ESOCS Devotional 7 February 2021
TEXT: LUKE 6:27-38
MEMORY VERSE: “Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass that Jesus also being baptized and praying, the heaven was opened.” Luke 3:21
Every man desires mercy of the Lord, for “it is of His mercy that we are not consumed”. It was in His act of mercy that He heard the cry of Israel in Goshen, delivered them from bondage in Egypt, and gave them their own State, even Canaan that flows with milk and honey. It was in His mercy, born out of His love for humanity that He gave His only begotten Son to die in our stead, and pay the price for our sins. On the other hand, God expects us who are made in His image and likeness to replicate this divine attribute of showing mercy to one another in our relationships. The parable of the unmerciful servant who was forgiven all the debt he owed his master but refused to forgive the little debt owed him by his fellow servant (Matt. 18:24-35) emphasizes the command by our Lord Jesus Christ that we should be merciful, forgive, and consider one another in times of need and pains. An unforgiving spirit has no place in the kingdom of God and of His Christ. Remember that to err is human, but to forgive is divine. Therefore, be merciful as your Father in heaven is merciful.
Read yesterday’s ESOCS Devotional here
Again, the Lord commands us not to be judgmental. A society (be it State, religious or traditional) where judging and condemning other members’ action is encouraged may not have speedy progress, as hasty censure and condemnation results in self-withdrawal of the committed members. Innovative ideas are held back by proponents. But in a progressive society, they are freely suggested and discussed. Besides this, Jesus Christ also cautions that he who condemns others will himself also be condemned. Furthermore, Paul teaches that as fellow servants in God’s vineyard we should not be judgmental. Hear him: “Therefore, thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things” (Rom. 2:1).
We are too quick to censure and condemn our neighbours. If David knew that he was the culprit in Nathan’s parable, he would not have been hasty to condemn and sentence the offender to death. At last, when Nathan revealed to him: “Thou art the man”, he confessed his sin and asked for mercy instead of calling on the executioners to execute him (2 Sam.12:1-14).
Jesus Christ sets us a model against judging and condemning when He said to the woman taken in adultery: “Neither do I condemn thee; go and sin no more” (Jn. 8:11); especially when he said, “He that is without sin among you, let him cast the first stone at her” (Jn. 8:7).
CHALLENGES
Pray God to give you the forgiving heart of our Lord Jesus Christ.
PRAYER POINT
Pray God to give you the forgiving heart of our Lord Jesus Christ.
FURTHER READING: Matthew 7:1; Romans 2:1-3; Matthew 18: 24-35; John 8: 1-11
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ESOCS Devotional 7 February 2021
