DAILY HOPE DEVOTIONAL: AUGUST 2 BUILDING GOOD FAMILY REPUTATION (2) SCRIPTURE: PROVERBS 29: 17; Rom. 8: 14, 16
We were told yesterday that reputation is the built opinion of people on someone based on the behaviours of the person. Since opinion of individuals by individuals is relative, interpretation of reputation could be negative or positive. However, it is worth knowing that human beings are easily attracted to a person of good behaviour._ Therefore, maintaining good reputation no doubt, has to be pursued by human beings. Families all over the world desire their family members to have good reputations. Today’s devotional stresses on the need for families to revisit teaching and training households how to embrace good reputations. Parents are losing the integrity of good reputations of their wards; due to society influences on the children. The 21st Century is witnessing serious drop in good behaviours of children and the youths. The religious world seems to be more affected.
There is great concern as we see children taking to rebelliousness, wickedness, immoral lives and other vices joyfully. Respect for parents and elders by children and the adolescents is decreasing daily. Many children today see doing things which are not correct as their rights. Shameful acts such as fornication, nudity, dressing inordinately and those things parents centuries back abhorred in their children, are being highly cherished today. Social media is destroying our children rapidly. They learn rebelliousness, disobedience, repulsive responses and deliberate offenses on parents from social media. Sexual corruption and exploits are amongst things environments and peer groups developed in them. Christian families are enjoined to go back to the Bible and raise their children in the ways of the Lord. We must strive to make our children know how to be led by the Spirit of God (Rom. 8: 14, 16). When the children understand benefits of being led by the Spirit they will yield to the Spirit of God, who will in turn, begins to teach them how to live worthy lifestyles.
Let us not forget that God’s purpose of creating us is to be His image and likeness. Good reputable lifestyle is one of the ways to be God’s image and likeness. Every Christian parent should make it her ultimate goal and purpose to have children “in God’s image” as this makes them maintain reputable lifestyles. Even though it seems like many children have gone wayward, correcting them with the word of God and parental love will still make a positive change. The Bible has said: “Correct your son, and he will give you rest; yes, he will give delight to your soul” (Prov. 29: 17 Amplified Version). There are many ways to train children to become reputable in characters and behaviours. Few of these will be given in the next third and fourth series.
PRAYERS:
1. Pray and ask God to reveal to you the secret lifestyles of your children in the name of Jesus Christ. Ask the Holy Spirit of God to enable you discern the hidden behaviours of your child or children.
2. Pray and ask God to increase bonding love between you and your children that will enable you all relate with each other intimately in Jesus name.
CONTACT US? You can contact us for prayer requests or discussion through ubasimon341@gmail.com
bishopubaudenyi@hopealivechurch
