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Paul's Vindication of the Risen Lord
Galatians 1:11-17
Vs.15 "But when God, who had set me apart before
I was born and called me through his grace, was pleased"
Apostle Paul’s conversion on the Damascus road and his
transformation came in a flash. When Saul of Tarsus, the persecutor of
Christ’s followers, heard the voice of Christ, his eyes were instantly
opened to the truth that Jesus is the living God, and he became an
ardent disciple.
It appears he has not seen Christ in person, though he is
very much aware of his teachings. He was an observant and conservative
Jew and that is why he went out of his way and persecuted Christians.
But when he heard His voice, he believed in Him and came to know that
Christ is the way, the life and truth.
We are in a similar situation. We have not seen
Jesus personally. But we have heard his voice. His voice -the Word -
came through our parents, Sunday school teachers, priests, evangelists,
elders and the like, and above all from reading the bible.
We have been hearing the Word for so many years
according to our age, at least from our Sunday school days. Yet, many
of us have not budged a bit from our old lifestyle and mindset, like
the seeds that fell on the rock. We have closed our eyes and locked our
ears to the Word. However we will be asked on the judgment day what had
been our response to the Word all these years. It is high time to
reflect on the missed opportunities and change course.
The them for the day is “Identifying risen Lord in the
work place.” If any kind knowledge we receive dies in us or dies with
us, it is good for nothing. The purpose of knowledge is to apply for
the benefit of our as well as others’ lives. The Word is the best
knowledge we can have, because it helps us to lead a better life in
this world and an everlasting life with God in heaven.
It is a pity if the Word dies in us or with us, benefiting
none. So resurrect the Word in us and transform our lives the way
God wants. Once we begin to enjoy the peace and happiness the Word
brings, the Word will automatically flow from us to others.
Christ came to the world to redeem humankind and he seeks the salvation
of all. Towards that end we became partners of Christ.
If the Word of the Lord is stirring in us, workplace
ministry is a good place to start, since we are in everyday contact
with people around us. In this age of “politically-correct”
principles and secular ideology, the spreading of the Word at workplace
faces many obstacles, but nothing insurmountable, as Apostle Paul had
shown in his ministry.
We are either Christians or non-Christians. There is no
midway. The way we live as Christians is as important as the way we
spread the Gospel. In the workplace, one way of sharing the Gospel is
to live like a Christian, and talk like a Christian, and thus without
us uttering a word, co-workers and others will experience the love of
Christ through us. Then most probably we will get the opportunity to
talk about the Lord.
Workplace by extension is, not only the place of work
where you are paid wages, but also areas of voluntary work, schools and
campuses, and families. If all Christians diligently work for His
kingdom, the salvation of whole humankind is not far off.
PRAYER
“Lord make us your instruments to spread the Good News
to the ends of the earth.”
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
In the workplace, one way of sharing the Gospel is to
live like a Christian, and talk like a Christian, and thus without us
uttering a word, co-workers and others will experience the love of
Christ through us.
Abraham Thariath, Epiphany MTC, NY
Christian
Education Forum, Diocese of NAE of the Mar Thoma Church
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