Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-

 The Church has to be on the watch


   Acts 1:12-14
Vs 14:  They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brother.
Waiting on the Lord may be one of the most difficult aspects of the Christian life. When Jesus promised that he would return, he instructed his followers to wait and be alert. That is easier said than done. So what do we do in the meantime? When Jesus told his disciples to wait in Jerusalem, he was telling them that this was means of experiencing his peace, prosperity, and  power. In waiting they would see God spirit in action.

In this passage, we have the encouraging account of the church immediately after Jesus ascended into heaven. The disciples were told to stay in Jerusalem and wait for the Holy Spirit, and this is what we find them doing. Christians are called to humble obedience, believing the promises of Christ. 

The apostles find a room on the 2nd floor of a  home, and other believers in the Lord gather there with them. In verse 14 we read what they were doing: “All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer. They were of “one accord.” They were unified in believing Christ Jesus was the Lord of the living and the dead; and that he was seated at the right hand of God. They now accounted themselves as not their own, but belonging to him; for his will, his purposes, his glory.

They had been called by the Lord, redeemed by his death, and were preparing to do what he had told them to do (be witnesses to the end of the earth). The apostles are the model of this way of life. They were “devoted to prayer.” They were a small group, given a great task, and a difficult one. They were to bear witness to Christ, beginning in the place he had been crucified. They knew the opposition was waiting. So the first picture of the church is a prayer meeting. Devotion to prayer and the word of God characterizes the church throughout the book of Acts. 

We are never fit for anything, any work, or any trial in our faith without the Holy Spirit .The apostles couldn’t do anything on their own. The more we mature in the faith, the more we learn our dependence upon the Holy Spirit. The believers were undoubtedly praying for the Holy Spirit. The Lord promised, so they prayed. This wasn’t a sign of doubt in the promise, but confidence; it honors God to ask for what he has promised to do. Prayer is offering our desires up to God. God gives his people desires that are agreeable to his good and perfect will. God often accomplishes his sovereign will through the prayers of his people. Our desire as Christians is to be faithful. So let us be like the apostles, be on watch and ask specifically for the Holy Spirit, with the intention of honoring Christ.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, help us to be faithful and devoted in prayer, patiently waiting for your return.

Thought for the day:
Waiting is the confident, disciplined, expectant, active, and sometimes painful clinging to God. It knows that we will reap a reward.

Anish Thomas
Marthoma Church of Greater Washington

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