January 10, 2021 CAC Living Water Devotional : Topic – HAPPY BIRTHDAY; HAPPY PREPARATION!
Read previous CAC Living Water Devotionals here
LIVING WATER CAC DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE
Sunday, January 1, 2021
HAPPY BIRTHDAY; HAPPY PREPARATION!
Read: Joshua 14:6-12
Joshua 14:6-12 Then the children of Judah came unto Joshua in Gilgal: and Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite said unto him, Thou knowest the thing that the Lord said unto Moses the man of God concerning me and thee in Kadeshbarnea.
Forty years old was I when Moses the servant of the Lord sent me from Kadeshbarnea to espy out the land; and I brought him word again as it was in mine heart.
Nevertheless my brethren that went up with me made the heart of the people melt: but I wholly followed the Lord my God.
And Moses sware on that day, saying, Surely the land whereon thy feet have trodden shall be thine inheritance, and thy children’s for ever, because thou hast wholly followed the Lord my God.
And now, behold, the Lord hath kept me alive, as he said, these forty and five years, even since the Lord spake this word unto Moses, while the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness: and now, lo, I am this day fourscore and five years old.
As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in.
Now therefore give me this mountain, whereof the Lord spake in that day; for thou heardest in that day how the Anakims were there, and that the cities were great and fenced: if so be the Lord will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as the Lord said.
MEMORISE:
So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom
(Psalms 90:12)
EXPOSITION
Is today your birthday? Or, when is yours? Congratulations! Just anyone celebrating his/her birthday would feel on top of the world, most especially, where it is celebrated with pump and pageantry. But is that all? No, of course. There are issues of greater and deeper significance to be considered. What next? What helped Caleb to stay strong all through would also help us.
Whether you are celebrating your birthday now, or whenever it comes up, you must be the type who prepares for a better tomorrow in Christ Jesus. A look at the statements of Caleb in our text shows his belief in and relationship with Yahweh. He knew and trusted God for the fulfilment of the future He had for him. How can we do that today? Settle your spiritual birthday, first. Are you born again? Jesus makes this mandatory (Jn.3:3,5).
You can’t forget your spiritual birthday, if you truly have one; remember Saul’s experience (Acts 9:1ff). Then, be more determined to live for Jesus as you worship and serve Him (cf. Jos.24:15), avoid anxiety/worries (Phil.1:6; cf. Matt.6:31ff) and bitterness, not like David who was still vengeful on his deathbed (1 Kgs. 2:5ff). And make your life count by influencing and investing in others.
The second preparation is for the end. No matter the number of birthdays you celebrate, do you think of the unavoidable deathday (cf. Heb.9:27)? No wonder Moses prayed, *… teach us to number our days… (Psa. 90:12a). In all you do, expect the unstoppable return of our Lord Jesus Christ and let your life be moderated by this, on daily basis (Col.3:1ff). Finally, as we journey along in the Christian race, regularly examine yourself in line with the Scripture (God’s Word), so that you don’t sway in the end (2 Cor.13:5).
Some of the birthdays celebrated in the Bible ended up in chaos. Take Herod’s that ended up in the beheading of John the Baptist (Matt.14:3-12). Pharaoh’s birthday also led to the death of someone (Gen.40:20-22). This is because they had the wrong perspective of the whole thing. Birthday should refocus us on Christ, better living, and glorious end (Psa. 90:12a).
PRAYER POINTS:
1. Pray for as many as are celebrating their Birthday today all over the world, and remember yours, also, in pray.
2. Lord, help me to be more focussed on making my life count than just counting days and years.
3. Lord, deliver me from everything in me that can make my end to be nothing to be desired at all.
EXTRA READING FOR TODAY: Genesis 23:5-24:48; Matthew 7:27-8:19