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Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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  God’s Compassion That Calls Us to Obedience Bible Reading:  Deuteronomy 4:31-40 Key Verse Vs 40 V39-40“Acknowledge and take to heart this day that the LORD is God in heaven above and on the earth below. There is no other. Keep his decrees and commands, which I am giving you today, so that it may go well with you and your children after you and that you may live long in the land the LORD your God gives you for all time.”. DEVOTION In Deuteronomy 4:31-40, we see that Moses speaks to the people of Israel on the edge of the Promised Land. These words come at a pivotal moment - after years of wandering, after rebellion, after judgment, and yet right before blessing. Moses reminds them who God is and why they must respond to Him. Moses reveals that our obedience is not a way to "earn" God’s love; rather, it is the only logical response to a God who has already loved us with an unparalleled compassion. 1: God’s Compassion Revealed in History (v. 31-34) God’s compassion isn’t just ...
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Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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  Compassion That Forgives and Reconciles Bible Reading: Genesis 45:1-15 Key Verse Vs 4.5 V4, 5“Then Joseph said to his brothers, ‘Come close to me.’ When they had done so, he said, ‘I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you.’”    DEVOTION The latter part of Genesis recounts the story of Joseph, once betrayed by his family, but ultimately finds himself in a prestigious position. In today’s passage, we hear of Joseph’s reunion with his brothers. One would think this meeting would be about retaliation, but it was not. In fact, we see what complete forgiveness means and the purpose of reconciliation. Complete forgiveness means that there is unshakeable trust in the Lord. Joseph “could no longer control himself” and weeps because he recognizes God’s plans in that moment (Genesis 45:1). We live in a broken world, so...
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Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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  Forgiven to forgive Bible Reading:  Ephesians  2:11-22 Key Verse Vs 13 V13“But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.”   DEVOTION “I have a right to get the information without further explanation,” a student wrote bluntly to a teacher. Hurt and offended, he prepared for yet another confrontation with the student. But he received a gentle prompt: “Provide what is asked for” from a reputed physicist, confined to an electric wheelchair for decades. He once testified that his faith came from the heart. He was grateful to God for forgiving his sins and allowing him to ‘walk’ with Him. Scripture reminds us: forgiveness is not optional. Jesus teaches, “Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors” (Matthew 6:12). Through Christ, our debts were paid, and we were brought near to God (Colossians 2:13–14; Ephesians 2:13). Having received such mercy, how can we withhold it from others? In the parable of the u...
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Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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  Lent for transformation. Bible Reading: Romans 11:33-12:2  Key Verse Vs 12:1 12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.   DEVOTION The Book of Romans is a letter written by the Apostle Paul, to the Christians in Rome. The Christians in Rome were both Jews and Gentiles. As Paul addressed the Romans, we cannot overlook the fact that the key verse for today's devotion has an overshadowing from Chapter11, verses 11- 32, where Paul highlights that it is only through God’s infinite Mercy that we have been reconciled to Him, Jews and Gentiles alike. Though Salvation came to us Gentiles, through the bloodline of the Jews, God by his abounding Merc...
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Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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  Jesus Christ Who Transforms:  Bible Reading:  John 2:1-11 Key Verse Vs 9 Verse 9: “And the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine.”   DEVOTION The Identity of Jesus in John's Gospel One of the most significant features of the Gospel of John is the repeated use of Jesus’ “I am” statements. Through these declarations, Jesus communicates His true identity to His listeners. He proclaims Himself as the bread of life, the light of the world, the way, the truth, and the life. Jesus is the true vine, the resurrection and the life. Only He has the power to transform lives into new creations. Whoever encounters Him experiences a complete turnaround, becoming a new creation and embracing His words, teachings, and commandments as the guiding principles of their lives. Jesus can also transform us if we are willing to surrender and obey. The Apostle Paul stands as a prominent example—once transformed by Christ, he became the great apostle to the Ge...
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Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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  Ambassadors of Reconciliation Bible Reading:    Bible portion:  2 Corinthians  5:16-21 Key Verse Vs 20 Key Verse: V 20 So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ: be reconciled to God.   DEVOTION What is an ambassador? An ambassador is one who is entrusted with a message from a king of government and is faithfully expected to convey the same message in the same tone to officials and nations. Paul reminds us that we are ambassadors of our King Jesus, who is entrusting us to convey this message of reconciliation to the world. Our lives, words, and actions are meant to echo God’s invitation: “Be reconciled to God.” This is not a message of condemnation but of restoration. Not a message of distance but of nearness. Not a message of earning but of receiving.  The portion begins with the reminder that we no longer ought to look through human eyes. Reconciliation begins with God, not with ...
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Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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  New Life and spirit through Christ Bible Reading:   Ezekiel 36:24-36 Key Verse Vs 26 “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you.” – Ezekiel 36:26   DEVOTION In Ezekiel 36, God speaks to a people who had failed Him. Israel had turned away, sinned, and faced the consequences of exile. Yet in the middle of their brokenness, God makes an incredible promise of hope—not based on their merit, but on His mercy. “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you.” (Ezekiel 36:26). This promise reveals the heart of God: He is not merely interested in external reform, but in deep, inward transformation. God makes it clear that restoration will come “for the sake of My holy name” (v. 22). Restoration begins not with our goodness, but with God’s grace. He is the One who gathers, cleanses, removes the heart of stone, and replaces it with a heart of flesh. God does not merely improve behavior; He transforms the heart. A heart of stone is hard, resistan...
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