“For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call” (Acts 2:39).

If the words, “The promise is unto you,” brought joy to the hearts of the Jews who heard the Apostle; then surely his next words, “and to your children,” must have touched the same joyful chord all over again – for hard must be that parent’s heart that does not rejoice just as much in benefits being shown to his children as benefits being shown to himself. Christianity fully recognizes that principle of natural affection, which the God of nature implanted in the hearts of parents. The God of nature and the God of grace is one and the same. No sooner do parents discover the promise being sent to themselves, than it also says to them, “I am sent unto you and to your children; introduce me to them, and them to me! I come to tell them that their father and mother’s God is willing to be their God also!” It is remarkable to see how all throughout the Scriptures, the training up of children in the knowledge and belief of the promises of God is promoted and encouraged. For this very thing, Abraham was commended: “For I know him,” said the Lord, “that he will command his children,” etc. This was the determination of Joshua: “Let others choose as they may; as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!” This was the lamentation of David: “Although this mine house be not so with God!” This was the pious study of the aged grandmother Lois, and this was the motherly anxiety of Eunice – to train young Timothy in the knowledge of the Scriptures, which were able to make him wise unto salvation. This was also the care of Lydia, whose heart the Lord opened to attend to the things spoken by Paul; for immediately afterwards, she desired to have them addressed to her household, too. The same was the effect on the Philippian jailer. Thus these examples from both the Old and the New Testament show that God encourages efforts to make known His promises to the young! What, then, can we think of parents who are anxious enough that their children should be well off for this world – that they should be accomplished, or educated, or rich; that they should form good connections, and shine and sparkle in society, and be admired and venerated in this world – but who have no care for their safety and happiness in the eternal world?

adapted from the writings of J. Hambleton, circa 1900

Are we praying to the Lord to pour out the same promises and blessings upon the heads of our children and grandchildren, as those which He has already poured out upon ourselves?

God bless you and your family, this day and always.

All for the King’s glory,

Christian

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