Day 20 of 21 Days of Prayer. Our Heritage. "Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord : and the fruit of the womb is his reward." Psalms 127:3 KJV This means children are special to God. He gives them to us as a "heritage" meaning we have been entrusted with an inheritance from God, something valuable that we claim as our own but remains the object of God's special care.

Numerous times in the Gospels, we see Jesus demonstrate this special love for children. In Mark 10 parents were bringing children to be blessed by Jesus but the disciples started showing them away, assuming there were other more important issues to be handled by the Lord.

After all, in the first century children really didn't have rights and for that reason they were to be "seen and not heard". But Jesus didn't see it that way. Verse 14 says, "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."

Although He taught an object lesson of how we are to approach God, this passage makes it clear that He was displeased when the disciples chased the children away.

And let's not forget the time in Matthew 18, when the disciples asked Jesus who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven and to their surprise, He called a little child to him from the crowd and said this in verse 3 and 6,...

"Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven... But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea."

Jesus didn't mince words speaking of children and by that, He clearly taught the sheer magnitude of how much God cares for children. In their innocence, children represent the model of purity that God created mankind to be. But it needs to be shaped by parents, elders, mentors, coaches, leaders and heroes in order to fulfill God-given destiny. But it displeases God when a child's innocence and genuine faith becomes corrupted by the humanistic filth of worldly thought and behavior.

Children are a gift - a heritage - from the Lord and we must value them, protect them, guide them to become the greatness that God intended.

LET'S PRAY

Heavenly Father, we pause today and pray for our children. Not just our biological children but children all over the world. Holy Spirit, help this world to see the value in our children. We pray a hedge of protection around their lives. Let your angels take charge over them. Give parents, guardians, educators, coaches, and leaders wisdom to guide them to become everything that God intends them to become, in the name of Jesus, amen.

~Inspiring hope and seasoning faith, Pastor Sean A. Daigre, Sr.