ESOCS Devotional 15 December 2023 – The Flesh Profits Nothing
MEMORY VERSE: “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit and they are life” John 6: 63 KJV
TEXT: JOHN 6: 59-71 (KJV)
These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum.
60 Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?
61 When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you?
62 What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before?
63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
64 But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.
65 And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.
66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.
67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?
68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.
69 And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.
70 Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?
71 He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve.
Read Yesterday’s ESOCS Devotional here
Once Jesus was teaching and saying hard things to his hearers. After a while of telling them things they could hardly accept, he added saying, “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit and they are life” (John 6:63 KJV).
How true? The various political and economic systems the world has known has always placed emphasis on the material, outward view of things instead of the original value that lies within. In marketing, it’s more of how the product looks like, rather than what it contains. People are easily attracted by their sense of sight. This has made it so easy for the enemy to deceive and corrupt humanity.
Mother Eve was deceived when she saw the fruit. Just then, she nimbly saw a need to reason along the devil’s thought pattern, and fell, deceived. Today, society has placed so much more emphasis on the material world more than any time in human history. People cannot live the way they want anymore. One is highly compelled to live in a way that will make their neighbor appreciate them even if it will cost them sorrow. People feel they have less value because they
have fewer material possessions.
John the Baptist had no donkey (Mercedes Benz) and neither did he own a poultry, but up until after his time, no man ever born was greater than him. Not Job, not even Abraham, Joseph, David and all the rest you can think of. As we strife and labour to make life comfortable, let us also learn to appreciate the real value that lies within the human and desist from making the flesh our armour.
- What are those things that weakens the spirit in us? What steps can we take to empower the spirit so as to die to the flesh?
- Holy Spirit, help me in Jesus’ name to see the real value of life and not be deceived by the ways and standards of this world. Help me to count the flesh as less important and the spirit as most important.
FURTHER READING: Genesis 18:1–15; 45:1-15; Revelation 19:13–21
ESOCS Devotional 15 December 2023
