ESOCS Devotional 27 January 2022
TEXT: LUKE 9:1-9
MEMORY VERSE: “And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.” Luke 9:2
9 Then He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases. 2 He sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. 3 And He said to them, “Take nothing for the journey, neither staffs nor bag nor bread nor money; and do not have two tunics apiece.
4 “Whatever house you enter, stay there, and from there depart. 5 And whoever will not receive you, when you go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet as a testimony against them.”
6 So they departed and went through the towns, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere.
7 Now Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was done by Him; and he was perplexed, because it was said by some that John had risen from the dead, 8 and by some that Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of the old prophets had risen again. 9 Herod said, “John I have beheaded, but who is this of whom I hear such things?” So he sought to see Him.
In recent times, we have witnessed so much distraction in the Christian faith with all sorts of controversies ranging from finance, doctrinal practice, career, politics, the business world, and other areas of life. To an extent, believers are still in delusion as to what to do in the faith life. Many a time, we find out that after giving our lives to Christ, we are taught the doctrines of our denominations rather than concentrating solely on the true gospel.
This may not be wrong in its real sense, except that somewhere along the line the faith life becomes boring and uninteresting, as the believer may seem to have exhausted all that the denominational doctrine and all that its curriculum has to offer. Therefore, he pegs himself as to have reached the zenith of the Christian faith. This is not true.
There is also a wide confusion in the church as to when Jesus will come. But I believe that believers ought not to be in confusion concerning these matters. Matthew 24:14 says, “And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then the end will come” (NLT). This gives answer to the issue about the coming back of Jesus. Jesus is coming soon and we firmly believe that our Saviour will come back to harvest His own. But as controversial as it may sound, Jesus will return when all the nations of the earth have heard of the great gospel.
While we live out our destinies and potentials that God has designed for us, I would like to add that a life or destiny that does not find its bearing on preaching Christ and living out His life is not an effective life. Believers must wake up to the reality of the kingdom that we represent, that Jesus and His kingdom must be preached across the length and breadth of this world.
Observe the context of what Jesus commissioned the disciples for: Go preach about the Kingdom of God and heal the sick. The kingdom of God does not only refer to heaven but also to a life of communion with God here on earth, eternal life on earth.
This is the life Jesus wants from us. It is beyond becoming a believer; rather, our lives must reflect the original intent of the Father, and that through our lives we will win the world for Jesus. Rise to the task, preach Jesus and the beauty of His kingdom where He intends that we will live without pain and sorrow. This is what Jesus will come to do when He comes back: to give us a place where we will be without pain, as the Father has intended for us. Therefore, prepare the world for the coming of the master by preaching the message of the kingdom in your classroom, in your office, the market place, in your homes, in your neighborhood, and everywhere else. Your finance is not left out. Sponsor missionaries to send this gospel to those parts of the world that have not heard of Jesus. Maranatha, we long for the great day when He will come.
- Be conscious of your mandate on earth. Endeavor to fulfill it.
- Father in heaven, I repent from not standing by the great mandate. Help me to be steadfast in soul-winning, in Jesus name.
Read Other ESOCS Devotional here
FURTHER READING: Isaiah 49:22-26; Amos 5:16-24; 1 Corinthians 12:1-11
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ESOCS Devotional 27 January 2022
