OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL: THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2026

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TOPIC: WEEP NOT MEMORISE : Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness; Psalm 30:11 READ : Luke 7:11-16 11 And it came to pass the day after, that he went into a city called Nain; and many of his disciples went with him, and much people. 12 Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her. 13 And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not. 14 And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise. 15 And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother. 16 And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us; and, That God hath visited his people. MESSAGE Sometime ago, I was praying during a programme and God said, “Op...
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OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL. SPARE THE ROD, SPOIL THE CHILD. : FRIDAY 13TH NOVEMBER 2020.

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MEMORISE:
Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him. Proverbs 22:15

READ: Proverbs 23:12-14

12 Apply thine heart unto instruction, and thine ears to the words of knowledge.

13 Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die.

14 Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell.

MESSAGE:
In the school I attended in my village, there were children from both affluent and poor homes. One day, a child from an affluent home committed a misdemeanor, and the teacher meted out corporal punishment to him. This was an approved means of discipline in the school but the boy reported to his father who came to the school the next day and beat up the teacher. Our teacher reported the assault to the local police, however the rich man had been there earlier to bribe them, so the police did not act on the report. Our teacher, frustrated and deeply aggrieved, returned and divided the class into two. He put the children of the rich on one side and the rest of us on the other side. He vowed never to flog the children from rich homes again, but would continue to do so to those of us from poor homes. Today, only a few among the children that were not flogged have amounted to something in life. If you love your children, you would not spare the rod when they err.

Eli’s children grew to become wayward and God held him accountable for not being firm enough with them (1 Samuel 2:29-34). Conversely, God did not hesitate to bless Abraham because He was confident that the patriarch would command his children and household to keep His laws (Genesis 18:17-19). The second law of thermodynamics says everything left to itself tends to disorder. In the same vein, any child not strictly cautioned to behave properly will ultimately become spoilt. 

I know using the rod on children is now considered child abuse in this generation, however you must know that there is a difference between correcting a child in love and abusing a child.

 “He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.” Proverbs 13:24

The rod is not just cane, it connotes firm correction when children err. You cannot be permissive with a child all the time and expect him/her to grow up with good morals.

God expects you to compel your children and entire household to serve Him (Genesis 18:19). Don’t spare the rod.

REFLECTION:
God expects you to command your children and household to uphold His status, as Abraham did.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:  Matthew 28
Mark 16

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE 

HYMN 6: 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!

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