Tuesday 27 December 2016

Belongs to Them

Belongs to them,
Matthew’s gospel tells us,
“Then little children were brought to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked those who brought them. 
Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”  
When he had placed his hands on them, he went on from there. Matthew 19:13-15.
Here the people brought their children for Jesus to bless. Those who did this were most likely believers in God. They seen in Jesus at the very least a man of God and desired to have him bless their children.
I firmly believe it is incumbent on every person who believes in Christ, who believe in God the creator of heaven and earth, to bring up their children in their faith. The book of proverbs tells us.
“Train a child in the way he should go,
 and when he is old he will not turn from it.” 
Proverbs 22:6.
The book of Deuteronomy states,
“Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.  
These commandments that I give you today 
are to be upon your hearts.  
Impress them on your children. 
Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, 
when you lie down and when you get up.  
Tie them as symbols on your hands 
and bind them on your foreheads.  
Write them on the doorframes of your houses 
and on your gates. 
                                                                                    Deuteronomy 6:5-9.
As Christians we must live our faith in full view of our Children.
Joshua Loth Liebman wrote,
“Give your children unconditional love, a love that is not dependent on report cards, clean hands, or popularity.
  Give your children a sense of your whole-hearted acceptance, acceptance of their human frailties as well as their abilities and virtues.  
Give your children your permission to grow up to make their own lives independent of you.  
Give them a sense of truth; make them aware of themselves as citizens of a universe in which there are many obstacles as well as fulfilments.  
Bestow upon your child the blessings of your faith.  
These are the laws of honouring your son and your daughter.  Out of these laws will be built the Declaration of Independence for the coming generation, a spiritual and emotional independence that, in turn, will make the world free, democratic, safe, creative”.  Joshua Loth Liebman.
Please think about it.

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