Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-
Unity in God
Psalms 133
Vs 1 - How very good and pleasant it is when kindred live together in unity. 
We can see in Psalm 133 that how good it is when God’s people get along. This is a theme that shows up in New Testament as well. In John 13:35, Jesus says “By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” Psalm 133 is a song of Ascents; a song for going up to a high place. In ancient times, Jewish people travel to the Temple in the city of Jerusalem. They express their joy in coming together for worship at the Temple, where God promised to meet them. The Psalm conveys blessing and life to God’s people and it proclaims oneness in faith. We should live together harmoniously as friends, having one teacher, one authority and each one of us should carry the burden of the other.

We can see two comparisons; anointing oil, which flows from Aaron’s head over his beard and robes; the dew which falls from mount Hermon onto mount Zion. Moses ordained Aaron to the priesthood by anointing his head with oil (Leviticus 8:12). For Christians, the oil signifies worship, feasting and celebration in unity. Death separates people, but resurrection promises that we dwell in unity forever in Jesus Christ. God likes to bring the faithful together as a community.

The second metaphor shows that community brings prosperity to all of us. If the dew of Hermon falls on all the mountains of Zion, that will give good crops and plenty of harvest. Here the Psalmist David says that coming together benefits all of us, and resisting community can only hurt us in the end. Wherever we see brotherhood, unity and community, there the Lord will bless them.

Christianity and life on this earth must be about community; community with one another and with God. In Matthew 22:37-39, Jesus says, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it; Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Being like Christ means loving one another and existing in unity as one community. It means looking for ways to connect and build relationship with others. When we choose unity, we honor God and our brothers and sisters.
“Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers live in unity.”
 
PRAYER
Lord, we pray for a spirit of unity and togetherness in our Family, Church and Community. Amen.
 
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
Where ever we see unity, there we can see God’s blessings.
TA Mathew, Trinity MTC, Houston
Christian Education Forum, Diocese of NAE of the Mar Thoma Church

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