THE DAILY FOUNTAIN DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE OF THE CHURCH OF NIGERIA (ANGLICAN COMMUNION)
DATE: FRIDAY, 17TH MARCH, 2023
TOPIC: DEAL WITH THE UNREGENERATE HEART
TEXT: MARK 10: 1-32
1. Then He arose from there and came to the region of Judea by the other side of the Jordan. And multitudes gathered to Him again, and as He was accustomed, He taught them again.
2. The Pharisees came and asked Him, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce [his] wife?" testing Him.
3. And He answered and said to them, "What did Moses command you?"
4. They said, "Moses permitted [a man] to write a certificate of divorce, and to dismiss [her."]
5. And Jesus answered and said to them, "Because of the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept.
6. "But from the beginning of the creation, God 'made them male and female.'
7. 'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife,
8. 'and the two shall become one flesh'; so then they are no longer two, but one flesh.
9. "Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate."
10. In the house His disciples also asked Him again about the same [matter.]
11. So He said to them, "Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her.
12. "And if a woman divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery."
13. Then they brought little children to Him, that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked those who brought [them.]
14. But when Jesus saw [it,] He was greatly displeased and said to them, "Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God.
15. "Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it."
16. And He took them up in His arms, put [His] hands on them, and blessed them.
17. Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, "Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?"
18. So Jesus said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one [is] good but One, [that is,] God.
19. "You know the commandments: 'Do not commit adultery,' 'Do not murder,' 'Do not steal,' 'Do not bear false witness,' 'Do not defraud,' 'Honor your father and your mother.' "
20. And he answered and said to Him, "Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth."
21. Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, "One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me."
22. But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
23. Then Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, "How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!"
24. And the disciples were astonished at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, "Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God!
25. "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."
26. And they were greatly astonished, saying among themselves, "Who then can be saved?"
27. But Jesus looked at them and said, "With men [it is] impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible."
28. Then Peter began to say to Him, "See, we have left all and followed You."
29. So Jesus answered and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel's,
30. "who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time -- houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions -- and in the age to come, eternal life.
31. "But many [who are] first will be last, and the last first."
32. Now they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was going before them; and they were amazed. And as they followed they were afraid. Then He took the twelve aside again and began to tell them the things that would happen to Him:
MESSAGE:
In today’s text, Jesus addresses Marriage and Love for Him. Today, divorce is rampant against God’s will (see Mal.2:15-16). The cause is hardness of heart from one or both partners. This made Moses, legal practitioners etc to permit divorce but from the beginning it was so (Mark 10:5-9). It is important to focus more in dealing with this hardness of heart caused by an unregenerate nature. If this nature is dealt with, marriages will succeed because each partner will want to please God as a child (vs.15). The was the problem of the rich young man who came to inquire about the conditions for eternal life (vs.17-22). The man obeyed the ten commandments but was unable to give up his possessions. A regenerated heart will willingly surrender all to Jesus. Such a man will be patient with the impatient, love the unlovable, sacrifice his all in austere times if God commands and seek peace even when he is innocent during marital misunderstandings.
God calls us today to give us a new heart and Spirit (Ezek. 36:25-27). This transformation will give the enablement to give all for Christ when He requires it, to conduct our marriage relationships and other aspects of our lives within His prescribed laws. Beloved, allow God to destroy the stony heart in your life and fill you with His Spirit today so that you can do His bidding.
PRAYER:
O Lord, circumcise my heart to follow You at all costs, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
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