ESOCS Devotional 31 May 2022
TEXT: MATTHEW 20:17-28
MEMORY VERSE: “The road the righteous travel is like the sunrise, getting brighter and brighter until daylight has come.” Proverbs 4:18 GNB
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 ”
The human heart is the seat of the brainpower; it is the workshop of our feelings, and the origination of our will (Proverbs 4:23). It follows therefore that the works of wickedness or righteousness are constructed and done in the human heart. Come what may, God knows the innermost part of man. He understands the heart of every person. Does your heart produce works of wickedness or righteousness? God knows it all. He constantly examines each heart, to seeits true works. In other words, the actions of humans are centered in the heart (Ex. 25:2). God is fully aware of this (Gen. 6:5; 1 Sam. 16:7).
The ways of wise persons are the ways of righteousness. This is the lifestyle that leads to blessings and long life, even unto eternal life. It is a way of life where one is preserved from unnecessary stumbling and shame.
On the contrary, the way of the wicked heart is filled with disaster. The wicked heart hardly enjoys sound sleep, day ornight (v 16). They are constantly committed to their evil ways. They do not have peace until they have done misery to the lives of others (v 16). The wicked heart is selfish. They show little or no concern for the welfare of other people.
There is a great difference between the upright heart and the wicked heart. The righteous heart works the work of wisdom. But the wicked heart hatches evil always. More so, the righteous heart brings light to life, while the wicked heart is a witness to works of darkness. As a matter of fact, while the righteous heart glories in wisdom, the evil heartoverflows with foolishness.
In all, who can understand the human heart, except God, the Maker. There is nothing on earth so deceitful like the human heart (Jer. 17:9-10). It is ‘too sick’ to be fully healed. Therefore, we as God’s children, ought to pray always for God to take charge of our hearts. By so doing, He may cut out any evil that lingers in our hearts, and then prepare us for blessings and peace here on earth, and eternal life, hereafter.
- Outside God’s grace, the human heart is wicked and produces all kinds of evil actions. But the true believer’s heartis softened, recreated and purified by God unto obedience and good works. Meditate on this statement.
- O God, create in me a clean heart, and renew an upright spirit within my heart.
Read Other ESOCS Devotional here
FURTHER READING: Job 23:1-12; John 6:1-14; John 17:1-8
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ESOCS Devotional 31 May 2022
