The Open Heaven 28 October 2025 devotional for today is SHINE THE LIGHT.
This is a daily devotion written by Pastor E. A. Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).
OPEN HEAVEN 28 OCTOBER 2025 TODAY DEVOTIONAL
TOPIC: SHINE THE LIGHT
MEMORISE:
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.
Matthew 5:15
READ: Matthew 18:23-35:
23 Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.
24 And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.
25 But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, andchildren, and all that he had, and payment to be made.
26 The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, andI will pay thee all.
27 Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.
28 But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.
29 And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
30 And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.
31 So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.
32 Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave theeall that debt, because thou desiredst me:
33 Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?
34 And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was dueunto him.
35 So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.
RCCG OPEN HEAVEN 28 OCTOBER 2025 TODAY MESSAGE
Every true child of God is a shining light. You are the light of the world, and Matthew 5:16 says, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Light has one clear duty: shining. This means that anything that stops light from shining is its enemy. As a child of God, anything that stops you from shining is your enemy, and you must deal with it.
Anything that allows darkness to gain the upper hand over light in a believer’s life is an enemy. In today’s memory verse, Jesus identified an object that can keep our light from shining and allow darkness to rule over light – a bushel. A bushel is typically a wooden bucket that was used for measuring dry goods such as peas or grains in the past. If someone lights a lamp in a dark room and puts it under a bushel, it will be impossible to tell that there is light anywhere in that room.
One of the most dangerous bushels that has hidden the light of many believers is unforgiveness. The dangerous thing about unforgiveness is that it comes as just one bushel, but it multiplies itself into many other bushels that cover a believer’s light and keep it from shining. Unforgiveness always comes with bitterness, grudges, anger, and resentment. When someone offends you and you decide not to forgive the person, before long, you will find yourself resenting the person and refusing to speak amicably with him or her. Unforgiveness also hinders prayers from getting answered.
And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses. Mark 11:25-26
Beloved, don’t toy with unforgiveness; it hides a person’s light and plunges the unforgiving person into darkness. When Jesus told the parable of the unforgiving servant in today’s Bible reading, He revealed the end of those who do not forgive – they are handed over to tormentors.
Have you been hiding your light under the bushel of unforgiveness? It is time to kick it away and let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven (Matthew 5:16). I pray that God will be glorified through your words and actions, in Jesus’ name.
KEY POINT
Unforgiveness is dangerous; don’t let it dim your light.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR
Luke 16-18
HYMN 59: I WANT TO BE LIKE JESUS
OPEN HEAVEN DEVOTIONAL 28 OCTOBER 2025 COMMENTARY
MEMORISE: Matthew 5:15
“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.”
This verse illustrates the intended purpose of light: to shine forth and dispel darkness. A hidden light is a contradiction to its very nature. The believer, as Christ’s light, must be positioned to illuminate, not concealed.
BIBLE READING: Matthew 18:23-35
This parable is Jesus’s definitive teaching on the necessity of forgiveness:
v. 32-33: The Accusation: “I forgave thee all that debt… Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?”
v. 34: The Consequence: Unforgiveness leads to being “delivered to the tormentors.”
v. 35: The Application: “So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.”
The Bushel of Unforgiveness
Pastor E.A. Adeboye delivers a critical message on one of the most subtle yet destructive hindrances to a believer’s testimony: unforgiveness. He identifies it as a primary “bushel” that smothers the light of Christ in a believer, plunging them into spiritual ineffectiveness and personal torment.
The Believer’s Identity: Light of the World
Every true child of God is ordained to be a shining light (Matthew 5:14-16). This light is meant to:
- Reveal Truth: Expose the darkness of sin and error.
- Guide the Lost: Provide direction to those seeking God.
- Glorify the Father: Our good works, illuminated by this light, point people to God.
Unforgiveness: The Bushel That Hides the Light
A bushel is a container that smothers and hides light. Unforgiveness is such a bushel because:
- It is a Multiplier of Darkness: Unforgiveness is rarely a standalone sin. It quickly multiplies into bitterness, resentment, anger, and grudges (Hebrews 12:15). One offense, left unforgiven, can generate an entire array of “bushels” that completely quench your light.
- It Hinders Prayer: Unforgiveness creates a spiritual barrier between you and God. Mark 11:25-26 is unequivocal: an unforgiving heart ensures that our own prayers for forgiveness remain unanswered. A closed heart towards others results in a closed heaven from God.
- It Invites Torment: The parable in Matthew 18 concludes that the unforgiving servant was handed over to the “tormentors.” Unforgiveness is a self-imposed prison of emotional and spiritual anguish—it tortures the one who refuses to forgive far more than it affects the offender.
- It Contradicts the Gospel: The core of the gospel is that we have been forgiven an unpayable debt by God through Christ. To refuse to forgive a relatively minor offense from a fellow human is a gross contradiction of the grace we have received (Ephesians 4:32).
How to Remove the Bushel and Let Your Light Shine
1. Make the Decision to Forgive:
Forgiveness is not a feeling; it is a choice—a crisis of the will. Choose to release the offender from the debt they owe you, just as Christ did for you.
2. Forgive from the Heart (Matthew 18:35):
This moves beyond a verbal statement to a genuine release in your inner being. It is a process that often requires prayer, asking God to heal the hurt and change your heart.
3. Remember the Cross:
Continuously reflect on the immense forgiveness you have received in Christ. This makes it impossible to hold a grudge against someone else (Colossians 3:13).
4. Pray for the Offender:
Jesus commands us to pray for those who despitefully use us (Matthew 5:44). This is a practical step that softens the heart and dismantles bitterness.
Conclusion: Step Out of Torment into Light
Pray this:
“Heavenly Father, I confess the sin of unforgiveness. I have hidden my light under the bushel of bitterness and resentment against [name the person(s)]. Right now, by an act of my will, I choose to forgive them completely, releasing them from the debt I feel they owe me. I ask You to heal my wounded heart and remove all torment from my soul. Let the light of Your love and forgiveness shine through me once again, so that my life may glorify You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Action Steps:
- Identify the Bushel: Who have you not truly forgiven? Write down their name(s).
- Make the Choice: Verbally declare your forgiveness to God, stating: “I forgive [name] for [offense].”
- Break the Torment: Renounce every spirit of torment, bitterness, and anger associated with that offense.
- Re-ignite Your Light: Perform a specific act of kindness or pray a blessing for the person you have forgiven.
Remember: Your light is desperately needed in a dark world. Do not allow the enemy to smother it with the bushel of unforgiveness. Your freedom and your effectiveness in God’s kingdom depend on your obedience to forgive.
“…Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16). Remove the bushel and shine.
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