OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL
DATE: SUNDAY 13TH MARCH 2022
THEME: NO GOING BACK
MEMORISE:
And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.
Luke 9:62
READ: Luke 9:57-62
57 And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.
58 And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.
59 And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.
60 Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.
61 And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house.
62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.
MESSAGE
Situations in the world today can make any child of God backslide if he or she is not well-grounded in His word. Knowing this, Jesus Christ told the disciples in John 16:33, "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world".
Just after the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus, Peter decided to return to his former trade of fishing along with some other disciples (John 21:3). Many things could have been responsible for their decision to abandon their calling in Christ as evangelists to go back to fishing. Peter and the other disciples that followed him must have felt the future was bleak since their expectation of Jesus as the political Messiah was dashed at His crucifixion. They may also have been disappointed over the fact that, upon His resurrection, Jesus Christ did not restore the sovereignty of Israel as a nation, as expected. This made them ask, "....Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom of Israel?" (Acts 1:6).
Beloved, what may cause you to contemplate going back into the world? Is it joblessness, a troublesome spouse, a failed business, yet-to-be-fulfilled dreams, betrayal from friends or loved ones? Take a cue from Paul -an apostle of Christ, when he asked rhetorically:
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? ...Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
Romans 8:35, 37.
Jesus Christ in our memory verse today warns us against going back when He says that, having decided to work for the Lord, anyone who goes back to the world is not fit for the Kingdom (Luke 9:62). Therefore beloved, going back because of what you are passing through is not an option because the Bible says that we should hold fast that profession of our faith without wavering (Hebrews 10:23). The good news is that glory is waiting ahead of you if only you can hold on to Christ and never go back to the world (Colossians 1:27, Psalm 30:5).
Father, please keep me in Your arms, don't let me fall away from the faith, in Jesus name.
Click here for TODAY'S OPEN HEAVENS PRAYER POINTS.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: JOSHUA 21-23
AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A ADEBOYE
HYMN 12: MY FAITH LOOKS UP TO THEE
1 My faith looks up to thee,
thou Lamb of Calvary,
Savior divine.
Now hear me while I pray;
take all my guilt away;
O let me from this day
be wholly thine!
2 May thy rich grace impart
strength to my fainting heart;
my zeal inspire!
As thou hast died for me,
oh, may my love to thee
pure, warm, and changeless be,
a living fire!
3 While life's dark maze I tread,
and griefs around me spread,
be thou my guide.
Bid darkness turn to day,
wipe sorrow's tears away,
nor let me ever stray
from thee aside.
4 When ends life's transient dream,
when death's cold, sullen stream
shall o'er me roll,
blest Savior, then, in love,
fear and distrust remove;
O bear me safe above,
a ransomed soul!
Amen and Amen
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