Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-

A renewal and restoration of relationships

1 John 2:7-17

“But whoever hates his brother is in darkness, he does not know where he is going, because darkness has blinded him.”

Creation was an act of love. We were meant to be in peaceful and loving relationship with God and our fellow beings. Sin led to alienation from God which brought darkness into our lives. This darkness corrupted humankind and resulted in the first murder, brother killing brother. Apostle John, who is known as the Apostle of love emphasized that the practical aspect of Christian life in this epistle. Jesus Christ revealed the true love through his life and death, as Christians we should manifest this divinely love in and through our life.

When we peruse through history, it is loaded with examples of crimes against humanity which are perpetuated even today. How could most of the world stand in silence when millions of Jews were killed during the holocaust? How could most of early Christians in America turn a blind eye to the plight of the slaves? How are we as a present day Christian society not moved by the plight of the Palestinians, the Syrian refugees, the Dalits in India and the less fortunate in our midst?  Does a sense of emotional detachment crippling us not to react to such atrocities?  Are we so numbed as to ask “Am I my brother’s keeper”?

When Jesus came into this world, the “true light’ came back. There is no place for darkness when the light is shining. Jesus restored our original relationship with God and can also restore our relationship with each other within our families, our communities and the world at large. There will be no place for hatred and bigotry.
All we need to do is ask the light to come into our life and illumine our hearts. As the hymn goes: “Come into my heart, Lord Jesus; Now clean and illumine my soul Fill me with thy wonderful spirit Come in and take full control”

Prayer: - O Lord help us to understand your countless love towards us and manifest it through our life and relationship in this world. Amen.

Thought for the day:  “Am I my brothers keeper”

Dr. John Benjamin, Long Island Mar Thoma Church, NY.

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