Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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 Sanctification of church: Learning and nurturing of faith and practice (World Sunday School Day )

 
1 John 2 : 7-17
v12 I am writing to you, little children, your sins are forgiven on account of his name.
 

On the occasion of World Sunday School Day and the sanctification of church coming together, this text gives us a hope about the future through our children, and also reminds us about our responsibilities to guide our children to a future with God. A new start or a beginning always come with a purification process. In the wake of Covid 19, sanctification and purification are always in the forefront of our daily life. The Word of God reminds us about the cleansing process for reordering our present and reshaping our future.
Purpose of John in writing this letter is that no one should sin ("you may not sin"). 1 John 1:9 makes it clear that there is always forgiveness for confessed sin. Yet, John wants it also to be clear that the Christian should be concerned about sin.
In verse 12, John addresses his readers according to their measure of spiritual maturity. Each of us begin the Christian life as little children. We probably fail to see the depth of our sin and the greatness of His forgiveness. When we see how great our sin is, and how great the cost was to gain us forgiveness, we will be filled with gratitude at having been forgiven. This forgiveness is the special joy of God’s little children, the reasons for forgiveness are not found in us, but in God.
As seen in verse 16, the character of the world expresses itself through the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. The idea behind the pride of life is someone who lives for superiority over others, mostly by impressing others through outward appearances. God knows we have a bodily nature, and physical needs that feel good when satisfied. Yet it is not in God’s nature to influence us through the lust of the flesh. God always looks beyond the outward appearance.
John calls us to be purified and sanctified by doing the will of God. It simply calls us to be like children as Jesus says in Matt 18:3- "Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." Transforming into the fullness of humbleness like a child is the need of the hour. When world patterns are changing in the context of a pandemic, let us transform the changes for the glory of the Kingdom of God. Let the kingdom values nurture the child like innocence in everyone's life and guide us all to the life of new heaven and new earth.


PRAYER
Lord help us to purify and sanctify us as individuals and as a faith community. Grow in us the spiritual maturity, to be like the children in the Kingdom of God. Amen.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
May the character of Jesus reflect in our lives everyday

Miss Merlin Binoy
The MarThoma Church Staten island.

Christian Education Forum, Diocese of NAE of the Mar Thoma Church

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