Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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Word For the Day - December 30

Glorious Return of Jesus Christ
Acts. 1. 6-11
“-- This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven."(11)
Christians take great comfort from the Lord’s promise that He will return with glory.  Christ has promised us that: “For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angles, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done.” (Matt 16: 27).  Dr. Billy Graham has correctly stated: “Our world is filled with fear, hate, just greed, war, and utter despair.  Surely, the Second coming of Jesus Christ is the only hope of replacing these depressing features with trust, love, universal peace, and prosperity.” Jesus came to the earth as a babe in a manger just as prophesied.  Jesus fulfilled many of the prophecies of the Messiah during his humble birth, life, ministry, death, and resurrection. He was the Suffering Servant.  In His second coming, Jesus will be the coming with all the glory of God as King and Judge.
The Book of Acts states:  “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). “-- This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven." (Acts 1:11) Jesus’ missionary mandate for evangelization (“you will be my witness-- to the ends of the earth” Acts 1: 8) is the last instruction of the risen, ascended, and returning Lord.    We are commanded to witness Christ in every facet and circumstance in our life. This can be done by our actions or inactions, in our words, walk, works, worship, wounds, wisdom, etc.   The theme of our witness is Jesus Christ and he is the only way to salvation.  “I am the way, truth and life.  No one comes to the father except through me” (John 14: 6).  The authority of our witness is the Holy Spirit.  It’s is the Sprit who transforms a life (Titus 3: 5).  The power of our witness will be shown in how we live our lives.  Philippians 2:15 set this goal for us: “That you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe.”  The effective Christian witness will live his/her life above reproach in the power of the Holy Spirit, whose fruit we exhibit when we remain in Christ.  We must be accurately and diligently study and present the Gospel to others.  “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord.  Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect" (1 Peter 3:15).
Prayer: Thank you Jesus for your promise that you will come to judge and redeem the world. Amen
Thought for the day: “They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory”.

M. S Eapen, St. James MTC, NY


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