THURSDAY 5TH SEPTEMBER 2019* *THEME: NURTURE, DON’T DISCARD*

*OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL*

*DATE: THURSDAY 5TH SEPTEMBER 2019*

*THEME: NURTURE, DON’T DISCARD*

*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 22:1-2*

1 _David therefore departed thence, and escaped to the cave Adullam: and when his brethren and all his father's house heard it, they went down thither to him._

2 _And every one that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented, gathered themselves unto him;  and he became a captain over them:  and there were with him about four hundred men._

*MESSAGE*

Three vital ingredients are necessary to make every parent successful in the task of nurturing children as precious gifts from God. These are knowledge, understanding and godliness. Unfortunately, many people who are privileged to be parents do not have what it takes to effectively fulfill their responsibilities. Parents need the type of knowledge that is found only in God's word to carry out their parental responsibilities in line with God's expectations. Speaking on the significance of children in our lives, Psalm 127:3 says:

" _Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward._ "

Parents need to understand that through procreation, God gets His reward for all the care He has bestowed on them from the time they were born! In other words, because of human reproduction, God does not need to repeatedly go through the process of moulding clay to create new generations of worshippers that He desires. Children are God's reward, so nobody should attempt to share His glory with Him over them. Parents must stop "playing God" over their children; rather, they should nurture them to meet God's expectations, according to today's memory verse.

Our Bible reading tells us an interesting story of "abandoned children", who were once social miscreants, identifying with a man who had the heart of a father to take them in. It is equally interesting that this man, David, was also a fugitive. He was on the run because a jealous king wanted to kill him. David did not discard these boys; rather, he nurtured them to become useful for themselves, their families and the society at large. In Nigerian street parlance, he became the "area father" of about four hundred "area boys" who became soldiers for the nation of Israel when he became king. Here is a roll call of a few of them and their exploits in 2 Samuel 23:8-10:

" _These be the names of the mighty men whom David had: The Tachmonite that sat in the seat, chief among the captains; the same was Adino the Eznite: he lift up his spear against eight hundred, whom he slew at one time. And after him was Eleazar the son of Dodo the Ahohite, one of the three mighty men with David, when they defied the Philistines that were there gathered together to battle, and the men of Israel were gone away: He arose, and smote the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand clave unto the sword: and the Lord wrought a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to spoil._ "

From their example, let us learn to nurture and train our biological and spiritual children to the point of fulfilling their destinies. When we develop them like David did to the abandoned vagabonds, they will go on to become useful assets for God and humanity in the near future.

*PRAYER POINT:*
_Father, teach us to nurture and not despise Your heritage in the children placed in our care._

*BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:*
*1 Kings 3-4, Ezekiel 45:10-25*

*AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE*

*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 caring quest
Strives to show others Your 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.