Children in Your Arena of Influence

And they were bringing children to Him so that He might touch them; and the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw this, He was indignant and said to them, “Permit the children to come to me: do not hinder them; for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it at all.” And He took them in His arms and began blessing them, laying His hands upon them. Mark 10:13-16

Behold, children are a gift of the Lord; The fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one's youth. Psalm 127:3-4

Children are:

• A gift of the Lord

• Fruit of the womb

• A reward

• Like arrows

The word “gift” in this verse, in the Hebrew, means inheritance or heritage. The word “reward” here is the same word in the Hebrew for wages. Both of these descriptors for children, connote that they belong to God and that He chooses to give them to parents to serve as a heritage, both to Him and to human parents.

Define these four questions in your own words:

• What do I need to do to make things better with my

children or grandchildren?

• Do I really treat my children, today, as a gift?

• Children are as arrows, handmade. What do I need to do to keep them going (shooting) on the right path?

My Prayer Today, God, help me to have your heart in response to the children that you have put in my life. Open my eyes to see you in each child.

Pastor Dave Stallman