ESOCS Devotional 10 August 2023
MEMORY VERSE: “And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” Luke 10:25 NKJV
TEXT: LUKE 10:25-37 (KJV)
And then a certain lawyer arose to try (test, tempt) Him, saying, Teacher, what am I to do to inherit everlasting life [that is, to partake of eternal salvation in the Messiah’s kingdom]?
26 Jesus said to him, What is written in the Law? How do you read it?
27 And he replied, You must love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.
28 And Jesus said to him, You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live [enjoy active, blessed, endless life in the kingdom of God].
29 And he, determined to acquit himself of reproach, said to Jesus, And who is my neighbor?
30 Jesus, taking him up, replied, A certain man was going from Jerusalem down to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him of his clothes and belongings and beat him and went their way, [unconcernedly] leaving him half dead, as it happened.
31 Now by coincidence a certain priest was going down along that road, and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.
32 A Levite likewise came down to the place and saw him, and passed by on the other side [of the road].
33 But a certain Samaritan, as he traveled along, came down to where he was; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity and sympathy [for him],
34 And went to him and dressed his wounds, pouring on [them] oil and wine. Then he set him on his own beast and brought him to an inn and took care of him.
35 And the next day he took out two denarii [two day’s wages] and gave [them] to the innkeeper, saying, Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, I [myself] will repay you when I return.
36 Which of these three do you think proved himself a neighbor to him who fell among the robbers?
37 He answered, The one who showed pity and mercy to him. And Jesus said to him, Go and do likewise.
Read Yesterday’s ESOCS Devotional here
Eternity means infinity, limitless, unending, something that does not end, it continuous forever and ever and ever.This word only has expression in the super natural world where time and space are not known. In the same vein, Eternal life transcends the physical realms to the unseen world, supernatural world, spiritual world where every hidden thing has no place. Everything is clearly revealed. Here, life is no longer threatened by death or oppressive forces of will. Life means a life in Jesus Christ and death means damnation forever more. These two lives are parallel; eternity wide and apart can never meet eternally. To therefore inherit eternal life, points to that unending or everlasting Life found in Jesus alone, as ordained by God Almighty.
Intrinsically, these are the principles that can qualify a person before the allotment of this highly revered life in the supernatural world. In explaining how one can inherit the Kingdom of God, Jesus opened two angles: the physical and the spiritual.
First in Luke 10:27, the lawyer said, when Jesus asked him what is written in the law, “Thou shalt love the lord thy God with all thy heart, all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with thy entire entire mind; and thy neighbor as thyself.”Also, Jesus analyzed these further in Luke 18:20: “Thou knowest the commandment: Do not commit adultery; Do not kill; Do not steal; Do not bear false witness; Honor thy father and thy mother.”
Then comes the spiritual aspect which normal looks impossible. Jesus only told him to sell all that he, has as a rich young ruler, distribute same to the poor and come and follow him. He added and thus shall have treasure in heaven.
This spiritual as aspect is as difficult as asking a camel as big as it is to pass through the eye of a needle.
Understanding this mystery is eternity already. “How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God.”
Expository, Jesus is reminding all and summary that all material things on Earth are nothing but vanity and should not be given to much attention.
Your ability to transform vanity to eternity or your ability to convert the vanities of this world to store up treasures for yourself in Eternity is utmost importance in the gospel. For instance, some people have great wealth and riches but spend them all in enjoying the ephemeral good things of this world. The build several choice houses, choice cars, choice clothes, shoes, polish their skin, move from one entertainment to the other worldwide but just by them, neighborhood, office, church or family their brother, sister, friend, co-worker, employee, servant etc., has nothing to eat, drink, or wear or live on.
- Aspire to bear fruit for Eternal life.
- Prayer the Lord for the wisdom to live an effective Christian life.
FURTHER READING: Judges 16:23-end; Jonah 4:1-end; Luke 10:25-37; Acts 28
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ESOCS Devotional 10 August 2023
