May 12, 2020 CAC living Water Devotional :- PORTRAIT OF DEDICATED LOVE
Read previous CAC living Water Devotionals here
CHRIST APOSTOLIC CHURCH
THE LIVING WATER {Jan ~ June, 2020}
DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE
Tuesday, May 12, 2020
– International Nurses Day
TOPIC: PORTRAIT OF DEDICATED LOVE
Read 2 Corinthians 12:14-18
[14]Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burdensome to you: for I seek not yours, but you: for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.[15]And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.[16]But be it so, I did not burden you: nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you with guile.[17]Did I make a gain of you by any of them whom I sent unto you?[18]I desired Titus, and with him I sent a brother. Did Titus make a gain of you? walked we not in the same spirit? walked we not in the same steps?
MEMORISE: And I will very gladly spend and be spent for your souls, though the more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved (2 Corinthians 12:15)
EXPOSITION
Paul’s spirit of dedicated love to the gospel of Christ and those he preached the gospel to, is an example for all ministers of the gospel today. He willingly gave the totality of his life to the preaching of the gospel and edification of the church. Today, we live in the age, when ministers see church planting as a business centre. In the day of our fathers in faith – Apostle Ayo Babalola, Prophet Akande at Ede, etc., churches were planted solely for the sake of the gospel, without claiming ownership of them. Many ministers today plant churches as their family ‘cocoa plantations’, to be inherited by their wives and/or children. Missionary Paul didn’t do that. He followed the example of Christ that we should also follow.
Paul’s spirit of dedicated love portrays a dedicated love like that of a father to his children. It is a love that is ready to be spent to the uttermost, for the sake of their souls. A love that does not think of itself, but bestows genuine concern to those under its care. ‘Now for the third time I am ready to come to you. And I will not be burdensome to you; for I do not seek yours, but you. For the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children’ (2 Cor. 12:14). Paul sought nothing in return for all God had used him to do for the people, but the response of their hearts, turned toward Christ. Every minister of the gospel should earnestly pursue this type of love.
Sincerely ask yourself: Why am I into the ministry – for God’s glory and benefit of humanity, or for the sake of my purse? Honest answer to this defines your ministry’s motive, and will help to better you in that ministry (2 Cor. 13:5ff).
PRAYER POINTS
1. Lord Jesus, let the spirit of dedicated love for the Gospel fill my heart.
2. Father, the grace to willingly give the totality of our lives to the preaching of the gospel, restore in our churches, today.
3. Holy Spirit, let Your Spirit of dedicated love to the gospel as of old, return to all Christian missions in this nation, in Jesus’ name.
EXTRA READING FOR TODAY: 2 Samuel 15 – 17 & 1 Corinthians 1
Author: C.A.C WORLDWIDE
Remain blessed!