CHRIST APOSTOLIC CHURCH THE LIVING WATER {July ~ Dec., 2021} DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE. Tuesday, August 31, 2021

TOPIC: ARE YOU DESPERATE?

Read 1 Timothy 6:3-10

[3]If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;

[4]He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,

[5]Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.

[6]But godliness with contentment is great gain.

[7]For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.

[8]And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

[9]But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.

[10]For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

MEMORISE: For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and plerced themselves through with many sorrows (1 Timothy 6:10)

EXPOSITION

To be desperate simply means, that one is showing a feeling that one has little hope, and is ready to do anything without worrying about the danger such action will do to oneself or others. More often than not, it is used negatively. The craze or crave for wealth, fame, position and materialism in this part of the world is always underlined with desperation. Paul, while writing to Timothy, his mentee in the Lord, said, 'Now godliness with contentment is great gain' (1 Tim. 6:6).

In this generation of unemployment and under-employment, job seekers are desperate to be gainfully employed! They can do anything, even if it would cost them their lives! They damn the consequences of false declaration of age, falsification of documents/certificates, etc. No wonder their lives eventually become contrary to sequence, which is true meaning of consequence!

Nowadays, it seems "men" are unwilling and unserious to marry. The innumerable "women" think it is now the survival of the fittest! You don't need to be desperate because you are yet unmarried at your age. Be careful, lest your "Abigail" falls into the hands of "Nabal" or your "Samson" ends up in the belly of "Delilah" (1 Sam. 25:3; Jdg. 16:4). God is never too late.

It may not be the plan of God for you to get out of the country the way and time you expect! Do not be desperate about it! The devil will wait for you over there, if you, through hook and crook manage to scale through. Aside the earthly consequences of desperation, it can ultimately condemn the unnecessarily desperate to the eternal lake of fire that burns with fire and brimstone (Rev. 21:8). You must avoid this at all cost.

If there is anything at all to be desperate about, it should be the salvation of your soul and passion for the perishing soul/evangelism/missions. You must do everything and anything to secure your eternity with Christ.

PRAYER POINTS

1. Lord, I refuse to be desperate about this world and its godless offers.

2. Holy Spirit, help me to be passionate about working out my salvation till Jesus' return.

3. Lord, empty our youths of the unnecessary desperateness to travel abroad for greener pastures at all cost.

EXTRA READING FOR TODAY: Psalms 91:1 - 95:4; 1Corinthians 6:2 - 7:3