“Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him” Psalm 127:3 (NLT).
This well-known verse encapsulates the fact that children are a precious blessing from God. It should, therefore, come as no surprise to discover that children are both present and prominent throughout the Bible, sometimes performing vital and even critical roles in the unfolding story of God’s plan to restore us to Him.
God’s BIG on children and has much to say about them. To God, children are …
A precious gift.
Children are a wonderful inheritance from the Lord (Psalm 127:3) for which we should be thankful. They are never a mistake or an accident and should never be treated with contempt (Matthew 18:10).
Unreservedly loved.
Jesus enthusiastically welcomes and embraces children (Matthew 19:13-15). We should never sideline children. God loves children wholeheartedly and unconditionally, and so should we.
Deserving of salvation.
God wants every child to become part of His family through faith in Christ Jesus. There are no exceptions; He doesn’t want a single child to perish (Matthew 18:10-14).
An example.
Little children are helpless and dependent on their parents, which illustrates how people of all ages should be humble and open in their relationships with the Lord (Matthew 18:2-4).
Coworkers.
Christian children are God’s agents with gifts and abilities they can use to serve Him today. The Great Commission is as applicable for a child as it is for an adult (Matthew 28:16-20).
Fellow worshippers.
“Nursing infants gurgle choruses about you; toddlers shout the songs” Psalm 8:2 (MSG). Remarkably, God equips children to praise Him before they learn to speak!
Students of the Word.
God entrusts His Story to children and expects them to learn it, obey it, and then proclaim it to future generations (Deuteronomy 6:1-9).
Defenceless.
Children are powerless and vulnerable and should never be exploited, neglected, despised, or ill-treated (Matthew 18:6-10). God protects and provides for orphans (Psalm 68:5-6, James 1:27).
Eligible for help and healing.
Sick children matter to God (Luke 7:11-17, 8:49-56), and He hears their parents’ prayers of faith for their healing and physical wellbeing.
Worthy of His blessing.
Jesus loves to gather children to Himself and bless them (Mark 10:13-16). We should never get between children and Jesus or do anything that would push them away from Him.
It’s hard to get our heads around this, but the love that a parent has for a child doesn’t even begin to match the love God has for each and every child. His love is truly unfathomable. It’s also why children are created for God’s purposes, not ours. God has a divine plan for every child (Jeremiah 1:5) – to give them hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11). When we release our children into His hands, He will care for them and work the details of their lives into something good (Romans 8:28).
