Devotional Guide, Today’s Reading Friday July 28, 2023

Theme: RECEIVING THE KINGDOM OF GOD AS A LITTLE CHILD

Introduction: By precept and example, our Lord Jesus Christ drove home the very important point that those who will be approved for Salvation must possess the character of children. He himself made the declaration: “Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.” Mark 10:14,15

 

Children are generally humble, obedient, forgiving, tolerant, trusting and inquisitive. True, they may sometimes fight and quarrel over petty things but before long, they easily put their differences aside and resume their friendship like nothing ever came up. Children therefore are living pictures of the virtues Christians need to imbibe before their claim of true discipleship will be genuine.

Text: “Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.” – 1 Corinthians 14:20.

Comment: In the text for today, St. Paul exhorts the Corinthian believers on rightly exercising spiritual gift, especially that of tongues. It was observed that they delighted themselves in it yet were deficient in proper spiritual discernment which is attained overtime from constantly hearing God’s word and meditating on it. When we hear and put God’s ordinances to practice, we would be said to have understanding, and in turn run away from evil. (Job 28:28; Colossians 1:9, 10) In contrast, Christian converts are expected to behave like infants when it comes to such vices as malice, hatred, etc. This suggests humility, gentleness innocence of children as Apostle Paul stated, “Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; Be of the same mind one toward another. …but condescend to men of low estate…” – Romans 12:10, 16.

                          CONTACT US AT GKS