The Open Heaven 8 June 2025 devotional for today is DEFLECTING OFFENCES IN MARRIAGE.
This is a daily devotion written by Pastor E. A. Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).
OPEN HEAVEN 8 JUNE 2025 TODAY DEVOTIONAL
TOPIC: DEFLECTING OFFENCES IN MARRIAGE
MEMORISE:
Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:
James 1:19
READ: Colossians 3:12-15
12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
RCCG OPEN HEAVEN 8 JUNE 2025 TODAY MESSAGE
The first equation in what I call the ‘mathematics of marriage’ states that ‘Love is blind! Proverbs 10:12 says that love covers a multitude of sins; therefore, married people should not complain about all of their spouse’s faults. To deflect offences, they must learn to accommodate their shortcomings.
Some people are known to call their spouses ‘angels’ affectionately. Though I am not against this, another equation states that ‘Angels don’t eat jollof rice. This is a humorous way of stating that human beings are not angels and, hence, are prone to human mistakes. It is important that married people do not have unreasonable expectations of their spouses that will keep them in a state of being constantly offended. If you’re married or about to get married, you must understand that you and your spouse will offend each other many times in your marriage. However, knowing how to deflect those offences and turn them around will help you a lot.
Years ago, I was preparing for a trip, and my wife wanted to accompany me to the airport. I knew she was likely going to delay me, so l said, “A car will move faster if it is not pulling a trailer behind it.” She responded, “Who’s the trailer?” I could sense that she was offended by what I said, so I quickly said, “I’m the trailer; you’re the car. I don’t want to slow you down.” She laughed and said, “You’re not serious.” If I didn’t know how to turn the situation around, a fight could have started from there. It is important for married people to know when to stop talking or say things that will diffuse the tension when their partners are about to get offended.
James 1:19 is a perfect template for deflecting offences in marriage. When you are swift to hear, you will know how to patiently listen to your spouse without looking for ways to attack him or her or defend yourself unnecessarily.
Being slow to speak is knowing that sometimes, it is unwise to say everything on your mind. Lastly, any fellow who is slow to anger will not easily get offended.
Beloved, if you want to have a marriage with fewer fights and offences, you must learn not to have unreasonable expectations of your spouse. You must also learn to accommodate your spouse’s weaknesses while you work patiently with him or her to get better through the help of the Holy Spirit.
OPEN HEAVEN 8 JUNE 2025 KEY POINT:
To deflect offences, married people must learn to accommodate the weaknesses of their spouses.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR
Psalms 18-21
HYMN 59: I WANT TO BE LIKE JESUS
OPEN HEAVEN DEVOTIONAL 8 JUNE 2025 COMMENTARY
The Divine Equations for a Successful Marriage
Marriage operates by spiritual principles that we might call “divine mathematics.” Today’s devotional presents two foundational equations:
- “Love is blind” (Proverbs 10:12) – True love chooses to overlook faults.
- “Angels don’t eat jollof rice” – A humorous reminder that humans aren’t perfect angels.
These principles teach us that realistic expectations and godly responses are essential for marital harmony.
1. The First Equation: Love Covers All (Proverbs 10:12)
A. The Nature of Biblical Love
- Love is not blind in ignorance but chooses not to focus on faults.
- 1 Corinthians 13:5 says love “keeps no record of wrongs.”
B. Practical Application
- Instead of complaining about your spouse’s:
- Habitual lateness
- Forgetfulness
- Messiness
- Choose to:
- Pray for them
- Gently encourage growth
- Focus on their strengths
Example:
Pastor Adeboye recognized his wife might delay him but chose humor over criticism when he said, “A car moves faster without a trailer.” His quick wit turned potential conflict into laughter.
2. The Second Equation: Humans Aren’t Angels
A. The Danger of Unrealistic Expectations
- Many marital conflicts arise from expecting:
- Perfect behavior
- Mind-reading
- Flawless performance
- Remember: “All have sinned” (Romans 3:23) – including your spouse!
B. Accepting Human Imperfections
- Your spouse will:
- Forget important dates
- Say wrong things
- Have bad moods
- Solution:
- Extend grace (Colossians 3:13)
- Remember your own flaws (Matthew 7:3-5)
3. The James 1:19 Conflict Resolution Model
God gives us a perfect three-step approach to prevent offenses:
A. Swift to Hear
- Listen first before reacting
- Seek to understand rather than be understood
- Example: When your spouse complains, don’t interrupt – hear them out
B. Slow to Speak
- Pause before responding
- Ask: “Is what I’m about to say…”
- Helpful? (Ephesians 4:29)
- Necessary?
- Kind?
- Pastor Adeboye demonstrated this by quickly rephrasing his “trailer” comment
C. Slow to Wrath
- Anger never produces righteousness (James 1:20)
- Practice the 24-hour rule for serious conflicts:
- Wait a day before discussing heated issues
- Pray together first
4. The Holy Spirit’s Role in Marriage
A. He Helps Us Grow
- Only God can truly change hearts
- Pray together: “Holy Spirit, help us love like You do”
B. He Provides Wisdom
- For difficult conversations
- For knowing when to speak/remain silent
C. He Brings Peace
- When we yield to Him, He helps us maintain the “bond of peace” (Colossians 3:15)
Prayer for Marital Harmony
“Heavenly Father, teach us to love as You love – covering faults with grace. Help us to be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger. Fill our marriage with Your peace and guide us by Your Spirit. May our union glorify You in Jesus’ name. Amen.”
Conclusion: Building an Offense-Proof Marriage
- Lower your expectations – Accept that humans aren’t angels
- Raise your grace level – Cover faults with love
- Follow God’s conflict blueprint – James 1:19
- Depend on the Holy Spirit – For growth and peace
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