14/12/2023
CHRIST APOSTOLIC CHURCH
THE LIVING WATER (January-December, 2023)
DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE
DATE:
Thursday, December 14, 2023
TOPIC:
A CLEAR PLAN
MEMORISE
And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules (2 Timothy 2:5).
READ:
2 Timothy 2:3, 4
[3]. You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
[4]. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.
EXPOSITION
Moving from the imagery of a soldier in our text for today, Paul jumped straight to the imagery of an athlete in verse 5, "And also anyone if competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules". If the imagery of a soldier seeking only to please his commanding officer teaches us the need to have a clear purpose, the imagery of an athlete teaches us the need to have a clear plan for training.
In 1 Corinthians 9:24-26, Paul wrote "Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we, for an imperishable crown. Therefore, I run thus, not not with uncertainty. Thus I fight not as one who beats the air". Having a clear purpose is insufficient if one does not have a systematic way of training in order to reach that goal. For example, you may desire to run a full marathon (42km) but if your training never crosses a 10km mark, there is no way you can meet your eventual goal.
Likewise, God may have awakened in us the desire and need to prepare ourselves to be a holy and blameless Brides, but our desire alone is insufficient, if we have no concrete plans and processes to get ready for Jesus' return.
Someone wisely said, "If you fail to plan, you plan to fail. For a start, do you have a daily and regular habit of reading or listening to God's Word? If not, schedule it into your calendars. Habits are only formed after an extended time. Begin by reading God's Word consistently daily. May God help you.
SUGGESTED HYMN FOR TODAY:
CAC GHB 519
1. Now the day is over,
Night is drawing nigh,
Shadows of the evening
Steal across the sky.
2. Now the darkness gathers,
Stars their watches keep,
Birds and beasts, and flowers
Soon will be asleep.
3. Jesus, give the weary
Calm and sweet repose;
With Thy tend'rest blessing
May mine eyelids close
4. Grant to little children
Visions bright of Thee
Guard the sailors tossing
On the deep blue sea.
5. Comfort every suff'rer
Watching late in pain;
Those who plan some evil
From their sin restrain.
6. Through the long night watches
May Thine angels spread
Their white wings above me,
Watching round my bed.
7. When the morning wakens,
Then may I arise
Pure and fresh, and sinless
In Thy holy eyes.
8. Glory to the Father,
Glory to the Son,
And to Thee, blest Spirit
Whilst all ages run.
Amen.
PRAYER POINTS
1. Lord, let Your purpose for my eternal and immediate race be clear to me.
2. Lord, give me the discipline and persistence I need to complete my race according to Your rules.
3. Lord, help all the Christian athletes to stand up for righteousness and holiness, never to bow to pressures from the world.
EXTRA READING FOR TODAY:
Colossians 2-4;
1 Thessalonians 1:1-2:12
AUTHOR
CAC Worldwide
Remain blessed
