Reflections

  Walking in Truth and Justice: A courageous witness Bible Reading: Exodus 23 :1-9 Key verse:  "You are to bring the best of the first fruits of your soil to the house of the LORD your God. "You are not to boil a young goat in its mother's milk." Exodus 23:19   DEVOTION The instruction to bring the first fruits of soil informs us that God deserves not our leftovers, but our best and most valued offering. In that society at the time, this was a powerful act of trust, sharing before seeing the full harvest. It was an offering of faith, accepting that God will provide  provide everything for us. God is asking us to be pure and sincere before him and offer our greatest. Giving God our best and the first is still important in today's world. Instead of crops, we give our time, money, and talents. This refers to putting God first in our day, sharing  and giving back ourselves, and using our talents that he has blessed us with, to serve Him. It's not always ea...

  Growing in grace: Staying Steadfast On The Journey  Bible Reading:2 Peter  3:14-18   Key verse:  Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall. 2 Peter 3: 17       DEVOTION Peter says in this chapter that the day of the Lord will come and urges the believers to be prepared. He is asking the believers who are waiting for the Lords’ second coming to be diligent to be found by Him without spot or blemish and at peace. This is like the story of ten virgins who were waiting to receive the groom with their lamps. The five virgins who had oil with them entered with the groom and the other five who didn’t have oil could not meet the groom. A similar thing is seen when Noah’s ark closed and those entered it were saved from destruction. Apostle Peter says: take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability....

  Discipleship: With Jesus, on the path of the Cross Bible Reading:   Matthew 20:25-28 Key verse:  "Whoever would be first among you must be your slave." Matthew 20:26     DEVOTION When all doors are closed against you, and yet being a door remains an experience that makes life full of fragrance. This is the fragrance of Christ. 'Valsalyam' is a Malayalam word that describes the deep, nurturing love of a parent or caregiver. It refers to God's unconditional love and care for humanity, exemplified through Jesus Christ. Love is a feeling that doesn't diminish when hurt. It means standing as an open door. The word Paradise means a walled garden, where no one can enter without prior permission. But the thief on the cross who was blessed by Christ enters this garden with the message that the door is not closed. We can think of Christ as the rejected stone because those for whom He came didn't recognize Him, and He was rejected by them. But the truth is that...

  The Gospel of Grace: Remaining faithful to the call Bible Reading:   Galatians 2:1-10 Key verse:  We did not give in to them for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might be preserved for you. Galatians 2:5     DEVOTION Just before reading the Epistle the deacon says this ‘The blessed Apostle Paul says “If any one, if we ourselves or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel at variance to the gospel we preached to you, he shall be held outcast’. Ever since the gospel was first preached, the devil has desperately tried to tweak and corrupt it, to undermine the salvific work on the cross. There are two things that are the corner stones of our faith; first, What Jesus did on the cross and his resurrection second the gospel is the power of God for the salvation of anyone who believes (Rom.1:16). In this Bible portion we see how satan tries to tell that Paul was teaching an incomplete gospel. Paul’s letter to the Galatians is a defense of the gos...

  Strength & Courage: Walking in Obedience Bible Reading:   Joshua 1:1-9 Key verse: Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9   DEVOTION We all know about Joshua in the Old Testament, who was the leader of Israelites after Moses. After Moses passed away, God appointed Joshua to lead the Israelites into the promised land. This was not a small task. Joshua  was one among the Israelites who experienced both the good and tough times that the people of Israel went through since they were delivered from the slavery in Egypt.  Joshua 1 provides the context of how God is commissioning Joshua with the big responsibility ol leading the people of Israel. In verses 6-9, we see that the phrase “Be strong and courageous” was told by God to Joshua three times to strengthen Joshua. In the first instance in verse 6, God reminds Joshua of tHis promise to Israelites on the pro...

  The wisdom of the cross-Following Christ in Humility. Bible Reading:  1 Corinthians   1:18-31  Key verse:  Let the one who boast, boast in the Lord Vs 31.         DEVOTION The message of the cross is foolish to the world but   to those who believe it is the power and wisdom of God. In today’s devotion we concentrate on the humility of Christ and what it means to His disciples. To walk in humility involves total surrender of our pride, ego, self-projections, and craziness for power and means of attaining power by any means even at the cost of harming and destroying others. Those who want to project oneself and depend on self-reliance and self praises cannot fall in the category of a disciple what Christ entitles. Paul here challenges both the intellectual pride of the Greeks and the religious pride of the Jews. The heart of the gospel is Christ crucified and His love for humanity. Humility begins in one when he/she begins to boast ...

