Word for the day by Christian Education Forum
Jesus Christ, who redeems all
Acts 11:1-18
If then God gave the same gift to them as he gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God's way?” Acts 11:17
Devotion
If then God gave the same gift to them as he gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God's way?” Acts 11:17
Devotion
The word ‘entitlement’ can be defined as the belief that one is inherently deserving of privileges or special treatment. Often the sense of entitlement and feeling of superiority go hand in hand. This was very much the case of the Jewish people who lived with the sense of superiority and entitlement as ‘God's chosen people’. As God's own people, they considered themselves special and set apart from the rest of the world and believed that salvation belonged only to them and no one else. However, Jesus shattered these barriers and made the kingdom of God available to anyone who chose to believe in Him. This must have been a huge shock to the crowds who heard Jesus as He was claiming the kingdom of God was open to all who chose to follow Christ.
Peter must have also lived with a sense of entitlement and superiority as a disciple of Jesus. After all, Jesus had designated Peter as the ‘Rock’ on which He would build His church and as a ‘Fisher Of Men’. Naturally, Peter felt special not only as a Jew but even more so as Jesus’ disciple.
God humbled Peter through a vision as described in Acts Chapter 10. Through the vision, God showed Peter that all of His creation is special and worthy. Peter realized then that what he had been given was a gift that was to be shared freely. Peter did not incur any cost to receive this gift, then how could Peter decide who should or should not receive what had been given to him freely?
Through his vision, God was preparing Peter to lose his sense of entitlement and freely spread the Gospel to anyone who might be willing to receive it. Cornelius was such a man who was eagerly waiting to receive the Gospel and had sent men to Peter. Peter went to Cornelius, shared the good news and all who heard Peter's message received the Holy Spirit. When the circumcised believers heard what had happened, they became upset because what they had considered a precious commodity was now being given to anyone who believed. When they realized God does not show favoritism, they became upset with Peter for sharing the Gospel that only they had a right to know about. What they did not realize was that the Gospel was a gift from God. Peter pointed out to them that it was God's will to freely give everyone the gift of salvation and Peter, having enjoyed the gift from God, chose to share.
As a Christian, it is our duty to share the gift we have been given. We all have faults within us. We are all fractured and broken in our own ways, but it is the love of God and His willingness to look past our shortcomings that makes us worthy to receive the gift of eternal life. We are all familiar with the motto of the Mar Thoma Church which is ‘Lighted to Lighten’ and so as Marthomites, we need to freely share the gift of the gospel with others. During this Lent season, let us strive to share the gift we have been given and spread the light within us.
Peter must have also lived with a sense of entitlement and superiority as a disciple of Jesus. After all, Jesus had designated Peter as the ‘Rock’ on which He would build His church and as a ‘Fisher Of Men’. Naturally, Peter felt special not only as a Jew but even more so as Jesus’ disciple.
God humbled Peter through a vision as described in Acts Chapter 10. Through the vision, God showed Peter that all of His creation is special and worthy. Peter realized then that what he had been given was a gift that was to be shared freely. Peter did not incur any cost to receive this gift, then how could Peter decide who should or should not receive what had been given to him freely?
Through his vision, God was preparing Peter to lose his sense of entitlement and freely spread the Gospel to anyone who might be willing to receive it. Cornelius was such a man who was eagerly waiting to receive the Gospel and had sent men to Peter. Peter went to Cornelius, shared the good news and all who heard Peter's message received the Holy Spirit. When the circumcised believers heard what had happened, they became upset because what they had considered a precious commodity was now being given to anyone who believed. When they realized God does not show favoritism, they became upset with Peter for sharing the Gospel that only they had a right to know about. What they did not realize was that the Gospel was a gift from God. Peter pointed out to them that it was God's will to freely give everyone the gift of salvation and Peter, having enjoyed the gift from God, chose to share.
As a Christian, it is our duty to share the gift we have been given. We all have faults within us. We are all fractured and broken in our own ways, but it is the love of God and His willingness to look past our shortcomings that makes us worthy to receive the gift of eternal life. We are all familiar with the motto of the Mar Thoma Church which is ‘Lighted to Lighten’ and so as Marthomites, we need to freely share the gift of the gospel with others. During this Lent season, let us strive to share the gift we have been given and spread the light within us.
Prayer
Dear Lord, help us to realize the value of the gift we have received through your Son. We thank you for your mercies and ask that you instill in us the desire to freely share your gospel. Amen.
Thought for the Day
Love is the greatest gift that God has given us. It's free. - Taraji P Henson
Susan Cherian Varghese
Epiphany Mar Thoma Church
Dear Lord, help us to realize the value of the gift we have received through your Son. We thank you for your mercies and ask that you instill in us the desire to freely share your gospel. Amen.
Thought for the Day
Love is the greatest gift that God has given us. It's free. - Taraji P Henson
Susan Cherian Varghese
Epiphany Mar Thoma Church