ESOCS Devotional 30 October 2022
TEXT: MATTHEW 10:31-39
MEMORY VERSE: “And anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me” Matt 10:38
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 ”
Christianity is not a popularity race. Many times the demands of the Christian life runs counter to standards the world accepts. This makes the life of the Christian challenging. The ways of God is different from the ways of man. The standard for the Christian life is contrary to the standards of earth life. The Christian in the race will need to take a stand and be willing to pay the prize. Jesus refers to it as THE CROSS. The Christian cross is that which is needful for the Christian to be true to Christ and it comes with a prize for it will go against the world but necessary for glory. Every day of our life we are faced with different kind of situations that tempts us to go with the world. A bribe to make things easy, or a lie to save a situation, maybe a temptation to indulge in carnal pleasure or play one of the fast ones people do to gain undue advantage etc. All true Disciples of Christ are required to daily take a stand for Christ and make the choices that stand them out as Christians in deed. The world may not like it, but it is the way of the Lord for us to follow. It may hold much pain and reproach but for Christ it’s a privilege to suffer pain and reproach. We may lose certain things, but willingly too. In the words of Saint Paul
…what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ, yea doubtless and I count all things but loss for the Excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ. [Php 3:7-8]
This is the Christian life. A life lived for Christ and not for the self. A life that is ready to lose the world for the kingdom of God. But again, it’s a life that is full of power and glory for in giving up all for Christ you gain everything both in this world and in the world to come. Peter said unto Jesus Behold we have forsaken all and followed thee, what shall we have therefore? And Jesus said unto him
….. Ye which have followed me in the regeneration, when the son of man shall sit in the throne of His glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone that have forsaken houses or brethren, or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold and shall inherit eternal life.
CHALLENGES
- Have you ever been faced with a difficult choice in your walk with God? How did you handle it?
- Think of three things that are of the greatest importance to you, what would you do if you were to choose between them and Christ or if you were to lose them because of you faith in Christ?
PRAYERS: Ask God for the grace to love Him supremely
Read Yesterday’s ESOCS Devotional here
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ESOCS Devotional 30 October 2022
