Open Heaven for Teens – 8th December 2022 | Thursday Devotional By Pastor E.A Adeboye And Pastor (Mrs.) Folu Adeboye
TOPIC: Mercy
READ: Matthew 18:23-35
23. Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.
24. And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.
25. But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.
26. The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
27. Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.
28. But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.
29. And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
30. And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.
31. So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.
32. Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:
33. Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?
34. And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.
35. So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.
MEMORISE
For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings. – Hosea 6:6
Open Heaven for Teens – 8th December 2022 MESSAGE
Mercy is an attitude of compassion, care and concern, wrapped in love towards others. It is also one of the attributes of God which He expects us to show towards others. A good recipient of Gods mercy is Apostle Paul. He said in 1 Timothy 1:13
“Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.”
Paul never took his conversion for granted; he valued it and, being a beneficiary of mercy, preached a lot about mercy – indeed more than anyone else in the Bible. He was different from the servant in todays Bible reading who didn’t show mercy after being a recipient of it. God expects us to be merciful, having received mercy from Him. The Bible says in Lamentations 3:22 that we would have been consumed if not for the mercies of God. Don’t be quick to condemn others, particularly those who don’t have Jesus in their lives yet; show mercy. Preach to them from a heart of compassion, not condemnation, because mercy is the bedrock of love.
PRAYER POINT
Father, please fill my heart with tender mercies for lost souls.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR
3 John 1:1-15 , Daniel 11:1-45 , Daniel 12:1-13
READ ALSO: Open Heaven for Teens – 7th December 2022 | This is My Story
Open Heaven for Teens – 8th December 2022 Devotional Guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye & Pastor (Mrs.) Folu Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical churches in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer’s Ministries.