Reflections

  Compassion Loving and Suffering Together Bible Reading:  Matthew 9:35 to 38 Key verse :   Vs 37 The harvest is plentiful  but the laborers are few therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest DEVOTION Jesus is moving through towns and villages, teaching, healing, and caring for the people He meets. In this passage when He looks at the crowds, He does not see numbers or problems to avoid, rather He sees tired, confused, and hurting people, described as sheep without a shepherd, and His heart is moved with deep compassion. This compassion is not shallow sympathy. It is the willingness to love and suffer together. Jesus enters into the struggles of others, offering presence, care, and hope. He responds not with judgment or distance, but with mercy and action, reminding us that true compassion always draws us closer to those who are hurting. Jesus then points out that the need is great and the workers are few. This is not on...

  Compassion That Lifts the Broken to New Life Scripture Bible Reading: Acts of the Apostles 3:1-16 Key verse :   Vs 6 But Peter said ,"I have no silver and gold but what I do have I give it to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. DEVOTION In Acts of the Apostles Chapter 3, we encounter a man who had been unable to walk since birth, living each day dependent on the kindness of others. As Peter and John approached the temple gate, they did not avert their eyes or rush past him. Instead, they truly see him and respond with compassion grounded in faith. Peter and John had no silver or gold to offer, yet they gave something far greater. In the name of Jesus Christ, the man was healed, lifted to his feet, and given new life. What began as a simple act of attention and obedience became a powerful testimony to God’s saving power. This passage reminds us that compassion is more than warm feelings. It calls for action and trust in God. When we offer what we ha...

  Lent Celebration of Redemption Bible Reading: Hebrews 8:7 to 13 Key verse :   Vs 12 For I will be merciful toward their iniquities and I will remember their sin no more DEVOTION In this passage, we learn about God’s promise of a new covenant. This covenant is not written on stone, but written on our hearts. Lent is a time when we are reminded that God does not give up on us when we fail. Instead, He offers forgiveness and a fresh beginning. This passage reminds us that God chooses mercy and grace, and that He remembers our sins no more. Friends, mercy and grace are truly something to celebrate, especially during the Lenten season. As we journey through Lent, we are invited to open our hearts to God’s transforming love. When we trust in His promises, we begin to live differently. Lent becomes not just a season of sacrifice, but a celebration of the redemption God gives to all who turn to Him. PRAYER Lord, thank You for Your gift of redemption. During this Lenten season, help ...

  Lent for the Redemption of All Creation Bible Reading: Jonah 3 Key verse :   Vs 5 The people of Nineveh believed God's message. So they decided that every one should fast  and all the people from  the greatest to the least put on sackcloth to show that they had repented. DEVOTION Jonah 3 shows us how wide and generous God’s mercy is. When Jonah finally listens to God and goes to Nineveh, the people take his message to heart. They repent, fast, and commit to changing their ways. Even the king and the animals join. This reminds us that God’s care extends to everyone and everything He has created. Building on this, Lent is a season that encourages us to turn back to God. Jonah 3 teaches us that repentance is more than simply saying we are sorry; it means making real changes in how we live. When the people of Nineveh turned toward God, God responded with mercy. This assures us that God is always ready to forgive when we sincerely choose what is right. As the biblical s...

  Lent for Transformation Bible Reading: Galatians 5:16 to 24 Key verse :   Vs 23-24  If we live by the spirit let us also keep in step with the spirit. Let us not become conceited provoking one another, envying one another. DEVOTION Lent is a season that invites us to pause, reflect, and allow God to shape us more deeply. In Galatians 5:16–24, St. Paul explains the difference between living by our own wants and living by the Holy Spirit. He teaches that when we follow the Holy Spirit, we learn to make better choices and live the way God wants us to live. He also reminds us that transformation begins when we choose to walk with the Spirit rather than being led by selfish or harmful ways. We often face pressure, distractions, and constant decision making. Our reading challenges us to think about what is guiding our daily choices. St. Paul lists the fruit of the Spirit, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control, and show...

