Open Heaven 19 November
MEMORISE: It is a snare to the man who devoureth that which is holy, and after vows to make enquiry. Proverbs 20:25
BIBLE READING: PROVERBS 6:1-5
1. My son, if thou be surety for thy friend, if thou hast stricken thy hand with a stranger,
2. Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth.
3. Do this now, my son, and deliver thyself, when thou art come into the hand of thy friend; go, humble thyself, and make sure thy friend.
4. Give not sleep to thine eyes, nor slumber to thine eyelids.
5. Deliver thyself as a roe from the hand of the hunter, and as a bird from the hand of the fowler.
Read yesterday’s Open Heaven Devotional here
The world, from the beginning, has been full of deceit. This is why, today, the Lord is warning all His children to beware of being guarantors for people who would not keep their promises.
Some people have lost all their life savings because they stood as surety for people who defaulted in repaying bank loans.
Todays memory verse reveals the folly of making enquiry after already vowing. That action can have eternal implications; Romans 13:8 warns that we should owe no man anything except love.
Ecclesiastes 5:5-6 further says: “Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay. Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel, that it was an error: wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thy hands?”
God is warning us through todays Scripture reading to avoid standing surety to those we do not know very well, unbelievers in general and particularly unstable or inconsistent brethren in the Church.
This is because such people could turn out to be heartless foes when they begin to default. Marriage vows are even more serious, and as believers we must honour them.
There are many wolves in sheeps clothing in the Church today – pretenders who take innocent souls to the altar deceitfully just to wreak havoc on the spiritual lives of their victims. You must beware and take todays warning seriously.
If you are among the deceivers in the Church, you must repent today, before the judgment of God comes upon you. As a young person preparing for marriage, pay close attention to getting to really know your potential spouse very well.
Do not forget: marriage is for better and for worse. It is better for you not to make a vow at all than to make one and then be seeking to annul it. Be wary of presumptuous love affairs and love at first sight.
Take your time to investigate the life and background of the fellow you want to spend the rest of your life with. I have always said If love is blind, marriage would heal the blindness.
Beloved, as children of God our integrity must never be questionable, so before you commit yourself in any way, always exercise due diligence and seek Gods guidance.
PRAYER POINT: Please Lord, I seek Your guidance in all that pertains to me. Help me to always rely on Your leading before I make any decision, in Jesus name.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: OBADIAH 1:1-21
Thank you for studying today’s Open Heaven – Before You Make That Vow – written by Pastor Enoch A.
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Open Heaven 19 November 2021
