Open Heavens for Teens Wednesday 24 July 2019 Daily Devotional was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye
Topic: Virtues vs Possessions
Memorise: “And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.” – Luke 12:15
Read: Luke 15:11-32
11 And he said, A certain man had two sons:
12 And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.
13 And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.
14 And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.
15 And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.
16 And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.
17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!
18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.
20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.
22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:
23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:
24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.
25 Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing.
26 And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.
27 And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.
28 And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him.
29 And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:
30 But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.
31 And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.
32 It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.
Bible In One Year: Psalm 41-43, Acts 24
MESSAGE:
We live in a world that so moved by material things that nobody pays attention to good virtues and character anymore. The yahoo boy (cyber criminal) that is driving an expensive car is celebrated more than the best academic student of the year. This is pathetic, especially when you know that the yahoo boy, expect by the mercy of God, will end up as a disgrace to the society while the academically brilliant will be a building block for the society in the future. The prodigal son focused in wealth and had a bad future, the other son focused on virtues and had a bright future. Which one will you focus on?
The truth is that the worth of a man is not in the things he possesses. That someone has more than you is not the proof that he is better than you. Put your focus on who you are than what you have. If you are rather than what you have. If you are rich in good virtues, it is only a matter of time before you become rich in material resources. Even if you don’t think it makes sense, consider my life. I grew up as one of the poorest amongst the poor in a remote village. By God’s grace, I built good virtues within myself and today, I am one of the greatest to my entire village.
Key Point: Material things will come to you if you focus on good virtues.
Hymn 3: There shall be showers of blessing
1 There shall be showers of blessing
This is the promise of love;
There shall be season refreshing
Sent from the Savior above
Chorus:
Showers of blessing,
Showers of blessing we need;
Mercy drop ’round are falling,
But for the showers we plead.
2 There shall be showers of blessing
Precious reviving again;
Over the hills and the valleys,
Sound of abundance of rain.
3 There shall be showers of blessing
Send them upon us O Lord
Grant to us a refreshing;
Come now and honor Thy Word.
4 There shall be showers of blessing
Oh that today thy might fall,
Now as to God we are confessing,
Now as on Jesus we call!
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