Reflections

  Women Who Trust God: Fearless and Faithful Bible Reading:   Romans 16: 1- 15 Key verse 4 They risked their lives for me.  Not only I, but all the Churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them. (Romans 16: 4) DEVOTION Apostle Paul, with compassion and love, introduces many ardent workers of Jesus Christ in this Bible portion.  He starts with Phebe.  She is a servant of the Church in Cenchrea, of Corinth. Priscilla and Aquila are zealous Christians. The apostle knows them very well.  Then in the following verses many names are mentioned.  St. Paul greets them all, and asks the believing community to welcome all of them warmly and accept them into their midst.   The role of women in the Church and society is very important.  In the Old Testament, we read about prominent women who trusted God and who were faithful and fearless.  In the Book of Judges, in Chapters 4 and 5, we read about the prophetess and judge namely Deborah. ...

  Women Who Trust God: Fearless and Faithful Bible Reading:   Exodus 1:15–21 Key verse 17 Vs 17,  "The midwives, however, feared God and did not do what the king of Egypt had told them to do; they let the boys live”. DEVOTION In a time when Pharaoh's command threatened the lives of every Hebrew baby boy, two ordinary women, Shiphrah and Puah, displayed extraordinary faith. Though they stood before the most powerful ruler in Egypt, they chose to obey God rather than man. Their courage did not arise from human strength but from a deep reverence for the Lord. They feared God more than they feared Pharaoh. These faithful women remind us that trusting God often requires standing against the pressures of the world. They could have chosen the safer path by obeying Pharaoh, but they valued God's will above their own security. Their obedience became an instrument through which God preserved the future of His covenant people. Through their faithful actions, God continued ...

Women Who Trust God: Fearless and Faithful Bible Reading:   Esther 7:1–10, Key verse 14. “For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place.  DEVOTION Esther 7:1–10 presents one of the most dramatic moments in Scripture. Queen Esther stood before King Xerxes and courageously revealed Haman's wicked plot to destroy her people. She knew that approaching the king and exposing Haman could cost her position, or even her life. Yet her confidence was not in her royal status but in the God who had prepared her for that very moment. Esther did not act impulsively. She first sought God through prayer and fasting (Esther 4:16). Her courage was born out of communion with God. Because she trusted Him, fear no longer controlled her decisions. Instead of remaining silent, she spoke the truth with wisdom, humility, and boldness. God honored Esther's faith. Haman's evil plan was overturned, and justice prevailed. The gallows Hama...

  Women Who Trust God: Fearless and Faithful Bible Reading: Matthew 26: 6–13 Key verse 13 13. “Truly I tell you, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.” DEVOTION The woman who anointed Jesus at Bethany stands as one of the greatest examples of fearless faith in the Bible While others questioned her actions and criticized her for "wasting" expensive perfume, she was concerned only with honoring Christ. Her love for Jesus was greater than her fear of people's opinions. She brought an alabaster jar of costly perfume and poured it on Jesus' head. It was an act of complete surrender, sacrificial love, and unwavering trust. She gave her very best without expecting recognition or reward. Although the disciples misunderstood her, Jesus understood her heart. He defended her, praised her, and declared that her act of devotion would be remembered wherever the Gospel is preached. This woman teaches us that fai...

  Education for the Transformation of Life  Bible Reading:  2nd Peter 1:3-11 Key verse Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble (2 Peter 1: 10) DEVOTION While salvation is a free gift from God, active spiritual growth requires intentional human effort and obedience. I heard a celebrated pastor state, that if Christ forms our belief, our life will remain firm as the world changes. Apostle Peter is stating just that and as we continue to grow in this learning process by adding different virtues to our faith. This 2nd letter of Peter is to address and affirm God’s love and his promises.  God has already equipped us with everything essential, including the gift of discernment. We see this clearly in the experience of the disciples. When Jesus revealed that one of them would betray Him, every disciple except one responded by acknowledging His lordship (Matthew 26:22)...

  Education for the Transformation of Life  Bible Reading:  St. Luke 5:1-11 Key verse Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” 11 So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him. Luke  5:10-11 DEVOTION In 1883, at the peak of his career, an English cricketer chose to abandon his wealth, fame, and comfort to travel halfway across the world to China.  He joined the Cambridge Seven, a Christian missionary group. His name was C.T. Studd, and he walked away to pursue something greater than his own success. He wrote, “If Jesus Christ be God and died for me, then no sacrifice can be too great for me to make for Him.” Simon Peter faced a similar decision. In Luke 5, Jesus told him to cast his nets again, after fishing all night with nothing to show. The catch was so large the boats nearly sank! Yet at the height of that success, Jesus said, “From now on you will fish for people.” Peter and his partn...