The Open Heaven 15 September 2025 devotional for today is IN-LAWS SHOULD BE LOVED.
This is a daily devotion written by Pastor E. A. Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).
OPEN HEAVEN 15 SEPTEMBER 2025 TODAY DEVOTIONAL
TOPIC: IN-LAWS SHOULD BE LOVED
MEMORISE:
Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
Jude 1:21
READ: Ruth 1:8-18:
8 And Naomi said unto her two daughters in law, Go, return each to her mother’s house: the Lord deal kindly with you, as ye have dealt with the dead, and with me.
9 The Lord grant you that ye may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband. Then she kissed them; and they lifted up their voice, and wept.
10 And they said unto her, Surely we will return with thee unto thy people.
11 And Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters: why will ye go with me? are there yet any more sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands?
12 Turn again, my daughters, go your way; for I am too old to have an husband. If I should say, I have hope, if I should have an husband also to night, and should also bear sons;
13 Would ye tarry for them till they were grown? would ye stay for them from having husbands? nay, my daughters; for it grieveth me much for your sakes that the hand of the Lord is gone out against me.
14 And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her.
15 And she said, Behold, thy sister in law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods: return thou after thy sister in law.
16 And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:
17 Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the Lord do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.
18 When she saw that she was stedfastly minded to go with her, then she left speaking unto her.
RCCG OPEN HEAVEN 15 SEPTEMBER 2025 TODAY MESSAGE
When I was leaving for my postgraduate studies, I handed my mother over to my wife, knowing that she would take good care of her. My wife is a helpmeet indeed, and a true helpmeet is a great blessing not just to her husband but her in-laws as well. She won’t seek to compete with them or disrespect them; rather, she will help her husband by honouring his people.
Nowadays, some women say that they are only married to their husbands and do not care about their in-laws. This is not right because their husbands came from a home, and as helpmeets, they have a responsibility to love their husbands’ people too.
Ruth was a wise woman. When she married Naomi’s son, she took Naomi as her mother. Her love for Naomi was so great that when her husband died, she abandoned her hometown to follow her mother-in-law to a place she had never been. She was ready to risk everything to care for her aged mother-in-law.
In return, God rewarded her selflessness by giving her another home. Ruth’s service to her mother-in-law opened the door of fruitfulness to her (Ruth 1-4), and in the account of the genealogy of Jesus Christ in Matthew 1:1-16, you will find her name in verse 5.
Loving in-laws is, however, not peculiar to wives alone. Husbands must also love and honour their in-laws. The fact that they have fulfilled all the necessary traditional marriage rites does not mean their wives’ parents and family members are unimportant.
For example, Jesus healed Peter’s mother-in-law when he visited Peter’s house in Matthew 8:14-15. Immediately Jesus healed her, she arose and ministered to them. If she hadn’t been treated well before that time, and if she wasn’t made to feel welcomed in the house, she wouldn’t have thought of serving everyone present, including her son-in-law.
If you’re married, God put you in your spouse’s family because He wants you to extend His love to them. Whether they reciprocate or not, your responsibility is to love them. No man snuffs out the little light he has because every other person is living in darkness. Instead, he makes his light shine brighter for all to see.
If your inlaws don’t believe in Jesus yet, your marriage has given you the opportunity to show them the light. Ask God for the wisdom to relate with them, and in everything you do, let the love of Christ rule your heart, actions, and decisions.
ACTION POINT
In-laws should be loved whether they reciprocate it or not.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR
Hosea 5-9
HYMN 33: GUIDE ME, O THOU GREAT JEHOVAH!
OPEN HEAVEN DEVOTIONAL 15 SEPTEMBER 2025 COMMENTARY
MEMORISE: Jude 1:21 (KJV)
“Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.”
This verse calls for active, intentional abiding. To “keep yourselves in the love of God” means to consciously remain in the place where His love is received and from which it is expressed to others. It is from this secure position in His love that we can extend mercy and love to others, even when it is difficult.
BIBLE READING: Ruth 1:8-18 (KJV)
This passage captures one of the most powerful moments of covenant loyalty in the Bible. Faced with a choice to return to her pagan homeland or cling to her destitute Israelite mother-in-law, Ruth makes a profound declaration of love and commitment: “Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God” (v. 16). This was a radical, selfless decision that went far beyond cultural expectation.
