Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

Trinity Sunday: We believe in the Holy Trinity
 Ezekiel 1:4-28


V.28b: “This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord.  When I saw it, I fell facedown, and I heard the voice of one speaking”.
 
Ezekiel served as a prophet to the exiles in Babylon from 593-571 BC.  His name means “God is strong” or “God strengthens”.  He was born and raised in Judah and was preparing to become a priest of God’s Temple when the Babylonians attacked around 597 BC.  God had communicated to prophet Ezekiel through visions.  The people in exile had lost their perspective of God’s purpose and presence and Ezekiel was to emphasize through the visions he had received to have the people understand the message of God’s authority, glory and how incredibly awesome He really is.  Along with that Ezekiel was to also warn the exiled community of their sins and to turn from them.  In His vision through this passage we can see in vv.5-6 each of the four living creatures had four faces which symbolized God’s perfect nature.  The early church also sees the connection between these beings and also the picture of Christ’s nature throughout the Gospels such as Matthew: Lion represents Christ as Lion of Judah, Mark: Ox representing Christ as the Servant, Luke: the human as Christ’s perfect human nature, and John: the eagle portraying Christ as the Son of God who is divine and the exalted one.

In v.26, the ‘figure like that of a man’ revealed God as Holy and similarly Christ revealed God in human form to show to us the great message of salvation.  During this present pandemic situation, we may also feel overwhelmed and we may also tend to question the authority of God.  But we are the ones He reveals Himself to everyday, we are the ones that should guide others the message of hope.  We should believe and know, even in the calamities and difficult challenges, even then God is in control and we should give all our trust in Him.  Based on the way we are living today, how are we responding to God’s holiness and authority?

PRAYER

Gracious Father, thank You for Your love.  Although we do live in uncertain times, guide us to know You more day by day and trust that You are in control and I should just rely on You and not myself.  In Christ’s name I pray, Amen.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

How much are we quietly being in God’s presence alone, away from the loudness of the world to listen and submit to His voice and live as children of hope?

Dr. Justeena Jess George W/O Rev. Jess M George, Chicago Mar Thoma Church
Christian Education Forum, Diocese of NAE of the Mar Thoma Church

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