Jesus, the Son of God – IJohn 4:15

Whoever confesses and acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. – 1 John 4:15 (AMP)

When we confess that Jesus is the Son of God, we confirm His deity and His relationship to God the Father. Jesus is the divine, the Son of God; He is fully God and man. He is the Messiah who came to earth to save us from our sins and reconcile us with God. When we confess, we declare our trust and acknowledge our belief in Jesus. This declaration shapes our faith and transforms our lives, guiding us to live in accordance with His teachings.

Everyone who confesses that Jesus is God’s Son participates continuously in an intimate relationship with God. We know it so well, we’ve embraced it heart and soul, this love that comes from God. – 1 John 4:15-16 (MSG)

God and believers share a mutual relationship defined by unity, communication, guidance, and love. God transforms and shapes our thoughts and actions. This relationship is nurtured through Bible study, prayer, and obedience. As it deepens, we reflect God’s character in our daily lives and positively influence others.

Our belief in Jesus as the Son of God should be evident in our actions. We are called to demonstrate His teachings by showing love, forgiveness, and grace to everyone.

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Our triune God, we thank You for Your love, forgiveness, and grace. Let us embrace Your teachings and turn away from sin and self-reliance. Open our hearts and guide our thoughts and actions. Like Allium flowers spread outward from the center, let us be centered in faith and spread Your love. In Jesus’ holy name. Amen

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The Word – John 1:1

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

John 1:1 (KJB)

John 1:1, like the book of Genesis, opens with the words “In the beginning.” John continues with In the beginning was the Word. The Word is Jesus; He is the Word of God. Jesus was present with God in the beginning before the world was formed. For Jesus wasn’t created; Jesus is God, fully eternal and divine.

The Word (Jesus) was with God, and all things were made by Him. This profound declaration emphasizes the intimate relationship between Jesus and God. Through Him, not only was the physical universe brought into existence, but also the foundation for faith and salvation for humanity. Jesus was with God and present at creation.

God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him.

-John 1:3 (NLT)

Jesus, the Word, is God. Our God is a triune God, existing as 3 distinct forms: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus), and God the Holy Spirit. They stay in perfect unity. Jesus, the Word, reveals to us God’s truth, grace, and glory.

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Our eternal and loving God, we thank You for Your love, mercy, and grace. In the beginning was Jesus, the Word, our savior, truth, and hope. Open our hearts and guide us on our path. Let us unite with our triune God, like the three hibiscus flowers gathered together. In Jesus’ holy name. Amen.

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Holy Calling – 2 Timothy 1:9

9 who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began,

– 2 Timothy 1:9 (ESV)

In 2 Timothy, the apostle Paul is writing to Timothy. He is speaking of the powerful love of God. That through God and the sacrifice of His son Jesus, we have been redeemed, rescued from sin. We are saved by God’s grace to be His people.

We are saved by grace, the grace of God, his unmerited favor, to bring us from sin and brokenness to holiness; a holy calling. Calling us to a life dedicated to Him, not because of our works, but due to God’s grace and purpose. His purpose for us, His chosen people, was established before the beginning of time. Through Jesus, we have been redeemed, called to live lives set apart for God’s purpose, and to pursue righteousness and holiness.

He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds.

Titus 2:14 (NLT)

We are to live out the holy life God prepared for us as His holy people, responding with praise, worship, and obedience. We are His people. God chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be His people, serving Him and doing good works.

We can only keep on going, after all, by the power of God, who first saved us and then called us to this holy work. We had nothing to do with it. It was all his idea, a gift prepared for us in Jesus long before we knew anything about it. But we know it now. Since the appearance of our Savior, nothing could be plainer: death defeated, life vindicated in a steady blaze of light, all through the work of Jesus. 2 Timothy 1:9-10 (MSG)

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Our Heavenly Father, we thank You for our salvation through Your Son, Jesus. Lead us in Your eternal purpose/holy calling to a life of holiness and righteousness. Lord, we praise and worship You for Your goodness and grace. Like the colorful oriental lily brightens summer days, let us brighten the world with Your light and love. Amen

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Resurrection and Life – John 11:25

25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die;

John 11:25 (NIV)

Jesus had heard His friend Lazarus was sick; he waited two days before heading to Bethany to visit him. When He arrived, Lazarus had been dead for four days.
Martha, Lazarus’s sister, went out to meet Jesus and said, “If you had been here, my brother would not have died.” For she had faith and knew Jesus could have healed her brother. Jesus replies to her in John 11:25.

25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die;

In verse 26, Jesus continues.

