Open Heaven 18 October 2018 Thursday Daily Devotional by Pastor E A Adeboye
Topic: A Son Indeed?
Memorise: “But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.”– Hebrews 12:8
Read: Hebrews 12:4-11 (KJV)
4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.
5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:
6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.
11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
Bible in One Year: Jeremiah 5-6, Luke 8:4-21
MESSAGE:
Discipline is the act of training a person to obey rules and follow instructions, which sometimes involves corrective punishment for wrongdoing. The Bible clearly establishes that God expects parents to discipline their children (Proverbs 23:13-14, Ephesians 6:4). Parents who failed in this responsibility suffered grave consequences, as seen in the example of Eli (1 Samuel 2:27-34). Being a just God, He cannot require discipline from earthly parents and fail in His responsibility to discipline His own children, as the Heavenly Father. All acts of disciplining God’s children ultimately come from God, and the methods used are determined by Him. However, His motive is always love, while His goal remains making us partakers of His holiness (Hebrews 12:10). God disciplines His children as part of His covenant with them. Consequently, only disciplined children of God have access to His covenant blessings. Job 36:10-11 says:
“10 He openeth also their ear to discipline, and commandeth that they return from iniquity. 11 If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures.”
Interestingly, God in His infinite wisdom has set discipline as the number one criteria for ascertaining true children of God. Hebrews 12:8 says,
“But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.”
Consequently, if you notice that you are getting away with sin and immorality without any type of warning or discipline from God, then you can be sure that heaven does not recognize you as a true child of God. As soon as a person accepts the Lordship of Jesus Christ, he or she becomes a genuine member of God’s family, and the love of God will immediately kick-start the process of discipline in order to bring the new convert in perfection in due time. May you always cooperate with God for the purpose of receiving proper discipline in Jesus’ Name.
As a child of God, receiving divine discipline with humility comes with great benefits. Discipline prevents children of God from going astray and brings us to perfection. It also makes us humble, wise and successful, helping us acquire spiritual growth and maturity. Disciplined Christians easily overcome temptation. They are like smooth stones in the hands of God and are mightily used by Him against the kingdom of darkness. Open your heart to receive Godly discipline and correction today.
Prayer Point: Father, as I commit myself anew to Your discipline today, help me to humbly receive Your correction in Jesus’ Name.
Hymn 2: I Need Thee Every Hour
1. I need Thee every hour, most gracious Lord;
No tender voice like Thine can peace afford.
Chorus:
I need Thee, oh, I need Thee;
Every hour I need Thee;
Oh, bless me now, my Savior,
I come to Thee.
2. I need Thee every hour, stay Thou nearby;
Temptations lose their pow’r when Thou art nigh.
3. I need Thee every hour, in joy or pain;
Come quickly and abide, or life is vain.
4. I need Thee every hour; teach me Thy will;
And Thy rich promises in me fulfill.
5. I need Thee every hour, most Holy One;
Oh, make me Thine indeed, Thou blessed Son.
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