CAC Living Water Devotional For January 19, 2024 : Topic – WHAT INVENTOR ARE YOU? (II)
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THE LIVING WATER (January-December, 2024) DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE
DATE Friday, January 19, 2024
(National Popcorn Day)
TOPIC: WHAT INVENTOR ARE YOU? (II)
MEMORISE : And even as they did not t like to retain their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind to do those things which are not fitting (Romans 1:28).
READ : Romans 1:21-30
[21]. because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
[22]. Professing to be wise, they became fools,
[23]. and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.
[24]. Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves,
[25]. who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
[26]. For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature.
[27]. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.
[28]. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting;
[29]. being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers,
[30]. backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
EXPOSITION
God is asking you again, What inventor are you?, as today commemorates National Popcorn Day. What are you discovering and releasing to the world? Hope you aren’t further compounding the already battered situation of the world? Our text today confirms the fact that some have chosen to go in the opposite direction away from God. They know God and His holiness exist, but prefer not to retain God in their so-called knowledge. This is evident in the way people are becoming “geniuses” in introducing new evil ways-dressing, technology, gimmicks in the ministry, etc. Those who have refused to retain God in them, have invited Satan to control them. Also, lack of the knowledge of God, and failure to retain God in their thinking are major reasons they are inventing malicious and destructive elements. Such destructive inventors are not limited to the world, they are in the church environments. There are ministers who come up with alarmingly terrible means of fleecing members through frivolous programmes and words.
As a pastor, prophet or teacher of the Word of God, if care is not taken, you can invent things (words), that pervert the true Word. This is the reason you must be careful (1 Tim. 4:16)! Paul asked the Galatians, Who have bewitched you? (Gal. 3:1) because they had started to behave strangely against God’s will. What are you inventing that can scatter the unity of the Church? Be careful! You won’t go scot-free, if you go ahead with such wicked invention (Prov. 16:5; Gal. 6:7).
SUGGESTED HYMN FOR TODAY:
CAC GHB: 242
1. I am Thine, O Lord, I have heard Thy voice,
And it told Thy love to me;
But I long to rise in the arms of faith,
And be closer drawn to Thee.
Draw me nearer, nearer, blessed Lord.
To the Cross where Thou hast died;
Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer, blessed Lord,
To Thy precious, bleeding side,
2. Consecrate me now to Thy service Lord,
By the pow’r of grace divine;
Let my soul look up with a steadfast hope,
And my will be lost in Thine
3. O the pure delight of a single hour
That before Thy throne I spend,
When I kneel in pray’r and with Thee,my God.
I commune as friend with friend.
4. There are depths of love that I cannot know
Till I cross the narrow sea;
There are heights of joy that I may not reach
Till I rest in peace with Thee
Amen
PRAYER POINTS
1. Lord, search my heart, bring to my attention every tendency to rebel against You, and help me to eschew them.
2. Lord, I refuse to contribute to the corruption in the world with whatever I invent.
3. Lord Jesus, help those in the position of leadership to be more careful with what they invent and leave behind for posterity, lest they be condemned on the Last Day.
EXTRA READING FOR TODAY:
Exodus 2, 3, 4