  Looking to the Cross: Healing through faith Bible Reading:  Numbers 21:4-9 Key verse: “So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then, when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, they lived.” Numbers 21:9 DEVOTION As the Israelites traveled through the wilderness, they grew impatient and began to speak against God and Moses, frustrated that they had been brought out of Egypt.  The Lord then sent venomous snakes that bit them, and when they repented to Moses, they pleaded that the Lord take away the snakes. In response, God didn’t remove the snakes, but instead, instructed Moses to lift a bronze serpent on a pole such that anyone who is bitten and looks at it will live. God has such a profoundly simple ask of the Israelites—He spares them not based on their own actions, merit, or offerings, but by simply looking up in faith. In today’s world, we are constantly bitten by serpents in our world that leave us anxious, hurt, and in despa...

  Living in purity: the call to honor God with our bodies Bible Reading:   1st Thessalonians 4:3-8 Key verse: “For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life”. 1 Thess. 4:7   DEVOTION At our recent VBS class, we delved deeper into the study of temptations and observed that the temptation to sin primarily originates internally from our own sinful self.  Adam and Eve presented the opportunity to Satan to tempt them to sin primarily because of their own desire to be near the tree of life in the middle of the garden.  Had they obeyed God, they would have steered far away as possible from that tree but they failed to overcome the call of temptation. Our permissive culture calls us in myriad of ways that would satisfy our inner most desires.  Our mind tries to rationalize it and the tempter eagerly facilitates it so that we carry it out thus causing us to sin and to be impure.  Afterwards, we feel guilty or ashamed just as Adam and E...

  From Darkness to light: the power of purification Bible Reading: 1 Corinthians 6: 6-11 Key verse:  And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.  1 Corinthians 6:11   DEVOTION As we reflect on this passage, the apostle Paul reminds us that although we were once caught in sin, through the name of Jesus Christ, we have been sanctified and made new. In verses 9 and 10, Paul speaks honestly about the reality of sin and its consequences:“Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men, nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.”These verses serve as a powerful call for self-examination. They challenge us to recognize our own brokenness and to acknowledge that, a...

  BODY AND LIFE THAT NEED TO BE KEPT IN PURITY Bible Reading: St. Luke 6:39 – 45 Key verse:  "Or how can you say to your neighbour, ‘Friend, let me take out the speck in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbor's eye." – Luke 6:42 DEVOTION Purity is a subject that often stirs debate. While many agree it is valuable, the way we understand and apply it can be deeply divided. It is common to see people obsess over external cleanliness—keeping their homes spotless—yet show little concern for public spaces like roads, unless threatened with fines. This inconsistency highlights a broader issue: we value surface purity more than inward transformation. In the time of Jesus, purity was also a divisive issue. Social, religious, and moral boundaries were drawn based on who was considered "clean" or "unclean." But Jesu...

  Wisdom for a Pure Life Bible Reading:  Proverbs 20: 1-13 Key verse:  Vs 7:   The righteous man leads a blameless life, blessed life, blessed are his children after him.   DEVOTION Today’s meditation is from the book of Proverbs. The book of Proverbs is a rich source of wisdom and life guiding principles. How can I gain wisdom for a pure life? Understand the values of wisdom. Have fear of the Lord. Seek the advice of the wise. The English writer and poet T. S. Elliot once asked “where is the wisdom we have lost in knowledge? “ Where is the knowledge we have lost in information”? We all are living in the information age and especially sum total of human information currently doubles approximately every year and a half. Yet our human kind lack wisdom at certain times. Proverbs 20 offers a collection of wise sayings, emphasizing the importance of integrity and respecting authority. I t also highlights the consequences of laziness, gossiping and other neg...

  True freedom in the truth : Breaking the chains of sin  Bible Reading: John 8:31-47  Key verse: John 8: 36  “ So if the Son sets you free ,you will be free indeed .”    DEVOTION Freedom is dangerous in the hands of those who don’t know how to use it. That’s why criminals are confined in prison cells. Though we live in a free nation and enjoy life in its fullest ,we are enslaved internally to the bondage of sin . In other words many of us are inmates within ourselves in our own prison cells . Prime charges against us are guilt and shame . Have you ever felt shame for things you have done in the past ? Have you ever repented but felt like the guilt is still haunting you ? then you are absolutely confined in your prison cell . You and I were prisoners held under the bondage of sin . We were held captives by the impulse of sin . We were slaves to the instincts of sin. Paul refers in Romans 6 - sin is our master. We had no power within us to overcome the ...

