Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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CHRISTIAN EDUCATION FORUM
Word for the Day
"Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path". 
Psalm 119:105

Youth: Life Focused on the Word of God
Philippians 3:1-14
V 14. I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus. 

In this scripture passage Paul points out to watch out for those who put confidence in the flesh; moreover, for the sake of Christ he is excited to lose whatever he gained from putting his confidence in the flesh. In fact, he considers everything a loss when he started knowing Jesus and got into a deeper relationship with him. He realizes that the righteousness he has gained through faith in Christ gave him the confidence to strain heavenward, where his citizenship is.

Who else should we look up to other than Jesus, regarding the importance of being with the word of God? He who humbled Himself from His godly stature to be a human, admonishes how important it is to stay close to the word of God when He was tested by the evil in the wilderness.

Below are some of the principles from the scripture that encourages us to stay focused heavenward:
1.       All scripture is God-breathed; readingit daily and meditating on it regularly equips us for the good work and helps us to stay prepared for in season and out of season.
2.      Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit; rather in humility value others above yourselves.
3.      Boast about our weaknesses in contrast to what this world teaches. This allows us to give glory to God in everything we do and in our every thought. Paul delighted in his weakness, in hardships, and in persecutions. 
4.      Live in order to please God, not people. Paul urges us to keep doing this more and more and reminds us that the word of God will be at work in whoever believes in it.
5.      Put the word of God into practice and his peace that surpasses all understanding will be with us. 
6.      Share the word of God with our children like how God commanded to Israel through Mosses, how David educated his son Solomon, and how Paul delighted in mentoring Timothy.
7.      Test ourselves whether we are in the faith. Learn to be content in every circumstance. 
All the above is succinctly put in Psalm 119. 

Finally, we should ask ourselves, what does the word of God mean to us – are they just advices to be considered or counsel to be embraced? Are we Christ devotees or his disciples?  In this warped and twisted world filled with anxiety and turmoil, can we beChrist’s hands and feet in our paths of life? Without a personal relationshipwith God and constantly focusing on his word we will lose sight of God. Like Paul, our hope should not just be for this life and we should walk in faith and not by site!

 PRAYER
Lord we thank you, for you created us and you know our inner most thoughts. Help us to not lose sight of you and help us to recalibrate our thoughts and mind every day. Help us to rejoice and praise you like Paul in the midst of hardships and take pride away from us when things are going well for us. All glory goes to you! In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. 2 Chronicles 16:9

Dr. Deepu Alex Thomas
Carmel Mar Thoma Church
 
Christian Education Forum, Diocese of NAE of the Mar Thoma Church

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