THURSDAY 30th JANUARY 2020.THEME: LOVE WHAT GOD LOVES.

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE:  THURSDAY 30th JANUARY 2020.

THEME: LOVE WHAT GOD LOVES.

MEMORISE:

For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. I John 5:3

READ: I John 5:3

1Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.

2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.

3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

MESSAGE 

There is a popular saying that the friend of my friend is my friend. If God is your friend, then you would love anyone or anything He loves. For example, God loves children. He likes having them around Him (Matthew 19:14) and He ensures that their angels stand face to face with Him (Matthew 18:10). I hope you love children too, because if you are always mean to children or you are indifferent when others are mean to them, then you cannot claim to love God.

So what are the things God loves? He loves fellowship. When Jesus was to start His ministry on earth, one of the first things He did was to appoint disciples to keep Him company (Mark 3:14-19). He said whenever two or three are gathered in His name, He will be present (Matthew 18:20). He loves it when we come together to fellowship. Are you excited when it is time to fellowship or are you reluctant to spend time with the brethren? One reason God loved David is found in Psalm 122:1:

 “I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.”

He was always excited to attend Church meetings. Are you excited whenever it is time to go to Church? Are you one of those the Pastor has to follow-up closely before they are seen in Church? Make out time to enjoy fellowship with the brethren from today; God loves it.

God also loves all human beings dearly. He sent His only son to die for the world-not just the Jews or Christians alone. Some people forget that their house help is also amongst the people that Jesus came to die for so much that He died for him/her. Jesus said that the second greatest commandment after loving God is to love your neighbor as yourself (Mark 12:31). Have you seen people in the scenarios described in Matthew 25:42-43 and ignored them? 

If you truly love God, then you would love people around you.

KEY POINT:

In Matthew 25:41-46, we see that people were thrown into hell simply because they did not love who God loves. Love everything and everyone He loves.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Exodus 1-3

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE 

HYMN 12: I AM THINE OH LORD.

1. I am thine, O Lord, I have heard thy voice, 

and it told thy love to me; 

but I long to rise in the arms of faith 

and be closer drawn to thee. 

Refrain: 

Draw me nearer, nearer, blessed Lord, 

to the cross where thou hast died. 

Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer, blessed Lord, 

to thy precious, bleeding side. 

2. Consecrate me now to thy service, Lord, 

by the power of grace divine; 

let my soul look up with a steadfast hope, 

and my will be lost in thine. 

(Refrain) 

3. O the pure delight of a single hour 

that before thy throne I spend, 

when I kneel in prayer, and with thee, my God, 

I commune as friend with friend! 

(Refrain) 

4. There are depths of love that I cannot know 

till I cross the narrow sea; 

there are heights of joy that I may not reach 

till I rest in peace with thee. 

(Refrain)