Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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 People of God - Body of Christ

(Matthew 5:43-48)
 

    The Church, being the body of Christ is called out to participate in the mission of God revealed through the life and ministry of Jesus Christ.  As children of God and members of the Body of Christ, we are called to reflect the character of our Savior Jesus Christ in every aspect of our lives. This passage mainly emphasis two points.

1. Embracing a Higher Standard of Love: The passage underlines Jesus' call to His followers to go beyond societal norms and demonstrate a radical love that extends even to our enemies and persecutors. By loving those who love us, we do nothing exceptional, but when we extend love to those who mistreat us, we display the transformative power of God's grace. This challenges us to rise above our natural inclinations and reflect the boundless love of our heavenly Father.
God's love is boundless, reaching out to both the righteous and the unrighteous, showering blessings on all. When we exhibit this radical love, we demonstrate that we are indeed God's children. Our actions speak louder than our words, and through our love for others, even those who mistreat us, we bear witness to the transformative power of God's grace.
 
2. Reflecting God's Character: As children of God and members of the Body of Christ, we are called to reflect the character of our Savior Jesus Christ. Just as God's love is impartial, reaching out to both the righteous and the unrighteous, we are called to love without boundaries. Through our actions, we become living testimonies of God's love and grace, shining as beacons of light in a world filled with darkness. By choosing to pray for our enemies and respond with love and kindness, we break the cycle of hatred and demonstrate what it truly means to be followers of Christ.
Through this passage, Jesus challenges us to move beyond the norm and embrace a higher standard of love. He teaches us that loving those who love us is easy, but true love extends to our enemies and those who persecute us.  Today, let us embrace the challenge to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. May our lives be a reflection of God's love, shining brightly in a world that desperately needs it.
 

Prayer

Lord enables us to understand that perfection refers to the completeness of our love, not flawless performance. Strengthen us to love others the way Jesus loved us - Amen.
 

Thought for the Day

you shall love the Lord with all your heart and all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind  and your neighbor as yourself. 

Rev. Dr.K. Jameson
Vicar,  Kampamcodu All saints Mar thoma Church,Kerala.

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