Reflections

  Victory through humble and faithful discipleship Bible Reading:  Zechariah 9: 9-17   Zechariah: 9:9 Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a Colt, the foal of a donkey. DEVOTION Based on Zechariah 9:9-17 the concept of “Victory through humble and faithful discipleship” highlights that true victory in Christian life comes not through worldly power or mighty, but through following Jesus’ example of humility, serving others and faithfully adhering to God’s teaching, just as the prophesy describes the Messiah arriving  on the donkey, signifying a peaceful and lowly reign.              The prophetic message of Zechariah 9:9 is that a humble and righteous king, often interpreted as Jesus Christ will come to Jerusalem riding on a donkey, bringing salvation and peace to his people signifying a reig...

  New Purpose and Goal in Christ Bible Reading:  Philippians  3:14-17 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus15 All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently that too God will make clear to you. 16 Only let us live up to what we have already attained.17 Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do. DEVOTION Paul’s letter to the Philippians commemorates encouragement and gratitude to the people in Philippi. He suffered the loss of all things, having been imprisoned for his faith while writing this letter. Paul reminds the people of Philippi to value God’s kingdom over materialistic treasures. In these passages, Paul focuses on two key points: 1.  Spiritual Maturity     i) Spiritual maturity is not simply the mastery of scripture; rather,...

  Jesus Christ Who gives New Vision to Life Bible Reading:   St. Luke 18:35–43  “Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus asked him, 41 “What do you want me to do for you?” “Lord, I want to see,” he replied. St. Luke 18:40–41 DEVOTION A large crowd followed Jesus on his final journey to Jerusalem. As He drew near Jericho, there was a blind man sitting by the roadside. Though the man was physically blind, he had the insight to realize that Jesus is the Messiah and the only solution to his problems. With the utmost desire, he was waiting for the opportunity to meet Jesus, and one day he perceived that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. His determination and intense desire to get healed were very much visible in his actions. He cried out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me”. His humble, earnest, and persistent prayer stopped Jesus. His request was granted and he was healed at that very moment. This healing teaches us that God a...

  Spiritual Sight and calling in Christ Bible Reading:   Acts  9: 10-18  Acts  9: 17 Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” DEVOTION  In this passage, we see a man named Saul. He was a man deeply devoted to Judaism, believing, protecting, and defending the Law of Moses as told in the first five books of the bible; also called the Torah.  Saul, in fact, had a clear agenda to arrest, by force, if necessary, all followers of Jesus, including Ananias, and deport them to Jerusalem.  It was a mission intended to create terror among the Christian community in Damascus. On the other hand, we see Ananias was directed by Jesus to minister to the deadliest enemy of the Christian faith at that time. Jesus was at work in Saul’s life, preparing him emoti...

  New life through the Holy Spirit Bible Reading:  Ezekiel 37:1-14 Ezekiel 37:3 He asked me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” I said, “Sovereign Lord, you alone know.” DEVOTION In the depths of despair and hopelessness, the promise of new life through the Holy Spirit shines brightly, offering hope and restoration. Ezekiel 37:1-14 presents a powerful and vivid vision of the transformative power of God's Spirit, illustrating the renewal and revival that can come to even the most lifeless and desolate situations Ezekiel, a prophet during the Babylonian exile, was led by the Spirit of the Lord to a valley filled with dry bones. This vision is symbolic of the desolation and hopelessness experienced by the Israelites, who had been scattered and lost their homeland. The valley of dry bones represents their spiritual death, their loss of purpose and identity In this vision, God poses a question to Ezekiel: "Son of man, can these bones live?" This question challenges the limits...

  Deliverance and a new future Bible Reading:  Jeremiah 30: 1 - 10 Jeremiah 30: 3 The days are coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘when I will bring my people Israel and Judah back from captivity and restore them to the land, I gave their ancestors to possess,’ says the Lord.” DEVOTION Are we currently in a plateau of life? Tired and not sure what is next. No light ahead in the tunnel. No hopeful voice to be heard. Everything seems monotonous with no change in sight. Most, if not all, of us have been through this valley and it is not pleasant. We pray, fast, keep positive thoughts but nothing seems to make a difference. Perhaps sin has carried us too far. Maybe there is a place that is beyond God’s reach and an end to His grace. Anxious thoughts… Disturbing thoughts grip all of us.  Israel might have had similar thoughts. A group of people who had been chosen by God… Who witnessed God’s extraordinary providence through the ten plagues, parting of the red sea, heavenly rain of ma...

  Hope of renewal in hardships Bible Reading:   Psalms 126 Psalms 126:5 - Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy. DEVOTION Tears can represent a wide range of emotions and experiences like sadness, grief, joy, relief, and compassion. In spiritual context tears can be seen as a manifestation of God’s grace, allowing individuals to connect with the divine God and find solace in difficult times. In our personal life, tears are often associated with prayer, repentance, deliverance and spiritual growth.  Psalm 126 is one of the 15 songs of Ascend (Psalms 120-134). The Israelites sang as they ascended to Jerusalem annually for three festivals: the festival of Unleavened Bread, the Festival of Harvest and the Festival of Shelters (Deut.16:16). They were captive under the Babylonian rule for 70 years (Jeremiah 25:11). Psalm 126 reflects upon the past, present and future of the Israelites when they returned from the bondage of slavery and sin due to disobedience a...