CAC Living Water Daily Devotional For January 5, 2024 : Topic – Serving For What?
CHRIST APOSTOLIC CHURCH THE LIVING WATER ( January-December, 2024)
DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE
DATE: Friday, January 5, 2024
TOPIC: SERVING FOR WHAT?
MEMORISE : No one can serve two masters for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon (Matthew 6:24).
READ: 2 Kings 5:20-27
[20]. But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, “Look, my master has spared Naaman this Syrian, while not receiving from his hands what he brought; but as the Lord lives, I will run after him and take something from him.”
[21]. So Gehazi pursued Naaman. When Naaman saw him running after him, he got down from the chariot to meet him, and said, “Is all well?”
[22]. And he said, “All is well. My master has sent me, saying, ‘Indeed, just now two young men of the sons of the prophets have come to me from the mountains of Ephraim. Please give them a talent of silver and two changes of garments.’”
[23]. So Naaman said, “Please, take two talents.” And he urged him, and bound two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of garments, and handed them to two of his servants; and they carried them on ahead of him.
[24]. When he came to the citadel, he took them from their hand, and stored them away in the house; then he let the men go, and they departed.
[25]. Now he went in and stood before his master. Elisha said to him, “Where did you go, Gehazi?” And he said, “Your servant did not go anywhere.”
[26]. Then he said to him, “Did not my heart go with you when the man turned back from his chariot to meet you? Is it time to receive money and to receive clothing, olive groves and vineyards, sheep and oxen, male and female servants?
[27]. Therefore the leprosy of Naaman shall cling to you and your descendants forever.” And he went out from his presence leprous, as white as snow.
EXPOSITION
The word ‘Mammon’ is a biblical term for riches, often used to describe the debasing influence of material wealth. The term was used by our Lord Jesus Christ in His famous “Sermon on the Mount” (Matt. 6:24). Mammon NKJV, NLT, money, can be described as earthly goods, properties, riches that can divert one’s attention and love from God and His service to worldly pleasure and comfort. It is good at this point to know why you are doing what you are doing for God, as a servant can never serve two masters. Gehazi in our text was serving God under Elisha but for material gain. Even when his master practically warned against taking any gift, he still went ahead because his aim was material possession, not God. No wonder the leprosy of Naaman stuck on him and his descendants. Why are you serving? Many people are serving God, but not with a perfect heart. Though they go after God, they still look through the window to see what goes on in the world. Such are descendants of Gehazi. He was following Elisha but not with diligence and faithfulness, but for material gain. Some have allowed their bellies to be their gods.
Syncretism is the practice of worshipping and serving other things in addition to God, and a genuine child of God wouldn’t partake in any act that shares his heart with other gods (Exo. 20:3; Jer 25:6: 35:15). Choose God only. That is the way!
SUGGESTED HYMN FOR TODAY:
CAC GHB: 735
1. Take my life, and let it be
Consecrated, Lord, to Thee,
Take my moments and my days;
Let them flow in ceaseless praise.
2. Take my hands, and let them move
At the impulse of Thy love,
Take my feet, and let them be
Swift and beautiful for Thee
3. Take my voice, and let me sing
Always, only for my King,
Take my lips, and let them be
Filled with messages from Thee.
4. Take my silver and my gold;
Not a mite would I withhold,
Take my intellect, and use
Every pow’r as Thou shalt choose.
5. Take my will, and make it Thine,
It shall be no longer mine,
Take my heart – it is Thine own;
It shall be Thy royal throne.
6. Take my love; my Lord, I pour
At Thy feet its treasure-store
Take myself, and I will be
Ever, only, all for Thee!
Amen.
PRAYER POINTS
1. Lord God, help me to totally surrender my life to You, and deliver me from divided loyalty and idolatry, in Jesus’ name.
2. Lord Jesus, I refuse to pursue material gain at the expense of my eternal life with You.
3. Oh Lord, help our leaders (spiritual and secular) to be people who are mindful of true allegiance to You than material and worldly gain, in Jesus’ name.
EXTRA READING FOR TODAY:
Genesis 13. 14. 15