  God’s call for true freedom Bible Reading: Micah 6: 1-8 Key verse: He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.   DEVOTION In Micah chapter 6, the Lord brings forth His case against the Israelites. Despite His love, care and affection for His people, the Israelites choose to walk away from the Lord. The anguish and pain felt by the Lord in being treated unfairly is evident in the way He asks the Israelites, “My people, what have I done to you? How have I burdened you? Answer me” (Micah 6: 3). As we continue reading the chapter, the Lord reminds His people of the many ways in which He has protected and taken care of them. He gave them leaders to guide them, and protected them from their plotting enemies. Yet the Israelites show no gratitude. The chapter also reminds us that the Lord does not require big showy sacrifices or expensive gifts in return but just that we act in the...

  Freedom in Christ : From slavery to righteousness Bible Reading:  Romans  6:19-23 Key verse: "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans‬ ‭6‬:‭23‬ ‭   DEVOTION Sin entered the world when Adam and Eve disobeyed God by eating the forbidden fruit. They broke the only rule God gave them. As the consequence of their disobedience, humanity became contaminated with sin and became enslaved to it. Sin brought spiritual death or separation from our fellowship with God. Paul tell us that all have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God. Jesus Christ in his grace and mercy, paid our ransom in full with His precious sinless blood, cleansed us from our sins and set us free from our slavery to our sins. His resurrection is the proof of Father God’s acceptance of His atoning, vicarious sacrifice. Adam’s disobedience, made us sinners. On the contrary, Jesus’s obedience made all of us righteous in Him. Bondage to sin...

  The Father’s Embrace: A Picture of Unconditional Love Bible Reading: Luke 15: 17-32 Key verse: “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.” (Luke 15: 20)   DEVOTION Have you ever seen a father waiting for a son who has run away from the house? I grew up in Calcutta (now Kolkata). Right outside our apartment lived a family of six in a single room. One day, tired of being beaten and abused, the only son in that home ran away. Those were days when communication was primitive. The father waited for his son for many days. And in his weakest moments, when facing despair and loneliness, he would bring up the story of his son and hope that he would return some day. Whenever I read the story of the Lost Son from Luke 15, my thoughts go back to that home. Did the son ever think of returning home? How would the father welcome him? Where is he now? The parable narrate...

  Trinity: Fellowship of love Bible Reading: St John 10:22-30 Key verse: Jesus Answered ‘I have already told you but you would not believe me. The things I do by my Father’s authority speak on my behalf’. (St John 10:25) DEVOTION The passage unfolds against the backdrop of the Festival of Dedication, a celebration dating back to 165 BC, commemorating the rededication of the temple after its defilement by foreign powers. As Jesus walked in Solomon’s colonnade within the temple courts, He was confronted by a direct question from the Jews: “Are you the Christ? Tell us plainly.” (John 10:24) In response, Jesus reaffirms His identity by pointing to the testimony of His works and the recognition of His followers: “My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” (John 10:27) Here, "my sheep" refers to those who are born again (cf. John 3:3–8)—those who have: A new spiritual nature, enabling them to hear Christ’s voice and respond to Him. A call to follow Him, which imp...

  Living in the Love of the Trinity Bible Reading: Romans 8:26 -30 Key verse:  For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. Romans 8:26.   DEVOTION Tom wanted a bike like his friends but hesitated to ask his dad, knowing how much he already did for him. After days of uncertainty, he thought of asking his mom to intercede, trusting she would know whether his dad could afford it and how to approach him. This reflects how the Holy Spirit intercedes for us, when we do not know what to pray. Today’s passage can be called the love passage, communicating with God and God helping us to do it correctly. We know that prayer is the way we communicate with God, though mostly on our part it is telling God what you want done in your life, and then being overwhelmed when we come to crossroads, not knowing what to pray or what to ask God. Earlier in the chapter we read it is confirmed that we are the chi...

  The Abiding Presence of the Triune God Bible Reading: 2 Corinthians 13:14 Key verse:  “May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all." (2 Corinthians 13:14)   DEVOTION Our Christian faith stands upon the Trinity consisting of Father, and Son and Holy Spirit.  In 2 Corinthians 13:14, Paul delivers a masterful explanation of the Triune God's presence within our daily existence. The sacrificial love of God is demonstrated through the grace which Jesus Christ brings to us. The love of God showcases the unchangeable devotion which the Father holds for us. The fellowship of the Holy Spirit reveals how the Spirit unifies believers and leads them in their spiritual journey with God. In John 15:4-5 – Jesus teaches, "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me." This verse emphasizes the necessity of remaini...

