Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-

 LIVING TO PLEASE GOD

(Virtue of Life)
Acts 24:10-21
 

We believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus, those who have fallen asleep in Him. Colossians 3: 1-4 says, “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.” If we have been raised with Christ, we will also appear with Him in glory.

We have our Great Commission. How are we to live a life that is governed by the heavenly triumph that is hidden with CHRIST in GOD? How do we set our minds on things above and not on things on the Earth? Once, we like the disciples, have encountered the risen Lord personally and repented for our unbelief, how does God want us to follow Him?

Jesus Christ set forth the plan with Great Commission in St. Mark 16: 15 and 16 - He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

Jesus asks His people to be like Him, to dedicate their lives to do the will of the one who sent them, just as He spent His life obeying Father’s will. The Gospel is Christ’s message brought by Christ’s people in Christ’s power. It calls the disciple to a life of complete surrender and total engagement. St. Mark 8: 34 and 35 says – Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 35 For whoever wants to save their life[a] will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it.

Let us take up our cross daily. Every moment let there be the definite understanding that we belong to CHRIST who died for us. As we look to Him, we see the light of heaven behind Him, that his cross comes as a shadow over us. We see light, first of all, then that which demands that we follow his way, that we put SELF to DEATH, that we allow him to rule and that we determine that Christian life is not the simple, easy little thing, but a life in which we stand up to be counted.

But when we look ahead to the day when Christ returns and is established on His throne, we know it is all worthwhile. We have the sweet blessing of His fellowship in the present, the certain confirmation of all that is to come. We are not home yet. When we learn this fact, we won’t expect too much from their world. We learn that we go out and live our lives and live them by grace. That is what Jesus did. He came not to be served, but to serve and give His life as a ransom for many. Let Paul’s words to the Philippians encourage us to have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.

When we receive Christ as Savior, we receive a new life – a resurrected life. When we receive his new life, we are called to take up our cross as He did. As we share his sufferings, we share in the fulfillment of His purpose – men and women might know him as their Savior and Lord. Finally, when the time has fully come, we will share in his glory. The King of Glory, though clothed in servants’ garments, is our constant companion. Lord, gladly do we forsake everything to follow you. You come first, then we get home. ‘You will give us what is right’

Prayer

Dear God, help us to follow you incessantly without letting the temptations and challenges of the world affect us. Amen

Mr. Varughese P. Varughese
The Mar Thoma Church, Staten Island

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