OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL by Pastor E.A Adeboye (DATE: SUNDAY 14TH AUGUST 2016) THEME: RELEVANT TO EACH OTHER

Memorise:
So we, being many, are one body
in Christ, and every one members
one of another. Romas 12:5

Read: 1 Corinthians 12:18-25
12:18 But now hath God set the
members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.

12:19 And if they were all one
member, where were the body?

12:20 But now are they many
members, yet but one body.

12:21 And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.

12:22 Nay, much more those
members of the body, which
seem to be more feeble, are necessary:

12:23 And those members of the
body, which we think to be less
honourable, upon these we
bestow more abundant honour;
and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.

12:24 For our comely parts have
no need: but God hath tempered
the body together, having given
more abundant honour to that
part which lacked.

12:25 That there should be no
schism in the body; but that the
members should have the same
care one for another.

Message
The church is an assembly of the called out; people who have been
called out of darkness into the
marvellous light of Jesus. We
have become vessels unto
honour unto God and also unto
one another in righteousness. It is upon this that Apostle Paul
admonished us in Philippians 4:8:

"Finally, brethren, whatsoever
things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things".

As people who have received the
grace of God, we must be
concerned about one another.
We should live our lives helping
others to become what God has destined them to become. We
must give ourselves in service to
other brethren. Our minds must
be directed by purposes higher
than the material world and
selfish ambitions.

We are what we are by the Grace of the Almighty God, and everyone
cannot possess the same measure of grace and abilities, hence the need to encourage one another and not engage in envy and strife.

No matter how highly placed you
are, you must never look down
on others, neither should you
write anyone off because the
weak person of today can become the strong person of tomorrow.

The people in David's army were once called vagabonds, but they were the same people who eventually became mighty captains of his army. There must be unity
amongst us, because we are
members of the same body. The
entire body needs every member
in order to function as a whole.

You cannot do everything all alone, you need others to succeed. There are great people that are your destiny ties. The moment you identify them, you need to also invest in them and leverage on their grace. Every member must be encouraged to use his God given abilities to profit the entire body.

The church is like a chain and
everyone is very important in the
scheme of things. No one should claim superiority over others
because this will not encourage
Unity. Unhealthy competition
should not be allowed in the
Body of Christ. We are one and
we need one another. There is no one who is an island. Let
those who are strong help those
who are feeble. Let those who
are rich help those who are in
need. Let those who are matured
help those who are coming behind. Let those who are at the top encourage those who are climbing.

Jesus specifically instructed Peter
to strengthen his brethren. You
must contribute to the success of others. Great leaders who gain
respect are the ones who
constantly add value to others.

You need to be a source of hope
to those around you. Your life
must demonstrate the competence and chemistry that attracts others to the grace of God upon your life. This starts by respecting yourself and respecting those that God has
given to you. People will naturally submit to your leadership when
you take them from where they
are to where God wants them to
be. You must see the good in
people. Encourage people to do
their best and when you have to correct, let it be done in love. Do
not take any failure or criticism
personally. Treat everyone you
meet as important because they
are.

Action Point
You are very important to God. If
you fail to play your role in the
Body of Christ, it could bring losses to God's Kingdom.
Determine to play your role today.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Isaiah 19:16-23:18
Psalms 34:1-10

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE