Reflections

  Rejoice in suffering for His Name  Bible Reading: 1 Peter  4:12-19   Key verse : But rejoice in as much as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed  DEVOTION   Suffering isn't something we naturally embrace. It unsettles us, weakens us, and often leads us to question where God is in the midst of it. Yet Peter writes with a striking boldness that challenges our instinctive response: “Rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings.”  Why would he say that? Because for those who follow Christ, suffering in His name isn’t a sign of failure—it’s a sign of belonging. When we face rejection, persecution, or isolation because of our faith, we’re actually being honored with the opportunity to walk the same path Jesus did. He, too, was rejected, ridiculed, and ultimately crucified.  Peter doesn't ignore the pain. He calls it what it is—a “fiery trial.” But he also gives us a reason to hold...

  Be Awake for the Glorious Appearance of Our Lord Bible Reading:  Matthew 25:31–46 Key verse : “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne.” – Matthew 25:31 DEVOTION In this text, we are reminded to live in expectation of Christ’s return. In Matthew 25: 31–46, Jesus offers a glimpse of what that return will look like- glorious, decisive, and revealing. This passage is both a comfort and a challenge. It calls us not just to watch for His return, but to live as people prepared for it. To be “awake” is to live a life of faithful love and compassion in action. 1.  Christ Will Return in Glory and Judgment Jesus reminds us that His second coming will be majestic and final. He will return not as a humble servant, but as the King of kings, seated on His glorious throne. This calls for holy reverence and readiness (Revelation 22:12). 2.  True Readiness is Revealed Through Compassion The division between the sh...

  Await the eternal light of Christ Bible Reading:     Revelations 22:1-5 Key  verse : There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light... DEVOTION A phrase we often hear is “light at the end of the tunnel”. This phrase represents hope and anticipation of something good that is bound to happen. In the bible, there are many different characteristics attributed to light. 1 John 1:5 says, “God is light, in Him there is no darkness at all”. So essentially, light is the absence of darkness. Jesus refers to Himself as the light of the world and whoever believes in Him will be given the eternal light of life. We, as believers, are called the children of the light. Light is also synonymous to good whereas darkness represents evil. In the New Testament, we also see light as synonymous with eternal life and salvation.  Revelations 22 talks about the new Eden. Much like the old gard...

  The Lord Remembers the Faithful  Bible Reading:    Malachi 3:13–18  Key verse : “Then those who feared the LORD talked with each other, and the LORD listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who feared the LORD and honored his name.” (Malachi 3:16 NIV)  DEVOTION In Malachi’s day, many people had turned away from God, chasing after idols and ignoring His ways. Yet even in the midst of unfaithfulness, a small group remained faithful—they loved, feared, and honored the Lord. They encouraged one another to stay true, and God noticed their faithfulness. He promised that their names would be written in His “book of remembrance,” saying, “They will be mine,” says the LORD Almighty, “in the day when I make up my treasured possession” (Malachi 3:17 NIV).  That same promise is true for us today. In a world that celebrates wealth, power, and popularity, quiet faith and obedience can feel unnoticed. But Jesus remind...

  He will come again in Glory Bible Reading:   Acts 1:6–11 Key verse : Verse: 11  "Who also said, 'Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.'" DEVOTION The ascension of Jesus must have been one of the most perplexing moments for His disciples. As Jesus was taken up, the disciples stood gazing, lost in that moment. A cloud of disappointment may even have been visible on their faces, prompting the angels to remind them: “He will come again in glory.” Hope is one of the most powerful forces that drives humanity. We wake up each day with expectations. As Christians, the essence of our hope is that life on this earth is temporary, and our permanent life is in eternity. The sorrows and pain we experience here are momentary. We believe that the whole earth will witness the second coming of Jesus—that is when our faith will be fulfilled. Matthew 24:30...

  Who may Dwell with Lord? Bible Reading:    Psalm 15 Key verse :  “Lord, who may dwell in your sacred tent? Who may live on your Holy mountain” Psalm: 15:1 DEVOTION This short Psalm begins with a question, ends with a Promise, and the verses in between answer the questions illustrated in the first verse. David the Psalmist, surely knew that to dwell in God’s presence required the commitment of Perfection unquestionably he knew of the various passages in Exodus that spoke of God’s presence in the cloud and fire that led his chosen people out of Egypt, a presence on the mountain that evoked fear in His People, a Presence in which He commended that they build a tabernacle for Him to dwell. From these questions David surely knew that to dwell in God’s presence was a serious matter. David tells of the man who can dwell in the holiness Presence of the Lord. But who can pass the test? He must be a man of absolute integrity, filled with righteousness and truth, with no evil...

