ESOCS Devotional 23 November 2022
TEXT: MALACHI 4:1-6
MEMORY VERSE: “But to you who fear my name the Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings; and you shall go out and grow fat like stall-fed calves.” Malachi 4:2
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 ”
Job had great experiences in his relationship with God. In the many years of his walk with God he discovered the value of the fear of God. He said, “Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to depart from evil is understanding” (Job 28:28). It is a sensible mind that willingly obeys God. One who has it and does the will of God paves way for lasting peace in his life in this present world; and the world to come, everlasting peace. Psalm 24:1 makes a very clear statement that has serious implications: “The earth belongs to the Lord and everything in it— the world and all its people” (NCV). A man who owns a family makes the rules by which every member of his household should live. Anyone who continually disobeys the rules cannot enjoy peace until he succumbs to the rules. It is so with God. Unless we learn to submit ourselves to do His will, we would not experience peace in our lives. He is the Law Giver; and He expects us to obey Him. He is the God who must be obeyed.
God has a book of remembrance. He writes the names of people that willingly obey Him in that book. Malachi 3:16 says, “Then those who feared the Lord spoke to one another, and the Lord listened and heard them; So a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the Lord and who meditate on His name.” The fear of the Lord leads one to obey God easily. But when people do things that are not right in the sight of God, they invite troubles of different kinds to themselves: “But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who will render to each one according to his deeds: eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honour, and immortality; but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness–indignation and wrath” (Rom. 2:5-8). But Jesus the Sun of Righteousness will bountifully reward those who are obedient.
We owe to God, humanity, and ourselves the responsibility of not only doing things that are right, but doing them rightly too. It is a bounding duty; and we must serve in it or perish. But if we perform it in all honesty, we would secure for ourselves peace with God, our fellow men, and with ourselves too. Peace with God is the starting point for the good things of life. The fear of God is a practical thing. It is not enough to have the knowledge of it. It is most important that we apply it to lives by putting it into practice. If we learn to keep away from immorality because God does not like it, it means that we are practically applying His law to our lives; and that is the beginning of all wisdom and goodness. It is the way that leads to everlasting happiness.
The fear of God makes His grace to abound towards us. Unless we run our Christian race with reverence for God, we would run in vain. The fear of God in us, which we practise is the evidence that we are wise, and in all things too; and it is the greatest achievement in life.
CHALLENGES
- Write down the benefits you would gain by having the fear of God in you.
PRAYERS
- Pray the Holy Spirit to help you develop the fear of God in your heart.
Read Yesterday’s ESOCS Devotional here
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ESOCS Devotional 23 November 2022
