WORD OF LIVING WATER DAILY INSPIRATION. By: Rev. Fr. Akakpo Matthew.

WORDS OF LIVING WATERS DAILY INSPIRATION
Monday, 15th June, 2026.
Theme: Grow in the Virtue of Forgiveness
( 1 Kgs 21:1-16,Ps 5, Matt 5: 38-42)

In Ex 21:23-27, Moses told the people of Israel to retaliate when a brother or a sister offends them. The principle of you do me I do you was the practice of the day. Moses gave them this principle for a reason as if it was a divine law, I mean a law given from God. And for the people once it was coming from Moses, then it is from God, because this was a man who became a mediator between them and God. The issues of the Israelites became too much for Moses to handle as their leader. Therefore he gave them such rules to prevent them from too much disturbance. Hence if you slap me and also slap you, then I have no cause to go to him and complain. This was still a practice during the time of Jesus.

In Scripture,there are what we call divine elements or laws and human elements or laws. The above law by Moses was part of the human laws which were not coming from God, hence Jesus had to give the original intention of God in such matters. Another one has to do with the issue of divorce which again Jesus corrected them and gave the original intention of God. The fact that God doesn’t endorse divorce. As the fulfilment of the law he came to give true meaning to the laws of God.

Forgiveness promotes peace among us. Jesus is therefore calling on us to be instrument of peace in our world. The world considers forgiveness as a sign of weakness, but in reality it’s the strong in character who forgives. Revenge is not a Christian attitude, hence we must avoid it. The difference between us and the others is that we are able to forgive when we are hurt. Vengeance belongs to God. Always forgive and respond to such evil conducts with good deeds. Sometimes our kind heart and character challenges the people and transforms them. Learn to easily forgive.

To err is human but to forgive is divine, therefore we need the grace of God to mature in this virtue. Don’t follow the comments of people and end up retaliating those who offend us.

May the Holy Spirit help us to grow in the virtue of forgiveness Amen. Have a Blessed Week.
Shalom🙏🏼🙏🏼
Rev. Fr. Akakpo Matthew

WORDS OF LIVING WATERS DAILY INSPIRATION
Tuesday, 16th June, 2026.
Theme: Love your Enemies
( 1 Kgs 21:17-29,Ps 51, Matt 5: 43-48)

In his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus is still giving the original intention of the laws given them. Just like the case of yesterday where he preached against retaliation, today he preaches against loving those who love us and hating those who hate us. This again was a command from Moses, given to the people in order to reduce the pressure the people were putting on him. If you love me then I will also love you, but if you hate me then I will also hate you.

But Jesus is telling them and by extension us, that it is not Christian to do that. It is the worldly people who live such life styles. He invites us to continue to love and care for those who continually hate us and look for our downfall. This seems a difficult task, because humanly speaking it is not easy. But with Christ it is simple to do. It takes a forgiving heart to embrace this calling. He showed us example when even on the cross he asked for forgiveness for those who crucified and were mocking at him. He continually cared for the Pharisees and the Scribes who were always working against him.

The human tendency is to be opened and do good to those who appreciate us, who care about us, who wish us well. But we are called to go the extra mile to extend this love to even people who wish you dead. It sounds weird right. Some people have asked me over and over again that why and how should they show love to those who are always looking for their downfall? Are they not rather giving such people opportunity to still pursue evil against them? But that is what we are called to do.

Remember don’t expect everyone to like you. Definitely some people will like you but some will also hate you. There are some people who naturally will never like us no matter what. You have not done anything to them but naturally they don’t want to see you exist. It is normal, don’t hate them back but love them. Leave vengeance to the Lord.

May the Holy Spirit help us to always show love to those who always hate us. Amen.
Have a Blessed Day.
Shalom🙏🏼🙏🏼
Rev. Fr. Akakpo Matthew

WORDS OF LIVING WATERS DAILY INSPIRATION
Wednesday, 17th June, 2026.
Theme: Avoid external Piety
( 2 Kgs 2:1,6-14,Ps 31, Matt 6: 1-6,16-18)

Jesus warns his disciples against external piety,showing off your piety before men. Blowing horn about their good deeds and spiritual exercises. This is to make people to see them to be spiritual and holy people, but in reality it may not be so. Hence, when you give arms don’t announce to the whole world, when you are praying don’t intentionally make people to see and know that you are praying, likewise when you are fasting. But this was exactly what the Pharisees and the Scribes were doing. Meanwhile inwardly they were not any better worshippers of God.

Some of us are not different from the Pharisees, we want people to know the good things we are doing. Any good act we perform, we have to let the whole world know that it is coming from us. Sometimes even in the church we have to let people know that the collection bowls and other items are coming from us. And so what? So if you don’t say it what will happen? You are blowing your horn too much. Please that is not a good Christian life okay.

I know some people who will always make people to know that they are prayerful by intentionally praying at places where people are around. Don’t get be wrong. Am not saying we shouldn’t pray in the mix of people, not at all. But don’t do it to impress people. You are praying for your own spiritual growth, so why will you want people to know that you are prayerful? Again, some would let everyone know that they have given you something. Even the dress you are putting on they will tell people that they gave it to you. So if you don’t tell people about it will something happen? Will the announcement change anything?

Some people even if they give something in church or in the society, they don’t want their names to be mentioned. Mentioning their names is not wrong, but they want their good acts to remain in silence. We must learn to do things in silence. Even if it come to the public domain, it is not our intention. The point is that don’t do things to intentionally show off or blow your horn about it. The whole thing is about the motivation behind what we are doing, whether we are doing it because it is our Christian duty or because we want to impress the people around us.

