Reflections

  Education that Leads to Wisdom     Bible portion: Ephesians 5:9-17 Verse : “So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.” Ephesians  5: 15-17    Devotion I was recently in Europe and was guided through a tour of an old church. The guide explained  that the churches of that time had elaborate stained glass pictures and detailed paintings because  the majority of people at the time did not know how to read. So the great part of their  understanding of God, His love for us, what Jesus did for us, God’s purpose for us, and His  directions for us were obtained from these pictures. Every expression and gesture mattered – to  convey the heart and intention of God.   Today almost all of us have the privilege of knowing how to read. We can open a book straight  from God’s...

  Education that Leads to Wisdom James  3 :13-18 “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.” (James 3:13) Devotion   In this portion, James poses a question to the Church: “Who is wise and understanding among you?” Here, James begins to separate the two types of wisdom we often encounter: Earthly Wisdom and Heavenly Wisdom. Moreover, James begins to separate the values that we place to each. When we think about Earthly Wisdom we might think about our academic ability or our intelligence. During the time that James wrote this letter, there were many philosophers and academics who had spent their entire life searching for the meaning of life and what it means to be human. Often, when we think about Earthly Wisdom, we think about the status is gives us. We often work exceptionally hard to get good grades and attend good schools because we know that these actions provide us access to bet...

  Education that Leads to Wisdom   Bible portion:  1 Kings 3: 3 – 14 Verse : “Give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong.” (1 Kings 3: 8) Devotion King Solomon the wisest man on earth, says, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding” (Proverbs 9:10).   King Solomon used his wisdom and knowledge not only to build the temple using his father’s plans, but also put the nation of Israel on firm  economic footing. When God appeared to Solomon in a dream and said “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.”  Solomon’s first response was (1 Kings 3: 6) to acknowledge the great kindness shown by God to his father David.  Theodore Roosevelt the 26th President of the United States, famously said, “The more you know about the past, the better you are prepared for the future.”  Secondly, (V 7) we see that Solomon was bold enough to confess about his...

     Education that Leads to Wisdom   Bible portion: Proverbs 3:15-26 Verse :  Proverbs 3:26 For Jehovah will be thy confidence. And will keep thy foot from being taken. Devotion   The theme for the Christian Education Forum is Education that leads to Wisdom. In 1 Kings Chapter 3 Verse 9 (NIV), we read that Solomon prayed for a “discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong”. By being the son of God-fearing King David, Solomon learned that only God is the true giver of wisdom which motivated King Solomon to seek wisdom from God more than fame or riches. In Proverbs Chapter 3 Versus 15  to 26,we read about how wisdom bestows well-being. When we look at the theme “Education that Leads to Wisdom”, we reflect on verse 26, where we learn about the benefits of well-being as a result of seeking and obtaining wisdom, namely “the Lord being at your side and keep your foot being snared”.  In the Bible, Jesus was so knowle...

  The parable of the lost sheep  Luke 15: 1-7 Theme verse: I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent – St Luke 15:7 Devotion The parable of the lost sheep. The chapter begins with the Pharisees and scribes murmuring about Jesus associating with sinners and publicans. The lost sheep represents the sinner as departed from God, and exposed to certain ruin if not brought back to him, yet not desirous to return. We have here, I. The case of a sinner that goes on in sinful ways. He is like a lost sheep, a sheep gone astray; he is lost to God, who has not the honor and service he should have from him; lost to the flock, which has not communion with him; lost to himself: he knows not where he is, wanders endlessly, is continually exposed to the beasts of prey, subject to frights and terrors, from under the shepherd's care, and wanting the green pastures; and he ca...

    SING TO THE LORD  Bible portion: I John 2:18-25 Verse 22 .  Who is not a liar if not he who denies that Jesus is the Christ?  This is the antichrist, one who denies the Father and the Son. Devotion   Apostle John starts with an exhortation to the people everywhere who are recipients of  eternal life through Christ Jesus. John warns everyone that end times are near mainly because of the presence of the antichrists in this world. Antichrist is the one who denies Christ's deity, denying that Jesus  is Christ, denying the Father and Son relationship, not confirming that Jesus had come in the flesh through the divine conception of Holy Spirit.  During apostle's time many heresies  concerning the person of Christ, His divinity and humanity were spread around.  Antichrists are not born of God, are not in fellowship with apostles or believers, hence they are not from the body of Christ.              ...

