Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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 Call and Commission to be Christ’s Disciples

  Bible portion:  Isaiah 56:1-8

    "Maintain justice, and do what is right, for soon my salvation will come and my deliverance be revealed."   (Isaiah 56:1)
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Devotion

Once a famous Christian leader was asked a question "why did Jesus select Judas Iscariot? He replied, "I do not know; it is even more surprising that He did select me into His Service". Today's text from Prophet Isaiah shows us how God wants to treat everyone equally and be His disciple. God shifts focus from sin against Him to sin against the Vulnerable like the Gentiles, foreigners and Eunuchs. Here people are told to correct their life's perspective, which is a special concern of God. The perspective is to engage with justice through compassion. The justice and compassion which is extended to the people of Israel and Judah must be extended to others like gentiles, foreigners and Eunuchs. This righteous approach to others must be cultivated in everyday life. Through powerful themes in Isaiah 56:5 we learn that God will give a place to the strangers and eunuchs in the temple. Our lives as followers of Christ and as churches should be marked by prayer, justice and compassion. The everlasting covenant is not about exclusion it is about inclusion. According to Marsha Forest: "Inclusion is belonging to one race the human race".

Compassion towards all human being is part of our calling and enables us to see the lost through the eyes of Jesus to lead them to the Lord. The Great Commission recorded in Mathew 28:18-20 is the call of Christ to His disciples to extend His authority over the whole world. Christ calls us to make disciples and lead a disciple’s life.  In Luke 14:26, it says “Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, cannot be my disciple.” Disciples are people who have whole heartedly committed to follow the thinking and conduct of the master. Will you listen to His call and Commission to be Christ's disciples and make your life about magnifying His name and sharing the message of His Goodness?
Prayer
Lord, Sanctify and make us Holy. Help us to be your disciples and be transformed into your image. Keep us faithful and may your name be glorified in everything we do. Amen
Thought for the Day
Thought for the day: The inclusion of God's love has no condition or stipulations. God loves a person just as they are.
                                                                                                                               
 Mariam John
Epiphany Mar Thoma Church, New York.

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