Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

Caring and Accepting the Elderly - Senior Citizens Day
Tibi Mathew
St. Peter’s MTC, NJ
26 Then he said, “Let me go, for the day is breaking.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go, unless you bless me.” 
In the book of Genesis, we read about Jacob. From the stories we read about him, we get a sense of his character.  He was a trickster and a deceiver, from grabbing the heel of his brother while they were being born, to the steps he took in order to receive his brother's blessing. He hasn’t had the best track record. Knowing what he has done against his brother, we can only imagine the tension Jacob felt the night before he saw Esau. But God stepped in. We see in this story that Jacob made an intentional action to wrestle with God. Jacob’s wrestling was physical as well as spiritual and he was blessed. Imagine being known as the man who wrestled with God and succeeded!
    When I think of the people in my life who have physically and spiritually endured, I think of my grandparents. I have received the most invaluable thing from my grandparents – a spiritual inheritance. They worked physically demanding jobs so that future generations could have a better life and they wrestled before God in prayer for their children and their grandchildren. I firmly believe my blessings and my faith is a fruit of their fasting and prayers.
    Outside of our family we are given a church community filled with elders who pray for us. How do we respond to  this? Are we honoring them?
    Another lesson we can take from this Bible passage is that we should never stop wrestling.  As we grow older and our lives are filled with more activities and people, there is a temptation to become casual about our faith. But let us not grow weary. The blessings and the fruit that is produced from wrestling with God is so much greater than anything this world can offer.

PRAYER

God, we thank You for the generations before us who have given us a spiritual inheritance. Open our eyes and hearts to care for them. And give us the strength to never stop growing in our faith. Amen.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.” 2 Timothy 4:7-8. 

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