SEPTEMBER 18, 2021 CAC LIVING WATER DEVOTIONAL : TOPIC - VISITORS AND ANGELS
Read previous CAC Living Water Devotionals here
LIVING WATER CAC DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE
Saturday, September 18, 2021.
VISITORS AND ANGELS
Read: Matthew 25:32-46
Matthew 25:32-46 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.
He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.
For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,
I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
"Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?
When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?
When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
"The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink,
I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’
“They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’
“He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’
"Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”
MEMORIZE:
Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. (Hebrews 13:2)
EXPOSITION
God has different links by which He blesses His people. One of such is hospitality. He connects, visits, communications and blesses His own people through hospitality. Hospitality is a practical theology that has strong biblical root (c.f.Matt.25v33ff). Though, it can be termed in many ways, the bedrock of hospitality is a loving comfort. The word hospitality can be found in the English Standard Version of the Bible 4 times (Rom.12v13, 1 Tim.5v10, Heb.13v2, 1 Pet.4v9). In summary, these verse show that hospitality is both an action and affection, receiving and loving a stranger, the act of giving comfort to the discomfited. It is the act of offering a guest a place to sleep and food to eat.
Many say, "I can give out anything, even my eye, to a stranger, but I am not experiencing the divine blessings from God." There is still one key that is missing in your kind of hospitality, and that is love. The major key in hospitality is LOVE. It is very possible for one to offer a guest food to eat and bed to sleep, but if the love is not there, the blessings from the Lord would be missing. Hospitality without love brings frustration and regret. 1 Peter 4v9 says Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. If we grumble (complain)while giving food or lodging to someone, we have not truly shown biblical hospitality.
History is replete with how our fathers in faith unknowingly welcomed angels in their house. We also have biblical testimonies of how hospitality has helped in the fulfilment of long-time promises without stress. It is a painful story to tell that, many have one-way or the other offended errand angels who seem like casual visitors. The right (godly)attitude is needed, if hospitality would bring blessings to your home. It is not too late, learn to give to strangers in love, prepare your heart and home for the Lord's visit, teach your household simple ways of welcoming visitors, and you will experience and enjoy the blessings of divine vistation.
PRAYER POINTS:
1. Father, grant me grace of giving godly hospitality, even when it is not convenient for me.
2. O Lord, visit our homes and bless us. We are ready to welcome You lavishly.
3. Lord Jesus, we need Your divine visitation in our churches this day, and let us not miss it when You eventually come visiting, anyhow You choose to.
EXTRA READING FOR TODAY: Proverbs 5:13 - 7:17, 2 Cor. 4:6 - 5:9
Reviewed by Muyiwa Abodunrin (Muyilight)
on
September 18, 2021
Rating:
No comments: