Divine Daily Devotionals

Verses:2 Chronicles 3:10–12 “And in the most holy house he made two cherubim of image work; and they overlaid them with gold. And the wings of the cherubim were twenty cubits long: the wing of the one cherub was five cubits, reaching to the wall of the house; and the other wing was likewise five cubits, reaching to the wing of the other cherub. And the wing of the other cherub was five cubits, reaching to the wall of the house; and the other wing was five cubits also, joining to the wing of the other cherub.” When we read the Scriptures carefully, we see that God strongly warns His people against idolatry. In Exodus 20:4–5 God commands, “Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image… thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them.” This command was given so that the living God would never be reduced to something created by human hands. God is greater than every form and beyond every object. No image can contain Him and no material thing can represent His fullness. Yet when we...

Written by: Rev. Christopher Shabu ​The beginning of 2010 was a period shadowed by failures and crises in my life. In May of that year, my resignation from the St. Thomas Evangelical Church and the subsequent restrictions pushed me into a state of emptiness. However, it was from the depths of that collapse that a new idea—one unwilling to accept defeat—was born within me. As a "mobile maniac," using technology as a tool for gospel proclamation was a natural thought for me. Thus, the concept of a Christian media ministry was birthed on the IVRS (Interactive Voice Response System) platform, typically used by mobile service providers to interact with customers. ​From May to August 2010, I worked day and night on a broken 'Dopod' Windows mobile phone to shape this idea. The creative suggestions and support of my soulmate and seminary classmate, Biju Mathew Achen, were a source of strength during this journey. It was Achen who gave the venture the meaningful name 'Chri...

രചന: റവ. ക്രിസ്റ്റഫർ ഷാബു YR 2010-ന്റെ പ്രാരംഭത്തിൽ, ജീവിതം പരാജയങ്ങളുടെയും പ്രതിസന്ധികളുടെയും കരിനിഴലിലായ നാളുകൾ. ആ വർഷം മെയ് മാസത്തിൽ സെന്റ് തോമസ് ഇവാഞ്ചലിക്കൽ സഭയിൽ നിന്നുള്ള എന്റെ രാജിയും, തുടർന്നുണ്ടായ വിലക്കുകളും എന്നെ ശൂന്യതയിലേക്ക് തള്ളിവിട്ടു. എന്നാൽ, ആ തകർച്ചയുടെ ആഴങ്ങളിൽ നിന്നാണ് പരാജയപ്പെടാൻ മനസ്സില്ലാത്ത ഒരു പുതിയ ആശയം എന്നിൽ ഉദിച്ചത്. ഒരു 'മൊബൈൽ മാനിയാക്' ആയ എനിക്ക്, സാങ്കേതികവിദ്യയെ സുവിശേഷ പ്രഘോഷണത്തിന്റെ ഉപാധിയാക്കുക എന്നത് സ്വാഭാവികമായ ഒരു ചിന്തയായിരുന്നു. അങ്ങനെയാണ് മൊബൈൽ സേവന ദാതാക്കൾ ഉപഭോക്താക്കളോട് സംവദിക്കാൻ ഉപയോഗിക്കുന്ന IVRS (Interactive Voice Response System) എന്ന പ്ലാറ്റ്‌ഫോമിൽ ഒരു ക്രിസ്ത്യൻ മീഡിയ മിനിസ്ട്രി എന്ന ആശയം ജന്മമെടുത്തത്. 2010 മെയ് മുതൽ ഓഗസ്റ്റ് വരെ, തകർന്ന ഒരു 'ഡോപോഡ്' (Dopod) വിൻഡോസ് മൊബൈൽ ഫോണിൽ പകലന്തിയോളം അധ്വാനിച്ചാണ് ആ ആശയത്തിന് ഞാൻ രൂപം നൽകിയത്. എന്റെ ആത്മമിത്രവും സെമിനാരി സഹപാഠിയുമായ ബിജു മാത്യു അച്ഛന്റെ ക്രിയാത്മകമായ നിർദ്ദേശങ്ങളും പിന്തുണയും ഈ യാത്രയിൽ കരുത്തായി. 'ക്രൈസ്റ്റ് ജെൻ മീഡിയ' (Christ Gen Media) എന്ന അർത്...

