Word for the day by Christian Education Forum
ACKNOWLEDGING CHRIST BEFORE MEN.
ST. LUKE 12: 8-12
V12 “For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.
ST. LUKE 12: 8-12
V12 “For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.
The chapter begins with Jesus cautioning his disciples to be on their guard against the yeast of the Pharisees that is hypocrisy. Even as his popularity grew, so did the fierce opposition of the Pharisees and Scribes who were now more determined than ever to trap Jesus in his words and later accuse him. Jesus could sense the growing fear in the minds of his disciples and he speaks words of comfort, conviction and hope to them.
CONFESSING CHRIST:
So that they are not dominated by fear, Christ exhorts people to acknowledge him (by their word and their works) before the world. We need to confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in our hearts that God raised him from the dead. (Romans 10:9). Christ could then acknowledge us as his own (Mat.10:31) when we stand, helpless and ashamed of every sin we committed, before God and all creation! But those who consistently deny Christ in this world will be disowned by him. (Mat.25:41-46). God doesn’t force his love or his good gift of eternal life upon those who don’t want to be associated with him.
THE UNFORGIVABLE SIN:
However (as we notice later in the life of the Apostle Peter), even those who deny him on earth get a second chance on earth. But there is a kind of a sin, a blasphemy (against the Holy Spirit) that is unforgivable, says Jesus! The Teachers of the Law mischievously attributed Christ’s authenticating miracles to the Deceiver and Accuser, Satan. Seeing this, Jesus points out that speaking against the external evidences of Jesus’s deity like his miracles may be forgiven since there is the scope for misunderstanding Jesus’ words and his works. But there obviously cannot be forgiveness of sins for those who consistently resist the Holy Spirit’s loving and internal urgings and stirrings in our hearts and are too proud to ask for forgiveness from God.
HOLY SPIRIT, GOD’S PROMISE:
It’s natural for the followers of Jesus, most of whom were socially, financially and politically weak, to feel intimidated when confronted by powerful persecutors. Therefore, Jesus was to give them a Divine Resource, the Holy Spirit (John14:16,17,26; 16:7,8). Since the Holy Spirit’s mission is to “glorify Jesus” and to “lead into all the truth”, Jesus’ followers are never without help at hand. They don’t need to be anxious about defending themselves in the face of persecution as the Holy Spirit would give them the words to speak – when needed.
CONFESSING CHRIST:
So that they are not dominated by fear, Christ exhorts people to acknowledge him (by their word and their works) before the world. We need to confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in our hearts that God raised him from the dead. (Romans 10:9). Christ could then acknowledge us as his own (Mat.10:31) when we stand, helpless and ashamed of every sin we committed, before God and all creation! But those who consistently deny Christ in this world will be disowned by him. (Mat.25:41-46). God doesn’t force his love or his good gift of eternal life upon those who don’t want to be associated with him.
THE UNFORGIVABLE SIN:
However (as we notice later in the life of the Apostle Peter), even those who deny him on earth get a second chance on earth. But there is a kind of a sin, a blasphemy (against the Holy Spirit) that is unforgivable, says Jesus! The Teachers of the Law mischievously attributed Christ’s authenticating miracles to the Deceiver and Accuser, Satan. Seeing this, Jesus points out that speaking against the external evidences of Jesus’s deity like his miracles may be forgiven since there is the scope for misunderstanding Jesus’ words and his works. But there obviously cannot be forgiveness of sins for those who consistently resist the Holy Spirit’s loving and internal urgings and stirrings in our hearts and are too proud to ask for forgiveness from God.
HOLY SPIRIT, GOD’S PROMISE:
It’s natural for the followers of Jesus, most of whom were socially, financially and politically weak, to feel intimidated when confronted by powerful persecutors. Therefore, Jesus was to give them a Divine Resource, the Holy Spirit (John14:16,17,26; 16:7,8). Since the Holy Spirit’s mission is to “glorify Jesus” and to “lead into all the truth”, Jesus’ followers are never without help at hand. They don’t need to be anxious about defending themselves in the face of persecution as the Holy Spirit would give them the words to speak – when needed.
PRAYER
Loving and Compassionate God, give us the courage to be witnesses to our Lord Jesus, the clarity to distinguish between good and evil, and the confidence and the words to speak to those in power about your kingdom on earth in the power of your Holy Spirit.. Amen.
Loving and Compassionate God, give us the courage to be witnesses to our Lord Jesus, the clarity to distinguish between good and evil, and the confidence and the words to speak to those in power about your kingdom on earth in the power of your Holy Spirit.. Amen.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
The only sinners who cannot ever be forgiven by God are those who consistently reject his willingness to forgive!
The only sinners who cannot ever be forgiven by God are those who consistently reject his willingness to forgive!
ANNA VARGHESE, Christos MTC, Mulund (W), Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Christian Education Forum, Diocese of NAE of the Mar Thoma Church
Christian Education Forum, Diocese of NAE of the Mar Thoma Church