There Is Power In Words!

I suppose that every parent here today can relate to the question: What does the future hold for my children. In fact most parents probably worry about it more than the child does. It reminds me of the story of the father that came home from work every day and found his child on the couch playing video games. The father said if you ever plan on making anything of yourself you need to get up off that couch and get a job, when Abraham Lincoln was your age he chopped wood all day, and the child said yeah and when he was your age he was the President!

Parents in the bible believed that there was something that they could do that would profoundly impact their children’s lives and it was called the blessing. Each child was given a general blessing and then the firstborn was given a special blessing. We know the story and how that led to Jacob stealing the firstborns blessing away from Esau in Genesis 27and I’m not advocating for that. What I feel, and this is my thinking, is what we need in this society today is to wake up and recognize the need of every child to receive a blessing.

Every child wants to know that his parents believe in them, and they have a glorious future, that we love you and are pleased with you. We are created by God to live under a blessing. Remember what the bible says in:

Genesis 1:27-28-NKJV

27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. 28 Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

God’s original plan as I see it was that we were to live under his blessing.

Jesus understood this and knew that children needed to feel blessed.

Mark 10:13-16-KJV

13 And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them.

14 But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.

15 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. 16 And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.

Jesus demonstrated His knowledge of the genuine need of children to be blessed.

Sadly in America today it seems to me that many children are living under a curse rather a blessing. The weight of sin is being passed down from generation to generation, not the sin itself, let me be clear, but the consequences of it! That’s one reason gangs thrive in this world, they offer a counterfeit version of a blessing to young people that they should be receiving at home. In the Old Testament a blessing was usually reserved for a special occasion, but I want to tell you today that we should not wait for a special occasion to bless our children. Each person in Little River’s family is a very important part in shaping the lives of our young people in a positive way. I want to suggest a few things that we can do as Parents, Grandparents, bible School Teachers, Family and Friends that will help our young people in a very positive way.

We must talk to our children and young adults. There is power in words!

Proverbs 18:21-NIV

21 The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.

We need to let our children know we are proud of them, we need to brag about them not only when they are not around, but let them hear us!

We must build up our children. Nothing is as fragile as a young person’s self-image. Imagine how you would feel if the two people that should love you the most attack you. The Bible never speaks of disciplining children with words, it does mention a rod!! (Proverbs 13:24), but never hateful words. You Big Dummy, you’re an idiot, you will never amount to anything. Paul in writing to the Colossians in:

Colossians 3:21-NKJV

21 Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.

The Bible recognizes that if we are constantly hurtful in our words someone might feel as they are not worth anything or worse they might just live up to your words and expectations. We must love our young people for who they are and not for what they do, which is exactly the way God our Father shows His love for us.