06-08-2019, 05:20 PM
LIVING WATER CAC DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE
Saturday, June 8, 2019 - World Oceans Day
WITHOUT HIM, TOILING IS INEVITABLE!
READ: John 21:1-10
MEMORISE: Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing”. They said to him, “We are going with you also”. They went out and immediately got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing (John 21:3).
EXPOSITION
It is popular among Christians to assert: “If and when God is involved, it does not matter who is not involved. And if and when God is not involved, it does not matter who is involved”. This simply underlies the inevitability of failure when one embarks on a project without God’s consent and commitment. However, this seems to be believed in theory; several of us have not been practicing it!
Peter and other disciples of Jesus Christ chose to fish after they could not see the Master again!
Don’t you do that also? (vv.1). Peter and others were proven professional fishermen with excellent antecedents. However, that night, their professionalism and expertise failed them woefully. Why? Jesus Christ was “schemed” out of their schedule.
In the garden, where God put the first man and woman, God didn’t intend man to toil before he could have his daily bread. Toiling is working for a long time and with great effort. God only requested him to tend, mend and keep the garden, and that with the greatest ease (Gen. 2:15-16).
But when man fell, he was faced with no option than labouring, toiling and struggling for survival. This has continued since. However, the joy is that Jesus Christ invites who labour and are heavy laden for ease (Matt. 11:28). Heeding ends toiling, hard labour and struggling. All efforts of the disciples yielded nothing without Jesus. Therefore, don’t venture into anything without His full involvement; it is suicidal!
Dear devout, know that without Christ, you can’t but toil (Jn. 15:16). In whatever form or way, Christ must not be put last in your scheme of things, to avoid needless toiling. Note that after Jesus Christ had made Himself available in the boat, the disciples recorded a bountiful catch. If you want this to be your experience, acknowledge Him in all your ways, always, God helping you.
PRAYER POINTS
1. Lord, help me not to be fool of myself as to neglect Your companionship in the journey of my life.
2. Lord, please continue to stay in the boat of my life, marriage, home, career, and business.
3. Holy Spirit, make Your presence unmistakably felt in our churches and nation again!
EXTRA READING FOR TODAY: 2 Kings 20:6 – 23:1; John 12:41 – 13:12.
Saturday, June 8, 2019 - World Oceans Day
WITHOUT HIM, TOILING IS INEVITABLE!
READ: John 21:1-10
MEMORISE: Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing”. They said to him, “We are going with you also”. They went out and immediately got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing (John 21:3).
EXPOSITION
It is popular among Christians to assert: “If and when God is involved, it does not matter who is not involved. And if and when God is not involved, it does not matter who is involved”. This simply underlies the inevitability of failure when one embarks on a project without God’s consent and commitment. However, this seems to be believed in theory; several of us have not been practicing it!
Peter and other disciples of Jesus Christ chose to fish after they could not see the Master again!
Don’t you do that also? (vv.1). Peter and others were proven professional fishermen with excellent antecedents. However, that night, their professionalism and expertise failed them woefully. Why? Jesus Christ was “schemed” out of their schedule.
In the garden, where God put the first man and woman, God didn’t intend man to toil before he could have his daily bread. Toiling is working for a long time and with great effort. God only requested him to tend, mend and keep the garden, and that with the greatest ease (Gen. 2:15-16).
But when man fell, he was faced with no option than labouring, toiling and struggling for survival. This has continued since. However, the joy is that Jesus Christ invites who labour and are heavy laden for ease (Matt. 11:28). Heeding ends toiling, hard labour and struggling. All efforts of the disciples yielded nothing without Jesus. Therefore, don’t venture into anything without His full involvement; it is suicidal!
Dear devout, know that without Christ, you can’t but toil (Jn. 15:16). In whatever form or way, Christ must not be put last in your scheme of things, to avoid needless toiling. Note that after Jesus Christ had made Himself available in the boat, the disciples recorded a bountiful catch. If you want this to be your experience, acknowledge Him in all your ways, always, God helping you.
PRAYER POINTS
1. Lord, help me not to be fool of myself as to neglect Your companionship in the journey of my life.
2. Lord, please continue to stay in the boat of my life, marriage, home, career, and business.
3. Holy Spirit, make Your presence unmistakably felt in our churches and nation again!
EXTRA READING FOR TODAY: 2 Kings 20:6 – 23:1; John 12:41 – 13:12.