ESOCS Devotional 29 August 2024 – What are You Known For?
MEMORY VERSE: “’What about you?’ he asked them. ‘Who do you say I am?’ Peter answered, ‘You are God’s Messiah.’” Luke 9:20 GNV
TEXT: LUKE 9: 18-27
And it happened, as He was alone praying, that His disciples joined Him, and He asked them, saying, “Who do the crowds say that I am?”
19 So they answered and said, “John the Baptist, but some say Elijah; and others say that one of the old prophets has risen again.”
20 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
Peter answered and said, “The Christ of God.”
21 And He strictly warned and commanded them to tell this to no one, 22 saying, “The Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day.”
23 Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross [a]daily, and follow Me. 24 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. 25 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost? 26 For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father’s, and of the holy angels. 27 But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the kingdom of God.”
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Our acts and conducts speak loud of what we are. It does not matter what you think or say about yourself. What you present yourself to be in the eyes of people, matters a lot. It is part of what the sincere public will talk about you. This is the reason we must occasionally check what people around us say about what we are and what we do.
In our text, Jesus inquired from His disciples and they did not only report the truth of what those who had encountered Jesus said; but the disciples also expressed their sincere opinions. Peter answered: “You are God’s Messiah”.
Some people do not like to accept what people say about them, particularly when it is not what they want to hear. We must learn to take responsibility for what we are. It is a way to redirect our steps and remain on the side of the Lord.
However, there are a few who may out of hatred or envy reject you and say what you are not. Jesus Christ our Lord first suffered this evil but it did not deter Him (Luke 9:22). Like Jesus Christ, you must think less of your ego, review who you are and what you do, and toe the part of the Lord. You must move forward (Luke 9: 23-25).
The Lord expects total dedication and commitment from us. We must strive to earn the name ascribed to us. Christianity requires us to live practically in holiness and righteousness, such that people will see and testify. There is nothing to be ashamed of in living a true Christian life. We do not have any option of lifestyle better than the life foundation that Jesus Christ has laid for us. If we build on that foundation, there is a sure hope that we shall become what God says we will be (Luke 9:26-27).
- Have you done an unbiased check of how well you impact on people?
- Guide me, Oh Lord, through the acceptable path of life, in Jesus name. Amen
Further Reading: Judges 11: 20-end; Nehemiah 6: 1-15; Acts 25:13-end
ESOCS Devotional 29 August 2024
