Intro

It’s been quite a week. At 12:10 on Thursday, April 27, Mabel Eloise Wilson was born. 6lbs 8oz, 19in of pure joy.

Obviously a major event in our family, but of the four we’ve had, the most uneventful major event!

Never felt peace about who to ask to fill in
Didn’t feel right just jumping back into Samuel (esp with rebellious Absalom!)

Obviously a tremendous amount of happiness and joy. And in the quiet moments, the full weight of responsibility—physical, emotional, spiritual.

This is a message from the heart of a new (again) father.

preaching to myself more than anyone else
on the authority of God’s word, not my expertise (thank the Lord!)

Last night, Dad called to see how we were doing, and I said, “Singing to Dana, like I do ever night.” Music’s just a part of our family, esp. around the campfire.

I found this kid’s song 5–6 years ago by the Hemphill’s that has become a regular campfire song for us. It’s called God Likes People.

Way back when God created Adam and took the clay in His hands.
He didn’t set out to make an angel, He wanted to make a man.
He made him a wife and called her Eve and gave them ajob to do.
God said, “Multiply ‘cause I want to fill the earth with a lot more people like you.”

God likes people, any shape, any color, any size.
You don’t have to be an angel to be really special in His eyes.
He said it in John 3:16 and He proved it on Calvary, too.
God likes people, ordinary people, people like me and you.
God Likes People, Joel Hemphill & Wayne Hilton

1. God likes people, including little people.

Human beings are God’s idea.

Made in His image.

Me, Kay, Ben, Dana, Addy, Mabel, you… all a unique reflection of who He is.

your voice, your laugh, sense of humor
who does she look like? You remind God of all the beautiful people who came before you. “That’s that dimple from her great-great-great-great-grandma Helen!”

You know that God loves you, but do you know that He likes you?

including those with disabilities
My prayer this week, “God, give me your eyes, the grace…”

Children are God’s idea.

Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord,
the fruit of the womb a reward.
Like arrows in the hand of a warrior
are the children of one’s youth.
Blessed is the man
who fills his quiver with them!
Psalm 127:3, ESV

Like I told Dr. Gates at that first appointment, “God’s in control, but I’m pretty sure our quiver is full!”

It’s between you and God how big your quiver is.

Charmichals, 14 kids, size of bed
that said, we shouldn’t look down on families with bigger quivers, because children are a blessing, a heritage, fruit of labor (literally!)

Children are the example Jesus’ used for what our attitude should be.

At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “So who is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” He called a small child and had him stand among them. “Truly I tell you,” he said, “unless you turn and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child — this one is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one child like this in my name welcomes me.
Matthew 18:1-5

That’s part of the reason I love having the kids in here with us, but more than that, as participants of our worship. It thrills my heart to see little hands raised in praise of King Jesus

Families are God’s idea.

God places the lonely in families;
Psalm 68:6, NLT

Everything that God loves, Satan hates.

You see it in Scripture & in history, evil always means sacrificing babies, whether that’s to the false god of Molech or the false god of convenience, money.

God likes people, including little people.

2. Parenting is a special form of discipleship.

We are here to make disciples—Family, Missionaries, Servants

Discipleship happens life on life, and there’s no more life on life that family life.

Listen, Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. These words that I am giving you today are to be in your heart. Repeat them to your children. Talk about them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Bind them as a sign on your hand and let them be a symbol on your forehead. Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your city gates.
Deuteronomy 6:4-9

You might be going, “This is nice & sweet, Bro. Luke, but you’re 36 with four kids in the house. All my kids are gone and/or I never had kids. How does this apply to me?”

This Biblical comparison works both ways. Parenting = discipleship AND discipleship = parenting.

To Timothy, my true son in the faith.
1 Timothy 1:2

My children, I am again suffering labor pains for you until Christ is formed in you. I would like to be with you right now and change my tone of voice, because I don’t know what to do about you.
Galatians 4:19-20

Yep, he’s a parent!

It’s a metaphor, but then again, it’s really not.

Babies are a lot of work
Babies make messes
Babies take time to mature (give them grace!)

God likes people, including little people.
Parenting is a special form of discipleship.

3. The goal of discipleship is making more disciples.

Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord,
the fruit of the womb a reward.
Like arrows in the hand of a warrior
are the children of one’s youth.
Blessed is the man
who fills his quiver with them!
Psalm 127:3, ESV

What’s the purpose of an arrow? An arrow is meant to be shot.

Jim Elliot, the famous missionary martyr, left a promising career in the US to o to an unreached tribe in South America. He said to his parents when he made the decision:

“I do not wonder that you were saddened at the word of my going to South America… but rememberhow the Psalmist described children? He said that they were as an heritage from the Lord, and that every man should be happy who had his quiver full of them. And what is a quiver full of but arrows? And what are arrows for but to shoot? So, with the strong arms of prayer, draw the bowstring back and let the arrows fly—all of them, straight at the Enemy’s hosts.

Give of thy sons to bear the message glorious, Give of they wealth to speed them on their way, Pour out thy soul for them in prayer victorious, And all thou spendest Jesus will repay.

Parents, you must ask: “Why did God give me these kids?” The purpose is to let them go, and that has to always be in mind.

When God designed a kid to be an arrow, and instead you treat him like a piece of furniture you plan to keep in your house, or like a remote control that would make your life easier, you are not only stunting their development but discouraging them from finding God altogether.
J.D. Greear

We live in such a safety-obsessed culture, esp comes to kids.

“We’re fine if our children never climb a mountain as long as it guarantees they never get hurt. But what if your children were made for the mountains?

My prayer for all four of my kids: let them live their lives for your Kingdom in this world, loving you and others

God knows we need help!

Conclusion

Who are you discipling? Physical/spiritual children, grandchildren?

Grandma Wilson, always wanted to be a missionary. She was, based on the discipleship of her kids/grandkids.

At her funeral, sang this song:

In the morning, when I rise…
When I am alone…
When I come to die… Give me Jesus

You can have all this world,
But give me Jesus