ESOCS Devotional 4 May 2024 – Genuine Miracles Proclaim Themselves
MEMORY VERSE: “But the man went away and began to spread the news everywhere. Indeed, he talked so much that Jesus could not go into town publicly. Instead, He stayed out in lonely places, and people came to Him from everywhere.”Mark 1:45 GNB
TEXT: EXODUS 3: 13-22
Then Moses said to God, “Indeed, when I come to the children of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they say to me, ‘What is His name?’ what shall I say to them?”
14 And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And He said, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ ” 15 Moreover God said to Moses, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel: ‘The Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you. This is My name forever, and this is My memorial to all generations.’ 16 Go and gather the elders of Israel together, and say to them, ‘The Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, appeared to me, saying, “I have surely visited you and seen what is done to you in Egypt; 17 and I have said I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt to the land of the Canaanites and the Hittites and the Amorites and the Perizzites and the Hivites and the Jebusites, to a land flowing with milk and honey.” ’ 18 Then they will heed your voice; and you shall come, you and the elders of Israel, to the king of Egypt; and you shall say to him, ‘The Lord God of the Hebrews has met with us; and now, please, let us go three days’ journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God.’ 19 But I am sure that the king of Egypt will not let you go, no, not even by a mighty hand. 20 So I will stretch out My hand and strike Egypt with all My wonders which I will do in its midst; and after that he will let you go. 21 And I will give this people favor in the sight of the Egyptians; and it shall be, when you go, that you shall not go empty-handed. 22 But every woman shall ask of her neighbor, namely, of her who dwells near her house, articles of silver, articles of gold, and clothing; and you shall put them on your sons and on your daughters. So you shall plunder the Egyptians.”
Read Other ESOCS Devotional here
The primary function of the Christian priesthood is to preach and teach the gospel everywhere and in all nations of the world. Those who receive the good news should be baptized as a token of the saving grace (Mark 1:15-16). In verse 17 of Mark 1, we note that miraculous signs and wonders naturally follow everyone that believes. These were the philosophy and strategies Jesus adopted in His days. However, in our text, the leper confronted Jesus, as soon as He entered the city to teach the people. But He had compassion on him and healed him. He also warned him not to announce the miracle, to avoid other sick people crowding around Him and to disrupt the main business of teaching the word of God. The man would not heed the instruction, as he went to town with the news in uncontrollable excitement.
This is one of the worst ironies of life. Man’s desire to focus on the fleshly benefits and material blessings almost always supersedes his desire the have his soul healed and saved. In this case, as in many other cases, Jesus wanted the people to first receive and understand what He was teaching, before resorting to healing and other miracles. In other words, Jesus sought to draw people first into the pure wisdom of God, before they were drawn by material blessings and other physical needs.
Here comes the greatest undoing of the Christian priesthood of today. People are busy running from one Church to another, searching for signs and wonders. Many ministers too are so busy advertising their sometimes ‘false’ ability to heal, deliver and make people prosper. This is unfortunate. Worse still, the core message of the Church (John 3:3), has been trodden to the ground, and helplessly crying for help.
Many believers today tend to have forgotten the admonition of the Master in Matthew 6:33, thus: “… seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Take heed to yourselves. Genuine miracles are not found on billboards or in captivating television advertisements. They follow the truth in the word of God effectively presented.
- Physical needs or spiritual healing, which is to be preferred?
- Lord Jesus, give me the grace to seek the Kingdom first.
Further Reading: Exodus 4:1-17; 1 Kings 5:1-12; 2 Peter 1:12-21
ESOCS Devotional 4 May 2024