Verse:2 Chronicles 2:5 “And the house which I build is great: for great is our God above all gods.” When Solomon spoke these words, he was not merely describing the size of a building; he was unveiling the magnitude of his theology. The temple was to be great because the God for whom it was built is great. The greatness of the structure was meant to reflect the greatness of the One who would be worshiped there. Solomon did not begin with architecture; he began with God. He did not say, “The house will be great because I am a great king,” but “The house which I build is great: for great is our God above all gods.” The measure of his work flowed from the measure of his understanding of God. This must be the foundation of our lives. If God is maximally great and perfect, then our response to Him cannot be minimal, careless, or mediocre. The problem is not that God lacks glory; it is that we often lack perception. When spiritual life becomes lethargic, it is either because we do not truly ...

It was in 2008 that I was first cast out from the steps of a church. At the time, I was merely an innocent scapegoat in a dispute between two church factions. I was serving as the priest of that parish. One Sunday morning, when I arrived for worship, I found the church courtyard filled with police and their entourage. As I attempted to enter my church, the police and several others blocked me. Preventing me from leading the service, they expelled me from my own parish. I faced similar experiences multiple times during this conflict. Standing on the other side of that crowd was a priest who was very dear to me—someone who had been a major influence in my journey toward ordination. Though he (who later became a Bishop) was on the opposing side, he was a personality to whom I always felt indebted. Nevertheless, accompanied by shouts and jeers, I descended those church steps that day. My first "ecclesiastical banishment." Later, in 2010, amidst severe personal crises, I informed ...

ആദ്യമായി 2008-ലാണ് ഒരു ദേവാലയത്തിന്റെ പടികളിൽ നിന്നും ഞാൻ പുറത്താക്കപ്പെടുന്നത്. രണ്ട് സഭാ വിഭാഗങ്ങൾ തമ്മിലുണ്ടായ തർക്കങ്ങളുടെ നിഷ്കളങ്കനായ ഒരു ബലിയാട് (Scapegoat) മാത്രമായിരുന്നു അന്ന് ഞാൻ. ഞാൻ പട്ടക്കാരനായി ശുശ്രൂഷ ചെയ്തിരുന്ന ആ ഇടവകയിൽ, ഒരു ഞായറാഴ്ച പ്രഭാതത്തിൽ ആരാധനയ്ക്കായി എത്തിയപ്പോൾ കണ്ടത് പോലീസും പരിവാരങ്ങളും കൊണ്ട് നിറഞ്ഞ പള്ളി അങ്കണമാണ്. എന്റെ പള്ളിക്കുള്ളിൽ പ്രവേശിക്കാൻ തുനിഞ്ഞ എന്നെ പോലീസും മറ്റു പലരും ചേർന്ന് തടഞ്ഞു. ആരാധന എടുക്കാൻ  അനുവദിക്കാതെ അവർ എന്നെ എന്റെ ഇടവകയിൽ നിന്നും പുറത്താക്കി. ഈ പ്രശ്നത്തിൽ പല പ്രാവശ്യം സമാന അനുഭവങ്ങൾ ഉണ്ടായിട്ടുണ്ട്. ആൾക്കൂട്ടത്തിന്റെ മറുഭാഗത്ത് എനിക്ക് ഏറ്റവും പ്രിയപ്പെട്ട ആ പട്ടക്കാരനും നിന്നിരുന്നു. എന്റെ പൗരോഹിത്യ സ്ഥാനത്തിന് (Ordination) വലിയ കാരണക്കാരനായിരുന്ന ഒരാൾ ആയിരുന്നു ആ പട്ടക്കാരൻ. പിന്നീട് ബിഷപ് ആയി മാറിയ ആ പട്ടക്കാരൻ എതിർ ഭാഗം ആയിരുന്നെങ്കിലും എപ്പോഴും കടപ്പാട് തോന്നുന്ന വ്യക്തിത്വത്തിന്റെ ഉടമ ആയിരുന്നു. എങ്കിലും ആക്രോശത്തിന്റെയും കൂക്കുവിളികളുടെയും അകമ്പടിയോടെ ആ പള്ളിയുടെ പടികൾ ഞാൻ അന്ന് ഇറങ്ങി.ഒന്നാം പള്ളി ഭ്രഷ്ട് . ​തുടർ...

