Babylon, the great Empire led by King Nebuchadnezzar, unstoppable in their conquest of the lands in the Mid-East, reigning supreme over even God's chosen people (at God's directive, but that's another issue). This great Babylon, the epitomy of wickedness and sin in the world, was to be destroyed... by arrows.
(Jeremiah 50:9) For, lo, I will raise and cause to come up against Babylon an assembly of great nations from the north country: and they shall set themselves in array against her; from thence she shall be taken: their arrows shall be as of a mighty expert man; none shall return in vain.
The arrows as those of a mighty expert man. The arrows went out! They went out and did not return in vain!
Ok, since all of you are lost as to where I'm going with this, let me continue :) Last night at Kevin Pestke's ordination service, he mentioned his godly heritage. It reminded me of the passage in Psalm 127.
Ok, since all of you are lost as to where I'm going with this, let me continue :) Last night at Kevin Pestke's ordination service, he mentioned his godly heritage. It reminded me of the passage in Psalm 127.
(Psalms 127:3) Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.
(Psalms 127:4) As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.
(Psalms 127:5) Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.
The Bible says that children of the youth are as arrows in the hand of a mighty man. That's the same description of the arrows used to destroy the great Babylonian Empire. Yet our children, the children of the youth, are supposed to be just as effective. We are to be 'shooting them out.'
I suppose it is more natural for us to build castle walls around our children, great bullwarks that will never be penetrated. We end up protecting our arrows, and we make sure they are nice and cozy. We provide the nicest carrying case for our arrows, with nice velvety lined pillows, to make sure that our arrows don't get damaged. But to shoot them out? No way! They might get scratched!
Children are a heritage of the Lord. They are the Lord's reward to people. The man that has his quiver full of them (like me!) is happy! But, they are not supposed to sit in the quiver only.
The man that has children (again, me!) is supposed to prepare his children to be sent out. Every Christian father in the world has the charge of training up missionaries in his home. There is no exception to that. He is to train them up to be ready to go out. He is to shoot them out, and when they are ready, you will find that: "they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate."
Are your arrows ready to attack the enemies in the gate? If not, are they being prepared for that purpose? To go out and attack the gates of hell? They will not prevail against Christ's church, you know.
The heritage... I have a great heritage, and I want my children to carry on the same heritage. I am newly exhorted to prepare my children to be sent out... May I be that mighty expert man, strengthening my bow, readying my arrows.
Just a thought...
I suppose it is more natural for us to build castle walls around our children, great bullwarks that will never be penetrated. We end up protecting our arrows, and we make sure they are nice and cozy. We provide the nicest carrying case for our arrows, with nice velvety lined pillows, to make sure that our arrows don't get damaged. But to shoot them out? No way! They might get scratched!
Children are a heritage of the Lord. They are the Lord's reward to people. The man that has his quiver full of them (like me!) is happy! But, they are not supposed to sit in the quiver only.
The man that has children (again, me!) is supposed to prepare his children to be sent out. Every Christian father in the world has the charge of training up missionaries in his home. There is no exception to that. He is to train them up to be ready to go out. He is to shoot them out, and when they are ready, you will find that: "they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate."
Are your arrows ready to attack the enemies in the gate? If not, are they being prepared for that purpose? To go out and attack the gates of hell? They will not prevail against Christ's church, you know.
The heritage... I have a great heritage, and I want my children to carry on the same heritage. I am newly exhorted to prepare my children to be sent out... May I be that mighty expert man, strengthening my bow, readying my arrows.
Just a thought...
3 comments:
This is a great and challenging post. There have been times where I have been much better at this than lately, thanks for the reminder to train up my children in the way they should go...toward them that are without! Col 4:5
Outstanding post. I like the quote "God only has one Son and He made Him a missionary" Kids will mimic us - what'll it be, remote or tracts? Football statistics or scripture? It is an intimidating and sober challenge but one that if done right can yield such joyous results. Thanks Andy
i was reading in 1 kings 1 today and found a verse that i thought you might like after reading this post. 47And moreover the king's servants came to bless our lord king David, saying, God make the name of Solomon better than thy name, and make his throne greater than thy throne.
what a blessing it is to hear about the exploits of your children once they are 'loosed'. something else to look forward to when you get around to letting go;)
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