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Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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  Sharing God’s gift with Joy Bible Reading: :1 Chronicles 29:10-18 Key verse :  14 “Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand.” DEVOTION The historical context of this passage is Israel’s preparation for the construction of the Temple under Solomon, during the final days of David’s reign. It records David’s acknowledgement that God’s people can only give back what God has first given them, making it one of the Bible’s clearest expressions of stewardship, gratitude and worship. David gathered the leaders of Israel and encouraged them to contribute resources like gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood and precious stones for the future temple. People responded to David’s request generously. Generosity begins with the leader as David did not just ask the people for donations, he gave sacrificially from his own personal wealth first. These demonstrate that true leaders inspire others by setting a proactive model. Giving should be joyful and willing...
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Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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  Sharing God’s Gift with Joy Bible Reading: : Malachi 3:6–10 Key verse :   10 “Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in my house… and see if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you an overflowing blessing.” — Malachi 3:10 (NRSV) DEVOTION Malachi reminds God’s people that faithful giving is an act of worship rooted in gratitude. The call to bring the tithe was not merely about supporting the temple; it was about recognizing that everything belongs to God. Through this passage, God invites His people to trust Him wholeheartedly and to participate in His mission by sharing His gifts with joy. In the Mar Thoma tradition, stewardship is understood as a faithful response to God’s grace. We do not give to earn God’s favor; rather, we give because we have already received His abundant love and mercy through Christ. As the Apostle Paul teaches, “God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7). Joyful giving reflects a...
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Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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  The Day of Apostles St. Peter & St. Paul Bible Reading: :Matthew 20:25–28 Key verse :   20 "Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave." (vv. 26–27) DEVOTION When we look at Christ, we see a leader who is completely different from the leaders of this world. Though He was the Son of God, He chose to be born in a manger. He lived as the son of a carpenter and associated with those whom society often overlooked - the poor, fishermen, and even those considered sinners, such as tax collectors. At the age of thirty-three, He died the death of a criminal on a cross. When false accusations were brought against Him, He did not open His mouth in defense. He endured mocking, spitting, beating, and persecution at the hands of His own creation, even though all authority in heaven and on earth belonged to Him. Christ deliberately chose a path that was completely different from what the w...
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Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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  Break the Chain: Finding Freedom from Addictions Bible Reading: :1st Peter 1: 13-25 Key verse :   1st Peter  1: 15-16  “But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” DEVOTION When we hear the word "addiction," our minds immediately think of drugs or alcohol. However, addiction can be anything that takes control of our lives and leads us down a path of emptiness,   brokenness and misery. In 1 Peter 1:13–14, we are instructed to be alert and self-controlled, resisting the sinful desires of our former way of life. Our hearts and minds are to be fixed on the Lord. We read in verse 16, “for it is written: “Be Holy, because I am holy.”; therefore, we are called to live holy lives. Breaking free from unhealthy habits or addictions is rarely easy. Many people want to change but become discouraged because they don't know where to begin. Peter, however, doesn't simply tell us to be holy, - he ...
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Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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  Break the Chain: Finding Freedom from Addictions Bible Reading: : St. Mark 5:1-20 Key verse :   20 And he went away and began to proclaim in Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him and everyone marveled. DEVOTION Imagine the scene. A howling man. Sharp rocks. Cold tombs. Iron chains snapped like twigs. He was the town’s nightmare, a soul utterly marooned in his own private hell. This isn’t just a first-century horror story; it is the raw anatomy of addiction. During a recent mission initiative to “The Upper Room,” a ministry serving our homeless friends in the Philadelphia region, we met many individuals from deeply disturbing backgrounds. They were bound, isolated, and chained by the harsh realities of life. Yet, in that space, they found a community that helped them break the shackles of their enslavement. This modern struggle mirrors the Gerasene demoniac. He lived in a state of fractured shalom (peace)—the tragic anatomy of addiction. However, the God of the ...
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Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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  Break the Chain: Finding Freedom from Addictions Bible Reading: :Colossians 3:1-11 Key verse :   2 “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” — Colossians 3:2 DEVOTION Addiction is a powerful chain that binds people physically, emotionally, and spiritually. While many associate addiction with drugs or alcohol, other forms of bondage include social media dependence, gaming, unhealthy relationships, anger, gossip, materialism, and habits that gradually gain control over our lives. What often begins as a simple desire or pastime becomes a chain that weakens our relationship with God, hinders spiritual growth, and damages our relationships with others. Colossians 3:1–11 provides a clear roadmap to freedom. In Colossians 3:2, Paul urges believers, “Set your minds on things above.” True freedom begins with a change in focus. When our minds are consumed by worldly pleasures and unhealthy desires, destructive habits can take root. However, when we intentionally fi...
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Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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  “Break the Chain: Finding freedom from Addictions”. Bible Reading: : Daniel 1:8-21 Key verse :   6 But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way.  DEVOTION Addiction is a chronic medical disease characterized by a compulsive, uncontrollable need to engage in habit-forming behavior or consume a substance. But this is not the only addiction haunting individuals now. The chain of addiction is destroying individuals and families. Also, we should not forget that anything that puts us under chain and taking our focus away from God is addiction. In that sense, it could be addiction to money, sex, social media, food, pornography etc. How can a person break up with the addiction he is in and reclaim his life?  In Daniel 1, Daniel and his three friends resolved not to defile themselves with the king's rich food and wine to avoid violating their religious dietary ...
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