Reflections

  Jesus Christ who redeems All     Romans  15:14-21 ”It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else’s foundation.” Romans 15:20 Devotion Paul was not one amongst the twelve disciples who walked with Jesus. He was an opponent of the gospel and violently persecuted Christians. Christ drew him to Himself through Paul’s Damascus Road experience. This incident revolutionized his thinking and his life was radically altered. Jesus transformed him into a proponent of Christianity. His life had a twist and a turn, when he encountered the risen Lord. His goal in life was changed. Paul said in Philippians 1:21,”For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.“ All that he held dear and valued before his coming to Christ became trash for him, for the surpassing knowledge of Christ. He wanted to extent the same grace that he received from Christ to others. Nobody is beyond God’s grace, love and mercy. He can use anyone

          Jesus Christ who redeems all    Acts 8:26-40 He was led like a sheep to slaughter, and as a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he did not open his mouth. (Acts8:32) Devotion In this portion we see that Philip was directed to go to a desert. Sometimes God opens a door of opportunities to His ministers in very unlikely places. We should study to do good to those we come into contact while travelling. When Philip speaks with the Ethiopian eunuch, God highlights this truth that gospel is for all nations and races. The conversion of a black foreigner proved that Jesus draws all kind of people to Him. The Ethiopian eunuch came to Jerusalem to worship God but he was unfit to meet God because of his culture, nationality, sexuality and background. So many obstacles stood his way. Barriers are broken down through the Son of God. Jesus Christ, the redeemer, provides redemption by delivering us from our sins and by giving us freedom from captivity. To redeem means to buy back that has

          Jesus Christ who redeems All Genesis 12:1-9 …… and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you. (Genesis 12 : 3) Devotion There are a lot many promises of God, where He pledges that something will or will not be done or given or come to pass. His promises are not flippant or casual as we often make. His promises are rock-solid, unequivocal commitments made by God Himself.  God promised to bless Abraham that through his descendants, the whole world (Genesis 12: 2 – 3 ) will be blessed.  The story of redemption in Scripture hinges on His promise to Abraham in Genesis 12:3.  The fall of man was horrific. It looked like all was lost for mankind. And yet, as God declares what the consequences of the fall will be, there, amongst the gloom of the curse, comes a little ray of sunshine. A little bit of light to focus on in a very dark tunnel. God so loved the world that he did not want them to perish. So, almost 4,000 years before the incarnation of Jesus, God declared that a red

                 Jesus Christ, who redeems all         Acts 11:1-18 If then God gave the same gift to them as he gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God's way?” Acts  11:17 Devotion The word ‘entitlement’ can be defined as the belief that one is inherently deserving of privileges or special treatment. Often the sense of entitlement and feeling of superiority go hand in hand. This was very much the case of the Jewish people who lived with the sense of superiority and entitlement as ‘God's chosen people’. As God's own people, they considered themselves special and set apart from the rest of the world and believed that salvation belonged only to them and no one else. However, Jesus shattered these barriers and made the kingdom of God available to anyone who chose to believe in Him. This must have been a huge shock to the crowds who heard Jesus as He was claiming the kingdom of God was open to all who chose to follow Christ. Pet

  Jesus Christ who Leads us to Wholistic Healing        Psalms 130 V4 “But with you there is forgiveness, so that we can, with reverence, serve you.” Devotion Most of us have known suffering in some form in our lives. The suffering caused by loss, pain, financial woes, conflicts with others etc, can be unbearable and may push us down to great depths. The Psalmist in Psalms 130 is crying out for mercy from one such depth in his life but he is so sure of God’s mercy even at such a time. Healing from suffering of any kind often starts with the mind. Our minds are often weighed down by sin and guilt that it doesn’t think itself worthy of healing. We think that when we can’t forgive ourselves, how can God? But Micah 7:18 tells us “He doesn’t retain His anger forever because He delights in steadfast love.” And Romans 3:23 says “All have sinned and fall short of the Glory of God and are justified freely by His grace, through the redemption that came by Christ  Jesus.” God wants to forgive and

  Jesus Christ who leads to Wholistic Healing             Luke 5:17-26 ver.20: When Jesus saw their faith, he said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.” Devotion In this passage, we encounter a captivating story of Jesus' encounter with a paralyzed man, which we have well studied through our Sunday school days. The passage begins with Jesus teaching in a crowded house, surrounded by religious leaders and eager listeners. Friends of a paralyzed man, unable to enter the house through the front door, exhibit remarkable faith by lowering their friend through the roof to bring him before Jesus. We notice that their faith was not limited to their individual needs but extended to the needs of their paralyzed friend. This extraordinary act of faith, determination and trust sets the stage for Jesus' healing power to be revealed.  As we read through this passage, we are able to see the multifaceted nature of healing. Jesus recognizes that true restoration extends beyond physical ailments to

