Step into conversations about faith, family, humor, and honest reflections from a life well lived.
Listen here!
Check out the podcast here and listen on your favorite platforms!
Little children remain the most helpless of all God’s creatures. Every child deserves a mom, a dad, a teacher. Every skill on this earth has to be learned, from birth to death. They need someone to care for them as babes, then hold their hands and lead them as toddlers, till they finally walk on their own.
Perhaps it’s your job to show them how to sit blocks one upon another. The only thing a child knows for sure is how to knock them down. Destruction seems built into children—part of the sin nature, I’m sure. But the most crucial times come in a lifestyle choice, an attitude, a way of doing things right. There’s also a foundation of facts to know. Every child deserves to know certain truths.
Children come with imagination, creativity, and some have make-believe friends. The teddy bear can seem personal. Can to be talked to. On the other hand, there are a lot of live and real things such as tall, growing green trees that aren’t personal at all. Children deserve to know the difference.
2. Every child deserves someone who loves them.
Maybe it’s Mommy or Daddy, or a grandparent or guardian, who provides a true love that doesn’t give up. They need to learn about love through actions, as well as words. And that grasp makes it easier to believe a Heavenly Father loves them.
3. Unfortunately, plenty of troubles exist in this world.
We might prefer to isolate kids from this truth . And, of course, we try to protect them. But we can’t hold on to them forever. They’ll venture out where it can be harsh and cruel. That’s a part of even an abundant life. If we never let them fail, or struggle, or face challenges, they won’t know how to respond.
4. Another important truth: Jesus has overcome the world.
Tough stuff doesn’t always go away. But Jesus will walk them through it. Because He was triumphant on the cross and over the tomb, by rising back to life, there’s victory for all, including a child. Those little ones deserve to learn, as soon as they’re able, that Jesus is always with them.
5. The Bible is completely reliable.
As they grow up, they begin to read story books. As soon as they’re able to understand, they need to be told, the Bible is different than every other book. In these pages is the truth about God. They need to learn that not only because you tell them, but because you act upon the Word. It guides you along your way.
6. Every child deserves to know the best secret: obedience to God leads to a fulfilled life.
That’s why they learn obedience in small things now. Not just because you’re bigger, tougher, or meaner, but because this gives them streets smarts for doing life. That’s why we teach them to learn to follow certain life rules young. Eventually, not only will we please Him, but also satisfy our own best and highest desires.
7. Life with Jesus is full of adventure.
Our heavenly Father is a God of unexpected surprises. He is, as C.S. Lewis in the Narnia Tales says, “a wild lion.” That is, you never can know for sure what He’s going to do, because He has His own way of doing things, even in how He answers our prayers. He brings blessings, such as special people into our lives. He’s already there in the future planning something for you and for our children. They deserve to know they don’t need to be afraid, but to look forward to adventures.
8. Every child deserves a family.
Father and mother, brothers and sisters, Grandma and Grandpa are part of the unit of a God-given family. God designed society that way. He has a lot of lessons to teach. In a family we learn to give and receive forgiveness, and how to really love by getting up close and personal with others.
9. What is life? For one thing, it’s a prep school for eternity.
Maybe it’s the death of a pet or a grandparent. As soon as they’re able to recognize life here is short and terminal, they deserve to realize God has that plan in mind.
Yes, there’s something in us that says we ought to live forever. But life here is just a training ground. We’re given some years to get ready for heaven. So, God stuck us in a family of some sort, to learn how to love, how to forgive. See if we choose to follow Him and know Him. If so, we win forever. And that’s what life’s about.
10. They deserve to know God made them that way.
A kid’s song says, “I’m something special!” And it’s true. They’re important, just as they are. God made them and He doesn’t make any junk. If they’re tall or short, if they have a big nose, there are no mistakes. Whatever talents or abilities, they need to learn to use what God’s given them.
11. Finally, God will always hear them.
Nobody can pray too much, whether young or old. Little ones deserve to know God cares about everything. Any time they want to pray, they should.
No one can force a child to believe in God or Jesus. Certainly, I would lead the pack if I could make my children become Christians. But I can’t. That’s the work of the Holy Spirit and God in their lives. They have to come to that place of confessing Him on their own. But I can prepare the environment, work up the fallow ground, get the soil ready for good seed to be planted. I can teach them lots of things, by saying the words and showing the actions.
And when all of this is done, I can relax and know I’ve done my part. I can trust God for His.
Amen and Amen!
1st Presbyterian Church, Fillmore, California
December 30, 1979
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Every Baby Ought to Know” AUDIO PODCAST by Stephen Bly: