Open Heavens Devotional by Pastor E.A. Adeboye
MEMORIZE: “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.” (James 1:14)
READ: 1 Samuel 15:16-19
The distance a believer keeps from sin shows whether the fellow is wise or not. One who joins the ushering department knowing his or her weakness is stealing and lies, is not wise. Sooner than later, the fellow will start pilfering again. That was the case with Judas Iscariot. He already had a weakness, yet accepted to become Jesus’ treasurer. Not long afterwards, all his thoughts and plans revolved around money. He could not break the habit. Some appointments elevate one, while some demote. Some promotions can take you to Heaven while some are the expressways to hell. Watch those appointments! Some promotions or appointments should be turned down. If you still have itching fingers and you are sent to ushering department or church treasury, turn it down. Humbly tell your pastor, ‘Sir, I do not yet have enough grace to handle this department. Kindly send me to another’. It is better your pastor feels embarrassed than embarrassing yourself, your family, and the entire church later. If you are not financially disciplined, never accept to keep other people’s money. You will end up spending it and bringing shame on yourself. Be wise!
If you have lustful eyes, do not accept to be the teen’s pastor, youth president or children’s church teacher. Some with such challenges have accepted such leadership positions to their detriment. Accepting positions that will engage the flesh you are striving hard to keep under, amount to tempting yourself. This time, you are the tempter, and not the devil. In the same vein, if accepting a promotion will feed your ego to the point of becoming so haughty and uncontrollable, it will be wise to turn it down. What is the point in being promoted out of God’s reach? Do you know that if Saul was not promoted to become Israel’s first king, he would not have ended the way he did? Before his elevation, he was humble, but after his promotion, he saw himself as God’s mate and ignored God’s instructions (1 Sam. 15:16-19). Some elevations elicit the worst responses from the recipients. The promotion that will take you out of favour and relevance with God shall not come your way.
KEY POINT:
Brokenness and self-control are prerequisites to Kingdom appointments and uplifts. If you lack them, what was meant to lift you may bring you down.
Bible in One year: Amos 1-3
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