Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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Priests called to be imitators of Christ
Psalms 101
I will look with favor on the faithful in the land, so that they may live with me; whoever walks in the way that is blameless shall minister to me.  Psalms 101:6 (NRSV)
In the Old Testament, the people of Israel are told by God that they are to be a “priestly kingdom and a holy nation” (Exodus 19:6).   In this Psalms we see David trying to fulfill that role.  David knew that his position as King was a gift from God, and he had a responsibility to use that position, not for his own benefit, but to spread the mercy and justice of God to other people.  
    
David studied the word of the Lord (Psalms 101:2), he practiced the justice that God wanted him to have in his professional life as king and also in his personal life at home (101:2). But David was not content that he had a personal relationship with God (I will sing of loyalty and of justice; to you, O Lord, I will sing. – Psalms 101:1). David wanted all of Israel to have a have a personal relationship with God, he brought the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem and wanted to build a temple for God so that all of Israel would have a proper place to worship God.
    
David understood that God wanted a community where everyone had a personal relationship with God (Jeremiah 31:34).  David avoided those people that “secretly slanders a neighbor” or had an “arrogant heart” (101:5) because he knew that these people would destroy the loving a caring community that God wanted to created. Instead, he wants people that “walks in the way that is blameless to minister to me (101:6).”  Similar to what Paul wrote to the Romans in Romans 1:12, when he realized that they can be “mutually encouraged by each other’s faith,” David realized that others faithful to God can be a blessing to his just as much he is to them.  
    
Throughout the Bible we are called to be a priests and imitators of Christ.  We are called to realize that God has blessed us and we should use those blessings to help other people. We are called not to be arrogant but supporting. We are called to have a personal relationship with God and to help others also have a personal relationship with God.  We need to understand that by living a Christian life we can mutually support and encourage each other.  May God enable us tall o be a royal priesthood and imitators of Christ.
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, Help us to be a royal priesthood and imitators of Christ.  Help us to bear our cross and love and support those around us.  Amen.
 
Thought of the day
“Jesus has now many lovers of the heavenly kingdom but few bearers of His cross.” ― Thomas à Kempis, Imitation Of Christ

Rev. Shibi Abraham
MTC South Florida

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