Like Arrows In The Hand Of A Warrior

 Psalm about our children

A Song of Ascents. Of Solomon. Unless the LORD builds the house, They labor in vain who build it; Unless the LORD guards the city, The watchman stays awake in vain.
It is vain for you to rise up early, To sit up late, To eat the bread of sorrows; For so He gives His beloved sleep.
Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, The fruit of the womb is a reward.
Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, So are the children of one's youth.
Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them; They shall not be ashamed, But shall speak with their enemies in the gate.


Pro 22:6  Says: Train up a child in the way he "SHOULD" go, and when he is old he will not depart from it. 


 MATTHEW HENRY WRITES:

A great duty enjoined, particularly to those that are the parents and instructors of children, in order to the propagating of wisdom, that it may not die with them: Train up children in that age of vanity, to keep them from the sins and snares of it, in that learning age, to prepare them for what they are designed for. Catechise them; initiate them; keep them under discipline. Train them as soldiers, who are taught to handle their arms, keep rank, and observe the word of command. Train them up, not in the way they would go (the bias of their corrupt hearts would draw them aside), but in the way they should go, the way in which, if you love them, you would have them go. Train up a child according as he is capable (as some take it), with a gentle hand, as nurses feed children, little and often, Deu. 6:7. 2. A good reason for it, taken from the great advantage of this care and pains with children: When they grow up, when they grow old, it is to be hoped, they will not depart from it. Good impressions made upon them then will abide upon them all their days. Ordinarily the vessel retains the savour with which it was first seasoned. Many indeed have departed from the good way in which they were trained up; Solomon himself did so. But early training may be a means of their recovering themselves, as it is supposed Solomon did. At least the parents will have the comfort of having done their duty and used the means.

I love what is written here because Matthew is sharing how parents are responsible to instruct, and point our children in the right direction, in the way that they are "supposed" to go, not in the way that they think they should go. What is that way? Jesus said, "I AM the Way, the truth, and the life. John 14:6. If we want our children to be on the path to heaven, then direct them to read the bible which is our Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth. The bible is God's love letter to the true and genuine Christian. Let us remember this today and every day. We have that privilege and opportunity to direct them to the narrow road that leads to life everlasting. Is it easy? No! But God never promised easy, He promised that He would be with us wherever we go. So as we homeschool to whatever degree and raise our children, no matter how old...let us deny ourselves, pick up our cross, and follow Jesus. Let us be an example to them that there is a God, and He is real, and He is Love. Let's not leave it up to the church to train (or instruct) our kids. Thank God we have a place to take them and introduce them to other like minded believer's, but let us teach them the core value of the Christian faith, giving them the foundation of the rock (JESUS), that will stand firm. God forbid we leave it up to the world to train our children. They are gifts to us from God, they belong to him, and one day we will stand before Him to hear, "well done my good, and faithful servant". Let us serve our children today. Let us serve them as we are serving Jesus. Commit to God your best, and He will do the rest. Quote by Chuck Smith. Read Proverbs. 3:5 if you have a chance today. Meditate on it, and ask God to bless you. Let's wrestle with Him today in prayer. Let us claim the promises that He has for us. Let us be governed by God. He is our ABBA, and our Father, and our Awesome God!So go and be that warrior.

Love & Blessings,