CAC Living Water Devotional For January 12, 2024 : Topic – LIVING FOR GOD IN YOUR PROFESSION
READ PREVIOUS CAC DEVOTIONALS HERE
CHRIST APOSTOLIC CHURCH THE LIVING WATER (January-December, 2024)
DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE
DATE: Friday, January 12, 2024
(National Pharmacists’ Day)
TOPIC: LIVING FOR GOD IN YOUR PROFESSION
MEMORISE
And Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears it, he will kill me” But the Lord said, “Take a heifer with you, and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the LORD (1 Samuel 16:2).
READ:
Exodus 1:18-21
[18]. So the king of Egypt called for the midwives and said to them, “Why have you done this thing, and saved the male children alive?”
[19]. And the midwives said to Pharaoh, “Because the Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women; for they are lively and give birth before the midwives come to them.”
[20]. Therefore God dealt well with the midwives, and the people multiplied and grew very mighty.
[21]. And so it was, because the midwives feared God, that He provided households for them.
EXPOSITION
Today commemorates National Pharmacists’ Day. So it is not out of place to charge professionals and everyone to live for God in their respective professions. Double standard is a skill that some people have mastered. They have a distinct way of acting at work that differs greatly from how they do so in the Church. Some so-called Christians frequently ignore God when it comes to business calls, acting as if He doesn’t have control over everything in Heaven and on Earth. This “double-dealing” mentality has never been helpful to anyone. As a result, they must make amends. Shiphrah and Puah, two Hebrew midwives, put their lives on the line to defend God by defying the king’s order. The new Pharaoh feared that the children of Israel might overpower him and overthrow him, and become free. He thus afflicted them, but the more the torment, the greater their procreation and growth (Exo. 1:10-12). To kill male children from birth while keeping the female children alive, he hired these midwives, but they submitted to the King of kings.
It is expected of you to represent God at work. Your devotion to God must permeate every aspect of your life, just like it did for the midwives. Do not pretend to be a Christian at work while acting otherwise. You cannot disobey God because of other things, and assert that you fear Him. The midwives received a reward from God for their bravery, loyalty and decision to follow Him rather than the harsh Pharaoh’s will. Much like He did for Samuel in the memory verse, He gave them the knowledge to deal with the situation. Receive the grace to live a God-centred life, everywhere.
SUGGESTED HYMN FOR TODAY:
CAC GHB: 724
1. Stand up, stand up for Jesus!
Ye soldiers of the Cross;
Lift high His royal banner,
It must not suffer loss.
From vict’ry unto vict’ry
His army shall He lead,
Till every foe is vanquished
And Christ is Lord indeed.
2. Stand up, stand up for Jesus!
The trumpet-call obey;
Forth to the mighty conflict
In this His glorious day!
Ye that are men, now serve Him
Against unnumbered foes;
Let courage rise with danger,
And strength to strength oppose.
3. Stand up, stand up for Jesus!
Stand in His strength alone:
The arm of flesh will fail you;
Ye dare not trust your own.
Put on the Christian’s armour,
And watching unto prayer,
Where duty calls, or danger,
Be never wanting there.
4. Stand up, stand up for Jesus!
The strife will not be long;
This day the noise of battle,
The next the victor’s song
To him that overcometh
A crown of life shall be;
He with the King of Glory
Shall reign eternally.
Amen.
PRAYER POINTS
1. Lord Jesus, help me to stand for nothing but the Truth wherever You put me to represent You.
2. Jesus Christ, help me against the onslaught of double-dealing and fear of man more than God.
3. Oh Lord God, continue to help Your children in their various professions to stand for You.
EXTRA READING FOR TODAY:
Genesis 31, 32, 33