MEMORISE:
And the woman conceived, and bare a son: and when she saw him that he was a goodly child, she hid him three months. Exodus 2:2
READ: Psalm 127:1-5
Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.
2 It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.
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.
MESSAGE
What parents see in their children goes a long way to determine how well they treasure tem. As God’s heritage, it is important that parents see the image of God in their children, so that they can nurture them for the glory and pleasure of God, who is their rightful Owner. Unfortunately, some parents, especially in under-developed nations, treat their children as domestic animals or working machines, so much so that you begin to wonder if they purposely gave birth to them for economic reasons. Many abuse their children by engaging them in money making ventures and making them become breadwinners at a tender age. I know of a man who has about thirteen children. He gives them out to serve as domestic workers and collects the wage of their labor to feed himself. Clearly, he does not see his children as carriers of God’s image.
Furthermore, some couple decide to abort pregnancies they are not prepared for. However, you look at it, this is murder- a grievous sin against God and humanity. God asked me to tell someone reading this devotional that the pregnancy you are about to terminate is your glory; don’t abort the child that will bring God’s glory upon your life. When “stuck” with an unwanted child, many parents go ahead to despise such a child, instead of seeing him or her as a pleasant surprise from God. These are all examples of ungodly parenting. In Exodus 2:1-4, we see what godly parents look like. Moses’ mother, Jochebed, was a godly parent. Even then though Pharaoh had ordered all sons born to Hebrew families to be killed at birth, she saw God’s image in her own child and did all she could to preserve him. Exodus 2:2 says:
“And the woman conceived, and bare a son: and when she saw him that he was a goodly child, she hid him three months.”
When the baby could no longer be hidden, she decided to commit him into the hands of his original Owner, the Almighty. In all this, Moses’ parents never imagined that this child was to become the deliverer of the whole nation of Israel. The Lord asked me to tell someone using this devotional that that child you think is a problem will turn around to put smiles on your face in your lifetime. All you need to do is to give that child the best you have as a springboard for his or her leap into destiny. Children are carriers of God’s image, and unless we see them in that light, there is the tendency to abuse them and lose the blessings accompanying them. In light of what today’s Bible reading says about children, I encourage all parents to first surrender their lives to God, and then it will be easy for them to also surrender their children to Him for supreme care. Parents who do this will not be denied their blessings in Jesus’ Name.
PRAYER POINT:
Father, please open my eyes to see Your image and glory in the children You have given me, and help me cooperate with You in the fulfilment of their destinies.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Joshua 6-7
Ezekiel 17:22-18:3
AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE
HYMN 6: HAVE YOU BEEN TO JESUS FOR THE CLEANSING POWER?
• Have you been to Jesus for the cleansing power?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Are you fully trusting in His grace this hour?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Refrain
Are you washed in the blood,
In the soul-cleansing blood of the Lamb?
Are your garments spotless? Are they white as snow?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
2. Are you walking daily by the Savior’s side?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Do you rest each moment in the Crucified?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Refrain
3. When the Bridegroom cometh will your robes be white!
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Will your soul be ready for His presence bright,
And be washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Refrain
4. Lay aside the garments that are stained with sin,
And be washed in the blood of the Lamb;
There’s a fountain flowing for the soul unclean,
O be washed in the blood of the Lamb.
Refrain
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