April 18, 2025
Beloved children of God in Christ, I greet and bless you all in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. The Bible says in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son.”
Jesus Christ willingly gave His life as the greatest thanks offering to the Father, out of love for us. He endured suffering, shame, and rejection. He was tempted, yet never sinned. He was spat upon, flogged, and falsely accused. People insulted and ridiculed Him. Why? Because He chose to experience everything we go through, so that He could understand us and help us in our moments of weakness. That is why the Bible says, “For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.” (Hebrews 2:18) If you are being falsely accused, or someone has filed a false case against you, know that the Lord will fight for you. He sees your pain and will stretch out His hand to help you. He will bring justice and deliverance.
My beloved children of God, for all that Jesus endured on the cross—for the love of our Father, who gave His only Son—if you truly desire to offer a thanksgiving offering, do you know what you should give? Not money or riches, but the fruit of repentance. That is what Jesus longs for. He gave His life to restore the image of God that was lost in you. If you wish to do something in return, think about this: for your sake, He suffered shame, pain, and said, “I thirst.” If you feel grateful, then offer Him the fruit of repentance. That is your true thanksgiving.
When Jesus was hanging on the cross, He said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” Today, ask yourself—whom are you still unable to forgive? Who are you still bitter towards? If there is someone you cannot speak to, someone who wronged you—yet you carry unforgiveness in your heart—then that is the greatest offering you can give Jesus today. Even if you did no wrong and they did, not forgiving them becomes your mistake. Forgive them today. Reconcile with them. That is a powerful offering to the Lord this Good Friday. While on the cross, Jesus also showed us what it means to be responsible. He entrusted His mother to His disciple John. He could no longer care for her physically, so He made sure someone trustworthy would take care of her. He showed us the importance of honoring our responsibilities.
My beloved children of God, what offering will you bring to the cross today? These are the days we meditate on His suffering and death. He desires not silver or gold but your repentance, your change, your transformation. Perhaps you have been disobedient or disrespectful to your parents—maybe even hurtful in your words or actions. Today, say to the Lord, “Forgive me. I want to become a responsible child. I will no longer dishonor my parents. I will be a support to them. I will love and respect them.” If you do this, it will be a great offering to Christ on the cross.
Testimony – Sister Diana Selvi
My friend had been suffering from physical weakness and was admitted to the hospital. The doctors decided to do a biopsy and said that only after receiving the report could treatment begin. In this troubling situation, I sent a prayer request via email to Brother Stephen, asking for healing and especially for the strange sounds my friend was hearing in her ears to stop. Brother replied with a scripture verse, and both my friend and I wrote it down and prayed with it daily. By God’s grace and through the prayers of Brother Stephen, the doctors later said that the biopsy was no longer needed. Not only that, the strange noises in her ears completely stopped, and she began speaking clearly again. Her medical report came back normal, and now she has been offered a job in a good company. I thank and praise God for His healing and for showing such love to my friend.
Prayer
Loving Lord, we thank You. In the name of Jesus, I bless all Your children reading this. Father, You sent Your only begotten Son Jesus Christ to earth for us. He gave His life for us. You have loved us so deeply. Today we remember that love and offer our thanks. May our hearts be soaked in this love. May we bear good fruits and love You more each day. Help us to offer our affection, devotion, and the fruit of the Spirit to You as a true offering that brings You joy. Turn every sorrow of Your children into joy. May tears be turned into tears of gladness. Transform every sorrowful chapter in their lives into a testimony of happiness. Do great miracles, Lord. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
