OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL
DATE: TUESDAY 19TH JANUARY 2021.
THEME: MCY: FAMILY TIES.
MEMORISE:
If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
Luke 14:26
READ: Matthew 10:35-38
35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
36 And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.
37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
MESSAGE:
The' F' in our equation for Resistance in the "Mathematics of Christ in You” (MCY) series that we started on January 11, stands for Family Ties. As difficult as it sounds, if Christ is going to operate freely in you, some family ties would have to suffer, as we see in todays' memory verse. What Jesus was saying is that your love for Him, relative to what you feel for your family, should be incomparable. When God told Abraham to sacrifice his son who he loved, Abraham wasted no time in trying to do so. Of course, God only wanted to find out what Abraham's choice would be if he had to choose between Him and his son.
I once had a similar experience. As the youngest and only male child of my mother, I had a close relationship with her. Before I met Christ, I would always spend Christmas with her. However, after joining the Redeemed Christian Church of God and becoming a Pastor, I had to spend my Christmas instead at the Christ The Redeemer's Congress. One particular year, we were going to have the programme at ljebu lgbo, Nigeria. Since I would not be around during Christmas, I decided to visit my mother on December 23rd to tell her I would see her after the programme. On getting there, l found that she was dying. I was in a dilemma; the programme had to start in two days. I was one of the organizers yet no one in the Church knew where I had gone, and there were no mobile phones in those days. It was a difficult choice, but I said to my mother "You know I love you and would love to stay by your side, but I have to go because Jesus is calling". Thank God for good mothers, she made it easy for me. She said My son, I understand. I can already see your involvement with Jesus Christ". She then prayed for me. I thought it was going to be our last conversation; it turned out to be a test by God because she lived for another eleven years.
From the report I received, even before I got to ljebu lgbo, she had recovered. God wanted to find out who I would choose if I had to make a decision between Him and my m other who I loved so much.
Nothing, not even family ties should come between you and God.
KEY POINT:
God must come first in every aspect of your life. Nothing, not even Family ties should be placed before Him.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Deuteronomy 21-23
AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE
HYMN 12: IN CHRIST ALONE.
In Christ alone my hope is found,
He is my light, my strength, my song
This Cornerstone, this solid Ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My Comforter, my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand.
In Christ alone! - who took on flesh,
Fullness of God in helpless babe.
This gift of love and righteousness,
Scorned by the ones He came to save
Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live.
There in the ground His body lay,
Light of the world by darkness slain:
Then bursting forth in glorious day
Up from the grave He rose again
And as He stands in victory
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me,
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.
No guilt in life, no fear in death,
This is the power of Christ in me
From life's first cry to final breath,
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand
Till He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand.
Amen and Amen
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