A family is a group of people who are closely related to one another (by blood, marriage, or adoption). A family can be a set of parents and their children; which is referred to as a nuclear family. On the other hand, it can be an extended family-father, mother, children, uncles, aunts, cousins, and grandparents. It can also be a close-knitted family that contains a group of people related by blood, friendship, marriage, law, or custom, especially if they live or work together.
In line with this, the lessons for this month shall be focused on the values that can be learned as children from parents. In addition, you shall learn about the relationship that should exist among siblings, and what is expected from you as a child.
Teachers, as you teach these lessons this month, there is a need to ask yourself how you have been imparting your family positively, particularly, your children. Are you instructing them the right way to go so that they will not become a disgrace and a regret to you in the future?
Instructions from a family
Read Proverbs 1:8-19
In a classroom one day, a boy could not find his English Language notebook. He told his English teacher about it, so, the teacher went with him to the class to search for the bags of his classmates. A while after they had been searching, they found the notebook inside the bag of a boy in the class. To their surprise, many other notebooks belonging to other students were also found. The teacher took the boy to the staff room and he was punished.
They told him to call his parents. When the father came and was told what the son did, he was ashamed because he had warned the boy several times to be of good behaviour but he did
The book of Proverbs is full of moral and religious teachings. Solomon, who wrote almost all the chapters in Proverbs, gives instructions as a father to his son. It is an admonition for a son to listen to his father and not to forsake the laws of his mother. It means that the father wants the best for his son and that is why he is giving him his admonition so that he will not follow the wrong path. This instruction is for all children today, boys and girls. Verse 9 emphasizes the fact that the father’s instructions should be taken seriously like a garland to grace the head and a chain to adorn the neck.
The father goes on to say that bad children can try to entice you into sinful acts, such a slaying ambushes to harm innocent souls. Also, show them the cut-out pictures you brought to class). They will make you believe that you will get what your parents cannot give you, which is not true(verses 13-14). Do not join them. In addition, the father tells the son that as much as these evil people try, their plan will continue to work against them. The ill-gotten money will lead to their death. Children today are up against bad influences from other children or adults in the school or community. However, you must not listen. Read Proverbs18-19.
Invitation: You have been challenged to listen to the instructions of your father Will you make a decision today to follow the instructions of God and your parents?
Compassion from a mother
Read 2 Kings 4:17-37
Ade is the only child of his parents. He got sick and the sickness was severe to the extent that everybody around thought that he would die. He got admitted to the hospital and his parents, family and church members were praying for him. His mother was the one staying with him in the hospital. Later, the doctor said Ade would need a blood transfusion. His mother quickly offered herself to donate blood for him.
Gradually, Ade started members were praying for him. His mother was the one staying with him in the hospital. Later, the doctor said Ade would need a blood transfusion. His mother quickly offered herself to donate blood for him. Gradually, Ade started recovering, He regained his strength and became well again, Today, you will learn about.
Elisha, the prophet travelled to Shunem where he met a well-to-do woman and her husband. They were hospitable to him and prepared a room for him to lodge whenever he passed by. The couple was childless, so, Elisha prophesied to them that God would give them a son. Just as he said, the woman became pregnant about that same time the following year, and she gave birth to a son. The child grew up. One day during the time of harvest, the father was on the farm with the reapers. So this boy went to meet his father. But all of a sudden, the boy started complaining about his head. The father told one of his servants to carry the boy to his mother.
The mother carried the boy on her lap, until noon; then, the boy died. When the mother saw what happened, she went up and laid the boy on the bed in the room she reserved for the man of God in their house. This woman called her husband and asked him to send one of his servants to her, with a donkey so she could go and visit the man of God. Though her husband wanted to discourage her, she insisted and went to the man of God at Mount Carmel.
When Elisha saw her afar, he sent his servant, Gehazi, to go and inquire of her if she, her husband and her son were all right. When Gehazi got to her, the woman replied that everything was all right. On getting to the man of God at the mountain, she how a woman also went on the extra mile to gather son back alive after he died. Open your Bibles to 2 Kings 4:17-37.
He went down from the donkey and went to take hold of his feet. Gehazi tried to push her away, but the man of God told him to leave her because he sensed something was wrong but God had not revealed it to him.
Eventually, the woman told Elisha that she did not ask for a son, and that she had told him not to raise her hopes. Elisha then sent Gehazi to go and lay his staff on the boy’s face. The woman did not leave the feet of Elisha, so, Elisha decided to go with her, even though Gehazi had gone ahead of them. Gehazi did what the man of God told him to do, but the boy did not wake up. When the man of God reached the house, he went in, shut the door and prayed to God. He stretched himself out on the boy, mouth to mouth, eyes to eyes, and hands to hands.
