DCLM Higher Everyday 25 December 2023 — Labour For The Fruit
Topic: Labour For The Fruit
Text: 2 Timothy 2: 1-7
1Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
3Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
4No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.
5And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.
6The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits.
7Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.
Key Verse: “Thou therefore endure harness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ” (2Timothy 2:3).
Message
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) reports claim as at March 23, 2022, that within one month of Russian invasion of Ukraine, close to 7,000-15,000 soldiers had either been killed or wounded. This aptly paints the picture of the commitment of soldiers who fought to defend their territories or conquer others. That was why the Russian and Ukrainian soldiers fought till they breathed their last on the battle field.
Apostle Paul likens Christian workers to soldiers. They are to labour selflessly like soldiers, not entangling themselves with the affairs of this world. They are to demonstrate the same high level of commitment to gain those territories that have not been reached for Christ. Hence Reinhard Bonnke declared, “I cry to God day and night for greater effectiveness in winning our generation for Him.” Our fruit of evangelism is very important. Christian youths can bear much fruit by taking the gospel to their unsaved peers at school and all young people around them. Can you labour for Christ till your last breath?
Quote: Labour for Christ
Challenge: Labour for Christ till your last breath.
Prayer for today: Strengthen me Lord to serve You to the end.
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)
