OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL FRIDAY 23RD DECEMBER 2022 – (DON’T CAUSE OTHERS TO STUMBLE 2)
TOPIC : DON’T CAUSE OTHERS TO STUMBLE 2
MEMORISE: John 17:19
“And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.
READ: 1 Peter 5:1-4 (KJV)
1The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:
2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
3 Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being examples to the flock.
4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.
MESSAGE
Those who serve in the house of God have a serious responsibility to the people they minister to. As God’s representative to the flock, you are supposed to care for them and live an exemplary life that removes all stumbling blocks from their way. God values each soul in the congregation. In Acts 20:28, the Bible says:
Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
God did not buy the Church back with the blood of goats or the sacrifice of an angel. It cost God His Son to save the world. If we understood this as ministers, we would see the importance of living a life that does not insult the gospel of Christ. Beloved minister, be very careful about becoming a rock of offence to God’s people. Luke 17:1-2 says:
Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come! It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.
These are the words of Jesus Himself. If you are a minister of God, check your life to be sure you are not leading the flock astray. If you do not place much importance on the word of God, the people who follow you will find it easy to disregard God’s word. If you never preach about the eternal damnation that will come to a soul who continues in sin because you don’t want the flock to be uncomfortable, you are building people who would be indifferent about where they would spend their eternity, and their blood would be on your head. James 3:1 says:
My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.
Ministers of God will receive a stricter judgement. What example are you setting for your flock? I pray that, when the Master returns, you will not be ashamed.
PRAYER POINT:
Heavenly Father, help me not to fail in my assignment over Your people, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
James 4 – 1 Peter 2
HYMNAL:
Hymn 14 – Nearer, my God to Thee
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