  Love the Lord your God: A covenant of Fellowship Bible Reading:  Deuteronomy 6:1-12 Key verse:  Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. (Deuteronomy 6:4-5)   DEVOTION In Deuteronomy 6:1–12, Moses addresses the people of Israel as they prepare to enter the Promised Land. He reminds them of God’s commandments and the importance of loving the Lord with all their heart, soul, and strength. This passage includes the Shema, a foundational declaration of Jewish faith, recited by loyal Jews, including Jesus Himself: “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one” (v. 4). This passage teaches us three key lessons. First, monotheism—the Lord alone is God. This truth calls us to exclusive loyalty. In a world filled with distractions and idols, we must continually return to the One who alone is worthy of our worship. Second, we are called to love and remain loyal t...

  Adopted into God’s Family: The Spirit of Sonship Bible Reading:  Galatians 4:1–7 Key verse: “But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.” (Galatians 4:4–5)   DEVOTION In Galatians 4:1–7, the Apostle Paul explains a foundational truth of the Christian faith —our adoption as children of God through Jesus Christ. Paul uses the image of a child heir who, though entitled to an inheritance, lives under guardians and trustees until the appointed time. Similarly, humanity, under the Law, awaited the fulfillment of God’s redemptive plan. At the fullness of time, God sent His Son—fully divine yet born of a woman and under the law—to redeem those bound by it. Jesus fulfilled the Law perfectly and offered Himself as the atoning sacrifice, freeing us from the curse of the Law (Galatians 3:13). Through Him, we receive not only forgiveness but adoption into G...

  Fathers, Raise Your Children in the Lord Bible Reading:  Ephesians 6:1–4 Key verse: “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” – Ephesians 6:4   DEVOTION Parenting is not just a biological or social role—it is a divine calling. Ephesians 6:4 places a particular emphasis on fathers, urging them to raise their children not merely by worldly standards but in the fear and knowledge of God. This verse stands in contrast to the harsh or indifferent parenting styles of the Roman world in which Paul was writing. Instead, it echoes the character of our Heavenly Father—loving, patient, and full of grace. “Do not provoke your children to anger” is both a caution and a calling. It invites fathers to avoid harsh criticism, unreasonable demands, or inconsistent discipline that may lead to resentment. Instead, Scripture calls for a nurturing environment, where correction is coupled with compassion, and guidan...

  Creation Groans: Awaiting Redemption Bible Reading: Romans 8:18–22 Key Verse: Romans 8:22: “We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.   DEVOTION There’s a deep groaning beneath the surface of life—a sound we don’t always have words for. It’s in the tears that fall behind closed doors, the weight in the chest that won’t lift, the silent scream of a body or mind pushed beyond its limits. Paul captures this ache in Romans 8:22: “We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.” But this groaning isn’t just in the earthquakes and storms—it’s in us. We are part of that groaning creation. Every physical ailment, every psychological burden, every financial hardship, every sleepless night spent wrestling with fear—all of it points to the truth that something in us is still longing, still waiting. Some among us are hurting deeply. Some are on the edge ...

  Holy Spirit, Renew Us" Bible Reading: John 16:7-13 Key verse: “I will send the Advocate to you… He will guide you into all truth.” (John 16:7,13)   DEVOTION Today, we celebrate Pentecost—the fiery fulfillment of God’s ancient promise. Long ago, Joel prophesied that God’s Spirit would be poured out on all people (Joel 2:28), and Jesus assured us the Holy Spirit would dwell within us as our Helper and Guide. This same Spirit, who empowered the disciples to preach boldly (Acts 2:1-21), is alive in us today. Pentecost was first a harvest festival, thanking God for Earth’s bounty and also the remembrance of getting the Laws through Moses.  For us Christians, it marks the Holy Spirit’s arrival or inauguration of the Church, renewing hearts and empowering us to live as Christ’s witnesses. As we also observe Environment Sunday, we remember the Spirit’s call to steward God’s creation. Just as the first Pentecost brought unity and purpose, the Holy Spirit today invites us to...

  Bearing the fruit of Pentecost Bible Reading:   Galatians 5:16-26 Key verse: Galatians 5:25 - “Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.”   DEVOTION The book of Galatians was written by the Apostle Paul to a group of churches in the region of Galatia who were struggling with legalism and the temptation to return to the Old Covenant law as a means of righteousness. Paul passionately defends the gospel of grace, reminding the believers that salvation and spiritual growth come not through works of the law, but through faith in Jesus Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit. His letter is a call to freedom—freedom from sin, from legalism, and from the flesh. Galatians 5:16–26 contrasts two opposing forces at work in every believer: the flesh and the Spirit. Paul reminds us that though we have been set free in Christ, there remains a daily battle within us. Our old nature—the flesh—still tries to exert control. But through the Holy Spirit, given to...