THE LIVING WATER DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE FOR FEBRUARY 14, 2022 (LOVE BUILDS UP THE CHURCH)
Monday, February 14, 2022.
-Valentine Day
TOPIC: LOVE BUILDS UP THE CHURCH
Read 1 Corinthians 8:1-3
1 Now concerning things offered to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies.
2 And if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know.
3 But if anyone loves God, this one is known by Him.
MEMORISE:
But if anyone loves God, this one is known by Him (1 Corinthians 8:3)
EXPOSITION
Imagine a loveless world, and see a world that is chaotic and pervasive, even as the world celebrates Valentine’s Day today. God is love, and expects His children to manifest this godly virtues in their daily living. In love, God created man, the world and everything therein. Even when man fell, God did not stop loving him, and that is the essence of Jesus Christ first earthly advent.
The best way to show that we love God is by loving our fellow humans (Lk. 10:29-37). In today’s dose of the Living Water, Paul raises a critical issue that affects the body of Christ, the Church of God. He addressed the church at Corinth on what their attitude should be to foods offered to idols. This was a very salient issue in such a secular/pagan society like that in Corinth, then. Has paganism been totally faced out, even today? Definitely not, but it is fast taking a new look. Paganism is paganism, anywhere, irrespective of the rebranding. Whatever makes man worship the creature than His Creator is paganism, or better still, idolatry.
Paul knew that the way to overcome such a critical issue that has implication on our Christian faith, is genuine love for God, and this manifests in our love for the brethren, such that made the three Hebrews stand against
Nebuchadnezzar’s idolatrous order, damning the terminal consequence of being confined to the fiery furnace.
When a man loves God, it will be difficult for him to do things that break God’s heart and stand as obstacles on the path of others. How will a Christian eat meat, wear a particular attire in a particular way that will lead to the downfall of any other soul that Christ died for? (cf. Lk. 17:1). Any knowledge we may claim to have that has not translated to loving God and edifying the body of Christ is no knowledge. True love puts God and others into consideration in all situations.
PRAYER POINTS
1. Lord, plant Your love in my heart, and don’t let it wane, in Jesus’ name.
2. Lord, fill my heart with godly love and brotherly affection for others.
3. Pray for CAC Adelaja Region, our father in the Lord, the Superintendent, and its officers at the various levels, as led by the Spirit of God.
EXTRA READING FOR TODAY: Numbers 5 – 6
