Children are important to God; they were part of his mandate to Adam, male and female upon creation. He said, in Genesis, “Be fruitful and increase in number. . .” (Genesis 1:28) In his covenant, he said:
So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, ‘Be fruitful and increase in number. . .’ ( Genesis 1:27-28)
So, not only are children part of the mandate and covenant in God’s creative plan, but also it would be impossible to complete God’s mandate without them.
In addition, children are the treasured progeny of parents; they are God’s blessing. (Deuteronomy 28:4) So, to maintain their covenant responsibility, parents must stand on the Word of God when raising them. Drawing from the Word of God provides a blueprint for raising God’s little ones. It ensures a generational heritage of God-fearing descendants. (Psalm 127:3)
Parents are called to let the love of Jesus permeate their homes and relationships with their children. Children should never be viewed as an inconvenience or mistake. Love must be unconditional and never based on your child’s behavior, good or bad. Ephesians 6:4 espouses fathers not to exasperate your children.
Not only should parents love their children unconditionally, but they should also teach their children about the Lord and guide them into God’s truth. Pray daily for God’s protection and guidance for your children. Share the biblical plan by salvation through Jesus Christ and teach them the important of growing in their faith. Proverbs 22:6 admonishes to “Train up a child in the way he/she should go: and when he/she is old, he/she will not depart from it.” Even if they go astray, those foundational lessons will stay with them.
Provide structure. Godly structure means letting your words correspond with your actions. You cannot teach your children how to behave appropriately if you are undisciplined and lack character. Make sure that your behavior is godly, so that you discipline appropriately even when your child misbehaves.
Being a parent is an awesome responsibility. The scripture, Matthew 18:6, is often noted for those who would cause child-like believers to stumble and fall. It states that it would be better for those who cause the innocent (child-like believers of God) to stumble for them to have a millstone hanged about their necks. So, it stands to reason that if someone actually mistreats innocent children themselves and cause them to stumble and fall, they would be better off they had a millstone hanged about their necks. So, beware, parents!
Grab hold of the role of a parent, my friends. The Bible states that your children are a heritage from the Lord, Psalm 127:3; they are a crown to the aged, Proverbs 17:6. They are the Lord’s blessings to parents and significant in the plan that he has for every parent’s life purpose.
Be blessed.
Spiritual References:
Psalm 127:3-5 Children are an heritage of the Lord and the fruit of the womb is his reward. As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.
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