OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL FOR Thursday, August 5, 2021

TOPIC: BE THOU PERFECT

Read: Genesis 17:1-9

1. And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.

2. And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly.

3. And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying,

4. As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations.

5. Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.

6. And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee.

7. And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.

8. And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.

9. And God said unto Abraham, Thou shalt keep my covenant therefore, thou, and thy seed after thee in their generations.

Memorise

Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

Matthew 5:48

There are many misconceptions about the demand of God for perfection. These misconceptions have led some people to conclude that perfection is unrealistic and so should be abandoned in the Christian walk. My prayer is that the power of God will come upon you today and you will live in perfection as God demands, in Jesus name.Why do people see Gods demand for our perfection as unrealistic? Many people think that perfection is to be attained by our strength. This is simply not so. Nobody can attain anything by his or her own strength (1 Samuel 2:9 ). We need the power and wisdom of God for perfection. The problem, however, is the belief of many that perfection is unattainable. They lack faith in God to help them become perfect. This is why the Bible says:

“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”

“Hebrews 11:6”

Unbelief breeds disobedience as in the case of the first man and woman. They doubted the word of God and fell into imperfection through this unbelief! This was unlike Abraham in our text of today. Thus, if you are struggling with unbelief, pray like that man whose child was tormented by demons "...Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief" (Mark 9:24 ).When people see a state of human perfection as a mission impossible, it is simply because they do not understand the concept from the point of view of the Lord. How does God see perfection? You are perfect based on your obedience to what God asks you to do even when it is neither logically nor politically correct. Once you obey, He justifies you.

We are justified through faith in the Son of the Living God (Romans 8:33 ). Perfection and holiness share the same factor that makes them realistic and that is obedience. Are you always obedient to the word of God? If you are, I congratulate you. If not, you must repent today, because tomorrow may be too late.

POINT: FATHER, LET YOUR HOLY SPIRIT QUICKEN ME TODAY.