Scripture:
Luke 10:34-35; Matthew 6:24-34
Fri, 25 November 2022

Pay the Price

Observation:

What personal costs were the Samaritan willing to incur to help the
injured man?

Deeper Reflection
HOW MUCH WAS TWO DENARII? IT WAS PROBABLY WORTH two days’ wages for a skilled labourer. In today’s context, that is around US$200. It was not small change. That was in addition to the fact that the Samaritan used some of his own oil and wine to treat the injured man’s wounds, and undertook to pay the innkeeper’s further expenses. Overall, it cost him substantively. And it should cost us substantively too when we give to the needy. In his book Mere Christianity, C. S. Lewis wrote: “Charity − giving to the poor − is an essential part of Christian morality…I do not believe one can settle how much we ought to give. I am afraid the only safe rule is to give more than we can spare. In other words, if our expenditures on comforts, luxuries, amusements, etc. is up to the standard common among those with the same income as our own, we are probably giving away too little. If our charities do not at all pinch or hamper us, I should say they are too small. There ought to be things we should like to do and cannot do because our charitable expenditure excludes them.” May these words challenge us deeply!But there is a second part to the matter of giving: God does not shortchange us. As we obey and give, God provides. He truly is the Lord who will provide (Gen 22:14).40 A.W. Tozer said, “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.” When we know that God is our Provider, we are emboldened to give.
40 Transliterated Yahweh-Yireh from Hebrew; traditionally, Jehovah-Jireh, in earlier English Bible translations.
Application:

If I really believe that the Lord will provide for my needs, how am I acting on
this belief?

Prayer:
Write a prayer to God as your response from your meditation on and application of the Scriptures.
Prayer Pointers:
  • Give thanks and praise
  • Pray for SGI leaders: To give in such a way that reflects the truth that the Lord is our Provider
  • Pray for significant people
  • Pray for those in need
  • Pray for self

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Daily Devo
Daily Devotional Journal
Scripture:
Daniel 10: 4-19
Sat, 30 September 2023

Strengthened by the Divine Touch

Observation:

What is the significance of the repetition of the terms “strength” and
“strengthen” in Daniel’s encounter with God (vv.8, 16, 17, 18, 19)?

Deeper Reflection
When God sent His Word to Daniel in a vision, it was he “alone saw” the “great vision” (vv.7-8). It was a special privilege of divine sovereign grace. The vision was also a vision of God’s holiness and glory manifested in the awesome appearance of a heavenly being (vv.5-6). Daniel was so utterly overwhelmed by the divine vision, that “no strength was left in me” (v.8). The description, “no strength”, is emphatically repeated four times in Daniel’s encounter with God (vv.8, 16, 17). We may not experience such an utterly overwhelming encounter with God like Daniel’s, but we do experience “no strength was left in me” in utterly overwhelming adversities like being “afflicted in every way” (2 Cor 1:8; 4:8-9).When we have “no strength”, we need the divine touch. God responded to Daniel’s fourfold “no strength” with a threefold divine touch (vv.10, 16, 18): He “touched me again and strengthened me”. When we are so greatly afflicted, that we feel no strength is left in us, and yet we persevere in faithfulness, it is because we are being “strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of great endurance and patience” (Col 1:11). Note the intensity and immensity of this divine power at work in us! This is the divine touch of “the surpassing greatness of power” from God (2 Cor 4:7-9). But we feel the physical and emotional pains more than the Spiritual power. The greater is our suffering, the greater will be the strength from God in us, and the greater will be our steadfastness in God.
Application:

What is my experience of the Word of God and spiritual warfare like in my
discipleship journey?

Prayer:
Write a prayer to God as your response from your meditation on and application of the Scriptures.
Prayer Pointers:
  • Give thanks and praise
  • Pray for Church Board: To know God’s power that is perfected in weaknesses
  • Pray for significant people
  • Pray for those in need
  • Pray for self

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