Open Heaven 2 February 2019 Saturday Daily Devotional By Pastor E. A. Adeboye
Topic: Change!
Memorise: “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;”- Acts 3:19
Read: Isaiah 55:6-7
6 Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:
7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
Bible in One Year: Luke 14-15, Isaiah 30:8-22
MESSAGE:
“Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil.” – Jeremiah 13:23
Although change is one word that people like throwing around, living a life of change that emanates from the transformation of the inner man is impossible without God’s divine power. The world realizes this truth, but because they are unwilling to acknowledge and submit to the supremacy of God, they have devised a lie saying that our character is an inherent part of our nature which cannot be changed, and people are perfect just the way they are. Indeed, our all-knowing God acknowledges in Jeremiah 13:23 the impossibility of changing the nature of sin through human efforts, but he further says to us in Matthew 19:26b
“With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.”
Every true relationship with God begins with accepting the need to embrace change – that is, change from the old Adamic nature to the divine nature in Christ, from living in sin to walking in the spirit, from reliance on human wisdom, knowledge and ability to total dependence on the invisible power of God, and from a life of consistent disobedience to a life of complete submission to God’s will. However, the irony is that people resist the change that brings total transformation of the inner man, rather desiring the kind of change that satisfies their worldliness and lusts. With their mouths they cry “change” and agree that life should not remain as it has been, but changing from ungodly ways to the way of righteousness is unacceptable to them. In other words, the human attitude to change is hypocritical, criticizing any call for change that points to godliness, which is the only kind of change that can transform a person’s body, soul, and spirit.
In simple terms, the kind of genuine change that leads to transformation is impossible without God. Human institution can successfully reform, rehabilitate, refine or even improve a person, but real conversion from sinner to saint cannot be achieved without divine intervention. For this reason, those who desire genuine change in all ramifications of life must come to God by accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of God into their lives. Are you one of those seeking real change? Today is your day! Genuinely repent of your sins, confessing them to the Lord and accepting His Lordship over your life.
Prayer Point: Father, I desire real change in my life; please transform me today in Jesus’ Name.
Hymn 2: Oh Jesus, I Have Promised
1 O Jesus, I have promised
To serve Thee to the end;
Be Thou forever near me,
My Master and my Friend;
I shall not fear the battle
If Thou art by my side,
Nor wander from the pathway
If Thou wilt be my guide.
2 O let me feel Thee near me,
The world is ever near;
I see the sights that dazzle,
The tempting sounds I hear;
My foes are ever near me,
Around me and within;
But, Jesus, draw Thou nearer,
And shield my soul from sin.
3 Oh let me hear Thee speaking
In accents clear and still,
Above the storms of passion,
The murmurs of self-will;
Oh speak to reassure me,
To hasten or control;
O speak, and make me listen,
Thou Guardian of my soul.
4 O Jesus, Thou hast promised
To all who follow Thee,
That where Thou art in glory,
There shall Thy servant be;
And, Jesus, I have promised
To serve Thee to the end;
O give me grace to follow,
My Master and my Friend.
5 Oh, let me see Thy footmarks,
And in them plant mine own;
My hope to follow duly
Is in Thy strength alone.
Oh, guide me, call me, draw me,
Uphold me to the end;
And then to rest receive me,
My Saviour and my Friend.
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