Scripture Union Daily Guide 13 July 2024 (Saturday) Devotional Message
TOPIC: Social Care
OPENING PRAYER: May the meditation of my heart be acceptable unto you, O Lord as I read from your word.
SCRIPTURE READING: 1 TIMOTHY 5:1-16
Question(s) for Reflection
* Q3: Is there any command for me to obey?
* Q7: What truth is God revealing to me in this passage?
Scripture Union Daily Guide 13 July 2024 – OUTLINE
Paul made it very clear how Timothy should relate with church members of different ages and status. Review his admonition in vs.1-2. We are in days when church leaders ascribe various titles to themselves; turn themselves into tin gods and contrary to the African culture, become overnight papas to their grandfathers. We need to take Paul’s admonition seriously.
The church has great responsibilities concerning widows. This will include giving them a sense of belonging, counselling, providing support and general welfare. These responsibilities are even more needed today in many African countries where widows are ill-treated, accused of killing their husbands and often denied access to the property they laboured for alongside their husbands. Note, however, the different treatment of the different groups of widows and why (vs.3-5; 9-10).
It appears that for some cultural and other reasons, many don’t think of the possibility of a widow getting married again. Read vs.11-15 again. The Bible makes it clear that a widow, who desires to marry, may do so. It is not only the prerogative of their male counterparts. See 1 Corinthians 7:8-9 as well. They cannot do this, however, unless Christian men are prepared to marry them.
Practice/Word Application
Thought: In what ways is your church caring for widows? And you?
* Any new insight or reinforcement of what you already know?
Closing Prayer
Take time to pray for widows and orphans, for God’s intervention in their situations.
Prayer for the week
* Pray against all evil plans of darkness against Christian families • Pray that Christian homes will be a place where the truth is preached • Pray that we and our children will live to serve God’s purpose in our generation
Offer a prayer of faith in line with Genesis 22:17
“That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;”
One Year Bible Reading Plan
Daily Bible Reading Plan: Day 195- Micah
NATIONAL PRAYER BULLETIN – Sat Jul 13, 2024
PRAYER FOCUS
NATIONAL CAMPS
Then I will encamp at my house as a guard, so that none shall march to and fro; no oppressor shall march again over them, for now I see with my own eyes.
Zech. 9:8.
THANK GOD FOR:
‣ All Scripture Union Nig. National camps: Camp of Faith, Okigwe; Camp of Hope, Benin; Camp of Love, Oyo; Camp of Peace, Abuja
‣ His eyes that are watching over these camps night and day.
‣ What He is doing to make these camps a blessing to users.
‣ The blessings these camps have been to us SU, and to outsiders.
PRAY FOR:
‣ All camp managers and the entire staff working in these camps that they will work with the fear of God in their hearts.
‣ They will portray Christ as they relate with clients
‣ Provision of resources to develop those camps that are still under construction.
‣ The users of these camps will always find God each time they come.