Reflections

  God’s Love through Our Words  Bible Reading: Jeremiah 1: 1-10 Key verse :    “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you. Before you were born, I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” Jeremiah 1:5  DEVOTION This is how God’s love prepares and calls us. What a powerful reminder of God’s love! Before Jeremiah ever spoke a word, before he knew who he was, God already knew him, loved him, and gave him purpose. The same is true for you and me—God’s love is not an afterthought. It began before our first breath. God tells Jeremiah, the young man, that you are going to minister to the nations. Babylon is coming and is ready to take over the southern kingdom. Jerusalem is going to be destroyed. The best of you will be taken into captivity. It is a tough message to preach. God reveals His great love—personal, purposeful, present, and powerful. God’s Love is Personal. “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you.” Lord is saying I have chosen you ...

  Overcome Evil with GOOD” Bible Reading: Romans 12:9-21 Key verse :    VS 21 Do not be overcome by evil,but overcome  evil with good. DEVOTION Romans 12:9-21 presents a radical paradigm for Christian living, culminating in the profound directive to "overcome evil with good." This passage, emphasizing genuine love, hospitality, and blessing towards those who persecute us, has found deep resonance within Eastern Indian Christianity, where such principles have been tested through centuries of diverse cultural and religious contexts. I would like to draw your attention to the main points related to the verses that Paul has pointed out in his letter to the Romans. The foundation of authentic, unhypocritical love Specific behavioral instructions like devotion, honor, spiritual fervor, and service  The importance of hope, perseverance, and prayer  Practical expressions like sharing with believers and hospitality  The radical call to bless persecutors instead...

  Stewardship – Faithfulness and Transparency Bible Reading:    St. Luke 19:12-24 Key verse :  “Well done, good servant! Because you were faithful in a very little, you shall have authority over ten cities.” Luke 19:17 NRSV DEVOTION In this parable, Jesus describes a nobleman who entrusts his servants with money before leaving for a time. Upon his return, he evaluates how they used what was given. Jesus teaches us that stewardship is not about how much we have, but how we use what has been entrusted to us. Each servant received the same amount, yet their outcomes differed because of their faithfulness. 1.  Faithfulness –  The faithful servants took what their master gave them and worked with it. Faithfulness is about consistency, diligence, and commitment to honor God even in small things. When we are faithful in little, God can trust us with more. 2.  Transparency  – When the master returned, the servants had to give an account. They openly ...

  Stewardship with integrity Bible Reading:    Acts 5:1–11 Key verse :    “Peter said, ‘Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit…? You have not lied just to human beings but to God.’” (Acts 5:3–4) DEVOTION The story of Ananias and Sapphira is eye opening. They sold a piece of property, but instead of giving the full amount as they had claimed, they secretly kept part of the money back for themselves. Their sin was not that they withheld money.  Peter made it clear that the property and money were theirs to do with as they pleased. Their sin was deception. They wanted the appearance of generosity without the reality of sacrifice. This story reminds us that stewardship is more than giving; it is about honesty and integrity. God calls us to be faithful with everything He entrusts to us our time, gifts, resources, and opportunities. Living with integrity means being transparent before God and others, acknowled...

  Stewardship as an Overflow of Love   Bible Reading:  2 Corinthians 8:1–15   Key verse :   “But since you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge,  in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you—see that you also  excel in this grace of giving.” 2 Corinthians 8:7 NIV   DEVOTION In 2 Corinthians 8, Paul highlights the churches in Macedonia, who, despite their  extreme poverty, gave generously to support fellow believers. This giving was not  out of obligation or surplus. Rather it was an overflow of love rooted in their  devotion to Christ. They gave themselves first to the Lord, and their stewardship  flowed naturally from that relationship.   True stewardship isn’t measured by the amount we give, but by the heart behind it.  When we are captured by God’s love, generosity becomes a joyful response rather  than a burden. Just as Christ gave Himself fully for us, our giving, whic...

  “The Heart of a Generous Steward”   Bible Reading:  1 Chronicles 29:10-18   Key verse :  : “O Lord, God of our fathers Abraham, Isaac and Israel, keep this desire in the hearts of your people forever, and keep their hearts loyal to You.”   DEVOTION Today’s Bible portion takes place right after King David gives his personal fortune for the building of God’s temple and encouraged the people to do so as well. They also gave above and beyond from their riches and as they all rejoiced together, David praised God with the prayer found in verses 10-13. David makes it a point to note that everything is God’s. “Yours is the greatness and the power, and the glory, and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is Yours…wealth and honor come from You, You are the ruler of all things. Everything is God’s, and David goes on to say that everything that they have given for God’s temple is already His. “We have given you only what comes from your ha...

