faith – Indika Maligaspe

How the God Who Sees Me Broke My Bondage

There are moments in our lives when God speaks so personally that they become milestones in our journey of faith.

I would like to share one of those moments with you.

Not to draw attention to the experience itself, but to encourage anyone who feels trapped by fear, anxiety, doubt, or any form of bondage.

A Night in Hebrews

As is my daily habit, I spent time reading the Bible before going to sleep.

That evening I was reading Hebrews chapters 11 through 13.

As I read through what many call the “Hall of Faith,” I was reminded of how ordinary men and women accomplished extraordinary things simply because they trusted God.

By faith:

Abel offered a better sacrifice.
Noah built an ark before rain had ever fallen.
Abraham left everything familiar.
Moses stood before Pharaoh.
Rahab welcomed the spies.
Countless others overcame what seemed impossible.

One verse remained in my heart long after I had closed my Bible:

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

— Hebrews 11:1

As I prayed that night, my prayer was simple.

“Lord, break me free from the bondage of fear. Remove from me the scarcity mindset that keeps me from fully trusting You. Crucify my will, and let Your will be done through me.”

Then I went to sleep.

The Struggle

Sometime during the night, I experienced something I still struggle to explain.

Whether it was a vivid dream, something spiritual, or something else entirely, I cannot say with certainty.

What I do know is how real it felt.

It felt as though something was holding me tightly.

I could not move.

I could hardly breathe.

I wanted to cry out, but I could not speak.

It felt as though fear itself was suffocating me.

Then, in the middle of that struggle, one thought came into my mind.

I began to pray.

At first, only in my thoughts.

I quietly began praying the Hail Mary.

As I prayed, something began to change.

With the first prayer, the grip seemed to loosen.

With the second, I found my voice.

With the third, I was able to speak aloud with confidence.

The fear was gone.

The sense of bondage disappeared.

Peace had replaced it.

The Morning After

When I woke the next morning, something had changed within me.

I cannot fully explain it.

I simply knew that the fear I had carried for so long no longer held the same power over me.

There was a calmness.

A confidence.

Not confidence in myself, but confidence in God.

It felt as though a heavy chain had finally been broken.

Since that morning, I have continued to pray that God would keep me humble, guard my heart from pride, and remind me daily that any strength I have comes from Him alone.

What I Learned

The greatest lesson I took from that night was not about the experience itself.

It was about faith.

The same faith I had been reading about in Hebrews.

Every person in Hebrews 11 faced circumstances that naturally produced fear.

Yet each one chose to trust God more than what they could see.

Perhaps that is why Hebrews begins by saying:

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

Faith is not pretending that fear does not exist.

Faith is choosing to trust God in the middle of fear.

If You Feel Bound Today

Perhaps your bondage is different from mine.

Maybe it is:

fear
anxiety
shame
addiction
unforgiveness
loneliness
guilt
despair
a constant feeling that you are not enough

Whatever it is, know this:

God sees you.

He hears your prayers.

Sometimes His answers come quietly.

Sometimes they come unexpectedly.

Sometimes they come in ways we never anticipated.

But He has never stopped being faithful.

Do not stop praying.

Do not stop trusting.

Do not stop seeking Him.

The God who strengthened Abraham, Moses, David, and the apostles is the same God who walks with us today.

Reflection for Today

Is there a fear or bondage that has quietly ruled my life?

Have I accepted it as something I must simply live with?

Or have I brought it honestly before God?

Today I choose to place my trust not in what I can see, but in the God who sees me.

For He is El Roi—the God who sees.

And all who take refuge in Him will never be put to shame.

You Are the Salt of the Earth

“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.” — Matthew 5:13

This is one of the most powerful descriptions Jesus gives of His followers.

Notice that Jesus does not say:

“You should become the salt of the earth.”

He says:

“You are the salt of the earth.”

Salt has a unique purpose.

Throughout history, salt has been used:

to preserve
to cleanse
to heal
to purify
to add flavor

Its value comes from the fact that it remains true to its nature.

Salt is unmistakably salt.

It does not try to become something else.

Living Out Our Purpose

As followers of Christ, we are called to have the same effect on the world around us.

Whether we are:

parents
children
husbands
wives
friends
colleagues
leaders
members of our communities

we are called to reflect the character of Christ.

Through our words, actions, attitudes, and decisions, we bring something different into the world.

