Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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 Church: The Body of Christ

Ezekiel 37:15-28

v23b    But I will save them from all the backslidings in which they  have sinned, and  will cleanse them; and they shall be my people, and I will be their God.

Let's ask ourselves a question: Have people ever been united in history, except for categorizing and hating people of a different religion, race or class? We looked down upon others who are different from us. Even Adam and Eve were two people in a perfect environment, walking with God. But when they did sinned, they turned against each other and there have been problems between men and women ever since. God brought  Israel  out of slavery from Egypt to the promised land. But they sinned. After King Solomon's reign, the nation divided into two.

Prophet Ezekiel wrote this prophetic book in around 580 B.C while nation was still in exile. In short, they were separated from God and from each other. It is our problem too. We are separated from God and each other,  because we pursued  gods and idols of our own interest and affluence.  God of the universe is trying to unite  all  these  groups  by His grace.

         God's answer  to our problem of separation is Christ who is the shepherd King,  who came   many years later from the house of David. If we  try to  understand  Ezekiel's prophecy, it is extended far beyond  bringing back  Israel from exile. It is the fulfillment in Christ of those who are committed and united in him. In verse 21-22 he would gather people from among nations and from every side, make them one  nation. 

Rev:5.9 says that God's people - those who belong to Jesus – have been purchased for God with the blood of Jesus from every tribe, tongue, people and nation. Like the division between the Israel and Judah, Christ shed his blood on the cross for the chasm between Jew and gentile, so that these two will become one in Jesus, reconciled in to one body of Christ through the cross.

PRAYER
Lord help us all to be united in Christ as one body, ignoring our preferences and affluence.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
Only Christ brings true unity.

Dr. Sherin Varghese, Baltimore MTC, MD

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

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