  Stay watchful, the Time is Near  Bible Reading:    Mark 13:28-37 Key verse :“Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come.” ‭‭Mark‬ ‭13‬:‭33‬ DEVOTION This passage tells us that Jesus will come again at an unpredictable time. As we don’t know the exact hour of His return, so we ought to be vigilant and always prepared to receive Him. Noah preached for years, unfortunately people did not repent. Though he never saw rainfall, he believed God and built the ark as instructed by Him. People ridiculed him. One morning, business started as usual, celebrations were going on and it started to rain. Just as the rain poured down and the flood came up at an unpredictable time, the coming of Jesus will be. Only Noah and his family were prepared for the flood in the safety of the ark, therefore the rest perished. This incident is recorded in the Scriptures for our admonition. The first time Jesus incarnated as a suffering Servant, who vicariously died on the c...

  Discern the Body, Receive with Reverence Bible Reading:   1 Cor. 11: 23-30 Key verse :“For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves.” – 1 Corinthians 11:29 DEVOTION Accepting the Holy Qurbana as Christ’s body and blood goes beyond a symbolic ritual.  It is a profound and living reminder of Christ’s unconditional love and sacrifice for mankind. Apostle Paul during his missionary journey helped establish the Christian community in Corinth.   Paul’s letter details pastoral correction regarding their conduct of the Last Supper, which was influenced by division, self-indulgence, and spiritual carelessness. The Holy Qurbana is a sacred moment where time and eternity converge. It’s a divine invitation to examine our hearts, reconcile with God and receive grace with awe and humility.  Christ’s past sacrifice, his present presence, and his future return all come into view.  It’s a divine mystery which ...

  Holy Qurbana: The Food for Eternal Life Bible Reading:     St. John 6:47-58 Key verse : "Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day." – St. John 6:54 DEVOTION In our spiritual journey, we often seek something that can sustain us, nourish us, and provide a deep sense of connection to the divine. The Gospel of John, in the profound words of Jesus, presents us with this ultimate nourishment: His own body and blood, offered as the food for eternal life. This passage from John 6 is not merely a metaphor; it's a profound truth about the Holy Qurbana, the Divine Liturgy that is at the heart of our worship. Jesus speaks of a food that is unlike any other. While our physical bodies require bread and water to survive, our spiritual lives need a different kind of sustenance.  He tells us, "I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. (V 51)"  This ...

  Partake in the Table of Christ Bible Reading:    1 Corinthians 10:14–22 Key verse :  “Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread.” (1 Cor.  10:17 ) DEVOTION The Corinthian church lived in a culture where feasts to idols were everywhere. Paul reminds them that to partake of the Lord’s Table is to belong fully to Christ.  “You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too” (v. 21) . Jesus also said,  “No one can serve two masters” (Matthew 6:24) .   Idolatry may look different today. It might be the glowing phone that steals our mornings, the calendar that leaves no room for prayer, or the quiet pressure to measure our worth by career or possessions. These rival “tables” promise satisfaction but leave us empty. Christ, however, invites us to His Table where  He alone is the Bread of Life (John 6:35) . Here we partake of gifts beyond measure: pardon for our sins, fellowship in His...

  Manna: God's Provision from Heaven Bible Reading:    Exodus 16:11-32 Key verse :  “I have heard the complaints of the children of Israel. Speak to them, saying, ‘At twilight you shall eat meat, and in the morning, you shall be filled with bread. And you shall know that I am the Lord your God.’” (Exodus 16: 12) DEVOTION   Exodus 16 is an interesting narrative of how God miraculously fed the Israelites during their journey from Egypt to Sinai, demonstrating His provision and prompting reflection on trust, obedience, and God's character. It highlights God's faithfulness, power, and holiness, as well as Israel's tendency to doubt, their attitude of unbelief, ingratitude, and disobedience.   We see God’s unwavering care, patience and compassion in hearing and answering the complaints of His people, even though they were unjust and ungrateful.   The Lord hears the Israelites’ complaints and promises to provide meat (quail) in the evening and bread (ma...

  Breaking Bread in Fellowship and Faith Bible Reading:    Acts  2: 42  – 47 Key verse :  “ They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” (Acts  2: 42 ) DEVOTION Acts 2 records the birth of the Church through the descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. The apostles, gathered in one place, got filled with the Holy Spirit, started speaking in various tongues and drew a huge multitude of gentiles from many nations.  Peter’s unflinching sermon proclaiming Jesus as the risen Messiah, cuts into the hearts of around 3,000 people that are baptized in a single day and the Church begins to grow.   Verses 42 to 47 describe the immediate result of this spiritual awakening.  When there is a spiritual awakening, a deep rooted, devoted and Spirit-filled community is raised. These believers committed themselves to the (i) teachings of the apostles' (ii) had a genuine relatio...

