MY MARRIAGE IS HONOURABLE
A DAILY DEVOTIONAL
TUESDAY, APRIL 9, 2024
NIYI ODUNSI
AND THE WAR GOES ON
“And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand” Mark 3:25
In Our theme scripture, we find a truth so profound and yet so simple that it’s possible to discountenance it. In Genesis chapter 27, we find the story of how Jacob deceived his father with the help of his mother and took Esau’s blessing. Esau was his father’s favourite while Jacob was his mother’s favourite.
There will be trouble in every home where one child is preferred to the other child or children. In many homes, parents have their favourite children and in some homes, the father has a favourite child while the mother has her own favourite child. This will always be a recipe for disaster.
While we can argue that Jacob’s Grandpa had no choice but to make Isaac his favourite, we see the pattern continuing with Jacob and his twelve sons. Jacob loved Joseph and even made him a cloth of many colors. You know how the story ended. He was sold into slavery by his brothers.
Favouritism in a home will always lead to division and disaster. No matter how difficult it is, parents must resist all temptation to prefer one child above the other or others. Parents must not only love their children in equal measure, they must show that they love the children in equal measure. You must not compare one child with another. Each one is uniquely gifted and talented, they cannot be a copy of another child.
Our Father, the Father of all flesh, has billions of children all over the world. But he loves all his children in equal measure. Read the words of Jesus in John 17:23 “..and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me”. Even though our Father could have favourites among his children, He chose not to.
Even though its easier said than done by parents, we can see that our Father has given us a pattern. Having favourite children will lead to a divided house with consequences that will last for generations. You must rely on God’s grace and wisdom to love your children equally.
PRAYER/CONFESSION
I thank you Almighty Father for your love that’s shed abroad in my heart and the ability you’ve given me to love just like you. I refuse to allow favouritism in my home and I receive Grace and ability to love all my children in equal measure just like you love all your children in equal measure. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY
John 13:34, Romans 5:5, John 3:16