Throughout the history of mankind the natural progression of life has been a birth ultimately followed by death at some point in time, except for a few notable exceptions that are recorded in the Holy Scriptures.
When we observe the wonder of birth, we are immediately struck by the complete and utter helplessness of that newly born child. The life and the future of the child is in the hands of adults.
Children are the most vulnerable of all human beings and are totally dependent on the adults around them for their physical, emotional and spiritual wellbeing. There is much about them and how they should be treated in the Scriptures, as we will see.
God says
The Child is made in His image.
Genesis 1:26
"Let US make man in our image"
The Child is wonderfully and fearfully made.
Psalm 139:14
"I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that well."
The Child has eternity in his or her heart.
Ecclesiastes 3:11
"He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from the beginning to the end"
The Child is a reward from God
Psalm 127:3
"Sons are a heritage from the Lord; children are a reward from Him"
The Child is to be instructed by his or her parents about God.
Deuteronomy 6:6-7
These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up"
The Child is to be instructed that they in turn tell their children about God.
Psalm 78:6
"so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born and they in turn would tell their children."
Jesus says
The Child is precious in His eyes.
Matthew 18:5
"And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me."
The Child is an example of how to enter the Kingdom of God.
Matthew 18:3
"I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven."
The Child should not be regarded as inferior.
Matthew 18:10
"See that you do not look down on one of these little ones. For I tell you their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven."
The Kingdom of God belongs to little children.
Mark 10:14
"Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these."
It is God's will that none of the little ones should be lost.
Matthew 18:14
"In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost."
Death is preferable to causing a little child to sin against Jesus.
Matthew 18:6
"But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea."
As one meditates upon these Scriptures there is no doubt that children are highly valued by God and the Lord Jesus. In response we should ask the question, do we value the children the same way?
The Bible exhorts us in the Book of Proverbs to "speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves".
Find out more at www.childrensweek.org.au/history.html