Word for the day by Christian Education Forum
Celebrating the Joy of Salvation
Christin Mathew
Epiphany MTC, NY
8 Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first,
also went in, and he saw and believed;
A recurring scene present throughout the Gospels is the disciples encountering a situation in which their Savior was not with them in a physical sense. Often times, they felt hopeless to an extent in the face of adversity. On a few occasions, the disciples went fishing, and they caught very little. Simon Peter denied Jesus three times. After the crucifixion, the disciples locked their doors because they feared the leaders in the Jewish community. In these situations, lost hope is the common denominator.
Prior to the crucifixion, the disciples often journeyed with Jesus and learned a great deal through their teacher’s demeanor and interactions with others. As a result, the disciples were able to grow and mature in all facets of their lives. However, when Jesus was upon the cross, the disciples faced the greatest test of their faith. Jesus may not have been with his disciples in the flesh, yet He was still able to comfort them in their time of need. This can also be applied to our lives. At times, we may feel distressed and lose hope due to varying circumstances. In those times, Jesus is there to lift us and liberate us from all our troubles.
As God’s children, we need to understand that we are already saved. Salvation, after all, is the “gift of God” (Ephesians 2: 8). Salvation unchains us from all the burdens the world presents, and in addition, it can bring limitless joy to our hearts. A prime example of this can be seen in the modern day. Several months ago, 21 Coptic Christians were martyred at the hands of ISIS militants. Initially, the families of the murdered men mourned their loss. Eventually, the mother of Kyrillos, one of the Coptic Christians, stated that she had forgiven her son’s murderers. She also said that she knows that her son is saved and with the Lord.
This shows us how powerful salvation is. To the outside world, that particular situation may seem hopeless. In a way, hopelessness may be considered a vacuum that leaves us empty. If that is the case, then the joy of salvation is readily available to fill that void and make us complete in all circumstances.
A recurring scene present throughout the Gospels is the disciples encountering a situation in which their Savior was not with them in a physical sense. Often times, they felt hopeless to an extent in the face of adversity. On a few occasions, the disciples went fishing, and they caught very little. Simon Peter denied Jesus three times. After the crucifixion, the disciples locked their doors because they feared the leaders in the Jewish community. In these situations, lost hope is the common denominator.
Prior to the crucifixion, the disciples often journeyed with Jesus and learned a great deal through their teacher’s demeanor and interactions with others. As a result, the disciples were able to grow and mature in all facets of their lives. However, when Jesus was upon the cross, the disciples faced the greatest test of their faith. Jesus may not have been with his disciples in the flesh, yet He was still able to comfort them in their time of need. This can also be applied to our lives. At times, we may feel distressed and lose hope due to varying circumstances. In those times, Jesus is there to lift us and liberate us from all our troubles.
As God’s children, we need to understand that we are already saved. Salvation, after all, is the “gift of God” (Ephesians 2: 8). Salvation unchains us from all the burdens the world presents, and in addition, it can bring limitless joy to our hearts. A prime example of this can be seen in the modern day. Several months ago, 21 Coptic Christians were martyred at the hands of ISIS militants. Initially, the families of the murdered men mourned their loss. Eventually, the mother of Kyrillos, one of the Coptic Christians, stated that she had forgiven her son’s murderers. She also said that she knows that her son is saved and with the Lord.
This shows us how powerful salvation is. To the outside world, that particular situation may seem hopeless. In a way, hopelessness may be considered a vacuum that leaves us empty. If that is the case, then the joy of salvation is readily available to fill that void and make us complete in all circumstances.
PRAYER
Dear Lord, we have a
need for You in our lives. At this time, we pray that You empower us as we
journey in faith. In our lowest points as well as in the high ones, remind us
that we are Your children and have no legitimate reason to worry because we are
saved. Amen.
THOUGHT
FOR THE DAY:
Joy and salvation go hand in hand. Therefore, our salvation is certainly a cause for celebration.
Joy and salvation go hand in hand. Therefore, our salvation is certainly a cause for celebration.