The Evidence of the Tree: A Good Friday Devotional

Let us start with a question: How do you know you are a Christian?

Galatians 5:22-25 & Matthew 7:20
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance... And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts." (Galatians 5:22-24, KJV)

"Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them." (Matthew 7:20, KJV)

On this Good Friday, our eyes are fixed on a rugged wooden cross—a tree of death that became a tree of life. It is here that we find the answer to the deepest question of the soul: How do I know I truly belong to Him?

Being a Christian is not merely a label we wear or a set of rules we follow. It is a fundamental change in our "spiritual DNA." Just as a literal tree is identified by the fruit hanging from its branches, a follower of Christ is identified by the "output" of their life.

The Evidence of the Spirit

The world looks for credentials, but God looks for character. When the Holy Spirit dwells within you because of what Jesus did on the Cross, He begins to produce a specific kind of harvest. You know you are a Christian not because you are perfect, but because these "fruits" are growing where there used to be thorns. Take a look how - 

Love and Gentleness: Do you find yourself loving the "unlovable" or responding with kindness when you are provoked? This isn't human effort; it is the overflow of Christ’s love from the Cross working through you.

Peace and Longsuffering: In the midst of the "Good Friday" seasons of your life—seasons of suffering, waiting, or injustice—do you have a peace that passes understanding? A Christian is marked by a supernatural ability to endure with hope.

Faith and Temperance: Is there a new desire to be faithful to God and to exercise self-control over old habits? This "crucifying of the flesh" is the signature of the Spirit's work.

How do you know you are His? You know it when you see your focus shifting away from what is missing and redirecting toward what God is doing. You know it when bitterness is replaced by a soft heart. You know it when your primary reaction to difficulty is no longer a complaint, but a prayer.

The Fruit of the Spirit is the "evidence of His sustaining grace." It is the proof that the sacrifice of Jesus was not just a historical event, but a living reality in your heart today. Every moment of patience you show, every lesson of goodness you learn, and every battle where peace carries you through is a testimony that you belong to the King.

Looking at the Cross today, can you see how His "gentleness" and "meekness" provided the template for your own walk?

Heavenly Father, we thank You for the Cross. We thank You that we do not have to wonder if we are Yours, for Your Spirit bears witness with our spirit. Produce in us a harvest of righteousness. Let our lives be so full of love, joy, and peace that the world knows we have been with Jesus. May our gratitude today transform our worship and steady our spirits. In the name of the One who gave it all, Amen.

Before you rest this Good Friday, name three specific moments today where you felt the Spirit leading you to respond with "fruit" (patience, love, or peace) instead of your natural reaction. Speak them out as a sacrifice of praise.

Lent2026: Gratitude in the Shadows

"In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." (1 Thessalonians 5:18, KJV)

"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another." (John 13:34)

The Mandate of Gratitude

On this Maundy Thursday, we enter the Upper Room—a place of intimacy, but also of impending shadow. We often associate "Maundy" with the mandatum, the new commandment to love. Yet, as we look at the table set before the disciples, we see that this love is anchored in a profound, intentional posture: gratitude.

Paul tells us to give thanks "in everything." He wrote this to encourage believers to remain thankful not just in moments of ease, but in every circumstance. As Jesus sat at the table, knowing the cross was hours away, He took the bread, and He gave thanks.

Gratitude in the Shadows

Gratitude is not a reaction to perfect conditions; it is an intentional act of faith. On this holy night, we see Jesus demonstrating that thanksgiving shifts our focus away from what is missing—safety, comfort, or worldly recognition—and redirects our hearts toward the sovereignty of the Father.

Gratitude in the Struggle 

Jesus gave thanks for the bread that represented His broken body. This reminds us that God’s faithfulness is not dependent on our comfort. Even when life feels uncertain or unfinished, thankfulness anchors us to the truth that God remains loving.

The Gift Disguised

Not every gift arrives wrapped in celebration. Some of the greatest graces of the Passion were disguised as the strength to endure, the patience to wait in Gethsemane, and the peace that carried Christ through unseen spiritual battles.