We are called to:

speak truth
show love
demonstrate mercy
pursue justice
live with integrity
point others toward God

Just as salt influences everything it touches, our lives should influence the world around us.

The Danger of Losing Our Saltiness

Jesus then gives a warning:

“If the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again?”

The warning is not that a believer suddenly ceases to exist.

The warning is about losing purpose.

Salt that no longer acts like salt is no longer fulfilling the purpose for which it exists.

Likewise, when we allow:

fear
compromise
pride
selfishness
the desire for approval

to shape our lives more than God, we begin to lose the distinctiveness that Christ calls us to have.

We become increasingly difficult to distinguish from the world around us.

The problem is not that we are in the world.

The problem is when the world begins to define us more than God does.

Our Identity Comes From God

Our uniqueness, our character, and our purpose are not created by society, success, popularity, or public opinion.

They come from God.

How we act, what we say, how we treat others, and how we respond to life’s challenges all flow from the identity God has given us.

The more deeply rooted we are in Him, the more naturally our lives reflect His character.

A Call to Remain True

Jesus’ words are both an encouragement and a challenge.

Do not lose who you are.

Do not forget why your Heavenly Father created you.

Do not hide the work that God is doing within you.

Instead, live faithfully in the place where God has planted you.

Be a source of truth in a world of confusion.

Be a source of hope in a world of discouragement.

Be a source of love in a world that often lacks compassion.

Remain salty.

Remain true to Christ.

And allow your life to point others toward the One who gave it purpose.

Reflection for Today

Am I allowing God to shape my identity, or am I allowing the world to define who I am?

When people encounter my life, do they see something different?

Do they see the character of Christ reflected in my words, actions, and choices?

Salt fulfills its purpose by remaining true to its nature.

Am I remaining true to the purpose for which God created me?

The Persistent Widow: Faith That Does Not Give Up

Consistent prayer is one of the most important aspects of the Christian life. Through prayer, we draw close to God, speak with Him, listen for His voice, and place our trust in Him. Jesus understood how easy it is for people to become discouraged when answers seem delayed, and so He taught a powerful parable about persistence in prayer.

This parable is found in Luke 18:1-8.

The Parable

Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.

He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’

For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually wear me out with her coming!’”

And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says.

And will not God bring about justice for His chosen ones, who cry out to Him day and night? Will He keep putting them off?

I tell you, He will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?”

More Than Persistence

At first glance, this parable appears to be about persistence in prayer. Certainly that is part of the lesson.

The widow continued coming to the judge day after day. She did not become discouraged. She did not stop asking. She did not lose hope.

But Jesus ends the parable with a surprising question:

“When the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?”

This reveals the deeper meaning.

The widow’s persistence was evidence of her faith.

She continued to seek justice because she believed justice would eventually come.

Her actions revealed what she believed.

God Is Not the Unjust Judge

It is important to understand that Jesus is not comparing God to the unjust judge.

The judge:

did not fear God
did not care about people
acted reluctantly

God is the exact opposite.

Jesus is teaching that if even an unjust judge eventually responds, how much more will a loving and righteous Father hear the cries of His children.

God is not indifferent to our prayers.

He hears every prayer offered in faith.

Prayer Is More Than Asking

Many people think of prayer as simply bringing requests before God.

While prayer certainly includes asking, it is much more than that.

Prayer is communion with God.

It is a conversation.

It is the place where:

we give thanks
we worship
we confess
we seek His will
we listen for His voice

Prayer is one of the primary ways we remain connected to God throughout our daily lives.

Faith While Waiting

One of the hardest parts of prayer is waiting.

Sometimes answers come quickly.

Sometimes they seem delayed.

The widow teaches us that faith continues even when the answer has not yet arrived.

Faith does not stop praying simply because circumstances have not changed.

Faith continues trusting.

Faith continues seeking.

Faith continues knocking.

Reflection for Today

When my prayers seem unanswered, do I become discouraged and stop praying?

Or do I continue coming before God with faith, trusting that He hears me even when I cannot yet see the outcome?

The widow’s persistence was not merely persistence for its own sake.

It was faith that refused to give up.

May we become people who pray continually, trust deeply, and remain faithful as we wait upon the Lord.

Faith Like a Mustard Seed

“For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.” — Matthew 17:20

This is one of the most famous sayings of Jesus, and for many years it has been one of my favourite go tos’.

When I first heard these words, I focused on the size of the mustard seed. Since the mustard seed is one of the smallest seeds in the garden, I understood Jesus to be saying that even a tiny amount of faith could accomplish great things.

