DO YOUR CHILDREN KNOW THEIR HEAVENLY FATHER?

“My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue;
but in deed and in truth”
(1 John 3:18).

The apostle John loved to call his readers his “little children.” The Greek word is teknion which means “a little child.” It is also used as a tender term for a teacher towards his disciples.” He calls them “little children” seven times in 1 John.

However, in 1 John 2:13, John changes the word. He wrote to the fathers because they knew God, the One who was from the beginning. He wrote to the young men because they had overcome the wicked one. But then I noticed with new alertness these words: “I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father.”

This time he uses a different word, paideion which means “a little boy or little girl, infant, a young child.” I was arrested by these words. God wants our little children to know Him. Sometimes we don’t expect our children to know the Father until they are older, but this Scripture shows that God wants our children to know Him when they are young.

He wants them to experience the Father’s love and protection from their earthly fathers so they will understand His love. He also wants them to come to know Him through the hearing of the Scriptures.

We see this in 2 Timothy 3:15: “From a child thou hast known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” Here another different Greek word is used for child. This time it is brephos which speaks of “a babe in the womb, a babe that is newly born, a little child.” Check out Luke 1:4, 44 and 2:16. Once again, God is not limiting the understanding of knowing Him to older people. He wants little ones to know His Word.

How can this happen? It happens at our Family Bible times where father reads the Scriptures to the family morning and evening. Little by little the word goes into the hearts of these little ones (even when they are in the womb). In a godly home, even young children can be ready for salvation, because they are daily filled with God’s word. They can receive Christ Jesus into their lives at the ages of three and four because it is the Scriptures that prepare them for salvation. We are saved through the Word of Truth. Most of our children had a definite encounter with the Lord at the age of four years and it is as real to them today although some are now in their sixties!

Dear mothers, please be aware that your little ones can begin to KNOW God at an early age. Did you notice that word KNOW? Paul said to Timothy that he had KNOWN the Holy Scriptures since a little child. John wrote to the little children because they KNEW the Father.

Be faithful to read the Scriptures daily to your children. Watch over their souls. Speak to them much of the Father and of His character and of His great salvation. Little children want to know God. Fill them up with the knowledge of God.

I am amazed and so utterly blessed as I watch little ones in our prayer meetings with their hands raised to God and looking up in adoring worship to God. Sometimes these little ones are more into worship than the older ones. They already KNOW something of the awe of their Father God.

Remember what Jesus said in Matthew 19:14 (NLT): “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them. For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children.”

Have a lovely day with your children

Blessings from Nancy Campbell\

www.aboverubies.org

PRAYER:

“Dear Father God, just as little toddlers and children love their fathers and love to know them, so they love to know You as their heavenly Father. Please help me to be faithful in leading them to You and to show them how much You love them and want them.’ Amen.”

AFFIRMATION:

My longing is to know the Father and for my children (young and older) to know Him too.