God tells us many things about His kingdom in His Word. One of the characteristics of God’s kingdom is that it embraces children. If you don’t like to be around children, you may have to question whether you are really in the kingdom.
We read in Mark 10:13, 14: “And they brought young children to him (Jesus), that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them. But when Jesus saw it, he was MUCH DISPLEASED and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.” Read also Matthew 19:13-15 and Luke 18:15-17.
The disciples were following Jesus, but they didn’t yet understand their Master. They thought that children would be a nuisance to His ministry. They would get in the way. Spoil the anointing.
But when Jesus saw what they were doing, He was “much displeased.” The word in the Greek is “aganakteo” and means to grieve, to be greatly afflicted, to be moved with indignation.” He didn’t gloss over it. He got really upset. In fact, He was indignant! How dare they shoo the children away. How dare they stop the children coming. This was opposite to the heart of Jesus. Immediately he gathered the children to Him for babies and children are at the very heart of His kingdom.
Let’s get the message straight. When we embrace children to our womb, our hearts, our home, and our family we in the very heart of God’s kingdom. As you nurture, teach, and train your children each day, you are in the very center of the kingdom of God. You don’t need to go to some faraway mission field. You serve in God’s kingdom in your kitchen with your children all around you.
Jesus said in Matthew 18:3-5: “Except ye be converted and become as little children, ye shall not enter the kingdom heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.”
Jesus looks upon the way we receive children into our lives as the same way we receive Him? The word “receive” is dechomai and means “to accept deliberately and readily, to welcome, to accept with open arms, minds, and hearts.” What is our attitude to receive children? Do we try to stop having children? Do we push them away? Do we try to stop life coming to our womb? Often when someone finds out they are pregnant, they say, “Well, it was a mistake, but I guess we’ll somehow survive.” How many precious children are called “mistakes”?
How does God want us to receive His children? The same way we welcome Jesus to our hearts and lives. Willingly! Deliberately! “Yes, Lord, I am yielded and willing to receive the precious children You have planned for me to raise for you.” “Yes, Lord, I open my heart, my mind, and my arms to the children You want to give me.”
Be blessed today,
Nancy Campbell
Is the light in your soul dim? Or perhaps nearly out? What about your home? Does the light of Jesus burn brightly in your home, or is it fading?
We may not like to acknowledge the truth that our body does not belong to us. We are not free to do what we like. Well, we can if we want, but only to our detriment. God is the creator of our body. He created it perfectly. Gloriously. Wondrously, Amazingly. Honorably. Powerfully. And He wants us to use our bodies the way He created them to function.
Did you read the testimony by Pitana and Nadia Mutana on page 27 of the current Above Rubies, #94? They wrote about the power of naming their children.
What is pouring out of your mouth today, dear wife and mother? We build our marriages and homes with our words. It is one of our most powerful building tools. Many marriages have fallen apart and are broken today because of negative words.
Although I am an American citizen, I am still a British subject, belonging to the Commonwealth. Therefore, I hope you don’t mind my posting a picture of our lovely queen. She will be 92 years on 21 April.
The disciples of Jesus came to Him and asked him why he spoke in parables. Jesus answered: “Because it is given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given” (Matthew 13:11). The wonderful news of God’s great salvation is called “the mystery of the gospel.” The truths of God’s kingdom are called “the mysteries of the kingdom.”
What is the most important thing you want to teach your children? I know you have great aspirations for your children. You want them to be successful, that’s for sure. And therefore, you spend much time on their education and taking them to all the different extra-curricular activities.
Do you embrace your womb as a gift from God? Part of who you are as a woman? A sacred place? Or do you see it as something that does not fit in with your lifestyle? An organ that you would rather not function?
God has given us so many treasures in family life. We must protect them and watch that we don’t give them away.
If we truly know God is holy, we will walk in the fear of God. We will fear to displease Him and sin against Him. It surprises me when people who say they are Christians commit sinful and lustful deeds, often without conscience. They watch movies with fornication and adultery and think nothing of it. I know several couples who confess Christ as their Savior and yet live together without being married. Is their conscience hardened, or do they not understand what sin is?
What would life have been like, I wondered
No children in the house to play-
What’s the atmosphere like in your home today? Sometimes it can get chaotic. Sometimes its morbid. Other times happy and laughing.
I can remember times during the days of our marriage when my husband would come home tired and ready for his evening meal, but I had planned to go out to a meeting or activity. What should I do? Place his dinner in front of him, say Bye, and leave him to all the children? Or should I stay with him and the children for the evening?
Here is a picture of my Meditation Basket. I use it every day and everywhere I go, downstairs in the office where I am writing to you and searching the Word and upstairs where I live.
Do you love preparing meals for your family? Or do you find it a chore? Dearest wives and mothers, can I encourage you today that cooking and preparing meals for your family is not an insignificant task? It is a powerful part of your divine mothering career. It holds families together. It keeps generations alive.
Did you know that the home is associated with healing? In Luke 2:42, 43 Jesus tells a parable of the master of the household who appoints a faithful and wise steward to be in charge of his home and to make sure his servants have food while he is away. The same parable is also told in Matthew 24:45-47. The word household is “therapeia” in the Greek and means “attendance to medical needs, domestic, healing.”