ESOCS Devotional 2 December 2022
TEXT: DEUTERONOMY 4:4-24
MEMORY VERSE: “Only take heed to yourself, and diligently keep yourself, lest you forget the things your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. And teach them to your children and your grandchildren” Deuteronomy 4:9
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 ”
Self-preservation is one of the most important obligations people have for themselves. Naturally, everyone does his or her best to protect oneself from any danger or hazard. We have the instinct to be mindful of our welfare all the time. This makes us conscious of the need to make the right decisions and do what we ought to do to enhance our safety and wellbeing. We are often alert concerning our environment and circumstances in our lives. We try the much we can to stay away from trouble. All these and many more are indications that we are being mindful of ourselves and that we are being diligent in keeping ourselves so that we would remain safe from harm.
In like manner, it is more important for us to be meticulous in preserving our hearts, our minds, and our souls so that we would be free from the spiritual danger of falling into sin and iniquity. The safest thing we can do for ourselves is to keep ourselves away from the anger and wrath of God. One good thing to do is to remember all that happened to people in the Bible times when they did evil in the sight of God. 1 Corinthians 10:6 says, “Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted”; and in verse 11 we are told, “Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.”Also, within our environment or neighbourhood or town or village, there may be people who had done evil in the sight of God and the anger of God was kindled against them. We should learn from their experiences and be careful about the things we do.
Above all, the most important thing is for us to study the word of God in the Scriptures, meditate on them continually, and redirect our hearts and minds to love the things and ways of God. Let us imbibe the teachings and store them up in our hearts. They would help us greatly in our Christian race. The psalmist says, “Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against you!” (Ps. 119:11). If we filled our hearts with the word of God like the psalmist did, we would be able to filter the thoughts that come to our minds and do only those things that are acceptable to God in His sight. The psalmist was diligent and took the right step that helped him to protect his heart from spiritual filthiness (Prov. 4:23).
Let us not be overtaken by the world, lest we forget that God is very strict about holiness and righteousness. They are the standard by which we would be known as His children. Having purified us through the Blood of Jesus and sanctified us by the Holy Spirit, let us maintain the status He has given as His adopted children whom He has given a great inheritance in Christ Jesus the Lord.
CHALLENGES
- What efforts do you make towards preserving your heart for God? Write them down.
PRAYERS
- Pray for the spirit of understanding that would help you walk in the ways of God.
Read Yesterday’s ESOCS Devotional here
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ESOCS Devotional 2 December 2022
