(Psalms 78:1-7, Ephesians 6:4, Deuteronomy 4:9, Deuteronomy 6:6-9, Genesis 18:19)
God usually raise an Abraham who can raise an Isaac for Him. God concentrated on remaking Abraham and Sarah, transforming them to vessels good enough to bring forth Isaac. Children are the heritage of the Lord, He only gives them to us to raise for Him. While He watches over them, He hands them over to us with the responsibility of raising the children in way that fits His purpose for the children.
There are some assignments which God plans to be done through the children due to certain things which may not permit them through the parents. Just like David’s case presented below.
1 Chronicles 22
7 And David said to Solomon, My son, as for me, it was in my mind to build an house unto the name of the LORD my God:
8 But the word of the LORD came to me, saying, Thou hast shed blood abundantly, and hast made great wars: thou shalt not build an house unto my name, because thou hast shed much blood upon the earth in my sight.
9 Behold, a son shall be born to thee, who shall be a man of rest; and I will give him rest from all his enemies round about: for his name shall be Solomon, and I will give peace and quietness unto Israel in his days.
10 He shall build an house for my name; and he shall be my son, and I will be his father; and I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel for ever.
The first thing is, how well do we connect the child to His Creator?
This is the first responsibility. Are we raising the child to
1. Know and reverence God
2. Seek and be close to God
3. Know himself or herself as the heritage of God?
4. See practically and know that the word of God is supreme in all affairs even family/domestic affairs?
5. Know that he or she should not just run to Jesus but you live entirely in Him
It is always interesting engaging some children on their knowledge about God. Some children will tell you that they are the ark of God, some will say they are the heritage of God. Most children in this category are so conscious of God that they honour and fear Him. This makes them flee evil ways and deeds even when their parents are not around them. Such children do not call the name of the Lord in vain, even though their mates do so. They were raised being conscious of the weight of God’s judgment for such acts. They do all things as unto the Lord, secular or spiritual. In school, they are always the pacesetter in good things. This is because the parents of these children meet up with their divine assignment of raising God’s heritage. Of course such parents continuously present their children before God. God knows them, how they are not casual or careless in raising His heritage for Him.
So, some children are carefully trained to please God and fulfill His purpose in their generation. But it is so sympathetic that many children are raised to fail in God’s purpose. How will they reverend One they were not trained to fear? How will they manifest the glory of the God they do not know? How can they fulfil the purpose of the Creator they are not acquainted with?
They normally know Jesus from the crowd. They are always casual with God’s word. Most of what they know about Him is what they hear from others. Partly because they were not raised to search for answers to life issues from the Bible. They are also not trained about seeking Christ through the Bible.
Please, let us raise our children as the heritage of God, bearing in mind that God created them for His purpose and pleasure. Let us raise them in manners that makes God find them useful for the peculiar purpose He created for. I pray our children will not be outcast or rejected before God. Friends, He has divine rewards for how well we do this task!
Prayer Points
1) Father, let these children be Your vessels of glory and honor, in Jesus name.
2) Lord, do not let these children who are Your heritage, become vessels for the devil, in Jesus name.
3) Lord, I soak my children in the blood of Jesus, their destiny is secured and will not be manipulated, in Jesus name,
4) Lord, let me be able to raise these children for You and Your purpose, in Jesus name.
5) Lord, may I not be found guilty of not raising these heritage of Yours for Your purpose and glory, in Jesus name