The Value of a Child
Empires fall
Mansions crumble
Cattle die
Machinery rusts away
Earthly pleasures vanish in a moment
But a child
Lives on and on
In the lives of his descendants
And in the lives of those he influences
All the way into eternity
(author unknown)
What does the Old Testament say about children?
- Children are made in God’s own image: “So God created man in His own image. In the Image of God created He him; male and female, created He them.” Genesis 1:27
- Children are a blessing and a reward from Him: “Lo children are an heritage (treasured heirloom, inheritance) of the Lord; and the fruit of the womb is His reward.” Psalms 127:3
- Children are known to God even before birth. He personally crafts each one: “For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise thee for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works and that my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect, and in thy book were all thy members written when as yet there was none of them.” Psalms 139:13-16
What does the life of Jesus teach us about children?
Jesus’s disciples apparently had the same low opinion of children that many folks have today. Matthew 19 records Jesus correcting His disciples for this wrong thinking: “Then were there bought unto Him little children, that he should put His hands on them and pray, and the disciples rebuked them. BUT Jesus said suffer (allow) the little children and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven. And He laid His hands on them.” Matthew 19:13-15a Jesus warns us not to look down on children in Matthew 18:10 “Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones, for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.”
When the disciples asked Him who was the greatest, Jesus used the opportunity to teach us to be like little children: “At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying , who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? And Jesus called a little child unto Him, and set him in the midst of them, and said, verily I say unto you, except ye be converted and become as little children, ye shall not enter the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same shall be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 18:1-4
“Jesus Loves the Little Children” as the old song tells us! When we receive a child in Jesus’s name, we not only receive that child, be we actually receive Jesus and the Father himself! “And he (Jesus) took a child and set him in the midst of them: and when he had taken him in His arms. He said unto them, whosoever receive one of such children in my name, receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me, receiveth not (only) me, but Him that sent me.” Mark 9:35-37 What an amazing thought!
Please don’t ever forget that YOU are God’s child! He feels this way about YOU too! You were known before birth and personally, lovingly crafted by the hand of God. You have angels that always look on God’s face in heaven. You are known and precious to Him. He wants to be with you and He will hold you in His arms.