Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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THEOLOGICAL EDUCATION: EQUIPPING THE PEOPLE OF GOD
John 12:20-26
v23 And Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.”
In verse 20, we read about a few Greeks who were likely converts to the Jewish Faith. They approached Philip to meet with Jesus. This was right after they had heard about his miracle in raising Lazarus from the dead.
Jesus responds by announcing that the hour has come for the “Son of Man to be glorified”.  The subsequent verses 23-25 paint a beautiful picture of the necessary sacrifice of Jesus. Unless a grain of wheat dies and is buried in the ground, it will not become a blade of wheat producing many more seeds. Jesus had to die to pay the penalty for our sins and to show his power over death. God does not demand our death for salvation, instead he saves all those who have accepted the glorification of Jesus. His resurrection shows that He has eternal life. Jesus can give this same eternal life to ALL who believe in HIM.
We must be so committed to living for Christ that we are willing to deny our own self-centeredness. Our hopes and our feelings about Christian service get tangled up in the success of our plans. Jesus reminds us that there is no harvest without death — the seed has to be planted and die before it can germinate and grow. Jesus submitted everything, including his fears and his friends, to the will of God. It cost him his life. It won him the harvest. What have you not surrendered to God and why?
Many believed that Jesus came only for the Jews. However Jesus assures them in verse 26, that “if anyone serves Me” (he was talking to the Greeks as well), “the Father will honor him”.
Every honor that is given to the servants of Christ is eternal and everlasting. There will always be a reward of meaningful life for anyone who submits to Christ totally, both in this life and through eternity. By laying aside our striving for advantage, security and pleasure, we can serve God lovingly and freely.  May the Holy Spirit enable us to serve and follow him wholeheartedly.
PRAYER
Forgive me, Father. I confess that I have wanted my discipleship and my ministry to be done my way. I want your will come to life in me. Please show me how to do that because I want to be an agent of your great harvest. In the name of your submissive and triumphant Son, Jesus. Amen.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
Christ centered life makes an amazing life through eternity.
Dr. Sherin Varghese, Baltimore MTC  MD
Christian Education Forum, Diocese of NAE of the Mar Thoma Church

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