Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-
Life Controlled and Transformed by The Spirit
Romans 8:12-39

 ‘Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?’ (35)

The book of Romans is not for easy reading. Only when we read it carefully and prayerfully can we grasp the true message. Today’s passage deals with the difference between the life lived in sin and the one lived under the influence of the Spirit. This is a theme which Paul deals with in other chapters and in some of his other letters also. In 1 Corinthians 2:14-15 Paul speaks of ‘the man without the spirit’ (‘natural man’ in KJV) and the ‘spiritual man’. A life lived according to the flesh is one of fear, condemnation, slavery, despair and death.  (Romans 6:23)
Life lived in Spirit:
It puts to death the misdeeds of the body (v.13 cf. Galatians 5:16-17). A spirit-filled life leads us from fear to courage, weakness to strength, slavery to ‘son-ship’ and from despair to hope. We are no longer the ‘hired ones’ but ‘the heirs’. We are led from condemnation to justification. Those who respond to the call are justified and glorified.  One can easily approach God calling Him ‘Abba!’ ‘Father’.  The glory that is to be revealed is great when compared to the present suffering. This hope helps one to suffer any persecution.
Responding to God’s call in faith:
In v. 29 we have the term ‘predestined’. It has created much controversy in the Church. Thinkers like Calvin argued that God had already chosen some for eternity no matter how they lived or what they did. But this idea is quite contrary to Paul’s thinking. The main theme of Romans is ‘justification by faith’ which led to the Reformation Movement of Martin Luther.  God the creator of the whole universe is a God who calls every one irrespective of color, creed, sex or race. He has given us the freedom to accept or reject His call (Revelation 3:20). Only when we respond in faith and continue in fellowship with Him that we will be justified and glorified.
The Power of God’s Spirit:
The life in the Spirit is a process. The change does not begin and end in a day (Romans 12:2). Our lives are being transformed everyday. The power of the Spirit is so strong that adverse circumstances such as persecution, famine, etc. can separate us from God’s love.  Life-threatening forces too cannot deter us from following Christ.


Prayer: Lord, help me to surrender myself to your Spirit so that I may experience the power of your love and live in the hope of glorification. Amen
Thought for the Day:  What can separate us from God’s love.Live in Truth, Leave the Sin and Love the Spirit

Rev.  Dr. Philip Varghese, Lubbock .


Popular posts from this blog

Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-
  Constant, patient and welcoming love of God   St. Luke 15: 11-32  V.21: And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ The parable of the ‘Prodigal son’ is one of the most frequently quoted parables that Jesus told His disciples. The parable contains the rich mine of human virtues and emotions. This parable is lived and re-lived in progressing civilizations from time immemorial and continuing. It brings out in vivid detail the pathetic depth of human sinfulness and the glorious heights of God’s forgiveness.      As a story of human nature, fathers are generally merciful to their children in any circumstance. They are very protective and are eager to provide for and secure the lives of their offspring. Jesus is telling this parable to underscore the superlative love of God to His children. The nature of such love is reiterated by Jesus in Matthew 7:11. Humankind who are evil by nature, give good gifts t
Read more

Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-
PRIESTHOOD: THE ANOINTED MINISTRY Exodus 40:12-16 Bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting... wash them with water. Then dress Aaron in the sacred garments, anoint him and consecrate him so he may serve me as priest (Exodus 40: 12-13). Priesthood among the people of God was a divine command and initiation. God wanted some people to be separated for the special ministry among his people. God appointed Aaron and his descendants to take up this kind of ministry among the people of God. Priests are always separated and appointed as channels that connect God with his people. All throughout the history of Israel, priests played an important role in connecting people with God and to lead and guide them in the statutes of God. But there are incidents in the Bible where the priests failed in their duties and that led the people to go away from God. So the priests have a special and significant ministry to perform in this world among his people. Two important things
Read more

Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-
Revelation for Liberation Acts 27:18-26 Sherine Thomas Long Island MTC, NY 20  When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest raged, all hope of our being saved was at last abandoned. “After winter comes the summer.  After night comes the dawn.  And after every storm, there comes clear open skies” so said a Scottish clergyman from the 1600s. It’s been said, that hope can sometimes be the most dangerous weapon.  However, it’s sometimes the hardest weapon to carry when you’re living with the loss of a loved one, something that almost feels like a terrible nightmare that’ll never go away.  It’s a weapon difficult to carry when day in and day out no one seems to hear or see those tears that are shed or silent cries that are made during a heartfelt prayer. It’s a weapon difficult to carry as you see your loved one lying on that hospital bed.  It’s a weapon difficult to carry as you search and seek out answers to tell a child as to why they’ve been a
Read more