  Accountable Hands: Integrity in God’s Work Bible Reading:   2 Kings 12: 4-15 Key verse :    "“They did not require an accounting from those to whom they gave the money to pay the workers, because they acted with complete honesty.” - 2 Kings 12:15 DEVOTION In the early years of King Joisha's reign, he declared the temple to be repaired and  instructed the priest to collect money from the people. However, due to poor instructions and  negligence, in his 23rd year, the repairs of the temple had still not begun. Realizing this, he  assigned specific roles where the priests collected donations and gave them to the supervisors.  The supervisors then gave the funds to the carpenters who did their work diligently. Because of  their complete honesty, no accounting of the money was required.   This passage serves as a reminder to us about the importance of accountability. We see  two groups in their integrity to do God’s work where one...

  Unity, the Foundation of Stewardship Bible Reading:  Ephesians 4: 1-6 Key verse :  Ephesians 4: 5   There is one body and one spirit just as you were called to the one hope of our calling. DEVOTION “As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have  received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make  every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one  Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one  baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”   In this passage, Paul is issuing a call to action. In the previous three chapters of Ephesians, Paul  is providing a blueprint of what our new identity in Christ should look like. Here, we see  practical actions we can take to be a follower of Jesus. Although he’s providing guid...

  Pursue Godliness with Enduring Integrity Bible Reading:    1 Timothy 6:7-12  Key verse :  Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. (1 Timothy 6: 12) DEVOTION 1 Timothy is a letter written by the Apostle Paul to his young disciple Timothy. Paul had left Timothy in Ephesus to lead the church there and wrote this letter to give him guidance on how to lead well. The letter focuses on sound teaching, godly leadership, and practical instructions for church life. Paul emphasizes the importance of living a life of faith, integrity, and godliness, especially in the face of false teachings and moral decline. At its core, 1 Timothy is a call to spiritual maturity and faithful service in God’s household—the church. Chapter 6 gives final instructions on godly living. Paul addresses proper attitudes of servants toward their masters, warns against ...

  Senior Citizens: Models of God’s Righteousness Bible Reading:    St. Luke 2:25-38  Key verse :    "Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him." (Luke 2:25) DEVOTION Luke 2:25-38 describes the encounter of Simeon and Anna with the infant Jesus in the temple. Simeon, a righteous and devout man led by the Holy Spirit, had been promised he would not die before seeing the Messiah. When Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the temple, Simeon recognized him as God’s salvation—a light for the Gentiles and the glory of Israel. At the same time, the prophetess Anna, a devoted widow who worshiped continually in the temple, also recognized Jesus and praised God, speaking to all who awaited Jerusalem’s redemption about the child. Simeon shows wisdom by recognizing God’s Messiah when others saw only a poor couple with a baby, because his heart and mind were shaped by the Spirit. His courage s...

  Chosen, Sanctified, Firm in Faith Bible Reading:    2 Thessalonians  2:13-15 Key verse :    But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you as first fruits to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. (2 Thess.  2:13 ) DEVOTION In 2 Thessalonians  2:13-15 , Paul reminds the Thessalonians of their identity in Christ. This passage reminds as of the absolute truth that we are chosen by God, consecrated by the spirit and stand firm in faith. God’s choice of us is not based on anything we have done but on His everlasting love & grace. Sanctification is not just a one-time event but an ongoing work of the spirit in transforming believers into the image of Christ. This reality humbles us and fills us with gratefulness. It convinces us that our salvation is secured in Christ Jesus and rooted up in His divine purpose and plan. This i...

  God’s Love: An Unshakeable Foundation Bible Reading:    Romans 8:31-39 Key verse :    "What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all" (Rom.  8:31 ) DEVOTION In Romans 8:31-39, Paul asks a powerful question: “If God is for us, who can be against us?” These words anchor us in an unshakeable truth—God’s power is unmatched. God’s glory is unmatched. God’s majesty is unmatched. God’s strength is unmatched. God’s awe is unmatched. God’s might is unmatched. There is nothing in this world or out of this world that our God cannot overcome. As we magnify God’s power and majesty, we must also understand that the foundation for all of the Almighty’s godliness is love. God’s love is what drives His power, His glory, His majesty, His strength, and His awe. God’s love is wider than the widest ocean, deeper than the deepest sea, vaster and more all-encompassing t...

