June 26, 2020 CAC Living Water Devotional :- SHOW YOUR CARE NOW
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CAC LIVING WATER DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE.
Friday, June 26, 2020.
International Day in Support of Victims of Torture!
SHOW YOUR CARE NOW
Read Matthew 25:35-45.
35. For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
36. Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
37. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
38. When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
39. Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
40. And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
41. Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
42. For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:
43. I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
44. Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
45. Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.
MEMORISE: But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores (Luke. 16:20-21)*
EXPOSITION
It is always observed that many people do gather at funerals at least to pay their last respect to, and show their love for the dead. Moreover, they want to identify with the bereaved in their dark moments. This could be a pretty nice thing to do, but now better would it be if all this show of love and concern for the departed had been during his/her life time! Today’s devotional guide seeks to charge us to have a positive rethink about our attitudes to people around us.
Imagine someone you bluntly refused to help, while you had the capacity, ends up dying in the sorrow and penury. Of what use is your mourning him after you watched him die wretched. Some well-to-do ones do not help because they believe those who need their assistance may not pay back. When you are expecting returns, having helped someone, you have not really helped. What you have amerely done is business (cf. Prov. 19:17).
While your needy neighbour still lives, you are presented with a golden opportunity to sow seed according to your ability, in his/her life, not after the demise. Although, it is good to care for the dead or the bereaved, it is mere medicine after death, if no care has been shown while the deceased’s existence lasted on earth.
It is high time we began to change our mentality. The matter concerns children to their parents. We are obliged to take good care of our parents, as much as it is within our reach. You never knew your last opportunity to bless someone: “Don’t come for my funeral to show how much you cared about me. Show how much you do care while I am alive”, wrote Futusion. Let people God has placed around you feel your care and concern, in your own ‘little’ way.
PRAYER POINT:
1. Help me, O Lord, to love and care for others, like You do.
2. Pray that our children shall not be wicked ones who abandon their parents during their lifetime, only to paint everywhere blue at their funerals.
3. Pray that God should restore the passion for hospital evangelism in our churches.
EXTRA READING FOR TODAY: 2 Chronicles. 3-5 & 1 Thessalonians. 3-4