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Topic: In the ways of the Lord (Open Heaven 8 July 2019)
Memorise: “And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.” – Ephesians 6:4
Read: 1 Samuel 8:1-5 (KJV)
1 And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel.
2 Now the name of his firstborn was Joel; and the name of his second, Abiah: they were judges in Beersheba.
3 And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment.
4 Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah,
5 And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.
Bible in One Year: Deuteronomy 23-24, Ezekiel 13:8-19
Open Heaven 8 July 2019 Monday MESSAGE:
The Bible says children are the heritage of the Lord and the fruit of the womb is His reward (Psalm 127:3). In other words, God is the owner of children, and He gives them to whoever He pleases. Whenever God counts an individual worthy to have custody of His possession, the fellow should be careful of what he or she does with it. For this reason, through His word, God teaches us how to handle children as precious seeds kept in our care. One of His teachings on this all-important subject matter is found in our memory verse, where the Lord says we must train our children in his ways, not according to any other system.
Today’s Bible reading reveals the danger of not taking godly care of our children. As upright as Samuel was, he failed in the area of bringing up his children in the ways of the Lord. Concerning his sons, 1 Samuel 8:3 says:
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“And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment.”
The surprising aspect of this story is that Samuel witnessed how Eli and his household were cut off because Eli did not nurture his children in the ways of the Lord. Beloved, it is better a person does not bear a child than to have child and fail to take godly care of him or her. Eli’s example shows that a heavy price accompanies failure in this regard.
The story was told of a mother who immersed himself into training her son to succeed academically and career-wise, but she neglected training in the fear of God and did not expose him to spiritual activities that could connect him to God. Meanwhile, the son progressed at school, graduated with good grades, and eventually got a good job in the city. Having tasted life in the city, he forgot his roots and did not keep in touch with his mother. One day, his mother decided to visit him in the city, having missed her son for a long time. When she got to her son’s house, she met the gate securely locked. She knocked for a long while before her son managed to open the window of his front room, and behold, it was his mother sweating in the African sun. “Mum, you did not tell me you were coming!” the young man yelled. He then threw a wad of cash at her and told her to go back to the village. This woman wept bitterly. How sad! This is what the wages of nursing a child for ourselves and not for God looks like. I pray that this will not be your portion that this will not be your portion as a parent in Jesus’ Name.
Open Heaven 8 July 2019 Monday Action Point:
Align the way you are bringing up your children with the principles of God’s
Open Heaven 8 July 2019 Monday Hymn 16: God Give Us Christian Homes
1 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 thy love hath wrought;
God, give us christian homes;
God, give us christian homes!
2 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!
3 God, give us christian homes!
Homes where the mother, in queenly quest
Strive to show others thy way is best
Homes where the lord is an honoured guest;
God, give us christian homes;
God, give us christian homes!
4 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!
Amen.