Redefining the “Helpmeet”
Daddy Adeboye begins by redefining the biblical concept of a “helpmeet” (Genesis 2:18). It is not a role confined to the private sphere of the marital home. A true helpmeet, as exemplified by his own wife, understands that her role extends to being a blessing to her husband’s entire family. The devotional interprets that love for one’s spouse is intrinsically linked to love for the people who produced and shaped them. To reject or disrespect in-laws is, in essence, to reject a part of one’s spouse.
Ruth: The Paragon of Covenant Love
The story of Ruth is presented as the ultimate biblical model for in-law relationships. Her actions are broken down to reveal profound spiritual principles:
- Love Beyond Convenience: Ruth’s commitment was tested by tragedy (the death of her husband) and potential poverty. Her love was not based on what she could get from the relationship but on a covenant she had made.
- Radical Identification: Her famous vow, “your people will be my people, your God my God,” signifies a complete transfer of allegiance. She didn’t just accompany Naomi; she fully integrated into her family, culture, and faith.
- The Reward of Selflessness: Her story demonstrates that acts of love done in obscurity and sacrifice are seen by God and rewarded abundantly. Her care for Naomi positioned her in the field of Boaz, led to her redemption, and ultimately placed her in the lineage of Christ (Matthew 1:5). Her service opened her door to fruitfulness.
A Charge to Husbands
The message is carefully balanced. The responsibility to love in-laws is “not peculiar to wives alone.” Husbands are also commanded to honor and love their wives’ families. The example of Jesus healing Peter’s mother-in-law (Matthew 8:14-15) is powerfully used. The interpretation is that Jesus’ act of healing was an act of honor and value. Furthermore, her immediate response to serve indicates she felt loved and welcomed in her son-in-law’s home—a testament to Peter’s (and by extension, Jesus’) treatment of her.
The Divine Purpose: You Are a Light
The devotional provides the ultimate “why” behind this challenging command: divine assignment. God placed you in your spouse’s family for a purpose beyond yourself. You are there to “extend His love to them.” This reframes the relationship from a burdensome obligation to a missionary calling.
The analogy of the light is crucial: “No man snuffs out the little light he has because every other person is living in darkness.” If your in-laws are difficult, unbelieving, or unloving, it is not a reason to withdraw your light; it is the very reason to let it shine brighter. Your Christ-like love and patience might be the primary testimony that eventually leads them to salvation.
The Source of Strength
The call to love in this way is humanly impossible without divine enablement. This is where the Memorise verse (Jude 1:21) finds its application. We can only extend this kind of selfless, covenant love by first “keeping ourselves in the love of God.” It is by abiding in His love that we are filled with the capacity to love others unconditionally.
Pray this:
“Heavenly Father, I come before You, acknowledging that loving my in-laws can sometimes be a challenge. I ask for Your grace and strength. Help me to keep myself rooted in Your love so that I may love others from its overflow. Give me the wisdom of Ruth to show covenant loyalty and the heart of Christ to serve and honor. I repent of any selfishness, competition, or disrespect. Use me as a light in my extended family, and let my life and actions so reflect Your love that it draws them to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Action Steps:
- Shift Your Perspective: Reframe your view of your in-laws. See them not as in-laws but as your own family, and see yourself as God’s assigned missionary to them.
- Initiate Love: Don’t wait for them to be loving first. Take a practical step this week: a phone call, a visit, a gift, or a word of appreciation.
- Pray Specifically: Pray for your in-laws by name every day. Ask God for opportunities to show love and share your faith.
- Set Boundaries with Love: If the relationship is toxic, seek wisdom from God and spiritual counsel on how to set healthy, respectful boundaries without withdrawing love or cutting off contact.
- Celebrate Their Role: Verbally acknowledge and thank your in-laws for the part they played in raising your spouse.
Remember: Your marriage is a covenant that extends to families. The love you show your in-laws is a direct reflection of your love for your spouse and your obedience to Christ. It is a difficult but high calling that carries a great reward, both in this life and in eternity. Your Christ-like attitude could be the key that unlocks salvation and healing for an entire family.
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