C.A.C Living Water Daily Devotional For May 17, 2024 : Topic – NO BLESSING FOR THE WICKED

THE LIVING WATER (January-December, 2024)

DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE

DATE Friday, May 17, 2024

(Endangered Species Day)

TOPIC: NO BLESSING FOR THE WICKED

MEMORISE

The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God (Psalm 9:17).

READ Psalm 129:5-8

[5]. Let all those who hate Zion be put to shame and turned back.

[6]. Let them be as the grass on the housetops, which withers before it grows up,

[7]. With which the reaper does not fill his hand, nor he who binds sheaves, his arms.

[8]. Neither let those who pass by them say,

“The blessing of the Lord be upon you; we bless you in the name of the Lord!”

EXPOSITION

Are we actively working towards being blessed? No one trying to destroy God’s works should expect His blessings. The hostile gets the opposite due. Today’s message reminds us that anyone who hates God’s people hates Him and shouldn’t expect any blessings from Him. Some people are easily irritated by anything related to God. They persecute God’s people, purposes, plans and projects. Never join them in any way. Only a wicked person would develop hatred towards anyone who was created in the image of God, let alone His own people who are dear to Him.

The Bible states that anyone who hates their brother lives in death (1 Jn. 3:10-15). Look at what hatred led Cain to do to his brother Abel (Gen. 4:1ff). Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery because they hated him for his dreams. Eventually, karma caught up with them. Here are some of God’s warnings for those who hate His people:

1. Shame: Those who hate Zion will be put to shame and retreat.

2. Withering: They will wither away like grass on the rooftops before it even grows.

3. No blessing: Passers-by will not offer them the Lord’s blessings.

On this Endangered Species Day, you need to ask God to cleanse you of any roots of hatred and bitterness towards others. Strive to be blessed rather than cursed.

PRAYER POINTS

1. Lord Jesus, help me always to live rightly.

2. Lord Jesus, protect me from evil spirits that would make me Your enemy and the enemy of the things You love, including Your agenda.

3. Oh Lord our God, defeat any agenda that negates Your plans in the Church, our nation, and our families.

SUGGESTED HYMN FOR TODAY

CAC GHB: 817

1. Simply trusting Christ my Saviour,

In His presence I’m so blest

That the storms which beat around me

Drive me closer to His breast.

Simply trusting day by day,

Trusting Jesus all the way;

Doubting not what’er befall;

Trusting Jesus, that is all.

2. Humbly trusting in the shadow,

When the sun is hid from view;

Not a cloud so dense and low’ ring.

But His love can still shine through.

3. Ever trusting in the sunshine,

With all fear and doubting gone;

On the mountain top with Jesus,

Still ’tis better farther on.

Amen.

EXTRA READING FOR TODAY:

Ezra 8, 9, 10