The body of the boy became warm, so Elisha moved back and forth in the room and he stretched himself out once again on the boy. The boy sneezed seven times and opened his eyes. Elisha called Gehazi and told him to call the Shunammite woman. She came and Elisha handed her son back to her alive. She fell at his feet, bowed to the ground to show appreciation, took her son and went out. Hallelujah!
Invitation: Is your mother as compassionate as this woman? If ‘yes,’ thank God for her; if ‘no, ‘pray for her. Do you also desi to be a compassionate woman or get married to one in the future? Then, take this time to play for your future.
Forgiveness from a siblings
Read Genesis 45:1-15
Judah told the whole story to unrecognized Joseph about the difficulty their father had in parting with Benjamin because he was the only one of his mother’s sons left, and his father loved him. After a series of questions, Joseph could see the repentant attitude of his brothers in protecting Benjamin from being
When Judah ended his story, Joseph needed no further proof that his brothers’ attitudes had changed. So, he made himself known to them. Then Joseph weep; his cry was so loud that the Egyptians and Pharaoh’s house heard it. It was a weeping of joy and reunion. He enquired about the welfare of his aged father. His brothers were greatly terrified that they were unable to speak. They never thought he could be alive let alone attaining such a lofty status.
They were gripped with the fear of being punished for their wicked deeds. They could not predict what Joseph kept behind in prison for allegedly stealing Joseph’s silver cup. Judah even offered himself to serve the jail term instead of Benjamin. Watching this dramatic scene. Joseph could not hold himself any longer. What happened next? Open your Bibles to Genesis 45:1-15. would do. They were amazed that Joseph’s dreams which they had tried to kill had eventually come true.
Joseph stretched arms of acceptance to them and beckoned them to come closer to him. After they had reluctantly done so, Joseph allayed their fears and discouraged them from self-blame, regret, and condemnation for what they had done to him. Though they sold Joseph with devilish intention, he interpreted it in a positive way-that God had sent him ahead of them top reserve lives. They were only used by God to make him the second-in-command to Pharaoh and lord of his house as well as a ruler in the land of Egypt.
Then, Joseph decided that Jacob, his father, and the entire household should come down to Egypt. His brothers were to tell Jacob about his new status, and the honour the Lord had given him in Egypt. He was greatly concerned about the welfare of his household. As a man of authority, he secured the region of Goshen for the habitation of his people. Joseph promised to provide for them because the famine would still last for five more years. It was an opportunity for Joseph to see his father again and reunite with his brothers.
Invitation: Are you like Joseph, who did not seek retaliation against his brothers? Often, we see those who maltreat us as enemies who should be treated with hatred. You never can tell whether they are God’s instruments to lift you to greater heights. Can you make a decision now never to hold a grudge against anybody and not to retaliate any offence
Obedience from children
Read Jeremiah 35:1-11
During the reign of Jehoiakim, son of Josiah King of Judah, God asked Jeremiah to invite theecabites to a meeting in one of the rooms of the Temple. There, wine was offered to drink. The prophet obeyed God’s instructions and invited Jaazaniah, son of Jeremiah and his family. (The Jeremiah who is Jaazaniah’s father spoken of here was not the Prophet Jeremiah, but rather one of the Recabites’ rulers).
The Recabites duly assembled at the designated location of the meeting. Jeremiah presented them with wine and encouraged them to drink some of it. The Recabites refused to drink the wine. They did this because their ancestor, Jonadab, son of Recab had ordered them not to drink wine. He had also given them other rules to obey. They were to live in tents because they were not to build houses. They were also not to plant crops or vineyards, not even to own cultivated fields and vineyards.
Jonadab had a zeal for the Lord. The commands he gave to his children and his entire generation have something to do with the worship of Baal, which was prominent in his time. Seeing this decadence, Jonadab chose the very opposite lifestyle, and it was approved greatly by the Lord, even for the use of Jonadab’s descendants as a godly example to Judah.
Little did these people realise that God took note of all their activities. Therefore, when the time came for them to be used as an example of faith and obedience, they passed. Their obedience set them apart from all other people, but did not hinder them from having relationships with other people. Thus, the Lord, the God of Israel, promised that their descendants would continuously serve in the temple of the Lord. Do you desire this kind of blessing? Then be obedient!
Invitation: The Recabites were obedient to their forefather’s instructions and continued to do exactly as he commanded them. Are you always obedient to Jesus, your parents and teachers’ instructions? Are you ready to be obedient children like the Recabites.
