ESOCS Devotional 25 May 2023
MEMORY VERSE:“Suffer the little children to come unto me and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.” Mark 10:14
TEXT: MARK 10:13-22
13 And they kept bringing young children to Him that He might touch them, and the disciples were reproving them [for it].
14 But when Jesus saw [it], He was indignant and pained and said to them, Allow the children to come to Me—do not forbid or prevent orhinder them—for to such belongs the kingdom of God.
15 Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive and accept and welcome the kingdom of God like a little child [does] positively shall not enter it at all.
16 And He took them [the children up one by one] in His arms and [fervently invoked a] blessing, placing His hands upon them.
17 And as He was setting out on His journey, a man ran up and knelt before Him and asked Him, Teacher, [You are essentially and perfectly morally] good, what must I do to inherit eternal life [that is, to partake of eternal salvation in the Messiah’s kingdom]?
18 And Jesus said to him, Why do you call Me [essentially and perfectly morally] good? There is no one [essentially and perfectly morally] good—except God alone.
19 You know the commandments: Do not kill, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not bear false witness, do not defraud, honor your father and mother.
20 And he replied to Him, Teacher, I have carefully guarded andobserved all these and taken care not to violate them from my boyhood.
21 And Jesus, looking upon him, loved him, and He said to him, You lack one thing; go and sell all you have and give [the money] to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come [and] accompany Me [walking the same road that I walk].
22 At that saying the man’s countenance fell and was gloomy, and he went away grieved and sorrowing, for he was holding great possessions.
Read Yesterday’s ESOCS Devotional here
At the end of His earthly ministry, Jesus promised the elects that He would go and prepare a place for them in heaven, and thereafter, return to take His people home to the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom of God is a place where Christ will be King and everyone will be totally subject to His authority. Those of us who are still living on earth must therefore be aware of things that qualify a man to be a candidate of the Kingdom of God. Our text today spells out some of them.
First of all, we must chart a clear path for the younger ones to find Christ. This has to be done by our words, godly lifestyle and acts that point clearly that Jesus the Lord is good and worthy of worship. We should not live the kind of life that will make children under our care feel that knowing and living by the word of God is not worth it (Mark 10:14).
Secondly, we must receive every information about godliness in the scripture with total acceptance. Have no reservation with what the word of God confirms. This is the character of children. They receive what they accept totally (Mark 10:15).
Again, you must do well to live by the word of God. The gospel message is not only history; it spells out the code of conduct for God’s people (Mark 10:17-20).
Yes, you must have no reservation or no-go area for the word of God. We must see nothing impracticable from the word of God. When the scripture instructs, we must follow, trust and obey with thanksgiving. If we reject it, we reject the Kingdom of God and disqualify ourselves from the Kingdom. May the Lord grant us the grace to retain our citizenship of heaven, in Jesus name. Amen.
- Do you find it difficult to live by certain words of God?
- Father, sustain in me the grace to remain a faithful candidate of heaven to the end, in Jesus name, Amen.
FURTHER READING: Exodus 32:1-14; Ezekiel 10:1-end; Revelation 4:1-end
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ESOCS Devotional 25 May 2023
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