Open Heaven For Teens 16 January 2022: Searcher Of Hearts
Open Heaven For Teens 16 January 2022: Searcher Of Hearts
TOPIC: Searcher Of Hearts [Open Heaven for Teens 16 January 2022]
MEMORISE: I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings. Jeremiah 17:10
READ: Genesis 4:4-12 (KJV)
4 And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering:
5 But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.
6 And the Lord said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?
7 If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.
8 And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.
9 And the Lord said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother’s keeper?
10 And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother’s blood crieth unto me from the ground.
11 And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother’s blood from thy hand;
12 When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth.
MESSAGE:
Have you ever wondered why God had no respect for Cain’s sacrifice but accepted that of Abel? Many people have said that Cain was rejected because he presented a bad offering but Hebrews 11:4 says:
“By faith Abel offered unto God a more excel lent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.”
We therefore see that Cain was rejected because of the condition of his heart. My child, your motive is important in everything you do, especially in service to God. Are you serving God because your parents are forcing you to? Do you study this devotional just so you can have something to say when asked? Do you give to people just so you can brag about it or get something in return? God searches the heart, He is keen about the motive behind everything we do to Him and mankind. Thus, let your motive towards everything you do be pure.
KEY POINT:
Let agape love be the motive behind everything you do.
HYMN: O SPREAD THE TIDINGS ROUND
- Oh, spread the tidings round,
wherever man is found,
Wherever human hearts, and
human woes abound;
Let every Christian tongue
proclaim the Joyful sound:
The Comforter has come!
Chorus:
The Comforter has come,
The Comforter has come!
The Holy Ghost from heav’n,
the Father’s promise giv’n;
Oh, spread the tidings round,
wherever man is found
The Comforter has come!
- Lo, the Great King of kings,
with healing in His wings,
To every captive soul a full
deliverance brings;
And thro’ the vacant cells
the song of triumph rings;
The Comforter has come! - O Spread the Tidings Round
O boundless Love divine!
How shall this tongue of mine
To wond’ring mortals tell
the matchless grace divine –
That I a child of hell,
should in His image shine!
The Comforter has come! - Sing, till the echoes fly
above the vaulted sky,
And all the saints above
to all below reply,
In strains of endless love,
the song that ne’er will die;
The Comforter has come!
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Matthew 12:22-50; Genesis 38-40
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.
1. Admit that you are a sinner. "For all [humans] have sinned, and comes short of the glory of God....[and] the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 3:23)
2. Repent now. "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out ...[for] if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness " (Acts 3:19, 1 John 1:9)
3. Believe that God loves you and Jesus died for you. "God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet Sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8)
4. Invite Jesus into your life through prayer of faith. Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20)