  Sing to the Lord Mandate of Mission (Matthew. 28:16-20) Devotion   Our God is a God of rhythm. It is said that nature's rhythmic tone is the sound of God's heartbeat. As we know, sound, music, and melody add to the beauty of human life. The Psalmist exhorts us to "Sing to the Lord a new song, for He has done marvelous things" (Psalm 98:1).  In the Bible, singing is a common expression of praise, thanksgiving, and joy. Singing to the Lord is a declaration of God's greatness, love, and faithfulness. It is a reminder of God's marvelous deeds and blessings in our lives. Singing is a universal language that transcends cultures and generations. It gives the ability to evoke emotions, inspire hope, and bring people together.  This passage is generally known as 'the great commission,'' which emphasizes the importance of evangelism, discipleship, and mission. It reminds us that we are entrusted with the responsibility of sharing the good news. I would lik...

    SING TO THE LORD   Bible portion: 2 Corinth.   13:11-14 Verse : The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy spirit be with you all. Devotion  Apostle Paul's  concern for the well being of the Corinthian church,   formed by  him is quite evident in the second epistle.  Since apostles were   rejoicing in the Lord they were able to exhort the believers also to rejoice.   Corinthians were very discouraged by the apostle's first letter which was very much admonishing in nature.. Now in the second letter, Paul confronted them with the comfort of God.  Apostle  was earnestly exhorting  the people who  were distorted, distracted  and confused by the false teachings which were prevalent.   With brotherly affection, Paul is addressing  them to be adjusted, restored and perfected and enjoy the peace and love of the everlasting Father, as well as among b...

  SING TO THE LORD  Bible portion : Galatians 4:1-7   Verse: 7  So then you are no longer a slave but a son: and if a son an heir also through God. Devotion    This portion explains one of the core messages of the gospel and an essence of the new testament theology. Apostle Paul  is trying to depict a word picture of our relationship with God using the concept of  children growing up to be mature enough to change the status of a slave under the law, to the sonship of the Father.  How can a small child though born as a son and heir of a big estate, can take over the duty of the sonship of the Father to take decisions independently. He is subject  to guardians and trustees till he reaches age, when Father decides he is an adult responsible for heirloom.           The time appointed by the Father refers to the time God sovereignly chose to act. God has been preparing the historical and cultural conditions appro...

  Sing to the Lord  Exodus 19: 17-25 Verse: “Then Moses led the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. Mount Sinai was covered with smoke, because the Lord descended on it in fire”. Exodus  19:17-18 Devotion Scripture describes God as a God who is holy, holy, holy (Isaiah 6:3; Revelation 4:8). Mortal man cannot gaze upon God’s holiness and live (Exodus 33:20). The Israelites of the exodus generation had experienced a wonderful deliverance by God’s hand. But in Exodus 19 God showed them something of His holy transcendence.  In this passage, we witness a profound moment where the Israelites are brought to the foot of Mount Sinai to meet God. The mountain, shrouded in smoke and trembling, signifies the awesome and fearful presence of the Lord. God descends in fire, and the people hear His voice in thunder, demonstrating His power and holiness. God’s instructions through Moses highlight the importance of boundaries and prepar...

  Sing to the Lord Isaiah 44:1-8 6 “This is what the LORD says— Israel’s King and Redeemer, the LORD Almighty: I am the first and I am the last; apart from me there is no God. (Isaiah 44:7) Devotion Isaiah is the first Major Prophet in the Bible, who lived in Jerusalem from 740 to 680 B.C., under the reign of four Kings of Judah—Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, Hezekiah (1:1). Isaiah, whose name means “The Lord is salvation” ministered primarily to the people of Judah. Bible scholars consider Isaiah as the greatest Old Testament (OT) Prophet, with a brilliant writing style and rich vocabulary, more quoted in the New Testament (NT) than any other OT prophet, including prophesies on the life and ministry of Jesus. The Book of Isaiah is fundamentally an account of God’s judgment on (1-39), as well as a message of hope for (40-66), the people of the Southern Kingdom of Judah, Northern Kingdom of Israel, and their pagan neighbors. The interplay between judgment and salvation in Isaiah also provide...

