C.A.C Living Water Devotional For February 29, 2024 : Topic – WILL A MAN ROB GOD?
Read previous CAC Devotionals here
CHRIST APOSTOLIC CHURCH THE LIVING WATER (January-December, 2024)
DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE
DATE: Thursday, February 29, 2024
TOPIC: WILL A MAN ROB GOD?
MEMORISE : “Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings. (Malachi 3:8)
READ: Malachi 3.8-12
[8]. “Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings.
[9]. You are cursed with a curse, For you have robbed Me, Even this whole nation.
[10]. Bring all the tithes into the storehouse,
That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this,” Says the Lord of hosts, “If I will not open for you the windows of heaven. And pour out for you such blessing. That there will not be room enough to receive it.
[11]. “And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, So that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, Nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field,” Says the Lord of hosts;
[12]. “And all nations will call you blessed, For you will be a delightful land,” Says the Lord of hosts.
EXPOSITION
Robbers are persons who take what doesn’t rightfully belong to them, often using force or stealth, without the owner’s consent. It is rather startling that God referred to these Israelites as robbers- “God-robbers.” Who would dare to rob the all-powerful and omnipotent God? One might assume it to be impossible, but God asserted that they had done a through their handling of tithes and offerings designated for His temple. God-robbers are essentially Christians who either fail to tithe or don’t do in correctly giving to God grudgingly. The 10% of one’s income that should be dedicated to God becomes an issue when people feel it is too much to part with. This is when they are categorised as God-robbers who subject themselves to various consequences:
1. Curses that can affect the lives of erring believers rendering their prayers for breakthrough ineffective(v.9)
2. The devourer that encompasses misfortunes, business losses, disasters, and fraudulent activities (v.11); and
3. Labouring in vain: Despite their efforts, they may find themselves unproductive, as if their hard-earned wages are stored in a bag with holes (Hag 1:6)
Importantly, recognise that God didn’t institute the practice of tithing and offering to burden His people but rather to bless us abundantly. By adhering to the divine command regarding tithes and offerings, God will pour out blessings upon you to such an extent that there will not be enough room to contain them (Mal 3:10). So, give your tithes and offerings correctly and wholeheartedly
PRAYER POINTS
1. Lord, have mercy on me, for the times I have robbed You through my tithes and offerings.
3. Lord, I choose to give my tithes and offerings faithfully henceforth.
3. Pray for CAC Babalala Memorial International Miracle Camp, Ikeji Arakeji Osun State, the Camp Manager and the staff as led by the Spirit of God.
SUGGESTED HYMN FOR TODAY:
CAC GHB: 452
1. Just as God who reigns on high
Spake to men in days gone by,
So the Lord is calling men today,
And, my brother this is true,
Whatso-e’er He says to you
There is but one thing to do just obey
Chorus:
Just obey, just obey,
Is the way, God’s way;
When His message comes to you
There is but one thing to do,
Just obey just obey.
2. If you’re in the Saviour’s hand,
You must do as He commands
For there is no other gospel way;
Never put the message by,
Never stop to reason why,
When the Saviour speaks to you, just obey.
3. If for mansions fair you sigh
In that land beyond the sky,
After time with you has pass’d away;
Tho’ the way you may not see,
Christ is calling “Follow Me.”
Faith and duty both will cry just obey.
Amen.
EXTRA READING FOR TODAY:
Deuteronomy 11, 14, 15