Open Heavens Devotional 27th April, 2019
Theme For Open Heavens Devotional 27th April – ARE YOU AMONG THE NINE?
MEMORISE:
And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? Luke 17:17
READ: Luke 17:12-19
12 And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off:
13 And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.
14 And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.
15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God,
16 And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.
17 And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?
18 There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger.
19 And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.
MESSAGE
Ingratitude is a character trait that manifest itself as a lack of appreciation or thankfulness due for a favor received. The Bible tells us that it is important for believers in Christ to appreciate and show gratitude to God for the manifold blessings that He gives daily. It is especially important for us to appreciate God for who He is and constantly give Him thanks for the salvation of our souls, the redemption of humanity, the favor He surrounds us with, and for the glorious future that awaits us. In Psalm 136, the Holy Spirit emphasizes the importance of gratitude and gives reasons why we should appreciate God. In Psalm 100:4, He also says:
“Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.”
1 Thessalonians 5:18 teaches us that giving thanks in all situations is God’s will for us in Christ Jesus.
If you only praise and worship God whenever you are in a congregation or whenever you are told to so, then your praise is not overflowing from a heart of gratitude- you are just following orders. Always remember that God does not want people to give Him thanks because they are told to do so; He wants people whose heart will rise joyfully and spontaneously everyday with gratitude to him whenever they remember His numerous benefits in their lives. I pray that God will always ensure you have reasons to praise Him in Jesus’ Name. The Bible contains examples of people who showed ingratitude to God in spite of all the blessings and gifts He bestowed on them. The story of today’s Bible reading is one of such examples. Of the ten lepers that Jesus miraculously healed, only one returned to glorify God. The question is, are you among the nine ingrates?
In the beginning the Lord in His infinite wisdom created man in His image and in His likeness, for the purpose of showing forth His praise. Revelation 4:11 says God created al things, including human beings, for His pleasure. Isaiah 43:21 further says:
“This people have I formed for myself; they shall shew forth my praise.”
Ingratitude to god is therefore considered an act of wicked rebellion against Him (Romans 1:21). No wonder it is listed as one of the evil traits that men will manifest in the last days (2 Timothy 3:2). May the heart of genuine appreciation to God develop in you today in Jesus’ Name.
ACTION POINT:
Show gratitude to God today for all He has done for you by counting your blessings and naming them one by one before His throne of grace.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Genesis 34-35
Jeremiah 25:34-26:11
AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE
HYMN 14: LET US WITH A GLADSOME MIND.
1 Let us, with a gladsome mind,
praise the LORD, for He is kind:
for His mercies shall endure,
ever faithful, ever sure.
2 Let us blaze His Name abroad,
for of gods He is the God:
for His mercies shall endure,
ever faithful, ever sure.
3 He with all-commanding might
filled the new-made world with light:
for His mercies shall endure,
ever faithful, ever sure.
4 All things living He doth feed;
His full hand supplies their need:
for His mercies shall endure,
ever faithful, ever sure.
5 He His chosen race did bless
in the wasteful wilderness:
for His mercies shall endure,
ever faithful, ever sure.
6 He hath with a pious eye
looks upon our misery:
for His mercies shall endure,
ever faithful, ever sure.
7 Let us therefore warble forth
His high majesty and worth:
for His mercies shall endure,
ever faithful, ever sure.
Credit – Pastor E. Adeboye