OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: TUESDAY JULY 8TH 2025

TOPIC: TRUE BEAUTY

MEMORISE:
“But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.” - (1 Peter 3:4)

READ: 1 PETER 3:3-11 (KJV)

3 Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;

4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.

5 For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands:

6 Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement.

7 Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.

8 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:

9 Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.

10 For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:

11 Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.

MESSAGE:
It is good to pay attention to your physical appearance; however, this should not become an obsession. Many people have become so obsessed with their physical appearance that they spend lots of time and money on artificial hair, make-up, cosmetic surgery, and revealing clothes, thinking this will make them more attractive. This sort of obsession is not befitting of Christians. For example, applying heavy cosmetics and undergoing cosmetic surgery is a way of telling God that He has not created you the right way. Wearing tight and revealing clothes is also a way of saying that you're cheap and available. As a genuine Christian, your true beauty is not determined by your outward appearance but by the things that lie within you.

You should only give moderate time and attention to your looks. If a believer spends three hours dressing up every morning, I wonder if he or she has a quiet time with God at all. Colossians 3:2 says that your primary focus should be on things above, not things on the earth. Matthew 6:21 also says that where your treasure is, there will your heart be. If you are spending so much resources on your outward appearance, it shows where your heart actually is and what you are really focused on. Some Christians go as far as getting cosmetic surgery to enhance certain parts of their body. Some of them cannot sacrifice their comfort for the sake of the gospel, but they are willing to risk their lives to enhance their appearance.

It is good to look good, but please pay more attention to looking more beautiful on the inside than you are on the outside. What makes a person really beautiful is his or her character and good deeds. Dorcas was full of good works and generosity. She was vibrant in her relationship with God and fervent in her love for humanity. When she died, the people in her community refused to let her go. They sent for Peter to come and wake her up because her impact was truly powerful (Acts 9:36-42). If all she was known for were her face and body structure, nobody would have gone the extra mile to get Peter to wake her from the dead.

Beloved, when you live for God, your life will be truly beautiful, and long after you have crossed over to eternity, people will still be blessed by your impact. Focus on reflecting true beauty, not just your outward appearance.

KEY POINT:
True beauty is in being a person of excellent character, virtues, and impact.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: PROVERBS 27-29

AUTHOR PASTOR E A ADEBOYE

HYMNAL: 7 - I AM THINE O LORD

1 I am Thine, O Lord, I have heard Thy voice,
And it told Thy love to me;
But I long to rise in the arms of faith,
And be closer drawn to Thee.

Refrain:
Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer, blessed Lord,
To the cross where Thou hast died;
Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer, blessed Lord,
To Thy precious, bleeding side.

2 Consecrate me now to Thy service, Lord,
By the pow’r of grace divine;
Let my soul look up with a steadfast hope,
And my will be lost in Thine. [Refrain]

3 Oh, the pure delight of a single hour
That before Thy throne I spend,
When I kneel in prayer, and with Thee, my God,
I commune as friend with friend! [Refrain]

4 There are depths of love that I cannot know
Till I cross the narrow sea;
There are heights of joy that I may not reach
Till I rest in peace with Thee. [Refrain]

The First Lady, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu has urged Christians youth to show love to their neighbours always in order to promote national development.

Tinubu also advised the youth to avoid judging others on the basis of religious beliefs.

The first lady gave the advice on Monday when she received in audience the Youth Wing of the Christian Association of Nigeria (YOWICAN) and hosted it to an Easter Brunch at the State House, Abuja.

Tinubu said she was encouraged by the group’s visit and show of love, adding that it takes sacrificial love and compassion to change the world.

She called on young people to be at the forefront of promoting gender equity, pointing out that there is room for women who are willing, to thrive in the country.

The National Chairman of YOWICAN, Mr Belusochukwu Enwerem, on behalf of the group, expressed appreciation to the first lady for her interventions.

He said the association was prepared to run with the vision of President Bola Tinubu and the first lady of promoting peace and development by sustaining engagement with Muslims to foster religious harmony in the country.

