Reflections

  Renew and Rejoice in the Responsibility Bible Reading: ::5:14–16 Key verse :    Bible Verse: Verse “You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hidden. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under a bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.” DEVOTION Jesus uses the metaphor of light to describe who His followers are and what their responsibility is. Light is not only who we are, but also what we are called to be. He tells His followers that they are the light of the world and that this light should not be hidden, but seen. Light has one purpose—to shine. There is darkness in life, both external and internal. Jesus encourages His followers to bring light into a dark and broken world. Darkness appears as fear, injustice, loneliness, hatred, and broken relationships. Into this darkness, Jesu...

  Freedom From Anxiety Through Godly Perspective  Bible Reading: :: Luke 12:22-34 Key verse :    Bible Verse: “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.” - Luke 12:32 DEVOTION As we celebrate the Savior's birth and look ahead to the new year, it is important to remember the true reason behind Jesus' birth. Isaiah 9:6 prophesized, “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given…And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” For all those who carry worries in their heart, this promise gives us the freedom from anxiety through a Godly perspective.  Wonderful Counselor: The Calmer of All Our Storms “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” - 1 Peter 5:7 It is known that the best form of relief is talking to someone we trust. Jesus, our own counselor, gives us the opportunity to speak to him freely. We talk to Jesus through prayer, where we can share all...

  Be the space for Christ Bible Reading: ::Colossians  1:15-20 Key verse :    Bible Verse: Verse 18: And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. DEVOTION Christology is the branch of theology that specifically examines the nature, being, and work of Jesus Christ. This passage is considered one of the most profound statements of Christology in the New Testament. It is often called “Christ’s Hymn” and is an example of High Christology. The passage presents two major themes: Jesus’s supremacy over the Original Creation and the Supremacy over the New Creation. In v 15-17, Paul presents an image of Jesus as fully divine. He says that Jesus was part of the design of the original creation and that hence the title of the “firstborn”. Here Jesus is being given the image of the visible Son of an invisible Father. Just at a time when we have celebrated Christmas with al...

  Repentance and communal restoration Bible Reading: :: 1 Samuel 7: 1-12 Key verse :    Bible Verse: “Then Samuel took a stone and set it between Mizpah and Shen, and he named it Ebenezer saying,” Thus far the LORD has helped us.” (1 Samuel 7: 12) DEVOTION The context of today’s devotion begins when the Israelites, acting in pride, took the ark of the Lord into battle, believing it would guarantee victory—as though God Himself were obligated to lead them. Instead, they were defeated by the Philistines, and the ark was captured. However, God demonstrated His power by sending plagues upon the Philistines, who became fearful and ultimately returned the ark to Israel. During this period, Samuel called the people to repentance, urging them to turn away from foreign gods and to “direct your hearts to the Lord and serve Him only.” In response, the Israelites mourned before the Lord, removed the Baals and other idols, fasted, and confessed their sins (1 Samuel 7:2–6). This p...

  Humility in Spiritual Renewal  Bible Reading: :1 Peter 5:6-11 Key verse :    Bible Verse::“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:6-7  DEVOTION As the new year approaches, I’m sure many of us have different resolutions on our minds. The new year is a time of reinventing yourself and making changes - transitioning into a new stage in your career, maybe going to the gym and exercising more, saving more money, and more are all common resolutions. As with many things this season, they can be exciting and fun, but also cause stress and worry - the anxiety that you may fail, the exhaustion at facing obstacles while trying to accomplish your goal, or the stress at the uncertainty that lies ahead.  In this passage, Peter wrote his letter to other believers who needed counsel. He encouraged all believers to stay strong and resilient, even when enc...

  Renewed Strength Through Divine Exaltation Bible Reading: :: Isaiah 40:25-31 Key verse :    Bible Verse:V. 29-31: “He gives strength to the weary… Even young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength”. DEVOTION “He who has God and everything else has no more than he who has God only.” - C.S. Lewis. We are often misled into believing that education, financial success, connections, or ‘lots of family’ will equip us to handle every situation in life. While these are valuable, there are times when none of these can pull us out of hardship. Isaiah 40 reminds us that if we walk with God, we have all the hope and strength we need to be sustained during difficult seasons. In this chapter, Isaiah comforts the Israelites, who question the brokenness around them and wonder if God truly cares. We might fall victim to this very question ourselves, however, Isaiah responds with a reminder and promise: The Reminder: God’s character The Promise...