Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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 FAMILY :  PLACE  OF  FAITH  FORMATION  

Ephesians 3:14 – 21
v14, 15 - For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its name.  

Family,  which is the basic unit of  our society,  is an institution established by the will of God.  It plays a major role in the faith formation.  The future of mankind depends on family. It is the co-operators in the love of God; a covenant relationship rooted in love.  Family is called to live together with other families as a community.   The world today is being carried away by materialism, consumerism, immorality and such contemporary trends.  We as Christians need to inculcate faith values in our children and in our families.  Changing role of our schools in the secular society places new demands on Christian education and faith formation and we need to bring our children to Jesus who can provide answers to many questions and challenges that we face in our contemporary world. Proverb  22:6 says “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it”.  Our children are the heritage from God (Psalm 127). They are like arrows.  Arrows are meant for a special purpose.  Once it goes out, either it will hit the target or miss the target.  This emphasizes the need to make sure that our children are nurtured in the faith of God and making our families a place of true Christian faith formation.
 
The Epistle of St. Paul to  Ephesians contains two prayers; the first one  Ephesians 1:15-23, and the second prayer Ephesians 3:14-21.  The first prayer is for  enlightenment  and the second  prayer is for enablement for action through faith.   Through faith, Christ will dwell in our hearts, rooted and grounded in love.  Through faith , we can experience the love of Christ that surpasses all  knowledge and be filled with the fullness of God.  St. Paul through this prayer is advising us that God’s power, the power of Christ -  a  power far beyond human understanding and far beyond human measurement – is available to us.   This is the faith that we need as we walk and carry on spiritual warfare in this world.  If we want victory in this life, we must have this faith in the power of Christ in our life today.  Lack of faith, unbelief, careless living, worldliness  in action or attitude can rob us of this power.

PRAYER
  Let our families be places of faith formation, which will enable us to overcome difficulties and trials and lead a victorious life in Christ Jesus, our Lord. AMEN

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
“Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be added  unto you"

Mr Philip Jacob
The Mar Thoma Church Staten Island
 
Christian Education Forum, Diocese of NAE of the Mar Thoma Church

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