CAC LIVING WATER DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR DECEMBER 29, 2021 : TOPIC – SUPPORT FOR THE MINISTERS OF GOD

By | December 29, 2021

CAC LIVING WATER DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR DECEMBER 29, 2021 : TOPIC – SUPPORT FOR THE MINISTERS OF GOD


READ PREVIOUS CAC LIVING WATER DEVOTIONALS HERE

LIVING WATER CAC DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE

Wednesday, December 29, 2021.

SUPPORT FOR THE MINISTERS OF GOD

Read: 2 Chronicles 31:4-10

2 Chronicles 31:4-10 He commanded the people living in Jerusalem to give the portion due the priests and Levites, that they might [be free to] give themselves to the Law of the Lord.

As soon as the command went abroad, the Israelites gave in abundance the firstfruits of grain, vintage fruit, oil, honey, and of all the produce of the field; and they brought in abundantly the tithe of everything.

The people of Israel and Judah who lived in Judah’s cities also brought the tithe of cattle and sheep and of the dedicated things which were consecrated to the Lord their God, and they laid them in heaps.

In the third month [at the end of wheat harvest] they began to lay the foundation or beginning of the heaps and finished them in the seventh month.

When Hezekiah and the princes came and saw the heaps, they blessed the Lord and His people Israel.

Then Hezekiah questioned the priests and Levites about the heaps.

Azariah the high priest, of the house of Zadok, answered him, Since the people began to bring the offerings into the Lord’s house, we have eaten and have plenty left, for the Lord has blessed His people, and what is left is this great store.

MEMORISE:

He commanded the people living in Jerusalem to give the portion due the priests and Levites, that they might [be free to] give themselves to the Law of the Lord. (2 Chronicles 31:4).

EXPOSITION

In the Old Testament, the priests and Levites were not allowed by God to work for their living. They were given no portion of land. They were to rely on God for their living and survival (Num.18:20, Jos,13:14,33). They were to do away with worry or anxiety about ephemeral things. They were to wholly consecrate themselves to the work of God. They were to have their living in the priesthood of the Lord (Jos.18:7). The temple and those who serve at the things of the temple and those who serve at the things of the altar should partake of the offerings thereof (1 Cor.9:13).

The same principle is applicable to the New Testament ministerial work: AMP:Have we not the right to our food and drink [at the expense of the churches]?  (1 Cor.9:4). The reason God restricted the Old Testament priests from working remains the same in the New Testament. Ministerial assignment is a spiritual and sensitive matter that should be an undivided concentration. Though ministers of God also face financial and social challenges like the laity, yet they should not be worrisome with a view to concentrating their livelihood on their given tasks. Even if they engage themselves in petty trading to support the work of ministration, they should not allow such to divert their attentions from God and their ministries.

It is the role of church members to take a good care of their pastors out of what God has given them (1 Thess. 5:12-13, Heb.13:7, 2 Cor.11:9). They can do this individually and/or collectively. Each group, association and department can do the same to meet the needs of their spiritual leaders in their various local assemblies. When your spiritual leaders sow spiritual things to your life, you should allow them to reap your own material blessings (1 Cor. 9:11,Gal.6:6). You don’t need to wait for your pastor’s to ask you anything they need before you give it to them as God blesses you. It pays a lot do so (Phili.4:14-19, Heb. 6:10).

PRAYER POINTS:

1. Lord, shower Your blessings upon my life to be a blessings to others.

2. Help me, O Lord, to be committed to giving to Your servants out of what You give me.

3. Pray for divine help and support for all faithful and committed ministers of God.

EXTRA READING FOR TODAY: Zechariah 6:9 – 10:2, Revelation 19:21 – 21:5

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