Word For The Day

THE PATH OF PEACE

READING: Luke 1:78-79

Because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.

In this season of Advent, we join with believers all over the world to celebrate Jesus Christ, the Light of the World, who came to dispel every shadow of death in our lives and guide us to the path of peace. As Apostle Paul emphasised in Philippians 2:6-8, Jesus Christ, being in very nature God, emptied Himself of His privileges, came in the form of a servant, in human likeness and was obedient even to death on a cross. What a great love! He was not born into privilege and power, neither did He enter this world with a royal procession. His humble birth was to a woman who owned nothing but simple faith as her helpless baby was laid in a manger. And so the Prince of Peace came, not with a forceful mandate but with an invitation to guide us to the path of peace. The question is, have you accepted His timeless invitation?

In Matthew 11:28, Our Saviour, Jesus Christ, the very Son of God, still invites you to come. He says, “Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” He invited you to come and here you are. As you give Him your best, He will give you His rest. As you open your heart to Him today, He will pour His blessings upon you today. Because when you give your best to Him, He will give His rest to you.

We accept His invitation by faith when we give Him our best love, our best attention, our total surrender and truly believe - only then our hearts will be at rest. A heart at rest with God is a heart blessed by God. And this rest is not defined by a relaxation in the worldly sense but a holy relaxation that only comes from submitting one’s will to the Prince of Peace. So accept His invitation, give Him your best and enter the rest of God today.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus Christ, thank You for guiding me to the path of peace. Help me to accept Your invitation to lay down my burdens before You by faith and enter your rest. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Source: #ARCI

Word For The Day

THE POWER OF GODLY FELLOWSHIP

READING: Luke 1:39-42

At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: ‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear!’

When the angel Gabriel visited Mary in Luke 1, she received a profound message about her purpose that would change her life forever. She was not ignorant to the fact that her being an unmarried pregnant woman could come at a cost – the threat of disownment from family, divorce from her fiancé, and the risk of poverty without support. Yet she joyfully accepted the Word by faith, believing that God’s power to sustain her in this miraculous calling was greater than any threat.

Understanding the importance of godly associations, Mary chose to confide in someone spiritually mature. After accepting the call to bear the Son of God, she travelled to her relative Elizabeth, who had also conceived miraculously in old age. Through Elizabeth’s encouragement, Mary found mentorship for her unique journey of pregnancy.

Ask yourself, who do you confide in? Do you make yourself accountable to those who are spiritually mature? In life, we must discern before we disclose, to be careful of who we confide in.

Mary’s visit to Elizabeth was spiritual, which was confirmed when John the Baptist leapt in Elizabeth’s womb and she was filled with the Holy Spirit. Though they were family, the true basis of their connection was spiritual maturity.

Elizabeth spoke words that strengthened Mary when her circumstances may have seemed precarious. Godly counsel, rooted in God’s Word, paves the path for solutions. Have you identified those God has sent to you - your mentor, advisor, confidant? Ensure those in whom you trust are led by God’s Spirit daily.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus Christ, give me the grace to watch and pray, to discern before I disclose, and to be careful of who I confide in. Help me to identify those You have sent me to. In Jesus’ name, amen.

From Abundant River Church International.

Give Thanks to God Always

“Whatever happens, keep thanking God because of Jesus Christ. This is what God wants you to do.”
— 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (CEV)

No matter what you go through in life, always remember to give thanks to God. There may be moments when it seems like nothing is working for your good, but as long as you still have breath, understand that God is not done with you yet. Choosing thanksgiving in difficult times is a powerful declaration of faith—it acknowledges God’s sovereignty and faithfulness even before the breakthrough comes.

Through thanksgiving, God turns our bad moments into testimonies, our trials into triumphs, and our pain into purpose.

Thanksgiving is also an expression of faith in God through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Scripture reminds us that people of faith remained thankful even in the toughest situations, and God intervened in their lives to rescue them.

A clear example is the three Hebrew boys—Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Despite seeing how intensely heated the fiery furnace was, they chose not to complain or compromise their faith. Instead, they stood firm, trusting God completely. And the God who is always faithful came to their rescue. Jesus Himself was present with them in the fire and turned their situation around for their good.

Another powerful example is Deacon Stephen. Even while being stoned to death, he chose to thank God and interceded for his murderers. Among them was Saul, who later became Paul—the greatest missionary of all time. Though Stephen died, by faith we know that he now rests in glory with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

May we learn to give thanks to God always, knowing that He is faithful and that nothing we endure is ever wasted in His hands.

