After treating the sanctity of marriage, we now move on to discuss God's covenant and children. The Lord has coupled with the marriage bond, the bringing forth of His children. The world speaks of children as a problem even discarding and aborting them, but we view them way differently. They are a blessing and GOD'S children. Many solutions are in the world and in the church world today. Many churches dictate and fall into legalism, but what does the Word of God say?

As a foundation holds a house, so we must start on the right principal. Children ARE a HERITAGE of the Lord! Defining by contrast. What is the world's purpose in having children? Always horizontal and making decisions based on their horizontal values. Carnal! (Psalm 49:11-ff) They have them for prestige, pride, and for their own name and own purposes and God is not in any of their plans. We are still in the world, however, but we must begin with God. We marry in the Lord and so with children we also begin with God. Our whole life is and should be motivated by God. (Note that this does not mean that children complete a marriage. A husband and wife are a complete picture of Christ and His church!) What is God's good pleasure and His will in this? (Ephesians 1) You have to look at God's glory and His kingdom and everything else is this world are subservient to that! He attains His purpose and glory through His word and He gathers and assembles the glorious chorus to His eternal praise. We must have a CLEAR view of His final glory as it pertains to us! God has chosen to do this in the line of His covenant.

His word MUST lead us. It purposes God for Him to deposit HIS CHILDREN in our homes and He seals that covenant in baptism which is done in front of God, the family, and the church! Read Genesis 1:26, 28, and I Timothy 2:9-ff. Women are not saved in their childbearing, but mothers have an integral part that the woman now takes with pain and sorrow but must continue in faith, love, and sobriety as she continues for God's covenant which is the motivation of the Lord's blessing. How many children do we have? Our Christian liberty dictates all our questions as we go face to face with our God and no one can dictate under legalism on these issues. Animal kingdom breeds, but when it comes to man we are in HIS image, in whom God delights in, and with whom He can live with forevermore! In our desire after God and His kingdom, and out of the highest expression of our love we have a responsibility to bring forth God's children as we do that individually before the face of God! What a tremendous obligation, task, and responsibility!!!

God will give His blessing. His grace abides with God's people as we look forward to that heavenly city...we AND OUR CHILDREN! We sweat working in this world and in pain and sorrow bring forth children, BUT what a JOY!

When we continue in faith, hope, and sobriety this life will have joy and God WILL accompany His blessing along our way!