ESOCS Devotional 17 August 2025 – Go and Hide
MEMORY VERSE: ““And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat.” Mark 6:31
TEXT: MARK 6:7-32
And He called the twelve to Himself, and began to send them out two by two, and gave them power over unclean spirits. 8 He commanded them to take nothing for the journey except a staff—no bag, no bread, no copper in their money belts— 9 but to wear sandals, and not to put on two tunics.
10 Also He said to them, “In whatever place you enter a house, stay there till you depart from that place. 11 And whoever will not receive you nor hear you, when you depart from there, shake off the dust under your feet as a testimony against them. Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!”
12 So they went out and preached that people should repent. 13 And they cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick, and healed them.
14 Now King Herod heard of Him, for His name had become well known. And he said, “John the Baptist is risen from the dead, and therefore these powers are at work in him.”
15 Others said, “It is Elijah.”
And others said, “It is the Prophet, or like one of the prophets.”
16 But when Herod heard, he said, “This is John, whom I beheaded; he has been raised from the dead!” 17 For Herod himself had sent and laid hold of John, and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife; for he had married her. 18 Because John had said to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.”
19 Therefore Herodias held it against him and wanted to kill him, but she could not; 20 for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just and holy man, and he protected him. And when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly.
21 Then an opportune day came when Herod on his birthday gave a feast for his nobles, the high officers, and the chief men of Galilee. 22 And when Herodias’ daughter herself came in and danced, and pleased Herod and those who sat with him, the king said to the girl, “Ask me whatever you want, and I will give it to you.” 23 He also swore to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half my kingdom.”
24 So she went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask?”
And she said, “The head of John the Baptist!”
25 Immediately she came in with haste to the king and asked, saying, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.”
26 And the king was exceedingly sorry; yet, because of the oaths and because of those who sat with him, he did not want to refuse her. 27 Immediately the king sent an executioner and commanded his head to be brought. And he went and beheaded him in prison, 28 brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl; and the girl gave it to her mother. 29 When his disciples heard of it, they came and took away his corpse and laid it in a tomb.
30 Then the apostles gathered to Jesus and told Him all things, both what they had done and what they had taught. 31 And He said to them, “Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” For there were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat. 32 So they departed to a deserted place in the boat by themselves.
Read Other ESOCS Devotional Here
Worried over the manner of the death of John the Baptist? After the burial, the disciples came to Jesus and told Him all that have happened. In encouraging them, Jesus asked them to go and hide a little in the desert place. Retreating the Disciples for a while was most appropriate at this time, given their condition. Thus, in our life journey it becomes inevitable a times to go and hide from the public view. Let us note here that hiding provides us with the following:
- REST: In order to meet up with the needs of life and in fulfilling all that God has put in our hands, we are always involved in a lot of activities. Hence, we have little or no time to rest. This was the case of the Disciples. Jesus, as the perfect example, had to teach them how to rest. So, as you go a hiding, you find quality time to rest.
- REFRESHMENT: To make for a complete process and to maintain the quality, the need for refreshment arises. As you carry out your activities even as a Minister of God, a lot of things are going out from you ranging from health, knowledge, and power and anointing. In the process of giving out these key substances that make you who you are, it becomes eminent that you refill so as to get yourself renewed and hiding provides that for you. No wonder in order to get Elijah recharged, God asked him to go and hide. (I Kings 17:3-4)
- RELEVANCE: It takes only a man that is refreshed that can remain relevant in the system. As a minister of God, if you don’t have a source where you are drinking from and don’t take time to retreat, you will discover that your message will remain the same. Thus, leaving the congregation always knowing what you want to say whenever you preach or teach. Men who ‘hide’ always come up refreshed, have something new to give to their members; thus, they remain relevant. Always find time to hide with God, so that you can understand Him better.
CHAILENGES
- Discover a good retreating place for yourself.
- Develop a schedule for yourself that encourages your hiding, as regularly as you can.
- Resist the temptation of over busyness that you can’t find time to rest.
PRAYER POINT
- God, thank you for being mindful of me, my health and ministry. Grant me the grace to always find time to retreat with you, so that I can remain relevant in my ministry, in Jesus name. Amen.
FURTHER READING: Zechariah 9:1-8; Zephaniah 14:1-11; Romans 9:16-23; 10:1-15
ESOCS Devotional 17 August 2025
