Psalm 127
"Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.
2 It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.
3 Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.
4 As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.
5 Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate."
Nobody is more important in our family or in our Church than the children that God has entrusted to our care. But this generation is living in a very difficult world that is becoming more and more hostile to our traditional values, toward our God, and toward those of us who love Him. Our children are being inundated with the vain philosophies of the world and they are being lured to licentious lifestyles.
As Christians, we must champion the truth. We have the privilege and the responsibility to love our children, keep them safe, and teach them what they need to know about life in order for them to grow to be decent and responsible members of their communities. Beyond that, it is our greatest joy -- and duty -- to share the Gospel with them.
I believe the very best thing Christian parents and grandparents can do for our children is to follow the commands of Jesus to love the Lord with our whole being and to love our neighbors as ourselves. When children see that Jesus is at the very center of our home, they know they are secure there. When they see their parents love each other and know they are also cherished, they will learn to be thankful people. They will learn to respect others and to care about their needs. When parents pray with their children at home and pray for their children, they are teaching their children to trust the Lord and develop compassionate hearts for other people. When children experience the unconditional love of their parents, they are more able to trust in the character of God and to understand the love of God for them.
We have often said that prayer is the least we can do. But it is also the best we can do. Let us never forget to engage in earnest prayer for our children and young adults. Let us not sin by failing to hold them up in prayer. This generation -- as all generations -- needs Jesus more than anything.
3 Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.
4 As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.
5 Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate."
Nobody is more important in our family or in our Church than the children that God has entrusted to our care. But this generation is living in a very difficult world that is becoming more and more hostile to our traditional values, toward our God, and toward those of us who love Him. Our children are being inundated with the vain philosophies of the world and they are being lured to licentious lifestyles.
As Christians, we must champion the truth. We have the privilege and the responsibility to love our children, keep them safe, and teach them what they need to know about life in order for them to grow to be decent and responsible members of their communities. Beyond that, it is our greatest joy -- and duty -- to share the Gospel with them.
I believe the very best thing Christian parents and grandparents can do for our children is to follow the commands of Jesus to love the Lord with our whole being and to love our neighbors as ourselves. When children see that Jesus is at the very center of our home, they know they are secure there. When they see their parents love each other and know they are also cherished, they will learn to be thankful people. They will learn to respect others and to care about their needs. When parents pray with their children at home and pray for their children, they are teaching their children to trust the Lord and develop compassionate hearts for other people. When children experience the unconditional love of their parents, they are more able to trust in the character of God and to understand the love of God for them.
We have often said that prayer is the least we can do. But it is also the best we can do. Let us never forget to engage in earnest prayer for our children and young adults. Let us not sin by failing to hold them up in prayer. This generation -- as all generations -- needs Jesus more than anything.
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