Title: Ask For Permission
Memorize: You shall not steal. Exodus 20:15 (Nkjv)
Bible Reading: Genesis 31:30-34 (Nkjv)
[30] And now you have surely gone because you greatly long for your father’s house, but why did you steal my gods?”
[31] Then Jacob answered and said to Laban, “Because I was afraid, for I said, ‘Perhaps you would take your daughters from me by force.’
[32] With whomever you find your gods, do not let him live. In the presence of our brethren, identify what I have of yours and take it with you.” For Jacob did not know that Rachel had stolen them.
[33] And Laban went into Jacob’s tent, into Leah’s tent, and into the two maids’ tents, but he did not find them. Then he went out of Leah’s tent and entered Rachel’s tent.
[34] Now Rachel had taken the household idols, put them in the camel’s saddle, and sat on them. And Laban searched all about the tent but did not find them.
Message:
To steal is to take another person’s property without their approval, particularly with the intention of not returning it.
If a growing child or teenager takes his or her parent’s money without their consent, such a fellow has stolen.
Some children say, “Whatever belongs to my father belongs to me. I should be free to take any of his things whenever I like.”
No! Your parents have plans for all that they have. Taking their things without permission can disrupt some of those plans.
An example of someone who took from her father without his consent was Rachel from our Bible reading today.
She stole her father’s gods and even denied taking them, and the repercussion was premature death (Genesis 35:17-19) because her husband, while trying to defend himself from her father’s accusation, pronounced a curse on anyone who stole the images.
Beloved, there is a curse on children who steal from their parents. If you are guilty of this, restitute your ways and desist from stealing henceforth.
Action Point:
If you have stolen anything from your parents, return it today and ask for their forgiveness.
HYMN 41 – JESUS, MY LORD, MY GOD, MY ALL
1. Jesus, My Lord, My God, My All,
Hear Me, Blest Saviour, When I Call;
Hear Me, And From Thy Dwelling Place
Pour Down The Riches Of Thy Grace;
Refrain:
Jesus, My Lord, I Thee Adore;
Oh Make Me Love Thee More And More.
2. Jesus, Too Late I Thee Have Sought;
How Can I Love Thee As I Ought?
And How Extol Thy Matchless Fame,
The Glorious Beauty Of Thy Name? [Refrain]
3. Jesus, What Didst Thou Find In Me,
That Thou Hast Dealt So Lovingly?
How Great The Joy That Thou Hast Brought
So Far Exceeding Hope Or Thought! [Refrain]
4. Jesus, Of Thee Shall Be My Song,
To Thee My Heart And Soul Belong;
All That I Have Or Am Is Thine,
And Thou, Blest Saviour, Thou Art Mine. [Refrain]
Bible In One Year: Ezekiel 31:1-32:32 Hebrews 12:14-29
Authors: Pastor E.A. Adeboye and Pastor Folu Adeboye