Open Heavens Daily Devotional For Today January 13

• Author: Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye
• Date: Monday January 13, 2025
• Topic: God Tests

Memorise: “Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing as unto a faithful Creator.” – 1Peter 4:19

Read: Genesis 22:1-12

1. Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham, and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.”

2. Then He said, “Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.”

3. So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son; and he split the wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him.

4. Then on the third day Abraham lifted his eyes and saw the place afar off.

5. And Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; the lad and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you.”

6. So Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife, and the two of them went together.

7. But Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, “My father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” Then he said, “Look, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?”

8. And Abraham said, “My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering.” So the two of them went together.

9. Then they came to the place of which God had told him. And Abraham built an altar there and placed the wood in order; and he bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, upon the wood.

10. And Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son.

11. But the Angel of the LORD called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” So he said, “Here I am.”

12. And He said, “Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.”

Message

God is a jealous God Deuteronomy 4:24; He never wants anything to take His place in your heart. God wants you to love Him wholeheartedly (Luke 10:25-28), and at different times, He will test you to see if you really love Him as you should. Your response in those moments will show whether you truly love Him or not. The tests may hurt or excite you, but you must not feel so hurt that you deny Christ or become so excited that you forget Him. You must keep Him as your only focus at all times.

If God decides to test you, He might take you through a painful experience to see if it will cause you to deny Him as He did with Job Job 1. On the other hand, He may decide to bless you with something big to see your reaction. If you are still obedient and submissive to Him afterwards, He will then give you more.

Years ago, during one of our services, God told me to announce that three breakthroughs were coming for someone. The first was to be given to Him, the second was to be shared equally between Him and the fellow, and the third was for the fellow concerned. After a few weeks, a widow came to me, saying that she had brought the proceeds of the first breakthrough. I knew she was struggling because her husband owed the bank a lot of money before he died, which she had to repay. Therefore, I told her that the prophecy may not have been for her. She insisted, so I collected the money from her and kept it aside just in case she came back for it. Not long after, the bank called her to apologise, saying that they were the ones owing her husband a lot of money, which they paid her. God tested her with a little breakthrough, and when she passed the test, He brought something big her way.

Now, you need to note that God will never allow you to be tested beyond what you can handle, and with every test, He supplies the grace that is required to pass it 1Corinthians 10:13. To pass God’s test, you must use the grace that He supplies to you. May you not fail when your love for God is tested, in Jesus’ name.

Prayer Point

Father, please give me the grace to always love You in whatever situation I find myself.

Bible In One Year: Genesis 42-43

Hymn 20: Stand Up! Stand Up For Jesus

1. Stand up! stand up for Jesus,
Ye soldiers of the Cross!
Lift high His royal banner;
It must not suffer loss.
From vict’ry unto vict’ry
His army shall He lead,
Till ev’ry foe is vanquished,
And Christ is Lord indeed.

2. Stand up! stand up for Jesus,
The trumpet call obey;
Forth to the mighty conflict,
In this His glorious day;
Ye that are men now serve Him
Against unnumbered foes;
Let courage rise with danger,
And strength to strength oppose.

3. Stand up! stand up for Jesus!
Stand in His strength alone;
The arm of flesh will fail you,
Ye dare not trust your own:
Put on the gospel armor,
Each piece put on with prayer;
Where duty calls or danger,
Be never wanting there.

4. Stand up! stand up for Jesus!
The strife will not be long;
This day the noise of battle,
The next the victor’s song;
To him that overcometh,
A crown of life shall be;
He with the King of glory
Shall reign eternally.