Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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Victory through humble and faithful discipleship
Bible Reading:  Zechariah 9: 9-17
  Zechariah: 9:9
Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a Colt, the foal of a donkey.

DEVOTION

Based on Zechariah 9:9-17 the concept of “Victory through humble and faithful discipleship” highlights that true victory in Christian life comes not through worldly power or mighty, but through following Jesus’ example of humility, serving others and faithfully adhering to God’s teaching, just as the prophesy describes the Messiah arriving  on the donkey, signifying a peaceful and lowly reign. 
            The prophetic message of Zechariah 9:9 is that a humble and righteous king, often interpreted as Jesus Christ will come to Jerusalem riding on a donkey, bringing salvation and peace to his people signifying a reign marked by justice and humility rather than military might. This is most notably seen in Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem fulfilling this prophecy.
What is discipleship?
God’s call to discipleship is an invitation to follow Jesus and to participate in His mission to bring salvation and transformation to the world. 
How can we achieve this? By being humble and faithful.
Humility is an utmost important characteristic of a disciple. A proud heart is an abomination to the Lord. There is a reward to anyone who humbles before God. 1 Peter 5:6 says “Humble yourself under the mighty hand of God”.
    Christian scholar and author C. S. Lewis said “A proud man is always looking down on things and people”. As a result such people lose the opportunity to neither serve others nor fulfill the purpose of God. Jesus was and is our great model who emptied Himself, taking the form of servant, obeyed God till death, showing to us that unless we are humble, we are not ready to serve others and cannot be a faithful.
Jesus is described in four ways as a king: 
This king is righteous:
Jesus was fully obedient to the will of God and He fulfilled is mission on earth accordingly
This king is victorious:
Jesus challenged Satan’s kingdom and won over sin and death as he defeated death and was raised.
This king is lowly:
The “lowly” king refers to a ruler who is humble and does not come to power with military might, but rather with Peace and gentleness.
This king was humble king:
Riding on a donkey reflects a humble king, compared to worldly kings and Alexander who rod on a chariot with multiple horses.  These are the characters of a king who is gentle and humble. 
For too many children to God are living defeated lives. A believer should not have his Christian identity on what he does for the Lord but rather who he is in the Lord that is being a humble savant. Victory comes when we lower our heads in humility, when we live a life as an over comer over pride and unfaithfulness.

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, I come before you seeking your guidance and strength to live as a true disciple, fully devoted to your will. Give me humility to recognize my own limitations and rely completely on your grace. Help me to faithfully follow your teachings even when the path is challenging and grant me the courage to overcome obstacles with humble heart. May my life be a testament to your power and love as I strive to live a life of true discipleship leading to victory through your grace.  Amen

Thought for the day

Living a life of faithful discipleship, even in seemingly small acts of kindness and service can have a significant impact on the world around us, contributing to the spread of peace and love.

MARIAM JOHN 
Epiphany Mar Thoma Church, NY

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