A Daily Posture

When gratitude becomes our daily posture, it guards us from the bitterness that could have easily overtaken the disciples in their confusion. It keeps our hearts soft toward God even when we are standing at the threshold of a "Good Friday" season.

Thanksgiving has the power to transform our worry into worship and our restlessness into peace. It lifts the weight of our burdens off our hearts and places them back into God’s capable hands. Every breath we take and every moment of provision is evidence of His sustaining grace—the same grace that sustained our Lord as He moved from the table to the garden.

Before you rest tonight, intentionally name at least three things you are thankful for. Speak them out loud if you can. Let this act of gratitude calm your thoughts and prepare your heart to receive God’s mercies again tomorrow, even in the shadow of the Cross.

As we move through the solemnity of Good Friday and the silence of Saturday, we are called to slow down. We must reflect on the quiet blessings woven through the sacrifice. The Cross is the ultimate gift, and our response is the "will of God in Christ Jesus": to be a people of thanks.

(Adapted from a KJV Devotional)

Seismic Sunday: Pastor Rajiv

 

The English language translations do not come anywhere near in describing the effect on Jerusalem as the original Greek.

The Greek word Matthew uses to capture the effect of Palm Sunday, is ‘seio’.

This is the word from which we get our English word - ‘seismic’, meaning geological vibrations of the earth like an earthquake.

But while Matthew paints an account of a joyous and happy occasion a time of triumph, there is a very sad part to this episode in the Bible.

Learn About the Seismic Sunday, its importance and what it means for us today in Pastor Rajiv's Message. 

Lent2026: Kick Against the Pricks

"Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks."

Acts 26:14

The phrase "kick against the pricks" (used in the King James Version) comes from an ancient agricultural metaphor. To understand it, we have to look at how farming worked in the 1st century.

A "prick" (or goad) was a long wooden pole with a sharp metal point at one end. Farmers used it to "nudge" oxen while they were plowing a field.

If the ox became stubborn or tried to go in its own direction, the farmer would prick its hindquarters with the point.

If the ox reacted by kicking back against the goad, it would only drive the sharp metal deeper into its own flesh.

The Meaning in Acts 26:14

When Jesus speaks to Saul (who later became Paul) on the road to Damascus, He says:

"Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks."

In this context, the "pricks" represent Saul’s own conscience and the divine prompting of God. Saul was fighting against the message of Jesus, but his resistance was only causing him more internal pain and struggle.

The three main takeaways are:

A. Useless Resistance: Just as an ox cannot win a fight against a sharpened pole, a human cannot successfully fight against the will of God.

B. Self-Inflicted Pain: By "kicking back," Saul wasn't hurting God; he was only hurting himself. The more he resisted his calling, the more "pierced" his conscience became.

C. The Turning Point: This was Jesus essentially saying, "You are exhausted from fighting me. Why not just follow the path I've set?"

The metaphor suggests that God’s "prodding" isn't meant to be cruel, but to keep the "ox" (the person) on the right path so the work can be done. Resisting that direction is what leads to the most suffering.

It is fascinating to look at the immediate aftermath of Paul’s conversion because it wasn't just a change of mind—it was a total structural collapse and rebuild of his identity.

​The "hunter" became the "helpless."

​As we come to the close of Lent 2026, have we used the opportunity to "hear" Him and make the change? Or are we still "kicking against the Pricks"? 

Monday Reset: A friend in Need

"God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble."

Psalm 46:1 emphasizes that God provides protection, strength, and immediate assistance in times of difficulty (Bible Gateway, NIV). The verse portrays God as a refuge, a safe place where believers can find shelter from life's challenges, and as strength, offering the power and courage to endure trials (Bible Study Tools). The phrase "ever-present help" highlights that God is constantly available, not limited by time or circumstance, ready to support those in need (Connectus Fund).

Today, lets consider Psalm 46:1 and what it means for us. 

