CAC LIVING WATER DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR MARCH 21, 2022 : TOPIC – THE DILEMMA OF A SINNER
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Monday, March 21, 2022 -International Day for Elimination of Racial Discrimination, World Poetry Day, International Day of Nowruz & World Syndrome Day
THE DILEMMA OF A SINNER
Read: Psalms 36:1-4
Psalms 34:1-4 I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.
O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.
I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.
MEMORISE: The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God (Psalms 9:17)
EXPOSITION
There is nothing that is as destructive as sin, not even Down Syndrome, even as the world marks World Down Syndrome Day today. It didn’t take more than a minute for a beautiful life in the blissful and beautiful Garden of Eden to be suddenly shattered by disobedience (Gen. 3:1ff). The Bible is clear on what the outcome of sin is ‘…the wages of sin is death’ (Rom. 6:23). Sin kills and destroys the soul in hell. Did God make man a sinner? No! Man became a sinner by choice.
He aligned with the devil who started sinning from the beginning (cf. Jn. 8:44). Having been banished to immediate and ultimate destruction/doom, the devil seeks those he would work through to destroy the beautiful works of God, and those who shall eventually perish with him in hell. He is a devourer; those who walk on the path of sin with him shall be devoured together with him. This is not your lot, in Jesus’ name.
The message today highlights some things about the sinner that a child of God needs to know, so that he does not degenerate to become one:
1. Lacks the fear of God (Psa. 36:1): God is awesome. He must be feared; His ways and acts require that man fears Him. However, there is no fear of God before the sinner’s eyes. If you are in this state, you must repent quickly.
2. ‘He flatters himself’ (line 2a): By flattery, a sinner says to himself, “Nothing can happen”; “even the law or law enforcement agents cannot do anything.” Are there no people like that in your vicinity who feel they are above the law?
3. A sinner utters wicked and deceitful words (line 3a): When someone opens his mouth to talk, you can easily discern who he is. For the sinner, tries to be on the lookout for arrogance, wickedness, deceit, and uncensored lies (Matt. 12:36).
4. A sinner ‘has ceased to be wise and to do good (line 3b). Wisdom and goodness are part of the attributes of a godly person, but count a sinner out, because he has chosen the wicked path.
Line 4 shares three thoughts about a sinner, as he devises wickedness on his bed, he sets himself in a way that is not good, and does not abhor evil.
PRAYER POINTS:
1. Lord, deliver my soul from the entanglement of sin and death.
2. Lord, let the spirit of wisdom, righteousness and goodness not depart from me.
3. Lord, let the power of the gospel shatter into pieces the power of sin, wickedness in the hearts of our youths and children.
EXTRA READING FOR TODAY: Judges 10 – 12