14c) THE BIBLICAL FATHER SEES HIS CHILDREN AS REWARDS
A heritage is that which is inherited, a status into which one is born, a birthright. God's chosen people, Israel, and the true Christian church, has inherited exceeding great and precious promises and are "joint heirs with Christ, if so be we suffer with Him" (Romans 8:17).
Just as Christ, and all that He has inherited, is ours, so are all the children that we raise to be set apart for His inheritance. The fact that God counts redeemed sinners as His inheritance (heritage of the Lord) is mind blowing. It is amazing grace. It is an astounding truth that we humans, with all our weaknesses, can have the privilege of not only bringing to birth an inheritance for God, but also the privilege of raising and molding this inheritance for God.
The problem is that most of the church has such a deceived and warped understanding of this truth. The church believes that we should win as many souls as possible for the Lord and disciple them. This is right. But, the deception is that we should limit our own families in order to accomplish the great commission. They believe that any more than two or three children would hinder fulfilling the great commission. The question unanswered is: how many evangelists and soul winners, etc. have we refused to raise for the heritage of the Lord?
John Wesley was the 15th child of Susannah Wesley and Charles Wesley, the great hymn writer, was the 18th of her 19 children.
Be encouraged. Colin Campbell