How do we look at this psalm? As just another poem? As something far off? As a promise we distantly believe in? All of the above?

Probably the last. The problem is God is a spirit and we humans, consciously or subconsciously, believe the physical.

How then do we see the reality of the promise in Psalm 46:1?

God works through people. Like you and me. He uses us as instruments of His purpose. He sends us to those in need to be his representative and sends people to us in our need. He uses us to comfort each other physically while the Holy Spirit comforts us and strengthens us in the spirit. These are opportunities for us to be instruments of His purpose.

Therefore we need to be aware and conscious of opportunities to be used and pray to Him when we have a need so that He assigns and directs people and situations.

For this reason, the manifestation of Psalm 46:1 is very real and clear for those who open their eyes to each other and hearts to the Holy Spirit of God.

This week, look for opportunities to be used for someone's need and also look for people who help in our need. Ask for comfort from the Holy Spirit and peace in all situations.

Aligning with God: Jen Tan

I was deeply touched while reading Chapter 8 of Romans, as it resonates so strongly with what I am going through right now. In the midst of the pain and challenges of cancer treatment and its side effects, I truly feel God’s love and presence with me.

He has given me so much strength, help, and peace along this journey. I honestly cannot imagine how I would cope without His guidance and intervention.

Application study bible - 8:26-27 - As a believer, you are not left to your own resources to cope with problems. Even when you don’t know the right words to pray, the Holy Spirit prays with and for you, and God answers. With God helping you pray, you don’t need to be afraid to come before him. Ask the Holy Spirit to intercede for you “in harmony with God’s own will.” Then, when you bring your requests to God, trust that he will always do what is best.

As it says in Romans 8:37, “Despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.”

Reading Romans 8 has reassured me to rely on the Holy Spirit given by God, rather than trying to cope with everything on my own. It reminds me to place my confidence in God’s promises—that He can bring good out of difficult situations, grant divine wisdom for daily living, and fill us with peace in both heart and mind.

Many times, in the Bible, God assures us of His great love, so that we can feel completely secure in Him. When we truly believe in these amazing assurances, we need not be afraid of whatever comes our way.

How to Make God Smile

 "The Lord has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him ruler of his people..." — 1 Samuel 13:14

There is something uniquely captivating about the life of David. Long before he wore a crown, he was a simple shepherd, yet God saw something in those lonely fields that the world overlooked. David was far from perfect—he carried the weight of human weakness and made mistakes that echoed through history—yet he remains the only person in Scripture described as "a man after God’s own heart."

He did something we often forget is possible: He put a smile on God’s face.

Think for a moment about the "deluge" of prayers that reach the throne of grace every day. God hears a constant stream of sorrow, requests, and thanksgiving. He is the Great Burden-Bearer, constantly working to sort out our lives and restore the joy to our faces. But have we ever stopped to ask: Do we return the favor? Are we living in a way that brings joy to our Creator?

The Anatomy of a Godly Life

What was it about David that moved the heart of God? Pastor Chuck Swindoll points to three defining markers: True spirituality. Genuine humility. Bone-deep integrity.

To live with these qualities is to live in harmony with the Father. It means making His priorities our own. It is the willingness to "roll up your sleeves and do grunt work in the shadows" without ever needing a mention of the glory.

Ultimately, it is the pursuit of being a "whole" person. It means the private-you and the public-you are one and the same. In the Kingdom of God, being good matters infinitely more than looking good.

We might look at David’s example and feel overwhelmed. How can we, in our own strength, achieve all this? The answer lies not in our willpower, but in our source.

As Pastor Swindoll reminds us, anyone empowered by Christ can live this way. Jesus Christ provides the supernatural strength required to live for an eternal purpose. We are not left to guess what God wants; He has made it plain in His Word and made it possible through His Spirit.

Today, let us look beyond our own needs and ask how we might delight the Father. Let us draw inspiration from a shepherd-king and strive to live a life that puts a smile on God’s face.

