15/09/2025
🥦 *OPEN HEAVENS* 🥦
*DAILY DEVOTIONAL*
_DATE: TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 16TH 2025_
*THEME: MERE CRITIC OR ACTIVIST WITH SOLUTIONS*
*MEMORISE:*
“Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
Matthew 10:16
*BIBLE READING: 1 KINGS 17:1-16*
1 And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the Lord God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.
2 And the word of the Lord came unto him, saying,
3 Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan.
4 And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there.
5 So he went and did according unto the word of the Lord: for he went and dwelt by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan.
6 And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook.
7 And it came to pass after a while, that the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land.
8 And the word of the Lord came unto him, saying,
9 Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee.
10 So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, the widow woman was there gathering of sticks: and he called to her, and said, Fetch me, I pray thee, a little water in a vessel, that I may drink.
11 And as she was going to fetch it, he called to her, and said, Bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of bread in thine hand.
12 And she said, As the Lord thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die.
13 And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son.
14 For thus saith the Lord God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the Lord sendeth rain upon the earth.
15 And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, did eat many days.
16 And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the Lord, which he spake by Elijah.
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*MESSAGE:*
It is commonly said that statues are never built in honour of critics. While it is not bad to criticise people who are not doing what they ought to be doing, you must not just stop there.
And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word. (1 Kings 17:1)
In the Scripture above, we see that Elijah started out as a critic. The king wasn't behaving in the right manner, and just like any critic, Elijah walked into the palace and confronted him. However, he didn't stop there; he moved on to become a vessel that God used to provide for the needs of a poor widow and her son (1 Kings 17:8-16).
Would you rather become a mere critic or an activist whom God will use to put solutions forward? Would you be content with only carrying placards and protesting or also becoming so wealthy that you can feed the hungry? Carrying placards and protesting will attract the attention of the people you are criticising. However, beyond that, you must grow to a point where you can recommend and even provide some of the solutions you are demanding. Don't just become a critic that challenges those in authority; grow to the point where your impact cannot be ignored.
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This message is particularly for youths. They should learn from Moses who thought he could fulfil his destiny his own way, and as a result, he had to stay in the wilderness for another 40 years until he was ready. The positive change you want can happen, but you must be wise enough to let it happen in God's way. Matthew 10:16 says, "Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves." Christians need to be as strategic as serpents. The most dangerous thing about a serpent is its silence when it wants to attack its prey. When it attacks, the prey only realises it when it is already too late.
Beloved, be wise. God has a great destiny for you, but you must not let overzealousness prevent you from fulfilling your destiny. Rather than just being a mere noisemaker, increase your capacity so that you can indeed become a force to be reckoned with. Your zeal should be matched with the right knowledge and actions (Romans 10:1-2).
*KEY POINT:*
Don't just criticise things or people; become a part of the solution you desire to see.
*BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:*
HOSEA 10 - 14
*AUTHOR:*
PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE
*HYMNAL 59 - I WANT TO BE LIKE JESUS*
1. I want to be like Jesus,
So lowly and so meek;
For no one mark'd an angry word,
That ever heard Him speak.
2. I want to be like Jesus,
So frequently in prayer;
Alone upon the mountain top,
He met his Father there.
3. I want to be like Jesus,
I never, never find That He, though persecuted was To anyone unkind.
4. I want to be like Jesus,
Engaged in doing good;
So that of me it may be said
"He hath done what he could."
5. I want to be like Jesus,
Who sweetly said to all,
"Let little children come to Me;" I would obey the call.
6. But oh I'm not like Jesus,
As anyone may see; o gentle Saviour, send Thy grace,
And make me like to Thee.