May the Holy Spirit help us to always be genuine with our piety and not be external Christians. Amen.
Have a Blessed Day.
Shalom🙏🏼🙏🏼
Rev.Fr. Akakpo Matthew

WORDS OF LIVING WATERS DAILY INSPIRATION
Thursday, 18th June, 2026.
Theme: Don’t show off with your Prayer Life
( Sirach 48:1-14,Ps 97, Matt 6: 7-15)

Jesus continuous to warn his disciples against external religious piety. Today his focus is on prayer. External piety was the practice of the Pharisees and the Scribes, hence the need for Jesus to preach against it.

Some of us are not different from these people. We want people to know that we know how to pray. Again, the motivation behind our prayer life is very important. Prayer is basically a communication between us and our God. It helps us to deepen our relationship with God and mature in our faith. You don’t need to prove to anybody that you are prayerful. Meanwhile in reality we are empty vessels who have no personal relationship with God. Some of us even don’t have the gift of tongues, but we want people to know that we are prayer gurus. Therefore we learnt it and raise our voices in prayer sessions more than even those who have actually been gifted. We are only deceiving ourselves. Don’t pray to impress people, there is no benefit in that.

Jesus also taught his disciples how to pray, which is the Lord’s Prayer. The Lord’s Prayer focuses our thoughts on what’s important in life by summarizing all that we must do to be “good and faithful servants,” namely: revere God, accept His will, know His Word, love each other through forgiveness, and resist evil. Jesus is pointing to the importance of prayer in the life of the Christian. A prayerless Christian is a powerless Christian, and a prayerful Christian is a powerful Christian. Make prayer your food, but it must come from a sincere heart seeking the face of God. And so I ask you have you prayed?

May the Holy Spirit help us to mature in our prayer life. Amen.
Have a Blessed Day.
Shalom🙏🏼🙏🏼
Rev. Fr. Akakpo Matthew

WORDS OF LIVING WATERS DAILY INSPIRATION
Friday, 19th June, 2026.
Theme: Fight for your Salvation
( 2 Kgs 11:1-4,9-18,20,Ps 132, Matt 6: 19-23)

Our hearts should be centered on God but not on material possessions and things of this world. Some of us have allowed things of this world to control our lives to the neglect of God. We should remember that the most important thing in this life is to gain salvation in heaven.
The fact of going to heaven should be our bother everyday. All our daily activities should be motivated by this basic Christian hope. Our cars, houses, wives, husbands, friends, children, phones and whatsoever should never separate us from God.We should always be bothered about the things of God. How do I serve God better?

Unfortunately, most of us think about worldly things and nothing else. We even love these things more than our fellow humans. There are people if you joke with their car, phone or any property they will harm you. The only thing they care about is properties, relationships. Things which will not last forever.
Jesus is saying that we should store up our treasures in heaven not on this earth. How many of these things are we sending to our grave when we die?

Just take a moment and think about it. Remember this is a passing world, therefore live a good life to prepare a place for your soul in heaven. Things of this world can’t give you salvation.
Remain in God always. Always give priority to the things of God over this world. Remember one day you will die and where will your soul be?

May the Holy Spirit help us to always fight for our salvation . Amen.
Have a Blessed Day.
Shalom🙏🏼🙏🏼
Rev. Fr. Akakpo Matthew

WORDS OF LIVING WATERS DAILY INSPIRATION

Saturday, 20th June, 2026.
*Theme: Who is your Advisor?
( 2 Chr 24:17-25,Ps 89, Matt 6: 24-34)

Some few days ago, we saw how Jezebel influenced his husband Ahab, the King of Samaria with her diabolic counsel. Which led to the murder of Naboth, the Jezreelite. Today King Joash also took bad counsel from the princes of Judah, after the death of Jehoiada the priest. He made the Israelites to depart from the ways of God. Again when Zechariah, the son of Jehoiada was sent by God to caution him, his bad advisors influenced him to kill him. Meanwhile it was the father of Zechariah, Jehoiada who saved his life when Athaliah, the queen was seeking to kill him( 1 Kgs 11:1-4,9-18). Now because of bad counsel, Joash couldn’t remember the kindness of Jehoiada, but went ahead to kill his son. Of course, his action brought calamity upon him and the nation. God delivered them into the hands of their enemies.

Beloved, we need to watch the kind of people we take to surround ourselves. Because no matter what,we will always discuss our issues with people. But which kind of people do you discuss your issues with? Are they the Jezebel and the princes of Judah type? Then you have no future. Because their counsel will ruin your life one day, even if not now. Bad company the scripture says ruins good life ( 1Cor 15:33).

Always make sure you seek counsel from people who are God fearing. People who are so much in touch with the Holy Spirit. People who are in tuned with the word of God. They will always lead you to take God-informed decisions. Because they are in touched with him.

Even after your consultations, try as much as possible to spend much time with the Lord in prayer to take the final decision. Especially, decisions which have to do with your life. Such decisions can either make you or break you. Hence, there is the need to take your time and seek wise counsel and do proper discernment to take the right decision. Don’t act on any advice which you receive from people without doing proper discernment about them. In other words don’t rush in taking decisions.That doesn’t make you a wise person in life. You need to own every decision that you take in life.

Never act on emotions because mostly such decisions are not right. Decisions taken based on emotions have a lot of negative repercussions on our lives. Mostly we later regret but it becomes too late. We take decisions always in our lives. In order to be successful people, we need to mature in the process of taking right decisions in life. Let the Holy Spirit be your number one counselor in life.

May the Holy Spirit help us to always consult the right people in taking the right decisions in life . Amen.
Have a Blessed Weekend.
Shalom🙏🏼🙏🏼
Rev. Fr. Akakpo Matthew