Introduction: One of the joys of pastoring at Wayside is the privilege of interacting with children: children's sermon, chapel for both pre-school and elementary school each week. The Bible says a lot about God's love for children.

I. God invented children. When He made mankind, He didn't make us all at once, like angels. But he made one man, and one woman, and commanded them to have children.

Gen 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
Gen 1:28 God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it.

II. God gives many children as a reward (Psalm 127:3-5; 128:1-4).

A. There are some people who don't have children. That doesn't mean God doesn't love you or appreciate you. Some people choose not to marry and have children. The Apostle Paul says that difficult circumstances may support such a decision (I Co. 7)

B. But, many children are a reward. We should think long about it before we decide to keep our families small.

C. To those who have abortions our message is: Children are precious. They have the right to live. If you don't want your child, you have no right to put it to death. Give it to us! There are many parents who would love to have your child.

III. God wants parents to bless their children both materially and spiritually.

Prov 13:22 A good man leaves an inheritance for his children's children...

Deu 6:6 These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts.
Deu 6:7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.

Eph 6:4 Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

IV. God commands His people to defend the weak and the fatherless.

Jer 22:3 This is what the LORD says: Do what is just and right. Rescue from the hand of his oppressor the one who has been robbed. Do no wrong or violence to the alien, the fatherless or the widow, and do not shed innocent blood in this place.
Jer 22:4 For if you are careful to carry out these commands, then kings who sit on David's throne will come through the gates of this palace, riding in chariots and on horses, accompanied by their officials and their people.
Jer 22:5 But if you do not obey these commands, declares the LORD, I swear by myself that this palace will become a ruin.'"

Perhaps God's judgment has already fallen on us for the 40 million unborn infants Americans have killed in the last thirty years. Someone told a parable once: A man prayed to God, and complained. "Why do you allow cancer? Why do you allow birth defects? Why have you allowed ungodly leaders to run our country?" God's answer: "I sent you a woman who would have brought you a cure for cancer. I sent you a man who discovered how to prevent birth defects. I sent you men and women who would have been godly Governors, Senators and Congressmen, but you killed them before they were born." Sometimes people complain about the influx of immigrants into America. If we had those 40 million native born Americans living and working here today, America would be a different place. We have made our birthrate so low, that we would be a stagnant and declining nation apart from immigration.

Conclusion: Jesus has told us that we must become like children in our faith in God, if we want to enter the Kingdom of God.

Mat 18:2 He called a little child and had him stand among them.
Mat 18:3 And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Mat 18:4 Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Have you trusted in Christ? Do you have faith like a little child? We should love our own children. We should also do what we can to help all the other children in the world, especially those who are in danger. Amen.