   Unity and Integrity Bible Reading: 1 Corinthians 10:23 to 33 Key verse :   Vs 33  Imitate me as  I also imitate Christ  DEVOTION Beloved in Christ, In 1 Corinthians 10:23 to 33, Paul teaches us that even though we may be free to do many things, not everything is good for us or for others. God wants us to use our freedom in ways that help people and bring us closer together. Unity means caring about one another and choosing actions that bring peace instead of harm. Integrity means doing the right thing even when no one is watching. Paul reminds us that whatever we do, big or small, we should do it for God’s glory. When our actions match our faith, others can see God’s love through us. God calls us to think about how our choices affect others. When we live with unity and integrity, we show Christ’s love and help build a stronger Church.   PRAYER Lord, help me live in unity and integrity, and let all I do bring glory to You. Amen THOUGHT FOR THE DAY No...

  One Heart and Soul: Faith Lived in Action  Bible Reading: Acts 4:32-37  Key verse :   “All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their  own, but they shared everything they had.” Acts  4:32   DEVOTION The early church was marked by unity. We see in Acts  4:32 , “All the believers were one in heart and  mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had.”  At first glance, this seems like radical economics. However, Luke is careful to show us the deeper truth.  What they held in common wasn’t primarily possessions but a shared testimony: the resurrection of Jesus  Christ.   The testimony of the resurrected Christ convicted the early believers. Their generosity flowed from this  conviction. Because Christ had conquered death, fear no longer ruled them. Security was no longer found  in what they owned, but in wh...

  Unity in Faith and Action  Bible Reading:  Mark 6:32-44  Key verse :   “They all ate and were satisfied.” Mark 5:42  DEVOTION In life it is easy to forget anything is possible with God, especially when things get hard both  physically and mentally. Mark 6:32-44 describes when Jesus fed the five thousand with only five  loaves of bread and two fish despite the disciples thinking they did not have enough.   Even when the disciples thought that they didn’t have enough, they still listened to Jesus, which  provided a great outcome! In verse 42 it says “They all ate and were satisfied”. Jesus is able to  satisfy so many people with such little resources. If Christ can satisfy the physical hunger of so  many people, we can point people to the way to quench their spiritual hunger.   Many of us have experienced the love of Christ first hand and saw how he quenched our spiritual  hunger. As Christians we are called to point ...

  One Work, Many Servants, One God  Bible Reading: 1 Corinthians 3:1-9  Key verse :   “The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded  according to their own labor.” 1 Corinthians 3:8  DEVOTION Have you ever been found comparing yourself to others, and becoming envious of what they have  achieved? Jealousy is a master at curtailing love for others and hindering the purpose of our life.   1 Corinthians 3:1-9 is an example of how throughout the ministry of the gospel message, jealousy can  create a strong division between believers. The key to overcoming this jealousy is understanding that it  takes more than one servant to build up the kingdom of our Lord.   With this, one should understand that each servant has a different role: Paul explains, “The one who  plants and the one who waters work together with the same purpose (v8). The one purpose we have as  believers is to bring mo...

  Stones of Unity: Remembering God’s Acts Together  Bible Reading: Joshua 4:1-11  Key verse :    “tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. When it  crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. These stones are to be a memorial to the people  of Israel forever.” Joshua 4:7  DEVOTION Joshua 4:1-11 describes how after over 40 years the Israelites have finally reached Canaan! The Israelites  must have been eager to enter the promised land especially with preparations for their families and all  belongings on their mind. But first, they needed to remember how they got there. When Joshua obeys  God’s command to gather one man from each tribe, he is honoring the faithfulness God showed not only  the Israelites who traveled the last forty years, but also God’s faithfulness in fulfilling the promises made  to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Though each of the twelve men ...

  and favor, so that “His ways will  be known throughout the earth, His saving power among people everywhere” (v2).   You see, brothers and sisters, we are called to be a blessing to others just like how God has  abundantly blessed us. As we continue to seek Him, may our lives be pleasing to God, so that  others may have that opportunity to know the Lord by His grace and unfailing love.  PRAYER Father God, we thank you for today and for giving us another day to experience your goodness. We thank you for all the blessings that you’ve poured on our lives. Jesus, we pray that you will help us to reflect your love to others and to help us treat others the way you want us to treat them. I pray that you may help us to be the blessing that you called us to be to others so that they may come to know you. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.  THOUGHT FOR THE DAY As Christians, let us take time each day and reflect on how to show God’s love for those around  us. May we be...

