Monday February 23rd, 2026
« “Therefore, in all things, whatever you want people to do for you, so do for them, for this is the Law and the Prophets »
11 Then Jesus said, “There was a man who had two sons.
12 The younger son said to his father, ‘Give me now the part of your property that I am supposed to receive someday.’ So the father divided his wealth between his two sons.
13 “A few days later the younger son gathered up all that he had and left. He traveled far away to another country, and there he wasted his money living like a fool.
14 After he spent everything he had, there was a terrible famine throughout the country. He was hungry and needed money.
15 So he went and got a job with one of the people who lived there. The man sent him into the fields to feed pigs.
16 He was so hungry that he wanted to eat the food the pigs were eating. But no one gave him anything.
17 “The son realized that he had been very foolish. He thought, ‘All my father’s hired workers have plenty of food. But here I am, almost dead because I have nothing to eat.
18 I will leave and go to my father. I will say to him: Father, I have sinned against God and have done wrong to you.
19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son. But let me be like one of your hired workers.’
20 So he left and went to his father. “While the son was still a long way off, his father saw him coming and felt sorry for him. So he ran to him and hugged and kissed him.
21 The son said, ‘Father, I have sinned against God and have done wrong to you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Hurry! Bring the best clothes and put them on him. Also, put a ring on his finger and good sandals on his feet.
23 And bring our best calf and kill it so that we can celebrate with plenty to eat.
24 My son was dead, but now he is alive again! He was lost, but now he is found!’ So they began to have a party.
25 “The older son had been out in the field. When he came near the house, he heard the sound of music and dancing.
26 So he called to one of the servant boys and asked, ‘What does all this mean?’
27 The boy said, ‘Your brother has come back, and your father killed the best calf to eat. He is happy because he has his son back safe and sound.’
28 “The older son was angry and would not go in to the party. So his father went out and begged him to come in.
29 But he said to his father, ‘Look, for all these years I have worked like a slave for you. I have always done what you told me to do, and you never gave me even a young goat for a party with my friends.
30 But then this son of yours comes home after wasting your money on prostitutes, and you kill the best calf for him!’
31 “His father said to him, ‘Oh, my son, you are always with me, and everything I have is yours.
32 But this was a day to be happy and celebrate. Your brother was dead, but now he is alive. He was lost, but now he is found.’”
The elders have a proverb that says you first chase away the fox before you ask the hen, “Why did you stray?”
In Mark 4:35-41, when there was a storm in the boat and the disciples woke Jesus up,
He first stilled the storm before saying, ” “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?”
This is how Jesus treats us His children.
- He will first solve the problem before scolding you.
Why then do many parents or guardians leave their children to be devoured by the fox when they see that they have strayed?
- When the children God has planted around you err, protect them from the error they have made first to ensure it doesn’t destroy them, before you turn to discipline them.
A father, for example, may throw out his daughter because she got pregnant out of wedlock.
Such an action would further expose the girl to the fox already trying to destroy her.
At the end of the day, that child may get into worse problems, especially if she finds help from the wrong set of people.
- Children must not be cast away because they made a mistake.
With all the mistakes you make, God continues to call you His child.
Should there be discipline?
Yes, of course.
Children should be disciplined when they misbehave, but first, fix the problem and keep them safe.
While you discipline a child, it should always still be clear to that child that you love them.
There is something called tough love.
A child will know if the real reason you are taking an action is to protect your reputation or out of your love for them.
Nothing hurts a child more than to experience lack of love from the parents.
I know it can be disappointing when children don’t meet up to their parents’ expectations.
I am a father too and sometimes I would have taught my children to behave a certain way, only to hear that they did the opposite outside of the home.
- However, let us remember that we do the same thing to God and He doesn’t cast us out.
He chastens us because He loves us.
Your labour over all the children God has planted around you will not be in vain, in Jesus’ name.
Prayer focus – Father, please give me the patience and wisdom to protect and discipline the children around me with love, in Jesus’ name.
Author – Bishop Enoch Adejare Adeboye; General Overseer of the RCCG
Posted by Naomie Joseph
Greater understand of the Word of GOD – The Bible show
The way out of EVERY life emergency
Freely you received, freely you must give (Math 10:8) , kindly share this devotion, and the Lord will bless you for it.
Copingwords@gmail.com
