Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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Christ is the Lord and God for us
Genesis 28:10-22 
Vs. 13-14: "And the Lord stood beside him and said, “I am the Lord , the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring; and your offspring shall be like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south; and all the families of the earth shall be blessed in you and in your offspring." 
As we are going through this season of uncertainty and confusion because of the pandemic, there are many questions and doubts which can easily come to one's mind. It is easy because that is the nature of mankind. We see it repeatedly in scripture, God continually blesses His people yet in the times of trial, we lose faith and start to doubt God and His will for us. In Genesis 28, we see Jacob having a vision from the Lord where He reminds him the promise which He made with his forefathers. God promised to bless Abraham, " I will indeed bless you, and I will make your offspring as numerous as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of their enemies, and by your offspring shall all the nations of the earth gain blessing for themselves, because you have obeyed my voice”(Genesis 22:17-18NRSV). Jacob's dream is the continuation of Abraham's promise and a reminder to Jacob. We see through this dream the promise of Christ blessing the nation. God promised to bless Abraham and his descendants. They just didn't know that this promise was a promise of salvation through Christ. So, how does all of this connect to us and our struggles? The answer is similar to what we have read. We are reminded like Jacob that our God keeps His promises. He has told us that there will be struggles in the walk as Christ followers. We are repeatedly told to carry the Cross or to place God before our own lives. However, these are all very difficult things to do if we are not walking with Him 24/7, 365 days a year. There is a reason why Paul tells us to pray without ceasing. In the midst of this uncertainty, we need to remind ourselves that Christ is the Lord our God. He will always keep His promises and that this world and its afflictions are temporary. As Christ followers, we need to be like the wise bridesmaids and prepare ourselves for the day when Christ comes to restore this world and the mess that it is currently.
 
PRAYER
Dear Lord, we pray that even when life is not going according to our plans, we take refugee in you and your promises. You are our God and our Lord. In you we find comfort and peace. In Jesus' name we pray Amen.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
"There are only two kinds of people: those who say to God, ‘Thy will be done,’ and those to whom God says, ‘All right, then, have it your way.’”
- by CS Lewis in “The Great Divorce” 

Lijo Chacko, Long Island MTC, NY
Christian Education Forum, Diocese of NAE of the Mar Thoma Church

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