June 12, 2019 LIVING WATER CAC DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE : TOPIC - THE PEOPLE FIRST (I)
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LIVING WATER CAC DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE
Wednesday, June 12, 2019.
THE PEOPLE FIRST (I)
READ: Ezekiel 34:1-6
[1]And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,[2]Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD unto the shepherds; Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks?[3]Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool, ye kill them that are fed: but ye feed not the flock.[4]The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have ye brought again that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that which was lost; but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them.[5]And they were scattered, because there is no shepherd: and they became meat to all the beasts of the field, when they were scattered.[6]My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and upon every high hill: yea, my flock was scattered upon all the face of the earth, and none did search or seek after them.
MEMORISE: Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself (Philippians 2:3).
EXPOSITION
When we were children, our parents always considered us before they took their meal, or take their bath at the farm stream. They preferred that we ate first, even if it meant them starving for that period. They wanted to make sure we were in their front as we trekked to the farm, market, or the Church. Do we still have that today?
Parents are ministers to their children, so are teachers to pupils, and Pastors to their congregation. Ministering is serving. Our elected representatives and appointees of governments at all levels ought to serve peoples and not otherwise. Jesus, who is our perfect example, served people rather than being served (Mk. 10:45). Conversely today, many of our leaders want to sit in Moses’ seat without wanting to do Moses’ work-serving. Leaders are to look after the welfare of all (Phil. 2:4), for that is why we are called. Leaders owe it a duty to take care of the sheep who are often times weak, sick, hungry, or lost (Matt. 15:24; 18:12; Jn. 15:34).
Can we also learn from David (2 Sam. 23:15-17)? Peter and the rest of the Apostles did not lose sight of their responsibilities when they approved the appointment of seven deacons for the church (Acts 6:1ff). Why are you a minister? Let us stop harassing the people with intimidating prayers or fake “Thus says the Lord”. Note: you may lose your calling, if you neglect, abandon, oppress, and suppress the people you are sent to. Change, change, and change for the better.
PRAYER POINTS
1. Lord, fill me with the spirit of service.
2. Father, help us to surrender our will to You, and kill the self in us.
3. Oh Lord, give us church, political and national leaders who would have the love of the people at heart.
EXTRA READING FOR TODAY: I Chronicles 2:50 – 4:33; John 15:10 – 16:4.
LIVING WATER CAC DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE
Wednesday, June 12, 2019.
THE PEOPLE FIRST (I)
READ: Ezekiel 34:1-6
[1]And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,[2]Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD unto the shepherds; Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks?[3]Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool, ye kill them that are fed: but ye feed not the flock.[4]The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have ye brought again that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that which was lost; but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them.[5]And they were scattered, because there is no shepherd: and they became meat to all the beasts of the field, when they were scattered.[6]My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and upon every high hill: yea, my flock was scattered upon all the face of the earth, and none did search or seek after them.
MEMORISE: Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself (Philippians 2:3).
EXPOSITION
When we were children, our parents always considered us before they took their meal, or take their bath at the farm stream. They preferred that we ate first, even if it meant them starving for that period. They wanted to make sure we were in their front as we trekked to the farm, market, or the Church. Do we still have that today?
Parents are ministers to their children, so are teachers to pupils, and Pastors to their congregation. Ministering is serving. Our elected representatives and appointees of governments at all levels ought to serve peoples and not otherwise. Jesus, who is our perfect example, served people rather than being served (Mk. 10:45). Conversely today, many of our leaders want to sit in Moses’ seat without wanting to do Moses’ work-serving. Leaders are to look after the welfare of all (Phil. 2:4), for that is why we are called. Leaders owe it a duty to take care of the sheep who are often times weak, sick, hungry, or lost (Matt. 15:24; 18:12; Jn. 15:34).
Can we also learn from David (2 Sam. 23:15-17)? Peter and the rest of the Apostles did not lose sight of their responsibilities when they approved the appointment of seven deacons for the church (Acts 6:1ff). Why are you a minister? Let us stop harassing the people with intimidating prayers or fake “Thus says the Lord”. Note: you may lose your calling, if you neglect, abandon, oppress, and suppress the people you are sent to. Change, change, and change for the better.
PRAYER POINTS
1. Lord, fill me with the spirit of service.
2. Father, help us to surrender our will to You, and kill the self in us.
3. Oh Lord, give us church, political and national leaders who would have the love of the people at heart.
EXTRA READING FOR TODAY: I Chronicles 2:50 – 4:33; John 15:10 – 16:4.
June 12, 2019 LIVING WATER CAC DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE : TOPIC - THE PEOPLE FIRST (I)
Reviewed by Muyiwa Abodunrin (Muyilight)
on
June 12, 2019
Rating:
Reviewed by Muyiwa Abodunrin (Muyilight)
on
June 12, 2019
Rating:
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