Kofi & The Baboon

While the story of Kofi and the Baboon is a popular West African folktale used to teach children about honesty, greed, and cleverness, it carries a profound spiritual lesson about the "traps" we encounter in life.

In the story, Kofi sets a trap for a baboon by placing a treat inside a narrow-necked jar. The baboon reaches in and grabs the prize, but because his fist is now clenched and full, he cannot pull his hand out. He is caught—not because the jar is holding him, but because he doesn't want to let go. 

Scripture Reflection: The Power of Letting Go

"No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it." — 1 Corinthians 10:13

Like the baboon in the story, we often find ourselves stuck in "tight spots." We might feel trapped by a habit, a grudge, a material desire, or a toxic situation. When we pray for God to deliver us, we sometimes wonder why the "jar" won't break or why the situation won't change.

However, the story of Kofi teaches us a difficult truth: Sometimes the only thing keeping us trapped is our own grip.

The baboon had the "way out" the entire time—all he had to do was open his hand and let go of the bait. In our lives, the "bait" might be the need to be right, the pursuit of money at the cost of our integrity or holding onto past hurts. We want the freedom, but we also want the "treat."

God promises to provide a way out, but that exit often requires us to surrender what we are "white-knuckling". True freedom is found when we realize that what God has for us in the future is far greater than the small "prize" we are currently clinging to. Because if we want to hold onto Jesus, we must let go of the other "desires". 

Today let us reflect: 

* Is there something I am holding onto so tightly that it is actually keeping me stuck?

* Am I asking God to change my circumstances, or am I willing to change what I am prioritizing?

* What would happen if I "opened my hand" in surrender today?

Prayer

Lord, thank You for being a God of freedom. Help me to recognize the traps in my life that are fueled by my own desires or fears. Give me the courage to let go of the things that keep me bound, even if they seem valuable in the moment. I trust that Your hands are full of better things for me. Amen.

The Christmas We Wouldn’t Believe

                                          

How would we respond if the Christmas story unfolded in our world—not in ancient Bethlehem, but in our neighbourhood, on our news feeds, in the noise of our modern skepticism?

Imagine a young woman today saying she is pregnant by the Holy Spirit. Would we believe her, or would we whisper, judge, and scroll past?

Imagine a carpenter choosing to stay with her—would we call him faithful or foolish?

Imagine a 33‑year‑old man claiming to be the Son of God—would we listen, or would we label him delusional?

Imagine a headline announcing that someone who died on Friday walked out of the grave on Sunday—would we worship, or would we mock the algorithm?

If we wouldn’t believe it now, how do we believe it then?

The first Christmas wasn’t wrapped in tinsel or sentiment. It was wrapped in scandal, confusion, and impossibility. It was built on one small but world‑shaking word: Yes.

Mary said yes to the impossible.

Joseph said yes to the unexplainable.

The shepherds said yes to the terrifying.

None of them had clarity. None had a plan. None had certainty.

They only had a promise.

Real faith doesn’t wait for life to make sense before it trusts.

Real faith steps into mystery because God is already there.

If the Christmas story happened today, many would dismiss it. But Christmas invites us to believe that God still breaks into our world in ways that defy logic, comfort, and predictability.

To believe Christmas is to embrace a holy paradox:

• The Infinite became finite.
• The King became a servant.
• The Holy Spirit moved beyond human explanation.
• The God who once felt distant stepped into our present moment—into our mess, our questions, our humanity.

Christmas is not just a story to remember; it is a reality to recognize.

So here is the question for our hearts today:

If a “Mary” or a “Jesus” walked into your life in a way you didn’t expect, would you have the eyes to see God at work?

May this Christmas awaken in us the courage to say “yes” again—

yes to wonder,

yes to mystery,

yes to God moving in ways we cannot predict or control.

Because the miracle of Christmas is not that God once came near.

The miracle is that He still does.

