Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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 God’s people to be prepared for witness

2 John: 1-13
“And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.” (Vs 6)

As Christians, we have been hand-picked and divinely selected to witness and share the Gospel to those around us. All throughout the Scripture, we can see God’s people responding to the call to be a witness in order to declare and spread the redeeming power of Jesus and the salvation we can receive through Him. Our everyday lives should be a testimony of God’s grace and portray that we are God’s children- we are set apart, saved and purified because of who we are. 1 Peter 2:9-10 depicts our calling by saying, “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” Our role as witnesses is to share all that we have experienced, so God can change our hearts.

As we witness and listen to others, we may come to the realization that being a witness and being aware go hand-in- hand. We become aware of God’s presence at work in us and in the world around us. This initiates a sacred invitation to recognize the Omnipotent presence of Christ in our seemingly ordinary life.

However, many of us have fears that keep us from confidently proclaiming the Gospel. We fear rejection from others, we fear offending others and we fear overstepping boundaries. When fears arise, we should turn to the comforting and encouraging words from Isaiah 55:11, “so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.”

It is one thing to witness the teaching of God by verbally sharing the Good News of Christ, it is another to be a living witness- embodying grace, forgiveness, kindness and compassion even when it does not come easily. Our life and example should unify others, rather than seek division and strife. By living for Christ in our everyday lives, we become vessels for God’s transformative mission in the world- the way Christ intends it to be.
 
Prayer
O Lord Heavenly Father, guide us to be witnesses for Christ to our friends, family, work and communities. In moments of fear, give us impactful words to save and actions to take to lead more people closer to you. We pray that all those who yearn to know You may encounter You through the faithful who witness.  Amen.
 
Thought for the day
“You are My witnesses,” says the Lord, “And My servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe Me, and understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, nor shall there be after Me.” Isaiah 43:10 (NKJV)
 
Divya A Mathew
Carmel MTC, Boston

Christian Education Forum, Diocese of NAE of the Mar Thoma Church

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