INTRODUCTION
African Quote: It takes a whole village to raise a kid. See God in the lives of the children.
1. God's View: God's Word reveals God’s interest in young children: Samuel, Josiah, Jeremiah; even before they are born. Children are a heritage from the Lord. Arrows in the hands of a mighty warrior. One commentator on the Psalms, Derek Kidner, made this point, “It is not untypical of God’s gifts that first they are liabilities, or at least responsibilities before they become obvious assets. The greater their promise, the more likely that these sons will be a handful before they are a quiver full.” God intervenes in the lives of the children. How do we receive the children in our midst? Matt 18:6 “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.”
The Bible affirms the worth of children. V 3-5. Children are arrows that archers need to train in the ways of the Lord. Children are a sacred trust. burden from the Lord. Arrows can go where the archer warrior cannot reach. We have to take care of our arrows like a good archer. We have to work on them: keeping them straight and strong, sharpened and aimed at the right direction. In the hands of God they can be more than we can ever imagine. They don't come all made, we are called to participate actively in the shaping process. Proverbs 22:6 says, “Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.“ Only the Word of God can protect children to be sent out as an influence in the world and not to be influenced by it. If we are not careful, they can be influenced by the media most of which are against family values and Christian values. Would we allow our children to be discipled by the world? Would we allow them to be influenced by the media that promotes abusive behaviour, vulgarities and hold up teen celebrities as role models? When Jesus was tempted, he stood the test. Timothy stood firm because his mother and grandma taught him the Word of God. We need to do our utmost to train them in the Word of God. The world is changing. Our fathers of faith have lost a generation. Are we willing to raise a generation of world changers? What difference will you make? What are we doing? How can we make a difference in schools?
3. Church Prepare: There is saying that goes, “Aim at nothing you will hit it every time.” The greatest barrier to us making a difference is that we set such low standards. We need to raise the standard; take God's standards as our guide. We need every adult, parents or not, to assist in building and moulding the lives of the children. Behind every children’s event in Charis MC, there are adults supporting them. Would you come along? Would you avail yourself to influence the neighborhood children to know Jesus Christ? Would you volunteer to chaperon children during our Sunday School outings, our vacation camps, in the Boys’ Brigade. We need you to come around they will make a difference among their peers. A lot of us waste our time away by watching TV.
TV rots the senses in the head!
It kills the imagination dead!
It clogs and clutters up the mind!
It makes a child so dull and blind.
He can no longer understand a fantasy,
A fairyland!
His brain becomes as soft as cheese!
His powers of thinking rust and freeze!
An excerpt from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,
By Roald Dahl, 1964
It kills the imagination dead!
It clogs and clutters up the mind!
It makes a child so dull and blind.
He can no longer understand a fantasy,
A fairyland!
His brain becomes as soft as cheese!
His powers of thinking rust and freeze!
An excerpt from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,
By Roald Dahl, 1964
We must read the Bible. We need the Word of God in you.
CONCLUSION
Prov 20:5 says, “The purposes of a person’s heart are deep waters, but one who has insight draws them out.” How much did you receive as you were growing up? Ps 127:1-2 "Unless the LORD builds the house, the builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain. In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat— for he grants sleep to[a] those he loves." To build without the Lord is to work in vain. The protection of the family and our children cannot be achieved by man's efforts. We need God to be central in our homes; we need the Word of God in our lives. There is an urgent role to disciple the children for Jesus, so that they can make a difference for Jesus in their life-times. If you were to disciple your children, what difference will we make, as parents, as a church? Joel 2:28. What kind of difference can we make?
REFLECTION QUESTIONS:
1. How do we receive the children in our midst? How do you respond to Jesus’ words in Matt: “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea”?
2. Are we willing to raise a generation of world changers? What difference will you make? What are we doing as a church? How can we make a difference in schools?
3. Who are some of these children that I can influence? How can I build into their lives with the help of the Lord?
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