MEMORISE: I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. Romans 12:1

READ: Matthew 16:24 -27

24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.

26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

27 For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.

MESSAGE

The sacrifice that pleases God the most is your life. You become a living sacrifice the day you surrender your life to Jesus. From the day you genuinely surrender your life to Him, He can send you wherever He wants, set the direction of your life and use you to fulfil His plans. God knows, l never wanted to be a Pastor, talk less of a General Overseer, but l am a living sacrifice. I had wanted to retire at the age of seventy, so that l could then begin to live a normal life – sleep when others sleep, eat when others eat and so on, but God said “No”. Since l am a living sacrifice, my response was “Yes, Daddy”.

God expects your entire life to be a sacrifice to Him. You are to go wherever He sends you. When He says witness – you witness, sit-you sit, pray- you pray.

The moment God knows that He has you as a living sacrifice, whatever offering you give becomes acceptable because it would be given under His guidance. Some of us, even before coming to Church, have made up our minds on the offering to give. For the fellow who is a living sacrifice, God will tell them what to give.

When l became a General Overseer, things were hard. We could hardly pay the staff on the church’s payroll and many a time, there would be nothing left to pay the General Overseer. Having left paid employment for full-time ministry after working for government for several years, l received my gratuity, with plans to save some, invest some in shares and so on. However, since l am a living sacrifice, l asked God, “What do l do with this money?” He responded that l should divide it into three parts and give each to a different ministry while retaining nothing for myself. As painful as this was, l was comforted when He said further, “l will be your source”. When you become a living sacrifice, God will become your source. The day you become a living sacrifice, you became His property, so He will take care of you. Things may be hard at first, but He will make sure that your tomorrow will be alright (Colossians 1:27).

REFLECTION

Are you a living sacrifice for God? Can HE decide to do whatever HE pleases with you and all you have.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Exodus 5-7

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A ADEBOYE

HYMN 23: TAKE MY LIFE AND LET IT BE

1 Take my life, and let it be

Consecrated, Lord, to Thee;

Take my moments and my days,

Let them flow in ceaseless praise,

Let them flow in ceaseless praise.

2 Take my hands, and let them move

At the impulse of Thy love;

Take my feet and let them be

Swift and beautiful for Thee,

Swift and beautiful for Thee.

3 Take my voice, and let me sing

Always, only, for my King;

Take my lips, and let them be

Filled with messages from Thee,

Filled with messages from Thee.

4 Take my silver and my gold;

Not a mite would I withhold;

Take my intellect, and use

Every power as Thou shalt choose,

Every power as Thou shalt choose.

5 Take my will, and make it Thine;

It shall be no longer mine.

Take my heart; it is Thine own;

It shall be Thy royal throne,

It shall be Thy royal throne.

6 Take my love; my Lord, I pour

At Thy feet its treasure-store.

Take myself, and I will be

Ever, only, all for Thee,

Ever, only, all for Thee.

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MEMORISE: The fire shall ever be burning upon the altar; it shall never go out. Leviticus 6:13

READ: Genesis 28:11 -19

11 And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep.

12 And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it.

13 And, behold, the LORD stood above it, and said, I am the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed;

14 And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.

15 And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.

16 And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew it not.

17 And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.

18 And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it.

19 And he called the name of that place Bethel: but the name of that city was called Luz at the first.

MESSAGE

Abraham was a man who raised many altars for God (Genesis 13:4, Genesis 13:18, Genesis 22:9). Little wonder why he had transgenerational blessings. An altar is a meeting place between God and man. In our Bible reading for today, we see how, even when Jacob was unaware that he was at an altar, he saw in a dream that the place was a meeting point between heaven and earth. For example, an altar can be a corner of your room, if you are living in a one-room apartment. You could set aside a corner in your room with a commitment to meet with God there regularly. You must treat the place as holy; because that is the altar of the Almighty God. The moment you set aside that place as an altar to God, any time you go there, God would be waiting.

