Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-

 

The Resurrection that gives hope of a new life
Bible Reading:   St. Luke 24:1-12
Key Verse: 
Luke 24: 5-6; And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. 

DEVOTION

 I went to coffee with a friend and we talked about how we spent time with the Lord. She said that when driving, she would invite Him to sit in the car with her and talk. Sure, I had prayed many times in the car and spoken with the Lord, but the idea of giving Him a seat in my car and inviting His living presence in with me for conversation felt different. As I was meditating on this passage, I felt convicted by the Holy Spirit to re-evaluate my time with Jesus. Oftentimes, I feel like those women who went to the tomb looking for a dead Jesus. They have come with hearts full of love and devotion to worship at His corpse. However, they have forgotten the fundamental promise Jesus gave them- that he would once again LIVE! How often do we view Jesus as only a historical figure and spiritual icon who provides us with guidance, and remember Him fondly? These women, in their deep anguish and love for Jesus, come to His tomb seeking to honor His life and preserve His body with spices. However, they miss the truth of His resurrection and need correction to remember that Jesus is alive. That truth fills them with inexplicable disbelief and joy and drives them to share that truth with others. Similarly, we also should seek to commune with Him in the secret place daily, but should share the joy of His being alive with those around us.

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, we worship You because You are our living, breathing, powerful God! Help us to remember You are alive, filling our hearts with the living hope that comes from knowing You intimately. May we grow in love and knowledge of You as our dearest friend, alive and present with us in every moment, working in us and through us so long as we allow You to. Amen. 

Thought for the day
                                                        
Do we live as though Jesus is still in that tomb? Or do we run to the feet of Jesus and bring Him our joys and sorrows and seek to do life with Him? Find a moment and spend time in the presence of our living God today.

 Sherry Mathew
St. Peter’s Mar Thoma Church, New Jersey

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