Bible Reading: 1 Sam. 7, 8 & 9. Luke 9:21-41.
“Who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem.” – Luke 9:31 (KJV).
Our memory verse talks about Moses and Elijah appearing to Jesus to speak to him about his death! Did Jesus not know about his death before this day? Surely he did as he spoke of it even in verse 22 of the same chapter. But they still came to talk to him about it which signifies the importance of his death. While many of us do not like to talk about death, the fact that two others came to talk about it to Jesus shows that we should be prepared for it. They did not only speak of it but also mentioned where it would take place! Luke 9:31 (KJV) says, “Who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem.”
How can you be prepared? It is by examining your lives every day and checking that it is in line with the word of God for you. It is necessary for you to note that while you may not be able to determine your place of birth, you can choose where you go after death by what you do here on earth! This is why the Lord Jesus says in Luke 9:23 (KJV), “And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” So you need to examine your life every day to ensure you remain in Christ.
The starting point on this is to examine your thoughts every time. As they come into your heart, you should dismiss all the negative ones immediately as they represent temptations that Satan throws at you to make you fail. Lord Jesus states in Matthew 15:19 (KJV), “For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:” These are temptations that you should deal with every day as they defile you if you ponder over them instead of saying no and refusing to process them. When you dismiss them continuously, you gradually get transformed as less of evil thoughts come to your heart. This is why Romans 6:11-12 (KJV) states: “Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.”
Prayer: Father, help me to live a life pleasing to you every moment of my life in Jesus name.
Bro. Biodun Oyapero