OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TEENS 10 MARCH 2019 – PREVENTING UNPLEASANT SURPRISES
MEMORISE: Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in Heaven. Matthew 7:21
Read: Genesis 49:1-4
1 AND JACOB called for his sons and said, Gather yourselves together [around me], that I may tell you what shall befall you in the latter or last days.
2 Gather yourselves together and hear, you sons of Jacob; and hearken to Israel your father.
3 Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might, the beginning (the firstfruits) of my manly strength and vigor; [your birthright gave you] the preeminence in dignity and the preeminence in power.
4 But unstable and boiling over like water, you shall not excel and have the preeminence [of the firstborn], because you went to your father’s bed; you defiled it–he went to my couch!
MESSAGE:
Restitution is a payment (could be in action or resources) made to someone for the damage or trouble caused. It implies that you admit that you have done wrong, you regret it and you are willing to right that wrong.
Restitution is very essential to make heaven. Our Bible text for today tells us how Jacob cursed his firstborn son Reuben who in the past had slept with one of his wives and hadn’t come to ask for forgiveness. Reuben was surprised that his father knew about it and never said anything. Read – Open Heaven 10 March 2019
He probably felt he wasn’t angry with him but he was wrong. If Reuben had done the needful, he wouldn’t have encountered the unpleasant surprise he got at the end. This is why you need to be careful of the decisions you make today. It is better not to make wrong decisions than to do and then have to make restitution.
KEY POINT: Restitution is important if you want to make heaven.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Deuteronomy 11-13
Mark 13:1-13
Hymn 2
1. When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will,
He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.
Refrain:
Trust and obey, for theres no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
2. Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies,
But His smile quickly drives it away;
Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh or a tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey.
3. Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share,
But our toil He doth richly repay;
Not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross,
But is blessed if we trust and obey.
4. But we never can prove the delights of His love
Until all on the altar we lay;
For the favor He shows, for the joy He bestows,
Are for them who will trust and obey.
5. Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at His feet,
Or we’ll walk by His side in the way;
What He says we will do, where He sends we will go;
Never fear, only trust and obey.
AUTHORS: Pastor E.A. Adeboye and Pastor (Mrs.) Folu Adeboye.
