Topic: Focus On The Giver, Not The Gift [Open Heavens for Teens 27 April 2020]
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Memorise: Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. James 1:17
READ: Daniel 4:29-32
29 At the end of twelve months he walked in the palace of the kingdom of Babylon.
30 The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?
31 While the word was in the king’s mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee.
32 And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.
Bible In One Year: 2 Samuel 17-18; Luke 21:1-19
MESSAGE:
When you look at yourself in the mirror and see how beautiful God has made you, what comes to your mind? Is it how you flaunt your beauty around or appreciate God for making you beautiful? When you play football and everyone is hailing you for being skillful, do you become proud and start bragging about how good you are on the pitch? You need to realise that you did not create yourself. You cannot even create a rat. Your beautiful face has nothing to do with you; you did not contribute anything in making it. Your skills and talents were given to you, you didn’t choose which talents you wanted to have when you were coming to the world. So you need to bring those raised shoulders down and appreciate God for what He has given you.
When you think about it, you will realise that you have nothing to be proud of because you didn’t make yourself the way you are. So stop bragging and flaunting that gift, you have no idea how it came about. Rather, use it to glorify the giver, the Almighty God.
Reflection:
Is your focus on your gifts or the Giver?
Hymn 7:
1.Take my life and let it be
Consecrated Lord to thee
Take my moment and days
Let them flow ceaseless praise.
2.Take my hands and let them move
At the impulse of thy love
Take my feet and them be
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.
4.Take my sliver and my gold
Not a mite would I withhold
Take my intellect, and use
Every power as thou shalt choose.
5.Take my will and make it Thine,
It shall no longer mine:
Take my heart, it is Thine own;
It shall be Thy royal throne,
6.Take my love, my Lord, I pour
At They feet its treasure store;
Take myself, and I will be
Ever, only, all for thee
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.