OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL DATE: FRIDAY FEBRUARY 10TH 2023

THEME: LIVING HOLY

MEMORISE: Abstain from all appearance of evil. 1 Thessalonians 5:22

8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL DATE: FRIDAY FEBRUARY 10TH 2023

God is holy and He has commanded all His children to be holy (1 Peter 1:16) by distancing themselves from sin through the help of the Holy Spirit. Today’s memory verse is saying, in essence, that the moment you start sniffing at things you should not eat, you are already halfway into dangerous territory. For example, a brother shouldn’t be going alone on visitation to the house of an unmarried lady – this is a step towards sin. By the time he would be coming out of that place, anyone could later accuse him of fornication and it would be his word against theirs.

Sin usually starts like a harmless thing, but that is why the Bible says that the devil is wily – a trickster (Ephesians 6:11); if you yield to it because it seems harmless, you are already falling into his trap. May you not fall for the tricks of the devil, in Jesus’ name. Like our Bible reading for today admonishes, you must be sober and vigilant at all times if you don’t want to fall for the wiles of the devil.

I have always cautioned my children not to employ someone of the opposite sex as a Secretary or Personal Assistant. Doing so would put you close to the devil’s abattoir and if you don’t retrace your steps, the devil would butcher your soul. You would be working closely with this person – many times alone and sometimes even late into the night. You may say l am not modern, but l became born again in 1973 and l am still standing up to now. It is better to be ‘old-school’ and remain standing than to be modern and then fall. Be honest with yourself: you know those things that you are already toying with which can lead you into sin – for instance, the kind of movies you watch, the websites you visit, the social media accounts you follow, the conversations you have.

As you stay far from things that will lead to sin, you must also move close to the things of God. You must never joke with your quiet time. That is the time that you spend alone with God every day. Spend that time studying the Bible and praying. You must never forsake fellowship with the brethren. Every day, draw closer to God; flee evil and you will discover that living holy is easier than you think. OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL DATE: FRIDAY FEBRUARY 10TH 2023

Almighty God, please grant unto me today strength I need to stay away from sin and move closer and closer to You, in the mighty name of Jesus.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Number 7

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A ADEBOYE

1 Take my life, and let it be

Consecrated, Lord, to Thee;

Take my moments and my days,

Let them flow in ceaseless praise,

Let them flow in ceaseless 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 power as Thou shalt choose,

Every power 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.

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL DATE: FRIDAY FEBRUARY 10TH 2023