  Sing  To The Lord   Joel 2: 28-32 Theme verse: Vs 28  And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, our old men will dream dreams, our young men will see visions. Devotion The Book of Joel opens with a terrifying image – a devastating locust plague consuming the land. It's a picture of judgment, a wake-up call for God's people who have strayed. But amidst the despair, a ray of hope  emerges in verses 28-32, a song of hope that emphasizes praising God even in the most challenging times. God declares, "I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh." This outpouring signifies a spiritual awakening, a chance for hearts to turn back to Him, not dependent on our good deeds, but on His overflowing grace. This promise is intrinsically linked to praise. When we open ourselves to the Holy Spirit, our hearts become instruments of worship, overflowing with gratitude and singing God's praises. The Holy Spirit's presence ignite...

  Pentecost: Holy Spirit who Renews All Creation 1 Corinthians  2:10-16   1 Corinthians 2:12, “What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us.”  Devotion   Though the Holy Spirit is mentioned in the Bible as early as Genesis 1, the most dramatic show of God’s Spirit is outlined in Acts 2 on the Day of the Pentecost. This is when there was a sound like a violent wind from heaven and what appeared to be tongues of fire came down upon the Apostles, and all who were gathered in Jerusalem where able to hear the Gospel message in their own native tongue (Acts 2: 2-4). When we initially read this passage, we might only focus on the dramatic display and power of the Holy Spirit. However, it’s very important to pay attention to the purpose the Spirit served in that moment: to communicate to man the thoughts, messages, and knowledge of God.         The Ho...

  Holy Spirit who Renews All Creation John 16:1-15 “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.” (v.13) Devotion We as a church are celebrating the feast of the Pentecost on Sunday.  The word Pentecost is from the Greek word Pentēkostē which means 50th.  It is a celebration 50 days after the feast of the Resurrection.  The feast of the Pentecost commemorates the descending of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles and disciples following the Ascension of our Lord and the mission of the Holy Church that follows this.  Originally, in the Jewish custom, Pentecost was the celebration of thanksgiving of the first fruits of the harvest of wheat.  From Jewish traditions to now as we commemorate the Christian tradition, let us celebrate also with thanksgiving remembering that God did not let His children go empty handed. We as childr...

  Pentecost: Holy Spirit who Renews All Creation Titus 3: 1-11   " he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit," Devotion Under the cover of night, Nicodemus approached Jesus, initiating a conversation regarding profound spiritual truths. Christ stated no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again. Nicodemus asked, “how can someone be born when they are old Jesus responded by saying “flesh gives birth flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit”. The assertion by Christ was that no one could perceive the kingdom of God without undergoing a spiritual rebirth and that this spiritual rebirth emanates from the Spirit. The moment we come to accept Jesus Christ as our personal redeemer, acknowledging our salvation as an unmerited gift of divine grace, marks the beginning of a transformative journey. It is here that the Holy Spirit begins the transformativ...

  Pentecost: Holy Spirit who Renews All Creation Acts 2: 1-13  “They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.” Acts 2: 3 Devotion The coming of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost is called the birth of the church because it revealed the message of God to a large group of people who then repented and were baptized in His name after accepting Jesus Christ as their savior. The coming of the Holy Spirit and the renewal of creation was spoken in the Old Testament like in Isaiah where it says “till the Spirit is poured on us from on high,and the desert becomes a fertile field, and the fertile field seems like a forest” (Isaiah 32:15). What does speaking in tongues mean? It is a question that Christians have discussed in great detail over the years. There are generally two sides when it comes to the interpretation of this. One side says it is a heavenly language by which we speak to God without knowing what we are saying. The other side says th...

