Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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Grace that enriches and strengthens  

Bible Reading: : 1 Corinthians 1: 3-10

Key verse:  

Bible Verse:: 1 Corinthians 1 :2 ‘ to the church of God that is in Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, and called to be saints, with all those in every place who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

DEVOTION

The First Epistle to the Church in Corinth authored by Apostle Paul , addresses the growing concerns, challenges and issues faced by the Corinthian Church. The First Chapter establishes the purpose of Paul’s letter emphasizing the basis of unity and openly confronting the divisiveness among the members of the Church.  As we start reading the devotional portion for today, we see Apostle Paul including Sosthenes perhaps suggesting this letter was collaborative effort by Paul and Sosthenes.  Paul addresses the first verse to the Church of God in Corinth, highlighting the sacred nature of the assembly of believers and phrase ‘ sanctified in Christ Jesus ‘ pointing to the transformative power of Christ which is universally applicable to all  believers across the world. Paul in verse 3 offers grace and peace from God the Father and Lord Jesus Christ , the dual invocation reflects the relationship between the Father and Son and depth of the blessings available to all the believers all over the world. 
Paul in verse 4 , gives thanks to God for the members of the church in Corinth and showing how grace has been bestowed upon them through Christ Jesuus. Today, as we celebrate Thanksgiving Day here in the United States of America, this is moment for us more than anything else to be thankful to God for who we are in Christ and body of believers in  the Marthoma community in Americas today.  
Paul in verse 5 mentions about the ‘ utterance ‘ and ‘ knowledge’ and this refers charismatic gifts prevalent in the early church including speaking in tongues, prophecy and understanding of the deeper truths of the Bible.  Paul assures the Corinthian Church they are not lacking in any gifts as they wait for the return of Christ. This statement is to encourage the Corinthians to value their gifts and make them proud of themselves. Paul in verses 9 and 10 zeroes in on God’s faithfulness , and the promise of sustaining the community of believers. This future oriented hope offers encouragement that despite the struggles and challenges, there is hope for the believers in grand scheme of the redemption that God ‘s kingdom,  will bring to each of us as well.  Paul in verse 10 marks a transition from thanksgiving to exhortation whereby Paul appeals to the believers in the name of our Lord Jesus , leveraging the authority and unity found in Christ to address the deep divisions that is plaguing the Church in Corinth . Paul urges the members to agree and be in united in mind and judgement. 
As we reflect on today’s devotion, we see how apostle Paul addresses the division and disunity among the members of the Corinth church and perhaps what we all experience in the Churches in the modern community as well.  Paul reminds us that we are called to follow Church and focus on the gospel message and not the  foolishness in the wisdom of the world,  and how we are to transform ourselves with gratitude to be peace loving children of God. Paul clearly aims to calibrate the believers focus to the  shared identity in Christ and ultimate glory of God.

 

PRAYER

Almighty and Gracious Lord, on this Thanksgiving Day , allow us to be grateful for our identity and heritage in Christ Jesus , and be thankful for granting us the citizenship to be called as the Children of God,   this we pray in Jesus Precious Name – AMEN.

Thought for the DAY

“ No Matter what our circumstances, we find a reason to be thankful    “ . Dr. David Jeremiah 


Abraham Kurien, Immanuel Mar Thoma Church, Houston, Texas.

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