09-26-2019, 09:24 AM
OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL
DATE: THURSDAY 26TH SEPTEMBER 2019
THEME: WISDOM & DEATH
MEMORISE:
For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them. Proverbs 1:32
READ: Proverbs 8:32-36
8:32 Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways. 8:33 Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not. 8:34 Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors. 8:35 For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD. 8:36 But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.
MESSAGE
Rejecting wisdom is a pathway that leads to death. Any human endeavour that is not founded on wisdom will sooner or later die a natural death. This is the reason why the Bible says in Proverbs 4:7:
"Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding."
Why does the absence of wisdom result in death? I believe the story of the fox, a cunning animal known for its wisdom, should suffice in illustrating this. The lion was feared as the king of all animals in the jungle. However, he had become terribly old and sick and could no longer chase down his prey, so he devised a scheme to help him get his food with ease. He caught a small rabbit and assured the rabbit that he would not kill it, if the rabbit would go and inform all the other animals in the jungle that he had changed from being wicked and was now very friendly. The rabbit delivered this message and soon enough, all the animals decided to visit the lion one after the other to convey their "get-well-soon" greetings to him. However, every animal that went did not return. When it was the fox's turn to visit, he did not go inside the lion's den; rather, he stayed outside and greeted the lion from a distance. The lion said to the fox, "Oh my friend, Mr. Fox, you also came? That's very thoughtful of you; please come in! Why are you greeting me from so far away?" The fox replied, "O king of the jungle, live forever! I am okay outside here, thank you!" Startled, the lion asked, "How do you mean you are comfortable in the sun?" The fox answered, "To be frank with you, O king, I really doubt your sudden change of attitude, and I fear that you are not genuinely sick!" While the fox was saying all this, he kept retreating further and further away from the lion's den. "When I got here, I saw the footprint of those who came in to greet you, but I cannot see any footprint coming out!" said the fox, and he fled for his dear life. This was how widon preserved the fox from ending up in the belly of the lion.
I encourage you to embrace wisdom in all you do. God's word is the source of all wisdom, instilling godly fear in our hearts. A lover of wisdom is a lover of life, and to be wise is to embrace the principles of God's word and the type of lifestyle it teaches. Doing so means death will be far away from you. Is wisdom your friend?
PRAYER POINT:
Father, I believe in the effectiveness of Your wisdom to guarantee life, please fill me with the wisdom that distinguishes a person in all areas of endeavour.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
2 Kings 18, Daniel 8:1-14
AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE
HYMN 3: TRUST AND OBEY
1. When we walk with the Lord
In the light of His word
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will,
He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey
Chorus:
Trust and obey,
For there's no other way
To be happy in Jesus,
But to trust and obey.
2. Not a shadow can rise,
Not a cloud in the skies,
But His smile quickly drives it away;
Not a doubt nor a fear
Not a sigh nor a tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey.
3. Not a burden we bear,
Not a sorrow we share
But our toil He doth richly repay;
Not a grief nor a loss,
Not a frown nor a cross,
But is blest if we trust and obey.
4. But we never can prove
The delights of His love
Until all on the altar we lay;
For the favour He shows,
And the joy He bestows,
Are for them who will trust and obey.
5. Then in fellowship sweet
We will sit at His feet,
Or we'll walk by His side in the way;
What He says we will do
Where He sends we will go
Never fear, only trust and obey.
DATE: THURSDAY 26TH SEPTEMBER 2019
THEME: WISDOM & DEATH
MEMORISE:
For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them. Proverbs 1:32
READ: Proverbs 8:32-36
8:32 Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways. 8:33 Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not. 8:34 Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors. 8:35 For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD. 8:36 But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.
MESSAGE
Rejecting wisdom is a pathway that leads to death. Any human endeavour that is not founded on wisdom will sooner or later die a natural death. This is the reason why the Bible says in Proverbs 4:7:
"Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding."
Why does the absence of wisdom result in death? I believe the story of the fox, a cunning animal known for its wisdom, should suffice in illustrating this. The lion was feared as the king of all animals in the jungle. However, he had become terribly old and sick and could no longer chase down his prey, so he devised a scheme to help him get his food with ease. He caught a small rabbit and assured the rabbit that he would not kill it, if the rabbit would go and inform all the other animals in the jungle that he had changed from being wicked and was now very friendly. The rabbit delivered this message and soon enough, all the animals decided to visit the lion one after the other to convey their "get-well-soon" greetings to him. However, every animal that went did not return. When it was the fox's turn to visit, he did not go inside the lion's den; rather, he stayed outside and greeted the lion from a distance. The lion said to the fox, "Oh my friend, Mr. Fox, you also came? That's very thoughtful of you; please come in! Why are you greeting me from so far away?" The fox replied, "O king of the jungle, live forever! I am okay outside here, thank you!" Startled, the lion asked, "How do you mean you are comfortable in the sun?" The fox answered, "To be frank with you, O king, I really doubt your sudden change of attitude, and I fear that you are not genuinely sick!" While the fox was saying all this, he kept retreating further and further away from the lion's den. "When I got here, I saw the footprint of those who came in to greet you, but I cannot see any footprint coming out!" said the fox, and he fled for his dear life. This was how widon preserved the fox from ending up in the belly of the lion.
I encourage you to embrace wisdom in all you do. God's word is the source of all wisdom, instilling godly fear in our hearts. A lover of wisdom is a lover of life, and to be wise is to embrace the principles of God's word and the type of lifestyle it teaches. Doing so means death will be far away from you. Is wisdom your friend?
PRAYER POINT:
Father, I believe in the effectiveness of Your wisdom to guarantee life, please fill me with the wisdom that distinguishes a person in all areas of endeavour.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
2 Kings 18, Daniel 8:1-14
AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE
HYMN 3: TRUST AND OBEY
1. When we walk with the Lord
In the light of His word
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will,
He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey
Chorus:
Trust and obey,
For there's no other way
To be happy in Jesus,
But to trust and obey.
2. Not a shadow can rise,
Not a cloud in the skies,
But His smile quickly drives it away;
Not a doubt nor a fear
Not a sigh nor a tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey.
3. Not a burden we bear,
Not a sorrow we share
But our toil He doth richly repay;
Not a grief nor a loss,
Not a frown nor a cross,
But is blest if we trust and obey.
4. But we never can prove
The delights of His love
Until all on the altar we lay;
For the favour He shows,
And the joy He bestows,
Are for them who will trust and obey.
5. Then in fellowship sweet
We will sit at His feet,
Or we'll walk by His side in the way;
What He says we will do
Where He sends we will go
Never fear, only trust and obey.