Open Heaven Daily Devotional 8 May 2022
TOPIC: Make The Right Choices (II)
Memorise:
“The leprosy therefore of Naaman shall cleave unto thee, and unto they seed for ever. And he went our from his presence a leper as white as snow.” 2 Kings 5:27
Open Heaven Daily Devotional 8 May 2022 MESSAGE
It is important to make the right choices in life, especially because one’s children could also be affected by them. When the army that invaded Sodom took Lot into captivity in Genesis 14:8-12 they didn’t leave his children at home. The children were taken into captivity because their father made the choice to stay in Sodom. Kora, Dathan and Abiram decided to oppose Moses and they died with all their family members (Numbers 16:28-33). Gehazi decided to follow Naaman to get some gifts, even though he knew his master would not approve.
When Elisha cursed Gehazi with leprosy, he said it would be on him and his seed forever (2 Kings 5:27). In Daniel 6, when some people decided to plot against Daniel so that he could die in the lions’ den, their children were not called to the meeting; however, when Daniel came out of the den alive and the king summoned those who plotted so that he could throw them in the lions’ den, he asked that their wives and children suffer the same consequences.
It may interest you to know that the choices of your relatives and close friends also have an impact on you. Thus, when a relative is making wrong choices, warn him or her because when trouble comes, the fellow wouldn’t be the only one to suffer. This is particularly true of your children. If your child is going the wrong way, warn the child and do everything in your power to ensure that he or she returns to the godly path. Proverbs 29:15 says: The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.
Even if a person does not suffer anything as a direct result of not correcting his or her child, such a person would still experience shame and this is a terrible thing. The elders say that one can get embarrassed once, but shame lasts forever. You don’t want to live in shame forever just because you did not warn your child when he or she started going wrong. You, therefore, need to be very particular about the choices your children make. Don’t just leave them to themselves – guide them, while depending on the Holy Spirit to help you know which way is best for the child.
PRAYER POINT: Father, help me to guide my children to always make godly choices in life, in Jesus’ name.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 2 Chronicles 12-15
HYMNAL:
Hymn 16 – O God, our help in ages past
1 O God, our help in ages past,
our hope for years to come,
our shelter from the stormy blast,
and our eternal home:
2 Under the shadow of your throne
your saints have dwelt secure;
sufficient is your arm alone,
and our defense is sure.
3 Before the hills in order stood,
or earth received its frame,
from everlasting you are God,
to endless years the same.
4 A thousand ages in your sight
are like an evening gone,
short as the watch that ends the night
before the rising sun.
5 Time, like an ever-rolling stream,
soon bears us all away;
we fly forgotten, as a dream
dies at the op’ning day.
6 O God, our help in ages past,
our hope for years to come,
still be our guard while troubles last,
and our eternal home!
