Reflections

  Worship: An Offering Bible Reading:    Hebrew 9:22-28 Key Verse Vs 28 “Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many…” (Hebrews 9:28) DEVOTION Worship, or Aradhana, is often understood as reverence and adoration toward God. But Hebrews 9:22–28 reminds us that worship is also an offering, something surrendered from the heart. Let us reflect on what the Word of God teaches us in this portion: ∙ Without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness ∙ Christ entered heaven itself, not an earthly sanctuary ∙ He did not offer Himself repeatedly ∙ He appeared once for all to take away sin ∙ He will come again to bring salvation When I reflect on this, I often wonder, if Christ gave Himself as the perfect offering, what then is my offering to Him?  Unlike the old covenant, we are not called to repeated sacrifices, but to a life of response. Our worship is no longer ritual alone, but a life surrendered.  How then may I worship my Lord, with my lif...

  Christ – The Anointed One Bible Reading:    James  5:12-18 Key Verse Vs 15-16 “V15-16: And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. DEVOTION The English word "Christ" comes from the Greek Christos, which means "the Anointed One". Jesus Christ has been chosen by God to fulfill the specific divine mission of rescuing people from their sins by His sacrificial death on the cross. Only Jesus can provide both physical and spiritual restoration. As followers of Jesus, we have been entrusted with the responsibility to pray fervently – not only in our sufferings but also in our joy. We are also called to pray for one another. A prayer offered in faith can physically heal the sick and can spiritually restore the sinful....

  Church – The Body of Christ Bible Reading:   1 Corinthians 12:12-27 Key Verse Vs 12 “For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.” 1 Cor.  12:12 DEVOTION The Father, in His great love, sent His Son into this lowly world for the salvation of all mankind. This gift of salvation is not limited to one group of people, it is for every nation, every race, and every individual. No matter our background, skin color, or culture, our Creator lovingly offers each of us the opportunity to be with Him for eternity. The Bible reminds us that all human beings are created in the image of God. Yet, in many parts of the world, including places like India, history has shown divisions where people were not treated equally and were often bound by social and cultural barriers. But through the message of Christ, light entered into darkness. Christian missionaries carried this truth, that every per...

  From Strangers to one household of peace Bible Reading: Ephesians  2:11-22   Key Verse Vs 14 "For He himself is our peace  who has made us both one and has broken down  in his flesh the dividing  wall of hostility' DEVOTION Glory to Jesus Christ, Glory Forever!  In this passage, Paul reminds believers that they were once far from God, separated and without hope. They were outsiders, not part of God’s promises. However, through Jesus Christ, everything changed. His sacrifice brought those who were far away near to God. On Palm Sunday, we remember Jesus entering Jerusalem as King. While the people welcomed Him with praise, His true mission was to bring peace between God and humanity. He came to remove the barrier of sin and make a way for everyone to be united with God. Jesus breaks down barriers. Sin created a wall between us and God, but Jesus removed that wall through His death. Because of Him, we are no longer separated or rejected. Just as th...

  Entry of the King of Peace Bible Reading:  Mark 11:1–11 Key Verse Vs 9 “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord DEVOTION The triumphal entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem reveals Him as the King of Peace. He entered the city humbly, riding on a colt, and the people welcomed Him by spreading their garments and branches on the road and shouting praises. This scene reminds me of a touching experience from my mission field experience. When our Metropolitan Theodosius Mar Thoma was serving as a diocesan Episcopa, he once visited the village of Bijjawara in Karnataka. It was the first time a bishop had visited that village. The believers washed the streets and spread their clothes and tree branches on the path to welcome him. Their humble devotion reflected the spirit of the people who welcomed Jesus into Jerusalem. 1. The Humble King Jesus entered Jerusalem riding on a colt, not on a war horse. This act fulfilled the prophecy of Zechariah in Book of Zechari...

  Hunger to be the will of God Bible Reading: Numbers 11: 4-15 Key Verse Vs 5  We remember the fish we ate in Egypt at no cost (Numbers 11:5) DEVOTION   The book of Numbers is a chronicle of the Israelites’ journey through the desert after escaping slavery in Egypt. During this journey, the Lord provides for every need of the Israelites; however, the Israelites know only to complain. In the key passage, we come across the Israelites complaining about the good food they used to enjoy in Egypt. While reading the passage, we see how the Israelites conveniently forget the cruelties they faced as slaves in Egypt and crave the meat, fish and vegetables they ate during their time in Egypt. They forget their cries to the Lord to deliver them and choose to complain about the manna that the Lord gives them every morning that sustains and nourishes them in the desert. We also read about how they wail about not having meat to eat. The act of wailing for meat shows how deeply sor...