  United in Prayer, United in God’s Revelation Bible Reading:  Daniel  2:17-23 Key verse :    “He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him.” Daniel 2:22 DEVOTION When Daniel was faced with a situation that could cost him his life, he did not try to solve it on his own. Instead, he went home and shared the problem with his friends Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. Together, they prayed and asked God for mercy. Their first response was not fear or panic, but unity in prayer.   That night, God revealed the mystery to Daniel in a vision. What is powerful is how Daniel responded. He did not take credit for what happened. He immediately praised God, recognizing that wisdom and power belong to Him alone. Daniel understood that God controls time and seasons, raises up leaders, and brings light into the darkest situations.  This passage teaches us the power of group prayer and that prayer is not only meant to be do...

  United in Compassion Bible Reading:  Mark 2:1-12 Key verse :   “When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven.” Mark 2:5 DEVOTION In Mark 2:1-12, we are shown that compassion is most powerful when shared through others. In this passage, we read that a paralyzed man is brought to Jesus by four men. Unable to reach Jesus through the crowd, they worked together to create an opening in the roof to lower their friend down. Their unity shows that compassion is shown through not only sympathy, but action.  In Mark 2:5, Jesus not only recognizes the faith of the paralyzed man, but the group of four men who carried him: “When Jesus saw their faith…” Healing begins when a community works together in faith. True faith is shown through how we carry each other, especially when someone is unable to stand on their own.  Before healing the paralyzed man, Jesus forgives his sins. True compassion looks beyond what is visible and seeks co...

  God is Sovereign over everyone and everything  Bible Reading:  1 Peter 5:7-11  Key verse :   "Casting our burdens on the God who cares." 1 Peter 5:7  DEVOTION Life is filled with difficulties of various kinds-financial hardship, relational conflicts, health issues, stress at work, parenting challenges, feeling lonely or isolated, losing a loved one, and a wide variety of other situations that can be quite difficult to get through. Our society may suggest that we seek ways to get through these difficulties with various techniques and methods, like meditations, seeing therapist, vacation, relaxing, and engaging in a hobby.  However, the Bible offers us something superior. The world offers techniques, but the Bible offers us truth-specifically truths about God. The bible tells us about who God is and what He does for us.  (v.7) Cast anxieties on God: Don't be weighed down by worries, give them to God, because he genuinely cares for you and is capab...

  Trusting in a caring God Bible Reading: Mathew 6:19-34 Key verse :   *Where Your Treasure Is, There Your Peace Will Be*  DEVOTION The greatest problem in life is not the absence of wealth, opportunity, or success, but the absence of peace. Many live under constant anxiety,worrying about family, finances, the future, and the security of their possessions. In pursuing material happiness, hearts become restless and burdened. Jesus speaks directly to this human reality in Matthew 6:19–34. Real-life experiences reveal a consistent truth: those who accumulate much often lose peace guarding it, while others with fewer possessions but deeper trust in God live with quiet assurance. Homes may be filled with comfort and abundance, yet hearts remain anxious, reminding us that peace cannot be purchased. Jesus therefore teaches us not to store treasures on earth, where everything is temporary, but to store treasures in heaven, where nothing can be destroyed. He points to the birds th...

  God's care that brings peace to the anxious heart  Bible Reading:  Philippians 4 : 4 - 8  Key verse :   Rejoice in the Lord always…Don’t be anxious about anything, but in every situation , by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God. ( Phil 4 : 4 & 6 )  DEVOTION The passage offers a compassionate invitation to anxious hearts, reminding believers, of God’s constant and tender care. Paul begins by urging us to rejoice always—not as a denial of life’s struggles, but as a declaration of trust in a faithful God. True joy flows from the assurance that the Lord is near, attentive to every burden we carry. When anxiety creeps in, Scripture does not command us to suppress our worries, but to surrender them through prayer and supplication, accompanied by thanksgiving.  Prayer becomes the bridge between human weakness and divine strength. As we place our concerns before God, acknowledging His past faithfulness, His peace begins to...

  The Caring God Who Defends His People   Bible Reading: 2 Chronicles 32:9-23 Key verse :   2 Chronicles 20. King Hezekiah and the Prophet Isaiah son of Amoz cried to heaven about this. 21.And the LORD sent an angel who annihilated all the fighting men and the commanders and officers in the camp of the Assyrian King. DEVOTION In 2 Chronicles 32:9–23, we read about King Hezekiah and the people of Judah facing a powerful enemy. Sennacherib, king of Assyria, surrounded Jerusalem with a mighty army and sent messages filled with fear, intimidation, and mockery. He questioned the power of the LORD God and tried to convince the people that trusting in the Lord was useless. His words were meant to weaken their faith and cause them to surrender without a fight. This passage reminds us that opposition often comes not only through circumstances but also through words that stir fear and doubt. The enemy attacked the people’s confidence by comparing the LORD God to powerless idols, at...

