November 22, 2020 CAC Living Water Devotional : Topic – : BEWARE! DO NOT LOOK BACK (2)
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CHRIST APOSTOLIC CHURCH
THE LIVING WATER
DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE
Sunday, November 22, 2020
TOPIC: BEWARE! DO NOT LOOK BACK (2)
Read 2 Timothy 2:1-7
[1]Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
[2]And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
[3]Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
[4]No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.
[5]And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.
[6]The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits.
[7]Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.
MEMORISE: No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier (2 Timothy 2:4)
EXPOSITION
Our memory scripture is a picture of a Roman soldier who is concerned only in the military affairs of the great empire. Such soldiers have no thought or care outside the profession of which he was so proud. They have nothing to do with buying or selling or any of the many employments of civil life. In some countries, military men live only in the barracks. So should it be with the earnest and faithful Christian; paramount and above any earthly considerations. Christ should be number one in the life of a serious Christian. The soldier of Christ should never allow himself to be entangled in any earthly business which would interfere with his duty to his own General. Only those soldiers whose hearts and soul devote themselves to their military work, win the heart of their commander.
Paul used a comparison with soldiers, athletes, and farmers who must discipline themselves and be willing to sacrifice to achieve the results they want. Like soldiers, we have to give up worldly security and endure rigorous discipline. Like athletes, we must train hard and follow the rules. Like farmers, we must work extremely hard and be patient. But we keep going despite suffering because of the thought of victory, the vision of winning, and the hope of harvest. We will see that our suffering is worthwhile when we achieve our goal of glorifying God, and one day, living eternally with Him.
PRAYER POINTS
1. Lord Jesus, please give me the grace never to allow myself to be entangled in any earthly business which would interfere with my Christian race.
2. Father, kindly endow me with the power of Holy Spirit to keep going in my Christian race despite suffering, or any other challenges.
3. Lord Jesus, return to our churches, the spirit of perseverance, discipline, hard work and patience as of old.
EXTRA READING FOR TODAY: Ezekiel 17