ESOCS Devotional 2 August 2022
TEXT: DEUT. 4:4-24
MEMORY VERSE: “Only take heed to thyself and thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons’ sons.”Deuteronomy 4:9 KJV
0 And the apostles, when they had returned, told Him all that they had done. Then He took them and went aside privately into a deserted place belonging to the city called Bethsaida. 11 But when the multitudes knew it, they followed Him; and He received them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who had need of healing. 12 When the day began to wear away, the twelve came and said to Him, “Send the multitude away, that they may go into the surrounding towns and country, and lodge and get provisions; for we are in a deserted lace ”
The word consecration means a solemn commitment of life and time to a cherished purpose (in this context to serving God). From the text, Moses charged the Israelites to be diligent and commit themselves to obey God’s laws and commandments. Note the emphasis on the diligence not to backslide in verses 9, 15 and 23. The commandments were given to them that they should remember God’s benevolence, obey His laws and also teach the next generation about them. It is as if to Moses was saying; ‘in light of what God has done for you, you should obey Him’.
Mortal man is prone to forget what has been done for him or a favor received. Most times, we also forget God’s goodness to us. We count those things He has not done, thereby look for reasons to accuse Him as being unfaithful or impartial. Sometimes, we even forget to appreciate Him for prayers for which He answered us. We become ungrateful like the nine ungrateful lepers in the Bible. Like the children of Israel, have you forgotten the times God showed up for you even in 2021? Did you show Him appreciation with your substance and thanksgiving from your heart? Did you rather see the things which He is yet to do, which might have made you to compromise in one way or the other?
One major way in which believers disobey God is in returning to Egypt (i.e. going back to the things they had once forsaken), especially in the face of difficulties and challenges or temptation to sin (2 Pet. 2:20-22).
Moses admonished the people to always remember the day of their encounter with God, especially the day they stood before the Lord their God in Mount Horeb (v 10). Keeping record of the day one first encountered God is very important, as it brings memories of God’s appearance to such a person, and further refrains him from falling back to the things from which he was once saved. (Rom. 6:6). Consecrating oneself to God is what sets Christianity apart from other forms of religion, for our God is a jealous God (v 24 and Heb. 12:29). Stay away from all types of idolatry.
- What should a person to consecrate himself to the Lord?
- Lord, help me to consecrate myself to you and live so permanently.
Read Other ESOCS Devotional here
FURTHER READING: Deuteronomy 4:4-24; Ezekiel 32:17-32; John 17:19-26; Romans 6:6-14; Philemon 1:1-25
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ESOCS Devotional 2 August 2022
