Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-
AS FOR ME AND MY FAMILY

Joshua 24: 14-22
‘If you are not willing to serve him, decide today whom you will serve, …….As for my family and me, we will serve the Lord’. (Joshua 24: 15)
The book of Joshua begins with events right after the death of Moses, with God’s call to Joshua as the new leader, followed by many historic incidents such as the conquest of Canaan, distribution of land, Joshua’s farewell address, establishing of a covenant with God and ending with Joshua’s death. Joshua means ‘God saves’. As the right hand man to Moses, he was a great warrior as well as a spiritual leader and most importantly ‘a servant of God.’

Decide today whom you will serve… (24: 15): Joshua at the age of 110 years, wanted to make sure that the new generation of Israelites would continue to remember their history and be obedient and faithful to the God who brought them to the Promised Land. Knowing well how easily they forget their blessings and rebel against God, he turned to the people and said,’ Decide today whom you will serve’…giving them a conscious choice to decide to serve the Lord who had proved his trust or to serve the local gods. This was a very bold call for individual choices, especially in the context of the Old Testament. Then he turned and stated his choice ‘As for my family and me, we will serve the Lord ’. Then all the people boldly claimed that they would never forsake the Lord. ‘We will serve the Lord our God and obey him’ (verse 24). Joshua’s faithfulness and obedience to God as well as his spiritual leadership encouraged his people to make the right choices.

Family—A divine gift: As Joshua advised the Israelites in the Promised Land, we the Diaspora community enjoying the bounties of our new land, need to be mindful and intentional in passing our spiritual values to our future generations. What do we learn from Joshua’s farewell message? Choices: We often replace God as the center of our lives with idols that give us false security and happiness. These idols may be wealth, career, education, technology or pleasure. Following Christ in a world filled with such other choices becomes a challenge. In the gospel of Mathew, Jesus said we cannot serve two masters. We have to choose. Faith: Joshua, one out of the twelve spies sent out to Jericho believed in God’s promise and disagreed with the other ten opposing voices. Consequently, he and Caleb were the only ones allowed to enter the Promised Land. Joshua left a strong legacy of faith.

Prayer: Dear Jesus, help me to make the right choice, to remember your blessings and leave a legacy of faith to our children. Amen

Nirmala Abraham, Philadelphia

















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