Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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JESUS CHRIST WHO RESTORES

Ephesians 2: 1-10

“For we are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus “ vs 10

“I will increase the number of men and animals upon you, and they will be fruitful and become numerous. I will settle people on you as in the past and will make you prosper more than before. Then you will know that I am the Lord" Ezekiel 36:11

Restoration is a process whereby God takes the initiative from the beginning of the creation to bring back His people, who have strayed away, back to him. When God restores, the restoration happens in abundance. God promises His people to turn back to Him for peace and comfort. Mathew 11:28 says “Come to me all who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest”. The humanity is hopeless and helpless without Christ. We were dead in sin as children of Adam and were disobedient to God. We were subjected to God’s condemnation and wrath. But by the Grace God has favored us, He sent His only son to the world to save us from the perils of our sin and condemnation. By the blood shed on the Calvary and the records of our sin and its penalties being nailed on the cross He has restored us and redeemed us. Our debts are wiped away for ever and we got the privilege of being called His loving children. Through His grace He restored the lost relationship with God and a true fellowship is established by God’s love and through the gospel.

Jesus’s presence in our hearts fills us with a courteous reason for gratitude. He brings the ability to live with purpose and energy. He inculcates joy in our hearts in the midst of all circumstances both in times of struggles and celebrations. God’s spirit gives us hope, comfort and renewed vigor. It gives a peace and serenity that persists in the midst of a chaotic world we live. When Jesus lives in us, we are filled with a confidence and joy and life gets a new perspective that can radiate from us to others and others will be able to see Christ through us. We become a new creation. The old is gone and we wear the new robe of salvation provided by our master.

Paul emphasizes in his letter to Ephesians that it is by God’s grace and through faith that we are saved and not by our works. It is a free gift of God and there is no room for any one to boast that they got by their merit.

PRAYER

Lord our redeemer and our savior, we thank you for giving your life on the cross to save the wretched humanity. We believe that it is by your Grace that we are saved and let us be faithful partakers of your kingdom’s happiness and joy. Amen

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

God is fixing the broken pieces of our life. Like the clay to the potter let us surrender to our master and get ready for His restoration.

Dr Thomas K. Jose
The Mar Thoma Church, Staten Island, NY

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

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