RHAPSODY OF REALITIES DAILY DEVOTIONAL

TRAIN THEM IN THE WAY THEY SHOULD GO

MEMORISE: “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” — Proverbs 22:6

READ: Proverbs 22:6 (KJV)

BIBLICAL PLANS: * 1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Acts 15:22-35; Esther 5-7

2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: 2 Corinthians 11:10-33; Isaiah 20

MESSAGE BY: Pastor Chris Oyakhilome DSc DSc DD

I. THE UNCOMPROMISING STANDARD OF THE WORD

There’s a clear instruction from the Word concerning the upbringing of children, and it’s not subject to personal opinion or modern cultural trends. The Bible says, “Train up a child in the way he should go,” not in the way he chooses, not in the way society suggests, and not even in the way you merely prefer, but in the way he should go. That way is defined by God’s Word.

Some today have adopted a flawed mindset in raising their children, saying, “In our home, everyone is free to decide what they want to believe or how they want to serve God.” That’s not a Christian home. Christianity is not a democracy of beliefs. When you choose to raise a Christian home, there’s a standard and that standard is the Word of God.

II. THE SEEDTIME OF THE FORMATIVE YEARS

The Bible speaks of those who “…did not like to retain God in their knowledge…” (Romans 1:28). That condition doesn’t start suddenly in adulthood; it’s often the result of a lack of proper training and structure in the formative years. When children are not guided on the right way to serve God, they grow up without the consciousness of God and that absence can lead to grave spiritual consequences.

You don’t negotiate spiritual discipline with a child because the Bible says foolishness is bound in the heart of a child, but discipline helps to get rid of it: “Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him” (Proverbs 22:15). As a Christian parent, don’t entertain the idea of your child deciding not to go to church. Don’t raise children to follow their impulses; raise them to walk in truth.

III. THE GUARANTEED COMPASS OF TRUTH

When you insist on God’s way, consistently, firmly and with love, you’re not being harsh; you’re being obedient to divine instruction. And the result is guaranteed: when they’re old, they won’t depart from it. That training becomes a spiritual compass within them, guiding their choices and preserving their lives.

You’re not called to raise children who merely grow; you’re called to raise children who know God, walk in His ways, and live according to His truth. That responsibility is divine and must be taken seriously.

IV. PRAYER / CONFESSION

Dear Father, thank you for your grace and wisdom at work in my life. I walk in the light of your Word, applying your truth with consistency, love and firmness. My home is established on your Word, and those under my care are nurtured in righteousness, growing with the consciousness of your presence, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

V. FURTHER STUDY

Ephesians 6:4 (NIV): “Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.”

2 Timothy 3:14-15 (NIV): “But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.”

Deuteronomy 6:6-7 (NIV): “These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”

VI. DAILY BIBLE READING TEXTS

1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN

Acts 15:22-35 (KJV)

22 Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren:

23 And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia:

24 Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment:

25 It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,

26 Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

27 We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth.

28 For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;

29 That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if you keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.

30 So when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch: and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle:

31 Which when they had read, they rejoiced for the consolation.

32 And Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them.

33 And after they had tarried there a space, they were let go in peace from the brethren unto the apostles.

34 Notwithstanding it pleased Silas to abide there still.

35 Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.

Esther 5-7 (KJV)

(Summary of Text: Queen Esther courageously approaches King Ahasuerus to host two specific banquets for the king and Haman. During this time, Haman constructs a seventy-five-foot gallows to hang Mordecai out of pride and anger. However, the king reads the chronicles of the realm, discovers Mordecai previously saved his life, and orders Haman to publicly honor Mordecai instead. At Esther’s second banquet, she reveals Haman’s plot to annihilate her people, causing the king to decree that Haman be executed on the very gallows he built for Mordecai.)

2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN

2 Corinthians 11:10-33 (KJV)

10 As the truth of Christ is in me, no man shall stop me of this boasting in the regions of Achaia.

11 Wherefore? because I love you not? God knoweth.

12 But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we.

13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.

14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

16 I say again, Let no man think me a fool; if otherwise, yet as a fool receive me, that I may boast myself a little.

17 That which I speak, I speak it not after the Lord, but as it were foolishly, in this confidence of boasting.

18 Seeing that many glory after the flesh, I will glory also.

19 For ye suffer fools gladly, seeing ye yourselves are wise.

20 For ye suffer, if a man bring you into bondage, if a man devour you, if a man take of you, if a man exalt himself, if a man smite you on the face.

21 I speak as concerning reproach, as though we had been weak. Howbeit whereinsoever any is bold, (I speak foolishly,) I am bold also.

22 Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I.

23 Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.

24 Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.

25 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;

26 In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;

27 In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.

28 Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.

29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not?

30 If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities.

31 The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not.

32 In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king kept the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desirous to apprehend me:

33 And through a window in a basket was I let down by the wall, and escaped his hands.

Isaiah 20 (KJV)

1 In the year that Tartan came unto Ashdod, (when Sargon the king of Assyria sent him,) and fought against Ashdod, and took it;

2 At the same time spake the Lord by Isaiah the son of Amoz, saying, Go and loose the sackcloth from off thy loins, and put off thy shoe from thy foot. And he did so, walking naked and barefoot.

3 And the Lord said, Like as my servant Isaiah hath walked naked and barefoot three years for a sign and wonder upon Egypt and upon Ethiopia;

4 So shall the king of Assyria lead away the Egyptians prisoners, and the Ethiopians captives, young and old, naked and barefoot, even with their buttocks uncovered, to the shame of Egypt.

5 And they shall be afraid and ashamed of Ethiopia their expectation, and of Egypt their glory.

6 And the inhabitant of this isle shall say in that day, Behold, such is our expectation, whither we flee for help to be delivered from the king of Assyria: and how shall we escape?