Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-

 

Grace shapes the missionary life 

Bible Reading:  1 Corinthians 15: 1-10

Key verse: But by the grace of God I am what I am…

DEVOTION

Paul in his letter to the Corinthians talks about his journey from a persecutor of Christians to one who became the forefront leader for Christ. In this passage, Paul recalls how Christ died for our sins, was buried and then rose on the third day. Paul holds this as the ultimate truth and those who do not believe in this truth are not part of the salvation as promised by Christ. Many of the people to whom Christ appeared after He rose are ones who had shared earthly space with the Lord and thus when Christ appeared to them, they believed in Him effortlessly. However, Paul is different. Paul was a zealous Pharisee who had made it his life mission to hunt down Christians for their belief in Christ. However, our Lord did not act with vengeance or retaliate against Paul. Our Lord acted with mercy and showed Paul how helpless he is without Christ. Lord used the very weapon that was Paul and transformed him into a foremost asset in Christ’s ministry. Such is the grace, mercy and love that is our Lord. Paul is very aware of the Lord’s grace. Without the Lord’s grace, Paul would not have become a crusader for Christ. Paul is well aware of his past - a past that defined him as a hunter and which brought with much distrust wherever he went. However, through and with the grace of our Lord, Paul was able to gain the trust of his fellow Christians and became the leader that Christ intended for him to be. 
We all have our pasts and in it, many things that we are not proud of. However, just like Paul was redeemed by Christ despite his past, we are redeemed because of our Lord's grace and our unwavering faith that Christ died for our sins, was buried and rose again for us. We are blessed because we believe in Christ without having seen Him face to face. It is because of this grace we are called to do unto others as the Lord has done to us. We need to be loving, kind and forgiving just like our Lord and know that His grace is sufficient for us. 

 

PRAYER
Dear Lord, we thank you for your selfless love and redeeming grace toward us. Help us to show to others the same love, forgiveness and love that you have shown to us. Bless us and keep us under the shadow of your wings. Amen. 

 

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 Timothy 2:1


Susan Cherian Varghese
Epiphany MTC, New York

Popular posts from this blog

Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-
  Constant, patient and welcoming love of God   St. Luke 15: 11-32  V.21: And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ The parable of the ‘Prodigal son’ is one of the most frequently quoted parables that Jesus told His disciples. The parable contains the rich mine of human virtues and emotions. This parable is lived and re-lived in progressing civilizations from time immemorial and continuing. It brings out in vivid detail the pathetic depth of human sinfulness and the glorious heights of God’s forgiveness.      As a story of human nature, fathers are generally merciful to their children in any circumstance. They are very protective and are eager to provide for and secure the lives of their offspring. Jesus is telling this parable to underscore the superlative love of God to His children. The nature of such love is reiterated by Jesus in Matthew 7:11. Humankind wh...
Read more

Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-
Revelation for Liberation Acts 27:18-26 Sherine Thomas Long Island MTC, NY 20  When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest raged, all hope of our being saved was at last abandoned. “After winter comes the summer.  After night comes the dawn.  And after every storm, there comes clear open skies” so said a Scottish clergyman from the 1600s. It’s been said, that hope can sometimes be the most dangerous weapon.  However, it’s sometimes the hardest weapon to carry when you’re living with the loss of a loved one, something that almost feels like a terrible nightmare that’ll never go away.  It’s a weapon difficult to carry when day in and day out no one seems to hear or see those tears that are shed or silent cries that are made during a heartfelt prayer. It’s a weapon difficult to carry as you see your loved one lying on that hospital bed.  It’s a weapon difficult to carry as you search and seek out answers to tel...
Read more

Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-
PRIESTHOOD: THE ANOINTED MINISTRY Exodus 40:12-16 Bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting... wash them with water. Then dress Aaron in the sacred garments, anoint him and consecrate him so he may serve me as priest (Exodus 40: 12-13). Priesthood among the people of God was a divine command and initiation. God wanted some people to be separated for the special ministry among his people. God appointed Aaron and his descendants to take up this kind of ministry among the people of God. Priests are always separated and appointed as channels that connect God with his people. All throughout the history of Israel, priests played an important role in connecting people with God and to lead and guide them in the statutes of God. But there are incidents in the Bible where the priests failed in their duties and that led the people to go away from God. So the priests have a special and significant ministry to perform in this world among his people. Two important things...
Read more