Word for the day by Christian Education Forum
Great Grace of God and Wholistic Healing
Bible portion Acts 5:12-16Verse 16: “ A great number of people would also gather from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all cured.”
Devotional Text
Healing: After the ascension of Lord Jesus Christ to heaven, the disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. The gift of the Holy Spirit and the power of God was fully evident and tangible; in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Apostles were doing many miracles. The mighty power of God was at work and manifested everywhere. They were healing people in great numbers and they were preaching boldly the grace and salvation through the faith in Jesus Christ amidst all the shaming and physical torture by the influential leaders of the temple and society. The key elements here are the faith of the Apostles, their reliance on divine power, and the faith of people who yearned for healing.
Unity: Before crucifixion during the Son of God’s prayer to his Holy Father— which we uphold as the high priestly prayer of Jesus— one of the supplications by God the Son to God the Father was oneness with Almighty God and unity among the believers. John 17:21 "..that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us,..” In Acts 5:12, it is called out vividly, the togetherness of believers and their assembly in ‘Solomon’s Portico.’ Healing towards oneness and unity are the traits that Jesus Christ expects from us, the Church of today.
Humility: The passage teaches us that this was a time of growth for the body of Christ: v:14 “more than ever believers were added to the Lord.” Apostles were held in high esteem by the believers; their commands brought healing, their presence brought healing, and the faith of believers was so strong that people longed for even the shadow of Apostles for healing. Despite the rapid surge of believers and followers, the Apostles exemplified humility with clear understanding and tied everything back to the “Author of Life”, the God Almighty. In Act 3:12 Apostle Peter addresses the astonished believers as follows: “...Fellow Israelites, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we had made him walk?" The author of our lives wants us to be humble, be available so that He can use us for His glory, and the needs of His kingdom while we live here on earth.
Prayer
Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, help us to intercede for the needy among us, empower us to humble ourselves for Your kingdom, and enable us to intercede in faith for the holistic healing of individuals and community in your grace every moment of our lives. Amen.
Thought for the Day
What is my Faith Score today? (in North America we all are very familiar with the Credit Score and its impact on daily life).
Monish K. John
The Chicago Mar Thoma Church, IL
Healing: After the ascension of Lord Jesus Christ to heaven, the disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. The gift of the Holy Spirit and the power of God was fully evident and tangible; in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Apostles were doing many miracles. The mighty power of God was at work and manifested everywhere. They were healing people in great numbers and they were preaching boldly the grace and salvation through the faith in Jesus Christ amidst all the shaming and physical torture by the influential leaders of the temple and society. The key elements here are the faith of the Apostles, their reliance on divine power, and the faith of people who yearned for healing.
Unity: Before crucifixion during the Son of God’s prayer to his Holy Father— which we uphold as the high priestly prayer of Jesus— one of the supplications by God the Son to God the Father was oneness with Almighty God and unity among the believers. John 17:21 "..that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us,..” In Acts 5:12, it is called out vividly, the togetherness of believers and their assembly in ‘Solomon’s Portico.’ Healing towards oneness and unity are the traits that Jesus Christ expects from us, the Church of today.
Humility: The passage teaches us that this was a time of growth for the body of Christ: v:14 “more than ever believers were added to the Lord.” Apostles were held in high esteem by the believers; their commands brought healing, their presence brought healing, and the faith of believers was so strong that people longed for even the shadow of Apostles for healing. Despite the rapid surge of believers and followers, the Apostles exemplified humility with clear understanding and tied everything back to the “Author of Life”, the God Almighty. In Act 3:12 Apostle Peter addresses the astonished believers as follows: “...Fellow Israelites, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we had made him walk?" The author of our lives wants us to be humble, be available so that He can use us for His glory, and the needs of His kingdom while we live here on earth.
Prayer
Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, help us to intercede for the needy among us, empower us to humble ourselves for Your kingdom, and enable us to intercede in faith for the holistic healing of individuals and community in your grace every moment of our lives. Amen.
Thought for the Day
What is my Faith Score today? (in North America we all are very familiar with the Credit Score and its impact on daily life).
Monish K. John
The Chicago Mar Thoma Church, IL