ESOCS Devotional 14 June
TEXT: JOHN 11:45-57
MEMORY VERSE:“And this spake he not of himself; but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation,… but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad.” John 11:51-52 KJV
Death conventionally is seen as the end of human existence on earth. The bereaved experience a sense of loss, grief, pain, regrets, agony, sorrow, and mixed feelings. People pray that it should not come. This is evident in the massive attendance and response you get when prayers and decrees against death are declared. It is however, expected as the scriptures is against premature death for the children of God. Therefore, we declare this morning that every spirit of sudden death looking for you or anyone associated with, related, or connected to you, God shall frustrate them, in the name of Jesus.
Interestingly, while man abhors death, Jesus willingly offered Himself to death for the good of humanity. Below are some blessings believers can lay claim to because of Jesus’ death. ESOCS Devotional 14 June
a) Blessing of salvation – Matt. 1:21
b) Blessing of healing – Isaiah 53:5
c) Blessing of redemption – Gal 4:4-5
d) Blessing of reconciliation – Eph. 2:16
e) Blessing of unhindered access to God – Eph. 2:18
f) Blessing of restoration – Rom. 8:15-17; John 1:12
g) Blessing of longevity and eternal life – John 3:16
Read yesterday’s ESOCS Devotional here
As celebrated as these blessings may be amidst others not listed, our text reveals one spectacular aspect of the blessing of the death of Jesus brought to mankind, which is the gathering together of the children of God scattered abroad. Upon creation, the Garden of Eden was designed to have man closely knitted and connected together as one family with God, but sin by the first man caused a big separation and got the entire human race scattered in the nooks and crannies of the world.
Undoubtedly, the death of Jesus Christ broke the yoke, dismantled the barrier, gathered the scattered, and united everyone in the family of God. “… but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad” (John 11:52); “That they all may be one…” (John 17:20). Therefore, you cannot be a beneficiary of every other blessing of Jesus’ death and deliberately kick against the gathering together of all the children of God scattered abroad, against the unity of the body of Christ, and oneness in the Christian family, and the Church.
BOTTOM LINE: Gathering and unity of the body of Christ is one of the greatest blessings the death of Jesus Christ brought to us.
CHALLENGES
- Believe and accept the death of Jesus Christ as a blessing to you and all humanity.
- Make conscious effort to encourage the gathering together of all God’s children, no matter what scattered them.
- Never encourage disunity in God’s family; it has great consequences.
PRAYER POINT: Father, I thank you for your death on the cross at Calvary. I ask that you forgive my days of working against the purpose of your death. Grant me the grace to fulfil this purpose henceforth by promoting unity in the church and everywhere I am found, in the name of Jesus. Amen.
FURTHER READING: Ezekiel 6:1-14; 7:1-13; John 12:1-15
