A boat with a furled sail at rest reminds us of the great journeys captured and yet to be captured.A boat is designed in such a way that it can go through the waters.A car reminds us of the journey through roads and highways.So each and every minute creation of man has a purpose. A boat is designed for the journey in the waters  and a car is designed for the journey  on the roads. So without any second thought we can surely say that humanbeings too have some purpose in this world to fulfill.

This great purpose we can see in the life of Jesus.He was fully human and faced all  the challenges and temptations like any other humanbeing during those time.So he is a doctor who knows the tear and wear of humanbeings.He proved us that we can lead a life by not being the slaves of satan through Jesus intimate relationship with His Father.His aim was to establish the kingdom of God in our midst. As his disciples our purpose of life is also the same.

Jesus started his ministry by saying " Repent, for the Kingdom of God is near " ( Mathew 4:17 ). So according to Jesus Kingdom of God is not something related to earthly kingdoms, but its related to our humanminds. It is a growing experience in human life. It is an experience  where God is in complete control in human life. So Jesus said, " My kingdom is not of this world " ( John 18:36 ).

  Luke Ch.6: 27 - 36  Jesus is giving a golden principle for the kingdom of God. Love your fellowbeings as God loved them  i.e. Christs disciples are not to react but to act according to the Kingdom principles of love, forgiveness and generosity. In other words, just as one's life - style is not determined by the enemy, neither is it determined by the friend. Rather than a person hating in response to hatred  and  loving in response to love, Christian behavior and relationships are prompted by the God we worship who does not react but acts in love and grace toward all. This is what it means to be children of  God ( vs. 35 ).

Let us look into our own life  and see  whether our deeds  are  actions  or  reactios ?  We always blame the other person that because of his /her  actions we reacted that way. Let me share one incident that happened  in India almost 4yrs. back. An Australian Missionary named Graham Staines  served in one of the remote villages in  Orissa. He and his family worked among the lepors. But one day the family had to face a tragedy  in their life. Graham Staines and his two sons were burned alive by some miscreants while they were sleeping in their own van at night. Now his wife and daughter are lonely. If we were in their place what would have been our reactions ? We might return back to our own country. But what was the action of  Mrs.Gladys Staines ? She openly said: I have forgiven the people who burned alive my husband and children  and we have decided  to stay in Orissa and continue to work among the lepors.

We can ask God to help us to produce real actions  and not mere reactions.

Let me conclude with a prayer of an  African Christian -

Oh God, enlarge my heart that it may be big enough to receive the greatness of your love.

Stretch my heart that it may take into it all those who with me around the world believe in Jesus Christ.

Stretch it that it may take into all those who do not know him, but who are my responsibility because I know him.

And stretch it that it may take in all those who are not lovely in my eyes, and whose hands I do not want to touch;

through Jesus Christ, my savior, Amen.