READY-MADE PROVISION OR TRAP?: OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL, 17TH OCTOBER 2018

MEMORISE:
There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. Proverb 14:12

READ: Proverbs 7:6-23
6 For at the window of my house I looked through my casement,

7 And beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding,

8 Passing through the street near her corner; and he went the way to her house,

9 In the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night:

10 And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart.

11 (She is loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house:

12 Now is she without, now in the streets, and lieth in wait at every corner.)

13 So she caught him, and kissed him, and with an impudent face said unto him,

14 I have peace offerings with me; this day have I payed my vows.

15 Therefore came I forth to meet thee, diligently to seek thy face, and I have found thee.

16 I have decked my bed with coverings of tapestry, with carved works, with fine linen of Egypt.

17 I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.

18 Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning: let us solace ourselves with loves.

19 For the goodman is not at home, he is gone a long journey:

20 He hath taken a bag of money with him, and will come home at the day appointed.

21 With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him.

22 He goeth after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks;

23 Till a dart strike through his liver; as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is for his life.

MESSAGE :
In these perilous times, life is so full of struggles and hard labor that do not always result in success. All around the world, people invest precious time and money into obtaining high school and college education, only to graduate and discover that jobs are nonexistent.

In some cases, people invest years into specialized training in various crafts and trades, only to graduate and begin to source for financial backing and start-up capital without success.

There are some who manage to gain employment with private companies or who succeed in starting small scale businesses, but some years down the line, they find themselves back in the labor market due to harsh economic realities.

These hardships have made the availability of ready-made provision very attractive to the average person, especially in developing countries like we have in Africa.

The dire economic situation in different parts of the world has led some Christians to wrongly assume that every opportunity that comes their way is God’s providence, not realizing their error until contrary events begin to happen to them in the process of exploiting this “opportunities”.

I pray that no matter the prevailing conditions in your community, the Lord will divinely open doors of genuine opportunities to you in Jesus’ Name.

In Africa and several developing countries, the difficult political and economic situation coupled with security challenges have led a lot of people, especially youths, into traps that initially appeared like ready-made provision.

These traps could come in form of employment with very attractive pay packages, “juicy” marriage offers, ‘fantastic’ business opportunities or even invitation to travel abroad.

Hidden behind these seemingly great offers are vices like prostitution, drug trafficking, criminal syndicates, fraud, occultism and the like. For example, many young people have honored invitations to travel abroad only to get trapped in sex trafficking or being used as drug couriers.

Some people have entered neck deep into what they thought was an ordinary business relationship, only for them to later discover that they have been initiated into powerful cult groups.

Many vulnerable youths are enticed into armed gangs which eventually result in untimely death for so many. As seen in today’s Bible reading, you must recognize that the devil’s ready-made provisions are nothing but deadly traps.

God has assured you that He will provide for all your needs and settle all your problems (Hebrews 13:5, 1 Peter 5:7). Therefore, beware of the devil’s trap!

PRAYER POINT:

Father, preserve me from ever failing into the trap of false opportunities, in Jesus’ Name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 
Jeremiah 3-4, Luke 7:36-8:3

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 5: I HAVE DECIDED TO FOLLOW JESUS
1. I have decided to follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus;
No turning back, no turning back.

2. The world behind me, the cross before me;
The world behind me, the cross before me;
The world behind me, the cross before me;
No turning back, no turning back.

3. Though none go with me, still I will follow;
Though- none go with me, still I will follow;
Though none go with me, still I will follow;
No turning back, no turning back.

4. My cross I’ll carry, till I see Jesus;
My cross I’ll carry, till I see Jesus;
My cross I’ll carry, till I see Jesus;
No turning back, no turning back.

5. Will you decide now to follow Jesus?
Will you decide now to follow Jesus?
Will you decide now to follow Jesus?
No turning back, no turning back.