13/08/2020
OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL
DATE: THURSDAY 13TH AUGUST 2020.
THEME: HOLINESS MADE SIMPLE.
MEMORISE:
And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. Luke 9:23
READ: Luke 9:23-26
23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
24 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.
25 For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?
MESSAGE:
Many times, people say it is impossible to live holy. That is not true. Jesus lived on the earth for thirty-three years without committing even a single sin. If Jesus could do it, you can do it too because His grace is sufficient for you (2 Corinthians 12:9). The problem is that we look at the concept of holiness with so much fear and just conclude that it not possible. Holiness is simply obedience.
“ Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.” James 4:17
Once you know the right thing to do, do it. Simple. You have read in your Bible not to steal; don’t steal. You have read that it is wrong to lie; don’t lie. Just obey. That’s all.
Now, you may say “Obedience to every single instruction from God is not easy,” but if you take it one at a time, then you would see the possibility.
“ And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” Luke 9:23
Jesus said you should take up your cross daily. If you think about keeping your body and teeth clean for the rest of your life, it will look like a lot of work. But when you just ensure that you keep them clean daily, then you will achieve the goal for the rest of your life. You brush your teeth every morning, you take your bath every morning. When you wake up in the morning, renew your commitment to live holy just for that day. Tell yourself “Adeboye, throughout today, you will not commit sin; you will live holy for the next twenty-four hours.” With just twenty-four hours as the goal, it is easier to achieve holiness. By the time you add thirty sets of twenty-four hours together, you would have been holy for one month and then one year and so on. Just take up your cross daily.
KEY POINT:
Holiness is possible. Just make it a daily goal.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Jeremiah 26-29.
AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE
HYMN 12: I AM THINE OH LORD.
1. I am Thine, O Lord, I have heard Thy voice,
And it told Thy love to me;
But I long to rise in the arms of faith
And be closer drawn to Thee.
o Refrain:
Draw me nearer, nearer blessed Lord,
To the cross where Thou hast died;
Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer blessed Lord,
To Thy precious, bleeding side.
2. Consecrate me now to Thy service, Lord,
By the pow’r of grace divine;
Let my soul look up with a steadfast hope,
And my will be lost in Thine.
3. Oh, the pure delight of a single hour
That before Thy throne I spend,
When I kneel in prayer, and with Thee, my God
I commune as friend with friend!
4. There are depths of love that I cannot know
Till I cross the narrow sea;
There are heights of joy that I may not reach
Till I rest in peace with Thee.
