Open Heaven Daily Devotional 28 April 2025

TOPIC:  Avoiding Strife

READ: Genesis 13:1-18

MEMORISE
For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
James 3:16

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 1 Chronicles 1-2

Open Heaven Daily Devotional 28 April 2025 Message

Strife is dangerous; it damages relationships and destroys homes, especially when it is allowed to linger. When Abraham took his nephew, Lot, with him to the land God promised him, he didn’t think that issues would arise between them. Lot enjoyed God’s blessings because of Abraham, yet he wasn’t wise enough to tell his herdsmen to honour and respect Abraham’s herdsmen. Despite this, Abraham didn’t get offended. Instead, he settled the issue with Lot amicably.

He called Lot and said, “Please, let there be no strife between us, for we are brethren.” Abraham valued his relationship with God and his brotherhood with Lot above the issues they were having. He even humbled himself and asked Lot to choose where he wished to go first. Abraham understood something many people do not understand; he knew that whenever you allow strife, you give room to the devil.

RCCG Open Heaven Daily 27 April 2025 – Unbelievable Testimonies

During a Festival of Life event of RCCG in London, a Polish couple who had been waiting for the fruit of the womb shared the testimony of how God blessed them with a child. When the husband was sharing the testimony, because English is not his native language, he said, “Last year, I came from Poland to the ministers’ conference because somebody told me that anybody the G.O. touches becomes pregnant.”

My wife was sitting next to me, and she said jokingly, “Don’t touch me; I don’t want another pregnancy.” While we were able to laugh about what the man said because we understood his background, it could also have been misunderstood because of what touches in that context could imply. Indeed, there are more complex cases where misunderstandings can arise between two people because one or both of the parties are not taking account of the background of the other party as they relate with them.

READ Bukie Olabode shares Jesus Is Alive

Beloved, learn to consider people’s backgrounds when relating with them; this will help you to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings. There are people who, because of where they are from and the fact that l am old enough to be their parent or grandparent, when they come to see me, l expect them to prostrate. Whereas there are others who, because of where they are from, I do not expect them to prostrate; in fact, I will be surprised if they do. What is a greeting to some people may seem like an insult to you, and if you regard their greeting as an insult, you will develop unnecessary anger and strife, which will give room to satan.

KEY POINT: Avoid strife like a plague; it is a doorway to the devil.

HYMN I WANT TO BE LIKE JESUS

1 I want to be like Jesus,
So lowly and so meek;
For no one marked an angry word
That ever heard him speak.

Refrain:
I want to be like Jesus,
God’s well beloved Son;
I want to be like Jesus,
The pure and holy One.

2 I want to be like Jesus,
So frequently in prayer;
Alone upon the mountain top,
He met his Father there. [Refrain]

3 I want to be like Jesus,
Engaged in doing good,
So that of me it may be said,
He hath done what he could. [Refrain]

4 Alas! I’m not like Jesus,
As any one may see;
Thy gentle Spirit, Savior, send,
And make me like to thee. [Refrain]