CAC LIVING WATER DEVOTIONAL FOR FEBRUARY 14, 2024: TOPIC – LOVING THE UNLOVABLE
READ PREVIOUS CAC DEVOTIONALS HERE
CHRIST APOSTOLIC CHURCH THE LIVING WATER (January-December, 2024)
DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE
DATE Wednesday, February 14, 2024
(Valentine’s Day & Ash Wednesday)
TOPIC: LOVING THE UNLOVABLE
MEMORISE : But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you (Matthew 5: 44).
READ : John 3:16; 1 John 3:1
John 3: 16 : [16]. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
1 John 3: 1
[1]. Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.
EXPOSITION
It is easy to reciprocate the love, kindness and favour shown to you by someone, but very difficult to love someone who doesn’t love you. Humanly speaking, you can love those who love you, and hate whoever hates you (Matt. 5:43). Conversely, Jesus says that you should love the unlovable (v. 44). The implication is that, the spirit in us as Christians is not a vengeful spirit, but a gentle one that accommodates and shows love to everyone, including perceived enemies. This, Jesus demonstrated when He came to this world to die for sinners. Even on the cross, He was still asking for forgiveness for those who persecuted Him (Jn. 15:13; Rom. 5:6ff).
We are expected to love everyone just as the Father loves the whole world and gave His only begotten Son as propitiation for our sins. We have the mandate to be perfect like our Father in heaven is perfect (Matt. 5:48), for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good and sends rain on the just and on the unjust (Matt. 5:45). The unlovable persons also deserve to be loved, because they don’t know what they do when they carry out their evils against you. They are only working for their master, the devil. Had Stephen prayed for the death of those who killed him, what do you think would have been the fate of Saul, also known as Paul? Think about this and allow the love of God to prevail in your heart. God bless you.
PRAYER POINTS
1. Lord, help me to be perfect as You are perfect, in Jesus’ name.
2. Lord, deliver me from every vengeful and evil spirit that makes one to be bitter against those I should show love, in Jesus’ name.
3. Pray for CAC Medaiyese Region, our father in the Lord, the Regional Superintendent, and the other officers at the various levels as led by the Spirit of God.
SUGGESTED HYMN FOR TODAY:
CAC GHB: 693
1. “Love him who’s thy neighbour”
It is the Lord’s command
He made Himself an example
By the way He loved us.
2. “Love him who’s thy neighbour”
Whether in peace or war
He taught us to love all our foes,
Repay evil with good.
3. “Love him who’s thy neighbour”
The Lord’s voice trumpets still
So, all of us ought to prepare
To love all our neighbours.
4. “Love him who’s thy neighbour”
And those living next door
Those that are in your neighbourhood
And all your enemies.
5. To love our neighbours as
Jesus Himself loved us
Jesus loved all His enemies
And blessed and prayed for them.
Amen.
EXTRA READING FOR TODA