CHRIST APOSTOLIC CHURCH
THE LIVING WATER DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE
DATE: Friday, July 14, 2023
TOPIC: WHERE ARE YOU?
MEMORISE:
Then the LORD God called to Adam and said to him, "Where are you?" *(Genesis 3:9).*
READ: Luke 1:5-15
5. There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah. His wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.
6. And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.
7. But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well advanced in years.
8. So it was, that while he was serving as priest before God in the order of his division,
9. according to the custom of the priesthood, his lot fell to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.
10. And the whole multitude of the people was praying outside at the hour of incense.
11. Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense.
12. And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.
13. But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.
14. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth.
15. For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb.
EXPOSITION
The acronym, AWOL, meaning. "Absent Without Leave" is a register in the military. A soldier is required to be at his/her duty post at any given point in time. Absence from duty without permission attracts severe punishment. In some government establishments, it is hard to find some of the workers in their offices. Even, some hardly come to work. The irritating thing is that, even so called Christians are into this act.
Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit and were out of place before God. No wonder God called unto them, asking where they were. That call was from a familiar voice they recognised. The same call is sounding to you, dear reader Where are you? Hope the enticement of the world hasn't taken you away as it took Demas away (2 Tim. 4:10)?
The funniest part is that, you may be a chorister, choirmaster, usher, church midwife, teacher, evangelist, pastor, prophet and still be out of place before God. Luke 1:6 shows that Zachariah and Elizabeth were both in right standing with God, i.e they were righteous before God, following His commands and ordinances, blamelessly, before they offered their services. Your position in church or elsewhere doesn't determine your placement before God. You may have all the titles in this world and still be out of God's sight. It is instructive that *many will say to* Christ *in that day, "Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?* But He would shock them, *"I never knew you"* (Matt. 7: 22-23). Where are you? There is still time to return to Him as you are reading this.
SUGGESTED HYMN FOR TODAY:
CAC GHB 738
1. To the work, to the work! we are servants of God;
Let us follow the path that our
Master has trod;
With the balm of His counsel our strength to renew;
Let us do with our might what our hands find to do;
Chorus:
Toiling on, toiling on,
Toiling on, toiling on,
Let us hope, let us watch,
And labour till the Master comes.
2. To the work, to the work! let the hungry be fed,
To the fountain of life let the weary be led;
In the cross and its banner our glory shall be;
While we herald the tidings, salvation is free;
3. To the work, to the work! there is labour for all,
For the kingdom of darkness and error shall fall;
And the name of Jehovah exalted shall be
In the loud-swelling chorus,
Salvation is free.
4. To the work, to the work in the strength of the Lord,
And a robe and a crown shall our labour reward;
When the home of the faithful our dwelling shall be,
And we shout with the ransomed,
"Salvation is free."
Amen.
PRAYER POINTS
1. Lord Jesus, I am sorry for abandoning my place in Your presence; have mercy on me.
2. Lord, help me to regularly examine myself (2 Cor. 13:5), so that I don't ignorantly stray from Your presence.
3. Father, call to order, ministers who are straying away from You but still claiming to be working for You before it is too late.
EXTRA READING FOR TODAY: Psalms 114:1-118:9
AUTHOR: CAC Worldwide
