GOFAMINT DEVOTIONAL - LABOUR IN LOVE

SERVE GOD COMMENDABLY

Wednesday 18/5/2022 

Suggested Hymns: G.H.B. 75, 150

Devotional Reading: Rom. 16:1-10

Topic For Adults: Serve God Wholeheartedly

Topic For Youths: It Pays To Serve The Lord

Topic For Intermediates: Serve God All Your Life

Lesson Scriptures: Rom. 12:1-21; 16:1-20

MEMORY VERSE

“For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore, I am glad on your

behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil” (Romans 16:19) NKJV.

                                       LABOUR IN LOVE

  Hebrews 6:9-20

Men may forget your good deeds, your sacrifices and toiling, however; you need to know that God is not man. Every labour for God brings commendation that far outweighs the pain or losses incurred. You must not be deterred, dejected, discouraged or depressed when you labour for the godly course, only ensure that it is done in love. It is only labour in love that is commendable and rewardable. Labour for show-off or show of strength, skill, power, connection or endowment will get men to clap for you while God may not clap and thus, you have only what man can give. Labour in love, with the right motive, with the right heart. There is a holding hope which should be the anchor of the soul that whatever labour is executed for God and the advancement of His kingdom in love is both commendable and rewardable.

Point of Emphasis: Labouring in love, with the right motive and with the right heart is commendable and rewardable

Prayer Point: Help me dear Father to labour in love.

Reading The Bible Through in a Year: Morning: Heb. 6; Evening: Prov. 1-3

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BACKGROUND

There are seasons of life and nature with special peculiarities. We have the rainy season which is associated with freshness and the dry season, associated with dryness. When it is raining, people tend to use the rain as excuse and when it’s the dry season, excuses bordering around excessive heat is the order of the day. The lesson enjoins us to serve God come rain, come shine; when easy and when not easy. When you serve God in the rainy season, He gives you water in the dry season and when you serve God in the dry season, God gives you warmth in the rainy season.

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NOTES ON THE LESSON

PART 1: CRITERIA FOR COMMENDATION - ROM. 16:1-16

People commended in our scriptural text were workers, helpers, people who risked their lives for the sake and propagation of the Gospel, accommodating people who allowed the Church in their properties, obedient labourers in the vineyard, people of longstanding testimony in the truth and the Gospel. You don’t earn commendation for being idle, lazy, staying long in Church without impact, busy bodies, rebellious and unthankful. Every character acknowledged for meritorious service and commended had an impact on the Church and their community. Hence, positive impact enlists you in the honours roll.

Phoebe was commended because she was a servant of the Church. To some, it is derogatory to be called a servant. How many are servants again in our fold today? Our generation has redefined so many things; like people claim they are Christians simply by birth, some also see themselves as servants while they live an irony of what the word means. A servant is simply somebody who serves another. Jesus said, (Mk. 9:35). Jesus said if anyone wants to be a leader among you, he must be a servant (Mk. 9:35) He demonstrated it by washing the feet of the disciples. How many are practical servants again in our fold today?

A couple, Priscilla and Aquila; who are fellow workers with Paul risked their lives and allow the Church a place on their property. They identified with the Church, gave space for the expansion of the Church, were workers in the very hostile gentile terrain and also risked their lives for the sake of the Gospel. Jesus said, “Whoever desires to follow after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily and follow”. It is not easy to be a follower. When you are following, you don’t have your own direction, your own pace and your own will. You stay where the Leader stays, you move when He moves and to the very direction of His movement. Following Jesus takes denial, burning your own ego, desire and direction. It entails accepting the cross and following without reservations. Such an act attracts commendation and heaven’s applause.

Giving is a commendable service. Those who give to God acknowledges Him as the Owner. Giving is a proof of our love for God. Give your time, attention, energy, intellect, resources, skills and entire life to God. When you give to God, you are supporting yourself and your destiny.

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PART 2: REASONABLE SERVICE – ROM. 12:1-21

Reasonable service is all God rewards. Presenting your body as a living sacrifice, non-conformity to the world and its ungodly system, will make it easy for you to serve God reasonably. Renewing of your mind, will all culminate in producing what is good, acceptable and perfect will of God. To have a service that is commendable, since everyone who professes to be a Christian is dead and buried to sin, risen with Christ and expected to walk, live the life of Christ, a sacrificial life that is not ours again but Christ’s, all we do in body and soul now should reflect Christ. Living His life is what makes us Christians. Living His life is the change the world wants to see and that was what they saw in Antioch! Now, if we have died with Christ, we believe we will also reign with Him, therefore, do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life and your members to God as instruments for righteousness (Rom. 6).

The present evil age still tempts Christians. Don’t conform to the alluring evil desires of the world. Renew your mind with the will of God (the word of God) which is commendable. Serve God in the capacity He has endowed you with, contribute your quota to the growth of the Universal body of Christ and live a Christ-like life.

PART 3: AVOID ACTS THAT ARE NOT COMMENDABLE – ROM. 16:17-20

As we have actions that attract commendation, so, we have acts that are not commendable. Impact can be positive or negative. Division creates obstacles and runs contrary to God’s will; therefore, it is not a commendable action. Don’t be a divisive person and also avoid divisive people. Divisive people have motives that are ulterior to building up the body of Christ; they pull down for selfish reasons – for their belly, for their own gains, for their own popularity and not of Jesus. Division in an organisation wastes time, resources, life and destiny. Work done is a product of force and distance in the study of Physics, however, when the distance is not in the same direction and the force is also in opposite direction, both cancels and work done is zero. Reason why so many organisations are not leaving the same position though, there is so much activity! Obedience is a godly act and disobedience is ungodly, simply put, disobedience is not commendable.

CONCLUSION

It is required for every faithful believer to brighten their own corner, serve God wholeheartedly. Joyfully give yourself as a living sacrifice to serve the Lord. Imbibing the values, customs and behaviour of the world will result to condemnation, therefore, don’t ever conform to the practice of this world. Distinguish yourself in the work of God like Andronicus, Tunia and others mentioned by Paul in Romans 16:1-16. You will be commended and highly respected if you deploy your gifts and resources for the growth of the Church. Rebellious people will reap condemnation while those who promote God’s work will be commended.

QUESTIONS

1. Why are the people mentioned in Rom. 16:1-16 (our Scriptural text today) commended?

2. Briefly explain what this means “It is not easy to be a follower”.

3. What will culminate into producing what is good, acceptable and perfect will of God?

4. How can a Christian prevent this present evil age from luring him or her from conforming to the values of the world?

5. Why is division (divisible people) not commendable?

6. How should you relate with those who cause division in the Church?

DO HAVE A BLESSED DAY

©2022 THE GOSPEL FAITH MISSION INTERNATIONAL DEVOTIONAL IS BY PASTOR (DR) E.O ABINA, THE GENERAL OVERSEER OF GOFAMINT Worldwide.