Bible References: Job 1:21; Psalm 107:1; Lamentations 3: 22 - 23; Habakkuk 3:17 - 19; Luke 22:19; John 6:11; Acts 16: 25 - 26; Philippians 4: 6 - 7; Revelation 7:12.

Choose to Be Real at All Times

"I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth." — Revelation 3:15–16

One thing the Lord truly desires from His children is authenticity. God is not impressed by outward show, inconsistent devotion, or faith that appears only when it is convenient. He sees the heart, and He calls us to walk before Him in sincerity, transparency, and truth.

If we claim to be Christians, then we must be bold enough to stand for our faith wherever we find ourselves—at home, at work, in conversations, and even in environments where standing for Christ seems uncomfortable or unpopular. Genuine faith is consistent. It does not rise and fall with emotions, nor does it shrink back when the atmosphere changes.

Being real means choosing Jesus not only when blessings are flowing, but also when challenges set in. It means refusing to compromise your values just to fit in, refusing to hide your convictions to avoid criticism, and refusing to water down your faith for acceptance.

A lukewarm lifestyle is one that tries to hold both God and the world at the same time—yet ends up pleasing neither. God desires hearts that are fully His: not half-committed, not indecisive, not partially surrendered. He calls us to be all in.

When we choose to be real with God, He strengthens our walk, deepens our conviction, and shines His light through us to the world. Our faith becomes more than words—it becomes a living testimony of God’s grace and power.

So let's make it our daily choice to be fully committed, fully convinced, and fully aligned with the One we call Lord. Let's let our life speak loudly. Let's let our devotion be seen clearly. And let's our faith remain unwavering, no matter where we are or who is watching.

Choose to be real. Choose to be committed. Choose Jesus—always.

THE LIMITLESS GOD — THE GOD WHO IS NOT LIMITED BY ANYTHING

Many times, when we preach about the incarnation—God becoming man—or when we speak of Jesus being the Son of God, unbelievers argue that such a thing is impossible. They say God cannot become human or have a Son. But the real question is this: Is God limited in any way?
The answer is very clear: No.

Before the creation of humans (Adam and Eve), God already desired a deep and intimate relationship with us. But when that relationship was broken through the disobedience of our first parents, humanity lost the fellowship God designed us to enjoy. Yet the God who is limitless in love and mercy chose the perfect way to restore us back to Himself.

Humans tried many ways to reach God again—but every attempt failed. Our efforts, no matter how sincere, could not bridge the gap created by sin. The only successful way had to come through God Himself, yet it also needed to be accomplished by a human, because it was humanity that had fallen.

So what did God do?
The limitless God stepped into human history as the perfect, holy, sinless man—Jesus Christ.

It was not impossible for God to become human, because He is not bound or restricted by anything. In His limitless power, wisdom, and love, He chose to take on flesh so that He could offer Himself as the ultimate sacrifice for the sins of all humanity.

He became the perfect man so He could perfectly redeem mankind.

He did this because it was the only way to recreate us according to His original intention—to restore us into His image and likeness, and to bring us back into eternal fellowship with Himself.

Through Jesus Christ, the limitless God has made a way for us to be restored, renewed, and reconnected to the relationship He always desired from the beginning.


Bible References: Genesis 1:26; 3:15, 23-24; Proverb 14:12; Isaiah 64:6; Jeremiah 32:7; Luke 1:37; John 1:1-14; 2 Corinthians 5:17, 21; Colossians 3:10; Ephesians 2:18; 1 Timothy 2:5

Acknowledging the presence of the Holy Spirit in the Church

Often in many gatherings of believers or in church meetings, people pray to invite the Holy Spirit into their midst. However, what does Scripture actually say? Jesus Himself declared, “For where two or three are gathered in My name, there I am in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:20). This shows that the Lord is already present whenever believers gather in His name. Indeed, God has always been with His people, and He does not require an invitation to be present among His children.

Furthermore, nowhere in Scripture do we see the Apostles inviting the Holy Spirit into their assemblies. Rather, they gathered in faith, obedience, and expectation, fully aware that the Spirit of God was already with and within them.

Bible references: Matthew 18:20; Luke 24:49; John 14:16-18; Acts 2:1-4, 42; I Corinthians 3:16; 6:19; Hebrews 13:5.