Open Heaven 27 May 2021 Thursday Daily Devotional By Pastor E. A. Adeboye

TOPIC: They Belong To God

MEMORISE: Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate. – Psalm 127:3

READ: Psalm 127:3-5 (KJV)

3 Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.

4 As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.

5 Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 1 Timothy 1-6

MESSAGE:
As we see in today’s Bible reading, God owns all children. I know this because when God created Adam and Eve, He later pronounced blessings upon them so they could multiply and be fruitful. He did this so He would not have to go through the same process as when He created them, all over again. Thus, the product of the union of the first family God created became His own reward. It therefore, follows that anyone who claims to own a child is exhibiting ignorance. Exodus 2:9 where the daughter of Pharoah said: “…Take this child away, and nurse it for me, and I will give thee thy wages….” Is a case in point.

God is generous to the point of giving us children who, in all respects, belong to Him. He also promises us rewards if we nurse them for Him and not ourselves. It is sad that today many parents nurture God’s children “to promote the name of the family” or “to carry on the family custom!” These ones think those children belong to them; they miss it and will be rewarded accordingly. There was a woman who spent all her life earnings, training her son to be ‘great’ without teaching him the way of the Lord. The son eventually turned his back against her, due to his lack of the fear of the Lord. What a negative reward!

How then should a child be trained? Proverbs 22:6 says:

“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”

Proverbs 9:10 also says “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.”

This means “that the knowledge of the holy is found in God’s word”. Psalm 119:97-98 says:

“O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day. Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me.”

In light of these Bible verse, we see that God’s will is for parents to train their children in the fear of the Lord through the word of God, and not fables. Psalm 19:7 says:

“The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.”

PRAYER POINT:
Ask God to take care of His children in the church. Ask God to bless every couple waiting for the fruit of the womb, nine months from today, in Jesus’ name.

HYMN 5: 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 Your love has 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 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!
  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!