Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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Love: The foundation of unity
Ezekiel 37:15-23
In Ezekiel 37:15-23, God tells Ezekiel to take two sticks, one for Judah and the other for Ephraim, and put them together into one stick. Each stick represents a different part of Israel. God is showing that He wants to bring the divided tribes back together. The sticks join miraculously, not by human hands but by God's power. This isn't just about politics; it's about God wanting to fix the separation and bring His people together spiritually. The vision is a powerful image of God's plan to heal the deep divisions among the Israelites, going beyond just making them a nation again. It highlights God's role in reuniting what was separated and emphasizes the importance of His intervention in overcoming serious differences. The message is clear: God is at work to restore unity among His people, showing His desire for them to be one under His guidance.
Symbolic Reunification of Divided Kingdoms:
This part of the Bible talks about using two sticks to show that two groups, Judah and Ephraim, were not getting along. The sticks come together, and it means that God wants these groups to be friends again. It's not just about them being a country again; it's about God fixing things inside them and making them whole like before. We can use this in our own lives too. In this chapter, it talks about countries being divided to show coming together, but we can use this idea for our very own relationships. God is the most important thing that makes a relationship strong and healthy. If you and a friend are not getting along, you can pray about it, and God can help you become friends again, just like in the Bible story. It's not just about being friends on the outside; it's about fixing things deep inside with God's help.
Hope in Restoration: 
This chapter also brings a message of hope. When the sticks join together, it's like saying that even when things seem really broken and not good, there is hope for fixing them. The story teaches that with God, things can be restored and made whole again. So, it's like a promise that no matter how tough things get, there's always hope for a better and more united future, especially with God's help. 
 
PRAYER
 Dear God, Thank you for showering your blessings and mercies on us everyday, thank you for saving us in times of need, and for being our strength and peace when we were weak. As we reflect on Ezekiel's vision of unity through the joining of divided sticks, we pray for Your divine intervention to unite us as a community. May Your boundless love be the catalyst that overcomes divisions, giving us a deep, spiritual togetherness among us.
 
Thought for the Day
"Even in the midst of brokenness, there is a promise of wholeness. With faith as our guide, what is divided can be reunited, and hope can mend the fragments of our lives."
 
Joel Mathew

Epiphany Mar Thoma Church ,New York 

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