Connected Caregivers
Love Your Children
Introduction
3 Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from Him. —Psalms 127:3 (NLT)
36 Then He put a little child among them. Taking the child in His arms, He said to them, 37 “Anyone who welcomes a little child like this on My behalf welcomes Me, and anyone who welcomes Me welcomes not only Me but also My Father Who sent Me.” —Mark 9:36-37 (NLT)
10 “Beware that you don’t look down on any of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels are always in the presence of My Heavenly Father. —Matthew 18.10 (NLT)
We Look and Love Like Our Heavenly Father When We:
1.
and
8 But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. —Romans 5:8 (NIV)
22 The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. 23 Great is His faithfulness; His mercies begin afresh each morning.
—Lamentations 3:22-23 (NLT)11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him! 12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. —Matthew 7:11-12 (NIV)
2.
Their
is
15 Didn’t the Lord make you one with your wife? In body and spirit you are His. And what does He want? Godly children from your union. So guard your heart; remain loyal to the wife of your youth. —Malachi 2:15 (NLT)
13-16 The people brought children to Jesus, hoping He might touch them. The disciples shooed them off. But Jesus was irate and let them know it: “Don’t push these children away. Don’t ever get between them and Me. These children are at the very center of life in the kingdom. Mark this: Unless you accept God’s kingdom in the simplicity of a child, you’ll never get in.” Then, gathering the children up in His arms, He laid His hands of blessing on them. —Mark 10:13-16 (MSG)
3.
8 If I announce that some wicked people are sure to die and you fail to tell them to change their ways, then they will die in their sins, and I will hold you responsible for their deaths. —Ezekiel 33:8 (NLT)
5 And have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as His children? He said, “My child, don’t make light of the Lord’s discipline, and don’t give up when He corrects you. 6 For the Lord disciplines those He loves, and He punishes each one He accepts as his child.” 7 As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as His own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father? 8 If God doesn’t discipline you as He does all of His children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really His children at all. 9 Since we respected our earthly fathers who disciplined us, shouldn’t we submit even more to the discipline of the Father of our spirits, and live forever? 10 For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in His holiness. 11 No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way. —Hebrews 12:5-11 (NLT)
4.
a Life of
To
To
To Do
6 And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. 7 Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. 8 Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders. —Deuteronomy 6:6-8 (NLT)
6 Train a child in the way he should go, and even when he is old he will not turn away from it. —Proverbs 22:6 (GW)
5.
Them to Keep
4 Fathers, don’t frustrate your children with no-win scenarios. Take them by the hand and lead them in the way of the Master. —Ephesians 6:4 (MSG)
29 Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. 32 Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. —Ephesians 4:29;31-32 (NLT)
6.
Them With
19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of My Father which is in heaven.20 For where two or three are gathered together in My Name, there am I in the midst of them. —Matthew 18:19-20 (KJV)
Conclusion
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails. —1 Corinthians 13:4-8a (NIV)
My Next Steps:
- Which of the six “E’s” do I need to work on the most? What changes can I make to help me excel in these areas?
- Do I approach each of my children as individuals with different giftings and needs? If not, how can I parent each one uniquely and fuel their gifts based on how they are wired?
- How would I rate my love walk with my children? Which of the characteristics in 1 Corinthians 13 do I need to develop more?