CAC LIVING WATER DEVOTIONAL FOR FEBRUARY 9, 2024 : TOPIC – MACHO OR MATURE? (III)
READ PREVIOUS CAC DEVOTIONALS HERE
CHRIST APOSTOLIC CHURCH
THE LIVING WATER (January-December, 2024)
DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE
DATE Friday, February 9, 2024
TOPIC: MACHO OR MATURE? (III)
MEMORISE : And Esau said, “Look, I am about to die; so what is this birthright to me?” (Genesis 25:32)
READ: Genesis 25: 29-34
[29]. Now Jacob cooked a stew; and Esau came in from the field, and he was weary.
[30]. And Esau said to Jacob, “Please feed me with that same red stew, for I am weary.” Therefore his name was called Edom.
[31]. But Jacob said, “Sell me your birthright as of this day.”
[32]. And Esau said, “Look, I am about to die; so what is this birthright to me?”
[33]. Then Jacob said, “Swear to me as of this day.” So he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob.
[34]. And Jacob gave Esau bread and stew of lentils; then he ate and drank, arose, and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.
EXPOSITION
We have talked so much about David in the last 2 days. It takes a mature man to accept and handle responsibilities, responsibly. It is not about the stature, but the heart. God seeks men with mature hearts, like David; small but mighty. Are you? A converse case is that of Esau briefly mentioned yesterday. This was a man who had the great privilege of being the firstborn-birthright. Humanly speaking, he had a great prospect ahead of him. However, when the test came to prove his level of maturity, he fell like a pack of cards. Imagine his words, Look, I am about to die; so what is this birthright to me? Only an immature, careless person would have exhibited such a nonchalant attitude to the priced birthright. How would God have committed a thing of eternal value to Esau who despised his birthright (Gen. 25:34)? No wonder Jacob became the covenant-carrier.
Jesus, the second Adam, experienced both physical and spiritual growth (Lk. 2:52a). He handled the things of God with care and maintained a close relationship with His Father. Don’t allow church activities to override your spiritual development and personal growth. Be like John who grew and became strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his manifestation to Israel (Lk. 1:80). He was mature enough before manifestation. Don’t launch out without being mature. It is suicidal (cf. Eccl. 10:16)!
SUGGESTED HYMN FOR TODAY
CAC GHB: Vat. 26
1. I’m pressing on the upward way,
New height I’m gaining every day
Still praying as I onward bound
Lord, plant my feet on higher ground
Chorus:
Lord, lift me up and let me stand
By faith on heaven’s table land
A higher plane than I have found
Lord, plant my feet on higher ground
2. My heart has no desire to stay
Where doubts arise and fears dismay
Tho’ some may dwell where these abound
My pray’r my aim is higher ground
3. I want to live above the world
Tho’ satan’s darts at me are hurl’d
For faith has caught the joyful sound
The song of saints on higher ground
4. I want to scale the utmost height
And catch a gleam of glory bright
But still I’ll pray till heav’n I’ve found
Lord, lead me on to higher ground.
5. Lord lift me to the upward way
I cannot get there without Thee,
Lord lead me to the heav’nly found,
And sing my song from higher ground.
Amen.
PRAYER POINTS
1. Oh Lord, expunge from me every irresponsible tendency, in Jesus’ name.
2. Lord, make me truly responsible at home, in church, in the workplace and the society at large.
3. Pray for our children, teenagers and young adults who are being deceived by t the devil to be playing with sexual impropriety, that God should deliver them, lest they end up like Esau.
EXTRA READING FOR TODAY:
Leviticus 25, 26, 27