Word for the day by Christian EducatIon Forum

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Hudos Eetho: Renewal of the Church to Witness the Kingdom of God

Bible Reading: 1 Peter 2:1-6

Key Verse: “As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 2:4-5)

DEVOTION

In 1 Peter 2:1-6, Peter addresses the Church with its divine purpose, urging it to become a sanctified, changed community that exemplifies the Kingdom of God. He instructs believers to "rid themselves" of vices such as malice, dishonesty, hypocrisy, envy, and slander—behaviors that corrupt and divide the body of Christ. These transgressions obstruct the sanctifying function of the Spirit inside the Church, which must exemplify purity, unity, and truth as a testament to the world. This purification is vital for the Church to accomplish its sacred mission of bearing witness to God’s Kingdom. Hudos Eetho, implying dedication, renewal, or “new life,” serves as a reminder that the Church must perpetually engage in spiritual rejuvenation. Renewal is not merely a rare resurgence but an essential, continuous transformation that aligns the Church with its eschatological objective. The Church's renewal embodies its identity as the concrete, earthly representation of the Kingdom, a precursor to the forthcoming restoration. Peter’s admonition to "crave pure spiritual milk" encourages believers to pursue sustenance in the Word and Spirit, fostering growth in salvation and maturity, so equipping them to testify to God’s truth and love. This spiritual nourishment serves not only individual development but also the communal holiness of the Church. Peter's description of believers as "living stones" signifies the theological truth that the Church constitutes not merely a collection of individual Christians but a spiritual edifice, a "temple of the Holy Spirit" (1 Corinthians 3:16), founded upon Jesus Christ, the cornerstone. The cornerstone represents both the Church's basis and its conformity with Christ's teachings and mission. Christ serves as the foundation, delineating the Church's structure, mission, and direction. The Church is tasked with transcending secular boundaries, exemplifying unity and sanctity as a manifestation of the Kingdom. This call for renewal encourages us to scrutinize our lives and ecclesiastical activities in accordance with God's Kingdom. Do habits or attitudes—such as judgment, divisiveness, or self-righteousness—detract from our testimony? As believers, we can engage in deliberate practices that promote unity and development. A revitalized Church, devoid of dividing transgressions and unified in mission, presents the world with a vision of hope and tranquility in Christ. By means of this ongoing restoration, we serve as a testament to the Kingdom, beckoning others into the life and love of God.


 

PRAYER

Dear Lord, renew us as Your Church, that we may embody Your Kingdom in unity, purity, and love, drawing others to the hope and life found in You. In Jesus name, Amen
 

Thought of the day

Let us embrace the call to be continually renewed as a Church, allowing God to remove what divides us and shape us into a unified, living witness of His Kingdom—radiating love, purity, and hope to a world in need.

 

Vineet Vinod
Long Island MTC
 

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