Open Heavens Devotional by Pastor E.A. Adeboye
MEMORIZE: “Are ye so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit,
are ye now made perfect by the flesh?” (Gal. 3:3).
READ: Galatians 3:1-4
Several years ago, Myles Munroe spoke in five questions you
must ask yourself: Who am I? Where am I from? Why am I here? What can I become?
Where am I going? These are very crucial issues which, if properly answered,
will help you to optimize your earthly existence. Have you been able to find
the answers to these questions?
In addition to the above questions, it is important to also
ask yourself: How far am I from my goal? If you left point A from point B, it
is important to take stock so as to know how close or far your destination is.
This calls for self-examination, personal appraisal or evaluation of actions,
tactics, strategy and plans. Why do you think Paul asked the Corinthian church
to examine themselves, to know whether they were still in the faith (2 Cor.
13:5)? It is because it is possible to start off as a Christian but along the
way lose one’s faith in Christ. For this same reason, Paul queried the church
in Galatia as to why they would end up in the flesh, having begun in the Spirit
(Gal. 3:3). Today, many believers who started the Christian race as honest,
God-fearing, Jesus-seeking, Spirit-filled, heaven-bound saints, are now
flesh-controlled, position-seeking, money-serving, people-victimizing political
beings. Unfortunately, they have continued their journey without asking how far
or how close they are to their original goal.
If truth be told, position is robbing many of holiness. It
is shocking to hear that some senior pastors fix the stipends and salaries of
junior pastors and workers in banks for a period and receive interest up front
into their personal pockets, without thinking of the hardship they cause such
families. Such leaders are farther from destination. There are some things you
do that take you several miles away from your destination. It is safe to assume
that if you were saved from 10, 15, or 20 years ago, and you were living to
please God for that period, you are closer to heaven than when you started. But
if you begin to do certain things wrong, it will set you backwards, even beyond
the years you started out. Have you asked how close you are to your goal?
KEY POINT:
There is no guarantee that debtors will make it to Heaven,
including senior pastors, top Christian leaders who deliberately sit on the salaries
and stipends of their subordinates. They may pay their debts eternally in hell.
Bible in One year: Isa. 58-60
Comments
Post a Comment