PROF.
BEN ONYEUKWU (REV.)
NCE(Eng.) ND/HD (Journalism); BA (Hons)
MA, PhD.
BLESSINGS OF THE GOSPEL
Devotional
Text: Luke 18:28-30
Introduction:
“The Sunday School Lesson of today has a close affinity with that
of last week. However, it is important to stress here that in as much as the
former (Blessings in Doing God’s Word) concentrates on the benefits in living
by the dictates of God’s word, the latter seeks to analyze the advantages of
the believer over the non-believer in terms of physical blessings.
GENERAL
REMARKS
(1)
The blessings of the gospel require forsaking all to follow Jesus,
(vs. 29)
(2)
The blessings of the gospel are many kinds (manifold), (vs. 30).
(3)
The blessings of the gospel are many in the present time, (vs.
n30).
(4)
The final blessings of the gospel is eternal life, (vs. 30)
BALANCING
OUR CONCEPTION ON FORSAKING ALL FOR THE KINGDOM, (LUKE 18:28-30)
The
Bible emphasis on forsaking all for the kingdom sake is not a call for one to
desert or abandon one’s family, but rather a call to relinquish every family
philosophy that does not favour the principles of the gospel. The physical
abandonment of one’s wife, children, brother, sisters etc, would be counter
productive, since it is God’s plan to seek and save them. Therefore, forsaking
all for the sake of the kingdom would mean;
(i)
relinquishing every family prejudice which one shares against
others, (John 4:6-9)
(ii)
relinquishing all unfriendly disposition which one shares with
wife, father, mother, brother, sister, etc (Col. 3:12-14).
(iii)
relinquishing all forms of ungodliness which one shares with
family members (Titus 2:11-12).
THE
BLESSINGS OF THE GOSPEL ON EARTH, (MARK 10:28-30)
Bear
in mind that the relinquishing of one’s family philosophies and ungodly ties
that are opposed to the principles of the gospel will undoubtedly trigger off
persecutions. Consequently, the believer by such a development may face
deprivation or banishment. Whatever the case may be, the believer should note
that persecutions are not allowed to consume one, but serve as stepping
stones that lead one to the point of one’s blessing. So, the manifold blessings
for following Jesus would;
(i)
open ways to extended brotherhood, (Mark 3:35)
(ii)
open ways to economic prosperity (Matt. 6:31-33)
(iii)
open ways to communal sharing, etc. (Acts 4:32-25), etc.
THE
BLESSINGS OF THE GOSPEL IN HEAVEN, (VS 30)
“The
Kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, when a man found it, he
hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought the
field, (Matt. 13:44).
The
parable of the kingdom of heaven as cited above indicates that heaven is a
point for invaluable blessings. The climax of one’s blessing is the making of
heaven, hereafter. Biblically, it is obvious that next to the angelic welcome
that one receives in heaven are:
(i)
access to the tree of life, (Rev. 2:7)
(ii)
receiving of a citizenship certificate and a glorious body, (Phi.
3:20-21)
(iii)
access to eternal inheritance and rewards, (1Pt. 1:3-5; Matt.
5:12).
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