Start Children Off On The Way They Should Go

Start children off on the way they should go

He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young. (Isaiah 40:11 NIV)

Firstly Jesus loves children. People brought little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked 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.“ Anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it. So we should bring little children to Jesus together with us not just ourselves only.

And then we become children's help to come to the Lord rather than obstacle. Not only to meet in Church but also to bring the child to Jesus. There are many people meeting in the Church but not all people coming to Jesus. And then unless we must change and become humble and pure like little children, we will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Secondly the children should be baptized to the Lord. And the children of Israel shall be circumcised on the eighth day which on behalf of baptism. Some people hold the point that waiting for the children to grow up and then let they choose whether to be baptized or not. Will you let your child choose hell? Some people hold the point based on the law that let children be baptized after learning more knowledge. If you teach your children the truth based on the law is equivalent to put them in the curse of law. Do not you put your child in God's grace? Do not you believe that Jesus' blood is capable? Anyone who have no faith will never enter the heaven and finally die in the wilderness.

Will you throw your children in the garbage to grow up? In the thief nest? Do not be better that God take care of your children for you than your own? The children of Israel shall be circumcised on the eighth day which on behalf of baptism. Those who are not circumcised to be killed with stones. So God met Moses on the way to kill him. At the end of the circumcision by Moses' wife, the angel of God left Moses who led all of Israel out of Egypt regardless of age.

Thirdly teach the children the way they are to live. Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it. (Proverbs 22:6 NIV) Teach them God’s decrees and instructions, and show them the way they are to live and how they are to behave. Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him. We not only born our children but also raise, teach and educate. We need to talk to our children the power of God and the way of God day and night like Samuel who was educated before weaning and when he left her mother after weaning he could serve God.

We can educate our children no matter how small they are rather then grow up. Do not follow our mere natural instincts and desires instead of Lord's truth to discipline. We should not leave our mouth from God's law. The word of God need to be hung on the door, the forehead, the sleeve and on the gate. We should always keep talking with the children no matter in and out. Those who loves their children is careful to discipline them would enjoy the rest in Jesus.

Finally educate our children to be in God's household. Isaac had two sons Esau and Jacob. The boys grew up, and Esau became a skillful hunter, a man of the open country, while Jacob was content to stay at home among the tents. Isaac, who had a taste for wild game, loved Esau, but Rebekah loved Jacob. The household of Isaac was the pretense of the tents of God which represented the church. We can not do as Esau, nor do we teach Esau like Isaac. Esau was often in the field which represented in the world and not in the Jesus. Esau became a skillful hunter which meaned that he was capable in this world to bring the family rich material and vanity on the dignity. And Isaac his father loved him because he had a taste for wild game.

The father need to take a lot of responsibility for the wrong value led to the wrong direction which Esau pursued. Although the end of Esau was so painful and regretful he was unable to change. And his father was also very painful to have dim eyes and could not be seen in Bible. Because of the love of secular, so the spirit of the eyes was blind. Jacob who is loved by God because he loved household of God and often stay in the God’s household. God hated Esau but loved Jacob. Brothers and sisters we should educate our children to take the road of Jacob rather than Esau'. The final end of the two is not the same. We have to come in the spiritual path of Jacob to the kingdom of heaven. Jacob was full of sap when he was young but when he was in old age he became spirituality with the fruit of Joseph. Joseph was a righteous man while Joseph's ten brothers are wicked. Brothers and sisters we need to physical godliness well and also to educate our children to physical godliness well and have a good pursuit of God's kingdom and righteousness.