Knowing some years ago that I was more like the 12 disciples (who often did not see the value of children) than I cared to think, I decided to search the scripture for what God says about their value. The following study came from that search. May the Lord continue to help us all feel about children the way He does!
Children Are a Blessing and a Gift from God Psalm 127:3-5 “Behold, children are a gift of 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. How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them;…” Psalm 128:1-4 “…..your children like olive plants around your table….” = sign of God’s blessing
All Children Have a Special Destiny and Purpose Determined Before Birth Jeremiah 1:4,5 “Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying, ‘Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, And before you were born I consecrated you, I have appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” Psalm 139:13-16 “For You formed my inward parts; You weaved me in my mother’s womb. I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made….”
All Children When Converted Receive the Holy Spirit Regardless of Age Acts 2:38,39 “….and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and your children….”
Young Children Have a spirit Which is Alive and Receptive and Can be Molded by the Holy Spirit Luke 1;15 “For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; and he will drink no wine or liquor, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit while yet in his mother’s womb.” Luke 1:80 “And the child continued to grow and to become strong in spirit, and he lived in the deserts until the day of his public appearance to Israel.” Psalm 22:9,10 “Yet You are He who brought me forth from the womb; You made me trust when upon my mother’s breasts. Upon You I was cast from birth; You have been my God from my mother’s womb.” Matthew 19:14 “But Jesus said, “Let the children alone, and do not hinder them from coming to Me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”
Children Can Hear the Voice of God, Obey Him and be Used by Him I Samuel 3:1-14 “Then the Lord came and stood and called…’Samuel? Samuel?’ And Samuel said, ‘Speak, for Your servant is listening.” I Samuel 3:18 “So Samuel told him everything and hid nothing from him….”
The Humility and Receptivity of Children to the King and His Kingdom is a Needed Example to We Adults Matthew 18:1-6 “…….Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” Mark 10:13-16 “……Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all.”
There is Great Blessing for Those Who Honor Children; and Great Judgment to Those Who Cause Them to Stumble Matthew 18:1-6 “……And whoever receives one such child in My name receives Me; but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a heavy millstone hung around his neck, and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.”
Children Must be Trained in the Word and Ways of God Proverbs 22:6 “Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it.” Psalm 78:4 “We will not conceal them from their children, But tell to the generation to come the praises of the Lord, And His strength and His wondrous works that He has done.” Deuteronomy 6:6,7 “and you shall teach them diligently to your sons…” Ephesians 6:4 “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.”
Children Must be Prayed for so They Can See/Know God in all His Glory
Psalm 90:16 “Let Your work appear to Your servants And Your majesty to their children.”
Psalm 115:13-15 “….May the Lord give you increase, You and your children…..”
Children are Included in the Pouring Out of the Holy Spirit on His church Joel 2:28 “It will come about after this That I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind, And your sons and daughters will prophesy,….your young men will see visions.”
Children Can and Should Participate in Worship Services with Adults Joshua 8:35 “There was not a word of all that Moses had commanded which Joshua did not read before all the assembly of Israel with the women and the little ones and the strangers who were living among them.” II Chronicles 20:13 “All Judah was standing before the Lord, with their infants, their wives and their children.” Nehemiah 12:43 “and on that day they offered great sacrifices and rejoiced because God had given them great joy, even the women and children rejoiced, so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard from afar.”
Children are Commanded to Praise the Lord Psalm 148:7, 12, 13 “Praise the Lord from the earth….Both young men and virgins; Old men and children. Let them praise the name of the Lord,….” Matthew 21:12-16 “…..But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that He had done, and the children who were shouting in the temple, “Hosanna to the Son of David, “ they became indignant and said to Him, “Do You hear what these children are saying?” And Jesus said to them, “Yes” have you never read, ‘OUT OF THE MOUTH OF INFANTS AND NURSING BABIES YOU HAVE PREPARED PRAISE FOR YOURSELF?”
Children are Commanded to be Obedient to Parents Colossians 3:20 “Children, be obedient to your parents in all things, for this is well-pleasing to the Lord.”