The Daily Fountain Daily Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 22 March 2020 – TOPIC: GODLY RELATIONSHIPS

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DATE: SUNDAY, MARCH 22, 2020
(Lent 4) – Mothering Sunday
TOPIC: GODLY RELATIONSHIPS
READ: 1 TIMOTHY 5:1-16 (NKJV)

1. Do not rebuke an older man, but exhort [him] as a father, younger men as brothers,
2. older women as mothers, younger as sisters, with all purity.
3. Honor widows who are really widows.
4. But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show piety at home and to repay their parents; for this is good and acceptable before God.
5. Now she who is really a widow, and left alone, trusts in God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day.
6. But she who lives in pleasure is dead while she lives.
7. And these things command, that they may be blameless.
8. But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
9. Do not let a widow under sixty years old be taken into the number, [and not unless] she has been the wife of one man,
10. well reported for good works: if she has brought up children, if she has lodged strangers, if she has washed the saints’ feet, if she has relieved the afflicted, if she has diligently followed every good work.
11. But refuse [the] younger widows; for when they have begun to grow wanton against Christ, they desire to marry,
12. having condemnation because they have cast off their first faith.
13. And besides they learn [to be] idle, wandering about from house to house, and not only idle but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not.
14. Therefore I desire that [the] younger [widows] marry, bear children, manage the house, give no opportunity to the adversary to speak reproachfully.
15. For some have already turned aside after Satan.
16. If any believing man or woman has widows, let them relieve them, and do not let the church be burdened, that it may relieve those who are really widows.

THE MESSAGE:

Relationship and communication are important ingredients of a Christian community.

Today’s reading instructs us on how these should be done – don’t rebuke an older man and woman, but treat them as fathers and mothers. The youths should be treated as brothers and sisters in all purity (verses 1-2). Widows who are sixty years and above with good testimony and good work deserve honour (verses 9-10). What are the qualities of these real widows? (verses 5, 9-10). Younger widows are advised to re-marry so as not to bring shame and embarrassment to the Church by their activities and lifestyles (verses 11-15). Fathers are urged to provide for their own households or they will be worse than unbelievers (verse 8).

Many youths today have no respect for the elders, even at Church level – even greeting an elder is a big problem! When some eldersenter a crowded bus, many youths find it very difficult to vacate their seats for them. Again, many modern Churches today use the opposite sex as bait to attract membership; this is ungodly! The opposite sexes must relate in purity. The Church of God is a holy place and should be treated as such. Believers should help to re-structure the Church through proper godly relationship, starting from the family.

HAPPY MOTHERING SUNDAY!

PRAYER: Lord, may You help me to be an instrument to promote godly relationship in Your Church.

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