Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-

 Call and Commission to be Christ’s Disciples

Bible Portion: 2 Corinthians 4:6

For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God's glory. 2 Corinthians 4:6
Devotion

Many people are scared of darkness and dark places. Darkness had a kind of ominous enveloping feeling and our overactive imagination would add fuel to the fire by replaying scenarios from the visuals we had from our audio-video engagements. However, we agree with the common notion that, ‘darkness is nothing but the mere absence of light.’ Often, we hear about spiritually being in the dark but what does it really mean and how can we find light? Spiritual darkness happens when a person lives apart from God or disconnects from Him. And how would we know if we are in spiritual darkness? Galatians 5: 22-23 outlines the fruits of the Spirit as love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. When we lack any one of these fruits, we find ourselves in spiritual darkness. The reason we lack these fruits is because we are not connected with our Lord. Jesus has very bluntly said He is the light of the world and whoever follows Him, will never walk in darkness. In order to remove the darkness from our lives, all we need to do is follow in Christ’s footsteps. With Jesus in front of us, our paths are illuminated, and we shall not stumble or fall. 
 
Once we have been illuminated, it is our duty to share the light we have been given. As Jesus mentioned in Matthew 5: 14-16, people don’t light lamps only to cover them; rather, the lamp gets placed on a stand so that its light spreads all around and illuminates everything as far its rays can reach. It is our choice whether we choose to be the lamp under the basket or the lamp on the stand. We have been specially chosen, called and commissioned to be Christ’s disciples. It is not an easy task but an amazing privilege. It is one thing to be chosen and called but add in the factor of being commissioned, and the act of being chosen and called takes on a whole new meaning. The word ‘commission’ originates from the Latin word ‘committere’ which means to entrust. We have been entrusted by our Lord to carry out a very particular task: to bring His light wherever darkness prevails. When we want to entrust a task, we don’t hand it over to anyone but only to those whom we know we can trust to see the task to its intended end result. So, these people have to be specially chosen for the task. We have been uniquely selected, called, and commissioned to be Christ’s disciples.
 
Prayer
O Lord, open our hearts so that we may recognize our calling and commission. Help us to receive Your light and be illuminated to drive away the spiritual darkness that prevails in each one of us. Help us to be lighted so that we may lighten others. May Your goodness and mercies be with us all the days of our lives. Amen.
Thought for the Day
What fruits of spirit I have, and which ones are lacking. How can I nurture them and acquire the ones I lack

Susan Cherian Varghese
Epiphany Mar Thoma Church New York

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 who are evil by nature, give good gifts t
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 tell a child as to why they’ve been a
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