ESOCS Devotional 26 May 2023
MEMORY VERSE:“…. how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God.” Mark 10:24
TEXT: MARK 10:23-31
23 And Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, With what difficulty will those who possess wealth and keep on holding it enter the kingdom of God!
24 And the disciples were amazed and bewildered and perplexed at His words. But Jesus said to them again, Children, how hard it is for those who trust (place their confidence, their sense of safety) in riches to enter the kingdom of God!
25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.
26 And they were shocked and exceedingly astonished, and said to Him and to one another, Then who can be saved?
27 Jesus glanced around at them and said, With men [it is] impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God.
28 Peter started to say to Him, Behold, we have yielded up and abandoned everything [once and for all and joined You as Your disciples, siding with Your party] and accompanied You [walking the same road that You walk].
29 Jesus said, Truly I tell you, there is no one who has given up and left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands for My sake and for the Gospel’s
30 Who will not receive a hundred times as much now in this time—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life.
31 But many [who are now] first will be last [then], and many [who are now] last will be first [then].
Read Yesterday’s ESOCS Devotional here
The condition for men on earth to qualify to enter into the kingdom of God is simple and plain: it is for whosoever believeth in Jesus Christ – the only begotten Son of God (John 3:16). To believe means total reliance in the power of God through Jesus Christ. You are to agree in your heart and speak it with your mouth. (Rom. 9:9, 10). You will have to take all decisions and actions considering and following what Christ is and what His word teaches (Ps. 27:1).
First of all, we should have the will to spare what we have to do the will of God. This comes from the understanding that what we have was given to us by God and we should not withhold what God has given us to do what His word desires us to do. (Ps. 24:1, 2). Those who feel that they should accumulate what they earned from their business, work and endeavour for themselves and family alone will not be part of the Kingdom of God. If you want to be part of the kingdom of God, you must then learn and live like a candidate of the Kingdom of God on earth. They live for God and surrender all they have to God through Jesus Christ. They allow the word of God to command them and their resources (Mark 10: 24-27).
One of the benefits of giving all you have that the gospel demands is that the power of multiplication of resources is released upon what is left after the release. In verse 30 Jesus said,
“who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time — houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions — and in the age to come, eternal life.”
Let us, therefore, give our tithes, offerings, freewill gifts and helps to meet the needs of the Church and the needy among the brethren to fulfil the will of God.
- Do you agree that without God you will not be alive to be what you are today?
- Father, give me the understanding to live and fulfil your purpose in Jesus name. Amen.
FURTHER READING: Exodus 32:15-29; 2 Kings 24:18-25; Mark 10:23-31, Romans 14:13-end.
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ESOCS Devotional 26 May 2023
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