C.A.C Living Water Daily Devotional For March 8, 2023 : Topic – Nakedness In Today’s World (I)
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CHRIST APOSTOLIC CHURCH THE LIVING WATER (January-December, 2023)
DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE
DATE: Wednesday, March 8, 2023 (Women’s Day Observance)
TOPIC: NAKEDNESS IN TODAY’S WORLD (I)
READ: Leviticus 18:1-18
[1] Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,
[2]. “Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘I am the Lord your God.
[3]. According to the doings of the land of Egypt, where you dwelt, you shall not do; and according to the doings of the land of Canaan, where I am bringing you, you shall not do; nor shall you walk in their ordinances.
[4]. You shall observe My judgments and keep My ordinances, to walk in them: I am the Lord your God.
[5] You shall therefore keep My statutes and My judgments, which if a man does, he shall live by them: I am the Lord.
[6] ‘None of you shall approach anyone who is near of kin to him, to uncover his nakedness: I am the Lord.
[7] The nakedness of your father or the nakedness of your mother you shall not uncover. She is your mother; you shall not uncover her nakedness.
[8]. The nakedness of your father’s wife you shall not uncover; it is your father’s nakedness.
[9]. The nakedness of your sister, the daughter of your father, or the daughter of your mother, whether born at home or elsewhere, their nakedness you shall not uncover.
[10]. The nakedness of your son’s daughter or your daughter’s daughter, their nakedness you shall not uncover; for theirs is your own nakedness.
[11] The nakedness of your father’s wife’s daughter, begotten by your father—she is your sister—you shall not uncover her nakedness.
[12]. You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father’s sister; she is near of kin to your father.
[13]. You shall not uncover the nakedness of your mother’s sister, for she is near of kin to your mother.
[14]. You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father’s brother. You shall not approach his wife; she is your aunt.
[15] You shall not uncover the nakedness of your daughter-in-law—she is your son’s wife—you shall not uncover her nakedness.
[16]. You shall not uncover the nakedness of your brother’s wife; it is your brother’s nakedness.
[17]. You shall not uncover the nakedness of a woman and her daughter, nor shall you take her son’s daughter or her daughter’s daughter, to uncover her nakedness. They are near of kin to her. It is wickedness.
[18] Nor shall you take a woman as a rival to her sister, to uncover her nakedness while the other is alive.
MEMORISE
In like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing (1 Timothy 2:9)
EXPOSITION
Nakedness is being without clothes, or poorly clothed. It implies being unduly exposed. In the Bible, it has the undertone of shame. Indecent dressing is as bad as nakedness. Our society has adopted the pattern of dressing half-naked, all in the name of fashion – fashionmania. It is against the law of God and simple morals that a lot have thrown to the wind, today. The unfortunate thing is that, churches aren’t left out of this modern-day trend that irks God. Nakedness in whatever form is serious abomination to God. The cause of nakedness is worldliness and negative effect of civilisation. The sad thing is that, a lot of Christians are allowing the culture of the godless to mould their thoughts and actions.
God doesn’t want our sensitive body parts exposed in public. Exposing your sensitive parts causes defilement among men, and dishonours God. Having confessed Christ as your Saviour and Lord, you have been bought with a price, and hence the temple of the Living God (1 Cor. 3:16; 6:19). The implication of Christ being your personal Lord is that, you can’t live your life the way you want it anymore; it is Christ’s, and you must live it the way He pleases (Gal. 2:20).
God is so concerned about the issue of nakedness among His people that a substantial part of Leviticus 18 is devoted to warning against uncovering one’s nakedness or those of others, anyhow. So, showing your nakedness to those who shouldn’t see it, i.e. anybody aside your spouse, is nothing but madness to God, notwithstanding what the modern-day culture of ‘nothing-spoils,’ ‘anything-goes,’ or ‘the world does that’ says about it. Remember: you can’t use your body the way you like, if you are truly born again (1 Cor. 6:17ff).
SUGGESTED HYMN FOR TODAY:
CAC GHB 760
1. I have giv’n up all for Jesus
The vain world is naught to me
All its pleasure are forgotten
In remembering Calvary
Though my friends despise,
forsake me,
And on me the world looks cold
I’ve a friend that will stand by me
When the pearly gates unfold.
Chorus:
Life’s morn will soon be waning
And its evening bells be tolled
But my heart will know sadness
When the pearly gates unfold.
2. When the voice of Jesus calls me
And the angles whisper low
I will lean upon my saviour
Through the valley as I go
I will claim his precious promise
Worth to me the world of gold
Fear no evil, I’ ll be with thee
When the pearly gates unfold.
3. Just beyond the waves of Jordan
Just beyond its chilling tide
Blooms the Tree of life immortal
And the living waters glide
In that happy land of spirits
Are there stores of bliss untold
And the angles are awaiting
Where the pearly gates unfold.
Amen.
1. Sanctify my heart, O Lord, so that this would reflect in the way I comport myself in terms of dressing and outings.
2. Pray against the spirit of Jezebel (fashion-craze) in our churches, most especially, among our so-called socialite/elite youths.
3. Pray that the Light of God will illuminate the hearts of every believer so that we can keep glorifying God with our bodies and dressing.
EXTRA READING FOR TODAY:
Joshua 5:1-8:23