Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-

 Beginning of Great Lent

The New Creation
Genesis 33: 1-17

Genesis 33:4 But Esau ran to meet Jacob and embraced him; he threw his arms around his neck and kissed him. And they wept.

Waking up to good news is a dream come true for every human being. But imagining it in a decade where we are surrounded by - pandemic, racial and religious hatred, and warmongering; is perhaps next to impossible. 

But imagine if we were Jacob and every day we had to wake up fearing death by his own sibling, would have been such a nightmare. 

So, envisage that day when Esau embraced Jacob
Forgiveness and reconciliation between the brothers who had sworn to kill each other is a historical event. Reconciliation in Greek means ‘change completely’ and perhaps because of reconciliation, Jacob started to see God's reflection in Esau. A conflict that started from the womb of their mother and continued until Jacob's realization of his inequities after years of toil and suffering, ended in reconciliation and the formation of a great nation- Israel.  

Can we see God through Reconciliation?
According to Apostle Paul, we are a ‘new creation’ in Christ through reconciliation. In Matthew 5:23 Jesus says leave your gift there in front of the altar. First, go and be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer the gift. Many individuals in this world are not willing to talk to their brothers, sisters, partners, parents, and friends. In fact, terminating conversation and ignoring the person who has been part of your life has become easier than reconciliation. 

Can we deliberately start the conversation again with the person whom you have not spoken for long or not forgiven and strive to understand their viewpoint? Apostle Paul wrote in detail about reconciliation by God the Father with human beings by sending his only begotten son as a sacrifice for our sins. If our God the Father can forgive our sins and reconcile with us by sacrificing his only ‘Son’; can’t we take the first step in calling the person on whom we still carry grudge, hatred, or remorse?

The Apostle Paul clearly teaches that a believer can be a “new creation” in Christ through reconciliation. Jacob became the great nation of Israel after reconciliation with his brother, I am sure, your reconciliation will make you a ‘new creation’, and Jesus will bless you and use you for His great plans. 
God bless you all !!!

Prayer

Heavenly Father, give us the grace to forgive and reconcile with our near and dear ones so that we can live a life pleasing to you. A M E N

Thought for the Day

Forgiveness does not change the past, but it does enlarge the future. 
- Paul Boese 

Joyce Gigi
Mar Thoma Church in Oman

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