The Holy Bible :: essays research papers

Our Children Children are the offspring born to a husband and wife in marriage relationship. To the Hebrews, children were considered gifts from God, and to be childless was considered a reproach; 'And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying, Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men'; (Luke 1:25). Jesus clearly expressed his love and respect for the children; 'And he took a child, and set him in the midst of them: and when he had taken him in his arms, he said unto them, Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name, receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me'; (Mark 9:36-37). How far have we strayed from the will of God? How many of us can would give anything close to the above definition if asked to define children. The culture is all around us but it should not be all in us. If our children were gifts from God in which we are to have an expressed love and respect, how would we raise our gifts? How many gifts would we ask of the Lord? Would we Plan our lives with as few gifts as possible so that we could spend more time building careers and acquiring worldly gain? Would we say when confronted with the culture's attitude on rejecting God's gifts, I would not reject God's gift but it is a personal choice? Who of us would say to those receiving a gift from God, I would cherish the gift from God but for I respect the rights of others? When the rights of other fly in the face of what God has said we must stand on the word of God and if need be take up our cross. Standing for righteousness will put us at odds with the culture. Being lights of Holiness in the darkness of this culture is exactly what Jesus was revealing when He spoke to the disciples; 'And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me'; (Luke 9:23).