ESOCS Devotional 4 December 2022
TEXT: JOHN 18:1-11
MEMORY VERSE: “Yet the children of your people say, ‘The way of the Lord is not fair.’ But it is their way which is not fair!” Ezekiel 33:17
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 ”
Many a time people make outbursts of anger against God because of the pressures of life, especially when they get into difficulties or during trial and temptations. They blame God and everyone else for their predicament and try to absolve themselves from guilt or any fault. They make conscious efforts at justifying themselves; and do not see any reason they should be going through such terrible times. They compare themselves to other people around them who may not be having the same experiences. They say God has abandoned them. They accuse Him of overlooking the sins of others and particularly singling them out for trouble. They wonder why they would be serving and worshiping Him in poverty, pain, and distress, whereas others who may not be Christians are having a good time in life. They say God is not being fair to them!
But God is fair to all mankind. Our Lord Jesus said, “… He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust” (Matt. 5:45). His ways are just and perfect. He cannot be faulted. Psalm 18:30 says, “As for God, His way is perfect …” and “there is no unrighteousness in Him” (Ps. 92:15). In Psalm 145:17, the word of God says, “The Lord is righteous in all His ways, gracious in all His works” and “… He will do no unrighteousness. Every morning He brings His justice to light; He never fails…” (Zephaniah 3:5).
All these are true. Sometimes we pass through rough moments in life because God trying to turn us around so that we become good. Deuteronomy 8:5 says, “You should know in your heart that as a man chastens his son, so the Lord your God chastens you;” and that “whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives” (Heb. 12:6). Sometimes we are passing through our moment of spiritual growth, which is a great necessity. For we need to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” (2 Pet. 3:18). Perhaps we have failed to grow spiritually overtime through the word of God. We may not have been taking the word of God seriously and He designs a way to bring us back to our senses. The psalmist acknowledged this truth when he said, “Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep your word” (Ps 119:67). He saw the corrective measure of God as good and appreciated it. He said, “It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may learn your statutes” (Ps. 119:71).
Let us reason like the psalmist did. For God is not wicked! Everything He does is for our own benefit. In the end, we shall see His good intentions for us and we would be thankful. The Scripture counsels us to “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thess. 5:16-18). Let us be thankful.
CHALLENGES
- Think and write down the good things God has done for you and give Him thanks.
- Write down all the unfavourable experiences you have had in live and give God thanks.
PRAYERS
- Pray the Holy Spirit to help you develop the attitude of praising God in all situations.
- Pray for increased and clear understanding of the ways of God and His will for you.
Read Yesterday’s ESOCS Devotional here
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ESOCS Devotional 4 December 2022
