DCLM HIGHER EVERYDAY 7 April 2022 — Prepare for God’s presence
DCLM Higher Everyday 7 April 2022 Devotional by Pastor W. F. Kumuyi — Prepare for God’s presence
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TOPIC: PREPARE FOR GOD’S PRESENCE
TEXT: GENESIS 18:1-10
1 And the LORD appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre: and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day;
2 And he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him: and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground,
4 Let a little water, I pray you, be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree:
5 And I will fetch a morsel of bread, and comfort ye your hearts; after that ye shall pass on: for therefore are ye come to your servant. And they said, So do, as thou hast said.
6 And Abraham hastened into the tent unto Sarah, and said, Make ready quickly three measures of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes upon the hearth.
7 And Abraham ran unto the herd, and fetcht a calf tender and good, and gave it unto a young man; and he hasted to dress it.
8 And he took butter, and milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree, and they did eat.
9 And they said unto him, Where is Sarah thy wife? And he said, Behold, in the tent.
10 And he said, I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son. And Sarah heard it in the tent door, which was behind him.
MEMORY VERSE: “And the LORD appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre: and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day” (GENESIS 18:1).
MESSAGE
Brother Lawrence, a seventeenth century Monk, speaking on God’s presence said: “Think often of God, by day, by night, in your business and even in your diversions. He is always near you and with you; leave Him not alone.” He lived out this conviction in his daily activities. While working, he talked to God, listened to His leading, and asked for His grace at busy periods, thus experiencing God’s presence daily.
In our text, Abraham promptly responded to God and His messengers because He was prepared for God’s presence. Dear Christian youth, do you daily prepare for God’s presence?
God makes His presence known to those who are in relationship with Him by redemption. To be prepared for God’s presence at all times, you must jealously guard your salvation and other Christian experiences.
This demands daily study of God’s Word and obedience to Him, consistent fervent prayers, separation from the world and its vices, absolute consecration to God, holiness of life and fellowship with fellow brethren. Child of God, like Brother Lawrence, prepare and be in God’s presence daily.
QUOTE: Be in God’s presence daily.
CHALLENGE: Guard your Christian life jealously.
PRAYER: Dear Lord, I want to be in Your presence always.
1. Admit that you are a sinner. "For all [humans] have sinned, and comes short of the glory of God....[and] the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 3:23)
2. Repent now. "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out ...[for] if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness " (Acts 3:19, 1 John 1:9)
3. Believe that God loves you and Jesus died for you. "God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet Sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8)
4. Invite Jesus into your life through prayer of faith. Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20)
