Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-

     CARE ORIENTED EDUCATION 

Scripture: Acts 8 :26-38 

V.31: and he said, How could I “unless someone guides me”? And he  entreated Philip to come up and sit with him. 
 

This narrative talks about the encounter between the  Greek speaking Jewish Christian evangelist Philip and an Ethiopian  eunuch who was returning from worship at Jerusalem. Philip was one of  the six chosen for the table ministry including Stephen. They looked after the equitable distribution of serving food for all the early church  believers including widows. But God has chosen Philip further up into an  important task of evangelizing an Ethiopian man who was rich, educated  and affluent, in charge of the treasury of Queen Candace. He is not to  be mistaken for Apostle Philip. In our particular text, divine  intervention is quite evident. Both the angel of the Lord and the spirit of  the Lord spoke to Philip asking him to join a person in a chariot travelling  through the desert back to his town from Jerusalem. 
 Here we see the Lord is releasing the Ethiopian from the  bondage, by facilitating a human encounter to learn about the risen  Jesus. It is good to note that eunuch's are excluded from participating in  temple rituals or admitted into Israel's community even as a convert. So  this conversion and baptizing transcends expectation. Unnamed Ethiopian represents those who are marginilised and far way geographically and  ethnically. Even being an educated affluent person, Ethiopian was able to accept and invite Philip , and showed eagerness to ascertain the meaning of the scriptures he read from Isaiah 53:7. 
 The spirit of the Lord embodied humility of the sacrificed  lamb in Ethiopian,, when he heard the gospel of the resurrected Jesus,  he believed it and expressed his desire to participate in a baptismal  ceremony. In most translations of the new testament , verse 37 is  absent. However v37 reads: when Philip asked Ethiopian whether he  believes Jesus from all his heart, he answered” I believe that Jesus  Christ is the son of God”. Spirit of the Lord worked in him, Philip  baptized him – immediately Philip was carried way by the spirit to  Caeseria. 
 We should practice a faith that continually seek learning  or understanding scriptures, rather than a knowledge that seek only 
faithful followers
                                    PRAYER

 Lord, enable us to be part of the divine plan in spreading the  gospel of Jesus Christ to the marginiliSed and all who are far away,  geographically and ethnically in this world . Amen 

Thought for the Day
   God who raised Jesus, plans unlikely encounters,  regardless of our choice and existing norms that would not permit the  transformation of marginalized individuals. 


    Dr.John K.Thomas Tabor MTC, Staten island

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

-
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

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