Open Heaven Daily Devotional 13 April 2022
TOPIC: God’s Mercy 1
MEMORISE:
“Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.” – (Psalm 127:1)
136 O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
2 O give thanks unto the God of gods: for his mercy endureth for ever.
3 O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever.
4 To him who alone doeth great wonders: for his mercy endureth for ever.
5 To him that by wisdom made the heavens: for his mercy endureth for ever.
6 To him that stretched out the earth above the waters: for his mercy endureth for ever.
7 To him that made great lights: for his mercy endureth for ever:
8 The sun to rule by day: for his mercy endureth for ever:
9 The moon and stars to rule by night: for his mercy endureth for ever.
10 To him that smote Egypt in their firstborn: for his mercy endureth for ever:
11 And brought out Israel from among them: for his mercy endureth for ever:
12 With a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Open Heaven Daily Devotional 13 April 2022 MESSAGE
Our memory verse says that you cannot build a house except you obtain mercy from God, neither can there be safety unless He provides it. In other words, there is virtually nothing good a man can achieve without the mercy of God which provides the platform for His help. I received a letter not long ago from someone who said he had started building a house in 1981 and up to the time he was writing the letter (over 30 years later), he hadn’t roofed it yet. It is only by God’s mercy that you can start and finish any project successfully.
Thus, it doesn’t matter how many bodyguards you have, unless God has mercy on you, your life is not protected. You can have bodyguards against hired assassins and armed robbers, but can you have bodyguards against sicknesses? Can you have bodyguards against spiritual attacks? Only God’s mercy can truly protect you. No matter how much you labour at anything, you cannot succeed without the mercy of God. It is God’s mercy that grants us the help we need.
Many years ago, the son of a member of the Redeemed Christian Church of God had just finished his degree abroad and his father was rejoicing. He told his father something frightening that day; he said, “Dad, I know that you sent me abroad to study because you love me, but thank your God that I did not end up disgracing you because of the kind of friends I found myself amongst in school”.
The father was doing the right thing by sending his child to a good school, but, had it not been for the mercy of God, he would have regretted it. (1 Corinthians 3:6-7) says Paul may plant, Apollo may water, but it is God who gives the increase. From my personal experience I know you can get to the exam hall and just blank out. Farmers can have no harvest even though they did all that they should to get one. A hardworking fisherman like Peter can fish all night and catch nothing (Luke 5:5).
That is why wise people, when they need help, ask God for mercy. In Mark 10:47, Bartimaeus kept crying, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me”. Jesus had mercy on him. In Luke 17:11-19, the ten lepers saw Jesus, stood far away and cried for mercy: they were cleansed. What is that problem you need a solution to? Change your prayer point today and just ask God for mercy.
PRAYER POINT: Father, please have mercy on me. Help me overcome all my problems, in Jesus’ name.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 1 Kings 10-11
HYMN 5 – HAVE YOU BEEN TO JESUS FOR THE CLEANSING POWER?
1. Have you been to Jesus for the cleansing power?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Are you fully trusting in His grace this hour?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
CHORUS:
Are you washed in the blood,
In the soul cleansing blood of the Lamb?
Are your garments spotless?
Are they white as snow?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
2. Are you walking daily by the Saviour’s side?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Do you rest each moment in the Crucified?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
3. When the Bridegroom cometh will your robes be white?
Pure and white in the blood of the Lamb?
Will your soul be ready for the mansions bright,
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
4. Lay aside the garments that are stained with sin,
And be washed in the blood of the Lamb;
There’s a fountain flowing for the soul unclean,
O be washed in the blood of the Lamb!
