Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-

Good News To All


Aswathi Varughese
St. Thomas MTC, Lombard, IL
9 During the night Paul had a vision: there stood a man of Macedonia pleading with him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.”

The phrase ‘Good News to all’ is usually associated with the Christmas season. The joy, wonder and glory of the birth of Christ as proclaimed by celestial messengers. But can the parameters of redemption and salvation be defined by season, society or religion? My definition of “good news for all” took on a completely different perspective as I prepared to pen this reflection.

My commute to work is usually interspersed with prayers, calls to India, calls to family, friends, more prayers, work related conference calls and of course music: sometimes Maramon convention CD’s and sometimes the Gospel music channel with a sprinkling of News (when bad weather is forecasted!). Then there are days when I’m tired and quiet and in a ‘listening only’ mode. The songs played often echo my need of the moment…in what I term ‘GOD incidences’.  So, it is no surprise that as I was contemplating this meditation, I heard the following (I abbreviate and purposely do not disclose the entire conversation for privacy reasons):

Radio commentator: Good morning….welcome!  How have you been encouraged?
Woman responds (Crying) My Jesus healed me! My Jesus healed me!
Radio commentator: Were you sick?
Woman responds: HE healed my brokenness…He healed me…JESUS is for REAL….HE LOVES ME
Radio commentator: And what happened??
Woman responds (crying with joy): I was a Muslim.  I was on drugs and an alcoholic…my husband left me….with 3 children.  I prayed, JESUS if you are real, please help me. And HE came into my life and healed my brokenness.  I LOVE MY JESUS…my family, my children; we are all believers in JESUS.
 
Needless to say, there were probably many listeners like myself who were deeply moved and unashamedly shed a few tears.

Paul, the epitome of discipleship had the vision of a man from Macedonia, begging him for help as a result of which he took the Gospel to Macedonia on his second missionary journey. 

The term aptly used is ‘begging’. Why? Because they NEEDED JESUS…to heal their brokenness?!!!

Mark 16:15 He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. 

How often do we have preconceived notions about who is a true Christian? Who needs to hear the message of CHRIST? What are our filters? Do we see the brokenness around us and are we willing to reach out and be the hands, feet and eyes of our LORD?


PRAYER


LORD, You came heal and forgive.  You came to Love completely and without boundaries. Teach us LORD to be your eyes, your hands your feet...to be your messenger of Hope for the hopeless. Amen.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
We are telegrams for Christ

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