Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-

Christ’s Presence with “the Outcast”

Riya Varughese
St. Andrews MTC, NY

8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

“God is light; in Him there is no darkness (5)” God is pure and Holy. We say it almost daily when we say the Lord’s prayer “Hallowed be thy name” yet we often have a hard time walking in the light with God. It easy for us to “claim we have fellowship(6)” with him thinking that fellowship is just giving our itemized list of requests to God and expecting Him to fulfil all our requests. However, having fellowship with God requires having a relationship with Him which involves prayer – both talking and listening to God – as well as meditating on the Word of God.

When we “walk in the light” and have fellowship with God, we are promised forgiveness of sins. Even though this promise is given, sometimes it’s hard for us to admit that we have a problem, that we are sinners and need to repent and turn to God. It’s easier to just walk in the darkness and continue on our sinful ways. As the quote goes “The first step to solving your problem is admitting you have one." We must admit and accept that we are sinners. Yet after we have done this, there is no point in asking for forgiveness of a sin and then doing the same sin again and again, thinking that all we need to do is ask God for forgiveness over and over again and then repeat this cycle, not making a conscious effort to stop repeating this vice. In some ways this can be seen as taking advantage of God’s promise. If this is the case then we have not accomplished anything. Here we claim to be walking with God but in reality we are fooling ourselves.
When we admit that we have sinned and ask God for forgiveness then we are promised that our sins will be forgiven; however, we must not stop here, we need to make a conscious effort to not take advantage of God’s promise to us and at the same time build our relationship and have fellowship with Him.

PRAYER

Dear God, enable us to strengthen our relationship and fellowship with You. We confess that we have sinned against You. Lord, we ask that You forgive our sins and help us to walk in the light with You. Amen.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
“I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” Luke 5:32

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

-
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

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