Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-

 TITHE GIVING SUNDAY

 Isaiah  6: 1-11

Verse:7  The seraph touched my mouth with it and said,” Now that this has touched your lips, your guilt has departed and your sin is blotted out”.

    Bring the tenth part into the storehouse, so that there may be food in my house.  Test me in this,” Says the Lord of all. See if I will not then open the windows of heaven and pour out good things for you until there is no more need”.
(Malachi3:10b). We remember what Lord Jesus said,” we are happier when we give than to receive”.    In Luke we read, Give, and it will give unto you, You will have more than enough. In Hebrews, we read, “ we should be generous and willing to give anything we can, if we don't have money, we should serve.
              The book of  Isaiah used,” the year King Uzziah died, as a reference point for describing the vision in which he saw the vision of the Lord of Hosts.
A better way to start our devotion to Isaiah's divine call is by talking about our prime human needs. The need for the purpose and meaning of our lives. At any age during our life, the quest for purpose and meaning sneaks beneath the surface of life. Similar expressions of purpose and meaning can be seen in the life of Bonhoeffer, a German pastor, and theologian who was imprisoned in the resistance movement against the Nazis. He wrote from prison.” I am here for a purpose and I only hope I may fulfill it”. In our affluent consumeristic society, the purpose and meaning of life are often focused on salary, status, and other material gains.
             King Uzziah ruled over Judah for fifty-two years, a period of strength, peace, and prosperity for Israel. After his death, people went astray, became rebellious against God, and lived in utmost sin.  It was declared as a time of national crisis, and that is when God intervened and called   Isaiah for a purpose. Isaiah entered the temple with a heavy heart, then he had a divine vision. He was overwhelmed by God's majesty and  glory, where angelic hosts  were singing and praising,” Holy, Holy, Holy Lord of Hosts.” Isaiah suddenly felt the unworthiness to stand before the Holy presence of God.  He was set free by the seraph sent from His holy presence, from the sin and the unclean lips. He was made worthy to respond to a divine call. Isaiah responded to God's call to go on a mission, and he surrendered to  His call for a purpose.
              Will we heed God's call for a purpose? Our call may not be through a  dramatic vision, but it may be during a bible study, a sermon, or a quiet time with God.  Holy Spirit may be whispering within us for a divine purpose. Shall we listen to His call?

Prayer
 Eternal Father, forgive us for our inability to listen to your call for a mission, rather focus on our material gains. Prepare us to listen to your gentle whispers in our hearts, our quiet time. Let us fulfill our purpose and meaning in life through your grace. Amen.


 Thought for the Day
  What are we here for?   What difference our life does make
so far towards fullling divine purpose and mission ?.


 
Dr.John  K. Thomas Tabor MTC

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