Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-
Reading of the Scripture with the Risen Lord
2 Chronicles 34: 29-33
 Vs. 30.....he read in their hearing all the words of the book of the covenant that had been found in the house of the Lord.
Josiah, who started ruling Israel from a very tender age of eight years, was very steadfast in following the ways of the Lord God Jehovah. During his reign, he tried to do everything acceptable and pleasing to the Lord of his father (ancestor) King David. As a believer, there are certain remarkable characteristics that we can observe in the life of King Josiah.
He diligently searched for the Lord God of Israel from a very young age
He abolished  idol worship and set free the whole land of Israel from all kinds of idols
He repaired and rebuilt the temple of the Lord.
He genuinely repented as the ‘Book of Moses’ was read to the people of Israel in his presence
As a human being, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ lived a life of sinless perfection in this world. All His deeds and speech were synonymous with the ‘Word of God’. We also know that He is the ‘Word incarnate’. (St. John1:14). How is the ‘Word’ related to a believer’s life? We are taught by the scriptures the reason for our salvation is ‘faith’ and the cause of that ‘faith’ is the grace of God. The Bible is clear on the topic of how the bridge is built by the ‘Word’ towards the attainment of salvation.  “Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God”, is a key verse in this regard (Romans 10:17).
The resurrection of our Lord underlines the reality that after our earthly existence, a glorified body is promised for each believer. We will be transformed to that state of existence with the Lord at His second coming. The quintessence  of Apostle Paul’s exhortation to the church is ‘Salvation through Faith’ in Christ Jesus. He also emphasizes the resurrection of the dead as the latent principle in the attainment of salvation for our souls (1 Corinthians 15: 12-19).
Josiah, the king of Israel, lead the people to the path of obedience to God by listening and closely following the precepts and principles laid down in the ‘Word of God’.  Jesus Christ, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, built the bridge of faith, through His magnificent obedience (to the point of His painful death on the cross), for us His believers to enter into His glorious kingdom. Thus the significance of the ‘Word of God’ in the life of the disciple of Christ cannot be over emphasized. It is the very breath of life of the believers without which we cannot survive as witnesses in this present world.
 PRAYER
“Gracious Lord, give us Your everlasting words abundantly so that streams of living water will flow through us to those around us”.
 THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
"The Scriptures teach us the best way of living,  the noblest way of suffering,  and the most comfortable way of dying". John Flavel

Abraham Mammen, Epiphany MTC, New York
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

-
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