Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-

 

Joyful Expectation of Christ’s Coming
Acts 1:6-11
v11 “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.” 

We have once again celebrated what we refer to as the Advent season culminating in the celebration of the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Many observed lent during this period to prepare their hearts for the arrival of the Christ. It is indeed an important feast for us to celebrate the manifestation of the Eternal Son in the flesh. (He emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself… (Phil2:7-8)) We should be very grateful for God who was willing to stoop down and limit Himself to the constraints of time and space. He ultimately allowed himself to be subject to the unjust rulers of this earth to “redeem us from all iniquity and purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds” (Titus 2:14).
At the same time uur prime concern should be about what is yet to come, what we can refer to as the “Second Advent”. The epistle of Titus refers to this as the “Blessed Hope”, (waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ – Titus 2:13) This is what Jesus teaches us to do. He promises he will come again and warns and encourages us to remain steadfast and be ready for that arrival. We should be diligent in good works as we live a life in anticipation for the Lord’s arrival. Just as Simeon and Anna lived in expectation of the arrival of the Messiah, we should all live our lives with the hope of the Second Coming. We recite the words during every Holy Qurbana service, “We await your second coming.”  Do we really mean these words when we say it? Are we actually anticipating the second coming? Are we even ready if He were to come today or are we so caught up in the goalposts the world has laid out for us that we don’t even have time to think about these matters?
The truth about Jesus’ second coming is that is joyful only for those who are ready. The day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. We should be ever prepared like the 10 wise virgins. The thought of his second coming should be a joyful one for the believers. When we look around and see the injustices in this world, we know that true justice and peace will be our inheritance at the return of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Let us put our faith and hope in the promise of his return.

PRAYER
Heavenly Father, we thank you for your coming to this world to save us from our sins. We thank you rose again to defeat death. We thank you for your promise that you will return to join us to you forever. Help us to live a life worthy of your Name and in preparation for your second coming. Come Lord Jesus. Amen.

Thought for the day
Lord let us prepare for second coming  which is our blessed hope.

Mr Vivin Varughese
The Mar Thoma Church Staten Island.
 
Christian Education Forum, Diocese of NAE of the Mar Thoma Church

Popular posts from this blog

Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-
  Constant, patient and welcoming love of God   St. Luke 15: 11-32  V.21: And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ The parable of the ‘Prodigal son’ is one of the most frequently quoted parables that Jesus told His disciples. The parable contains the rich mine of human virtues and emotions. This parable is lived and re-lived in progressing civilizations from time immemorial and continuing. It brings out in vivid detail the pathetic depth of human sinfulness and the glorious heights of God’s forgiveness.      As a story of human nature, fathers are generally merciful to their children in any circumstance. They are very protective and are eager to provide for and secure the lives of their offspring. Jesus is telling this parable to underscore the superlative love of God to His children. The nature of such love is reiterated by Jesus in Matthew 7:11. Humankind wh...
Read more

Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-
Revelation for Liberation Acts 27:18-26 Sherine Thomas Long Island MTC, NY 20  When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest raged, all hope of our being saved was at last abandoned. “After winter comes the summer.  After night comes the dawn.  And after every storm, there comes clear open skies” so said a Scottish clergyman from the 1600s. It’s been said, that hope can sometimes be the most dangerous weapon.  However, it’s sometimes the hardest weapon to carry when you’re living with the loss of a loved one, something that almost feels like a terrible nightmare that’ll never go away.  It’s a weapon difficult to carry when day in and day out no one seems to hear or see those tears that are shed or silent cries that are made during a heartfelt prayer. It’s a weapon difficult to carry as you see your loved one lying on that hospital bed.  It’s a weapon difficult to carry as you search and seek out answers to tel...
Read more

Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-
PRIESTHOOD: THE ANOINTED MINISTRY Exodus 40:12-16 Bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting... wash them with water. Then dress Aaron in the sacred garments, anoint him and consecrate him so he may serve me as priest (Exodus 40: 12-13). Priesthood among the people of God was a divine command and initiation. God wanted some people to be separated for the special ministry among his people. God appointed Aaron and his descendants to take up this kind of ministry among the people of God. Priests are always separated and appointed as channels that connect God with his people. All throughout the history of Israel, priests played an important role in connecting people with God and to lead and guide them in the statutes of God. But there are incidents in the Bible where the priests failed in their duties and that led the people to go away from God. So the priests have a special and significant ministry to perform in this world among his people. Two important things...
Read more