When man goes to an altar, he does so to offer sacrifices to God and to worship Him. In Genesis 22:1-14 when God asked Abraham to offer Isaac as a burnt offering. He asked him to go to a particular place, raise an altar there and present a sacrifice. When visiting a great man, because of how much you honour him, you don’t go empty-handed, so why do so when going to meet with the Most High God? Don’t go to God empty handed. If you don’t have anything at all, He will accept a sacrifice of praise (Jeremiah 17:26).

When God comes to meet man on the altar, He comes to bless. (Psalm 67:5-7) tells us that when praises go up blessings come down. In Genesis 22:15-18, when Abraham brought Isaac to the altar to be offered, God stopped him and said, “You have done your part, let me do mine, in blessing l will bless You, in multiplying, l will multiply your seed”. God meets with His children during services to bless them, especially those who come with a sacrifice. I raised an altar in a small room inside the first house l lived in the Redemption Camp well over 29 years ago. The house is now called the ‘Open Heavens International Centre’. Since the place was marked out as an altar, up to today, people who go there to pray in faith receive mighty miracles from God that even l find amazing.

ACTION POINT

Identify a specific part of your house or environment that you will mark out as your altar and ensure you meet God there regularly.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Exodus 1-4

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A ADEBOYE

HYMN 16: PRAISE HIM PRAISE HIM, OUR BLESSED REDEEMER

1 Praise him, praise him! Jesus, our blessed redeemer!

Sing, O earth, his wonderful love proclaim!

Hail him, hail him! Highest archangels in glory!

Strength and honor give to his holy name!

Like a shepherd, Jesus will guard his children.

In his arms he carries them all day long.

Refrain:

Praise him! Praise him! tell of his excellent greatness.

Praise him! Praise him! ever in joyful song.

2 Praise him, praise him! Jesus, our blessed redeemer!

For our sins, he suffered, and bled, and died.

He our rock, our hope of eternal salvation,

hail him, hail him! Jesus, the crucified.

Sound his praises, Jesus who bore our sorrows,

love unbounded, wonderful, deep, and strong. [Refrain]

3 Praise him, praise him! Jesus, our blessed redeemer!

Heav’nly portals loud with hosannas ring!

Jesus, Savior, reigneth forever and ever!

Crown him, crown him! prophet, and priest, and king!

Christ is coming, over the world victorious.

Pow’r and glory unto the Lord belong. [Refrain]

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MEMORISE:
“Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.” – (John 15:16)

READ: Romans 9:15-26 (KJV)

15 For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.

16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.

17 For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.

18 Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.

19 Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?

20 Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?

21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?

22 What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:

23 And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,

24 Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?

25 As he saith also in Osee, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved.

26 And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people; there shall they be called the children of the living God.

MESSAGE:

Some people think that God is doing great things for them because they deserve it. They think because of all that they do for God, then it is only expected that He would bless them as He does. Believe me honestly, everything that God does, He does for His name’s sake – not for you, but that His name will be glorified (Psalm 106:7-8).

Don’t become arrogant, God could use anyone else. There are people who pray, study the Bible and are even more talented than you, but God chose you; you should be grateful for that. In any case, if we were to count iniquity, who will stand? (Psalm 130:3). When people see the things God is doing in The Redeemed Christian Church of God, they think I must be special. The only thing special about me is that God chose me, because even from as far back as when I was a little child, God had promised my Father-in-the Lord that The Redeemed Christian Church of God would go round the world. It had nothing to do with me at all; God just decided to glorify Himself through this Church and it is only by grace that He chose me to be the General Overseer. He could have chosen anyone else. There are people far more qualified than I, but it is by grace that I was chosen.

When you see people still drowning in sin, don’t judge them because you are on your way to heaven; rather, pray that God will save them by His grace. It is by His grace that you are not the one on the way to hell. Never forget that it is He who is working something out for His name’s sake. You are only graced to be a recipient of God’s blessings. The people of Israel may have thought that God parted the Red Sea and drowned Pharaoh and his army because they were so special. He did it for His name’s sake. They were only graced to be the ones He did it for. Romans 9:17 testifies to this:

For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.

