Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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 Holy Spirit who Empowers for Mission

Scripture: 1 Cor 2:10-16

V16 “For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.”

In this passage, the Apostle Paul sheds light on the wisdom of God, which is revealed to us through the receiving of the Holy Spirit. Paul highlights in this passage that the nature of God can only truly be understood through the lens of the Holy Spirit. The sinful nature of man stands as a barrier to understanding the nature of God and all his attributes. The death and resurrection of Christ allowed man to connect with God in a way that our minds are in union with Him. Paul reminds us that through the receiving of the Holy Spirit, we are one with Christ and must strive to be Christ-like. The Spirit is received through our faith and acceptance of Jesus Christ as Lord, repentance, and our conduct. This is the only way to understand and “know the mind of the Lord.” We cannot be one with the Lord when our hearts seek after things of the world which manifests as greed, anger, selfishness, jealousy, and materialism. Today’s world (especially with the rise of social media) pushes us to prioritize the acquisition of material wealth and constantly compete with those around us. Receiving the Spirit means transforming ourselves so we may do as Christ did. This means putting our neighbor before ourselves, bringing light to those in need, and showing love to others the way Christ loved us. There are many opportunities in our day-to-day lives to let the Spirit of Christ shine through us. Christ uplifted the most marginalized and unwanted members of society during his time on Earth. Our mission should therefore empower and help all members of society, not simply those who fall within our comfort zone. We must strive to be a community that truly reflects the nature of Christ, and the Spirit of the Lord must reflect from within us. This is because “what we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God” (1 Cor 2:12).

Prayer

Dear Father in heaven, Please let your Holy Spirit shine through us so we may be one with you. Empower us so that we may bring light to a dark world. Let our thoughts and actions reflect your nature and help us love one another like you loved us. Amen. 

Thought for the Day
 Where does our heart truly lie? In what ways can we change our lives so that it is reflective of Christ and the Holy Spirit? 

Sheila A. Mathew
Horeb Mar Thoma Church of Los Angeles
California

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