Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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Joel Year — A Protective Circle
Leviticus 25:8-19
In this year of Jubilee everyone is to return to his own property (Lev 25:13).
 
 Today's Bible portion is one of the most important passages in the book of Leviticus. The Lord instructs Moses at the Mount Sinai what he needs to speak to the Israelites as they were going to occupy the Promised Land. These are the instructions given to them in order to keep the time and space pure and holy. Throughout history God instructs the Israelites and when we meditate on them, we see that all the instructions are the plans and dreams of our Almighty God. Thus the year of Jubilee can be seen as a vision of hope for the entire created order and a mission for the whole human race.
1. Jubilee Year- A Year of Protection and Responsibility: When we read this text, the recurring question that comes to our mind is, what relevance does Jubilee year has for us today? When God called Moses, He said 'I have seen their misery, I have heard their cry, I am concerned about their suffering and I have come down...." (Ex 3: 7&8). His plan for delivering Israelites was by making Moses His partner. In the similar way God knows the emotions of the entire creation and His plan of delivering everything under bondage is by making us His partners. God has foreseen the protection needed for the entire creation and He is instructing every generation to observe Jubilee year in order to protect the entire created order.
2. Jubilee Year — A Year of Freedom and Liberation: "In this year of Jubilee everyone is to return to his own property." And also the people are instructed not to sow or reap and leave the fields free. The freedom is pronounced here so that everyone will live better. There was a period when the Israelites were controlled by the imperial masters and Jubilee year is a counter culture against the imperial systems. Jubilee year is a call to live a life against the tyrannies of the Empires.
PRAYER
Merciful God, help us to understand the privileges every granted joy through the Jubilee Year and empower us to be sensitive to the cries of this broken world, Amen.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
God's provision extends to the outcast of the society when God's people care for them.
Christian Education Forum, Diocese of NAE of the Mar Thoma Church

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