Daily devotional

THEME: TAKE CARE OFYOUR CHILDREN.

MEMORISE

Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds. Proverbs 27:23

READ: Ephesians 6:1-4

1Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.

2 Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise;

3 That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.

4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

MESSAGE

We are mandated in today’s memory verse to diligently look after our flock. The succeeding verses outline the great rewards that accrue from doing this. Proverbs 27:26-27 says,

“The lambs are for thy clothing, and the goats are the price of the field. And thou shalt have goats' milk enough for thy food, for the food of thy household, and for the maintenance for thy maidens.”

There is something striking about these of Scripture. If taking care of animals attracts so much reward, how much more would we be rewarded when we heed God’s commandment to care for our children? Unknown to many people, one of the reasons why God decide to bless Abraham so much was Abraham’s determination to transfer his worship, fear and obedience of the Almighty to his children. Genesis 18:19 says,

“For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.”

Abraham was wise enough to see to it that not only his children but all his household servants as well knew the Lord and feared Him.

When we take time to care for our children spiritually and physically, we will be happy for it. The daughter of Pharaoh who adopted Moses made a profound statement, when she handed him over to his mother, which we should take note of. In Exodus 2:9 she said:

“…..Take this child away, and nurse it for me, and I will give thee thy wages…...”

When we see children as the Lord’s heritage and not as our possessions, we will be careful to train them for God and not for ourselves (Psalm 127:3). When we do this, their original Owner will reward us handsomely. Proverbs 23:24-25 mentions some of these rewards:

“The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice: and he that begetteth a wise child shall have joy of him.Thy father and thy mother shall be glad, and she that bare thee shall rejoice.”

Beloved, only children trained in the fear of the Lord will grow up to be righteous and wise. So, take care of your children by instilling the fear of the lord in them, and serve as a role model of the righteousness of God to them.

PRAYER POINT:

Father, please give me the wisdom and ability to take care of the children You put in my care to the glory of your Name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Judges 12-14;

Titus 1

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 17: GOD, GIVE US CHRISTIAN HOMES.

God give us Christian homes!
Homes where the Bible is loved and taught,
Homes where the Master’s will is sought,
Homes crowned with beauty Your love has wrought;
God give us Christian homes;
God give us Christian homes!
God give us Christian homes!
Homes where the father is true and strong,
Homes that are free from the blight of wrong,
Homes that are joyous with love and song;
God give us Christian homes;
God give us Christian homes!
God give us Christian homes!
Homes where the mother, in caring quest,
Strives to show others Your way is best,
Homes where the Lord is an honored guest;
God give us Christian homes;
God give us Christian homes!
God give us Christian homes!
Homes where the children are led to know
Christ in His beauty who loves them so,
Homes where the altar fires burn and glow;
God give us Christian homes;
God give us Christian homes!