OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL...
DATE : Monday 20 October 2014
THEME : A CHRISTIAN YOUTH AT HOME
Memorise:
Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;
Ecclesiastes12:1
Read: Ephesians 6:1–3
1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.
2 Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise
3 That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR : 2 SAMUEL 23-24 and PROVERBS 14:18-31
Message
A Christian family is a place for the formation of talents, aspirations and desires. It is a breeding ground of creativity and a place of safety and security. A Christian family is expected to be a place of bliss. It will only be so when the relationship between the parents and the children (especially the grown-up children) is cordial. This is possible when children have chosen the path of obedience. Are you a Christian child, teenager or adult, still living with your parents or on your own? You have certain responsibilities to perform, which might not be required of unbelieving youths. For example, it is a scriptural command that you obey your parents. It is a dangerous thing for children to disobey their parents, except when their instructions contravene scriptural commandments. It is also mandatory that you love your parents. It is disastrous to neglect either of them or play one parent against the other. Family devotional time should be lively, and it is the duty of a grown-up child to actively participate in this. Be busy for God and engage in productive activities and hobbies that will make your parents happy. It is your responsibility to help your parents and siblings. Be observant to identify the needs of your parents; if it lies within your ability to meet the need, you must be willing to help them out. Contrary to what many may think, one of the most basic needs of parents is self-esteem.
A Christian youth should be a model to others in love, kindness, productivity, holiness, godliness and obedience. Whenever you have to make serious and delicate decisions, don’t do it alone. Always seek for the advice of others, especially elderly and more experienced people. Seek for guidance so as not to falter. Be an example to others in prayer. Pray constantly for your family, love your home, have the interest of your family at heart and seek its welfare. Your good relationship should not be limited to members of your nuclear family alone. Seek to relate well with members of other families as well. Your relationship should be cordial. Demonstrate love to them and find occasion to help them. However, it is improper to divulge the secret of your family to outsiders. Do not criticise or condemn your family in front of members of other families. Furthermore, your relationship with God should be unquestionable.Love God and demonstrate that you love Him in speech and actions. To play your role successfully as a Christian youth, you must be committed to the Person of Jesus and to a pattern of living that befits His representative.You must also be committed to people and to God’s plan of showing Christ to the world.
Action Point:
Be Christ-conscious as a Christian youth because without Him, you are nothing.
AUTHOR : Pst E. A ADEBOYE