As a young man, I often thought this meant having faith in myself. Later, as my understanding grew, I realised that true faith is not faith in ourselves, but faith in God through Jesus Christ, for whom all things are possible.

Yet the more I returned to this passage, the more I began to see that there was something even deeper here.

The Mustard Seed

Jesus often used familiar images from everyday life to reveal spiritual truths.

The mustard seed is incredibly small. It can easily be overlooked or dismissed. Yet when planted, it grows into a large tree, spreading its branches widely and providing shelter for birds and other creatures. It produces fruit, flowers, medicine, spice, oil, wood, dye, etc…

The lesson is striking.

God does not require great beginnings.

He does not ask us to start with perfect faith, complete understanding, or extraordinary strength.

He simply asks us to trust Him and allow that faith to be planted.

What appears small and insignificant today can become something far greater than we ever imagined.

Rooted in the Right Source

As I reflected on this passage, another thought came to mind.

Before any tree can grow upward, it must first grow downward.

Long before branches spread into the sky, roots are pushing deeper into the earth.

The strength of the tree is determined by what cannot be seen.

The same is true in our spiritual lives.

When our faith is rooted in God, our roots begin to grow deeper:

deeper trust
deeper dependence
deeper humility
deeper relationship with Christ

success
achievement
recognition
outward appearance

God begins His work in the hidden places.

He works in the roots.

Standing Through the Storm

A tree with shallow roots may appear healthy for a season, but when strong winds arrive, it cannot stand.

A tree with deep roots can withstand:

storms
drought
heat
strong winds

Its strength comes from where it is rooted.

Likewise, a life rooted in Christ can endure difficulties that would otherwise overwhelm us.

Not because we are strong in ourselves, but because our source is strong.

Faith That Blesses Others

The mature mustard plant does not exist for itself alone.

Its branches provide shelter and refuge.

In the same way, a life rooted in God begins to bless others.

Our words bring encouragement.

Our actions bring hope.

Our lives become a place of refuge for those who are struggling.

The fruit is no longer merely for ourselves.

It becomes a blessing to others.

The Question of the Root

Perhaps the deeper question is not:

“How much faith do I have?”

But rather:

“What is my faith rooted in?”

Because if our roots are not grounded in God, the fruit we produce will eventually reveal it.

Jesus was never impressed merely by outward appearance.

He constantly looked beneath the surface and examined the heart.

A tree is known by its fruit.

And fruit is determined by the root.

May our faith, however small it begins, be planted firmly in Christ, grow deep roots in Him, and produce fruit that brings glory to God.

Reflection for Today

A mustard seed begins small, hidden beneath the ground where no one notices it.

Yet before it grows upward, it grows downward.

As I reflect on my own life, I ask:

Am I spending more time growing my branches for others to see, or growing my roots deeper into God?

For when the storms come—and they always do—it is not the size of the branches that determines whether a tree stands, but the depth of its roots.

What are my roots growing into today?

The Fig Tree and the Temple: Leaves Without Fruit

One of the passages that puzzled me for a long time was the account in the Gospels of Gospel of Mark and Gospel of Matthew where Jesus curses a fig tree, and the tree withers away from its roots.

At first, this was very confusing to me for two reasons:

So why did Jesus curse the fig tree simply because He was hungry and could not find fruit on it?

And why did the tree wither from the inside out — from its roots?

The more I studied this passage, especially in the context of what was happening around Jesus at that time, the more it began to make sense.

The Structure in Mark Reveals Something Deepe

The Gospel of Mark presents these events in a very intentional structure.

First comes the fig tree.

Mark 11:12–14 — Jesus Curses the Fig Tree

“And on the morrow, when they were come from Bethany, he was hungry:

And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find any thing thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet.

And Jesus answered and said unto it,

‘No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever.’

And his disciples heard it.”

Jesus approaches the tree expecting fruit because the tree is covered in leaves. Yet when He examines it closely, He finds nothing but outward appearance.

No fruit.

Then immediately after this comes another event.

Mark 11:15–17 — Jesus Cleanses the Temple

“And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple…”

And He taught, saying unto them,

"Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves.”

This suddenly begins to mirror the fig tree.

Outwardly, the temple appeared holy:

From the outside, it looked spiritually alive and fruitful.

But inwardly, Jesus found corruption:

Just like the fig tree, the temple had leaves — but no fruit.

