Open Heaven 5 August
MEMORISE: “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” – (Matthew 5:48)
BIBLE READING: Genesis 17:1-9 (KJV)
When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless. 2 And I will make My covenant between Me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly.” 3 Then Abram fell on his face, and God talked with him, saying: 4 “As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, and you shall be a father of many nations. 5 No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be [d]Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations. 6 I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you. 7 And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and your descendants after you. 8 Also I give to you and your descendants after you the land in which you are a stranger, all the land of Canaan, as an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.”
9 And God said to Abraham: “As for you, you shall keep My covenant, you and your descendants after you throughout their generations.
Read yesterday’s Open Heaven Devotional here
There are many misconceptions about the demand of God for perfection. These misconceptions have led some people to conclude that perfection is unrealistic and so should be abandoned in the Christian walk. My prayer is that the power of God will come upon you today and you will live in perfection as God demands, in Jesus’ name. Why do people see God’s demand for our perfection as unrealistic? Many people think that perfection is to be attained by our strength. This is simply not so.
Nobody can attain anything by his or her own strength (1 Samuel 2:9). We need the power and wisdom of God for perfection. The problem, however, is the belief of many that perfection is unattainable. They lack faith in God to help them become perfect. This is why the Bible says: But without faith, it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. – (Hebrews 11:6)
Unbelief breeds disobedience as in the case of the first man and woman. They doubted the word of God and fell into imperfection through this unbelief! This was unlike Abraham in our text of today. Thus, if you are struggling with unbelief, pray like that man whose child was tormented by demons “…
Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief” – (Mark 9:24). When people see a state of human perfection as a ‘mission impossible, it is simply because they do not understand the concept from the point of view of the Lord.
How does God see perfection? You are perfectly based on your obedience to what God asks you to do – even when it is neither ‘logically’ nor ‘politically correct. Once you obey, He justifies you. We are justified through faith in the Son of the Living God (Romans 8:33). Perfection and holiness share the same factor that makes them realistic and that is obedience. Are you always obedient to the word of God? If you are, I congratulate you. If not, you must repent today, because tomorrow may be too late.
ACTION POINT: Father, please let Your Holy Spirit quickened me to perfection, in the mighty name of Jesus.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Job 31-32
Thank you for studying today’s Open Heaven – Be Thou Perfect – written by Pastor Enoch A.
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Open Heaven 5 August 2021
