Word for the day Christian Education Forum

-

 Reformation based on the values of the kingdom of God 

Bible portion:1 John 2: 13-17

Vs 17: The world and its desires pass away ,but whoever does the will of God lives forever

Devotion

The heart of the Christian faith is the Kingdom of God, a realm not of this world but within us.
 Luke 17: 20-21 Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation; 21 nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.” some other versions say in the midst of you. 
Jesus spoke about the Kingdom of God in different contexts and described using metaphors. The  important elements of a kingdom are the King and subjects. 
Everyone who accepted the invitation of Jesus or whoever accepted Jesus as their King belongs to this kingdom, the Kingdom of God. God has sent Jesus for this purpose Luke 4:43
 but He said to them, “I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, because for this purpose I have been sent.” In the The Kingdom of God there is healing, peace , deliverance and the lost ones find a home and a Father. 
It's a calling on every Christian that we may  extend  this kingdom to others which Jesus had demonstrated while he was on this earth. 
Unless a person experiences the Kingdom of God within themselves they won’t be able to impact others.
In the given context of today’s meditation, one of the aspects of life that hinder us from experiencing the Kingdom of God is loving this world and the things of this world unproportionally. There is nothing wrong in enjoying earthly blessings because we believe every perfect and Good gift comes from God. ( James 1:17).Earthly blessings become a hindrance for Kingdom experience when we fail to know how to prioritize. James 1:14-15  But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. 15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. When we are diverted from our focus , we self exit from the Kingdom of God .Our father’s Kingdom is a disappointment to the earthly kingdom because where the master wash the feet of the servants , the last will be honored , the rich will be poor and those who were mourning will laugh. Though the laws  and values of the heavenly Kingdom are not weighed equally with the earthly kingdom, at the end its rewarding.
To align ourselves with the kingdom values we have to  re-examine ourselves and reinstate ourselves within the heavenly kingdom by asking forgiveness.
PRAYER
 Dear Lord, Help me to experience the Kingdom of God in its fullness within me so that I can be an instrument in your hand to spread it to others. 
Thought for the Day 
 
If you do not choose the kingdom of God, it does not matter what you choose instead.
Gordon B. Hinckley
 
 Sherly Varghese,Epiphany MTC, 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 wh...
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 tel...
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