Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-

 Sanctification of the Church

1 Peter 1: 13-19
       
The author counsels steadfastness and perseverance under persecution. He also inspires the faith community to obedience to God. Some thoughts are given below: 

1) Preparing for Obedience
In vs 13. We are called to gird up the loins of our minds being ready to obey God’s commands.  Girding up the loins of our minds means that we must do what is necessary to be ready mentally to move forward in obedience.

Our minds are saturated with untruths and not ready to obey.  We must purposely take in Bible truth, renew our minds so that we are ready to act.

We must be obedient because time is drawing near for our salvation to be made fully manifest at the coming of Jesus Christ.  When Christ returns, we want Him to find us obeying God’s commands. Be diligent now because Jesus is coming again.

2) Looking to the Perfect One to Obey
In verse 14, God tells us through the Apostle Peter that we are to be holy.  Holiness is conforming to God’s character.  Holiness also is a two-way movement in a sense.  When we are becoming holy, we are moving away from our former character and moving toward God’s character.  That’s why Peter tells us to not be conformed to our former passions but be conformed to God’s character.  The Christian, therefore, must conform his/her thinking and behavior to God’s character.

Peter then quotes from the OT, Leviticus 19:2, “You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.”.  He shows us the reason we should seek to conform our character and life to God’s.

In vs. 17, if you call on him as Father, then you are required to seek godly obedience. Vs. 19 states that we have been ransomed by a high cost, the blood of Christ. This Redemption Motivates Us to Obey. Our lives are given value by the sacrifice of Christ.
 
Prayer
Dear Lord, we have been redeemed by a great price. Help us to value your sacrifice with our obedience. Strengthen us we pray, Amen.

Aji Joel
Bethel Mar Thoma Church, Baroda

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