Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-

Accepting the Savior in our Life


Betsy Mathew
Epiphany MTC, NY
17 The Lord, your God, is in your midst, a warrior who gives victory; he will rejoice over you with gladness, he will renew you in his love; he will exult over you with loud singing

Zephaniah 3:9-20 is titled “Restoration of Israel’s Remnant” in many Bible translations.  When we look at the title, a lot can be understood. Restoration of an antique means something that is broken and worn would be made to look like it was originally intended.  Remnant means “small remaining quantity”.

As believers we have a lot in common with the Remnant of Israel.  Looking around at the world and what it values today compared to what a follower of Christ should value we would feel like we are in the minority, essentially the remnant.  The Remnant of Israel was a small group set in an exiled community that continued to follow the law.

As believers in Jesus Christ we are being restored to original glory and become part of the Remnant.  The few that decide to be ambassadors for Christ living in a sinful world.  Why do we choose to become part of this remnant or what is our motivation to be apart of this small group. Because the Lord God of the universe takes great delight in us.  In Zephaniah 3:17, it says “He will take great delight in you”, “will rejoice over you with singing”.  How great is it to know that maker of the stars, planets, water and everything in it, delights in YOU.
  
He delighted so much in us, that he decided to take the wrath of sin upon himself so that we might be restored to our former glory and so He could rejoice over us with singing. Next time you are told, “all religions are the same so what is the difference”,  then we need to proclaim, that the God we worship delights in us so much that he chose to die for us, even though we did not deserve it. Simply because he chooses to rejoice over us in singing.  There is no other comparison.  All other religions desire that you must do things for god and you must delight in the god, and maybe the gods will look favorably on you.

But our God is a gracious God, that decided to save us even when we were sinners and chooses to delight and sing rejoices about us.  

PRAYER

Father God, we thank you for noticing us.  For loving us, for delighting in us.  Help us glorify you, by being set apart , a Remnant that shines for you.  Thank for restoring us to our original beauty through your son Jesus Christ.  We praise you Father for you are Lord.  We pray all this in Jesus Christ. Amen 
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
Think about your life, do you live a life with the joy knowing that the Almighty father rejoices in you today.   



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 who are evil by nature, give good gifts t
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 tell a child as to why they’ve been a
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