Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-
MISSION FROM EVERYONE TO EVERYWHERE

Hosea 11

 Dr.Thomas Philip

Orlando MTC, Florida
“How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I hand you over, Israel? How can I treat you like Admah? How can I make you like Zeboyim? My heart is changed within me; all my compassion is aroused. [11:8]

Hosea was a Prophet to the people of the Northern Kingdom, Israel. Through Hosea, God gives us illustrations to understand how He feels when His people live in their own ways. First, God asks the prophet to marry a prostitute and love her, as an illustration of God's love towards His people in spite of their loyalty to other gods disregarding the Lord. This illustration is a reminder that neglecting God and going after other devices is spiritual prostitution. In the passage for this devotion we find another illustration – Israel is like a prodigal son disregarding the love of his father for him. God could have destroyed them as He did to Admah and Zeboyim – the two neighboring cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. However, in His agony for the son He cries out: How can I give you up? How can I hand you over? These, of course, are rhetorical questions. In pain because of His love God is waiting for His every child to return to Him as Jesus has illuminated through His parable (Luke 15:11-32).
In His ultimate expression of love to redeem His wayward people God sent Jesus Christ to this world (John 3:16). Just by believing in His death and resurrection we are delivered from our bondage to sin, our relationship with Him is restored, and we are made heirs of His eternal kingdom. This offer is to everyone irrespective of race (Eph 2:6-16). This is good news.
 
God calls people to be a blessing to others (Gen 12:.2,3). Jesus wants each of His disciples (followers) to be a witness of the good news at home, at surrounding places, and faraway places (Acts 1:8). Thus, witnessing Christ is to obey His command relying on His power; thereby restoring the lost or marred relationship of a prodigal child (as Hosea portrays) with the loving Father. This is a mission entrusted to every Christian. Let us try our best to fulfill this mission.
  

PRAYER

Dear Lord, grant us the motivation, strength, and courage to be a blessing to others through our witnessing for Christ. Amen

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
“[Jesus] plan called for action, and how He expressed it predicted its success. He didn't say "you *might* be my witnesses," or "you *could* be my witnesses," or even "you *should* be my witnesses." He said "you *will* be my witnesses.” – Charles R. Swindoll

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