Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-

 

God’s Promise of Healing and Restoration. 

Bible Reading:  Jeremiah 33:6-11

Key Verse : Jeremiah 33:8  The sounds of joy and gladness, the voices of bride and bridegroom, and the voices of those who bring thank offerings to the house of the Lord, saying, “Give thanks to the Lord Almighty,  for the Lord is good ;His love endures forever “ .  For I will restore the fortunes of the land as they were before “ says the Lord ( New international Version) 

DEVOTION

Firstly as an introduction to today’s  reading, in the Book of Jeremiah we are given to understand the destruction of Jerusalem from the Babylonian invasion. Jerusalem was annihilated. Men, women and children were carried away as slaves as the Babylonian army completely devasted Jerusalem and desecrated the temple in the invasion. One of the captives who was carried away was young Jewish slave Daniel who later wrote an entire Book in the Old Testament. God would restore Jerusalem not because the people cried and wept in captivity but because its all part of God’s great plan .  Jerusalem suffered deadly destruction however God will restore the city to its former glory. Thus we see a God full of justice and mercy whose mercies are new every morning as it says in the Book of Lamentation 3:22-23.
Today’s devotional is from Book of Jeremiah 33:6-11. We read in verse 6 that God will nevertheless bring health and healing to the land of Jerusalem that was completely annihilated and scores of dead bodies lay strewn all the over the land. God’s  wrath was on display as death and destruction was all over  in the city of Jerusalem. God assurance comes forth in verse 7 when God indicates that both  the lands of Judah and Israel will be restored from captivity and completely restored to how they were before.  God says in verse 8 that God will cleanse them from their heinous sins and forgive them of rebellion against God Almighty.  We read further in verse 9 that God’s goodness and greatness in restoring the ruined cities will be acclaimed all over the world,  as people experience the transformation of these desolate and ruined cities.  Today’s reading concludes with verse 11 which I have also chosen as the key verses for today whereby  people rejoice and loudly say ‘ Give Thanks to the Almighty for the Lord is good and God’s love endures for ever’.  
This first week of the Great Lent Season , are we ready to loudly rejoice like the  people of Israel and Judah,  to give thanks to God Almighty for restoring us and bringing us back from our state of ruin and destruction.  Are we experiencing the transformation in our lives from the state of hopelessness , are we experiencing a sense of newness , a sense of well being , a sense of tasting complete revival and wholesomeness. That is what happens when we trust in God to restore us from our state of ruin and destruction. .  The Book of 2 Corinthians 5 :17  says ‘ Therefore if anyone is in Christ , he is new creation, the old has passed away , the new has come’ . Let this Lent Season be one of newness for each of us as we lean and rely on God who looks forward in restoring us  to wholesome relationship with God Almighty. 

   PRAYER

Almighty and Gracious Lord , enable us experience the newness and richness of restored life in Jesus this Lenten season , we pray in Jesus name – Amen. 

Thought for the day

“ I am fallen, flawed and imperfect. Yet drenched in the grace and mercy that is found in Jesus Christ, there is strength for new day  “. – Adam Young. 

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