  God’s Care in the Midst of the Storm  Bible Reading: Acts 27:9-26  Key verse :   “Do not be afraid… God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.” Acts 27:24  DEVOTION “God’s care in the midst of the storm” reminds us that God is present and faithful even when life feels overwhelming and out of our control. The storms of life—seasons of fear, loss, uncertainty, and waiting—often leave us searching for peace and clarity. Yet Scripture assures us, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit”(Psalm 34:18, NIV). God’s care does not always mean immediate deliverance from hardship, but it does mean His unfailing presence within it.  In Acts 27:9–26, Paul is caught in a violent storm where all hope of survival seems lost. For many days, “neither sun nor stars appeared,” and all hope of being saved was gradually abandoned (Acts 27:20, NIV). Yet God speaks through an angel, saying, “Do not be afraid” (Acts 2...

  The God who watches over Us Day and Night  Bible Reading: Psalms 121 Key verse :   “the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.” Psalms‬ ‭121‬:‭8‬ ‭ DEVOTION Psalm 121 is known as a Song of Ascent. Jerusalem is situated at a higher elevation and this is where the tabernacle and the temple was before the Roman’s destroyed it in seventy AD. The Israelites were expected to go to Jerusalem three times a year to celebrate the annual feasts, that is the Passover, the festival of Harvest, and the festival of Shelters. They were permitted to offer their sacrifices to God only in the temple of Jerusalem. They sang this psalm along with other ascent songs on their pilgrimage to the temple in Jerusalem. Robbers hid in the crevices along the path for the opportune time to attack the travelers. So they went walking up the hill to Jerusalem in large groups for safety, trusting in God’s protection over their lives. They sang this sang as it gave them confi...

  Care in Every Seasons of Life Bible Reading: Hebrews 13:1-6 Key verse :   “God has said, never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” (Heb. 13:5) DEVOTION Hebrews 13:1–6 speaks into these restless spaces of the human heart by revealing a God whose care is steady, personal, and peace-giving in every season of life.   The seasons of life could mean the times of abundance and times of scarcity, moments of companionship and stretches of loneliness, periods of strength and seasons of vulnerability. Hebrews 13:1–6 speaks into these shifting rhythms, reminding us that faithful care is not optional but essential to a life shaped by Christ. “Let mutual love continue” (Heb.13:1). Care is not meant to be seasonal or selective; it is to be sustained. In the early church, love was expressed through hospitality, generosity, and solidarity. The writer urges believers not to neglect welcoming strangers, for in doing so some “have entertained angels without knowing it” (Heb.1...

  The Mark of a Spirit-Led Life Bible Reading: Galatians 5:16-26 Key verse :   “So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” (Galatians 5: 16) DEVOTION As the new year dawns we make resolutions to correct what has gone wrong, and to pursue a more faithful life. Apostle Paul in this portion does not begin with perfection, but with direction. “Walk by the Spirit,” pointing not to an achievement to be reached, but to a path to be followed. Paul contrasts the works of the flesh with the fruit of the Spirit. The works of the flesh reflect a life driven by self-reliance, control, and the pressure to secure one’s own worth. The fruit of the Spirit, grows from a life rooted in grace. A Spirit-led life begins not with striving for perfection, but with gratitude for what God has already given. Gratitude reorients the heart from “am I doing enough?” to acknowledging “what God already done?” With gratitude we become less anxious about our failures...

  Christian Life Meant to Be Fruitful Bible Reading: John 15:1-11 Key verse :   " I am the vine: you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he is that bears much fruit” (John 15:5) DEVOTION In John 15:1–11, our Lord Jesus Christ presents a beautiful and powerful picture of the Christian life through the image of the vine and the branches. He declares, “I am the true vine, and My Father is the gardener.” In the Old Testament, Israel was often described as God’s vine (Psalm 80:8–9), yet it failed to bear fruit. Jesus now reveals Himself as the true vine, reminding us that fruitfulness in life is possible only when we are rooted in Him. In this passage Jesus calls our attention to three areas necessary for bearing fruit. Abide in Jesus: A branch has no life of its own. It cannot survive, grow, or bear fruit unless it remains attached to the vine. In the same way, a Christian cannot live a meaningful and fruitful life apart from Christ. Abiding in Jesus means maintai...