Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-

Empowered by the Risen Lord

Ann Koshy
St. John’s MTC NY

9 A young man named Eutychus, who was sitting in the window, began to sink off into a deep sleep while Paul talked still longer. Overcome by sleep, he fell to the ground three floors below and was picked up dead.
 

How many of us are wrapped up in our daily lives, yet make time for God? We go to our youth meetings, Sunday services and prayer meetings but how many of us are alert and focused. In the beginning we are excited, 15 minutes into the meeting we may be day dreaming, and 30 minutes later we may be sound asleep like Eutychus. To give a little background the setting for Acts 20:7-12 is in Troas. It is an evening service, since Troas has many disciples who are slaves and cannot meet during the day. It also happens to be the last time these disciples will hear Paul, the visiting preacher, since he plans to leave in the morning; because of this, the text says, "he continued speaking until midnight."
This is relatable to our daily lives. We become tired from classes, work, or even both. Then we try to pay attention to a preacher. Our bodies are tired but the spirit is willing. We go about our daily lives and then Sunday comes along and we are sitting in a pew listening to a sermon and thinking about what the week has to offer or what will we have for lunch. We are so focused on daily lives we forget who’s in control. When everyone thought that Eutychus was dead, God proved them wrong. God knows what each one of our future holds. We keep constantly trying to figure  out on our own but what we should do is turn to Him. We should try to seek empowerment from God to not fall asleep but wake ourselves and go on our spiritual journey.

PRAYER

Father God, give us the strength and the courage we need to continue on our spiritual journey. Father God we are tired and weak but we know You are able to work in us. We thank You for continuously blessing us. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
"Light a fire on the inside. You have the seed of Almighty God. Don’t allow something small to keep you from God’s best "~ Anonymous 

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 wh...
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 tel...
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