The miracle of Christmas begins the moment we stop asking, ‘Is this possible?’ and start whispering, ‘Lord, I trust You.

Trials of the Righteous

Read Job chapter 2 ver 1-7

The book of Job never fails to intrigue, and yet answers one fundamental question Christians have: Why do the righteous suffer.

The immediate response of people to this question is that the sufferer must have done something wrong, so he is getting his punishment. Many of us put it on karma in some way or the other. The problem with this thought is that God actually never, never, puts any human in difficulty or danger. And if we truly believe we are getting just desserts then we don't believe in the goodness of God, nor His salvation and nor in Jesus. Because all these are logically opposed to that theory, because our God is a God of love, not a God of revenge.

The problem is Gods people, those who worship Him and believe in Him, become targets of Lucifer, who is constantly out to prove that God's love for us is misplaced. That we do not deserve it. That we are intrinsically disloyal and for Him as long as the going is good and He is blessing us. He claims our love for God is purely transactional.

This can be seen in the Book of Job where Lucifer challenges God and puts Job through some of the worst situations a human can face - just so Job will curse God in his pain and sorrow.

Satan simply takes advantage of the democracy of God's love and His blessing of Free choice given to us, to make us turn away and claim the win.

​But Satan is wrong. The human spirit, when anchored in God, is stronger than any physical affliction. This is the opportunity for every believer to prove the Accuser wrong, not just for their own sake, but for God’s glory.

​God permits the trial, but He also sets the limits. 

​When suffering comes into your life—the painful illness, the frustrating delay, the unjust betrayal—remember that it is not unchecked chaos. It has passed through the hand of God, and He has placed a boundary on its reach. You may feel like you are at the breaking point, but God's word to the trial is: “You may go this far, and no farther.”

How do we overcome Satan / Lucifer and remain with our integrity with God? 

A.  ​Acknowledge God's Trust: In what area of your life is God trusting you to maintain your integrity right now, even without fully understanding the why?

B. Reject the Lie: Have you ever felt like your service to God is transactional? Take a moment to reject Satan’s lie that your faith is only as deep as your comfort level.

C. ​Rest in the Boundary: Take comfort in the fact that God is sovereign over your suffering. Pray for the grace to endure, knowing that your trial has a divine limit and will not destroy you.

​True, that our suffering often feels senseless and overwhelming. Remember that God is proud of our integrity when we choose to worship Him in the storm. 

​The book's prologue describes a unique scenario that raises deep questions about the origin of suffering. It shows that:

1. Satan can and does accuse humanity before God.

2.Satan can challenge God's judgment and provoke a situation.

However, God remains in ultimate control, setting the boundaries and using the circumstances (even those instigated by Satan) for His own purposes, which in Job's case was to reveal the purity of his faith and later to restore him with greater blessing.

The Candle of Love

The Candle of Love, often called the Shepherds Candle, will soon be lit and celebrated as a radiant symbol of hope and compassion. Traditionally glowing with a soft pink light, it reminds us of the shepherds who first heard the joyful news of Christ’s birth, and it calls us to embrace love in its purest form—love that is humble, selfless, and welcoming. As this candle shines, it invites us to open our hearts to others, to share kindness generously, and to let love be the guiding flame in our lives, just as Jesus commanded us to. 

Many theologians and spiritual leaders interpret the command to "love one another," especially when applied to those who have harmed us, as a call to agape love, which is different from philia (brotherly love) or eros (romantic love).

It is important to know this distinction because a lot depends on our understanding and practise of "love". 

The main reason we know Jesus was talking about agape (\alpha\gamma\alpha^{\prime}\pi\eta) love is due to the specific Greek word used in the original New Testament texts, and the context in which that command is given.

​The Linguistic Evidence

​The New Testament was originally written in Greek, and that language has several distinct words for "love." The two most relevant are:

Agape (\alpha\gamma\alpha^{\prime}\pi\eta): This is the word most often used when describing God's love for humanity, and the love Christians are commanded to have for one another and for their enemies. It signifies an unconditional, willful, self-sacrificial commitment to the well-being of the other person. It is not dependent on feelings or the worthiness of the recipient.