PRAYER POINT:
Father, thank You for Your grace over my life. Please don’t let me ever stop enjoying help from Your throne of grace.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Genesis 44-46

AUTHOR: PASTOR E A ADEBOYE

HYMNAL: 2 – AMAZING GRACE

1 Amazing grace (how sweet the sound)
that saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
was blind, but now I see.

2 ‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
and grace my fears relieved;
how precious did that grace appear
the hour I first believed!

3 Through many dangers, toils and snares
I have already come:
’tis grace has brought me safe thus far,
and grace will lead me home.

4 The Lord has promised good to me,
his word my hope secures;
he will my shield and portion be
as long as life endures.

5 Yes, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
and mortal life shall cease:
I shall possess, within the veil,
a life of joy and peace.

6 The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
the sun forbear to shine;
but God, who called me here below,
will be forever mine.

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MEMORISE:
“But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.” – (James 4:6)

READ: Proverbs 16:5 (KJV)

Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.

MESSAGE:
More often than not, the people who provoke God do so through pride. The most junior staff in an organisation would typically be humble and submissive. However, the day the person begins to feel overly important, he or she will start provoking some people. The moment you become proud, you begin to provoke God. Never forget that no matter how high you go, God is still the Most High.

God usually deals with proud people in two ways. The first way is by recalling such a person suddenly and in a disgraceful manner. In Acts 12:20-24, king Herod’s pride made him consent to being compared to the Most High. This made God order worms to eat him up alive. The Lord said, “Oh, you think you are big because you are the Commander-in-Chief of some armies? I have armies that don’t carry guns – ordinary worms”. One moment Herod was sitting on the throne, the next moment, he was being eaten by worms. However, the Lord could also decide to disgrace the fellow openly while preserving his or her life. That is what He did to Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel 4:28-37.

Nebuchadnezzar was the greatest king of his time. He built a city called Babylon, which had one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. At a point, God saw that he was becoming proud and sent him a warning through a dream. Unfortunately, one year after the message came, he had forgotten it, so God said, “Okay, you think you are big? Go and eat with animals for seven years”. Nobody removed his royal robes from him; he removed them with his own hands. If there is something that must leave your life permanently today, it is pride.

Be careful as you rise, so as not to begin to feel like you are overly important. The elders say that when the cockroach falls, nobody hears the sound; when an ant falls, the ground doesn’t tremble, but if an elephant falls, the tremors would be felt both near and far. If God is elevating you, be weary of pride so that it doesn’t become a case of Him raising up an elephant so that when it falls everyone would pay attention, like in the case of Pharaoh (Romans 9:17).

KEY POINT:
If there is something that must leave your life permanently today, it is pride.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Genesis 42-43

AUTHOR: PASTOR E A ADEBOYE

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MEMORISE: There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD. Proverbs 21:30

READ: 2 Chronicles 13:9 -12

9 Have ye not cast out the priests of the LORD, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites, and have made you priests after the manner of the nations of other lands? so that whosoever cometh to consecrate himself with a young bullock and seven rams, the same may be a priest of them that are no gods.

10 But as for us, the LORD is our God, and we have not forsaken him; and the priests, which minister unto the LORD, are the sons of Aaron, and the Levites wait upon their business:

11 And they burn unto the LORD every morning and every evening burnt sacrifices and sweet incense: the shewbread also set they in order upon the pure table; and the candlestick of gold with the lamps thereof, to burn every evening: for we keep the charge of the LORD our God; but ye have forsaken him.

12 And, behold, God himself is with us for our captain, and his priests with sounding trumpets to cry alarm against you. O children of Israel, fight ye not against the LORD God of your fathers; for ye shall not prosper.

MESSAGE

Galatians 2:20 says, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”

Apostle Paul said that because Christ loves Him, He gave Himself for him. We can infer a theorem from this – that when God loves you, He will give you His life. In mathematics, whenever we establish a theorem, there always has to be the corollary – something that follows as such a result of what just established. The corollary to our new establishment theorem is in Proverbs 8:36

But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.

