Scripture Union Daily Guide Reading for Today 21 April 2024 (Sunday) Devotional Message
TOPIC: Sincerity for Christ
OPENING PRAYER: May my heart, O Lord, be receptive to your word as I meditate on it.
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SCRIPTURE FOR TODAY: 2 CORINTHIANS 1:12-22
12 Now this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, with integrity[a] and godly sincerity. We have done so, relying not on worldly wisdom but on God’s grace.
13 For we do not write you anything you cannot read or understand. And I hope that, 14 as you have understood us in part, you will come to understand fully that you can boast of us just as we will boast of you in the day of the Lord Jesus.
15 Because I was confident of this, I wanted to visit you first so that you might benefit twice. 16 I wanted to visit you on my way to Macedonia and to come back to you from Macedonia, and then to have you send me on my way to Judea. 17 Was I fickle when I intended to do this? Or do I make my plans in a worldly manner so that in the same breath I say both “Yes, yes” and “No, no”?
18 But as surely as God is faithful, our message to you is not “Yes” and “No.” 19 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us—by me and Silas[b] and Timothy—was not “Yes” and “No,” but in him it has always been “Yes.” 20 For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God.
21 Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, 22 set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
Question(s) for Reflection
* Q2: Is there any example for me to follow or not to follow?
Vs.12-14 – Paul’s concern was to make it clear that his actions were based on godly sincerity. His avowed hope was to see the church members at Corinth see things with the same lenses and to have an eternal perspective on everything. It was not his style to resort to propaganda. Vs.14-17 –
Paul had planned to visit the brethren in Corinth while on a pastoral visit to Macedonia. He had had to change plans at the last minute, and this had raised questions in the minds of some at Corinth as to whether he was double minded. Was this the case?
Vs.18-22 – What do we learn from Paul’s response to the accusation? As a child of God, your word should be your bond. Let your, ‘Yes’ be, ‘Yes’. Do you believe in the promises of God? Will He do what He says He will do? See Psalm 119:89-90. God is faithful and we should have complete trust in Him. See I Thessalonians 5:23-24
* Any new insight or reinforcement of what you already know?
HYMN: INTO THY SERVICE, LORD
1. Into Thy service, Lord,
Thou callest me;
Faithful in all my work
Help me to be;
Emptied of self and sin,
With only Christ within,
Aid me lost souls to win
From sin to Thee.
2. Thou gav’st Thyself for me,
Lord, Thou art mine;
I give myself to Thee,
Savior divine;
Now for Thine own name’s sake,
I full surrender make;
All I possess now take,
All, all is Thine.
3. That I Thy will may do,
Show me the way;
For this my strength renew
From day to day;
This is my earnest plea,
Thine wholly, Lord, to be,
Serve ever only Thee,
And Thee obey.
CLOSING PRAYER
Lord, I renew my trust in you. I step out in faith today, knowing that I am victorious in Christ.
Offer a prayer of faith in line with Psalms 147:3
One Year Bible Reading Plan
Daily Bible Reading Plan: Day 112 – Psalms 6, 8-10, 14, 16, 19, 21
NATIONAL PRAYER BULLETIN – Sun Apr 21, 2024
PRAYER FOCUS
SCHOOLS, YOUTHS, AID FOR LIFE DEPARTMENT
When he saw the crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
Mathew 9:36
THANK GOD FOR:
* For the privilege He bestowed upon us to minister among young people in schools, streets, Churches and wherever they can be found
* Diverse visions and strategies He has given us in our pursuit of ministry among the youths
PRAY FOR:
* The Lord will envision Scripture Union members (staff and volunteers) on how to effectively minister among youths
* We shall see these young people as the Lord sees them, and that our hearts shall be filled with compassion in reaching out to them • Pray against: • Coldness of our hearts towards believing and working for the salvation of today’s youths
* Anything that is making us unavailable to serve as true shepherds to these harassed and helpless youths
* Abounding Grace and wisdom upon the HOD – Rev. Chijioke Okorafor as he coordinates the work in this department.
PRAY AGAINST:
* Worldly influences on the young people we seek to disciple