Philia (\varphi\iota\lambda\iota^{\prime}\alpha): This refers to brotherly love, friendship, or affection. It is a reciprocal, emotion-based, personal fondness—the kind of love you feel for a friend or family member.

​When Jesus issues the difficult command to "love your enemies" (Matthew 5:44) and the "new commandment" to "love one another" (John 13:34-35), the word consistently used in the Greek text (or its verb form, agapaō) is agape.

​Since he commands this love for enemies—people whom we naturally do not like or feel affection for—it immediately rules out the emotional love of philia. The only type of love that can be commanded for an enemy is the agape love of the will—a choice to seek their welfare, not a feeling of warmth.

​The Definition of God's Nature

​The New Testament defines God as this kind of love: "God is love" (1 John 4:8, 16). The Greek word used here is agape. Therefore, the love humans are commanded to show is meant to be a reflection of God's own unconditional, self-giving nature.

​In summary, the use of agape in the original language signifies that Jesus was calling for a transcendent, principled love of action and goodwill, not a sentimental, emotional love of friendship.

​Here is a breakdown of how this kind of love is generally understood in difficult situations:

​Understanding Agape Love

​It is not an Emotion: Agape is not a feeling of warmth, affection, or personal liking. It is primarily an act of the will and a commitment to action for the other person's well-being, regardless of their behavior or your feelings toward them.

It is Wishing Them Well: Loving an enemy means wishing them peace and good, not harm or revenge. It is praying for their good, even if you never speak to them again.

It is Practical and Boundaries-Based: This love does not mean you have to continue to associate with, trust, or tolerate abusive behavior. True love sometimes requires establishing firm boundaries for your own safety and sanity, and for the possibility of the other person changing.

​How to Apply Agape: Love in Action

Forgiveness

Releasing the debt: Forgiveness is letting go of the demand that the person pay you back for the harm they caused. It is for your own freedom, not necessarily for their benefit. It does not mean forgetting or absolving them of responsibility.

Non-Retaliation

"Turn the other cheek": This is often interpreted as breaking the cycle of violence and revenge. It means choosing not to harm them back, even if you could, and refusing to sink to their level of rudeness.

Compassion/Empathy

Seeing their brokenness: Often, a person who is rude, insulting, or harmful is acting out of their own deep pain, fear, or insecurity. Loving them can be seeing the person behind the hurtful behavior and recognizing their broken humanity without excusing their actions.

Setting Boundaries

Protecting yourself: You can love someone from a distance. If they are actively harmful, loving them may mean refusing to engage, ending a relationship, or seeking protection (e.g., in cases of abuse). This is an act of self-respect, which is also a form of love.

In short, the challenge is to separate the person from their actions. You are called to love the inherent worth of the person as a human being (agape), while strongly rejecting their rude, insulting, or harmful behavior.

​

When is Christmas?

How do we show joy at Christmas? We decorate our homes. We wrap gifts. We sing carols and light candles. But Christmas — real Christmas — doesn’t begin with glitter or gatherings. It begins with a whisper in the soul.

A popular carol goes- 

🎄 “Christmas isn’t Christmas till it happens in your heart.”

So: It’s not a date. It’s a divine encounter which begets JOY. 

In Luke 2, the angels didn’t announce a holiday. They announced a Savior:

“Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:11)

The shepherds didn’t just hear the news — they responded. They left their fields and found the manger. And when they saw Him, they were changed.

It’s not just a season. It’s a surrender. Not just a celebration. It’s a transformation.

The first Christmas wasn’t wrapped in tinsel or tradition. It was wrapped in humility — a manger, a young couple, a quiet town. And yet, it changed everything.

“Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord.” — Luke 2:11

The angels didn’t announce a holiday. They announced hope.

