Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-

 UNITY OF THE CHURCH FOR THE WITNESS OF LIFE

Philippians 2:1-8

V3 Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.

         Paul  wrote this letter to the Philippian Christians when he was in prison and at a time when he was troubled by the opposition of other christians and the false teachings in the church of Philippi.  Yet this letter is marked by its emphasis on joy, confidence, unity and perseverance. One important problem which threatened the Philippi church was that of disunity, which  present day churches also face.

In an attempt to safeguard the church, Paul enlists three main causes for disunity:

First, is selfish ambition.  If a man is concerned only to safe guard his interests, he is bound to collide with others. For him life is a competition whose prizes   he alone must win, he will always think of others as enemies or competitors who must be pushed aside.

Secondly, is the desire for personal prestige.  Prestige is for many, an even greater temptation than wealth.  To be admired and respected or even to be flattered, are for many people most desirable things. He  should consider doing things to glorify God than getting admiration from men.

Thirdly, is the concentration on self, which means elimination of others. The object of his life becomes not to help others but to push them down.

           No man can walk in disunity with his fellow men and unity with Christ. If he has Christ as the companion of his way, he is inevitably the companion of every wayfarer.   The power of Christian love should keep us unity. Christian love is that unconquered goodwill which never knows bitterness and never seeks anything but good of others.  If we share love  from the Triune  God, it will bind man to God, and man to man. The spirit of the God promotes a life of love, harmony, peace and human compassion, that should keep us from disunity.

PRAYER

Lord Jesus, forgive us for being selfish and for living in disunity. Enlighten our hearts with the spirit of your compassion and harmony so that we may share it with our fellow humans, Amen.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

How often we use differences among people as a source of contention; or look at differences that our creator intended to complement each other.

Prof.A.G George, Mar Thoma Church, Mukkolackal, Thiruvanathapuram.

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