ESOCS Devotional 4 August 2024 – Submit to No Other Person Than God
MEMORY VERSE: “When his family heard about it, they set out to take charge of him, because people were saying, he’s gone mad” Mark 3:21 GNV
TEXT: MARK 3:15-22
and to have power to heal sicknesses and to cast out demons: 16 Simon, to whom He gave the name Peter; 17 James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James, to whom He gave the name Boanerges, that is, “Sons of Thunder”; 18 Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Cananite; 19 and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him. And they went into a house.
20 Then the multitude came together again, so that they could not so much as eat bread. 21 But when His own people heard about this, they went out to lay hold of Him, for they said, “He is out of His mind.”
22 And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, “He has Beelzebub,” and, “By the ruler of the demons He casts out demons.”
Read Other ESOCS Devotional here
Submission to God and to no other person is very important for those who are sure that they have been called to serve a purpose.
Jesus Christ came to lay the foundation of God’s righteousness through the scripture. His mission was time-bound and so He needed and did raise and commission men who will walk and work after Him. It is one key mark of those who are called to serve a purpose. They raise others to continue after them (Mark 3:15-19). We must follow that path. Work with people and raise them to be qualified to do what God has anointed you to do.
Success in the work of God breeds criticism and hatred more than commendation and love. There is nothing the righteous will do to please this wicked world. If the Saviour of mankind could not please men, it is certain that you who follow Jesus Christ cannot please them. One among the twelve betrayed Jesus Christ. He was accused by the Jews and teachers of the law. In fact, the they now decided to subject him under their control. (Mark 3:19-22). We must know these and be sure that we are not discouraged or give up in order to follow the will of men. Jesus did not give up.
In all, Jesus subdued them with the word of God. He knew that Satan was at work. So, He fought them with the word of God. We must learn to apply the word of God to every life situation that rises against our mission in Christ Jesus. Defend your position with the scripture and lean on it. Men will fail but God will never fail you. Men will mock you but God will honour and bless you, if you don’t abandon the race because of what people desire, do or say about what God has made you become.
- Have you been enticed with contrary views or persuaded to abandon your place in Christ?
- Lord, please don’t let me derail. Give me the strength to prevail over all contrary situations, in Jesus name. Amen.
Further Reading: Exodus 24:12-end; Judges 7:1-23; Mark 3:15-22; Luke 9:28-45
ESOCS Devotional 4 August 2024