The shepherds didn’t attend a service. They responded to a call.

And Mary didn’t just carry a child. She carried a promise — one that would unfold in every heart willing to receive it.

When Christmas happens in your heart, it’s not about what’s under the tree. It’s about what’s growing inside you: Peace that passes understanding

• Joy that isn’t shaken by circumstance
• Love that reaches beyond boundaries
• Grace that rewrites your story

It’s the moment Christ moves from being a name we sing about to a Savior we walk with. 

It’s when the manger becomes more than a symbol — it becomes a starting point.

This Christmas, don’t just decorate your home.

Prepare your heart.

Don’t just attend the service. Enter the story.

Don’t just give gifts. Receive the greatest one.

Let Christ be born in you — not just once a year, but every day you choose to make room for Him.

The Flight from God

                           

​“I fled Him, down the nights and down the days; I fled Him, down the arches of the years;

I fled Him, down the labyrinthine ways

Of my own mind; and in the midst of tears

I hid from Him, and under running laughter.”

— Francis Thompson, The Hound of Heaven

Francis Thompson’s masterful poem, "The Hound of Heaven," is the ultimate literary expression of humanity's flight from God. The speaker runs ceaselessly from the divine presence—fleeing through time, through their own complex thoughts, and into fleeting worldly pleasures like ambition, love, and childhood innocence.

​He attempts to find happiness and safety everywhere except in the arms of the Pursuer. But no matter where he turns, he hears the relentless, echoing footsteps and the calm, insistent voice of the Divine Lover, a voice that calls out the heartbreaking truth: "All things betray thee, who betrayest Me."

​This desperate flight and the subsequent emptiness are the necessary prerequisites for understanding the depth of God's love, the love that is not content to let us be miserable in our self-made freedom.

​The Waiting Pursuit

​This is where the ancient wisdom of Isaiah 30:18 provides the beautiful answer to the poem's tension - "And therefore will Jehovah wait, that he may be gracious unto you; and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for Jehovah is a God of justice; blessed are all they that wait for him".

​The people of Judah, like the poem’s speaker, were running away—fleeing God's counsel and seeking help from Egypt instead of resting in His strength. They were choosing the labyrinthine ways of their own minds over the quietness and confidence God offered (Isaiah 30:15).

​But then comes the astonishing reversal: “Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion.”

​The "Hound of Heaven" is not a furious hunter, but a Patient Parent. The chasing is not done in anger, but in longing. The text says the Lord waits to be gracious.

• ​He waits for our self-reliance to crumble.

• ​He waits for the finite pleasures we pursue to turn to dust in our hands.

• ​He waits for us to exhaust our flight down the "nights and down the days."

​The moment we stop running, we don't find a condemning Judge; we find a compassionate Father who has been longing for us to turn around.

​The Peace in Surrender

​The verse concludes, “blessed are all who wait for him!”

​To "wait" for the Lord here means more than simply being patient; it means to stop running and to confidently rely on Him and Him alone. It is the moment the exhausted runner in the poem finally collapses, only to realize the pursuing footsteps halt right beside him, and the voice speaks a promise of final peace.

​The persistent love of the Hound of Heaven is not designed to terrify us, but to drive us to the only place where true rest exists: His presence.

Soon we will celebrate Christmas. What is it all about? We should realize it's all part of God pursuing us, to the extent of sending His Son, to endure pain, torture and human death, in the pursuit of our rescue. In the excitement of celebrations let us not forget that.

​Today, let's stop running. Consider what parts of our life we are currently using as a hiding place from God’s complete authority or intimate presence (e.g., control, busy-ness, self-sufficiency, ambition).

The Blue Collared Prophet

                                             

On this second Sunday of Advent, we light the second purple candle on the wreath—the Bethlehem Candle. While the first week focused on hope, this week turns our hearts toward Peace.

