Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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Living in purity: the call to honor God with our bodies

Bible Reading:   1st Thessalonians 4:3-8

Key verse: “For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life”. 1 Thess. 4:7
 
DEVOTION

At our recent VBS class, we delved deeper into the study of temptations and observed that the temptation to sin primarily originates internally from our own sinful self.  Adam and Eve presented the opportunity to Satan to tempt them to sin primarily because of their own desire to be near the tree of life in the middle of the garden.  Had they obeyed God, they would have steered far away as possible from that tree but they failed to overcome the call of temptation.
Our permissive culture calls us in myriad of ways that would satisfy our inner most desires.  Our mind tries to rationalize it and the tempter eagerly facilitates it so that we carry it out thus causing us to sin and to be impure.  Afterwards, we feel guilty or ashamed just as Adam and Eve did.  That is good, because our soul realizes that we have broken our precious relationship with God.
Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, is the restorer of broken relationships.  We can bring our guilt and shame to him and ask for his forgiveness and to restore our original relationship with God.
Our new restored life should guard against temptations and pursue purity.  It should be a holy life that Honors the Father, Glorifies Christ and is a temple of the Holy Spirit.

PRAYER

 Dear Lord, empower us to say “no” to temptations that dishonor you.  Encourage us to live our daily life that reflects your principles.  May our thoughts, words and actions seek purity and our bodies be a sacred vessel that carries your presence.  In your holy name, Amen.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.  2 James 2:21

Bobe Simon, Carmel Mar Thoma Church, Boston

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