WORD for the Week

CHILD 

The LORD looks down from heaven upon the children of men, To see if there are any who understand, who seek God….  How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Your wings….  Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, The fruit of the womb is a reward….  Even a child is known by his deeds, whether what he does is pure and right….  Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it….  If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!...  Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.”        Ps 14:2 (cf. Ps 53:2), 36:7, 127:3; Pr 20:11, 22:6; Mt 7:11, 18:2-3 (NKJV)

The New American Standard quotes Psalm 36:7 as “How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God! And the children of men take refuge in the shadow of Your wings.”  What an awesome picture, “taking refuge…”

As a child, I recall hearing the story about a “Little Red Hen” who built a nest in a field.  When a wild fire spread, bringing potential danger to the young chicks in her nest, the mother securely wrapped her wings and body over the offspring, as a form of protection.  The fire swarmed the nest, killing the mother hen, but did not touch or harm the baby chickens as they were safe and secure under the wing of their mother. 

I remember a time, when I was around 11 years of age, having my bedroom in the basement.  I enjoyed the privacy in the underground room, but there were often noises I would easily hear which would easily startle me.  The noises came from the popping, cracking, and moaning clatter of the house settling, and would sometimes appear to echo with my young imagination.  I was always comforted when I heard my father walking about the house, ensuring the abode was secure for the night.  In a sense, I was taking refuge in the shadow of his wings.

What joy and comfort it is to know that as a child of God, we are protected in the shadow of His wings.  Mt 7:11 “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!”  I know my father loves me dearly, and he has always enjoyed giving good things to all of his children.  As a father myself, I too enjoy sharing good things with my progeny.  But even greater yet is the love of a perfect, heavenly Father who gives even greater gifts from a faultless heart of love.

No matter our age, from new born, to 100 years, or even older, there is no greater place to be than under the shadow of the wing of our Heavenly Father.  So much we face from day – to – day, chores, routines, work, school, current events, economy, etc.  Whatever we face today, weather it seems good or bad, we can take comfort in knowing that nothing will come our way which God does not allow, and HE will not allow anything to come our way that is greater than what we can handle.  And under the shadow of HIS protective wing, we can handle anything that does travel our way.  There is no better place to be, than under HIS protective wing of love.

CHILDREN ARE A TREASURE FROM THE LORD

Halls ring with echoes of laughter
Long after they've come and gone
For the memory of a tiny face and playful grin
Still brings a smile, reminding us again
That children are a treasure from the Lord