Genesis 18:13-14 And the Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Shall I surely bear a child, since I am old?’ Is anything too hard for the Lord? At the appointed time I will return to you, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.”
INSIGHT: -In Hebrew, child is written as yeled & it means lad, young, babe, innocent, novice
-Sarah was filled with awe after she heard that she would bear a son. She laughs in doubt & delight in her heart not knowing the omnipotent nature of God. In Luke 1:18-20, Zacharia & Elizabeth were also advanced in age & he doubted angel Gabriels message that they would have a son.
-John 14:1, “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.
PRAYER: We believe in You Father, for You are all powerful & great is Your faithfulness. Help all the barren women & those who think that their age wouldn’t allow them to get children. May they be fruitful at the appointed time. Increase our faith in all things. Amen
Deuteronomy 11:18-21 “Therefore you shall lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul, and bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall teach them to your children, speaking of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. And you shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates, that your days and the days of your children may be multiplied in the land of which the Lord swore to your fathers to give them, like the days of the heavens above the earth.
INSIGHT: -Let our hearts be filled with the word of God . Our eyes be fixed upon the word of God, having constant regard to it as the guide of our actions. Let our words be guided by the word of God. These saying should be taught to our children so that God’s blessings may perpetuate in our lives & many generations to come. -In Luke 11:28, blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”
PRAYER: Help us Father, to hear Your word & to keep it in our hearts. Restore our souls & minds so that Your light may direct us in all things. Amen
Ephesians 6:1-3 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with promise: “that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.”
INSIGHT: -Apostle Paul recognises the authority parents have in the family & the obligation of children to obey & honor them (love & respect). By doing so we acquire the promise of old age & other blessings.
PRAYER: Thank You Father, for the gift of life & the family unit. Bless all the families in the world, those that are peaceful, those that are in disagreement & the orphans. Help all the children in the family unit to be obedient to their parents & to You. Amen
1 Peter 2:1-3 Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
INSIGHT: -Apostle Peter writes that we should lay aside all forms of evil & exhibit innocence like newborn babies. Milk is symbolic as it nourishes the body just like the word of God which nourishes the soul & helps us to grow in love for Christ & our neighbor.
PRAYER: Our hearts yearn for You, Lord our Father. Help us to resist all evil & may our love be perfected in You as we continue to seek Your face. Amen
Matthew 18:2-5 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. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me.
INSIGHT: -Jesus uses a child to teach on humility. Children have distinct characteristics of willingness to learn, dependent on parents, innocence & don’t seek authority. We also read that the humble will be lifted & will inherit the earth.
SUMMARY: -Sarah & Zacharia doubted Gods message that they would have sons due to their old age not realizing the omnipotent nature of God/ Gods word should be taught to all children that His blessings may be upon them/ Children should obey their parents for this is the first commandment with a promise/ As children are innocent in word & deed, we should desire pure milk of the word.
PRAYER: We humbly implore You Father, for all the graces that You have granted us. Help us to always be humble in words & deeds; & convert us to be like little children. We praise You & magnify You. Amen