ESOCS Devotional 8 April 2023
MEMORY VERSE: “Father will be divided against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.”
TEXT: LUKE 12:49–59
49 “I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! 50 But I have a baptism to undergo, and what constraint I am under until it is completed! 51 Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division. 52 From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, three against two and two against three. 53 They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”
54 He said to the crowd: “When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, ‘It’s going to rain,’ and it does. 55 And when the south wind blows, you say, ‘It’s going to be hot,’ and it is.56 Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky. How is it that you don’t know how to interpret this present time?
57 “Why don’t you judge for yourselves what is right? 58 As you are going with your adversary to the magistrate, try hard to be reconciled on the way, or your adversary may drag you off to the judge, and the judge turn you over to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison. 59 I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.”
Read Yesterday’s ESOCS Devotional here
The teachings of Christ and the demands of the Christian faith are radically different from the way of the world. A follower of Christ will be misunderstood in many things. There are things he will not do for the light of the gospel shines in his heart. He has received an understanding of things in a way that is different from how the world sees things. By the new life he has received, his values and priorities have changed. Essentially, he has become different from the world in everything. His loyalty is first to God; and his target is Heaven. His heart is removed from the world and set in heaven as he moves steadily in the pilgrim’s journey. By this, he will deviate from the norm and disappoint many. This will bring him in conflict with the world; for the world does not agree with the way of the Lord.
Christ says that His ministry will kindle fire on the earth. This fire will burn in families causing divisions among them. Father and son will disagree; mother and daughter will disagree; and in-laws will disagree. This is a natural fall out of the coming of the kingdom of God and the making of kingdom citizens.
Every child of God should know this and remain steadfast in his walk with God. The journey will not be easy. The pressure will mount, things may become dangerous and the life of the Christian threatened. Don’t give up on your faith. Fight the good fight of faith with all your might and be sure that the crown of glory awaits you.
- Have you ever been faced with a situation where you were required to act contrary to the Christian faith?
- How will you best handle this kind of situation?
- ear Lord, I ask for your strength and wisdom as I face the challenges that may confront me in life. Give me the grace to stand firmly in you in time of trials. May you protect us from evil. Amen.
FURTHER READING: 2 Samuel 19:16-30; Jeremiah 32:1-15; Matthew 26:57-68; Luke 18:9-14
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ESOCS Devotional 8 April 2023