Lent2026: Your Juniper Tree Moment

Scripture Focus: 1 Kings 19:4-8

It’s easy to look at figures like Elijah and see a superhero of the faith, but the "Juniper Tree" moment is where he feels most human—and most like us. It’s the moment where the adrenaline of the mountain-top victory wears off and the weight of reality settles in.

1. The Reality of "Enough"

In 1 Kings 19, we find Elijah sitting under a broom (juniper) tree, praying that he might die. He says, "It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life." This wasn’t a lack of faith; it was a total depletion of resources. Elijah had just won a massive spiritual battle, but he was physically exhausted, emotionally isolated, and under threat.

God does not scold Elijah for being tired. He doesn’t demand a sermon or a miracle. He meets Elijah in his "enough" moment with quiet presence rather than a lecture.

2. A Nap and a Snack

Notice how God "fixes" Elijah’s despair. He doesn’t start with a spiritual revelation; He starts with a meal and a nap. An angel touches him and says, "Arise and eat."

Often, our "spiritual" crises are compounded by physical neglect. We try to pray our way out of problems that actually require us to sleep, hydrate, and nourish our bodies. God created us as integrated beings—soul and body.

3. When the Journey is Too Much for You

The angel returns a second time and says, "Arise and eat, for the journey is too great for you." This is a beautiful admission from the Creator: The journey of life is, in fact, too much for us to handle on our own. We aren't failing because we find life hard; we are simply acknowledging the design. After God speaks to Elijah in the "still small voice," He gives him a very practical set of instructions, and the climax of those instructions is to go and anoint Elisha as his successor.

God rarely intends for us to carry a "mountain-top" calling or a "valley" burden by ourselves. Just as the angel provided physical bread, Elisha provided emotional and spiritual "bread" through companionship.

Today, are you sitting "under the juniper tree"? What specific area of your life feels like "it is enough"? Is there an Elisha in your life? 

Here are some life lessons we can learn from Elijah's story. 

1. High Victories Often Lead to Deep Valleys

Elijah had just experienced the greatest victory of his life on Mount Carmel, calling down fire from heaven.

The Lesson: Success is exhausting. We are often most vulnerable to despair right after a major achievement because our "spiritual adrenaline" has depleted, leaving us emotionally exposed. Expect the "crash" and prepare for it.

2. Physical Health is Spiritual Health

Elijah’s prayer was "Take my life," but God’s answer was "Eat and sleep." 

The Lesson: You cannot live a supernatural life if you neglect your natural needs. Many of our "dark nights of the soul" are actually just "tired nights of the body." Before you diagnose yourself with a spiritual crisis, check your sleep, your hydration, and your nutrition. God treats the body before He speaks to the soul.

3. Depression Distorts Reality

Elijah repeatedly claimed, "I, even I only, am left." He felt completely alone, but God revealed there were 7,000 others who remained faithful.

The Lesson: Exhaustion and depression act like a fog—they make you feel more isolated than you actually are. When you are under your "juniper tree," don't trust your feelings as facts. You are never as alone as your exhaustion tells you that you are.

4. God Speaks in the Stillness, Not Just the Storm

Elijah looked for God in the wind, the earthquake, and the fire (the spectacular), but God was in the "still small voice" (the whisper).

The Lesson: We often expect God to solve our problems with "fire"—big miracles or sudden changes. However, healing usually happens in the quiet, consistent whispers of daily prayer, reflection, and small, steady steps forward.

5. The Cure for Isolation is a Mission and a Partner

God didn't just tell Elijah to feel better; He gave him a new assignment and a successor (Elisha).

The Lesson: Purpose is a powerful antidote to despair. God redirected Elijah’s focus from his own pain to the needs of others. By sending him to anoint Elisha, God provided Elijah with a "burden-bearer"—someone to walk the road with him.

6. It’s Okay to say "It is Enough"

Elijah was honest with God. He didn't hide his desire to quit or his feelings of failure.

