Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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 Jesus Christ who includes All

Bible Text : Psalms 87 

TThe Lord loves the gates of Zion , more  than all other dwelling places of Jacob ‘ 
Psalms 87 :2
Firstly a quick background , this Psalm written by one of the Sons of Korah is titled ‘ The Privileges of Citizenship of Zion ‘ and is essentially a song. This is one Psalm that clearly addresses Zion ( The Holy mountain Jerusalem and its temple) which represents the future community of all believers. The Psalms  helps us look with optimism  to the Holy City of God  as described in the Book of Revelations 21:10-27. The privilege and honor of being citizen of Zion will be to all those names are recorded in the Lamb’s book of Life ( Book of Revelation 21: 27 ) .  We have to understand that this privilege is granted purely by God’s grace and nothing we deserve or entitled to in this life, and it rightly ties to the theme for this month and that it is Jesus Christ who includes all of us to be part of the future community of believers in Zion .
The first three verses which is also selected as the Key Bible Verse for today is perhaps the most important verses in this short Psalm where the sons of Korah sings the praises about the  City of Zion which is described as the place that the Lord loves among all other dwelling place in entire land of Israel and City of Zion is always spoken highly among all the people . Thus as aspiring citizens of the City of Zion , its our very prerogative in life to live our lives that will help us earn the coveted ‘ seat on the table ‘ in the City of Zion.
The next verse 4-5  discuses how all the enemies of God ( Rahab) will bow to God and the annihilation and destruction we read in the final battle of Armageddon in the Book of Revelation, thus as much as we see evil and evil perpetrators reigning in the world around us today , its question of time , before the enemies of God will be destroyed for ever as the City of Zion establishes itself under the supremacy of an Almighty God.  The next verse ( 6)  tells us that God will register His People and for those who have entered into relationship with God , know that is only through the blood of Jesus that one gets to enter in the Kingdom of God . Jesus tells rich ruler  in John Chapter 3 that there is no other means or ways to the Kingdom of God except by blood of Jesus.  We see similar references to the celebration of Passover. King Pharaoh  refused to set the children of Israel free and King had a change of heart only when the innocent children were killed . The blood was splattered on the doorsteps and that was the only way the children of Israel was spared as death and destruction struck the entire dominion under Pharoah .  We have to washed by the blood of Jesus to find ourselves eligible to be citizens of City of God ( Zion). As we look at the last verse ( 7) in this Psalms we can only rejoice as there will be singing and playing of flutes and this has the reference to the those who will be in the city of Zion will be singing praises of our Almighty God, where there will  be ‘springs of joy’ and rejoicing.
May God bless each to be counted as citizens in the City of Zion.. 
 
Prayer
Lord , we humbly confess that our lives are far from the righteous lives that you have called us to be , we have erred and fallen short of the Glory of God but we are inspired as we see in the theme for this month that God loves each one of us and earnestly awaiting for each one of us to be citizens of City of Zion on that glorious and marvelous day .. 
 
Thought for the Day
“ Glorious things of thee are spoken , Zion , City of our God  “ - John Newton 
Abraham Kurien, Immanuel Marthoma Church, Houston, Texas.

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