Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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 WORSHIP - which gives perfection to personhood

Romans 8:31-39
V35“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?”

Worship or Aradhana, per Google, is defined as the feeling or expression of reverence and adoration for God. To that, I would also add worship can be an action, a reaction, and even sometimes no action.
Let’s look at what the Word of God tells us in Romans chapter 8 verses 31 to 39. This portion is well known by all. There are multiple declarations by St. Paul reminding us of the firm foundation that we stand on.
            - If God is for us, who can be against us?
          - God’s unchanging love for His people led to the greatest act of love
            - We are justified by God
            -  Jesus intercedes for us
             - Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?
We are more than conquerors

I always wondered to myself, with all the promises and the eternal love that I am continually showered with, how may I, a tiny speck on God’s marvelous creation, worship my Creator. We see in Luke 19:40, “I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out,” 1st Chronicles 16:33 “ Then the trees of the forest will sing for joy before the LORD …” and so many more ways creation worships its Creator. How may I worship my Lord, with my life?
Worship in Prayer (Prarthanayil Aradhana)
As we all know, Prayer is the highest form of worship. The act of praying allows us to walk with Him, hear Him, talk to Him, be with Him, taste Him in every walk of our lives. As a mom, there’s nothing more that gives me happiness when my children choose to spend time with me, choose to share their experiences, fears, and joys with me. This is the same in any relationship. What better way for us to worship our Lord than to be in prayer and communion with Him. 

Worship with your Wisdom (Budhi Ulla Aradhana) 
We are told in the story of the 10 virgins, that, all ten virgins started with the same facts and information but only five were wise enough to be prepared. This implies more towards the inward preparation of one’s heart. Are we equipped to handle any curveball that life throws at us? Are we worshipping our Lord using His given wisdom and making the right choices?

Worship in Firm Faith (Urrapulla Aradhana)
We see in Hebrews 11:21; that by Faith Father Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons, and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.” Does our faith have a foundation so firm that it does the talking and the walking? 

Worship through Self Reformation (Rupanthrathinte Aradhana) 
We all believe to be under the conviction of the Holy Spirit but are we truly converted. Do we fall in the category of an inward church, which is always self-reflective, constantly seeking to know the Lord and submitting to changes? Our Church – The Mar Thoma Church is known to be a church of Reformation. Are we allowing ourselves to be converted, changed, broken, and reformed as willed by our Lord? 
Worshipping will then reveal the worshipper as a New Being in Christ, who is brought to perfection in character. We only need to offer ourselves in worship and our Lord will refine us to what He intended us to be.
Can we join St. Paul and declare; “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” 
Let’s submit ourselves and worship our Lord in Prayer, with Wisdom, in Firm Faith, and through Self Reformation.
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Prayer

Loving Father. We praise you; We adore You; We Glorify You. Father provide us the wisdom, courage, and discernment; so that our every action may exalt Your Wondrous Ways, our every reaction may Glorify Your Holy Name, and even in our silences and stillness we testify Your Greatness. Amen


Thought for the Day

 I leave you all with a quote by Beth Moore, “This is our time on the history line of God. This is it. What will we do with the one deep exhale of God on this earth? For we are but a vapor and we have to make it count. We’re on. Direct us, Lord, and get us on our feet.”

Mrs. Reena Joseph-Adarsh (Nisha)
Mar Thoma Congregation, Minneapolis, MN

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