The Daily Fountain Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 26 March 2023 – Absolute Allegiance
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TOPIC: Absolute Allegiance
READ: John 12: 20-32 (NKJV)
- Now there were certain Greeks among those who came up to worship at the feast.
- Then they came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.”
- Philip came and told Andrew, and in turn Andrew and Philip told Jesus.
- But Jesus answered them, saying, “The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified.
- “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.
- “He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.
- “If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him [My] Father will honor.
- ” Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour.
- “Father, glorify Your name.” Then a voice came from heaven, [saying,] “I have both glorified [it] and will glorify [it] again.”
- Therefore the people who stood by and heard [it] said that it had thundered. Others said, “An angel has spoken to Him.”
- Jesus answered and said, “This voice did not come because of Me, but for your sake.
- “Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out.
- “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all [peoples] to Myself.”
THE MESSAGE:
Jesus was talking about His death in our today’s text. However, He was not looking at His death as a loss but He reckoned it to be to His glory. He described it as a source of abundant fruitfulness for His death will produce a rich harvest of souls unto God (verse 24). However, it was not an easy decision to willingly sacrifice His life for the salvation of men. He is now imploring His servants to follow Him always; in other words, to be ready to sacrifice all for His sake.
Jesus covets our total allegiance to Him and to be fully committed to His ways. He did not promise us a smooth sail. There are bound to be challenges on the way and that is why He calls it a cross to be carried everywhere. However, He has promised to be with us till the end of the age. Be sure that any man who loses his life in this work for His sake, shall gain it. And again, the glory that is revealed in Jesus will also be revealed in His faithful servants. He desires us to lift Him up through all we do so that He can draw men to Himself. Are you committed to Jesus and to His work? Examine yourself to know where your allegiance lies; to God, man or the world?
PRAYER: Gracious God, help me to always obey You up in all I say and do now and always. Amen.
