Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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Lent: A Time of Transformation
Ezekiel 18:25-32
Vs 31 - Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit.
It’s not uncommon that our family “name” carries weight in society. Think of the great names in United States history (e.g., Kennedy, Carnegie, Ford, Rockefeller). Each of these names carries a history and with it, a set of expectations. Our names are no different. I recall often for my cousins when there was a potential marriage proposal, everyone wanted to know as much about the “family” as they did about the specific individual that my cousin could be marrying. There is some clear benefit in this. One can understand something about the principles, values, and potential of an individual given their family. Our family name carries significance. Interestingly, we also rely on our own Christian heritage to support our place in Christian society and in God’s eyes. However, can we stand on the shoulders of those gone before us in the eyes of God? Do we earn credit because of the faith and life of our ancestors? Yes and no. We are befitting from the blessings God has bestowed upon our families but we are to stand on our two feet in the eyes of God as an individual. This passage from Ezekiel makes that clear. God is speaking to his people across generations about individual sin and righteousness. As God says, “The righteousness of the righteous man will be credited to him, and the wickedness of the wicked will be charged against him (v. 20)….therefore, you Israelites, I will judge each of you according to your own ways...” (v. 30). During this lent season, while we reflect, as a collective body, upon Christ on the Cross, let us remember that we are to stand as individuals before God. Daily, you and I must individually come to the cross, repent of our offences and remain in Christ (John 15) so that we will gain a new heart and spirit. Let us use the lent season to transform ourselves daily into the person that God has intended us to be.
 
PRAYER
: “Dear Father, help us to reflect upon the cross this lent season and to come to you with a broken heart and spirit for you to make anew. Remind us that we are blessed as a people because of our families but we are to stand on our own for our salvation and sanctification”
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
"The wonderful news is that our Lord is a God of mercy, and He responds to repentance.” Billy Graham.
Anil Chacko
Christian Education Forum, Diocese of NAE of the Mar Thoma Church

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