Reflections

  God’s Care in the Midst of the Storm  Bible Reading: Acts 27:9-26  Key verse :   “Do not be afraid… God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.” Acts 27:24  DEVOTION “God’s care in the midst of the storm” reminds us that God is present and faithful even when life feels overwhelming and out of our control. The storms of life—seasons of fear, loss, uncertainty, and waiting—often leave us searching for peace and clarity. Yet Scripture assures us, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit”(Psalm 34:18, NIV). God’s care does not always mean immediate deliverance from hardship, but it does mean His unfailing presence within it.  In Acts 27:9–26, Paul is caught in a violent storm where all hope of survival seems lost. For many days, “neither sun nor stars appeared,” and all hope of being saved was gradually abandoned (Acts 27:20, NIV). Yet God speaks through an angel, saying, “Do not be afraid” (Acts 2...

  The God who watches over Us Day and Night  Bible Reading: Psalms 121 Key verse :   “the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.” Psalms‬ ‭121‬:‭8‬ ‭ DEVOTION Psalm 121 is known as a Song of Ascent. Jerusalem is situated at a higher elevation and this is where the tabernacle and the temple was before the Roman’s destroyed it in seventy AD. The Israelites were expected to go to Jerusalem three times a year to celebrate the annual feasts, that is the Passover, the festival of Harvest, and the festival of Shelters. They were permitted to offer their sacrifices to God only in the temple of Jerusalem. They sang this psalm along with other ascent songs on their pilgrimage to the temple in Jerusalem. Robbers hid in the crevices along the path for the opportune time to attack the travelers. So they went walking up the hill to Jerusalem in large groups for safety, trusting in God’s protection over their lives. They sang this sang as it gave them confi...

  Care in Every Seasons of Life Bible Reading: Hebrews 13:1-6 Key verse :   “God has said, never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” (Heb. 13:5) DEVOTION Hebrews 13:1–6 speaks into these restless spaces of the human heart by revealing a God whose care is steady, personal, and peace-giving in every season of life.   The seasons of life could mean the times of abundance and times of scarcity, moments of companionship and stretches of loneliness, periods of strength and seasons of vulnerability. Hebrews 13:1–6 speaks into these shifting rhythms, reminding us that faithful care is not optional but essential to a life shaped by Christ. “Let mutual love continue” (Heb.13:1). Care is not meant to be seasonal or selective; it is to be sustained. In the early church, love was expressed through hospitality, generosity, and solidarity. The writer urges believers not to neglect welcoming strangers, for in doing so some “have entertained angels without knowing it” (Heb.1...

  The Mark of a Spirit-Led Life Bible Reading: Galatians 5:16-26 Key verse :   “So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” (Galatians 5: 16) DEVOTION As the new year dawns we make resolutions to correct what has gone wrong, and to pursue a more faithful life. Apostle Paul in this portion does not begin with perfection, but with direction. “Walk by the Spirit,” pointing not to an achievement to be reached, but to a path to be followed. Paul contrasts the works of the flesh with the fruit of the Spirit. The works of the flesh reflect a life driven by self-reliance, control, and the pressure to secure one’s own worth. The fruit of the Spirit, grows from a life rooted in grace. A Spirit-led life begins not with striving for perfection, but with gratitude for what God has already given. Gratitude reorients the heart from “am I doing enough?” to acknowledging “what God already done?” With gratitude we become less anxious about our failures...

  Christian Life Meant to Be Fruitful Bible Reading: John 15:1-11 Key verse :   " I am the vine: you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he is that bears much fruit” (John 15:5) DEVOTION In John 15:1–11, our Lord Jesus Christ presents a beautiful and powerful picture of the Christian life through the image of the vine and the branches. He declares, “I am the true vine, and My Father is the gardener.” In the Old Testament, Israel was often described as God’s vine (Psalm 80:8–9), yet it failed to bear fruit. Jesus now reveals Himself as the true vine, reminding us that fruitfulness in life is possible only when we are rooted in Him. In this passage Jesus calls our attention to three areas necessary for bearing fruit. Abide in Jesus: A branch has no life of its own. It cannot survive, grow, or bear fruit unless it remains attached to the vine. In the same way, a Christian cannot live a meaningful and fruitful life apart from Christ. Abiding in Jesus means maintai...

  Growing in Knowledge and Bearing Fruit Bible Reading: Colossians 1:3-13 Key verse :  In the same way, the gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world-just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood God’s grace. (Colossians 1:6) DEVOTION Paul begins his letter to the Colossians with gratitude. He thanks God because the gospel is actively working among the believers (Col 1:3–5). It is not just sitting on a shelf or confined only to their thoughts. Instead, it is alive—bearing fruit and growing. This is the key message of this passage: the good news of Jesus produces transformation, action, and visible fruit. 1. The Gospel puts us to work An orchard bears fruit when it is nurtured. Paul explains that the gospel works the same way in the believer’s life. It produces faith in Christ, love for others, and a hope that reshapes how people live. Where the gospel really takes root, it bears fruit and keeps growing, stirring believ...