  Jesus Christ who leads to Wholistic Healing Bible portion  Ephesians 2:1-8 v4,5a But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions.. Devotional Text Paul’s letter to the Ephesians is referred to as the ‘Queen of the Epistles'. It contains key doctrines of Christianity. This text gives us a glimpse of a life with Christ and one without him. It contrasts between following the ways and the powers of this world versus living a life with Christ. A person who has consumed a few drinks of alcohol gets pulled over and the officer asks to blow into the breathalyzer. The breath will indicate his/her blood alcohol content. Similarly, Paul says that what we take in, shows up in our actions. What consumes our mind will show in our lives. We will exhale what we breathe in. Following the way of the world will manifest in our sinful nature. It is easy to fall into the trap of sin as it usually starts with seemingly

  Great Grace of God and Wholistic Healing Bible portion  Acts  5:12-16 Verse 16: “ A great number of people would also gather from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all cured.” Devotional Text Healing : After the ascension of Lord Jesus Christ to heaven, the disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. The gift of the Holy Spirit and the power of God was fully evident and tangible; in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Apostles were doing many miracles. The mighty power of God was at work and manifested everywhere. They were healing people in great numbers and they were preaching boldly the grace and salvation through the faith in Jesus Christ amidst all the shaming and physical torture by the influential leaders of the temple and society. The key elements here are the faith of the Apostles, their reliance on divine power, and the faith of people who yearned for healing. Unity:  Before crucifi

  Jesus Christ Leads to Holistic Healing Bible portion    2 King 4: 16-37 V30 But the child’s mother said, “As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So he got up and followed her.   Devotional Text 2 King 4: 16-37 narrates how God restored a Shunammite woman to the fullness of His wholeness. During his ministry, the prophet Elisha journeys through the town of Shunem. Seeing that Elisha is a servant of God and noticing his frequent visits, the woman and her husband built a small room for him to stay. Knowing that the couple is childless, Elisha promised that she will conceive a son within a year. The promise was fulfilled. However, tragedy struck when the child fell ill and died. In her grief and despair, she embarked on a journey with faith to seek the prophet's help and humbly and desperately clung to his feet. Through prayer and unwavering faith, Elisha restored the child to life.  While the primary focus of this story is the miraculous birth and resurr

  Jesus Christ who Leads to Wholistic Healing. Bible portion  Colossians 1: 15-24 “For God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in him, and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through His blood, shed on the cross.”  Vs.19-20   Devotional Text The narrative of creation portrays mankind as being created in the image of God, enjoying intimate fellowship with Him in a state of wholeness (Genesis 1:27). However, the introduction of sin led to separation and corruption, distancing humanity from the wholistic purpose of divine creation, resulting in alienation from God and the perpetration of evil deeds (Vs.21). In the passage for today’s meditation, the scripture reveals the profound truth that God was pleased to manifest His fullness through Jesus Christ. Amidst the prevalence of false teachings undermining Christ's deity, Apostle Paul underscores His preeminence and sufficiency as the creator and sustainer o

  Jesus Christ who Leads to Wholistic Healing Bible portion   Galatians  6:11-16 5 Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is the new creation. Devotional Text Wholistic healing in biblical settings means physical, mental, and spiritual healing. In a world setting it means physical and mental healing. If you go to a doctor with a physical or mental infirmity, the doctor tries to eliminate the infirmity without knowing or knowing why it occurs in the first place. Jesus Christ heals you and me by removing the root cause and forgiving the sin. In St. John:  5:14  Jesus is talking to the person he healed before ‘“See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.” Jesus sees us entirely (physical/mental and spiritual), nothing hidden from Him.   If I explain the theme verse it may be like this ‘It is not important whether we observe the law or not; what is important is our faith and Grace of God’.  God created us with freedom of choice.

  THE COMPASSIONATE TOUCH OF JESUS CHRIST THAT SANTIFICES Bible portion Hebrews:13: 8-16 Verse: 8  Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, yes, even forever. Devotional Text  This passage for devotion should be understood in the light of  the whole chapter  describing the way the  leaders  preached Christ of the new covenant..  Manner in which they preached, should have manifested the behavior and life style pursued by the teachings of the gospel. The word  that  they ministered must have been Christ oriented, and should  have  the teaching based on the faith in Christ.  The same Christ who is the perfector and author of  faith, when  preached to the people,  it is accepted by them.. In that context one should understand that same unchangeable, everlasting Christ is  same yesterday today and tomorrow  and for ever.  A believer should hold on to the Christ  who is  everlasting,  and must not be carried over by various  teachings of old covenant  Judaizers.  The writer of Hebrews w

  The Compassionate Touch of Jesus that Sanctifies Bible portion  Mathew 8: 1- 4 “He stretched out his hands and touched him, ….” Vs. 3 Devotional Text The gospel writer St. Mathew portrays Jesus Christ as a great preacher through the Sermon on the Mount (Ch 5, 6 & 7). In today’s passage as well as in chapters 8 & 9, Jesus is depicted as a healer and wonder worker. The writer displays a continuum here, i.e., both the word and deed of Jesus Christ are interconnected. Jesus is not only a preacher but a doer also. He is a person who walked the talk, i.e., both powerful in word and deed. It is a call and a challenge to today’s Christians to imbibe this balanced approach.    The sequential order through which Jesus engages in this healing act is fascinating. He stretched out his hand, touched the leper, and expressed his willingness to heal. Even though he planned to heal the leper, he restructured the entire act. He touches him first to break the social stigma that was engraved in

