OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL: SATURDAY, DECEMBER 16TH 2017- WHAT OF YOUR VOWS? 

Memorise: “Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.” Ecclesiastes 5:5    
Read: Ecclesiastes 5:1-6
1 Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider not that they do evil.
2 Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few.
3 For a dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a fool’s voice is known by multitude of words.
4 When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed.
5 Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.
6 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 thine hands?
Bible in one year: Revelation 14-16, Zachariah 3

1. The institution of marriage is largely misunderstood and consequently abused by a lot of people in today’s word.
2. Marriage was designed by God for the good of the partners involved. He designed it as an institution where they can complement each other, enjoy life on earth, and reproduce their kind to replenish the earth.
3. In contrast to what is sadly the norm in the world today, marriage is a covenant relationship that is of a permanent nature. The Lord Jesus Christ Himself stated this in Matthew 19:6 when he said: “Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God Hath joined together, let no man put asunder.”
4. Contrary to God’s expectations, the marital vow that is supposed to be very sacred is fast becoming a recitation that is violated at will.
5. How many married people ever reflect on the vows they exchange at the altar to see if the current state of their lives has not deviated from it?
6. Marriage is a very serious covenant relationship.
7. God expects the partners involved in it to keep the pledge they made to each other in the presence of many witnesses.
8. Are you married? How faithful have you been in keeping your marital vows?
9. As children of God, we should not be surprise by the current sorry state of the institution of marriage in the world today.
10. The Holy Spirit told us ahead of time that unfaithfulness to vows will form part of the unrighteousness of men in such times as this, When in Romans 1:31 He describe the characteristics of people in the last days as follow: “Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, Implacable, unmerciful:”
11. In 2nd Timothy 3:3-4, He also indicates to us that a sign by which we will know we are in the last days is when we see men increasingly becoming traitors and trucebreakers (i.e. implacable).
12. Are you breaking any of the promises you made in your marriage vows? Are you the type that cannot be appeased? Do you find it difficult to forgive your spouse whenever there is a form of misunderstanding in your relationship? If you have any of those traits, it shows that you are not walking in the love of God. Are you unmerciful to your spouse? How can you receive mercy from God when you cannot even show it to your own spouse?
13. At the altar, you promise to take care of your spouse; are you doing so today?
14. You promise to use all your worldly goods to make life easier for your spouse, but is that what you are doing today? You promise to leave everyone else and belong to your spouse forever; is that so? Are you secretly dating someone else?
15. If you have fallen out of line, repent and keep your vows from today!

Seeing the topic of today’s devotional, one would think it is going to focus on financial or material vow to God but amazingly, the Holy Spirit took us to an entirely different direction. Many of us frequently ignore our marital vows in different manners yet we don’t see it as wrong thing. This is a call to repentance in that area and we should make our ways right with God as regards that. May the Lord help us in Jesus name. We bless God for Pastor E.A Adeboye and pray that may his strength be renewed in Jesus name.

Action Point
Every vow made shall be accounted for someday. Never break your vows!  
HYMN
God give us Christian homes!
Homes where the Bible is loved and taught,
Homes where the Master’s will is sought,
Homes crowned with beauty
Thy love hath wrought;
God give us Christian homes;
God give us Christian homes!
Verse 2:
God give us Christian homes!
Homes where the father is true and strong,
Homes that are free from the blight of wrong,
Homes that are joyful with love and song;
God give us Christian homes;
God give us Christian homes!
Verse 3:
God give us Christian homes!
Homes where the mother, in caring quest,
Strives to show others Thy way is best,
Homes where the Lord is an honored guest;
God give us Christian homes;
God give us Christian homes!
Verse 4:
God give us Christian homes!
Homes where the children are led to know
Christ in His beauty who loves them so,
Homes where the altar fires burn and glow;
God give us Christian homes;
God give us Christian homes!

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