But today, we want to take a different view of "Peace". A view which was stated by Micah the prophet. Micah was known as the "blue-collar prophet" because, unlike Isaiah, who was an advisor in the royal courts, Micah came from a small, rural town called Moresheth. Yet he stated one of the most profound messages - found in Micah Chapter 5 verse 5 -

The verse explicitly states:

​"And he shall be their peace." (ESV)

While verse 2 is the famous prophecy about Jesus being born in Bethlehem, it is verse 5 that reveals the nature of His leadership. Here is why this specific line is so powerful for the second Sunday of Advent:

​1. Peace is a Person, Not a Policy

​Micah doesn't say that the Messiah will negotiate peace or bring peace like a politician. He says the Messiah will be our peace. In the original Hebrew, this implies that His very presence constitutes the state of peace (Shalom). When He arrives, peace arrives because they are one and the same.

​2. Peace in the Midst of the "Assyrian"

​The context of Micah 5:5 is wartime. Micah says, "And he shall be their peace when the Assyrian comes into our land..." At the time, Assyria was the terrifying superpower threatening to destroy Judah.

​The radical point Micah is making is that divine peace does not require the absence of an enemy. You can have the "Assyrian" (which can be your illness, your debt, your anxiety etc.,) marching through your heart and mind, and yet, because of the Messiah, you can still possess a peace that the enemy  cannot touch.

​3. The Bridge to the New Testament

​This specific Old Testament verse is the direct "ancestor" to the famous New Testament claim in Ephesians 2:14:

​"For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility."

When you light the candle of peace this Sunday, you are celebrating the fact that Jesus didn't just come to give us a "quiet feeling"—He came to be the fortress that stands between us and the chaos of the world.

Most of us wait for our circumstances to settle down so we can finally have peace. Micah 5:5 tells us the opposite: Peace has a name, and He stands firm even when the land is under siege. You don't have to wait for the war to end to be at peace; you only have to invite the Prince in.

The Door of Uncertainty

"It is the Lord who goes before you; He will be with you. He will not fail you or abandon you. Do not fear or be dismayed."

When we face difficult situations in life, it is easy to feel overwhelmed and alone. we fear the unknown. However, as believers, we can take comfort in the truth of the quoted verse which reminds us that the Lord goes before us.

But what does it mean for the Lord to go before us? It is in fact a promise of divine preparation, presence, and protection. It’s a call to courage: step forward in faith, because wherever you are going, God is already there. And Because God goes before us, we are told: “Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” 

Fear often comes from uncertainty, but this verse assures us that the future is already in God’s hands. 

Yet, there’s a deeper, more radical truth here: it means God is not bound by time the way we are. While we stand trembling at the threshold of “uncertainty,” He already inhabits both our future and our present. The battles we fear tomorrow are victories He has already secured. The doors we hesitate to open are rooms He has already furnished with grace. This verse is not just about guidance—it’s about God’s timeless sovereignty, reminding us that we are never walking into the unknown; we are stepping into a reality where God has already written redemption into the script. So, when we walk through the door of uncertainty, we are not entering risk—we are entering fulfillment, because the Author of time Himself has gone ahead to ensure that our story bends toward His promise.

Therefore, the future we fear is already filled with His presence, His preparation, and His power. He is already there, on the other side of the door, waiting to hand hold us.  The battles we dread, the uncertainties that paralyze us, and the doors we cannot yet see—He has already walked through them, arranging victory and provision. This means every step into the unknown is not a leap into emptiness but a stride into territory where God Himself is waiting. Courage is not found in our strength but in the unshakable truth that the Lord who leads us will never leave us, never forsake us, and never fail us. Therefore, fear has no authority, discouragement has no dominion, and hope becomes the anthem of every new beginning. 

When we walk through that door of “Uncertainty”, we are not stepping into chaos but into a space already ordered by God’s hand. The unknown is not a void—it is a room He has furnished with grace, a path He has cleared with purpose, and a future He has secured with His promises. What feels like risk to us is already redemption in His plan. So when fear whispers that we are unprepared, faith declares that the Lord Himself has gone before us, and courage rises because we are walking into a tomorrow where God is already waiting.  

