OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL by Pastor E.A Adeboye (DATE: MONDAY 25TH JULY 2016) THEME: RIGHTEOUSNESS IS NOT OPTIONAL

Memorise:
As righteousness tendeth to life: so he that pursueth evil pursueth it to his own death. Proverbs 11:19

Read: Hosea 10:12
10:12 Sow to yourselves in
righteousness, reap in mercy; break
up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.

Message:
It is interesting to note that the
righteousness that mankind has
detested from generation to generation, right from the fall, is not
optional! Many scholars have
endeavoured to explain away what
righteousness entails and play down its importance to the point that sermons that encourage righteous living are now scarce.

Sweet and pet talks have replaced sermons that demand righteous living. That is why St. Paul admonished his spiritual son,
Timothy thus:
"Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove,
rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears." 2 Timothy 4:2-3

There are some lessons to be learnt
from the above scriptures; firstly,
sermons that will produce righteous
living must contain reproof, rebuke,
exhortation and doctrine.

Secondly, there is a time in the life of a Christian pilgrim when he will have to make himself intentionally available to reproof and rebuke. This is because, after a long stay in the Church environment, which might have earned him titles, he might no longer be teachable.

Thirdly, righteous living requires
indoctrination; doctrines that are
sound. In other words, there are
doctrines that are not sound. So, believers must beware of doctrines of the devil.

"Now the Spirit speaketh expressly,
that in the latter times some shall
depart from the faith, giving heed to
seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;" 1 Timothy 4:1

Today, some children of God make
righteousness an optional virtue to
their own danger because the
scripture cannot be broken. It says:
"Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord." Hebrews 12:14

Beloved, it is true we shall be
ultimately saved by grace. This is why we must pray for that grace to live righteously without struggle, because there is no grace in struggle. This is what makes the Christian faith unique.

Our God is able to help us live for Him if we are willing and obedient. If we will not rationalise sin but admit it as it is and cry to God for help. The Bible says:
"For the grace of God that bringeth
salvation hath appeared to all men,
Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world. " Titus 2:11-12

I pray that as you desire righteousness today, the grace of God will bring it upon your life in Jesus' name.

Prayer Point:
Father, let your grace abound in my
heart so that I may begin to live life
pleasing to you as from now on in
Jesus' name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Colossians 1-4 and Psalms 19:1-6

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A ADEBOYE