  The compassionate touch of Jesus that sanctifies Bible portion  1 John 1:5-10 "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness" 1 John 1:9 Devotional Text We live in a dark world that is dominated and driven by sin.  Amid that darkness and depravity, God has redeemed a people through His son Jesus, that He expects and has empowered to be different. Our lives once manifested the works of the world, sin, and darkness. But by the power of grace, the Lord has touched us and delivered us. He has brought us out of darkness into His marvelous light. Jesus says in Matthew 5:14–16 “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do men light a candle and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick, and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” God is light an

  The Compassionate touch of Jesus Christ that sanctifies Bible portion: Acts 10:34-43 “Predestined to be Saved” Vs 43 . All the prophets testify about Him  that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name. Reflection:  Predestination, in Scriptural context, is derived from the Greek word proorizō, and it simply means “to designate before.” If we were to expand further, predestination is a Biblical doctrine and it is directly linked with God’s foreknowledge, His love, and His greater plan for His chosen individuals. Ephesians 1:5 tells us of our predestination “to adoption as sons and daughters through Jesus Christ to Himself.” Although predestination entails God choosing us to be saved, we also must make the choice so that we receive God’s salvation.  As we all know, Peter was a mere fisherman until Jesus chose him out of many to fulfill a far greater purpose. From social outcast, Peter became one among Jesus’s favored apostles and a witness to the Jews.

  THE COMPASSIONATE TOUCH OF JESUS CHRIST THAT SANCTIFIES Bible portion 2 Kings 5:1-14 Verse:13: Naaman's servants went to him and said,”My father, if the prophet has told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? Devotional Text    This portion and the event associated is quite familiar to all , from the Sunday school days.  The King of Aram, Ben Hadad  II  had a peace treaty with the King of Israel, Ahab , but  they still had  clashes  off and on, and in one of the battles King  Ahab was killed.  King Joram of  Israel   was the ruler  during this episode, when  Naaman and his party  visited him with the letter  from King of Aram. Unfortunately  the letter stated a  request to  King of Israel to  cure the leprosy of the commander Naaman.  Probably King of Aram did not pay attention to the words of the Israeli girl,  held in captive in Aramean courts serving   Naaman's wife .The girl told her mistress clearly that the Prophet in Samaria can help Naaman cured. But 

  The compassionate touch of Jesus that sanctifies Bible portion    Job Chapter 2  Vs10 b: In all this, Job did not sin in what he said. Devotional Text The Book of Job stands as a  challenge to simplistic notions of divine compassion. Through Job's devastating struggles, the text asks uncomfortable questions: where is God in suffering? Does God's touch heal or inflict? While Jesus lived centuries after Job, his ministry offers a profound response to these existential questions, revealing a God whose compassion sanctifies even in the depths of pain. Job loses his wealth, children, and health, and his friends offer hollow platitudes instead of solace. God remains silent, seemingly absent in the face of Job's cries. This absence echoes throughout the book, raising doubts about God's goodness and the very nature of divine touch. Could Job's suffering be God's punishment, a harsh hand meant to mold him through pain? Jesus, the embodiment of God's love for mankin

  MINISTRY OF RECONCILIATION Bible portion   Mathew 5: 21-26 Verse : 22   But I tell you that anyone  who is angry with his  brother will be subject to judgement. Devotional Text   This passage  is an exposition of Jesus' teaching on anger mangement and resultant judgment associated with that sin.   Jesus explains  His teachings about anger and its unrighteousness.  It is pointed  out that  anger is a sin that involves more than just actions,but also includes thoughts and attitudes.   One might easily  can say “ I do not murder,  but it is very difficult to say,” I do not  unfairly get  angry with other people.                   What this teaching implies is that, Jesus  wants us to pay attention to the motives and attitudes of the heart. The heart is the seat of  all motives and actions. If  the seeds of hatred is not controlled, your words will be bitter, or  utterings of evil. So if our hearts are not right with our brethren, we cannot be right with God.  It is  good to know tha

  Jesus Christ Who Transforms St. John 1:1-11   Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. (v. 7) Devotion Empty. Emptiness. Being Empty.   This state of not being filled or to contain nothing is a problem we all face mostly. Finding a glass without water when we ran to the kitchen as we were thirsty. Empty feelings in our mind due to tensions in life, relations, etc. Emptiness in values around the society and wherever we encounter life. Becoming alone in life for what we do in truthfulness and in our commitment to God.    The passage also mentions certain situations where emptiness was filled in. Firstly, when the wine ran out and Mary came to Jesus to tell about it (v. 3). When Jesus says that His ‘hour has not yet come’, there was a vacuum of leadership to instruct on what to be done (v. 4). Jesus says to fill the jars with water means the jars were empty before that (v. 7). The unawareness of the Master of where the good wine came a