06-12-2019, 02:40 PM
THE LIVING WATER DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE
Wednesday, June 12, 2019.
THE PEOPLE FIRST (I)
READ: Ezekiel 34:1-6
1 And the word of the Lord came to me, saying,
2 “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God to the shepherds: “Woe to the shepherds of Israel who feed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flocks?
3 You eat the fat and clothe yourselves with the wool; you slaughter the fatlings, but you do not feed the flock.
4 The weak you have not strengthened, nor have you healed those who were sick, nor bound up the broken, nor brought back what was driven away, nor sought what was lost; but with force and cruelty you have ruled them.
5 So they were scattered because there was no shepherd; and they became food for all the beasts of the field when they were scattered.
6 My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and on every high hill; yes, My flock was scattered over the whole face of the earth, and no one was seeking or searching for 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.
Wednesday, June 12, 2019.
THE PEOPLE FIRST (I)
READ: Ezekiel 34:1-6
1 And the word of the Lord came to me, saying,
2 “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God to the shepherds: “Woe to the shepherds of Israel who feed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flocks?
3 You eat the fat and clothe yourselves with the wool; you slaughter the fatlings, but you do not feed the flock.
4 The weak you have not strengthened, nor have you healed those who were sick, nor bound up the broken, nor brought back what was driven away, nor sought what was lost; but with force and cruelty you have ruled them.
5 So they were scattered because there was no shepherd; and they became food for all the beasts of the field when they were scattered.
6 My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and on every high hill; yes, My flock was scattered over the whole face of the earth, and no one was seeking or searching for 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.