ESOCS Devotional 19 August 2021
TEXT: EZEKIEL 44:4-8
MEMORY VERSE: “In that ye have brought into my sanctuary strangers, uncircumcised in heart, and uncircumcised in flesh, to be in my sanctuary, to pollute it, even my house … and they have broken my covenant because of all your abominations” (Ezekiel 44:7).
The sanctuary, which is the church auditorium is a holy and sanctified place; a place of high reverence in which the presence and glory of God dwell. It should not be treated commonly or casually. It is a place of communion between God and His children, the saints. Therefore, it should not be defiled or polluted in any manner. The congregants must ensure that they make concrete efforts at keeping the place pure, holy, and clean physically and spiritually at all times. It is a bounding duty that is not to be neglected or trifled. It has rules that must be observed and respected by everyone.
No stranger is permitted: Strangers must not be brought into the sanctuary to dwell. In ancient Israel, this referred to foreigners who were aliens from other nations. They did not belong to the family of God, Israel. Today in our time, it refers to people who do not belong to the holy family of God, the sanctified, born-again Christians. The family of God is made up the true worshipers; a family in which Jesus is the first-born Son (Rom. 8:29). People outside this category should not be allowed to live within the premises of the house of God because they would continually defile it.
Such people are strangers because Christ does not accept them as His brethren, that is, His brothers and sisters(Eph. 2:12). He made it abundantly clear that His brothers and sisters are only those who do the will of the (Mark 3:32-35). They obey God in everything. For those who do not live their life in obedience to God, the Bible says, “But he will reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers!” (Luke 13:27 NIV). God knows those who belong to Him (2 Tim. 2:19). Strangers in God’s eyes are workers of iniquity. They are uncircumcised in heart. Do not be like them.
- Surrender your life to Jesus and be born again; make your heart pure; and live a sanctified life.
- Father, grant me the grace to live a sanctified life, in Jesus name.
Read Other ESOCS Devotional here
FURTHER READING: Deuteronomy 15:1-11; John 21:15-19; Hebrews 9:15-28
Thank you for reading the ESOCS Devotional today. Please share and follow us on all our platforms to contribute to the spread of the Gospel.
ESOCS Devotional 19 August 2021
