Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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 Equipping to be Carriers of the Gospel”

Genesis 12:1-9
V 2-3“I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse, and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” 
Today’s passage reminds me of the mental agony many of us had undergone in the early days of our lives when we left our native land for migrating to the US. Even though I was excited to get into the green pastures, it started aching my feeling when the days to depart my homeland was getting closer and closer.  We had to say goodbye to our loved ones and leave behind many legacies we had cherished in our lives since birth.
Abraham (then known as Abram) encountered a similar situation. At 75, Abraham was living in Haran when God made himself known and called abraham to leave his father’s household to travel to a new land. God’s promise to Abraham that “I will make thee a great nation”, is to be seen against the physical facts prevailing at the time, in that Abraham had no child, and that Sarah, his wife, was barren! A mighty nation indeed did descend from Abraham.
Abraham was a great example of faith as he ventured off in obedience to God. What really makes Abraham special is that he obeyed God. Abraham recognized the call of the Lord and obeyed willingly, not hesitantly, and thus became a true bearer of the gospel. 
We see the working of God’s grace very early in the Old Testament. The gospel didn’t start with the life and death of Jesus but goes all the way back to Genesis. Paul tells us the gospel was preached beforehand to Abraham when God told him, “all nations will be blessed through you” (Gal. 3:8). 
Our lives should be so lived that, when we reach the end of our days, our faith, like Abraham’s, will remain an enduring legacy to others. Every Marthomite should serve as an evangelist as envisioned by Abraham Mar Thoma. 
Prayer
Dear Jesus, those who spread around the world must stay as persons who witness you and help them to be the bearers of your Gospel. Amen.
Thought for the Day
Are we carriers of the Gospel? Gospel to Jesus turns from our sins and follows Him. Turn from the world, the kingdom of darkness, sin, selfishness, hatred, and submit to the lordship of Christ, the kingdom of God, righteousness, holiness, obedience, and love.
     
Samuel K. Samuel – St. Thomas MTC, New York

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