Post by Oluwatosin Oni (@oloriireoni)

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL 21 JULY 2026 COMMENTARY
MEMORISE: Deuteronomy 30:15
“See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil.”

This verse presents the fundamental choice that every person must make.

BIBLE READING: Exodus 21:1-6
This passage describes the laws concerning Hebrew slaves. A Hebrew slave was to serve for six years and be freed in the seventh year. If the slave came alone, he would leave alone. If he came with a wife, she would leave with him. However, if his master gave him a wife who bore him children, the wife and children belonged to the master, and the slave would leave alone. But if the slave declared, “I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free,” then his master was to bring him to the doorpost and pierce his ear with an awl, and he would serve his master forever. Daddy Adeboye uses this to show that some people choose bondage. They love their chains. They prefer slavery over freedom. And God allows them to make that choice.

The Second Step to Freedom: Willingness to Be Helped
“While admitting the need for help is the first step to gaining freedom from satan’s bondage, the second step is to be willing to be helped.”

Step One Step Two
Admit you have a burden Be willing to let it go
Recognize you need deliverance Cooperate with the deliverer
Cry out for help Accept the help when it comes
Yesterday’s devotional focused on admission. Today’s focuses on willingness. Many people admit they have a problem but are not willing to do what it takes to be free.

The Man at Bethesda: “Do You Want to Be Made Whole?”
“In John 5:2-9, Jesus asked a man who had been sick for 38 years, ‘Do you want to be made whole?’ Ordinarily, one would think that there is no need to ask a man who had suffered for so long if he wanted to made whole.”

John 5:6 – “When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole?”

The Man’s Condition Jesus’ Question
Sick for 38 years “Do you want to be made whole?”
Lying by the pool, waiting Asking seems unnecessary—but it was essential
Everyone assumed he wanted healing Jesus knew that not everyone wants to be free
“However, Jesus asked him the question because He knew that not everyone wants to be helped; some people love their burdens and do not want to be set free from them.”

Why Someone Might Not Want to Be Free Explanation
Secondary gain Their sickness or burden gets them attention, sympathy, or support
Fear of responsibility Freedom requires accountability and effort
Familiarity with bondage They have learned to live with the chains
Love of sin They enjoy the pleasures of their bondage
Jesus asked the question because He knew that healing cannot be forced. The man had to choose. He had to want it.

The Slave Who Loved His Chains (Exodus 21:1-6)
“Today’s Bible reading tells us that when slaves love their chains, their owners should pierce their ears and brand them as slaves for life.”

The Law The Choice
After six years, the slave could go free Freedom was offered, not forced
But if the slave said, “I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free” He chose to remain a slave
His ear was pierced with an awl at the doorpost He became a slave forever
“No matter how long a slave has been in slavery, the day such a fellow decides that he or she wants to be free marks the beginning of his or her journey to freedom.”

The Slave Who Chooses Freedom The Slave Who Chooses Bondage
Leaves the master’s house Remains forever
Walks in liberty Stays in chains
Begins a new life Continues in the old
The door is open. But the slave must choose to walk through it. God will not drag you out of Egypt. You must decide to leave.

The Woman with the Issue of Blood: Her Willingness Brought Healing
“For example, the day the woman with the issue of blood in Matthew 9:20-22 sought Jesus for her deliverance was the day her bondage of 12 years disappeared.”

Her Condition Her Action
Issue of blood for 12 years She sought Jesus
Had spent all her money on physicians She pressed through the crowd
No one could heal her She touched the hem of His garment
“She sought Jesus.” That is willingness in action. She did not wait for healing to come to her. She went after it. She pressed through obstacles. She risked being rejected. Her willingness was demonstrated by her pursuit.

The Result The Lesson
Immediately her issue stopped Willingness + action = deliverance
Jesus said, “Thy faith hath made thee whole” Faith is the expression of willingness
The Lawful Captive: God Can Deliver Anyone Who Is Willing
“The Almighty God can deliver anyone who is under the devil’s yoke, even a lawful captive (Isaiah 49:24-26); however, he or she must be willing to be delivered.”

Isaiah 49:24-25 – “Shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the lawful captive delivered? But thus saith the LORD, Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away,.. https://rccglive.com/open-heaven-21-july/

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