build us up for His honor and glory.
So friend when you are tempted to go your own way and do your own things, resist the devil and he will flee from you, humble yourself under the mighty hand of God and He will lift you up. (James 4:7)
Leave to Him all your worries and cares for He is always thinking about you and watching everything that concerns you. (1 Peter 5:7)
That is so exciting to know friend that He is always thinking about us and watching everything that concerns us which means He knows the right timing for our lives. Praise the Lord. So always be courageous and follow the timing of the Lord. But to experience the Lord's timing, you have to know Him and be known by Him. Help us Lord Jesus.
"Are we still waiting for the Lord for things in our lives to happen?"
Yes, we are but we know His capability, His commitment, and company to have confidence in His timing. Thank you Jesus!
God knew the people needed a Shepherd and sent Jesus Christ in His perfect timing after John prepared the way. The Lord wants to be your Good Shepherd too! Knowing Jesus as our Lord and Personal Savior is the best thing we all can do.
Jesus' coming is the best thing that happened to the disciples of John too. Jesus is the best person to intervene in your life because He can be your Lord and Personal Savior and help you through as He is helping in our lives for He knows the right timing for everything.
For Jesus alone can give us the power to transform our lives when we turn to Him asking Him to take control of our lives for He knows the perfect timing for everything. This means we need to be willing to surrender our lives to Jesus knowing He alone can rescue us from the bo***ge of sin and death.
Jesus came to proclaim the Good News so each of us can reach the Father. The Good News is Jesus Christ and His intervention in this world to save this world. Jesus also knew the perfect timing to die for all of our sins that are past, present, and future nailing them to the cross. Jesus shed His precious cleansing blood for you and me so when we turn to Him, His blood can be the antidote for the deadly virus known as sin. That is exciting to know friend. I know it is exciting to me that Jesus knew the exact timing when I would turn to Him.
So come to Jesus as you are and instead of following your own timing to do things, start relying on the Lord Jesus Christ for His timing to do things, quietly trusting yourself to Him. You will not be disappointed when you rest in Him and believe He has the right timing for everything. Thank you Jesus!
I have done that friend and pray that you will do the same using the time you have to give your lives over to the Creator of the Universe. We all don't know when we will leave the earth so the time we have, we need to use it preciously because the time the Lord gives us is precious.
No matter what you are facing now, know that the Lord feels your pain too. When you feel helpless, bring even that before the Lord for He cares for you. Ask the Lord Jesus to transform you by the power of the Holy Spirit and He will! In His perfect timing, He will open the doors as you trust in Messiah everyday!
"Let Him have all your worries and cares, for He is always thinking about you and watching everything that concerns you." (1 Peter 5:7)
"Trust In Messiah's Involvement Now Greatly!"(T.I.M.I.N.G)/"Whose T.I.M.I.N.G do you need to wait for in life?"
Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, we come to you right now and bring our requests before thee. You Oh Lord know the condition of our heart, you know the times we have sinned and dishonored you. We come before you and ask you for your forgiveness. Please cleanse us with your cleansing blood and we will be clean again. Wash us and we will be whiter than snow. I thank you Jesus! Lord our life can be so rushed at times. We want so many things when we want them but I thank you Lord that you do not always give us what we want but you do give us what we need. You know some of the wants we want are not good for us and you keep them from us. There are needs we have that you give in your prefect timing as we wait on you. Help us Oh Lord. Thanks for coming to proclaim the Good News and set the captives free in your timing We do repent of our sins and turn to you for help and choose to believe in the Good News you offer. We give our lives to thee. I pray Oh Lord that you would be with those that are not feeling well and have so much on their mind. You alone can heal them and restore them completely. We do know and believe you are a God of miracles. Please intervene in your timing Oh Lord. We lay our requests before thee and ask thee for your strength to help us get through the times of pain and sorrow. I thank you Jesus! We trust in you the lives of those who are hurting physically, emotionally, mentally, financially, and spiritually. Thanks for hearing us and answering us! We leave to you all our worries, cares, and needs. Thank you Jesus for always thinking about us and watching everything that concerns us! In Your Name We Pray Jesus! Amen!
The formatted devotional with previous devotionals can be found online at
"Trust In Messiah's Involvement Now Greatly!"(T.I.M.I.N.G)/"Whose T.I.M.I.N.G do you need to wait for in life?" By Ramesh C. Reddy
