Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-
The Great Privileges, but warning
1 Corinthians 10:1-6

But God was not pleased with most of them, so they died in the desert (1Cori:10:5)
St. Paul quotes the past experience of the Jewish people here, and wants to instruct the believers of Corinth how alert they should be in the growth of faith and life. Past experiences are the learning experiences in the spiritual journey.  If we do not learn from the past experiences we will also end up in dangers.
The apostle sets before them the example of the Jewish people. They were by a miracle, led through the Red Sea, where the pursuing Egyptians drowned. It was to them a typical baptism. The Manna on which they fed was a type of crucified Christ, the Bread that came down from heaven, which whoever eats shall live forever. Christ is the Rock on which the Christian Church is built; and ‘of the streams that issue there from, all believers drink, and are refreshed’. Christ is central to all of redemptive history. The Birth of Jesus was an incarnation, not His beginning. He was behind the miraculous source of Manna and water in the wilderness. This typified the sacred influences of Holy Spirit, as given to believers through Christ.
Today also, God has given authority to the Church for this redemptive work. The Church has the responsibility to teach the pilgrim people to set themselves apart from all the works of flesh and dead deeds which deter them from entering Eternity. We should examine ourselves how we are engaged in attaining Spiritual maturity within the Church rather than material growth.
But ‘let none presume upon their great privileges, or profession of truth, these will not secure heavenly happiness’. We should not consider the Church as a material resource for our worldly needs but should accept Christ as the ‘Spiritual Rock’ in our lives and be ready to enter into Eternity.

Prayer: Dear Lord, Give us a heart to recognize the Hands of Christ in each and every experience of the wilderness. Help us to discern your engagements in our wilderness experiences. Amen
Thought for the Day:  How is Jesus Christ revealed in my life today ?
 Rev. Jacob Varughese,  MTC, Randolf, NJ




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