The Bible Speaks to National Children’s Day
You may be like me and unaware that it’s National Children’s Day today, June 8, 2025. It began in 1856 in Chelsea, Mass., by Dr. Charles Leonard as a day for baptizing children and addressing special needs and problems associated with children. It was not formally recognized on the second Sunday until recently.
Most Christians are commemorating Pentecost, where the law was given at Sinai, the counting of the Omer, the harvest in Ruth, and the sending of the Holy Spirit to indwell believers as the law was written on their hearts, and they received boldness to witness and spread the gospel.
The importance of children to God is a common theme in the Bible. We see from the beginning that it was part of God’s plan to have a family. God told Adam and Eve to multiply and spread out over the earth. But this was rebelled against at the Tower of Babel.
Satan has desired to stop children from fulfilling their destinies to serve God as He requires us to. The first children had animosity, and it was realized when Cain killed his brother. We have seen societies use children as cheap labor, religious servants, and for many forms of pleasure.
But the Bible tells us that Children are a gift from God, need love and protection from parents, and parents have a responsibility to love and nurture them and raise them in the ways of God.
God’s Gift
Psalm 127:3 Behold, children are a gift of the LORD, The fruit of the womb is a reward.NASB
Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward.
ESV
God created mankind to procreate and produce more children. Parents, a man and a woman, along with their children, are still God’s plan for a family. This theme is continued in the New Testament as the nations are grafted in through the Son, and the Son has a bride.
Sadly, the gift from God, children, has been abused and treated like an unwanted gift. Some translations denote that children are a heritage from God. Wow! A heritage is definitely a great and lasting thing. For God to give me and my wife a heritage through my three daughters is something I still cannot fully understand.
Throughout the Bible, children are celebrated at special occasions like birth, circumcision, birthdays, graduation, and more. From Adam through young Timothy, we see children as a crucial part of life and ensuring life continues from one generation to the next.
But many now do not see children as special and deserving of love and protection, and that they were given by God Himself as a gift to enjoy in all of life’s circumstances.
Raising Godly Children
Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it. NASB
Deuteronomy 6:6-7 These words I am commanding you today are to be upon your hearts. / And you shall teach them diligently to your children and speak of them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. BSB
The Children of Israel were required to teach their children God’s ways. They were to post the laws and commands of God on their hands, heads, and by the doorposts. It was not optional. Each child could recite the Shema, “Hear O Israel The Lord is one,” at an early age.
Training requires involvement by both parents. If a child has one parent or none, this means they will not receive proper Biblical training from their parents. Too many parents have entrusted government or boarding schools to do the job we were mandated to do.
Today, in some states, parents have almost no rights over the training of their children. Further, we are being told to let them choose their gender, sexual orientation, and more. This reminds me of how the pagans handed their children over to idols and false gods. Some became eunuchs, like is being forced upon children today. Others were offered as sacrifices, as are so many being done by agents of darkness performing abortions in the name of a woman's choice.
The Bible has not changed in its requirements.
Nurture and Admonition of the Lord
Ephesians 6:4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. KJV
Some translations refer to this as training in love, discipline, and instruction. However, Paul is telling fathers not to cause children to turn to wrath but bring discipline and instruction through love, instruction, correction, punishment, training, and more.
Part of training requires correcting mistakes. Paul told the Corinthians he loved them in the Lord, but as a father, he needed to admonish them in love. Admonition is the opposite of encouragement, since it requires discipline and sometimes punishment, and correction.
Today, I see too many children correcting and disciplining the children. Then, once the government or after after-school program is doing the job of the parents. If we are afraid to bring correction, then we are not worthy of the gift we have received and are being disobedient to God’s Word.
Proverbs 13:24 He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him diligently.
Parents are To Love and Protect Children
Genesis 25:28 Isaac loved Esau because he ate of his game, but Rebekah loved Jacob.
2 Timothy 1:5 I remember your genuine faith, for you share the faith that first filled your grandmother Lois and your mother, Eunice. And I know that same faith continues strong in you.
We see Isaac and Rebekah loved their sons. However, we also see they played favorites, which is not a good thing, nor is it God’s way. Later, Paul writes to Timothy, reminding him that his faith was handed down from his grandmother and mother. This was due to their love for the next generation.
When parents love and care for their children, they want the very best. Passing faith in God and Jesus is bringing the very best and is the best way to protect from evil and wicked men and their devices.
Psalm 78:4-8 is the theme of our ministry, 787Generation. We have a mandate to train and equip the next generation in God’s ways and to serve Him and others. Most of the kids and youth we work with do not have parents living, or in many cases, they are vulnerable, and the parents can’t take care of and train them.
Whether you are a parent, grandparent, guardian, or whatever stage of life, we need to help children who are not being rooted and grounded in God’s word. We help many who would never get a chance without the work we do.
As we celebrate National Children’s Day, remember those who have no parents for various reasons. Pray for and support children being abused and alone. Pray for parents who will not stand up to government policy that is contradictory to God’s plan.
God bless you
Joseph Floyd