Mark 11:20–21 — The Fig Tree Withers

The next morning the disciples pass by again.

“And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots.

And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto him,

‘Master, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away.’"

This is what ties the entire passage together.

The fig tree was not merely about hunger.

It was a living parable.

Why the Leaves Matter

When studying fig trees more closely, something fascinating appears.

Unlike many trees, fig trees begin producing small fruit buds before or together with the leaves. A healthy fig tree showing full leaves would normally also show signs of fruit.

The leaves were advertising fruitfulness.

But inwardly, the tree was barren.

This is the heart of the message.

Jesus was not judging the outward leaves.

He was searching for fruit.

The Temple Was the Same

The temple looked holy outwardly, but inwardly it lacked:

Even many who came there were focused more on buying and selling than on drawing near to God.

The leaves were there.

But the fruit was missing.

Withered From the Roots

One of the deepest parts of this passage is that the fig tree withered from its roots.

This points to something profound:
corruption always begins inwardly before it becomes visible outwardly.

A tree dies from the roots first.

The same was happening spiritually within the temple system.

And within around forty years, the Jerusalem temple itself would be destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD.

Who are we rooted to?

In essence, the deeper question becomes:

Who are we rooted in?

Who — or what — is truly the source of our life?

Because if the root is not grounded in God, the fruit produced from that life will eventually become corrupted.

A tree can appear healthy outwardly for a season, but if the roots are diseased, the fruit will eventually reveal it.

Jesus was constantly pointing people beyond outward appearances and toward the condition of the heart — the hidden root from which all fruit grows.

How This Relates to Us

This passage is not merely about an ancient fig tree or the temple.

It is also about us.

There are many people who appear righteous outwardly:

But inwardly their hearts may still be filled with:

anger
pride
hatred
lust
greed
deceit
bitterness
selfishness

Jesus consistently taught that God looks beyond appearances and examines the heart.

This is why Jesus says:

“A tree is known by its fruit.”

God is not searching merely for leaves of religion.

He is searching for the fruit that comes from a transformed heart.

True Fruitfulness

Jesus is not asking us merely to appear holy.

He is calling us to become holy inwardly:

loving
truthful
patient
humble
gentle
honest
merciful
aligned with God

When the roots are healthy, fruit naturally appears.

But when the roots are corrupted, eventually the entire tree withers.

The warning of the fig tree is ultimately this:

Outward appearance cannot replace inward transformation.

And that is what Jesus was truly seeking.

Lord, Lord: The Difference Between Knowing About Jesus and Truly Following Him

There are few sayings of Jesus more unsettling than this:

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven…”

At first glance, these words feel almost harsh.
Because Jesus was not speaking to unbelievers here.
He was speaking to people who believed they knew Him.

People who used the right language.
People who appeared spiritual.
People who even did religious works in His name.

And yet He says something deeply sobering:

"I never knew you."

Not:
"I knew you once, and you abandoned me."

But:
"We never truly walked together."

The Danger of Knowing About Jesus

In today's world, it is easier than ever to know about Jesus.

We can listen to sermons endlessly.
Quore scripture
Debate theology
Post verses online
Attend church weekly
Even build an identify around Christianity

But Jesus repeatedly points toward something deeper than information.

He points towards transformation.

The fighting reality is this:
A person can become familiar with the language of faith while remaining distant from the heart of God.

A person can know scripture...
yet, still be ruled by prode.

Know worship songs...
yet, still nurture hatred

Know doctrine…
yet, refuse humility, forgiveness, repentance, or truth.

This is why Jesus constantly addressed the condition of the heart rather than outward appearance alone.

Following Jesus Was Never Meant to Be Performance

One of the great misunderstandings of faith is believing that Christianity is primarily about appearing righteous.

Jesus consistently challenged this idea.

The religious leaders of his time looked holy outwardly.
They knew the scripture better than anyone,
they prayed publicly,
and they followed the rituals carefully.

Yet many of them completely missed the heart of God standing right in front of them.

Why?

Because outward performance can exist without inward surrender.

A person can learn to act spiritually while remaining internally unchanged.

And this is where the warning of "Lod, Lord" becomes deeply personal.

Because the question is no longer
"Do I identify as a Christian?"

The question becomes:
"Am I actually becoming aligned with the character of Christ?"

What Does It Mean to Truly Follow Him?

Following Jesus is not perfection.

If that were the case, none of us would stand.

