A Baby. Marvel at This Gift from Our Heavenly Father
Our Father has blessed us with a gift as no other. A baby to love and to care for.
What Child Is This?
What Child is this, who laid to rest,
On Mary’s lap is sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet,
While shepherds watch are keeping?Chorus:
This, this is Christ, the King,
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing:
Haste, haste to bring Him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary! (William Chatterton Dix, 1865, Christmas Hymnals)
Introduction. God’s miracles. Our Father’s most precious gifts. Human children.
My two beloved and my precious sons. My Heavenly Father’s rewards for my love and for my humble obedience to Him. God’s miracles bestowed to me and to my husband. To love, to treasure and to care for. The blessed day when each was born, lovingly stored deep in our hearts. Tender memories to take with us to Paradise. To present to Almighty God in thanksgiving. Such tiny bundles of sweet love and pure joy. Such innocence and purity.
Such hints of what is to be. So many, many proud moments. In their eyes we see God still. For they, may the Lord be praised. Are both children of God. Both have Jesus as their personal Lord and loving Savior. Yes, indeed children are God’s reward. Our Heavenly Father’s gift of love and future hope.
Scripture Reading: Children are a heritage from the Lord,
offspring a reward from Him.
Like arrows in the hands of a warrior
are children born in one’s youth.
Blessed is the man,
whose quiver is full of them. (Psalm 127:3–5a, NIV)
Jesus, our Lord as He lovingly bids the little ones to come to Him. Shows to us just how important and cherished children are to Almighty God. Jesus Christ exhibits to us how to love and to treasure our children. Our gifts from Heaven.
We can only imagine how very special each of His little ones felt. As they crowded around Jesus on that oh! so blessed day. These special and beloved children were indeed in the presence of God Himself. These little ones, being welcomed and being loved by Jesus, God the Son.
Scripture Reading: When Jesus saw this, He was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them, for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” (Mark 10:14, NIV)
We show to God our thanks. By loving our children as Jesus loves these little ones. With all the love we have to give. True kindness, compassion and tenderness. All balanced with just and loving discipline that leads to godly maturity.
Children are a reward and a gift from Almighty God.
Saint Peter in Ephesians 3:14–18 reminds us that God is our all-loving Heavenly Father. As God loves us, His beloved children. We are to love and to care for the children He has given to us.
Parenting is a responsibility to be taken so seriously. For we are bringing up the next generation. We have accepted a wonderful gift from God, with many, many strings attached. Parenting is a life of love, commitment and responsibilities to our children and to God.
Children are God’s gift of love, as are all else in our lives. Children are a reflection of Almighty God and His unceasing love. As parents we are to reflect our Heavenly Father’s love in all our actions and in all our words.
Scripture Reading: Then Esau looked up and saw the women and children. “Who are these with you?” he asked. Jacob answered, “They are the children God has graciously given your servant.” (Genesis 33:5, NIV)
Jesus actually tells us to be as children. To turn to Almighty God filled with faith in Him. To come to Jesus, filled with trust in Him and His love for us.
Trusting in Jesus is not blind faith. It means to surrender our lives to the Savior, to put Him at the center of life governed by the Holy Spirit, and to have an intimate relationship with the Heavenly Father. Faith in Jesus means eternal life. (Philip Wijaya)
In Saint Matthew’s Gospel chapter eighteen, verses three through to five. Jesus responded to the question, “who is the greatest in the Kingdom of God?” Can we picture Jesus’ closest friends arguing among themselves? When they reach Paradise. Who among them is going to be the greatest?
They wanted Jesus their Lord, their Master, their God to decide among them. Did they not know what they were asking of Jesus. Did they not realize that to Jesus, God the Son all were equal. All were part of the family of God.
Scripture Reading: And He said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in My name welcomes Me. (Matthew 18:3–5, NIV)
Have you ever watched small children in a playground, oh! such fun and laughter they share. A new child timidly approaches. Very, very soon this child is welcomed, is accepted and is indeed playing. As a member of this fun-loving group of very young children. No questions are asked. No hesitation is shown.
With very young children, there are no levels nor hierarchy. Just fun, laughter and games.
I truly believe this is the message of our Lord Jesus. That we accept all people as our equal. All people are welcome to, “come and play with us.” For all people are loved by God, our Heavenly Father. We are commanded by God to love all the people we meet.
Scripture Reading: And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ (Matthew 22:39, NIV)
Jesus, I believe, is teaching us that we love and treat all the people we meet with the welcome and the love of small children. With a sweet innocent, open heart. We are Jesus’ disciples, so we love all people as Jesus does. No judgment on torn or old clothing. For our Lord had only one piece which He wore proudly. We lovingly accept each person for who they are. A creation of God, made in the image and the very likeness of God Himself.
With open arms and an open heart, we welcome each person. As a small child welcomes a new playmate. For this new friend may be an angel of God sent with a message from Almighty God Himself.
Scripture Reading: Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation? (Hebrews 1:14, NIV)
Plus, Almighty God commands of us to be His obedient and humble servants. We remember Jesus’ parable of the woman washing Jesus’ feet with her tears of repentance. Wiping Christ’s feet dry with her hair. On her knees she bowed in humble and complete service to her Lord and to her God. We owe God now less.
As we serve our fellow man, we find joy, happiness and love. Bowing low in service to God by seeing to the needs to others, God draws close to us. We are playing nice with those around us. We are welcoming, accepting and loving all people. As small children do. As Jesus our Lord and our Savior welcomes, accepts and loves us.
Scripture Reading: Whoever has My commands and keeps them is the one who loves Me. The one who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I too will love them and show Myself to them. (John 14:21, NIV)
Conclusion.
- When we love all the people in our lives with sweet innocence, acceptance, an open heart as a small child.
- When we love all the people we meet as Jesus loves us.
- Then we shine the love of Jesus into their lives.
If God touched your heart,
please highlight your favorite passages
and leave me a message.
Thank you.
