Topic: Let Another Praise You [Open Heavens for Teens 25 January 2020]
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MEMORISE: “Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips. Proverbs 27:2
READ: Daniel 4:29-33
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 30. 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; 32. 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.
33 The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles feathers, and his nails like birds’ claws.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Exodus 9-10; Matthew 18:1-20
MESSAGE:
Are you a very intelligent teenager? Are you very good at sports, arts or other extra curricular activities? Is the Lord already using you mightily in your church? Congratulations if you answered yes to any of these questions, but please note, you must never praise yourself. Praising yourself can lead to pride and God hates pride. He said in James 4:6 that He resists the proud. To resist is to forcefully push something away from one’s self. I am sure you don’t want God to forcefully push you away from Himself. If you are the one telling everyone how great you are at sports, or how brilliant you are in academics, then you are proud and God will resist you.
You may say it is because you want everyone to know your worth. There is honour in keeping quiet and then surprising everyone with your exceptional performance. That is what I call being silently loud. On the other hand, when you keep bragging about your abilities, you will create enemies for yourself and on the days you don’t perform as expected, everyone will make jest of you. Make a habit of always giving all the glory to God even when you are being praised, and He will do more through you. God will not share His glory with anyone (Isaiah 42:8).
Reflection:
Check yourself, are you a self praiser?
Hymn 3:
1 When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will,
He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.
Chorus:
Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
2 Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies,
But His smile quickly drives it away;
Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh or a tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey.
3 Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share,
But our toil He doth richly repay;
Not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross,
But is blessed if we trust and obey.
4 But we never can prove the delights of His love
Until all on the altar we lay;
For the favor He shows, for the joy He bestows,
Are for them who will trust and obey.
5 Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at His feet,
Or we’ll walk by His side in the way;
What He says we will do, where He sends we will go;
Never fear, only trust and obey.
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.
