Today’s Bible Reading
January 23

Old Testament 1
Genesis 29

[29:20 So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed only a few days to him because of the love he had for her.]

If you love God, you should enjoy serving Him, you should enjoy spending time with Him. 10 hours studying His Word should seem like 10minutes because of your love for Him.

Another reason Jacob could serve extra years for Rachel and 7years seemed like only a few days to him was because Jacob’s eyes were on the prize. Do we even know there’s a reward for serving God?

There’s a reward for devoting our time for God in studying His word and in prayers.

Jacob's reward was spending the rest of his life with Rachel, likewise when we devote our time for God and His service, we get all of God. That would only impress only those who Love God.

If you love someone, you want all of that person. If you love God, you want all of God.

How you get all of God is through devotion and service. But the problem isn’t wanting God. People pretend to want God and profess they love God but what they really want is what God can give to them. God’s presence is not enough reward for them to motivate them to devote themselves in studying God’s word in and prayers.

God’s presence alone should be your main motivation.

If what Jacob wanted was just what Rachel could offer, that wasn’t a problem, he stayed with them for years. But Jacob wanted all of her because he loves her.

Do you want all of God all you just claim to love Him?


Old Testament 2
Job 38 & 39

God answered Job.

Remember one of our expositions where we mentioned we can ask God questions from a place of trust, and if we are not clear about anything, we can ask God, He is a loving father He will answer us.

God answered Job’s questions in this scripture. Despite the fact that his friend condemns him.

Job’s friend didn’t have the relationship Job had with God so they only talked from a stranger’s perspective.

Job knew God enough to know He wasn’t crossing any boundaries with his statements.

Don’t let people who don’t have a relationship with God talk you out of relating with God as your Father

Also this scripture talks about the wonders of nature by God


New Testament
Matthew 15:29 - 16:17

[15:34 Jesus said to them, How many loaves do you have? And they said, Seven, and a few little fish]

You don't need to have a lot to be compassionate.

You might say you don't have much but God can multiply the one you have that it will be enough for others and also for you. Trust Him

[16:12 Then they understood that He did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees]

There are a lot of false doctrines in the world today. We should be careful who will follow or listen to.

Flee from any church whose doctrines isn't founded on Jesus Christ.

But how can you know the right doctrines if you don't study God's word and spend time with Him?

This is why people fall for false doctrines. They do not know the truth. They perish for lack of knowledge (Hosea 4:6).

[16:16 Simon Peter answered and said, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God]

In the concluding part of this scripture,

Jesus asked His Disciples who they think He is and He got different answers.

Simon Peter answered that He is Christ, the son of the living God

Then Jesus replied;

[16:17 Jesus answered and said to him, Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.]

Hallelujah, we are also blessed for knowing Jesus is Christ.

And we shouldn't boast in the flesh. We know because God revealed unto us

He chose us (scripture about choosing us)

He opened our eyes, He called us from darkness to marvelous light. We were once blind, now we see. Glory to God!


Action Point

Change your attitude towards devotion; your devotion should be motivated by God’s love

Ask God questions you want answers to, as His child.

Be compassionate

Be committed to studying God’s word


Quote

People give not because they have a lot but because they are kind

True compassion means not only feeling another's pain but also being moved to help relieve it

-Daniel Goleman


Prayer Points

1. Thank God for His love for you

2. Ask for mercy for when your actions didn’t agree with what you profess

3. Pray that God should remove every obstacle from the way of His promises for you

4. Pray against the spirit of delay to your blessings

5. Declare that God’s will be done in your life

6. Pray that God should help you in your devotion

7. Pray for the Spirit of compassion

8. Pray that God make you a blessing unto others

9. Pray that God should reveal Himself to you

10. Pray to know God more


Word for thought

The things God has destined for you will not elude you if only you can put all things in the hand of God.

Human beings may try to tamper with it but God will not allow it.


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