Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-
Believing in ‘Christ the Truth’
John 17:1-5

Vs.3 And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.
The Gospel according to St. John chapter 17 is known as the high priestly prayer of Jesus, in which He prays for himself, for His disciples and for those who will believe in Him in the future. In the first part of the prayer, vs. 1-5, where He spoke about himself, He affirms the glory of the cross and expresses the essence of the eternal life. The purpose of the life of Jesus Christ was to give the eternal life to all the people who had been given to Him in this world. Through His life and this prayer, He teaches the believers the real meaning of eternal life. Let us focus on two important aspects of the life of those who believe in Christ, the truth.
Knowing the Father: Eternal life is an important theme of the Gospel according to John. The Greek term used for eternal life means ‘life of the age to come’, which refers more to the quality of life than the duration of the life. Here, in the words of Jesus, we get the definition of eternal life. Eternal life is to know God and to know Jesus Christ whom He has sent. To know God means not merely to have an understanding about the nature of God that was revealed through Jesus Christ, but also to have an intimate relationship with Him. In essence, it is nothing less than the participation in the eternal life of God, which is revealed through Jesus Christ.
Glorifying the Father: The event that glorifies the Son was His death on the cross. It is through this death on the cross, the Father was glorified for fulfilling His redemptive plan in the Son.  It is through the obedience of the Son that the Father was glorified. Knowing the Father, leads to the understanding of the will of God.  Jesus Christ was obedient to the will of God, which brought glory to the Father. As the believers of Christ, we also are called to know the Father and to glorify Him through our life. Christ has set His life as an example for us. Let us have an intimate relationship with God and participate in the eternal life. Let us glorify Him through our life by obeying the will of God.

PRAYER

Loving God, help us to know You intimately and to glorify You in this world through our life. Amen.
 
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
Eternal life is nothing other than participating in the life of God for His glory.

Rev. M. P. Samuel, Atlanta MTC


Popular posts from this blog

Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-
  Constant, patient and welcoming love of God   St. Luke 15: 11-32  V.21: And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ The parable of the ‘Prodigal son’ is one of the most frequently quoted parables that Jesus told His disciples. The parable contains the rich mine of human virtues and emotions. This parable is lived and re-lived in progressing civilizations from time immemorial and continuing. It brings out in vivid detail the pathetic depth of human sinfulness and the glorious heights of God’s forgiveness.      As a story of human nature, fathers are generally merciful to their children in any circumstance. They are very protective and are eager to provide for and secure the lives of their offspring. Jesus is telling this parable to underscore the superlative love of God to His children. The nature of such love is reiterated by Jesus in Matthew 7:11. Humankind who are evil by nature, give good gifts t
Read more

Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-
PRIESTHOOD: THE ANOINTED MINISTRY Exodus 40:12-16 Bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting... wash them with water. Then dress Aaron in the sacred garments, anoint him and consecrate him so he may serve me as priest (Exodus 40: 12-13). Priesthood among the people of God was a divine command and initiation. God wanted some people to be separated for the special ministry among his people. God appointed Aaron and his descendants to take up this kind of ministry among the people of God. Priests are always separated and appointed as channels that connect God with his people. All throughout the history of Israel, priests played an important role in connecting people with God and to lead and guide them in the statutes of God. But there are incidents in the Bible where the priests failed in their duties and that led the people to go away from God. So the priests have a special and significant ministry to perform in this world among his people. Two important things
Read more

Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-
Revelation for Liberation Acts 27:18-26 Sherine Thomas Long Island MTC, NY 20  When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest raged, all hope of our being saved was at last abandoned. “After winter comes the summer.  After night comes the dawn.  And after every storm, there comes clear open skies” so said a Scottish clergyman from the 1600s. It’s been said, that hope can sometimes be the most dangerous weapon.  However, it’s sometimes the hardest weapon to carry when you’re living with the loss of a loved one, something that almost feels like a terrible nightmare that’ll never go away.  It’s a weapon difficult to carry when day in and day out no one seems to hear or see those tears that are shed or silent cries that are made during a heartfelt prayer. It’s a weapon difficult to carry as you see your loved one lying on that hospital bed.  It’s a weapon difficult to carry as you search and seek out answers to tell a child as to why they’ve been a
Read more