Word for the day by Christian Education Forum
Joyful expectations of Christ coming. The day of The Lord
Malachi 3 :13-18,4:1-2
4:1 For Behold, the day cometh, it burneth as a furnace and all the proud and all that work wickedness shall be stubble and the day that cometh shall burn them up saith Jehovah of hosts that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.
While they were there the time came for the baby to be born and she gave birth to her first born a son and Jesus grew in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man. (Luke 2: 6-7). Christmas tells the story of God’s greatest gift to humankind, a precious indescribable gift. This marks the first coming of Jesus to the world to save the sinful. God wanted to communicate with his creation and so he took flesh as a normal person. Even though he was sinless He volunteered to go to cross, suffered and died, rose from the grave and ascended to heaven leaving the Holy spirit as the comforter. Our hope as His children who are born again and accepted Him as our savior and Lord is in His second coming. If His first appearance in the world was to save us from our sins, in His second coming he is going to take us and we can live with him forever. There will be a judgement also which we have to face and we are going to get rewards as per our actions. The day of the Lord is coming and no one knows except the Father. Since we are sure of His return death is not our final destiny in this world. The mortal must put immortality and this is the basis of our faith. As we trust the Lord, we discover strength each day and, in the end, a glorious celebration of a new life that never ends.
Here in todays meditation portion prophet Malachi mention about the book of remembrance that the Lord will keep. Those who wait upon the Lord and meditate His word and call upon Him will be remembered for ever and Lord says they will be my people like precious jewels. The people who came back from exile found themselves lost and desperate as they think obeying God is worthless. They see the wicked prosper and flourish while the righteous always get defeated. Prophet is of the opinion that the believers do not have to be disturbed and disappointed. He sees a huge difference between those who fear God and those who scoff at God. God’s day is imminent and this is the day where the wretched will be consumed by the fire and those who live for Christ will have great victory. There is going to be judgement to the guilty and deliverance to the faithful. Lord will annihilate the evildoers, burn them up and there will not be any remnant neither root nor branch. Let us be watchful and joyfully wait for His return. Let us be vigilant like the wise women who had oil in their lamp waiting for the bridegroom.
PRAYER
Lord Jesus we thanks you for saving us from our sins and gave the confidence of eternity. Allow us to be joyfully waiting for you keeping our body and spirit pure and clean. Amen
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
Jesus -The Hope of the world. Let us witness and proclaim this great news to all till He comes.
Dr. Thomas K. Jose
The Mar Thoma Church ,Staten Island.
Christian Education Forum, Diocese of NAE of the Mar Thoma Church