Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-

 

One Work, Many Servants, One God 

Bible Reading: 1 Corinthians 3:1-9 

Key verse: “The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded  according to their own labor.” 1 Corinthians 3:8 

DEVOTION

Have you ever been found comparing yourself to others, and becoming envious of what they have  achieved? Jealousy is a master at curtailing love for others and hindering the purpose of our life.  
1 Corinthians 3:1-9 is an example of how throughout the ministry of the gospel message, jealousy can  create a strong division between believers. The key to overcoming this jealousy is understanding that it  takes more than one servant to build up the kingdom of our Lord.  
With this, one should understand that each servant has a different role: Paul explains, “The one who  plants and the one who waters work together with the same purpose (v8). The one purpose we have as  believers is to bring more brothers and sisters to Christ!  
If God has called you to plant a seed in another person’s heart, obey him and plant the seed. Do not  compare your planting to someone else’s watering, because both are equally important and are a necessity  to achieving our one purpose in Christ. 

 

PRAYER

Thank you Lord God for giving us life and purpose on this Earth. Thank you for giving us a purpose  which we can work to achieve alongside your other children. We ask that you please reveal to us the  unique strengths and gifts you have given us which can help us share your message. We pray that you will  help us to overcome any challenges we may face in spreading your gospel truth. Please give us sincere  love for others, and please take away any jealousy we may ever feel in our hearts.  
In Jesus' name we pray, Amen. 

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

As you go on with your day, think about the unique gifts and strengths God has given you. Then, ask  yourself how you can use these areas of strength to bring others to Christ. Whether that strength allows  you to plant seeds or water them, you can be confident that your work will be done for a collective greater  purpose given by God. 

Christina Isaac 
St. Stephen’s Mar Thoma Church, East Brunswick NJ

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

-
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

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