ESOCS Devotional 22 August 2024 – Offer What You Have to Help the Church
MEMORY VERSE: ““Joanna, whose husband Chuza was an officer in Herod’s court; and Susanna and many other women who used their own resources to help Jesus and his disciples.” Luke 8:3
TEXT: LUKE 8:1-18
Now it came to pass, afterward, that He went through every city and village, preaching and bringing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with Him, 2 and certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities—Mary called Magdalene, out of whom had come seven demons, 3 and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others who provided for Him from their substance.
4 And when a great multitude had gathered, and they had come to Him from every city, He spoke by a parable: 5 “A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell by the wayside; and it was trampled down, and the birds of the air devoured it. 6 Some fell on rock; and as soon as it sprang up, it withered away because it lacked moisture. 7 And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up with it and choked it. 8 But others fell on good ground, sprang up, and yielded a crop a hundredfold.” When He had said these things He cried, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”
9 Then His disciples asked Him, saying, “What does this parable mean?”
10 And He said, “To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is given in parables, that
‘Seeing they may not see,
And hearing they may not understand.’
11 “Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. 12 Those by the wayside are the ones who hear; then the devil comes and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. 13 But the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away. 14 Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity. 15 But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience.
16 “No one, when he has lit a lamp, covers it with a vessel or puts it under a bed, but sets it on a lampstand, that those who enter may see the light. 17 For nothing is secret that will not be revealed, nor anything hidden that will not be known and come to light. 18 Therefore take heed how you hear. For whoever has, to him more will be given; and whoever does not have, even what he [i]seems to have will be taken from him.”
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Nobody can give what he does not have. God is our maker; He did not make us in vain. He made each one of us for a purpose. This is for those who are truly born again and renewed by the Spirit of God. In the process of rebirth, the Holy Spirit breaths into us the God chosen gift and power with which we can serve to achieve God’s purpose for the salvation of mankind. It is that which He has given you that God expects you to give. Nothing more.
In our text, we see the Lord Himself travelling through towns and villages together with His twelve disciples, preaching the Goodnews about the Kingdom of God (Luke 8:1). Yes, that was His mission on earth. The power of God enabled Him for that purpose. Not only did He preach the Gospel, He raised disciples who will take after Him; and these men were available at all times to be trained.
No one person can do it all in the Kingdom of God. The work of the kingdom is like farm work. One man clears the bush, another tills the ground and yet another plants, and yet another reaps. In our text, we see that there were women who used their resources to provide the daily needs and bread for the Lord and His disciples who laboured to preach the gospel message (Luke 8:2-3). How much and how often have you provided for those who preach God’s word or labour in God’s vineyard?
This is the reason why each one of us must be willing and focused to understand what the will of God is for us through the scriptures. A good understanding will enable you to focus on performing what you are equipped for. This will in turn result in the attainment of Divine purpose on earth (Luke 8: 5-15); and God will continue to bless you richly for responding to His will.
If we don’t receive and believe the word of God, we may not receive what it takes to serve God. The result is that we may bear no fruit that will help the Kingdom of God here on earth, and we will be losers in the end. GOD FORBID!
- What then do you have to offer for the work of God?
- Father, give me the Grace to bear the fruit that will feed the Kingdom of God, in Jesus name. Amen.
Further Reading: Judges 5:1-18; Ezra 7: 11-End; Acts 21:27-39
ESOCS Devotional 22 August 2024
