Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-
Meeting the Resurrected Lord
Luke 24:13-35    
Vs. 15 While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, 16 but their eyes were kept from recognizing him.
Where is  Jesus? Is He still on the cross? Is He in church? Or is He alongside us, walking with us every step of the day?
Imagine the mindset of the two believers…the Messiah who had been sent to save all of Israel was nailed to the cross. And now, they hear reports that His body was no longer to be found. They had lost a friend, a companion and their teacher. Here in the loneliness of this experience, Jesus walks with them. What a joy it is to know our Shepherd walks with us in our deepest sadness! Open our eyes, and see our Savior standing next to us with loving kindness and tender mercies. Our God is an ever present God, one we can so proudly call our own. So even in our darkest moments, we are not to be downcast, for our Savior lives! We will never walk alone.
Jesus, in all compassion and humility, asks them “what things” they are worried about. He disregards the pain of the cross and is willing to hear first hand their knowledge of the cross. We need only to invite Him to come in with us, as the men did, saying “Abide with us.” He so lovingly explains and clarifies the Scriptures to them. They later realize that His words made them feel that their hearts were burning. This is the power of Christ in each of us. Words of wisdom, words of life. What is our speech today? Are we sharing words of life with others?
Jesus rose from the dead to enter the glory set for Him  before the beginning of time. His glory is our glory too. For we are of Christ and Christ is of God (1 Cor 3:23). Today and every day, we need to remember that we are loved, we are forgiven, we are healed, we are made perfect in Him. So, in turn, we need to love, forgive, heal and make perfect. We need to live our lives knowing that we are the children of the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father and Prince of Peace. We need to live a life worthy of His ultimate sacrifice.
 PRAYER
Father, guard our tongues and hearts. We praise You for the gift of forgiveness, and the joy of being Your forgiven children. Help us to value and honor that gift every day. Help us to be ever watchful of Your presence in our lives. Amen.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
“Because he lives, I can face tomorrow. Because he lives, All fear is gone.”  Because He Lives... 
(Hymn by Bill and Gloria Gaither)
Dhanya Mary Jacob, Phoenix MTC, Arizona
Christian Education Forum, Diocese of NAE of the Mar Thoma Church

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

-
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

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