Verses:2 Chronicles 1:11-12 "And God said to Solomon, Because this was in thy heart, and thou hast not asked riches, wealth, or honor, nor the life of them that hate thee, neither yet hast asked long life; but hast asked wisdom and knowledge for thyself, that thou mayest judge my people, over whom I have made thee king: wisdom and knowledge is granted unto thee; and I will give thee riches, and wealth, and honor, such as none of the kings have had that have been before thee; neither shall there any after thee have the like." The interaction between God and Solomon reveals a profound mystery regarding the nature of the Creator and the gift of free will. Although God is omniscient and holds the entirety of time in His hand, He approaches us with a startling freshness, dealing with us in the absolute "now." When Solomon asked for wisdom, God did not withhold His blessing based on the failures that would come later in Solomon's life. Instead, He responded to the sin...

Verses:1 Chronicles 29:2,3 “Moreover, because I have set my affection on the house of my God, I have given to the house of my God, over and above all that I have prepared for the holy house, my own special treasure of gold and silver: three thousand talents of gold, of the gold of Ophir, and seven thousand talents of refined silver, to overlay the walls of the houses.” When it comes to God, He does not primarily look at the magnitude of our activity, the visibility of our ministry, or the eloquence of our confession; He looks at the heart that stands before Him. David’s words reveal something profoundly intimate: “I have set my affection on the house of my God.” His giving did not arise from obligation, public expectation, or royal display. It flowed from affection. Love was the source, and wholeheartedness was the expression. What David offered was not merely prepared resources, but his “own special treasure” that which touched his person, his comfort, his position, and even his sense...

 Verses:Chronicles 28:2–3 “Then David the king stood up upon his feet, and said, Hear me, my brethren, and my people: As for me, it was in my heart to build a house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and for the footstool of our God; and I had made ready for the building. But God said unto me, Thou shalt not build a house for my name, because thou art a man of war, and hast shed blood.” These verses open a sacred window into the inner world of David. He was not speaking as a careless king or a lazy servant. He stood before the leaders of Israel as a man whose heart burned with holy desire. Everything necessary for the building of the temple was already prepared resources, plans, vision, experience, and authority. Yet one thing was missing, and that one thing outweighed all the rest: God’s permission. David had the capacity, the passion, and the readiness, but he did not have the divine approval to step into that specific ministry. Scripture is careful to show us that ...

Verses:1 Chronicles 27:23,24 "But David took not the number of them from twenty years old and under, because Jehovah had said he would increase Israel like to the stars of heaven. Joab the son of Zeruiah began to number, but finished not; and there came wrath for this upon Israel; neither was the number put into the account in the chronicles of king David." True holiness cannot be built upon a foundation of disobedience, for no sin can ever serve as a basement for something truly good. In the life of King David, we see a profound moment of realization regarding the census he ordered a project born of pride and reliance on human strength rather than divine promise. Because this endeavor was rooted in sin, it was intentionally omitted from the King’s official annals. It was a clear, divine statement that anything conceived in rebellion has no place in the record of God’s kingdom. Even if a project seems successful, profitable, or advanced in the eyes of the world, if its core i...