Open Heavens Devotional by Pastor E.A. Adeboye
MEMORIZE: “But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.” (Isa. 59:2).
READ: Isaiah 59:1-3
The entrance of sin into this world negatively changed everything. Worse, it separated God and man. Until the advent of sin, fear was nonexistent. Adam was happy to welcome God whenever He visited. But after sin intruded, Adam became afraid and started to hide from God. Even today, whenever there is sin in your life, there would be something to be afraid of. Sin is the mother of fear. If you steal, you will no longer be free. If you have extra-marital affairs, you will suddenly become afraid. The purpose of fear in the life of a sinner is to torment and to incapacitate love. “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love” (1 John 4:18). If you toy with sin, you will live in fear. You will be afraid of that sin being uncovered. The fear of its exposure will further lead you to cover up like David, after defiling Uriah’s wife. In addition, because the presence of sin erodes the sinner’s protection, you will live in fear of your enemies, robbers, death, etc.; you could even fear your shadow! Are you living in fear? Trace the roots! Maybe sin is being covered somewhere.
The worst thing sin can do to you is separate you from God. If you were enjoying a blossoming relationship with God and you entertained sin, that relationship will run into troubled waters. Separation, if not checked, can lead to eternal separation. That will not be your portion. When you are separated from God, it will affect His grace on your life. As a young believer, I was blessed with regularly hearing from God. He would tell me what routes to take to avoid serious traffic. In those days, because I was the sole interpreter to the church founder, I became proud. One day I felt insulted when I had to interpret for one of the pastors and did it grudgingly. On my way to the car, the Lord said “So you are now too big to interpret for my servant?” That was the last time I heard His voice for a long time. For about a month, I began to run into heavy traffic because I could no longer hear from Him. I pleaded, repented and wept, yet God was silent until I made a covenant that if I was going to offend Him again, He should take me away a day earlier. Then, He resumed speaking to me. Is there any separation between you and God? Bridge the gap today!
PRAYER POINT:
Every wall of partition created by sin between me and the Almighty God, father pull it down.
Bible in One year: Jer. 6-8
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