Herod was a man who hated God; he did everything he could to hinder the work of the Lord and he died a shameful death. After his death, the Bible says, “But the word of God grew and multiplied” (Acts 12:24). Anyone who tries to stand in the way of the Most High God hates Him and is calling for death.

Some time ago, in another country, we wanted to dedicate a new parish, but in the process of trying to get the necessary approvals, a government official swore to prevent it. My children called me to report the incident and, believe me honestly, l didn’t even bother to pray about it. On the day of the meeting at which this government official was planning to have our application rejected, he put both feet into one trouser leg. While struggling with the trouser, he fell, hurt himself and was rushed to the hospital. He died with both legs still in one of the trouser.

You may claim not to oppose the work of God as directly as that. Do you discourage other people from submitting to the authority of your Pastor and the Heads of Departments? Do you steal money from the Church’s purse, thereby making it more difficult for God’s work to be done? You are hindering the work of God and anyone who does so is toying with death. A word is enough for the wise.

REFLECTION

Is there anything you are doing to hinder the work of God in your local church or environment? Desist from it now to avoid sudden death.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Genesis 39-41

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A ADEBOYE

HYMN 6: I AM SO GLAD THAT OUR FATHER IN HEAV’N

1 I am so glad that our Father in heav’n

Tells of His love in the Book He has giv’n;

Wonderful things in the Bible I see:

This is the dearest, that Jesus loves me.

I am so glad that Jesus loves me,

Jesus loves me, Jesus loves me;

I am so glad that Jesus loves me,

Jesus loves even me.

2 Though I forget Him and wander away,

Still He doth love me whenever I stray;

Back to His dear loving arms would I flee,

When I remember that Jesus loves me.

3 Oh, if there’s only one song I can sing,

When in His beauty I see the great King,

This shall my song in eternity be:

“Oh, what a wonder that Jesus loves me.”

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MEMORISE: Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. Galatians 6:7

READ: Psalms 20:1-3

1 The LORD hear thee in the day of trouble; the name of the God of Jacob defend thee;

2 Send thee help from the sanctuary, and strengthen thee out of Zion;

3 Remember all thy offerings, and accept thy burnt sacrifice; Selah.

MESSAGE

There is a popular wise saying that in time of peace, prepare for war. Similarly, before you have a need, sow seeds ahead, so that when a storm arises, your seeds will speak for you. Sow seeds of service to God now because a time is coming when you will be so old, you will not have the strength to run around doing God’s work. Even if you don’t face any storm at all in your lifetime, a time is coming when you will face the storm of death. At that time, God will ask you, what did you use the talents l gave you for?

Sow good seeds now because when a storm comes you would need them to speak for you. When you read the story of the sinful woman in Luke 7:37-38, you would see that she sowed a seed that day by washing Jesus’ feet with her tears and wiping them with her hair. She also poured a very costly ointment on Him and Jesus took note of her. May you do something today that will cause God to take note of you.

During a meeting with my covenant partners some years ago, l told them to ask God just one thing. There was a woman amongst them who had been barren for many years and what she asked God for was a baby. She got pregnant and went to the U.S. for tests, but the doctor said that there were high chances of the baby being HIV positive and would have to be evacuated. She refused and cried to the Lord, asking for a sign that would convince her that He heard her prayer. He responded, “Go home, before you get there, you will get a sign”. It was during her return to Nigeria that we ran into each other on the plane. She started screaming and when l asked her what the issue was, she explained to me. I prayed with her and a few months later, she delivered the baby safe and sound. The baby was HiIV negative and even her husband who had been HIV positive also became negative. Her seed spoke for her.

May the Lord hear you in the day of trouble and remember all your offerings in Jesus’ name.

REFLECTION

Have you sown seeds that can speak for you when storms arise.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Genesis 32-35

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A ADEBOYE

HYMN 21: STANDING ON THE PROMISES OF GOD

Standing on the promises of Christ my King,
Through eternal ages let His praises ring,
Glory in the highest, I will shout and sing,
Standing on the promises of God.

