ESOCS Devotional 4 January 2023
TEXT: LUKE 6:20-26
MEMORY VERSE: “Jesus looked at His disciples and said, ‘Happy are you poor, the Kingdom of God is yours.”’ Luke 6:20 GNB
The bulk of the teachings of Jesus centred on the spiritual importance of focusing on heavenly things, rather than on the things of the world. Hence in Luke 12:15, Jesus warns against every kind of greed. He insisted that life achievements are not measured by how much one owns.
In our text, the word “blessed” which could also be translated as “happy” is in reference to the state of happiness in the heart, which results from the sincere application of the following Christian virtues or characteristics:
- Poor in spirit (verse 20) – This implies that happiness is the result of humble living. It also means that for one to be really happy, there is a need to do away with pride and arrogance in one’s spiritual relationships with God. One must empty himself of self-reliance, and learn to humble himself before the Almighty God.
- Hunger and weep (verse 21). In Matthew 5:4, we note that lasting happiness awaits those who recognize their spiritual poverty, and thus, humbly grieve over their sinfulness. The humble believer recognizes his spiritual poverty, and thus mourns over his shortcomings before the Lord.
- Hated and persecuted (verse 22) – The implication here is that those who portray in their lives such heavenward characteristics will be seen and acknowledged as children of God. This recognition will certainly bring about hatred and persecution from people of the world who do not understand such a lifestyle (Mark 3:6; Acts 14:22, Galatians 4:29, 2 Timothy 2:3, 9, 10).
True Christians are persecuted because they refuse to walk in the darkness of this world (1 Peter 3:14, 4:4, 16). The Christian is admonished to rather rejoice in the face of all manners of maltreatment from worldly people. This can only be the attitude of those who have truly come to understand the inner nature of true Christian life. They are able to rejoice in persecution because they know that life exists beyond this world (Acts 5:41; Romans 8:17; Colossians 1:24).
We are therefore assured that eternal joy and happiness await those who are able to discipline themselves and live in tune with the leading of the Holy Spirit.
- Endure hardship and persecution here and enjoy eternal glory in paradise. What is your
view on this?
- God, our Father, grant me the grace to live according to your commands, so I can make
heaven.
FURTHER READING: Leviticus 23:6-44; Song of Songs 1:9-2:17, Ephesians 4:1-16
Read Yesterday’s ESOCS Devotional here
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ESOCS Devotional 4 January 2023
