OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL.
DATE: MONDAY 16TH AUGUST, 2021.
THEME: WHO DO YOU REPRESENT?
MEMORISE:
But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;
1 Peter 2:9
READ: 2 Corinthians 5:18-21
18. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
19. To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
20. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.
21. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
MESSAGE:
From the beginning of creation God has designed man to be His representative on the earth. Man was created to act on behalf of God on the earth.
Genesis 1:26 says:
“And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.”
“Genesis 1:26”
Man was relieved of his duty as a result of sin and lost all the privileges that should ordinarily have been easily his.
However, the Almighty God offers us salvation through Jesus Christ who said in Matthew 11:28-30:
“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
As many as respond to this call become Christ's Ambassadors -representing Him everywhere on the earth.
This was the authority the early disciples had and one of the apostles wrote in our text of today:
“And all things are of God who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation…Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christs stead, be ye reconciled to God.”
“2 Corinthians 5:18,20”
Beloved, are you a representative of Christ or the devil? Your response to Christs call will determine whose representative you are, according to our memory verse of today.
It is a good thing to be a representative of the Almighty God here on earth; the benefits are innumerable, ranging from the spiritual to the physical.
What is expected of us is to live according to our calling - not to disgrace the One who has called us but show forth His praise.
I pray that you will not miss it as the first man did, in Jesus' name.
PRAYER POINT:
Father, please give me the grace to be Your true ambassador at all times, in Jesus' name.
AUTHOR: PASTOR E.A ADEBOYE.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Psalms 105:1-45 , Psalms 106:1-48 , Psalms 107:1-43
HYMN 22: STSND UP, STAND UP FOR JESUS.
1. Stand up, stand up for Jesus
ye soldiers of the cross;
lift high his royal banner,
it must not suffer loss:
from vict’ry unto vict’ry
his army he shall lead,
’til ev’ry foe is vanquished,
and Christ is Lord indeed.
2. Stand up, stand up for Jesus,
the trumpet call obey;
forth to the mighty conflict
in this his glorious day:
ye that are men now serve him
against unnumbered foes;
let courage rise with danger,
and strength to strength oppose.
3. Stand up, stand up for Jesus,
stand in his strength alone;
the arm of flesh will fail you,
ye dare not trust your own:
put on the gospel armor,
each piece put on with pray’r;
where duty calls, or danger,
be never wanting there.
4. Stand up, stand up for Jesus,
the strife will not be long;
this day the noise of battle,
the next the victor’s song:
to him that overcometh
a crown of life shall be;
he with the King of glory
shall reign eternally.
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