To further demonstrate the support of the association to her Renewed Hope Initiative, the YOWICAN National Chairman announced the launch of the ‘Renewed Hope Neighbour2Neighbour Movement’ and decorated the First Lady as the Grand Patron of the group.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the visit was the second Easter homage by the YOWICAN to the first lady.

The visit afforded members of the group the opportunity to share Easter felicitations with their patron and dine with her.

Mrs Tinubu announced the donation of seven 14-seater CNG-powered buses to support the evangelical work of YOWICAN across the country. (NAN)

As ssen on News Agency of Nigeria. Edited by Emmanuel Yashim

Sowore under fire over attacks on Christian leaders in Nigeria


The Concerned Christian Youth Forum (CCYF) has issued a stern warning against Omoyele Sowore over his recent derogatory remarks about Christian leaders in Nigeria.


Describing his comments as offensive, baseless, and unacceptable, the forum declared that it will no longer tolerate any further attacks on the Christian faith or its revered leaders.

CCYF, in a statement signed by its Convener, Adama Paul James, emphasized that labeling respected Fathers of Faith as failures, uneducated, or jobless is not only false but also a deliberate attempt to demean the contributions of these esteemed spiritual and intellectual figures.


The group cautioned that Sowore’s reckless statements could incite religious unrest, calling on the government to take necessary action to prevent any potential crisis.

The statement reads below:

“We, the Concerned Christian Youth Forum, have recently learned of the disrespectful and abusive comments made by Omoyele Sowore against Christian leaders in general. This behavior is completely unacceptable.

“To label our Fathers of Faith and Pastors as failures, uneducated, or jobless is preposterous, egregiously disrespectful, and therefore unacceptable. The time has come to put an end to Sowore’s incessant attacks on the Christian Faith and her reputable leaders.


“It is a shame that he, Sowore, has chosen to denigrate the accomplishments and contributions of some of the most revered Fathers of our Faith and Pastors in our country, each of whom has achieved remarkable success in their respective fields.

“Bishop Francis Wale Oke, Pastor E.A. Adeboye, Bishop David Oyedepo, Pastor W.F. Kumuyi, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, Pastor D.K. Olukoya, Pastor David Ibiyeomie, Dr. Pastor Paul Enenche, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, Pastor Paul Adefarasin, Apostle Johnson Suleman, Pastor Poju Oyemade, Apostle Joshua Selman, Pastor Jerry Eze, Pastor Biodun Fatoyinbo, Pastor Godman Akinlabi, Pastor Emmanuel Iren, Pastor Korede Komaiya, and many others—too numerous to mention—possess impressive academic achievements, not to mention their years of service and devotion to their faith.


“Sowore should reflect on the fact that these individuals are not only spiritual leaders but also intellectual heavyweights who have earned the respect and admiration of millions of believers around the world. Academically, Sowore is a dwarf where most of these men are standing. How can a sane man refer to a First-Class graduate of Mathematics or a Professor of Mathematics as uneducated?

“It is apparent that Sowore’s insults are not grounded in reality but rather in ignorance and hate. His insults further confirm that he is an uncouth, uncultured, and unlearned man who is desperately seeking attention and relevance.

“We urge him to rethink his approach and refrain from further attacks against Christianity and her leaders. The Concerned Christian Youth Forum will not stand idly by and watch our Faith and leaders disrespected and maligned by Sowore.

“This is to serve as a strong note of warning to Omoyele Sowore and his ilk that any further attacks on Christianity or Christian leaders will be met with a stronger response. Sowore should be mindful that his misguided words and actions have far-reaching consequences, even capable of causing a breakdown of law and order. He should be held accountable for his reckless, rascally, and ignoble role in inciting social and religious disturbance in a volatile society such as ours.


“We, the Concerned Christian Youth Forum, stand in solidarity with our Christian Leaders and our Faith. We will not tolerate any further attacks against them, and we will continue to defend their honor and integrity. We wish to draw the attention of the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to the potential danger of Sowore’s rascality, especially as it borders on religious sensitivity and its implications for national peace and security.”

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