Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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Birth of John the Baptist – Word of God, “Double edged sword”
1 Kings 19
 

Shaimi Jacob
St. James MTC, NY

18 Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.
 
The birth of John the Baptist was shared to Zechariah by Angel Gabriel. According to Luke 1:17, Gabriel said to Zechariah, "He will be a man with the spirit and power of Elijah. He will prepare the people for the coming of the Lord. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and he will cause those who are rebellious to accept the wisdom of the godly.” John the Baptist was blessed as a man with the spirit and power of Elijah. He was blessed with a special task which is to prepare the people of Israel for Christ. He was blessed with the spirit to convict the people of Israel with the word of God (metaphorized as a double edged sword). God has send John the Baptist to provide Godly wisdom to the people of Israel so they may understand and let the word of God penetrate deep into their souls and transform their lives for Christ.

Word of God - Double Edged Sword
As it states in Hebrews 4:12, "For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." The word of God is not dead, it is living and active. It is sharper than any double-edged sword. The Word of God once pierced into our spirits and souls will transform our lives.

Be Holy
In today's context, God has only one desire from us; To be sanctified or to be holy. As it states in 1 Thessalonians 4: 3-8 "It is God’s will that you should be sanctified…that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable… For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life." Ecclesiastes 12:13 states, "Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind." By fearing God and keeping His commandments, we are abiding with fulfilling our duty to God.

According to Galatians 3:13-15, Christ has paid the price to set us free so that we may receive the promised Spirit through faith in Jesus. We, as maturing believers in Christ, need to ask God to give us the grace to receive the spirit of God through our faith. We need to let the Word pierce our hearts, minds and souls so that we may lead a life pleasing unto God.

PRAYER

Gracious Lord and Heavenly father, we thank You for talking to us today through Your word. We pray that You be our rock and foundation of our families so that we may not be shaken by the ways of this world, but be set apart for You. Father, we know that You have purchased our sins for a price at the cross.  Give us Your grace to lead a holy life according to Your divine will. Everything we ask in Jesus name. Amen.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
“God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains; it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.”  - C. S. Lewis

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