09-20-2019, 09:55 AM
OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL
DATE: FRIDAY 20TH SEPTEMBER 2019
THEME: IS IT AS TO THE LORD?
MEMORISE:
With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men: Ephesians 6:7
READ: Ephesians 6:5-8
5 Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;
6 Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;
7 With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men:
8 Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.
MESSAGE
Whenever our actions are not based on pleasing the Lord, they will definitely be tainted by a purpose that is far from ideal. For example, only God knows the motive behind Cain's sacrifice in Genesis chapter 4, but it ultimately led to the murder of his younger brother. Indeed, the Holy Spirit says we should not be weary in doing good deeds (Galatians 6:9). However, the only way we will not be weary in well-doing is when we do it as to the Lord, simply because human beings can be very ungrateful, and if we are waiting for the gratitude of men, we may end up not doing any good thing at all. Thankfully, the Lord has promised to commend and reward those who do good deeds. Speaking on this, the Lord said in Matthew 25:34-35:
“Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:”
There are times when I feel the people I am labouring over do not appreciate my love, concern and efforts to make them what God wants them to be, and I just feel like stopping it all. The Lord has spoken to me on several of such occasions that I should always do everything He asks me to do as unto Him alone, especially as He has never disappointed me. This word has kept me going all these years. Sometimes He sends me encouragement from unexpected quarters, like the time I was feeling so discouraged and a little girl from a place very far away brought me a cake. God used her to prove to me that my labour and efforts do not go unnoticed before Him.
In Ephesians 6:5-8, we are admonished as servants to be faithful in our services to our masters, employers and superiors at our places of work. Of course, even when we attain leadership positions, Jesus taught us to serve, not with eye service or for self-gratification. Some leaders will not promote their subordinates even when they are due for it. Let such leaders remember the efficacy of God's word in Ephesians 6:8, which says:
“Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.”
Our God is not partial; He is a perfect and just Judge. Even if man forgets, He will not forget. Therefore, whatever you do for His sake, expect to get considerable rewards from Him alone and don't look to man (Hebrews 6:10).
PRAYER POINT:
Father, in all I do in this world, please help me to always remember to do it as unto You.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
2 Kings 7-8, Daniel 5:1-12
AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE
HYMN 4: TAKE MY LIFE, AND LET IT BE
1.Take my life and let it be
Consecrated, Lord, to Thee.
Take my moments and my days,
Let them flow in endless praise,
Let them flow in endless praise.
2.Take my hands and let them move
At the impulse of Thy love.
Take my feet and let them be
Swift and beautiful for Thee,
Swift and beautiful for Thee.
3.Take my voice and let me sing,
Always, only for my King.
Take my lips and let them be
Filled with messages from Thee,
Filled with messages from Thee.
4. Take my silver and my gold,
Not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect and use
Every pow’r as Thou shalt choose,
Every pow’r as Thou shalt choose.
5. Take my will and make it Thine,
It shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart, it is Thine own,
It shall be Thy royal throne,
It shall be Thy royal throne.
6. Take my love, my Lord, I pour
At Thy feet its treasure store.
Take myself and I will be
Ever, only, all for Thee,
Ever, only, all for Thee.
DATE: FRIDAY 20TH SEPTEMBER 2019
THEME: IS IT AS TO THE LORD?
MEMORISE:
With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men: Ephesians 6:7
READ: Ephesians 6:5-8
5 Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;
6 Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;
7 With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men:
8 Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.
MESSAGE
Whenever our actions are not based on pleasing the Lord, they will definitely be tainted by a purpose that is far from ideal. For example, only God knows the motive behind Cain's sacrifice in Genesis chapter 4, but it ultimately led to the murder of his younger brother. Indeed, the Holy Spirit says we should not be weary in doing good deeds (Galatians 6:9). However, the only way we will not be weary in well-doing is when we do it as to the Lord, simply because human beings can be very ungrateful, and if we are waiting for the gratitude of men, we may end up not doing any good thing at all. Thankfully, the Lord has promised to commend and reward those who do good deeds. Speaking on this, the Lord said in Matthew 25:34-35:
“Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:”
There are times when I feel the people I am labouring over do not appreciate my love, concern and efforts to make them what God wants them to be, and I just feel like stopping it all. The Lord has spoken to me on several of such occasions that I should always do everything He asks me to do as unto Him alone, especially as He has never disappointed me. This word has kept me going all these years. Sometimes He sends me encouragement from unexpected quarters, like the time I was feeling so discouraged and a little girl from a place very far away brought me a cake. God used her to prove to me that my labour and efforts do not go unnoticed before Him.
In Ephesians 6:5-8, we are admonished as servants to be faithful in our services to our masters, employers and superiors at our places of work. Of course, even when we attain leadership positions, Jesus taught us to serve, not with eye service or for self-gratification. Some leaders will not promote their subordinates even when they are due for it. Let such leaders remember the efficacy of God's word in Ephesians 6:8, which says:
“Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.”
Our God is not partial; He is a perfect and just Judge. Even if man forgets, He will not forget. Therefore, whatever you do for His sake, expect to get considerable rewards from Him alone and don't look to man (Hebrews 6:10).
PRAYER POINT:
Father, in all I do in this world, please help me to always remember to do it as unto You.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
2 Kings 7-8, Daniel 5:1-12
AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE
HYMN 4: TAKE MY LIFE, AND LET IT BE
1.Take my life and let it be
Consecrated, Lord, to Thee.
Take my moments and my days,
Let them flow in endless praise,
Let them flow in endless praise.
2.Take my hands and let them move
At the impulse of Thy love.
Take my feet and let them be
Swift and beautiful for Thee,
Swift and beautiful for Thee.
3.Take my voice and let me sing,
Always, only for my King.
Take my lips and let them be
Filled with messages from Thee,
Filled with messages from Thee.
4. Take my silver and my gold,
Not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect and use
Every pow’r as Thou shalt choose,
Every pow’r as Thou shalt choose.
5. Take my will and make it Thine,
It shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart, it is Thine own,
It shall be Thy royal throne,
It shall be Thy royal throne.
6. Take my love, my Lord, I pour
At Thy feet its treasure store.
Take myself and I will be
Ever, only, all for Thee,
Ever, only, all for Thee.