ESOCS Devotional 11 August 2022
TEXT: EZEKIEL 36:16-38
MEMORY VERSE: “Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.”Ezekiel 36:25 KJV
0 And the apostles, when they had returned, told Him all that they had done. Then He took them and went aside privately into a deserted place belonging to the city called Bethsaida. 11 But when the multitudes knew it, they followed Him; and He received them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who had need of healing. 12 When the day began to wear away, the twelve came and said to Him, “Send the multitude away, that they may go into the surrounding towns and country, and lodge and get provisions; for we are in a deserted lace ”
To pardon is to excuse a mistake or an offense; another word for pardon is forgiveness. The text today reveals that the children of Israel failed to defend the name of the Lord in foreign lands; yet, God had pardon on them.
Note that man’s ways are always before the Lord, as stated in verse 17; and every act of uncleanness from a believer must be chastised. However, God’s bowels of mercy will always create room for pardon.
In the text, the Bible makes us to understand that God who knows man’s capacity to withstand temptation always pity His children. We obtain forgiveness by mercy and not by merit. Therefore, the text states in verse 22: “Tell the Israelites that I am saying; you have disgraced my holy name among the nations where you now live. So you don’t deserve what I’m going to do for you…” (Ezek. 36:22). Furthermore, the finished work of Christ at Calvary cleanses us from all unrighteousness (Rom. 6:3-6).
God will always defend His name in our lives, even when situations around us seem to question His supremacy over us.
To obey God and fully represent Him anyway, we need the person of the Holy Spirit: “and I will put my Spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God” (v 27). Hence, the need to thirst for the infilling of the Spirit (John 7:37). If you don’t have Him, desire for His partnership. For only then can we walk with and work for God wherever we are.
The Bible says in Isaiah 61:1, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound.” No man can do the works of God except by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Reflect on your life to see if you have been faithful in representing God in your current location; at your office, market, school, Church, etc. If not, please ask God for mercy and the grace to retrace your steps in order to put your feet on the right track.
- What are the things to do that would make remain faithful to God all through life?
- Father, work in me to become faithful in all areas of my life.
Read Other ESOCS Devotional here
FURTHER READING: Deuteronomy 8:11-20; Romans 8:5-10; Hebrews 6:1-12
Thank you for reading the ESOCS Devotional today. Please share and follow us on all our platforms to contribute to the spread of the Gospel.
ESOCS Devotional 11 August 2022