  Shining for Eternity Bible Reading:    Philippians  2:12-18   Key verse :    Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation then you will shine among them like stars in the sky. (Philippians 2: 14,15) DEVOTION “Enjoy every minute of your life. Be close to your family and be close to your friends and have compassion and understanding for other people “this was a simple message Judge Frank Caprio of Rhode Island gave to his granddaughter and to the world. He was a shining star in this world because of his unique approach to justice as he treated defendants with kindness, empathy and fairness. He often dismissed traffic violation tickets after listening to the defendant’s explanations or showed leniency when handing over justice. He also dedicated his life to improve access to legal services particularly for low income individuals...

  Bless with Lasting faith Bible Reading:    Genesis 48:1-22 Key verse :    Israel said to Joseph “I never expected to see your face again, and now God has allowed Joseph to see your children your children too “(Genesis 48: 11) DEVOTION Genesis 48 describes how Joseph presented his children to Jacob to receive the blessings.  The previous chapters in Genesis gives an understanding of the life of Joseph. Joseph was young boy when he was abandoned in a well and sold to the Egyptians by his jealous brothers. Joseph ‘s brothers lied to their father about Joseph being mauled and killed by wild animal that broke Jacob’s heart. During the famine in Israel Joseph’s brothers were forced to go to Egypt to obtain food to survive the famine. The incidents that occurred in Egypt allowed the brothers to realize that Joseph was the long-lost brother that was currently in charge of Pharoh’s Palace. It was more than anything else, complete turnaround of events in the life o...

  Worship before God’s Throne Bible Reading:    Revelation 4:4-11 Key verse :  "Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created" (Revelation 4:11).  DEVOTION God is holy and is worthy of honor and glory: v 4,8:   Reveals the reality of heaven, the profound themes of God’s majesty, sovereignty, and worthiness of worship. Revelation was written during a time when people were to worship the Roman emperor Domitian as God or die. All were to say, “Caesar is Lord,” there was no escape. Christians were confronted with the choice: Caesar or Christ. John saw terrifying and dreadful things, but beyond them he saw glory for those who defied Caesar for the love of Christ. The call to worship: v 8:  The living creatures cry out "Holy, holy, holy" without ceasing, emphasizing God's absolute and infinite holiness. This attribute of holiness is what separates God from al...

  Women and Evangelization Bible Reading:    Romans 16:1-12 Key verse :   “I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deacon of the church in Cenchreae. I ask you to receive her in the Lord in a way worthy of his people…” ( Romans 16:1–2 ) DEVOTION In Romans 16, St. Paul mention many people to honor them. He highlights Phoebe, Priscilla, Mary, Tryphena, Tryphosa, Persis, Julia, and the mother of Rufus. These women were leaders, co-workers, and encouragers in the mission of Christ. Paul calls Phoebe a  deacon  and commends her ministry. He praises Priscilla and Aquila for risking their lives for the gospel. He acknowledges Mary for her hard work, and he honor0 women like Tryphena and Tryphosa, who “worked hard in the Lord.” In a world where women were often marginalized, Paul placed them at the very heart of evangelization. This passage reminds us that evangelization is not confined to pulpit preaching or apostolic journeys. It is also expressed through hosp...

  Women: Proclaimers and Practitioners of Change Bible Reading:    Matthew 28:1-10 Key verse :    “Then Jesus said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.’” (Mt. 28:10) DEVOTION As we reflect on the theme of women being proclaimers and practitioners of Christ, today’s passage reminds us that the resurrection story of Christ begins with women. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary journeyed to the tomb expecting to mourn, but instead were the first to encounter the risen Christ. In a society where women’s words were undervalued and dismissed, Jesus entrusted them to share His most important message. He instructed them to ‘Go and tell.’ God did not see them for their social status or authority, but for their faithfulness and obedient hearts. Their unwavering loyalty and willingness to follow His calling made them the first proclaimers of Christ’s victory over death. And by delivering the news to the disciples, they...