Children--Our Heritage

Children—Our Heritage

Scripture Reading: Psalm 127:1-5

Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one’s youth. How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. (Ps. 127:4,5a)

What is your perspective of children? Are they a burden or a blessing? Are they to be valued or discarded? Where do they fit into your family heritage?

     I remember reading a story about three men planting grass. A passerby asked the first man, “What are you doing?” “I am laying sod,” the man replied. He came to the second man and asked, “What are you doing?” “Making a fairway,” the man responded. Going a little further he asked the third man, “What are you doing?” “I’m creating a golf course,” he answered.

     In the process of raising children, it is easy to feel like you are just laying sod, but what you are really doing is creating a life. Children are divinely placed gifts; not accidents. God always has a purpose for all that he does. Nothing slips beyond his sovereign will. Our handicapped grandson was not an accident. He was divinely placed in a home that would love and care for him. Jonathan has taught his parents and grandparents more about the love of Jesus than all the sermons ever preached.

     I am reminded of how David took the crippled boy Mephibosheth under his wing, fed him at the king’s table, provided a room in the palace, assigned a servant to care for him, and restored to him all the lands of his grandfather, King Saul. If a man of David’s stature could show compassion on the crippled grandson of his arch enemy, certainly we as parents can treat our children as divine gifts on loan from God.

     Jesus loved the little children. He showed how much he loved them by saying, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children.” And he placed his hands on their heads and blessed them before he left. (Matthew 19:14-15 NLT)

     As parents we have the privilege, duty, and responsibility under God to raise our children in the “nurture and admonition of the Lord” teaching them to love the Lord with all their heart, mind, soul, and strength. It is never too early to begin presenting to them the way of salvation through Jesus Christ. Reading the Bible and praying together are good ways to start your day. Never underestimate the ability of children even at a young age to understand the meaning behind the gospel.

Prayer: Dear Lord, your word is presented in simple terms that even a child can understand. Help us to raise our children to revere the word of God.