Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-

 

Education for the Transformation of Life 

Bible Reading:  1st Corinthians 1:18-25

Key verse

“But we preach Christ crucified.” — 1 Corinthians 1:23

DEVOTION

The Wisdom of God and the Education of the Cross
What is the wisdom of God? The wisdom of God is revealed in Christ. Often, the knowledge we gain from the world helps us to grow in many ways. However, for that growth to become complete, we must grow in our relationship with God and in our closeness to Christ. The crucified Christ often stands beyond the knowledge and understanding of our world.
In today’s world, our education teaches us many different values. Let us take love as an example. The values of the present world can sometimes teach us to love ourselves and, through that self-love, to push others aside or make them feel insignificant. It is precisely in such a world that we need to discover the love of the cross. The love of the cross challenges and transforms the world’s understanding of love. We live in a world where, when someone criticizes us or when we feel that we are becoming smaller in the eyes of others, we may be tempted to exclude others even our friends to ridicule them, humiliate them, or despise them. It is in such a world that the love of the cross becomes truly meaningful and valuable.
Therefore, we need a new education; an education that does not merely fill our minds with knowledge but transforms our lives. We can learn this new education from the cross. Even while Christ was hanging on the cross, being wounded, rejected, and seemingly powerless, He continued to love the person who was hanging beside Him. He offered him comfort, acceptance, and hope. This is the education of the cross. This is the love of the cross.
The love of this world often has conditions and measurements. It may say, “If you love me, I will love you in return.” But the love of Christ cannot be measured in this way. Christ’s love is unconditional and self-giving. Even while receiving wounds, Christ brings healing to our wounds. Even in His brokenness, He brings wholeness. The cross therefore teaches us a new way of living a transforming education rooted in love, forgiveness, compassion, humility, and healing.
 

PRAYER

 

Gracious and loving God, we thank You for revealing Your wisdom to us through Christ crucified. Teach us to understand the love of the cross, a love that gives without expecting anything in return. When we are wounded, help us not to wound others, but to become instruments of healing and peace. Give us humble hearts to love, forgive, understand, and care for one another. May the love of Christ transform our lives and make us a blessing to those around us.  In the name of Jesus Christ, our crucified and risen Lord, we pray. Amen.

 

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

True Christian wisdom is not about becoming greater than others, but about becoming a source of love, healing, comfort, and life to others.

Rev. THOMAS BABY 
MARTHOMA CHURCH OF LOS ANGELES & ST. ANDREWS MARTHOMA CHURCH, CA
 

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