FRIDAY 5TH APRIL 2019 THEME: THE SURE ANTIDOTE FOR SHAME

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE:  FRIDAY 5TH APRIL 2019

THEME:  THE SURE ANTIDOTE FOR SHAME


MEMORISE:

Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments. Psalm 119:6  

READ: Psalm 119:1-8

1Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD.

2 Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.

3 They also do no iniquity: they walk in his ways.

4 Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently.

5 O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes!

6 Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments.

7 I will praise thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned thy righteous judgments.

8 I will keep thy statutes: O forsake me not utterly.

MESSAGE

The original purpose of a devil's deceit is to humiliate man and subject him to eternal fear and ridicule. He succeeded in this ploy in the Garden of Eden, causing shame and fear to cover our first parents like the waters cover the sea. What brought about this shame upon the first man? Disobedience to the word of God was the cause. The Lord had earlier warned Adam against eating the forbidden fruit to avoid grave consequences, but the devil came and lied to his wife that nothing would happen. After Eve was deceived and Adam succumbed to the sin of disobeying God, they discovered shame and fear that they never knew before, because the glory of God departed from them (Genesis 2:25, Genesis 3:10). Just as he did with Eve the devil is still deceiving people today that severe consequence will not follow the act of sin in the life of sinners. Unfortunately, when you look around the world today, you will discover great men and women whom the devil had brought to shame and ridicule by lying to them that there will be no consequences for their evil actions or that their secret sinful act will never be found out. Such people would have avoided public ridicule and shame If only they had known and given heed to God’s word in Numbers 32:23, which says:

“But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out.”

Are you involved in any secret sin and the devil is deceiving you that there will be no consequences? The word of God is coming to you today that your sin will find you out. Are you having an extra-marital affair? Are you stealing public funds at your disposal? Are you oppressing those whom God has placed under your leadership? Are you short-changing your place of work in shady deals to your own benefits? Are you visiting pornographic sites in the secret confines of your room? If you are involved in any form of sin, God is saying to you today, “Be sure your sin will find you out.”

Disobedience to God's word brings untold shame and agony. To avoid or remove the shame that sin brings, we must go back to the word of God and do what it says. As seen in today’s memory verse, complete obedience to the word of God is the antidote for shame. In today's Bible reading, those who walk in the law of the Lord are described as blessed. They are blessed because those iniquities that bring shame are far away from them due to the adherence to God’s commandment. Shame is the portion of those who do not consider God’s omnipresent nature before committing “hidden” acts.  Before traveling to that far-away secluded location for your illicit tryst, remember that God is there. I pray that sin will not put you in shame in Jesus’ Name.

PRAYER  POINT:

Father, help me keep to Your commandments, and keep me far away from shame.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:  Hebrews 9-10

Jeremiah 11:9-23

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 6: HAVE YOU BEEN TO JESUS FOR THE CLEANSING POWER?

1. Have you been to Jesus for the cleansing power?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Are you fully trusting in His grace this hour?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

Refrain
Are you washed in the blood,
In the soul-cleansing blood of the Lamb?
Are your garments spotless? Are they white as snow?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

2. Are you walking daily by the Savior’s side?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Do you rest each moment in the Crucified?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Refrain

3. When the Bridegroom cometh will your robes be white!
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Will your soul be ready for His presence bright,
And be washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Refrain

4. Lay aside the garments that are stained with sin,
And be washed in the blood of the Lamb;
There’s a fountain flowing for the soul unclean,
O be washed in the blood of the Lamb.