   The Passover Meal of Deliverence Bible Reading:    Exodus 12:21-28 Key verse :  “Obey these instructions as a lasting ordinance for you and your descendants.” (Exodus 12:24) DEVOTION The last plague in Egypt resulted in Israel’s deliverance from Egypt. God sent death to the firstborn of Egypt, but the Israelites were saved because they obeyed God’s instructions. Moses told the elders to take a lamb, kill it, and put its blood on the doorposts. This act showed their faith and obedience. That night, God protected the houses marked by blood. Later, this act became a yearly ritual called Passover. Historians explain that Passover started in a farming and shepherd culture. The lamb and the unleavened bread were part of ancient spring festivals. When God delivered Israel, these foods were given new meaning as they became signs of redemption and covenant. The lamb’s blood was a sign of protection. “Pass over” does not mean God ignored the houses but that God gu...

  Saved by Grace, Not by Law Bible Reading:    Acts 15:1-11 Key verse:   “…we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.” (Acts  15: 11 ) DEVOTION Among the Biblical narrations, Acts 15 is noted as the record of the earliest Christian council, widely recognized as the Jerusalem Council. It records a conflict that included both theological and identity concerns in the early Church:  Must Gentile believers follow the Law of Moses to be saved? . Some insisted on circumcision which is a covenant marker of Jewish identity. Historically, circumcision symbolized belonging to God’s people since Abraham (Genesis 17:10). For Jewish Christians, abandoning this sign could mean discarding holiness as circumcision was a non-negotiable sign of covenant identity for them. For Gentiles, adopting it meant erasing their cultural identity. The debate in Acts 15 includes Peter’s declaration, “We believe it is throug...

  Renewal by God’s Grace  Bible Reading:  Titus 3:2-9 Key verse: Vs 5 He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy spirit. DEVOTION  In Titus 3:2-9, Paul tells us to live with kindness, humility, and peace toward everyone. He also reminds us that we weren’t always this way. At one time, we were lost making bad choices, following our own desires, and trapped in sin. It’s humbling to admit, but it makes God’s grace even more amazing.  Our salvation didn’t happen because we were “good enough” or because we earned it. It happened because God, in His mercy, stepped in. Through Jesus, He poured out His Holy Spirit on us, washing us clean and giving us new life. This renewal isn’t just a one-time event when we first believed it’s something God keeps doing in us every day. His Spirit keeps shaping us, softening our hearts, and helping us grow.  When God renews us, it changes how we live. We’re no longer defined by our past mistakes we’re heirs...

  Church that needs to be cleansed everyday  Bible Reading:  Mark  11:15-18 Key verse: Vs 17 "My house will be called  a house of prayer for all nations. But you have made it a den of robbers ." DEVOTION AN UNHOLY ALLIANCE  Have you found yourselves in a spiritual environment which has a stench of unholiness all around it?  Have you found yourselves in the most holy places which exploited the less fortunate and made a profit out of it? This was the very situation that Jesus found himself at the temple courts in Jerusalem as the Passover was nearing in Mark 11.  In the book of John there is a cleansing of the temple in John 2.  In John 2: 16 we read Jesus saying “Get these out of here !  Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!” In both the narratives Jesus is cleansing the temple. There is a big possibility that at a time of festival or feast or any spiritual observance or even at the everyday affairs of a spiritual institution you ...

  Independence and Responsibility Bible Reading: Exodus 23: 1 – 9 ‘Love the foreigner amongst you as yourself...I am the Lord your God” Leviticus 19:34 Key verse: Vs    “So, in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you.” DEVOTION In Exodus 23:9, God commanded, “You must not oppress a foreigner; you know the heart of a foreigner, because you yourselves were foreigners...”  We were once strangers in this country. But we quickly adapted, worked hard and soon realized the American Dream. God has been most gracious to us.  It is important to note that when we first reached these shores, we were treated humanely by the people who were already living here. Our families did not get split. Our children did not get separated from us.  We were not put in concentration camps. Our migrant experience has been most humane.   Unfortunately, this is not true for all migrants to this land.  Most migrants leave their countries due to war, pove...

  STAY ROOTED IN GOD’S WORD Bible Reading:  2 Timothy  3:10-17 Key verse: Vs    Vs 16 - All Scripture is God breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness DEVOTION It takes real courage for a person to stand for Christ in the present world we live in today. To practice a godly life in a godless society and to be rooted in God’s word is gained only from the Word of God.  Everything around us is changing - society, education, morality, values, culture and even the interpretation of the Scripture have changed drastically.       Apostle Paul’s 2 letter to Timothy was written when Paul was awaiting execution in Rome. These are the final words of Paul at the end of his ministry and his life. Paul has only hours left but Timothy has years left to minister. Sitting in a dark dungeon awaiting death, loneliness crept in and Paul took his pen and wrote to his friend Timothy. Paul’s chief concern is for...