The disciples themselves struggle constantly with fear, pride, doubt, anger, and selfishness.

Peter denies Jesus.
Thomas doubted.
The disciples argue over the status of importance

Yet Jesus continues walking with them.

Why?

Because, despite their failures, their hearts were still moving towards Him.

True faith is not sinless perfection.
It is ongoing alignment.

It is the willingness to:

be corrected
repent quickly
remain humble
seek truth honestly
fight against the darkness within ourselves
return again and again to God

The danger is not struggling

The danger is becoming comfortable with separation from God while convincing ourselves we are spiritually alive.

The Quiet Drift

Most people do not suddenly abandon truth overnight.

Drift happpens slowly

A little comparison here
A little bitterness there
A hidden resentment.
A tolerated addiction.
An unchecked ego.
A growing hypocracy

Over time, a person can maintain the appearance of faith while internally becoming distant from God

This is why Jesus warned people so strongly, not to condemn them, but because he understood how easily the human heart deceives itself.

We often judge ourselves by our intentions, while God looks at what we are becoming.

Relationship, Not Mere Recognition

One of the deepest parts of Jesus ' statement is the word "KNEW".

Basically, to "know" someone is a deeply relational. It is closeness, walking together, communion, trust, and transformation through relationship.

This means salvation is not meant to be an intellectual agreement, but a living relationship with God that gradually changes who we are.

A tree is known by its fruit - and eventually, what lives inside us becomes visible outside us.

The Hope Inside the Warning

Yet, this teaching is not hopeless but contains mercy.

Jesus continually welcomed broken people who came honestly to Him

The prostitute
The tax collector
The doubter
The failure
The outcast

The people Jesus struggled with most were often not the broken, the spiritually proud, the ones convinces they already saw clearly.

God is not seeking the flawless, he is seeking hearts wiling to surrender, change, and walk with Him

The Question worth asking

Perhaps the most important question we can ask ourselves is this

Am I merely speaking the language of faith... Or am I actually becoming aligned with the heart of God?

Because in the end,
Knowing about Jesus and trully following are not always the same thing

A Rich Man Had a Manager: A Parable About Urgency, Wisdom, and Eternity

This is a parable that Jesus told his disciples which could be found in Luke 16:1-9. It appears immediately after the parable of the Prodigal Son.
While the Prodigal Son focuses on mercy, this parable shifts the focus to responsibility. It is one of the most misunderstood parables in the Gospels as it sounds like Jesus is praising cunningness.

Jesus told His disciples:

“There was a rich man who had a manager, and charges were brought to him that this manager was squandering his property.

So he summoned the manager and said, ‘What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your management, because you cannot be my manager any longer.’

Realizing he was about to lose his position, the manager acted quickly. He called in the rich man’s debtors and reduced what they owed, hoping that when he lost his job, these people would welcome him into their homes.

Surprisingly, the master praised the manager — not for dishonesty, but for his shrewdness.

Jesus concluded:

“For the children of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than are the children of light.”

The Setting and Context
Jesus told this parable to his disciples and not outsiders, this matters as this is about how to live wisely in the light of what is coming.

At this point in Luke’s Gospel, Jesus is increasingly speaking about

accountability
stewardship
the coming Kingdom of God

Understanding the Parable
At first glance, this story feels uncomfortable.

Why would Jesus praise a dishonest manager

But notice carefully — Jesus never praises the dishonesty.

He praises something else.

The Characters

The Rich Man – Represents God — the true owner of everything.
The Manager (Steward) – Represents us – entrusted with time, resources, influence, and opportunity
The Debt Reduction – Represents using present resources to prepare for the future

The manager suddenly realizes that his time is short , his position is ending and he needs to act now. This realization changes everything.

What Jesus Is Really Teaching
Jesus is making a contrast

“If people are this intentional about securing their future in this world how much more intentional should they be about eternity”

The parable is not about cheating systems, but about urgency. We live as stewards of time, money, relationships, opportunities and one day the stewardship will and all this will be lost.

Jesus message is simple and piercing

“Use what you have now for what will last forever“

The Core Message
The parable teaches us that – Life is temporary, Opportunity is limited, and Wisdom is to act before it is too late.

Faith is not passive waiting , it is intentional living

Reflection for Today

Most of us are very good art planning careers, finances, or retirements but Jesus gently asks

“Are you equally intentional about your soul ?“

Not our of fear but out of wisdom

This is a call , an invite for us to live “awake”, not “asleep”