Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-
Making of the Faithful

Joshua 24:1-14

Alwin Abraham

Chicago MTC, Illinois
13 I gave you a land on which you had not labored, and towns that you had not built, and you live in them; you eat the fruit of vineyards and oliveyards that you did not plant.14 “Now therefore revere the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness;

God was with the Israelites from the beginning and in this portion we see that the Israelites have now entered the promised land and God has been providing them with many more wonders. When the Israelites were slaves to the Egyptians, God delivered them from the bondage of slavery. On the journey to the promised land, God provided the Israelites with food, water, shelter and shade. When the Egyptians came close to the Israelites, God protected the Israelites and split the Red Sea for them to pass but not the Egyptians.  

In this passage we see the history of the Israelites starting from Abraham all the way to the present Israelite situation. From verses 8-12, we can see what God has done for the Israelites after they had entered the promised land. With the war against the Amorites, God took control of the fight and handed the enemy and their land to God’s people. When Moab was ready to fight the Israelites, God protected them from the enemy. When the Israelites entered Jericho, the many different citizens of the land fought against the Israelites but God delivered them. God drove the enemy out of the land, and the Israelites did not do it by their own might but by the strength of the God.
 
Not just through the wartimes did God provide for the Israelites, but He also gave the people the necessities they need. God showered many blessings upon the Israelites, even though they did not serve Him faithfully. They worshiped other gods and turned away from God despite seeing all these miracles. Joshua is calling on the Israelites to choose whether they want to serve the God who saved them from all these challenges and blessed them abundantly or the other gods their ancestors had worshipped in Egypt.

This raises the question; are we like the Israelites? God has showered many blessing upon us, from a loving family, to a home to live in and many other countless blessings. Do we remember where they are from or do we take them for granted? God has given us so many countless blessings, so we must be faithful and thankful to Him and serve Him in every way we can.

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, please open our eyes to see the countless blessings You have showered upon us. We take them for granted but we pray that we may be faithful to You and be able to understand that everything we have is because of You. Amen

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
“Great is Thy faithfulness!” “Great is Thy faithfulness!”
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided—
  “Great is Thy faithfulness,” Lord, unto me!
(Thomas Chisholm, 1925)

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