Word for the day by Christian Education Forum
Renewal of the Church – Hudos Eetho - Children
Expectation of God
Thanu Abraham
Christos Mar Thoma Church
1 See what love the Father
has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we
are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.
The first couple
of months into marriage seems to always encourage a time of reflection on your
parents and your childhood. Moments of realization lift a veil from your eyes
as you begin to understand why your parents were so strict and how much
unconditional love they were desperately trying to show you despite their
scolding.
It’s hard to hold back the
emotions when you think about the times you rebelled or said hurtful things you
did not quite mean. No matter what your childhood was like and despite the shortcomings
of our earthly fathers, we have a Father God that proudly claims us as His own.
In Ephesians 2:19-22, Paul reminds us, “Whenever you feel unloved, unimportant,
or insecure, remember to whom you belong.” We are God’s children and He takes
that title very seriously. He even makes it a point to call us to care for the
widows and orphans, the ones that especially need a reminder of God’s love in
the midst of loneliness.
We have an identity in Christ
that sets us apart from the rest of the world. Everyday people you interact
with should sense something different about you. They should know you are
Christians by your actions of love. We are Christ’s hands and feet in this
world, set apart to fulfill His purpose on Earth. It’s easy to be a Christian on
Sunday mornings, but how often do our actions signify Christ at home, in the
workplace, or in our relationships?
Luckily, Jesus gave us a helper,
the Holy Spirit, to intercede for us as well as mold us into the children of
God through our inner conscience. He serves to purify us daily so that we begin
to make a conscious effort to choose to make more right decisions than wrong.
God has authority over us, much
like our parents have authority over us as children. We may not understand
their rules and restrictions at first, but we have to remember that these rules
are set in place for our own good despite our initial unwillingness. We all
know that our parents love us and want to protect us. Likewise, God wants
to protect us from the Devil’s wicked ways and unsuspecting trickery. Sin can
subtly creep in with each wrong decision we make. If we allow it to grow, sin
can easily consume us.
We have a hope that
frees us from sin. Jesus is the ultimate representation of God’s love for us.
His sacrifice on the cross paved the way for us to live in peace for eternity.
PRAYER
Jesus, sometimes
this world can be a lonely place filled with temptation and struggles. Help us
to remember our identity as Your child and please protect us from the devil’s
evil ways. We want to be more like You and show Your love to everyone
around us. Please teach us and mold us, Father. In Your name we pray. Amen.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
What are some ways we can impact another person today?
Let us try to perform a random act of kindness or pray for someone who really
needs a reminder of God’s love. We all need more love around us.