ESOCS Devotional 26 November 2022
TEXT: JOHN 15:18-27
MEMORY VERSE: “If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.” John 15:19
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 ”
One important thing about our relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ is that He selected us as a people He has set us aside from the rest of the world. He made us very special. Deuteronomy 26:18-19 says, “Also today the LORD has proclaimed you to be His special people, just as He promised you, that you should keep all His commandments, and that He will set you high above all nations which He has made, in praise, in name, and in honour, and that you may be a holy people to the LORD your God, just as He has spoken.” Therefore, we belong to His family; and He reminds us that because this is so, we no longer have any relationship with the world. We were taken out of this sinful and corrupt world and made citizens of a spiritual and heavenly world. It is a world in which there is purity of soul and body, which leads to holiness and righteousness. It is a world of the saints of God. They are transformed from the nature of Adam and the characteristics of the world into the true image of God because they are like His Son Jesus Christ in their attitude and way of life.
As the citizens of that spiritual world, our code of conduct is the guidelines that govern such world. The word of God rules the hearts of people who belong there. They clean themselves by it (John 15:3). It is part of their daily bread (Matt. 4:4). They cherish it, hide it in their hearts, and guard it jealousy because they do not want to offend or sin against God (Ps. 119:11). They live a clean lifestyle and do not rubbish themselves with the sinful things and pleasures of this present world because they pay attention to what the word of God says and do them (Ps. 119:9; James 1:22). They are always searching the word of God to find out its mystery and teachings in order to apply them to their lives (Ps. 199:82, 101; Phil. 3:10). They are happy with the word of God and value it as a great treasure (Ps. 119:162).
People who belong to that spiritual world maintain their relationship with Christ continually. They see themselves as people who are crucified with Him (Gal. 2:20); and therefore, they agree that they are dead to sin and the world; that is, they have nothing to do with sin and all forms of worldliness (Rom. 8:10). They do not see themselves as citizens of this world; but they have hope for a better world that is to come, the new Jerusalem that would descend from heaven; and therefore see themselves as pilgrims who are on a journey to that new world for which they hope. They see themselves as strangers and pilgrims on the earth (Heb. 11:13).
In all these things and more, the word of God reminds us who we are and the things we should. 1 Peter 2:11 & 12 says, “Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, having your conduct honourable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.”
CHALLENGES
- Consciously draw a thick line between you and the pleasures of the world and maintain it.
PRAYERS
- Pray for grace to live the life of the saints.
Read Yesterday’s ESOCS Devotional here
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ESOCS Devotional 26 November 2022