Standing, standing, Standing on the promises of God my Savior;
Standing, standing,
I’m standing on the promises of God.

2 Standing on the promises that cannot fail,
When the howling storms of doubt and fear assail,
By the living Word of God I shall prevail,
Standing on the promises of God.

3 Standing on the promises I now can see
Perfect, present cleansing in the blood for me;
Standing in the liberty where Christ makes free,
Standing on the promises of God.

4 Standing on the promises of Christ the Lord,
Bound to Him eternally by love’s strong cord,
Overcoming daily with the Spirit’s sword,
Standing on the promises of God.

5 Standing on the promises I shall not fall,
List’ning every moment to the Spirit’s call.
Resting in my Savior as my All in all,
Standing on the promises of God.

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MEMORISE: A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. Proverbs 18:24

READ: Ecclesiastes 4:9 -10

9 Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.

10 For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.

MESSAGE
Love is a two way street (Proverbs 8:17). You show someone love, and typically, they will show you love in return. If you want to make friends with people, show yourself friendly to them first (Proverbs 18:24). If you want them to favour you, favour them first. I have seen people arrive at my house frowning but depart with beaming smiles after experiencing my wife’s hospitality. Indeed, some people don’t have friends because they don’t show themselves friendly.

Several years ago, one of my daughters came to me and said, “Daddy, I’m this old, and nobody has approached me to say, ‘Thus saith the Lord…””. I said, “With the way you glare at everybody as if you are spoiling for a fight, who is going to approach you and say, “Thus saith the Lord” even if God is actually speaking? You never smile; you are always looking as if somebody offended you, and so, if a brother should even be coming your way, one look at your face is enough to make him change his mind. “Thank God she took the feedback graciously and made the necessary changes. It wasn’t long after that she got married. Love should be reciprocal.

Whether you believe it or not, everyone needs good friends. Our Bible reading for today says for the one who has no friend, WHEN he falls, there would be no one to lift him. Take note that the word ‘when’ was used, not ‘if’. Everyone will have times when they need someone to lift them; God forbid that there is no one to lift you when the time comes. Proverbs 18:24 says that there are some friends that stick closer than a brother. You need friends, so show yourself friendly to those around you.

You must, however, choose your friend carefully because, as iron sharpens iron (Proverbs 27:17), so does evil communication (bad company) corrupt good manners (1 Corinthians 15:33). Everyone needs good friends, and the greatest friend of all is our Lord Jesus Christ. Surrender your life to Him today if you haven’t, so you can also become His friend (John 15:15).

REFLECTION
Are you friendly to your neighbours and colleagues?

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Genesis 29-31

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A ADEBOYE

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MEMORISE: Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: 1 Peter 1:8

READ: 1 Corinthians 2:9

9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

MESSAGE

Many have heard the term ‘Joy Unspeakable’, but only a few have ever experienced it. That is the kind of joy that overwhelms you so much that even when you want to express it verbally, you would find yourself speechles. Some years ago, we had a programme in a town called Ota in Ogun State, Nigeria. A lady who had been barren for several years came there that day asking for prayers, after her husband’s relatives had threatened to throw her out within the year. There were many people so l didn’t even know who l prayed for. The following year, we were holding another programme somewhere else, with a long queue of those who wanted me to pray for them. Unknown to me, this same lady was there and when it got to her turn, she kept opening her mouth to speak but said nothing. Finally, she was able to utter just one word “Jesus”.

When she finally was able to speak, she explained that she was that woman l had pray for the previous year. It was then l realized why she had been speechless earlier; she was carrying a baby on her left and another on her right – she had given birth to twins. I pray you will soon experience joy unspeakable, in Jesus’ name.

