Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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Birth of the Savior
“In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to Him, and his resting place will be glorious.”  (10)

Today’s passage points to the perfect king, Jesus and his reign over a restored world. This will happen at the expense of the kings/powers of the earth which will be destroyed. In the Lord’s judgment he will deal with the righteous, the poor, the rich and the wicked evenhandedly through his Word.  The reference to a belt of righteousness in this passage shows the Lord’s ability and readiness for action to do what he knows is right.
 
The King will possess the utmost integrity. Our king will rule with wisdom (proper judgment) and understanding (seeing the heart of an issue). That means the king will give proper council (devising the right course of action), he will have power (ability to accomplish the council he gives), and he will have knowledge of his people (personal intimate relationships). Thus the people will fear Him, they will be loyal to Him, they will live in obedience and holiness, and they will worship Him.
In scripture we often see mountains as the gathering point for the earth but when Jesus finally reigns, all the earth will be His mountain and the saved will be a part of it. His people shall be wholly conformed to His holiness. This transformation of holiness will be through complete knowledge of the Lord. However, the requirement to be a part of his people on that day is to live in holiness today and all the days of our life. We can live holy lives by conforming to what we currently know of Him and imaging Him. However, we must constantly do what is necessary to learn more of what complete holiness requires each new day and change the areas where we are lacking in it. The powers of this world today are unjust and so we have to await God’s righteous rule.
Prayer:  Heavenly Father, we thank you that you will reign over this earth one day. Help us to become holy people who make this earth look more the way you intended it to be and the way you will one day make it. Make us people who love and fight for justice and righteousness in all the places we go.  Amen.
Thought for the day: Jesus welcomes all who seek Him into his Kingdom. Do we live with a joyful commitment to constantly find out what he intends for us and then obey Him?


Jebin Yohannan, St. Andrews Mar Thoma Church, NY


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