Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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Passion to the cross
“….if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.” (12)
The first letter of John deals with teachings against the heresies in the early Church. Heresies were taught by false prophets. They confused the believers by contradicting the true teachings given by the apostles. False teachers were trying to mislead first-century Christians by denying, among the other things, the true humanity of Christ. This view came to be called Gnosticism and is the background of much of 1.John. John had two basic purposes in mind in this letter(1)to expose false teachers, and (2)to give believers assurance of salvation.1.John.1:5-2:28 is teaching about having good fellowship with the Father and the Son.
 God is love- love one another:
Author encourages his readers to love one another because God is love. God’s love is proved by sending His only begotten Son to this world and saving it by the passion and crucifixion (Vs.9).The example set by His son is the role model for our relationship. God loved the world even though it sinned and astrayed from the Holy presence. Thus we should love one another to help the world to continue in the divine fellowship.
God is love- abide in Him:
God has given us His spirit and its our responsibility to abide in Him. God abides in those who confess that Jesus is their savior (Vs.15).Christ opened the way of salvation through His ultimate sacrifice on the cross. Those who believe in Him must join the passion and sacrifice set through the life of Christ. We are send by the Holy Spirit to the world to be a living sacrifice by abiding in the examples set by our savior. Let the love of Christ help us to abide in Him and win the world.
God is love- obey His commands:
Vs.20 & 21 deserves special attention. It’s said that, those who say ‘I love God’ and hate their brother or sister are liars. For  those who do not love their brother or sister whom they can see, cannot love God whom they have not seen. Those who love God must love their brothers and sisters. The passion of Christ was mainly seen in His search for the lost sheep. Our duty is also to work for the reconciliation in the broken world. In the Sedra prayer used during the Holy Communion, we pray as follows: ….Lord God, comfort us in body, mind and spirit. Shower Your mercy upon us. Be the remission of our sins. Make us all worthy of the good end that is set for all children of peace. To You, we offer praise and thanksgiving forever and ever. Amen.

As the content of the prayer reminds let us whole heartedly submit into the Mighty hands of God the become a channel of reconciliation in this world. The real passion of a believer must be deep rooted on the spirit of fellowship shown by the Heavenly Father through Christ, His only begotten Son, to save this world.
 
Prayer: Almighty God, our Heavenly Father, we thank you for giving us the example of love through the sacrifice on cross. We know that divine love demands the selfless sacrifice  of our ‘self’. Help us to take, break, bless and give ourselves for thy Kingdom. Amen.
 
Rev. Renu John, MTC,N.Carolina
 

 

 

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