May 13, 2019 CAC LIVING WATER DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE : TOPIC - OUR FRUITFULNESS COMES FROM GOD
Click to read yesterday and previous days of CAC living water devotionals here
THE LIVING WATER
DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE
Monday, May 13, 2019
TOPIC - OUR FRUITFULNESS COMES FROM GOD
Read: Hosea 14:1-8
[1]O Israel, return unto the LORD thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity.[2]Take with you words, and turn to the LORD: say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously: so will we render the calves of our lips.[3]Asshur shall not save us; we will not ride upon horses: neither will we say any more to the work of our hands, Ye are our gods: for in thee the fatherless findeth mercy.[4]I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him.[5]I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon.[6]His branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive tree, and his smell as Lebanon.[7]They that dwell under his shadow shall return; they shall revive as the corn, and grow as the vine: the scent thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon.[8]Ephraim shall say, What have I to do any more with idols? I have heard him, and observed him: I am like a green fir tree. From me is thy fruit found.
MEMORISE: _Ephraim shall say, 'What have I to do anymore with idols?' I have heard and observed him. I am like a green cypress tree; Your fruit is found in Me_ (Hosea 14:8).
EXPOSITION
Ephraim literally means fruitfulness. Joseph named him Ephraim and said because God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering *(Gen. 41:52).* When Ephraim spoke, men trembled; because he was exalted in Israel. *(Hose. 13:1)* He used to be fruitful in God but he pursued Baal, the god of fertility, for better crops and more money. As a result of this, he would have nothing. No children. Their storehouse will be plundered (v. 15). Their children will be dashed to the ground. Their pregnant women would be ripped open (v. 16). But God couldn’t wait to express his love for his people even as he announced his punishment for their sins. God’s love and compassion is expressed in the middle of his warnings and punishments. Even His most terrible punishment was intended to lead them to repentance.
God longs to redeem and restore His people (Hos. 13:14)._O Israel, return to the LORD your God, for you have stumbled because of your iniquity; Take words with you, and return to the LORD. Say to Him, "Take away all iniquity; Receive us graciously, for we will offer the sacrifices of our lips”_ (Hos. 14:1-2). If we return to God and follow his ways, we will be like an olive tree, and our fragrance like a cedar of Lebanon. These are wonderful promises of God for us. Our fruitfulness comes from God. Jesus elaborates this important truth in John 15:5.
Some people do try to bear fruit in this world without Jesus. They work hard to make money and to advance their education and career. But no accomplishment in this world will matter for the in the end, if they still remain in sin and condemnation. At the end, they will end up with the fruit of sin and eternal death. We must realise that we cannot bear good fruit apart from Jesus (John 15:4).
PRAYER POINTS
1. Lord, I know and acknowledge the fact that You are the source of my fruitfulness. Help me to rely on Your provisions, fully and totally.
2. Lord, fill me with the grace of fruitfulness to You that would enhance my level of fruitfulness in all aspects, in and for You.
3. Pray for the power sector of our nation, that God should grant it fruitfulness that would pay the masses.
EXTRA READING FOR TODAY: 2 Sam. 16:22 – 18:33; John 1:5 – 1:26
Author: CAC WORLDWIDE
Remain Blessed!
THE LIVING WATER
DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE
Monday, May 13, 2019
TOPIC - OUR FRUITFULNESS COMES FROM GOD
Read: Hosea 14:1-8
[1]O Israel, return unto the LORD thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity.[2]Take with you words, and turn to the LORD: say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously: so will we render the calves of our lips.[3]Asshur shall not save us; we will not ride upon horses: neither will we say any more to the work of our hands, Ye are our gods: for in thee the fatherless findeth mercy.[4]I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him.[5]I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon.[6]His branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive tree, and his smell as Lebanon.[7]They that dwell under his shadow shall return; they shall revive as the corn, and grow as the vine: the scent thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon.[8]Ephraim shall say, What have I to do any more with idols? I have heard him, and observed him: I am like a green fir tree. From me is thy fruit found.
MEMORISE: _Ephraim shall say, 'What have I to do anymore with idols?' I have heard and observed him. I am like a green cypress tree; Your fruit is found in Me_ (Hosea 14:8).
EXPOSITION
Ephraim literally means fruitfulness. Joseph named him Ephraim and said because God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering *(Gen. 41:52).* When Ephraim spoke, men trembled; because he was exalted in Israel. *(Hose. 13:1)* He used to be fruitful in God but he pursued Baal, the god of fertility, for better crops and more money. As a result of this, he would have nothing. No children. Their storehouse will be plundered (v. 15). Their children will be dashed to the ground. Their pregnant women would be ripped open (v. 16). But God couldn’t wait to express his love for his people even as he announced his punishment for their sins. God’s love and compassion is expressed in the middle of his warnings and punishments. Even His most terrible punishment was intended to lead them to repentance.
God longs to redeem and restore His people (Hos. 13:14)._O Israel, return to the LORD your God, for you have stumbled because of your iniquity; Take words with you, and return to the LORD. Say to Him, "Take away all iniquity; Receive us graciously, for we will offer the sacrifices of our lips”_ (Hos. 14:1-2). If we return to God and follow his ways, we will be like an olive tree, and our fragrance like a cedar of Lebanon. These are wonderful promises of God for us. Our fruitfulness comes from God. Jesus elaborates this important truth in John 15:5.
Some people do try to bear fruit in this world without Jesus. They work hard to make money and to advance their education and career. But no accomplishment in this world will matter for the in the end, if they still remain in sin and condemnation. At the end, they will end up with the fruit of sin and eternal death. We must realise that we cannot bear good fruit apart from Jesus (John 15:4).
PRAYER POINTS
1. Lord, I know and acknowledge the fact that You are the source of my fruitfulness. Help me to rely on Your provisions, fully and totally.
2. Lord, fill me with the grace of fruitfulness to You that would enhance my level of fruitfulness in all aspects, in and for You.
3. Pray for the power sector of our nation, that God should grant it fruitfulness that would pay the masses.
EXTRA READING FOR TODAY: 2 Sam. 16:22 – 18:33; John 1:5 – 1:26
Author: CAC WORLDWIDE
Remain Blessed!
May 13, 2019 CAC LIVING WATER DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE : TOPIC - OUR FRUITFULNESS COMES FROM GOD
Reviewed by Muyiwa Abodunrin (Muyilight)
on
May 13, 2019
Rating:
Reviewed by Muyiwa Abodunrin (Muyilight)
on
May 13, 2019
Rating:
No comments: