Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb is a reward. Psalm 127: 3, NKJV.
Merciful Father, we thank You for being here. as we open Your Word. Please help us to see what You have in store for us ; and help us to be obedient to Your leading. In the holy name of Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.
Today we begin our segment on children in our series on the family. I decided that positioning the devotionals on children between those of mom and dad, was both significant, and symbolic. God gave children to Adam and Eve. It was the entrance of sin that caused the breakdown of the family structure, thereby creating single-parenthood. Whenever I am not sure about any subject, I try to go back as close to “in the beginning,” as I can get, to hear what God had to say about it at that time. Then I try, by God’s grace, to rebuild upon the old foundations. Let us see how much we can discover about our children in this study.
I believe that the verb Behold, was used in the imperative, for a purpose. Perhaps God is trying to get our attention. “Look!” God seems to be saying; “Children belong to Me. I lend them to their parents, for safe-keeping. It is I who have given you the privilege of becoming procreators with Me. Parenthood is a gift. It is a gift to those who I have joined in holy matrimony.” How did I arrive at that conclusion? Because of the way the psalm begins. It begins by talking about the home! Listen: “Unless the LORD builds the house, they labor in vain who build it[.]” *What we must never lose sight of, throughout this entire study, is the fact that God loves all the children of the world, regardless . . . !
Even more significant, is the fact that He goes a step further, and mentions “the city,” symbolic of society! I say symbolic because, “Society is composed of families, and is what the heads of families make it. . . The well-being of society, the success of the church, the prosperity of the nation, depends upon home influences” (The Adventist Home, p. 15). Since children are a heritage from God, shouldn’t we, who have taken on, or, are desirous, of taking on, the role of parent, be willing, and more than willing – ready, to hear and do, what He asks us to do, for His heritage?
The words of the apostle Peter to those who were overseers of the people of God, constitutes very good advice for parents as well. Listen to the following: “Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away” (1 Peter 5: 2-4).
As we begin this series let us focus on the fact that our children are lent to us. They are not our property! That means we need to spend much time in the presence of the Lord, asking Him for the wisdom to train these little ones for His glory! We dare not talk to them how we feel like talking to them. We dare not treat them according to our mood from day to day. May God have mercy on us, if we should allow the way we feel about our spouses to influence the way we treat them! May God give us grace, to love them simply for who they are! God forbid that we should ever abuse them! And heaven help us in the noble task of cooperating with the Godhead, to get them ready for an encounter with the Savior!
NOTE: These counsels are shared from a Biblical, not a clinical, perspective.