CAC LIVING WATER DAILY DEVOTIONAL  November 16, 2021 (QUENCH THE RIFT FROM ITS SOURCE)

TOPIC: QUENCH THE RIFT FROM ITS SOURCE

Read Acts 6:1-7
1 Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution.
2 Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables.
3 Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business;
4 but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”
5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch,
6 whom they set before the apostles; and when they had prayed, they laid hands on them.
7 Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith.

MEMORISE:
l am for peace; but when I speak, they are for war (Psalms 120:7)

EXPOSITION
Fire outbreak is terrible. Those who have witnessed or survived it can tell. Fire ravages and destroy everything it comes across. When fire breaks out, the next thing is to make efforts to salvage lives and properties by quenching it. However, if this is not carefully and timely done, the result may not be different! Professional fire-fighters always want to dig deep into the source of an inferno, so that their efforts would not be in futility. Once the source is discovered, the job becomes easier, and in no time, the fire is put out. As the World commemorates World Tolerance Day today, tolerance is one of the virtues to quench the rift before it even comes up.

More often than not, our efforts at making peace and fostering unity in a dysfunctional, dichotomous and unhealthy home, society and church do not yield desired results, because it is somehow superficial and shallow! If a plant, especially, an unwanted one is cut at the stem, it will surely sprout again. However, if it is duly uprooted, its re-growth becomes impossible.

Misunderstanding, misinterpretation, misrepresentation, and the likes cannot but happen. It is not unusual for it to also occur even in the church(Acts 6:1 ff). Efforts must always be made to nip such crises in the bud at record time.

Meanwhile, it must be tackled right from its emanating source. The source is very important. For instance, any river not getting support from any certain source will dry up in no time. So, If we don’t dig deep into the cause of a conflict, we may never achieve success in resolving it.

In the days of the early apostles, crisis ensued due to the ill-feeling of certain non-Jews who were not being fairly treated. God helped the leaders then to tackle this by appointing seven deacons who were informed about the cause of the crisis to be in charge of the fair distribution, while they focused on preaching the Word and Prayer. In resolving crisis, round peg must also be put in round holes, and not otherwise. Those who are to resolve crisis must be fair to all parties involved, digging deep into the roots of the crisis, and providing lasting solution to it.

PRAYER POINTS
1. May unnecessary, destructive crisis not rock our homes, churches and society as a whole, in Jesus’ name.
2. Lord, give us the wisdom to resolve crises in our homes, workplaces, churches, nations, etc. in Your own way.
3. Holy Spirit, help remove every obstacle to peaceful resolution of conflicts in our midst, in Jesus’ name.

EXTRA READING FOR TODAY:
Jeremiah 51:35 – 52:33; Hebrews 10:2 – 10:22

Author: C.A.C WORLDWIDE
Remain blessed!