Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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Lent: a call for us to believe in Him
Romans 11:13-24
Vs 17 -If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root.  
We have now entered into another season of the Great Lent.  The Lenten season is a time where we commemorate on the ultimate sacrifice; when the Son of the Most High, gave Himself up for His bride, the Holy Church.  By His divine plan, the Lord sent His son to redeem us by giving Himself on the cross, thereby giving us eternal life.  Saint Paul is bringing this divine invitation to all gentiles, so that they can turn away from their ways and ask for mercy, in order to receive the precious gift of salvation.  We have to make sure that our hearts aren’t hardened, and that we don’t become rebellious just as the Israelites did in their journey. 

As it is recorded in the passage, it is vital for us to not consider ourselves superior to others or allow ourselves to fall apart as some of the generations of Abraham had fallen off from the “tree”, as mentioned in the passage. The blessings promised to the children of Abraham are being made available to the whole world. So, lets be inspired by history and be cautious about being broken off from the tree.  Verse 22 reminds us that “He is severe toward those who disobeyed, but kind to you if you continue to trust in his kindness. But if you stop trusting, you also will be cut off”.  God is willing to transform our lives, it is up to us to believe and trust in Him, so we may be considered faithful to His call and purpose in our lives.  Our Lord’s invitation is still waiting; it is call to make our first step in faith by turning away from our lives by trusting and fully believing in Him.  We cannot hope in Him without having faith in Him, and we cannot have trust in Him, without believing in Him.

When we come before His throne of grace and mercy, our attitudes and our mentalities should be the same as the Publican (Luke 18:13).  Let us be reminded to humble ourselves before the sight of the Lord.

During this Great Lent, let us examine our prayers, our walk, our deeds, and our words.  Let us pause and see if we are being fruitful through our actions as He commanded us in the Garden of Eden.  Does celebrating His resurrection and observing the Great Lent year after year, equip us to serve Him with the right attitude?  May our prayers be like the publican’s prayer who cried out“…O God, be merciful to me for I am a sinner”. 
 
PRAYER
Lord we come before you acknowledging our unworthiness to be in your presence. We pray that you have mercy upon us just as you had compassion on the blind man who cried aloud; “Son of David, Have Mercy on Me”. Amen  
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
God is willing, are we willing to turn to him?
Shan Mathew, Christos MTC, Philadelphia
Christian Education Forum, Diocese of NAE of the Mar Thoma Church

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