In addition to these teens, there are many children in my life. Though I have none of my own biological children, I feel as though I've got my own little tribe. Tanika, Zachary, Leah, Breanna, Tyler, Connor, Allison, Elijah, Miguel, hastity, and a host of others are all my "babies". It is with all of them in mind I deliver this message. I challenge every adult to read this message and take up arms in defense of the children, our most precious resource. One look at the news lets you know that our children are indeed under attack. The last couple of months have been plastered with headlines containing unspeakable atrocities towards our children. The most horrifying are all these tales of parents, yes parents, abusing and killing their own offspring. We have a duty, a divine responsibility to stand in the gap for them. To educate them, to protect them, to love them, and to produce an environment conducive to their needs. Today we will delve in to the scriptures and allow the Lord to illuminate His will regarding this matter.
Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, The fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, So are the children of one’s youth. Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them; They shall not be ashamed, But shall speak with their enemies in the gate. (Psalm 127:3-5 NKJV) This is the attitude every parent should have about their children. They shouldn't be looked upon as some sort of burden, financial responsibility, or "accident". They are gifts from the Most High. You should be adoring them, spending every waking moment completely dedicated to their well-being. Do you realize how important arrows were for warriors back then? David wasn't inspired to use these words haphazardly. He did it to illustrate the importance of our children, the ability they have to mount an offensive attack against the enemy. Believe you me, the enemy knows how important they are. All of these things in society meant to draw our children away from the Lord are not by accident. The enemy is actively raiding the garrison and we're more concerned with "keeping up with the Joneses".
In many communities grandparents are raising the children. Some of them in a diminished capacity, lacking the carnal resources some may feel are required. Yet they continue to do it, knowing the importance of these children in the kingdom of God. Let alone to society as a whole. Proverbs 17:6 (NKJV) sheds light on the why; "Children’s children are the crown of old men, And the glory of children is their father." Amen? For a moment though let's concentrate on the very end of the verse. This is a direct message to all of you part time, afraid to "man up" males (and I call you that because a man doesn't need this talking to) who have brought children in to this world. The one's who complain about they "baby mama" and every other excuse as to why they can't be a good father. The one's who say this or that is wrong with my child. Yet spend all day with they homeboy chasing women, playing video games, facebooking, waiting on the new J's to drop. You're supposed to be the "glory" of those babies. I've already spent to much time addressing you. Look up the word "glory", and if you aren't that for them babies......TIGHTEN UP.
Often I hear parents say to their children, "The bible says to, 'honor our father and mother'." True biblical statement, can't deny that. I do have a question though. Are you doing something deserving of honor. Is it honorable when your child sees you cursing everyone you know. Are you honorable in your business practices? Here's goes one that's going to pluck some nerves: Do you honor your mother and father? How about your in-laws? Or every time they leave are you grumbling, speaking disrespectfully to them, happy their in a nursing home and you don't have to deal with them? It's wonderful to stand on Ephesians 6:1-3, but don't leave out verse 4 people: " And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord" (Ephesians 6:4 NKJV) Here's a hint, you can quote verses 1-3 until your blue in the face. If you don't deal with the end of verse 4, they will never understand WHY they need to honor you. AMEN? Double standards, they're everywhere aren't they? Want godly children, start by being a godly parent. Want godly children, start by being godly adults. This generation isn't wayward by their own choice, their wayward because WE have dropped the ball.
Staying in that vein, let's put some emphasis on the necessity of parents being obedient to the Father. In the book of Jeremiah there is verse that beautifully illustrates a parent's responsibility, the necessity of it. This doesn't just go for parents, this goes for every adult in this world. Take heed, it takes a village family....it takes a village. "They shall be My people, and I will be their God; then I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear Me forever, for the good of them and their children after them." (Jeremiah 32:38-39 NKJV) That's the plan, not complex at all. Yet, are you living this way. Is He your God, are you walking in The Way, with the proper reverence for Him. You have to keep the commandments, we have to keep the commandments. Not just for us, but for them. We can't expect them to be obedient when we are disobedient. Deuteronomy 6:4-7 (NKJV) tells us the way our houses should be, the type of things that need to be going on. "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the
LORD is one! You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up." Does that sound like your home?
People always want to talk about the war on drugs, and how it has destroyed communities. I will not deny it has had a tremendous impact, I am a firsthand witness of that. Yet I've seen something else with just as a debilitating effect. It's called.....capitalism. I've seen the pursuit of "success" destroy more families than crack or alcohol ever did. Amen? Stop worrying about that corporate ladder, those deadlines, and all that other nonsense. Spend sometime with your kids teaching them about the Father, about His commandments, about His awesome Son who loves them more than you ever could.
Be transparent with your kids, tell them what God has brought you through. The ways in which He keeps you and caused you to overcome. How He opened the door for you to get that education, that office with the view, that house and that car. In Joshua 4:21-24 (NKJV) that's the reason He had Joshua set up those memorial stones. "Then he spoke to the children of Israel, saying: “When your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, ‘What are these stones?' “then you shall let your children know, saying, ‘Israel
crossed over this Jordan on dry land’; for the LORD your God dried up the waters of the Jordan before you until we had crossed over, as the LORD your God did to the Red Sea, which He dried up before us until we had crossed over that all the peoples of the earth may know the hand of the LORD, that it is mighty, that you may fear the LORD your God forever.” Are your stones on display? They ought to be. If you don't show them how real He is, how will they ever know. If they think you did it all, why should they put their faith in Him. When they get to those tough times why would they call on Him if you never did?
This is part one, we will follow up next week with part two. Take some time this week to spend time with your children. Not just watching the tournament, but by sharing the Gospel with them. Not just cooking out, but by pouring in. This issue is reversible, all things are in His strength. Let's reclaim our most precious resource and use it to magnify Him. I love you all, let's build this KINGDOM!!!
BE BLESSED BE FAITHFUL