Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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Sanctification of the Church
2 Kings 23:1-6
 
Dr. Sherin Thomas
W/O Rev. Jaisen Thomas
St.Thomas Church, NY Yonkers
He took the Asherah pole from the temple of the LORD to the Kidron Valley outside Jerusalem and burned it there. He ground it to powder and scattered the dust over the graves of the common people”. – 2 Kings 23:6“
King Josiah was 8 years old when he came to reign and it was in the 18th year of his reign that they recovered the Book of Law from the Temple. It was revealed to him the impending doom that was in store for his kingdom in light of the idolatrous life his people led. Therefore in order for a reformation, Josiah gathered all his High Priests, Officials, from the highest to the lowest and read, not preached , the Word to them. He then enters into a covenant with the Lord, to obey Him, to keep His Laws and commands and to put into practice the demands attached to the covenant as written in the Word.
To this regard, the first step he takes is that of purification. He rids the Temple of the Lord of articles used in the worship of Baal, Asherah, etc. and had them burnt. He removed the pagan priests from the temple offices, he burnt the wooden symbols of the idols and scattered the ash over public burial grounds.
When we enter into a relationship with The Almighty, we are called to a higher standard of living. Purity in its wholeness is what is expected of us, of our mind, body and soul, a reformation from deep within.
Let’s take a moment to examine ourselves, the idols that have taken shelter in our homes and our hearts, that which we carry to our church and share with our fellow believers. Worldly passions, Materialism, selfish ambitions, social status, self -righteousness, self -mindedness, the list goes on and on. In fact anything in life that determines our absolute happiness and self -worth is an idol. We have to identify these strongholds, uproot them and destroy it if we have to continue in a relationship with our Master.
Let the Sanctification of the Church begin with us, the Faith community.

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, You alone are God, the Creator, the Alpha and the Omega. Forgive us, Father, for we have succumbed to our humanness and accumulated so many idols in our life. Help us, Lord, to uproot these strongholds, cleanse us, sanctify us to be worthy of being Your servant. Amen
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
“The way to preserve the Peace of the Church is to preserve its Purity! “ Mathew Henry.

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