ESOCS Devotional 12 November 2022
TEXT: JOHN 11:17-57
MEMORY VERSE: “Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?’” John 11:25-26
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 ”
Jesus is all in all for us. Do you believe this? Jesus is abundant life for us. Do you believe this? Jesus is sufficient grace for us. Do you believe this? Jesus is the lifting up for us. Do you believe this? Jesus is the healing balm for us. Do you believe this? Jesus is the victory for us. Do you believe this? Jesus is the mercy for us. Do you believe this? Jesus is the reason for the Father’s longsuffering for all. Do you believe this? Jesus is the reconciliation between the Father and us all. Do you believe this? Jesus is the Father’s blessing for us. Do you believe this? Jesus is the eternity for us. Do you believe this?Jesus is the resurrection for all. Do you believe this?
“Do you believe this?” is the ageless question. Doubting the capability of God in all situations is a worrisome attitude we have. We witness the greatness of His power every day; yet, we doubt Him or His willingness to do things for us despite His promises. If nothing convinces us of His power, might, abilities, and love for us, what about the vast universe He created from nothing, and the fullness of the creation in it – the sky, the sun, the moon, the stars, the trees and herbs, the flowers and grasses, the seas and ocean waters, the streams and rivers, all the living and non-living things on the land and in the waters? What about the entire cosmos? Think about the number of people he feeds every day; yet, food, meat, fish, and all other edible things including fruits and aquatic life are not extinct in the earth. What an awesome God! What about the air we breathe in and out of our respiratory system? What chemistry or intelligence or power filters the air we breathe in the moment it enters our nostrils and takes in only oxygen and processes it further to be useful for our health and living; and then changes its residue into carbon dioxide which we breathe out, and which become useful to plants? It’s all a great mystery. It could only be done and perfected by the God who is omniscient and omnipotent! Since these were so, why do we doubt such a God?
Jesus loved Lazarus. When He was told that Lazarus had died, and Mary and the Jews that were with her were weeping, the scripture says, “He groaned in the spirit and was troubled” (v 32). Why? When He finally came to the tomb where Lazarus was buried, the scripture says, “Jesus wept” (v 35). Why was that? It was because he shares our humanity with us. He knows how much pain and sorrow we suffer in this present world, including the inglorious death we die, which the evil one has brought into the world through sin. Hebrews 4:15 says, “For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.” Let us just believe Him, and all that He has said. Let us cling to His promises of goodness, eternity with Him, and every other thing He said. Let us learn from Him and walk in His ways – the old path of holiness and righteousness and we shall find rest for our souls (Jer. 6:16; Matt. 11:29).
CHALLENGES
- Do a spiritual exercise and remove the things in your heart that make you doubt God.
PRAYERS
- Pray for the grace to believe God easily
Read Yesterday’s ESOCS Devotional here
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ESOCS Devotional 12 November 2022