Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-
Re-reading of the Scripture with the Risen Lord
James 2:1-13
 
Betsy Mathew

Epiphany MTC, New York
1.My brothers and sisters, do you with your acts of favoritism really believe in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ?
 
When we choose the rich over the poor, the beautiful over the plain,  how do we rationalize our actions.Favoritism – we all do it and we might even argue that is normal! Rational!  But here God says “have you not discriminated and become judges with evil thoughts?” (v4)  “If you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers” ! (v9)  Why is the Bible so adamant about not showing favoritism?  Because as v 1 says our Lord Jesus Christ did not show favoritism. In fact, that is why you and I can be in His family.  
God picked Leah, the LESS BEAUTIFUL, LESS LOVED wife compared to Rachel – to be the great-grandmother of Jesus.  God picked Moses, the THIRD child – the stuttering kid – to be the leader of Israel.  God chose Mary – a WOMAN – to be the first to see the Risen Christ.  Jesus chose a SAMARITAN – the disliked Race – to be the hero of His parable. Jesus chose a CRIMINAL – a THIEF – to be the first one to be promised Eternal Life.
To God there is no favorite – because each and every one He has created has VALUE.  That’s what we rob from someone when we choose favorites – we rob them of their dignity and value.  Today let us have the Spirit of the Risen Lord – who chose the least likely and gave each of His children Value.

PRAYER

Dear Lord, Thank you for loving us. Help us today to love each person we come across and show them how valuable they are in Your eyes.  Although it is not in our sinful nature to do it, please give us Your Holy Spirit to ove like You.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
“Lord, Give me your eyes for just one second.
Give me your eyes so I can see.
Everything that I keep missing.  
Give me your love for humanity”           ~ Song by Brandon Heath 

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