SATURDAY 26TH JANUARY 2019 THEME: GENUINELY RELATED TO JESUS?

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: SATURDAY 26TH JANUARY 2019

THEME: GENUINELY RELATED TO JESUS?

MEMORISE:
And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? Luke 6:46

READ: Matthew 12:46-50

46 While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him.

47 Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee.

48 But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?

49 And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!

50 For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.

MESSAGE

One wonderful discovery I have made about Jesus Christ over the years is that He is indeed truth personified. He is incapable of deceit because He is The Truth. It can be rationalised when an individual deceives another individual, but it is surprising and appalling when people engage in self-deceit. It is self-deceit for a fellow to parade himself or herself as a Christian when in actual fact, he or she knows that they have no relationship with Jesus Christ. To such people, in Luke 6:46 Jesus Christ asks:

“And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?”

The Lord asked a similar question of those who considered themselves His priests in Malachi 1:6:

“A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honour? and if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the LORD of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name?”

The questions in this scripture indicate that these priests did not have a good relationship with the God of Israel. In the sight of God, a bad relationship is worse than no relationship at all (Revelation 3:15). It is therefore important that we reflect on the question of having a genuine relationship with Jesus today.

To be genuinely related to Jesus Christ, we must bear some truths in mind. First of these is that our relationship with Jesus is anchored on our obedience to His commandments. This is an area where a lot of 21st century Christians find it difficult to relate to the Bible. To live by the precepts of someone who lived over two thousand years ago sounds absurd, even to some ministers of the gospel. This is why they read their own meaning into the word of God, and this cuts them off from having a relationship with the Master. In today's Bible text, Jesus Christ was clear in declaring to us those who actually are related to Him. In Matthew 12:50, He said:

“For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.”

In John 8:31, He also told the people who believed in Him that if they would continue to live by His commandments, only then would they be His disciples indeed. He further said in Matthew 11:28-30 that those who would be genuinely related to Him must come to Him, take His yoke upon themselves and learn of Him. Beloved, are you in the category of those obeying the commandments of Jesus Christ, or are you among those who feel the Bible is no longer adequate or relevant to teach godliness? How far you are ready to go in doing the will of Christ determines how closely related you are to Him. Do you really belong to Him?

PRAYER POINT:
Father, please grant me the grace to do Your will in all things.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Luke 4-5, Isaiah 24:21-25:12

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 10: I HAVE DECIDED TO FOLLOW JESUS

1. I have decided to follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus;
No turning back, no turning back.

2. The world behind me, the cross before me;
The world behind me, the cross before me;
The world behind me, the cross before me;
No turning back, no turning back.

3. Though none go with me, I still will follow;
Though none go with me, I still will follow;
Though none go with me, I still will follow
No turning back, no turning back.

4. My cross I’ll carry, till I see Jesus;
My cross I’ll carry, till I see Jesus;
My cross I’ll carry, till I see Jesus;
No turning back, no turning back.

5. Will you decide now to follow Jesus?
Will you decide now to follow Jesus?
Will you decide now to follow Jesus?
No turning back, no turning back.