Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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Ordained Ministry: Call to be sacrifice

Bible Reading:  John 3:25-30 (KJV)

Key verse:  30

“He must increase, but I must decrease” John 3:30

DEVOTION

A priest’s life is marked by humility born out of a complete surrender to His will, following Jesus who “humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross” (Philippians 2:8).  
Just like John, all Christ’s ministers should acknowledge the pre-eminence and sovereignty of God. God prepared good works in advance for us to do (Ephesians 2:10), but none of us has any ability or gift to boast about because they are all given by God to equip us for His task (1 Corinthians 15: 10–11). Paul declared that he preached nothing but Christ, which is the fundamental duty of ordained ministry. By Jesus’ sacrifice we have entry into the royal priesthood of believers. We have become children of God, co-heirs with Christ. Irrespective of whether we consider ourselves a part of the priesthood of believers or are ordained to the sacramental office of priesthood, we are all bound by the will of God (1 Corinthians 4:7). 
The resplendent robe of the priest at the altar is symbolic of the wedding garment that will admit us to the wedding feast of the Lamb. His garments of salvation (Isaiah 61:10) are worn to serve – putting on Christ who came not to be served, but to serve (Mark 9:35). “He must increase but I must decrease” is the maxim embodied by ordained ministry. As a faithful shepherd leading his flock, the priest puts off pride and ego, becoming a living sacrifice, showing his sheep the hope of a day in His kingdom when the wolf will live with the lamb and the leopard will lie down with the goat (Isaiah 11:6).

PRAYER

Dear God, help us to present our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to You. Renew our minds that we may be transformed to do your perfect will.

Thought for the DAY

“Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the Lord. Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens” Lamentations 3:40-41

Nancy Maliacal
St. Mathew’s Mar Thoma Church, Toronto, Canada.

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