26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

Then He asks Martha, do you believe this?

27 “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”

When Jesus claimed to be the resurrection and the life, he was explaining that He was the source of both, clarifying His divine nature. Jesus went to the tomb and called, “Lazarus, come out.”

40 Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”41 So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.”43 When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. – John 11:40-44 (NIV)

Lazarus walked out of the grave.

Jesus is the resurrection and the life, a promise of eternal life for believers. Faith in Jesus offers us comfort and hope for the future. Whoever believes in Jesus will be saved; death is not final but a gateway to eternal life.

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Our Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your love, mercy, and grace. Through your love for us, you gave us Your only Son, Jesus. He is the resurrection and the life, our hope and salvation. As a poppy grows blooming in the sunlight, let us grow in faith and bloom in Your Son’s light. In Jesus’ name. Amen

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New Birth – Titus 3:5

4 God our Savior showed us how good and kind he is. 5 He saved us because of his mercy, and not because of any good things we have done. God washed us by the power of the Holy Spirit. He gave us new birth and a fresh beginning. Titus 3:4-5 (CEV)

We are saved by God’s mercy and compassion. Salvation is a gift of grace from God to all who believe in Jesus, His son. Jesus died on the cross, paying the price for our sins. When we believe in Jesus Christ as our Savior, we are given eternal life.

Salvation comes only from God; we can’t achieve it through our works or good deeds. He gives us a new life in Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit. The only condition for salvation is to accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

God washed us by the power of the Holy Spirit. He gave us new birth and a fresh beginning. Titus 3:5 b (CEV)

When we accept Jesus Christ, our sins – are washed away —a washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit. Through the washing of regeneration, we are made new, a spiritual cleaning, a new birth, born again. Anyone who belongs to Jesus Christ is a new person; the old life is gone.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV)

The washing of our sins is an internal cleansing of the soul by the Holy Spirit. Resulting in a new birth in Jesus Christ, bringing a new life and living hope.

3-8 It wasn’t so long ago that we ourselves were stupid and stubborn, easy marks for sin, ordered every which way by our glands, going around with a chip on our shoulder, hated and hating back. But when God, our kind and loving Savior God, stepped in, he saved us from all that. It was all his doing; we had nothing to do with it. He gave us a good bath, and we came out of it new people, washed inside and out by the Holy Spirit. Titus 3-5 (MSG)

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Our Holy Loving Father, we are in awe of Your goodness, love, and grace. You love us so much that You gave your one and only Son, so whoever believes in Him will have eternal life. We are saved by Your mercy and grace, giving us hope and a new birth. Like water washes the iris flowers, let us believe in Jesus, be washed by the Holy Spirit, and be reborn. Amen

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Faith to Faith – Romans 1:17

For the righteousness of God is revealed in the gospel from faith to faith, just as it is written, “The righteous by faith will live.” Romans 1:17 (NET)

The gospel tells of God’s “good news”; everyone who believes in Jesus Christ is saved and gets a new life. Faith starts with belief in Jesus Christ, realizing He died for our sins; He is our Lord and Saviour.
Faith spurs spiritual growth and transformation. The righteous will live by faith, an ongoing process of growing spiritually and learning to trust God. It is a continual journey that shapes our thoughts, priorities, and actions. From faith to faith, we grow spiritually, learning to trust God by having faith in His promises and righteousness – by starting in faith and ending in faith.

It’s news I’m most proud to proclaim, this extraordinary Message of God’s powerful plan to rescue everyone who trusts him, starting with Jews and then right on to everyone else! God’s way of putting people right shows up in the acts of faith, confirming what Scripture has said all along: “The person in right standing before God by trusting him really lives.” Romans 1:17 (MSG)

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Prayer: Our Heavenly Father, thank You for Your grace while we were still sinners. Help us grow in spirit and faith. Guide us, transform us to be more Christ-like. Like a rose blooms from bud to flower, let us grow from faith to faith. Amen

All Things – John 3:35

The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand. – John 3:35 (ESV)

God (the Father) has an eternal extravagant love for His Son, Jesus. Jesus was born of Mary but came as a divine messenger from heaven. He is a teacher, healer, and miracle worker. He is our Saviour; He died for our sins.

Those who believe in Jesus Christ are saved and have eternal life. Jesus is God; the Trinity is composed of God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6 (ESV)

Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. A person must accept Jesus for salvation; He is the one and only way to heaven and to God the Father.

God the Father has given and entrusted all things into Jesus’ hands. He has the full authority of the Father over all things.

