SATURDAY JUNE 20, 2020
TOPIC: DIVISION FORBIDDEN
TEXT:1 CORINTHIANS 1:10-17
KEY VERSE: "Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?" (1 CORINTHIANS 1:12, 13).
The reason many nations find it difficult to make real progress is because of disunity. This disunity is not really because of multiple ethnic groupings, diverse cultures, etc., but because of their inability to recognise the potentials in their differences and the need to harness them towards achieving a common end. As long as people are bitterly pitched in opposing camps and fail to see face to face, there cannot be meaningful progress.
The Corinthian church had become so contentious and torn apart by schisms. Sadly, this division was as a result of different camps built around the personalities of the ministers God had used to bless them. They became fans of the different preachers. Getting the reports, Apostle Paul sharply rebuked them, recognising this as a sign of carnality and immaturity. It was the devil's ploy to make them lose focus of heaven.
How we need to watch so that we do not allow the devil to make us turn the good things God has given us in the church into engines of divisions and contentions. We must not descend into carnality and begin to make comparisons between ministers and leaders in the church. They are God's gifts to the Church for the edification of the body. While we should accord them due honour, we are not to build opposing camps around them. We should pray for them that God will continue to help them to be channels of blessings to us.
Nothing delights the hearts of our ministers more than to see that by the grace of God, we are bringing forth good fruits as a result of the seed of the Word they are sowing in us.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
There should be no opposing camps in the Body of Christ.
THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 1 KINGS 3-4
HIGHER EVERYDAY
SATURDAY JUNE 20, 2020
TOPIC: HE WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU
TEXT:LUKE 12:22-28
MEMORY VERSE: "Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?" (LUKE 12:24).
John Piper said, "God is behind everything," and totally relying on Him frees you from the laments, complaints, and sorrows of the world, because He is a Rock-solid, Unshakable and Omnipotent Reality.
In 1904, W. Stillman Martin, a Baptist minister, was about cancelling his preaching engagement because his wife was very ill. However, his nine year old son asked him, 'Daddy, don't you think that if God wants you to go preach today, He will take care of Mother while you are away?' The minister replied, 'Yes son, I know He will.'
Thus encouraged, the minister went for his preaching engagement. On his return, he found his wife greatly improved. She handed her husband a poem she had written while he was away. He composed the tune, and in a moment, the great hymn, "God Will Take Care of You," was ready. Read the lyrics of this stanza:
Be not dismayed what'er betide,
God will take care of you,
Beneath His wings of love abide,
God will take care of you.
Praise God! He will take care of His children. Are you one?
QUOTE: Totally relying on Him frees you.
CHALLENGE: Don't let your sorrows drive you away from God.
PRAYER: O God, take care of all areas of my life.