The Lesson: God can handle your honesty. He didn't fire Elijah or rebuke him for wanting to give up. He met him in his weakness. Acknowledging your limits is the first step toward receiving Divine strength.

7. The Journey is "Too Great" for You

The angel’s words, "The journey is too great for you," are an invitation to dependency.

The Lesson: We were never designed to be self-sufficient. Admitting that life is "too much" isn't a sign of failure; it’s an admission of our human design. It is the point where we stop trying to be the "source" and start becoming the "recipient" of God's grace.

Monday Reset: Expectation to Anticipation

"Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."  — Lamentations 3:22-23

Time isn't just a repeating circle of chores, but a series of opportunities for renewal. Most of us start Monday with expectations. We expect the traffic to be heavy, the inbox to be full, and our energy to be low. We project a formula onto the day: Hard Work + Stress = Survival.

But the Theology of New Beginnings invites us into anticipation.

Anticipation is different. While expectation demands a specific outcome, anticipation looks forward with excitement, resting in the assurance that God’s grace will be present regardless of the circumstances. As we "reset" today, we aren't just clearing our desks; we are clearing our hearts of the "debts" of last week—the failures, the missed targets, and the fatigue.

Today, you woke up into a fresh batch of grace. God’s compassion didn't expire at midnight. It wasn't depleted by your struggles last week. It is a "First Fruits" gift waiting for you in that difficult 2:00 PM meeting, in the unexpected interruption, and even in the quiet moments of your commute.

Three Breaths of Grace

Take a moment right now, before the week fully pulls you in, to practice this physical and spiritual reset:

Inhale: I receive the New. (Acknowledge that today is a clean slate. Yesterday is gone; its mercies were for then, today's mercies are for now.

Exhale: I release the Weight. (Let go of the pressure to "crush the week" in your own strength. Hand over that one heavy task on your calendar.)

Inhale: I anticipate Grace. (Ask the Holy Spirit for "eyes to see" where God is already at work in your office, your home, or your community today.)

The gift of Monday is not a burden, but a beginning.

Sabbath Prayers

                                            

If you call the Sabbath a delight… then you will find your joy in the Lord."

Gracious Father, we pause in Your presence this Sabbath, grateful for the gift of rest and renewal. We lift up those among us who are weary, burdened, or facing illness — may Your healing hand bring comfort and strength. We intercede for families, communities, and nations, asking for Your peace to reign where there is conflict, and Your wisdom to guide leaders in truth and justice. Lord, renew our hearts with hope, deepen our faith, and let Your Spirit empower us to be light-bearers in a world that longs for Your love. 

We lift Jen before You today—Your daughter, Your beloved, the one You hold in the palm of Your hand. You see every cell in her body, every moment of pain, every quiet fear, every brave step she takes. Surround her with Your healing presence. Let Your strength rise where her strength feels small. Let Your peace settle where anxiety tries to speak. Let Your love be the atmosphere she breathes.

And Lord, we widen this prayer to every person fighting cancer right now. 

We pray for Samira for her continued healing. For Lisa's daughter, for Alison's daughter, Lindsey's mother, Laurik and Haleen. We thank you for the healing you have brought to Samira and Joan and the fantastic progress in Jen and Lisa's daughter. 

For those in various treatment, those awaiting results, those exhausted from the journey— be their refuge. Be their comfort. Be their healer.

We pray for Grace, for blessings in her endeavors. For Mistress to get her medical treatment. For Jason for healing, for Bryan's sister in ICU. We pray for Tiffany to be led to you and for Leslie for healing. 

We pray for the seniors, specially the senior gentleman in India who has been your humble servant. We pray for his healing and strength as he undergoes dialysis and for his daughter and caretaker. 

We pray for Pastor Ben and his family in India. 

May this Sabbath bring:

Rest that restores. Peace that settles the soul. Joy that rises from gratitude. Faith that grows deeper. Light that guides every step.

Amen

Please join us every week in our Sabbath Prayer for the week. We request your support in adopting prayer points for people mentioned, in your own prayers this week and become vessels of His healing. 

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