  Pentecost: Holy Spirit who Renews All Creation  Joel 2:28-32   Devotion We live in a very degrading moral and cultural society, far away from the Word of God. There is total deprivation in all walks of life from young to old. There are no consequences for the sins committed. Nobody is accountable to anyone. We are strangled with fear of circumstances, fear of war, fear of pandemic, fear of the future. This has become the norm of the day in the very present society we live in. Is there purpose for the human life on this earth leading to nowhere? Four years back we had fear of Covid and so many lives were lost all over the world. Those who have been affected by this are still going through pain of the deadliest pandemic the world faced. From generations to generations we see the wrath of God on this earth. What are the effects we have to anticipate and how do we try to find an answer for the evils we face today? Does the Spirit of God helps to renew us daily in our walks ...

  Pentecost: Holy Spirit who renews all creation   Ezek 36: 25-30  Theme verse: "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh”. (Ezekiel 36:26) Devotion  The bible passage Ezekiel 36:25-30, we witness the words from a prophecy where the God of Israel promises to restore His people. This restoration reward is for the sake of His holy name. Verse 26, speaks about God’s promise and How will He fulfill it.  1.  What is God’s promise to you? His promise is, He will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you. “He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy spirit” (Titus 3:5). That’s why it is said, Salvation comes only through Jesus Christ.  2.  How will God fulfill His promise or What is the way of restoration?  This occurs through a process of, a....

  Pentecost: Holy Spirit who Renews All Creation 1 Cor 12: 1 – 11   Devotion We see the first reference to the Holy Spirit in Genesis ch. 1, v 2, as God began the creation process. The Spirit that was present at the very beginning continues to be with us today for our guidance and renewal.  Apostle Paul covered a variety of topics in his 1st letter to the Corinthian Church. In today’s Bible portion, Paul talks about the gifts of the Spirit. He suggests no one can accept Jesus as Lord except by the Holy Spirit. He says that there are different kinds of gifts, but all of them are given by the same Spirit and these gifts must be used for  the common good. Paul was concerned with the strife and division in the Church that was caused by pride and the abuse of spiritual gifts.  Holy Spirit is a gift to those who live in Christ. When the Spirit is in one’s life, He grants certain gifts as He determines, whether it is wisdom, knowledge, faith, prophecy or healing. Since...

  Mother’s Day  Luke 1:46-48 Verse of Focus:  For he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed,   - Luke 1:48  Devotion  The dictionary defines a miracle roughly as an extraordinary event that defies possible thinking and immense odds. When we think about the gift of life, can we comprehend the processes at hand? Two microscopic gametes come together to develop into a complex being capable of thought and self-sufficiency, yet at one point is a fragile, naked to the human eye, speck. As we read the passage for today, we see the physician and disciple of Jesus, Luke, annotate the story of Mary’s response to news of the incomprehensible miracle of life in conceiving the future Messiah.  The context of the devotion lies in the gospel of Luke. Luke denotes the story of the origin of Jesus and the preceding prophet, John the Baptist. Mary’s story and response parallels her cousin Elizabeth, who was ...

Holy Spirit: One Among Trinity  St.John  14:14  --2I .  And I will ask the Father-and He will give you another Counselor, to be with you for ever(v.15)  Devotion   We are meditating about the Holy Spirit, the One among Trinity. This devotion comes between, the  Feast of Ascension of our Lord and the Feast of Pentecost Sunday. 14th chapter of St. John’s Gospel is a  farewell address of our Lord Jesus Christ, given to His disciples, before His passion, crucifixion, death and resurrection, in order to strengthen them in their , faith, discipleship and mission.  Holy Spirit is one of the persons among the Triune God. The basic faith of the Church is that we believe  in one God with three persons, such as Father, Son and the Holy Spirit. This is affirmed in the Scriptures and confessed through the Nicene Creed of the Church. Here we are focusing our meditation only to  the Holy Spirit, as one among Trinity, referred in the Gospels portio...