OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - FRIDAY - 20/06/2014 - MAINTAINING RELEVANCE! BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

MAINTAINING RELEVANCE!

MEMORISE

They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

Lamentation 3:23

READ

Matthew 5:13-16

13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.

14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

MESSAGE

The world is so dynamic that things keep evolving faster than many people can keep pace with. What was generally the norm a few years ago has become completely obsolete today. New things are being created almost every day. There are increasingly new approaches to life, business and ministry, to the extent that those who cannot keep pace have either become frustrated or have lost relevance. One major challenge we face today is how to remain relevant in our communities.

One way to maintain relevance wherever you find yourself is to stay within your God-ordained purpose. Your purpose is what determines your place of relevance. Jesus maintained His relevance while here on earth by sticking to the purpose of God for Him. Acts 10:38 says this about Him:

“How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.”

Every product that no longer meets its purpose becomes irrelevant. Do you want to remain relevant? Stay within your God ordained purpose. Find that one thing that God wants you to do and give your whole life to it. Another secret of relevance is self-development. To maintain relevance, develop yourself. Self-development is essential to self-preservation. If you are working in an organisation and all you have is the Ordinary Level Certificate, you are bound to lose relevance. To maintain relevance in that organisation, you must study further to obtain additional qualifications relevant to your job description. You must also learn to live for posterity and not prosperity to remain relevant. If you pursue prosperity to the detriment of posterity, you will soon lose relevance. God expects you to be a blessing and to leave a legacy behind. To maintain relevance, you must be knowledgeable. Knowledge is the key to living (Hosea 4:6). You will never be known for what you don't know. For your light to shine, you must deal with ignorance at every level. You must also learn to be creative and put your priorities in perspective. People easily fall for new things. We must allow God to do new things through us on a consistent basis. Use your God-given creative ability. In addition, set your priorities right and follow them. Your first priority should be your personal relationship with God. Next should be your family. You should also know why you are in that career and pursue it with zeal. Finally, live a pure life. You are salt and light. Salt loses its saltiness when it becomes impure and light that is obstructed cannot shine for men to see. Purity is therefore an incontrovertible demand for those who desire to remain relevant.

PRAYER POINT

Father, grant me the grace to remain relevant in my community.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

Leviticus 22:17-24:16;

Psalm 133-134