Child, Children refers to an offspring born to a husband and wife in the marriage relationship. Children are gifts from God. Giving birth to a baby or child is a joyful occasion. But it is also a painful event, characterized by agony and travail, following God's curse on Eve. - Gen. 3:16 -

A woman in childbirth suffers,
because her time has come;
but when she has given birth to the child she forgets the suffering
in her joy that a man has been born into the world. - John 16:21 -

The agony is so well known that the childbearing became symbolic of any time of sorrow and suffering. The prophet Jeremiah was especially fond of this analogy. - Ps. 48:6; Is. 13:8 -

Yes, I hear screams like those of a woman in labour,
anguish like that of a woman giving birth to her first child;
they are the screams of the daughter of Zion, gasping,
hands outstretched,
'Ah, I despair! I am fainting away
with murderers surrounding me.' - Jer. 4:31 -

What will you say when they descend on you
as conquerors,
those you yourself taught
to be your friend?
Will not anguish grip you
like a woman in labour? - Jer. 13:21 -

But the king of Babylon has heard the news of them,
his hands fall limp,
anguish has seized him,
pain like that of a woman in labour. - Jer. 50:43 -

The Lord Jesus Christ clearly expressed his love and respect for children. He cited the innocence and openness of children to illustrate the attitude necessary for entering the Kingdom of God.

People were bringing little children to him, for him to touch them. The disciples turned then away but when Jesus saw this he was indignant and said to them, 'Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. I tell you solemnly, anyone who does not welcome the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.' Then he put his arms round them, laid his hands on them and gave them his blessing. - Mark 10:13-16 -

An argument started between them about which of them was the greatest. Jesus knew what thoughts were going through their minds and he took a little child and set him by his side and then said to them, 'Anyone who welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For the least among you all, that is the one who is great.' - Luke 9:46-48 - Matt. 18:1-7; Mark 9:33-37 -

Jesus also applied this image to the sorrows that start the Messianic age. For nations will fight against nation and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes here and there. All this is only the beginning of the birth pangs. - Matt. 24:7-8 - She was pregnant, and in labour, crying aloud in the pangs of childbirth. - Rev. 12;2 - The apostle Paul used this figure of speech too.

Creation still retains the hope of being freed, like us, from its slavery to decadence, to enjoy the same freedom and glory as the children of God. From the beginning till now the entire creation, as we know, has been groaning in one great act of giving birth. - Rom. 8:21 -22 -

It is always a good thing to win people over - and I do not have to be there with you - but it must be for a good purpose, my children! I must go through the pain of giving birth to you all over again until Christ is formed in you. - Gal. 4:18-19 -

Since you know very well that the Day of the Lord is going to come like a thief in the night. It is when people are saying, 'How quiet and peaceful it is' that the worst suddenly happens, as suddenly as labour pains come on a pregnant woman; and there will be no way for anybody to evade it. - 1Thes. 5:2-3 -

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Sunday, May 24, 2009

I have through years of reading, pondering, reflecting and contemplating, the 3 things that last; FAITH . HOPE . LOVE and I would like to made available my sharing from the many thinkers, authors, scholars and theologians whose ideas and thoughts I have borrowed. God be with them always. Amen!

I STILL HAVE MANY THINGS TO SAY TO YOU BUT THEY WOULD BE TOO MUCH FOR YOU NOW. BUT WHEN THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH COMES, HE WILL LEAD YOU TO THE COMPLETE TRUTH, SINCE HE WILL NOT BE SPEAKING AS FROM HIMSELF, BUT WILL SAY ONLY WHAT HE HAS LEARNT; AND HE WILL TELL YOU OF THE THINGS TO COME.

HE WILL GLORIFY ME, SINCE ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. EVERYTHING THE FATHER HAS IS MINE; THAT IS WHY I SAID: ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. - JOHN 16:12-15 -