Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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God is our Companion in Trials
Bible Reading:  Daniel 3: 7-28
Key Verse: 
“He [King Nebuchadnezzar] said, Look! I see four men walking around the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods”(Daniel 3:25).

DEVOTION

Today’s devotion is an answer to the question: Does God care when we are faced with trials and tribulations of life? The answer to this question is yes, God cares, and that He is our companion in our trials as demonstrated in the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. They were thrown to the blazing fire for not obeying Nebuchadnezzar’s decree to worship an image of gold.  They were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God.
As human beings, we are subject to temptations, as well as to the trials  and sorrows of this life. Another moving story in the  Old testament is that of Job  and he observed, “Man who is born of woman, short-lived and full of turmoil” (Job 14: 1). St. Paul told Timothy: “Indeed all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Tim 3:12). However, we can escape from some of the trials of life when we allow ourselves to be guided by the Holy Spirit. Our biggest challenge is the willingness to listen to God. Dalai Lama’s story is a very good example of how he at the age of 15 overcame the problems of  the Chinese invasion of Tibet, and  how he lived as a refugee in India for over 50 years  under God’s amazing plan for his life and his people.
God has promised us that we will not be tempted beyond what we are able to handle (I Cor 10;13), but He did not promise that we  would not be tempted. Jesus himself was tempted in the wilderness by Satan,  prompting Him to take shortcuts for success ( Mt 4:1-10).

PRAYER

O God, our Father, We know that  issues of life and death are and in your hands, and we know that your love is everlasting. Dear Lord, give us courage  to face whatever lies before us, trusting only in the power of your love. If it is your will, grant us to live in happiness and peace. ‘Let Thy will be done.’ Amen!

Thought for the day

“A self-centred attitude is the source of the problem. We should have ‘wise selfishness’ rather than ‘foolish selfishness.’ In fact, helping others, is ultimately is the way to discover your own joy and to have a happy life. So, that is I call ‘wise selfishness’” (Dalai Lama).

                                                        
Dr. Zac Varghese, Sinai MTC, North London.

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