Foursquare Gospel Church in Nigeria Grace for Living Devotional Tuesday May 7, 2024

 

Foursquare Gospel Church in Nigeria 

Grace for Living Devotional 

Tuesday May 7, 2024

TOPIC: A HOME OR A HOUSE?

BIBLE READING:

GENESIS 27:6-13

6 And Rebekah spake unto Jacob her son, saying, Behold, I heard thy father speak unto Esau thy brother, saying, 7 Bring me venison, and make me savoury meat, that I may eat, and bless thee before the Lord before my death. 8 Now therefore, my son, obey my voice according to that which I command thee. 9 Go now to the flock, and fetch me from thence two good kids of the goats; and I will make them savoury meat for thy father, such as he loveth: 10 And thou shalt bring it to thy father, that he may eat, and that he may bless thee before his death. 11 And Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, Behold, Esau my brother is a hairy man, and I am a smooth man: 12 My father peradventure will feel me, and I shall seem to him as a deceiver; and I shall bring a curse upon me, and not a blessing. 13 And his mother said unto him, Upon me be thy curse, my son: only obey my voice, and go fetch me them.  

KEY VERSE:

And his mother said unto him, upon me be thy curse, my son: only obey my voice, and go fetch me them. Genesis 27:13  

MEDITATION:

Tony was lamenting on the state of the relationship between his parents; always disagreeing and many times resulting to the dad physically assaulting the mother in the presence of his other siblings. There were nights that the mother and children had to seek refuge in the home of neighbours. The youngest in the family used to complain and kept asking, “Is this a home or a house”   

In today’s Bible text, we read about a divided family. Rebecca was pro Jacob and Isaac was pro Esau. Rebecca, in plotting the deceitful action with Jacob had to self-impute the curses that may come upon him. While a house is a physical location where a family resides, a home is a place of comfort, rest and tranquillity – be it in a forest or cave. I know a mother that allowed her divorcee daughter, to forcefully take over her younger brother’s room upon return to her parents’ house. When the brother protested saying there were other rooms, the mother rose in support of daughter. The poor boy quietly left the room for her.   

The consequences of Rebecca’s action, unfortunately, trailed Jacob for a long time before God changed his name to Israel (Genesis 32:24-29). God did not need Rebecca to get His plans done. In a home, parents and children must be example of love, godliness, obedience, honesty, contentment, hospitality, and gratitude. Where these don’t manifest, it qualifies for just a house!   

Is your testimony that of a home or a house?    

PRAYER:

O God, make my family a place of love, joy, peace and understanding.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:

1 Kings 16-18; John 1:29-51