Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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                    Mission as Sharing Christ

                             Genesis 33:1-11

                           Mrs. Lisha Thomas

                        W/O Rev. Thomas Kurian

                                Oklahoma MTC

Gen 33:11-“Please accept the present that was brought to you, for God has been gracious to me and I have all I need”.

According to Proverbs 18:16 “A gift opens the way and ushers the giver into the presence of the great”. Your gift may get you in the room, but your wisdom and strategy are what will keep you in it. The “gift” becomes “my blessing”. Esau also accepts the gift because of the language of blessing that Jacob now uses for the first time. In Genesis 33 we witness the mission of Jacob’s reconciliation with his brother Esau. God blessed Jacob abundantly and Jacob wished to share the blessings with Esau.

Jacob here offers the present at first as a mode of appeasement instead of a sacrifice for the wrongs he had done to Esau. But as soon as Jacob perceived that he has found favor in Esau’s eyes, his gift of appeasement transformed into an act of “blessing” as he told Esau that he experienced the grace of God which was extended to him through the face of his brother. Though at first Esau hesitates to accept it, Jacob now extends his gift not as gratitude to his brother but as gratitude towards God. Esau accepts the gift from Jacob as he used the language of blessing wherein he was abounding in God’s blessings in his life and he was willing to share his blessings with his brother.

Our Almighty Father has gifted each one of us with various gifts in the form of good families to live in, resources to take care of our needs, beautiful churches to worship in and a free mind to choose how we can use these gifts of ours in a way which God intends us to. Most of us are pre-occupied with our work schedules wherein we often do not find enough time to serve in the mission of the Lord for which we are given life on this earth. But as we take out ‘time’ – again another gift of God for our personal needs such as going on a vacation, or many trips to witness the beautiful creation of God , we can also share in the ‘time and finances’ to be a blessing to those in need. The Almighty Father has sent His only son Jesus Christ whose crucifixion and resurrection has paved the way for our eternal salvation as a gift for us, so that we may be like Him and follow in His path in all aspects i.e. catering to the last, least and lost.  

We are also blessed abundantly with God’s blessings and it is time that we also share our blessings with our brethren in a mission of sharing Christ’s purpose in our lives. It is to be by His working in us, and not by our working in ourselves, that this purpose of God in our creation is to be accomplished.

                                  PRAYER

Lord we thank You for the abundant blessings in our life. Grant us the willingness to share our blessings with the last, least and the lost. Amen

                       THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

GRACE: God’s Riches at Christ’s Expense.

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