CAC Living Water Daily Devotional – Be Earthly Relevant As You Are Heavenly Consious

CAC Living Water Daily Devotional 20th November 2021 – Be Earthly Relevant As You Are Heavenly Consious

Topic: Be Earthly Relevant As You Are Heavenly Consious

Read: Genesis 26:12-14

[12]Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year an hundredfold: and the LORD blessed him.

[13]And the man waxed great, and went forward, and grew until he became very great:

[14]For he had possession of flocks, and possession of herds, and great store of servants: and the Philistines envied him.

Memorize: Then Isaac sowed in that land, and reaped in the same year a hundredfold, and the Lord blessed him (Genesis 26:12)

EXPOSITION

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Many of us love to pray, and pray, and pray, and pray, from mountain to mountain, from valleys to valleys, and from churches to churches. There is nothing bad in that (cf. 1 Thess. 5:17). However, it becomes worrisome when some people keep praying without working - workless faith (cf. Jas. 2:14). It was not so with Isaac. We must learn from his industriousness as the world commemorates Africa Industrialization Day and Universal Children's Day today.

He had obediently remained in Gerar, for God commanded him (Gen. 26:1-6). Like his father, he believed that God would bless him (12:1ff). Such a lofty idea of God's unchanging promise would have made some persons to sit down, folding their arms, expecting the blessings to come. Isaac wasn't in that land doing nothing. Our memory Scripture shows that he 'sowed in that land', i.e. he worked with his hands and skills.

Isaac obviously had the hope of heavenly bliss. He believed like his father did, and like his father, it must have been 'accounted to him for righteousness' (Jas. 2:23), hence the conclusion that he was heavenly ready. Yet, he wasn't earthly irrelevant. He worked with his hands as he expected heavenly blessings. He must have employed some people!

Of a truth, as children of God's kingdom, 'The blessing of the Lord makes one rich' (Prov. 10:22a), 'for it is He who gives... Power to get wealth' (Deut. 8:18b). When God gives his blessings, He expects us to invest the blessings as He gives us the power to make wealth. That implies industry.

It is unwise to think that because we are expecting the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and we need to be prepared for Him, we should not do the right things to keep us going while still here on earth. We aren't sure of the exact time of Christ's sure return. So, prepare for His coming like He would be around in the next few minutes, but plan for a better tomorrow like He won't be around too soon, though with heaven at heart. Don't be idle! (1 Thess. 3:11,12; 1 Tim. 5:13).

PRAYER POINTS

1. Lord, help me to be both heaven-conscious and earthly relevant as long as I remain here on earth.

2. I refuse to be accused of idleness as long as I remain here on earth, in Jesus' name.

3. Lord, help church leaders to be more committed and passionate about training and investing in our youth for a better tomorrow.

EXTRA READING FOR TODAY: Ezekiel 2:7 - 5:15; Hebrews 12:7 - 12:27