The Key Lesson for Us Today is to take Courage in uncertainty by building our Faith & Trust in His promises. 

Temptation: Pastor Rajiv's Mid-Week Message

 

The Prophet’s Candle

The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.

All church going Christians must be familiar with the four pillars of Advent which started yesterday. These pillars of hope, peace, joy and love, reflect some of the virtues of our Christ, because they summarize the core spiritual gifts and promise brought into the world by the birth of Jesus Christ.

Also known as the “prophecy candle,” the candle of hope for Advent assures us we can have hope that God will fulfill the prophecies declared in the Old Testament about Jesus. Hope doesn’t disappoint us (Romans 5:5).

So today, we will talk about "hope". What is hope and how does it relate to Christ.

Hope is inherent to humans. When we sleep, we hope we will wake up the next morning. Every baby born is hope for a family. Everything we do is with a hope that there will be an expected end.

Jesus gives life to that hope. Hopelessness is not part of Gods plan. Even as you read this, you are living a hope - whether you acknowledge it or not.

Hope is not in the distant future. Hope is here and now. For example - When a person is sick and suffering he or she can hope for a Cure or Full Recovery (The big goal) and a Good Quality of Life Today (The small, achievable goal).

If you are looking at change or a shift in your life - in the longer perspective you want Control Over the Future. In the shorter term

Acceptance and New Meaning (The "new normal") of the present.

​Hope is not denying the dark night but choosing to light the small candle and affirm the Light that is promised to return. Therefore, 

• ​Hope is not denial; it is trust. We trust that even when our bodies fail, His love does not.

• ​Hope is not ease; it is endurance. That He Grant us the strength to face the next treatment, the next difficult day, and the next moment with courage, knowing He is our refuge.

• ​Hope is not control; it is surrender. Help us surrender our fear and anxiety into His hands, believing that His plan holds profound meaning, even if we cannot see it now.

Second, who needs hope? Why does the Bible give it so much importance?

The biblical call to hope is not about wishful thinking; it's about confident expectation based on God’s proven track record. The prophecies of the Old Testament, like the one from Isaiah, were written during times of national defeat, exile, and despair—true hopelessness.

​God’s message through the prophets was this: Your current suffering is not the final word. It still is not.  

​This Advent, the candle of Hope reminds us that:

• ​God sees our darkness. He doesn't minimize our pain, grief, or struggle, but gives us the strength to bear it till we receive our blessing. Our problem and pain get dwarfed by His power. Isaiah says the people were walking in "deep darkness"—a profound, overwhelming shadow.

• ​The Light is not accidental. The Light (Christ) was promised centuries before He arrived. This means your current despair, if you are feeling it, is temporary because God has a pre-planned, guaranteed solution that is already set in motion.

• ​Hope is anchored in history. We light this first candle because the promise was kept in a manger in Bethlehem. If God kept the promise to Israel after centuries of waiting, He will certainly keep His promises to you today. Think about your own blessings in the past. Unexplained good incidents; unsought blessings. God has your back. 

​Our hope is not dependent on our circumstances changing, but on God’s unchanging nature and His promise to make all things new.

As you look at the first candle, acknowledge the areas of your life that feel heavy, dark, or hopeless. Name the burdens, talk to God about them. Name them. 

This week, practice choosing to hope over despair, through action:

• ​Daily Focus: Every morning, identify one prophecy fulfilled by Jesus (like those found in Isaiah 7, 9, or Micah 5). Write it down and use it as a reminder: "He did this, so He will do that." At the same time recall one good thing that happened to you. 

• ​Light in the Darkness: When you feel overwhelmed by hopelessness, physically light a candle (the Advent candle, if available) and pray the prayer of Isaiah 9:2 over your situation. Let the flame represent the promised, faithful presence of Christ.