Our memory verse. (1 Peter 1:8) says if you believe in God, then He will make available to you joy unspeakable, full of glory. All you have to do is believe in him. Believing in Him means that you act according to what you say you believe. James 2:17 says:

Even so faith, it it hath not works, is dead, being alone

Your behaviour must show that you believe in God. Your attitude must reflect your belief in all the promises of God in the Bible. It must be that of one who goes to God believing that whatever he asked for will be given to him. James 1:6-8 says anyone who comes to God without faith should not even think that he will receive anything from Him. Put all your faith in God and you will experience unspeakable joy as He begins to unfold His glorious plans for you in Jesus’ name.

PRAYER POINT

Father, as I put all my faith in you , let me experience unspeakable joy in all areas of my life in Jesus name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Genesis 26-28

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A ADEBOYE

HYMN 4: BE GLAD IN THE LORD AND REJOICE

1 Be glad in the Lord and rejoice,
All ye that are upright in heart;
And ye that have made him your choice,
Bid sadness and sorrow depart.

Refrain:
Rejoice, rejoice! Be glad in the Lord and rejoice!

2 What though in the conflict for right
Your enemies almost prevail,
God’s armies, just hid from your sight,
Are more than the foes which assail.

3 Though darkness surround you by day,
Your sky by the night be o’ercast,
Let nothing your spirit dismay,
But trust till the danger is past.

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MEMORISE: And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. 1 John 4:16

READ: 1 John 4:15 -21

15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.

16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.

17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

19 We love him, because he first loved us.

20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?

21 And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.

MESSAGE

God is love and perfect love can only be experienced in Him (1 John 4:16-17). No matter how strong human love is, it usually has a hidden agenda and will remain imperfect if it is not established in God.

There is a classic of two people who loved each other in the Bible: David and Jonathan. I Samuel 18:4, the Bible says:

And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David, and his garments, even to his sword, and to,his bow, and to girdle.

Looking closely at the gifts, you would observe that Jonathan gave David practically everything except his shoes. This is because in Bible times, one way to seal a contract is the giving of shoes, without which everything given can be reclaimed (Ruth 4:7). In those days also, only sons wore shoes; servants were not allowed to. That is why in Luke 15:11-24, when the prodigal son returned, the father asked that shoes be put on his feet to show that he had accepted him back as a son and not a servant. Thus, we see that Jonathan was saying to David, in essence, “We are friends, but don’t forget who you are. You are a beloved servant”. In l Samuel 20:13-16 and verse 42, we see that Jonathan entered a covenant with David when it became clear that the latter would be king, extracting a promise from him not to wipe out his family. Later on, he even asked to become David’s assistant (1 Samuel 23:17). Be careful when people say they love you; it may be because of what they can get from you. If it so happens that there is nothing to get anymore, then you would know who truly loves you.

God’s love for us, however, is perfect and unconditional. He loved us even while we were yet sinners. (Romans 5:8). He sacrificed His only begotten son so you and l can be saved (John 3:16). He alone is worthy of all your trust (1John 4:16).

Choose the perfect love of God today by surrendering your life to Jesus. It is only in Him that we have an assurance of boldness on the day of judgment (1 John 4:17) and eternal life (Romans 6:23).

KEY POINT

God’s love is perfect

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Genesis 24-25

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A ADEBOYE

HYMN 31: WONDERFUL STORY OF LOVE

1 Wonderful story of love!
Tell it to me again;
Wonderful story of love!
Wake the immortal strain.
Angels with rapture announce it,
Shepherds with wonder receive it;
Sinner, O won’t you believe it?
Wonderful story of love!

Refrain:
Wonderful! Wonderful!
Wonderful story, Wonderful story of love!

2 Wonderful story of love!
Though you are far away;
Wonderful story of love!
Still he doth call today.
Calling from Calvary’s mountain,
Down from the crystal bright fountain,
E’en from the dawn of creation;
Wonderful story of love!

3 Wonderful story of love!
Jesus provides a rest;
Wonderful story of love!
For all the pure and blest;
Rest in those mansions above us,
With those who’ve gone on before us,
Singing the rapturous chorus;
Wonderful story of love!

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