LIVING WATER CAC DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE
Saturday, June 24, 2023.
BE GENEROUS (II)
Read: Luke 18:18-30
[18]Now a certain ruler asked Him, saying, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”
[19]So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God.
[20]You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’ ”
[21]And he said, “All these things I have kept from my youth.”
[22]So when Jesus heard these things, He said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”
[23]But when he heard this, he became very sorrowful, for he was very rich. With God All Things Are Possible
[24]And when Jesus saw that he became very sorrowful, He said, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!
[25]For 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 those who heard it said, “Who then can be saved?”
[27]But He said, “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.”
[28]Then Peter said, “See, we have left all and followed You.”
[29]So He said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or parents or brothers or wife or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God,
[30]who shall not receive many times more in this present time, and in the age to come eternal life.” Jesus a Third Time Predicts His Death and Resurrection
MEMORISE: Therefore, submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you (James 4:7).
EXPOSITION
Today's devotion is a continuation of what we started yesterday. There are about five things that your giving implies:
1. A true Worshipper: When Cain and Abel wanted to show the type of worshippers they were, they gave to God. Your giving will definitely show if you are a true worshipper of God or not. Also, your faith in God will be revealed through your giving. It is not right to go before God empty-handed, and stop claiming that you do not have what to give. The little you have, give in faith. Cain gave, but those things he gave were not acceptable by God for lack of faith (Gen. 4:1ff; Heb. 11:4).
2. Obedience: Giving is a command from God: give out and it will come back to you... (Luke 6:38). So, when you follow that injunction, you are definitely demonstrating your obedience to God. The man in our text wanted to justify himself and sought cheap means to enter the kingdom of God. He found it difficult to obey the injunction to sell his belonging and distribute it to the poor. Obedience is better than sacrifice....
3. Personality (The person you truly are): The giving habits of Cain and Abel revealed whom the two brothers were, likewise the Macedonian Church and the Corinthians Church (2 Cor. 8,9) respectively.
4. Acceptability: Anyone who forms the habit of coming before God empty-handed is not acceptable to God and cannot receive from God.
To have treasure in heaven is attached to the ability to sell and distribute to the poor against the expectation of the young rich man. If you are truly Christ's disciple as you claim, you must have been a cheerful and free giver, because giving is one of the ways of Christ's discipleship: Peter said, "We 've left out homes to follow you". Yes Jesus replied, "and I assure you that everyone who has given up house or wife..." (Lk. 18:28-30).
SUGGESTED HYMN FOR TODAY: CAC GHB Var. 1
1. O Bless our homes and family, and our brethren/ 2ce
The blessing of heaven and Thy divine help
Thy blessing of heaven, O give unto us all
Now give unto us, in this world and heav'n Father of heav'n.
2. Now refresh us, powerful Lord and care for us /2ce
With Thy comfort Lord, and
Thy perfect peace
With Thy presev'd care, O Lord take care of us.
We beseech Thee Lord, to answer our pray'rs Glorious King.
3. Father give us Holy Spirit and Thy power/ 2ce
Thou Servant of heav'n, and the gift from heav'n
The comfort of Father come into our hearts
Let Him dwell in us, and give us
Thy joy King of heaven.
4. We give praises and thanks unto heav'nly Father /2ce
Praise for present help. And for Thy mercies
And the joy for sparing our lives day by day
We give thanks to Thee, and we honour Thee
Thou our Father.
Amen.
PRAYER POINTS:
1. Lord, make me a true disciple of Yours, a true and cheerful giver.
2. The Spirit of obedience that will make me do according to Your instructions let it possess me, especially with respect to generosity.
3. Oh Lord, help believers to cherish having treasures in heaven than storing wealth on the earth where moths usually eat it up.
EXTRA READING FOR TODAY: Psalms 65:1-68:4
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