Word for the day by Christian Education Fy

-

 

Call to Repentance and Restoration 

Bible Reading: Joel 2 : 12-17 

Key Verse Joel 2.12 ( New Living Translation) 
Turn to Me with all your heart, with fasting , with weeping and with mourning. 

DEVOTION

Firstly let us dwell briefly on the Book of Joel and the message the Old Testament Prophet has for in today’s world . Joel was prophet to the nation of Judah which was also called the Southern Kingdom during the reign of King Joash .  Joel message is so relevant to our times and that is sin brings God’s judgement and yet God’s justice is full of mercy and love to those who are willing to turn their lives back to God. 
We focus for our brief mediation today , on Joel Chapter 2 , where there is devastating effects of the locust plague . The plague was going to happen in the lives of the  those in Judah.  They  were going to experience a crises and the locust plague was only a forerunner to greater crises that was fall on the people. 
The verses we focus today are from Joel 2 :12-17and verse 12 is the call to repentance where the Lord says that we are turn to God with all our hearts with fasting , weeping and with mourning . Our Nation celebrates National Day of Prayer in May of every year and during that time , many churches and communities come together to fast and pray for God’s healing on our lives and this great Nation so that each of us make a conscious effort to turn to God and repent for our sins.  We really do not have to wait for month of May rather we can turn to God  today , fast and pray today  that our souls will be healed and our paths changed to follow God and live a life that brings honor and glory to God. 
As we progress to verse 13 , we learn how returning to God is a step that will help us experience grace and mercy of loving God who wants us to live a life that honors and brings glory to God.  One of the aspects of healing for souls is when we fast and this fasting can lead to revival of our souls before God.  We are also asked to come to sacred assembly with other believers who are willing to return to God. The priests in the temple  are to weep between the porch and altar and cry  aloud to spare the people from the Wrath of God. 
As we commence on the Great Lent Season , this should be our prayer that we turn our hearts to God, afflict our souls with fasting and sacrifice to make this season a time of retrospection to evaluate our relationship with God and community around us.  We need to examine our lives and change our course to follow God and live for the Glory of God each day. 

   PRAYER

Almighty and Gracious Lord , as we commence the Great Lent this year , allow us to examine our ways , our thoughts , our words  and through  repentance, self-denial, and spiritual renewal to live a life that honors God in all aspects of our lives.

Thought for the day

“ Lent affords us the opportunity to search the depths of our sin and experience the heights of God's love." — Chuck Colson(1931-2012)


Abraham Kurien, Immanuel Mar Thoma Church, Houston, Texas.

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