Topic: Who Gets God’s Mercy? [Teens’ Open Heavens Thursday 18, January 2018]
Memorise: “Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.” – Matthew 5:7
Read: Exodus 20:4-6
4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:
5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;
6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.
Bible In One Year: Genesis 42-43, Matthew 13:33-58
MESSAGE:
GOD is sovereign. Being the highest of all, He cannot be queried over what He does. He went into a crowd of sick people, healed one man and left (John 5:2-9). What made Him pity this particular man? Sheer mercy! The man did not pray, neither did he know the person of Jesus. After his healing, when people asked him why he was carrying his bed on a Sabbath day, he said the one who healed him asked him to carry his bed. When he was asked for the person’s name, he had no clue. He did not do anything to qualify for that healing, but God’s mercy singled him out. Are you presently in a situation where you do not qualify for God’s blessings? God’s mercy will speak in your favour today in Jesus’ name.
Who are the recipients of God’s mercy? Matthew 5-7 says that if you sow mercy, you will reap mercy in return. If you want to receive mercy, avoid everything that has to do with wickedness. In addition, Psalms 103:11 says the fear of God gives you access into God’s abundant mercy. Loving God and keeping His commandments can also earn you mercy. What are you doing to receive God’s mercy?
Key Point: Back up your request for mercy with works of mercy.
Hymn 12
1 Let us with a gladsome mind
praise the Lord for He is kind:
For His mercies shall endure,
ever faithful ever sure.
2. He, with all-commanding might,
filled the new-made world with light:
For His mercies shall endure,
Ever faithful, ever sure.
3. All things living He doth feed,
His full hand supplies their need:
For His mercies shall endure,
Ever faithful, ever sure.
4. Let us then with gladsome mind
praise the Lord, for He is kind
For His mercies shall endure,
Ever faithfully, ever sure.
Open Heavens Daily Devotional for Teen’s guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer’s Ministries.
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