The Open Heaven 22 August 2025 devotional for today is TWO SIDES OF A COIN.
This is a daily devotion written by Pastor E. A. Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).
OPEN HEAVEN 22 AUGUST 2025 TODAY DEVOTIONAL
TOPIC: TWO SIDES OF A COIN
MEMORISE:
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
Psalms 119:105
READ: Philippians 2:12-13
12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
RCCG OPEN HEAVEN 22 AUGUST 2025 TODAY MESSAGE
Many things in life have two sides or distinct opposites, just like the sides of a coin. For example, there is the sun and the moon, male and female, etc. God Himself has two sides. 1
John 4:8 says that He is Love; however, Hebrews 12:29 also says that He is a Consuming Fire.
God is a wonder; many things about Him attest to this. He is a lamb, and He is a lion. When you talk of a lamb, you immediately think of a tiny little sheep that is so beautiful that you want to hug it, but when you talk of a lion, that is an animal that people do not usually mess around with. The Bible also calls God a sun and a shield (Psalm 84:11). While the sun can be so hot that people run away from it, a shield protects people and makes them safe. We also know God as the Alpha and the Omega (Revelation 1:8). He is the beginning and the end, the first and the last (Revelation 22:13).
While He is starting some things, He is putting an end to some others. He is the One who blesses a family with a newborn baby and stands faithfully by the side of a believer who is taking his or her last breath. The same God who is merciful (Psalm 103:8) is also terrible (Deuteronomy 7:21). Our God is unfathomable.
In your relationship with God, there are also two sides: God’s side and your side. As you work out your salvation with fear and trembling, He works in you to do His good pleasure (Philippians 2:13). If you say that because He is working in you, then you can continue to sin, expecting grace to abound, He will forbid that (Romans 6:1-2). Yes, He wants you to be with Him in a mansion in heaven (John 14:2-3), but if you don’t play your part to get to that mansion, you will end up in hell. I agree that Jesus Christ brought grace (John 1:17), but that same verse says that He brought truth along with it. If you reject His truth, which sanctifies you and keeps you holy (John 17:17), then you will not enjoy His grace.
Beloved, the side of God you see and experience will depend on your actions and inactions. Walk in His truth and obey His commandments, and you will experience His favour and mercy abundantly in your life.
OPEN HEAVEN 22 AUGUST KEY POINT
God is Love, but He is also a Consuming Fire. Whichever side of Him you experience is up to you.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR
Lamentations 1-2
HYMN 1: ALL HAIL THE POWER OF JESUS’ NAME
OPEN HEAVEN DEVOTIONAL 22 AUGUST 2025 COMMENTARY
MEMORISE: Psalms 119:105
“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”
This verse reveals God’s dual illumination—His Word provides both immediate guidance (lamp for next steps) and long-term direction (light for the journey).
BIBLE READING: Philippians 2:12-13
This passage unveils the divine-human partnership:
- v.12: Our responsibility (“work out your salvation”)
- v.13: God’s empowerment (“He works in you”)
The Dual Nature of God and Relationship
Daddy Adeboye’s teaching explores four profound paradoxes of divine character and human response:
1. God’s Contradictory Attributes
| Gentle Aspect | Fierce Aspect | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Lamb (John 1:29) | Lion (Revelation 5:5) | Salvation & Judgment |
| Sun (Psalm 84:11) | Shield (Psalm 84:11) | Revelation & Protection |
| Alpha (Rev. 1:8) | Omega (Rev. 22:13) | Beginnings & Endings |
Key Insight:
These aren’t contradictions but complementary perfections—like a surgeon’s scalpel (precise) and cautery (burning).
2. The Two Sides of Salvation
- God’s Part (100%):
- Provides grace (Ephesians 2:8)
- Empowers obedience (Philippians 2:13)
- Our Part (100%):
- Active faith (James 2:17)
- Persistent holiness (Hebrews 12:14)
Mathematical Miracle:
Divine sovereignty + human responsibility = 100/100, not 50/50
3. Grace-Truth Balance (John 1:17)
- Grace Without Truth:
→ License to sin (Jude 1:4) - Truth Without Grace:
→ Legalism (Matthew 23:4) - Christ’s Model:
→ Full of both (John 1:14)
4. The Mansion-Hell Paradox
- God’s Provision:
- Prepared mansions (John 14:2)
- Paid for all (1 John 2:2)
- Human Requirement:
- Must enter by faith (Acts 16:31)
- Must continue in faith (Colossians 1:23)
How to Walk in Balanced Relationship
1. Embrace Both Sides Daily
- Morning Prayer:
“Father, as I receive Your grace today, sharpen me with Your truth.” - Evening Examination:
“Where did I lean too much on grace? Where did I forget mercy?”
2. The 3-Check Sanctification Test
- Heart Check:
- Am I presuming on grace? (Romans 6:1-2)
- Fear Check:
- Am I serving in slavish fear? (1 John 4:18)
- Love Check:
- Is obedience flowing from love? (John 14:15)
3. Study God’s Dual Revelations
- Gentle Passages: Luke 15:20 (Prodigal’s father)
- Severe Passages: Acts 5:1-11 (Ananias & Sapphira)
- Prayer:
“Show me which aspect I need most today.”
Prayer for Balanced Walk
“Lord of Lamb and Lion, save me from one-dimensional Christianity! When I need comfort, reveal Your tender mercies. When I need correction, unleash Your refining fire. Make me equally awed by Your love and Your holiness, until I reflect both in Jesus’ name!”
Action Steps
- Journal Contrasts:
- List 3 areas where you’ve overemphasized one attribute of God
- For each: Find 1 Scripture balancing it
- Accountability Partner:
- Share your most challenging paradox
- Pray together for wisdom
- Preach to Yourself:
- When tempted: “God is love (1 John 4:8) AND a consuming fire (Hebrews 12:29)”
Conclusion: The Beautiful Tension
Daddy Adeboye’s wisdom reminds us: Truth isn’t found in balance but in embracing divine paradoxes.
“A kite rises highest when pulled against the wind—so your soul ascends when held in God’s loving severity and severe love.”
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