34-36 “The One that God sent speaks God’s words. And don’t think he rations out the Spirit in bits and pieces. The Father loves the Son extravagantly. He turned everything over to him so he could give it away—a lavish distribution of gifts. That is why whoever accepts and trusts the Son gets in on everything, life complete and forever! And that is also why the person who avoids and distrusts the Son is in the dark and doesn’t see life. All he experiences of God is darkness, and an angry darkness at that”. John 3:34-36 (MSG)

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Prayer: Our Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your love and grace. For You so loved us that You gave us Your only Son, Jesus. We are saved and blessed for He died for our sins, and we realize You have placed all things in His hand. Like the camellia flowers glow and shine against winter skies, let us glow with love and shine with Your light. Amen

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Abba, Father – Galatians 4:6

4But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. 5God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children. 6And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.” 7Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir. Galatians 4:4-7 (NLT)

God sent his only Son to earth to redeem us. Belief in Christ frees us from slavery to sin and the law. His death on the cross allows believers to receive the Spirit of adoption, becoming children of God.

For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading again to fear [of God’s judgment], but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons [the Spirit producing sonship] by which we [joyfully] cry, “Abba! Father!” Romans 8:15 (AMP)

God sends the Spirit to live in us, his adopted children. The Spirit of His Son moves into our hearts, guiding and helping us communicate with God in prayer, praise, and calling out, “Abba, Father”! God is our Abba, Father; we are not slaves but children of God and heirs.

4-7 But when the time arrived that was set by God the Father, God sent his Son, born among us of a woman, born under the conditions of the law so that he might redeem those of us who have been kidnapped by the law. Thus we have been set free to experience our rightful heritage. You can tell for sure that you are now fully adopted as his own children because God sent the Spirit of his Son into our lives crying out, “Papa! Father!” Doesn’t that privilege of intimate conversation with God make it plain that you are not a slave, but a child? And if you are a child, you’re also an heir, with complete access to the inheritance. Galatians 4:4-7 (MSG)

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Prayer: God, we thank You for sending us Your Son, Jesus, born of Mary, who died on the cross for our salvation. As we celebrate His birth, let us realize He set us free from sin, allowing us to be adopted by You and call You Abba, Father. Like the blooms of the Chrysanthemum grow and blossom every fall, let us grow in faith and blossom with love. Amen

Path of Peace: Luke 1:79

78because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven 79to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.” Luke 1:78-79 (NIV)

These verses are part of Zechariah’s Song, his joyful song of praise and prophecy after the birth of his son. The previous verses, 76, and 77, are about his son, John the Baptist.

76 And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, 77 to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, – Luke 1:76-77

Due to God’s compassion and tender mercy toward us, He sent the rising sun from Heaven. The rising sun; His son, the Messiah, came to earth. To save those living in the darkness, of sin and wickedness, living in the shadow of death. Jesus came, bringing light – directing, reviving light of spiritual comfort and salvation.

Jesus came to save us, transform our lives, direct and guide our feet on the path of peace.

Through the heartfelt mercies of our God,
    God’s Sunrise will break in upon us,
Shining on those in the darkness,
    those sitting in the shadow of death,
Then showing us the way, one foot at a time,
    down the path of peace. Luke 1:78-79 (MSG)

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Prayer: Our Heavenly Father, thank You for Your compassion and tender mercy toward us. Thank you for loving us and giving us Your son Jesus. Let us follow Him and have Him guide us on the path of peace. Like a rose blossoms and grows in the sun, let us blossom with love and follow Jesus, the Rising Sun. Amen

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Unseen yet Eternal – 2 Corinthians 4:18

16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. – 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (NIV)

Paul refuses to let persecution and suffering for his faith make him lose heart, for his eyes were fixed on the great hope of Jesus Christ. Temporary suffering will pass, leading us to eternal glory – a glory, much greater than our current difficulties.

How do we go forward through times of trouble and not lose heart? By fixing our eyes on future glory, keeping our gaze fixed on what is unseen, the glory of the spiritual world, which is eternal and will never end. By going forward in faith.

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1 (NIV)

Having faith in the fulfillment of God’s promise that there is life beyond the grave. Focusing on what is unseen yet eternal – heaven’s glory.

16-18 So we’re not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There’s far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can’t see now will last forever. – 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

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Prayer: Thank you, Heavenly Father, for loving us and sending your Son to save us from our sins. Teach us not to lose heart during times of suffering and trouble. Help us grow in faith and not give up but instead fix our eyes on what is unseen but eternal. As the three vinca blossoms are gathered together, let us gather in faith, with thanksgiving for our triune God. In Jesus’ holy name. Amen

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