Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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Kudosh Etho- Sanctification of the Church”

Bible Reading:  1 Peter 1: 14-16

 

Key Verse: For it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy. 1 Peter 1:16


DEVOTION

Dr Richard C Halverson- Chaplain to US Senate once said on the condition of the Church – “In the beginning Church was a fellowship of men and women centering on the living Christ. Then the Church moved to Greece where it became a philosophy, then it moved to Rome where it became an institution, next it moved to Europe where it became a culture and finally it moved to USA where it became an enterprise(business)”
 
Kudosh Eetho - the sanctification of the Church is the new year of the liturgical calendar in West Syrian Church tradition. The background is the Passover Festival and it depicts the triumphal entry of Jesus into the Jerusalem temple, where He rebukes the moneychangers and sellers who had illegally occupied the court of Gentiles and the main thrust was that - the temple had lost its purpose of worship, prayer & Sacrifice, a place of confession and a refuge for the broken. However, presence of Jesus lead to the regaining of status of the temple by Jesus.

1 Peter 1: 14-16 highlights on the individual’s life of holiness and the note that Peter has struck thus far is standing firm in the true grace of God (1:1–12). Further Peter shifts here in verse 13, to now addressing how believers are to live. Peter here gives us five main commands in 1:13–2:3. The main point in 1 Peter 1:13-16 is to reflect our heavenly hope and true identity. We have two commands that Peter gives us:

1. “Set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

Peter’s first command to “set our hope” Hope in trusting God for his future grace that he has promised and we having to actively engage the mind and heart with spiritual truth. It is a call to abandon and remove from our lives the morally neutral distractions that dull our spiritual senses and keep us from hoping in God alone.

2.“But as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct.”

The second command for holiness is a call in order to be children of God. In essence, do not live according to your former way of life, but rather live as you are now, as God’s children. Set apart.
Holiness is not a behavior but God’s character. Through the work of Christ on the cross and the outpouring of his Holy Spirit, we can live in newness of life.
We are redeemed through - Justification - the cross of Jesus Christ is the means by which we find the forgiveness of our sin. Jesus died in our place so that we might be redeemed and restored to God. God invites us to respond by accepting Christ as Savior. Sanctification- Holy Spirit convicts us of our sin and shows us new ways of living -transformed by the renewing of our mind to live justly, and do justice as we are children of God, and our allegiance is to Christ and Christ alone.

 

PRAYER

Lord, in a world of ungodliness and injustice, lead us to be holy and empower us to be just and to do justice. Amen
 

Thought of the day

Our hope is built on nothing less, than Jesus’ blood and righteousness. We dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly trust in Jesus’ name and live a life worthy of our calling

 

Rev. Dr. Moni Mathew, Retired priest

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