Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-

 Unity of the churches - God’s will

1 Corinthians 12:12-31

“Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of It.” vs.27

 Have you ever felt invisible or irrelevant or not important in the Church? Have you felt burdened by Church politics and cliques? Perhaps it is time for us to recapture the vision of what the Church is meant to be. 
The Apostle Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, has given us a beautiful revelation of the Church as being like the human body. The body is one but made up of many parts. So, all of us together make up the body of Christ. The body is only complete when all parts are present and work together. Every part of the body has a unique role to play. We should not compare ourselves with others and think that we are not important (v15-18). It is God who sovereignly decides what role we are to fulfill (v18) and equips up with unique gifts for the edification of the Church. This also means that if we are not fulfilling our role, then the Church - the body of Christ is missing out. Similarly, when looking at other members, we should view them with the recognition that we need what they have to offer (v21) and that the Church is not complete without them. 
God's desire is that there be no division and that we deeply care for each other - suffering and rejoicing together. (v25-26). God has given each of us various roles and gifts (v28-30). We need to identify, understand, and nurture our God given gifts so that we can serve others with them. The body of Christ includes believers all over the world (v13). Christ is the head of the Church (Eph 5:23), and as we submit to Him, and serve each other, we are fulfilling His will. 
Let us examine ourselves and work together towards achieving the model of the Church described here.

                                                        Prayer
Heavenly Father, we thank You for establishing the Church as per Your divine purpose and will. Help us to understand the role You have for each one of us in the Church and to fulfill it. Help us to love the members of Your church selflessly and serve them. Through this may the vision You have for the Church be fulfilled. In Jesus name we pray. Amen

                                                  Thought for the day
               The Church is God’s precious gift to mankind, giving us a glimpse of heaven on earth; Let us play our role and build up the Church. 

                                                        Tinku Alex
                                              Carmel MTC, Boston

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

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