AUGUST 7, 2021 CAC LIVING WATER DEVOTIONAL : TOPIC – DOING GOD’S WORK DECEITFULLY
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LIVING WATER CAC DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE
Saturday, August 7, 2021
DOING GOD’S WORK DECEITFULLY
Read: 1 Samuel 15:1-9
MEMORISE:
Cursed is he who does the work of the Lord deceitfully (Jeremiah 48:10)
EXPOSITION
Paul urges believers to always give themselves fully to the work of the Lord. That is, believers are to be unrepentantly devoted to God’s work (1 Cor. 15:58). In context of our memory scripture, the work of the Lord, is intended as the execution of the judgements of God according to His divine commandments. Therefore, the Lord’s work is done deceitfully when it is not done according to His divine commandments, or when it is done for another end than God prescribes.
In our Bible passage for this dose of the Living Water (1 Sam. 15:1-9), God commanded that the Amalekites be utterly blotted out because of their wickedness, cruelty, and continued rebellion (v. 3). Saul and his men did otherwise, sparing the best of sheep and oxen, and Agag the king of Amalek. This shows total disregard for God. What an effrontery! When we gloss over sin in order to protect what we have, or for material gain, we are not being shrewd, we are disobeying God’s law. Selective obedience is just another form of disobedience.
Peter admonished ministers of God to serve willingly, not for dishonest gain, but eagerly, and not out of obligation (1 Pet. 5:2-4). Ministerial employment is the Lord’s work, but when a man aims principally at himself in it, then he does it deceitfully: for he converts God’s service to his own service; for he works for himself and yet pretends he works for God. They are deceitful workers, those that promise to God, but mean not to pay what they once intended; people that are confident in the day of ease, and fail in danger.
In every action of religion, God expects such warmth and holy fire to go along, that it may be able to enkindle the fire upon the altar, and consume the sacrifice; but God hates an indifferent spirit. Be persuaded, passionate, enthusiastic and zealous as you do God’s business.
PRAYER POINTS
1. Father, empower me through Your Holy Spirit to always give myself fully to Your work, and to do it according to Your divine commandments.
2. O Lord, endow all the ministers of the gospel with the spirit to serve willingly, not for dishonest gain, but eagerly, and not out of obligation.
3. Lord Jesus, touch the hearts of our political, traditional and religious leaders to stop using service to humanity for personal aggrandisement.
EXTRA READING FOR TODAY: Job 40:20 – 42:17; Psalms 1:1 – 2:1; Rom. 1:11 – 1:32