ESOCS Devotional 27 January 2021
TEXT: EXODUS 33:9-19
MEMORY VERSE: “So the Lord spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend …” Exodus 33:11 NKJV
We have only one merit before God: The Lord Jesus Christ. We possess no merit of our own. His gospel is the message of reconciliation and sanctification that God has given to us for our spiritual rebirth. God’s will for us is that our entire life should reflect the good news of the kingdom of God. Our life should be a living testimony of the gospel. Christianity should be found in our hearts, and then in our life in practical terms. In other words, as a Christian walks on the street, heaven should be able to point at him or her and say happily, “That is Christianity walking.” Therefore, we should understand that enormous responsibility is laid on us to grow in the word and things of God until we are like Jesus in every aspect of our life and conduct. That is when we would qualify to be worthy of the gospel of Christ.
We should be mindful to ensure that we do not bring shame to the gospel by our lifestyle. People should not mock Christianity because of behaviour. Our life should glorify God, the gospel of His Son, and show that we appreciate His thoughts of our temporal and eternal wellbeing as demonstrated in the redemption plan. We should not be a mockery to Him, not in any way! In practical terms, we should give Him reason to beat His chest and roar to the world from heaven, and that we are His beloved children in whom He is well pleased (Matt. 3:17). That should be one of our goals, as we live daily.
The earliest Christians had a common identity wherever they were scattered during their persecution and dispersal after the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. They endeavoured to ensure that there was sanctity in their conduct; that is, that their way of life reflected the gospel they are frail mortals and need His help. We could become such people, if we choose.
We should be willing to enter into such a relationship with God, and covenant with Him to remain loyal, obedient, submissive, and committed to it. We would have much to gain. It is not a small thing for the Almighty to call us His friends. What are we, anyway but dust and ashes? Isaiah 40:17 says, “All the nations are as nothing before Him; they are regarded by Him as less than nothing and emptiness (waste, futility, and worthlessness)” (AMP). However, in His graciousness He has made every believer worth more than gold in His sight, for we are the people for whom the Lord Jesus died. Such a high price gave us value, and we became priceless, and were “fearfully and wonderfully made …” (Ps. 139:14 ASV).
Read yesterday’s ESOCS Devotional here
Since this is true, we should leap into that lifeboat and sail all through life with our heavenly Father taking us wherever He wills.
He has stretched out His everlasting hands through His Son to us also, beckoning on us to take hold of His hands, and He would lead us on a friendly walk through all the hazards of this unfriendly world. At the end of that long walk, He would give us rest. We would not experience pain anymore. There would be no sickness, disease, danger, sorrow, or anything that makes afraid. There would be no death or dying, just life eternal in His kingdom above. All these beautiful rewards and more would come to us if we just make God our friend. He said to us, “I have called you by your name; you are Mine” (Isa. 43:1). Let us remain His own possession, as He had purposed from the beginning, the foundation of the world. For indeed, we are His purchased possession (Eph. 1:14). We can accomplish this goal of being His friends only through simple obedience in holiness and righteous living, as we truly make Jesus the Lord of our life (Luke 6:46).
CHALLENGES
Have you made friends with God, and what about Jesus? If not, why not now?
PRAYER POINT
Lord, I want to be your friend. Please guide me in all truth and lead me to eternity with you.
FURTHER READING: Isaiah 39:1-8; John 13:21-35; Acts 7:59-8:8
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ESOCS Devotional 27 January 2021
