ESOCS Devotional 15 November 2024 – Stop Seeking People’s Destruction
MEMORY VERSE: “And he taught daily in the temple, but the chief priests and scribes and the chief of the people sought to destroy him.” Luke 19:47
TEXT:: LUKE 19:41-48
Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, 42 saying, “If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. 43 For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side, 44 and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation.”
45 Then He went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in it, 46 saying to them, “It is written, ‘My house is a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’ ”
47 And He was teaching daily in the temple. But the chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people sought to destroy Him, 48 and were unable to do anything; for all the people were very attentive to hear Him.
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The tendency to drift from the original purpose that brought us to church is very high when we begin to harbour evil in our hearts against one another. We easily forget that it was for the sake of the salvation of our souls that made us originally come to church. Some others suddenly cannot remember how sickly they were before God intervened, healed and delivered them. Others take for granted how battered, shattered and scattered their lives were before they had a turnaround encounter with God that has now beautified and glorified their lives.
Unfortunately, instead of remaining grateful to God and keeping their focus on Him, many persons start fighting one another and plot the destruction of fellow church members. Our text presents to us church leaders, very senior elders, Ministers and Administrators who should appreciate the teaching ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ and make amends in their lives where necessary; rather, they sought ways to completely destroy Him. The word ‘destroy’ coming from highly placed church leaders is rather unfortunate.
Ironically, the congregants paid very rapt attention to the teaching of Jesus. While the members of the church were focused and attentive to Jesus’ teaching, to be blessed and further transform their lives, the religious leaders were busy plotting and conspiring on how to destroy Him.
Incredibly, that is the state of the Church today. A situation where administrators and leaders are engulfed in so many fireworks, while the members are relatively focused and peaceful. But this is not the plan of God for the Church.
The question is, what do you want to achieve in the destruction of your fellow Christians? What profit would it bring to you? How much more money would it add to your account? If you were given his position, can you do the work or how long can you stay there? Do you carry the grace and anointing God gave him to work in that position? Are you aware that if he leaves that position because of your manipulations, and God’s expectations are not fulfilled as God had wanted it, God will hold you accountable, and you will be punished for it?
Why don’t you focus on why you came to Church and eschew bitterness, un-forgiveness, rancour, enmity and all forms of indiscretion from your heart?
- Celebrate God’s gifting and grace in the lives of fellow Christian brethren.
- Erase all offences and forgive freely from your heart.
- Allow God to be the judge in any perceived injustice.
- Father, I am grateful for the teachings. Forgive my days of seeking others downfall and give me grace to focus on my salvation in the Church, in Jesus name Amen.
Further Reading: Proverbs 22:1-12; 2 Corinthians 2:5-end
ESOCS Devotional 15 November 2024
