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3. In Relation to Manipur Government
In relation to our responsibility to the government, there is one thing which constantly made me ponder
a second more when I read the scripture. And it is this passage: “Seek the welfare of the state under
which you live for in its welfare lies your welfare” (Jer. 29:7). The context is during the Babylonian exile.
Jeremiah wrote to the exiled Israelites and appeal to their mind and heart to be obedient to the Babylonian
authority and spend their time seeking the welfare
of the land where they are right now. And he gave a reason by stating that their captors” welfare is intricately intertwined with theirs.

I think it has great significant for our people in India, Burma and Bangladesh. How far has our people
in Burma contributed to the welfare of Chin State, Sagaing Division, around and Burma? How far has our
people living in India contributed to the welfare and nation building of Manipur and India? It is spiritual maturity to cooperate with the government of which we are under. After all, we are reminded to honor governments and earthly authorities (1 Pet. 2:13, 17).

4. In Relation to Waiting Upon the Lord
One of the marks of growth in our walk with Jesus is our patience and faith in the waiting time. There are
many instances where God’s people failed to trustingly wait upon the Lord and incurred his anger and
disappointment. We see that in 1 Sam. 13 when Saul’s patience ran out after waiting prophet Samuel for
seven days at Gilgal. And which was only meant for priestly work was carried out at the behest of Saul by
offering a burnt offering to God. Later Samuel turned up only to rebuke Saul for his foolish and hasty action. He even told him that his kingdom will not continue and that the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart.

1 Thes. 1:10 says that ‘waiting therefore is the working out of hope.’ And hope is the result of faith. We are reminded in Isa. 49: 23 that “Those who wait for me shall not be put to shame says the Lord.” May
our maturity in waiting patiently and trustingly upon the Lord increase and be not shaken.

5. In Relation to Another Commandment ñ Loving Others
When Jesus Christ was having a discourse with a lawyer he was asked what to do to inherit eternal life. Jesus replied by quoting Deut. 6:4-6. But he added one more here and that includes ‘loving our
Neighbor’. And if we look at the context of this discourse many men of God believed that ‘neighbor’
is ‘others’. It may not be an exaggeration to say that our walk with Christ is as deep as our love for our neighbors and others. The more we love Christ, the more we will love our fellow human beings whom He made in his own image and likeness.

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