Reflections

  Speaking Truth with Accountability  Bible Reading:   Ezekiel 33 : 1-9    Key verse:  I have made you watchman for the house of Israel   ( Ezekiel 33:5  NIV)  DEVOTION Our devotional today , from the Book of Ezekiel,  Chapter 33 focuses on the responsibility of the  watchmen to warn the people of impending danger.  We see God appointing Prophet Ezekiel as the watchmen that will guard and protect the House of Isreal.  Now as much as watchman responsibility is to warn the people of Isreal , we see time and over again , not only in the Book of Ezekiel but also right from the days of Adam and Eve, there is propensity for the Israelites to  ignore the warnings and blatantly follow their wicked ways of living. We see also lack of accountability and trying to rely on the lineage of the Israelites and past righteousness  and completely avoid taking any  responsibility for their way ward actions and destructive...

  The Ministry of Obedience and Teaching Bible Reading:   Deuteronomy 5: 20-33 Key verse:   Walk in obedience to what the Lord your God has commended you.  (Deut.  5:33 ) DEVOTION The Ten Commandments serve as the foundational guidelines that God established for the people of Israel. Rooted in divine wisdom, these commandments continue to hold significant spiritual and moral relevance even today. In many traditional Jewish homes, they are recited daily before the Shema prayer, a practice supported by rabbinic teachings recorded in the Talmud. In  Deuteronomy 5:20–33 , we are given a profound glimpse into God's covenant with Israel through Moses at Mount Sinai. These divine instructions were not meant to burden the people but to guide them toward a life of righteousness, harmony, and well-being. Yet, in our modern context, the commandments are often perceived as strict and difficult to uphold in daily life. This perception can sometimes lead to the misu...

  A fragrant offering: giving that pleases God Bible Reading:   Philippians 4 Key verse:  for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances ( Philippians 4 : 11b , NIV)  DEVOTION The Year was 2015 and Stephen Curry was the most valuable player ( MVP )  for the NBA Finals that also catapulted GSW ( Golden State Warriors ) to win the NBA championship since 1975. As young Stephen Curry was relishing the moment , he was surrounded by media reporters who was asking him all sorts of questions as the home crowd erupted in thunderous applause . One reporter approached Steph and asked him a very thought provoking question and that was ‘ Where does MVP Curry get all his skills to be the NBA most valuable player’ , to which Steph pointed to the tattoo in his left forearm that read ‘ I can do all this through HIM who gives me strength ( Philippians 4.13) . Steph is known to be professing Christian and instead of hogging the limelight , he choose to glorify Go...

  Bring the Whole Tithe , God’s Call and Promise Bible Reading:  Malachi 3: 5-12 Key verse:  Then all the Nations will call you blessed , for yours will be delightful land, says the Lord Almighty ( Malachi 3.12 , NIV) DEVOTION We had in the North America Dioceses Churches on July 6,  celebrate the Tithe Offering Sunday and almost in all Churches the Old Testament Reading was from the Book of Malachi Chapter 3 . The Book of Malachi is perhaps the key scriptures in the Old Testament where the Lord serves for us the concept of Tithe and how we as God’s children are required to follow the principles and application of the giving of the Tithe. As we focus on  Malachi Chapter 3 , we see how the Lord is mentioning in Verse  6-7 , that we have all turned away from God’s decrees and the Lord is admonishing each of us to return to the Lord and that is perhaps the greatest lesson we need to learn about tithing and how we are to make the giving of the Tithe an integral...

  Overflowing Joy and Generosity: The Grace of Giving Bible Reading:  2 Corinthian 8:1-15 Key verse:  "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor so that you through his poverty might become rich "Vs 9. DEVOTION Most people often overlook the joy that can accompany the act of giving. Usually, giving feels like something done out of duty or even guilt. But what’s surprising about the churches of Macedonia, as Paul points out, is that they found joy in giving even when they were struggling. Even when they were struggling to make ends meet, they gave more than anyone expected. Paul also points out that they pleaded for an opportunity to help in the service of the saints (2 Corinthians 8:4).They didn’t give because they had extra, but they believed that God can use their small contributions for something bigger. This kind of generosity isn’t born out of pressure but through belief in God and his greater mission. T...

  Life for the Creator: Tithe Offering Sunday Bible Reading: Mark 12:41-44 Key verse:  "but she out of her poverty put in everything-all she had to live on". DEVOTION In the Gospel according to Saint Mark, Jesus does something many would overlook. He sits down near the temple treasury and watches how people give. Some give large amounts, and others give quietly. Then a widow comes forward. She is poor, and she gives just two small copper coins. What she places into the offering box is worth very little in the eyes of the world, but Jesus sees it differently. Jesus says she gave more than anyone else. Why? Because she gave all she had. She did not give out of leftover wealth. She gave from her very life. Her offering was not about money. It was about devotion. It was about trust. It was a life surrendered to the Creator. Tithe Offering Sunday is not simply about fulfilling a tradition. It is about rethinking what giving means. It is about asking what it means to give not from ...