Cain's Mark

The story of Cain and Abel brings up so many questions.

Was Cain's mark a visible thing or just a sign between him and God? The world had become populated enough that it wasn't possible for word of mouth to travel. Not everyone would know to not kill Cain or harm him without worse harm in return. Why did God do this for him? Why would he be worried that others would know about his bad reputation with God and yet not know that God didn't want him killed? Why didn't God want him killed?

Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast. Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.” Now Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.” While they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him. - Genesis 4:2b-8

Most of us know the story of Cain and Abel. There was a rivalry between two brothers, a jealousy that ran amok, and a man who turned into the first murderer on Earth. The most interesting theory on their rivalry states that they weren't just at odds in this one sacrifice but rather "which one would have the Temple of Jerusalem built in his domain." (biblicalarchaeology) Throughout the Bible, there could only be one temple. It was the place where sacrifices were made, and one could not build a temple or altar without the express permission of God. It's a possible explanation.

Once God confronted Cain about his murder, He set a punishment upon him as a wanderer who would never again be able to farm the land.

Cain said to the Lord, “My punishment is more than I can bear. Today you are driving me from the land, and I will be hidden from your presence; I will be a restless wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.” But the Lord said to him, “Not so; anyone who kills Cain will suffer vengeance seven times over.” Then the Lord put a mark on Cain so that no one who found him would kill him. So Cain went out from the Lord’s presence and lived in the land of Nod, east of Eden. - Genesis 4:13-16

In various parts of the Bible (Ezekiel 9:4; Revelations 7:3, 13:6) God marks his people on their forehands and hands to show ownership and protection. The Beast or Antichrist in Revelations does the same to his followers. We know only one of those will be able to follow through in His protections.

It's hard to say with as little information is given, so we can't tell if Cain repents of his actions or simply is afraid now that there are consequences. So, either God is expressing his forgiveness or He felt wandering the Earth (a symbol of being spiritually lost) without the gift he once had (agriculture) was more punishment than death.

So, what was the mark, exactly? No one knows, so it's all wild speculation, and like everything else, some people used these wild speculations as reason to use the Lord's name in vain. Yeah, they used the Bible to explain why they were breaking it. One racist idea was that the mark was black skin. People used that as a reason to treat others as lesser than. First, that's not being love to others. Second, being hatred and blaming it on God is literally using the Lord's name in vain.

This observance will be for you like a sign on your hand and a reminder on your forehead that this law of the LORD is to be on your lips. For the LORD brought you out of Egypt with his mighty hand. - Exodus 13:9

You shall bind them (commandments) as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. - Deuteronomy 6:8

Just as observances were to be like signs/marks and the commandments were to be attached to your hands and forehead (not necessarily literally) as reminders of God's ways and relationship with His people, God's mark on us would serve as a reminder that we are His. Cain's mark served as a reminder to everyone Cain met that God would punish those who harmed him. He is God's and all punishment remains with God.

It does seem, though, that it was a physical or obvious mark for everyone to know not to harm Cain. However, it could've been a figurative mark, or sign, between God and Cain like a promise of protection. In this situation, if anyone didn't believe Cain that God didn't want him killed, he or she would be met with consequence.

However, when we read that Cain "went out from the Lord's presence" to live even further from Eden, we get this sense that Cain was separated from God's presence. He went to the Land of Nod, which uses the root of the Hebrew word "to wander." His world is upset, and he no longer is connected to God's creation as a farmer. He establishes a city, but it's hard to say whether he settled there or merely established it before his family settled there eventually. Whether he was ever able to live in that city, he remains spiritually lost and disconnected from God and the grounded-ness of his former profession.

This is a story that serves as a reminder that, without God, we're all awash in a sea, lost, and disconnected from our roots, like Cain. Also like Cain, God gives every possible chance for salvation.

One hopes Cain eventually repented and accepted God's grace.

God bless!


Sources other than Bible:
https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/people-cultures-in-the-bible/people-in-the-bible/cain-and-abel-in-the-bible/
https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/biblical-topics/bible-interpretation/what-happened-to-cain-in-the-bible/
https://www.ligonier.org/learn/devotionals/mark-cain/
https://nakedbiblepodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/NB-171-Transcript.pdf
https://www.blueletterbible.org/faq/don_stewart/don_stewart_715.cfm
http://www.biblestudy.org/basicart/what-is-the-mark-of-cain.html
http://apologeticspress.org/apcontent.aspx?category=6&article=5098
https://www.baslibrary.org/biblical-archaeology-review/6/6/4

Trees of Life & Knowledge

And out of the ground the LORD God made to spring up every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. - Genesis 2:9

Tree of Life imagery is prevalent throughout the world.

The Tree of Life shows up in ancient Mesopotamian tales about a man named Gilgamesh. He realized he was growing old and one day would die, so he searched for the only person who survived the world-wide flood, Utnapishtim, as he was the only immortal man he knows. Utnapishtim told him there's a tree under the seas that, while it won't grant eternal life, it has powers of rejuvenation. He explained that his own immortality was a privilege given by god alone. Gilgamesh was unsuccessful in obtaining this tree.

Ancient Egypt also had a tale about the Tree of Life, which stood for the "hierarchical chain of events that brought everything into existence (sivana)." The first couple, earth and sky, came from an acacia tree, which holds both life and death as two sides of a coin.

By their plentiful artwork, the ancient Assyrians held the Tree of Life to be very important. Although depictions usually show beings taking good care of it and has symbols which many theorize to mean creation, no one knows for certain what place exactly it held in their society or beliefs.

In Hinduism, a Tree of Life was a banyan tree. When the whole world was covered by a flood, this tree was the only one unaffected. It symbolized a part of ourselves that stays pure as long as we're rooted in spirituality.

In Mayan, Viking, and Celtic mythology, there is a massive, mystic tree which connects the whole of the universe (even invisible worlds) and the heavens, and it plays a large part in creation. This tree can be both Tree of Life and Tree of Knowledge simultaneously in its portrayal as a source of wisdom.

In Genesis, we are presented with humanity's first moral dilemma: the Tree of Life and the Tree of Knowledge. Trees generally symbolize a connection between the earth and the heavens, namely God. The Tree of Life, in the Bible, is a symbol of God's salvation, and Jesus' death on the cross. He died so that we may have life.

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. - John 10:10

So, what is the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil?

Let's look at a few verses:

The LORD God commanded the man, saying, ‘You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.' - Genesis 2:16-17

Then the Lord God said, ‘. . . Now, lest [the man] reach out his hand and take also of the tree of life and eat, and live forever—” therefore the Lord God sent him out from the garden of Eden to work the ground from which he was taken. He drove out the man, and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed the cherubim and a flaming sword that turned every way to guard the way to the tree of life. - Genesis 3:22b-24

So, someone who eats of the tree of knowledge will die, and once someone is dead, they no longer have free access to salvation. They can't save themselves.

Then the LORD God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of us in knowing good and evil. -Genesis 3:22

This knowledge is forbidden to humans but something that God and angels already have.

And your servant thought, ‘The word of my lord the king will set me at rest,’ for my lord the king is like the angel of God to discern good and evil. The Lord your God be with you! 2 Samuel 14:17

However, people aren't born with this knowledge nor the ability to utilize it for good.

And as for your little ones, who you said would become a prey, and your children, who today have no knowledge of good or evil, they shall go in there. And to them I will give it, and they shall possess it. -Deuteronomy 1:39

He shall eat curds and honey when he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good. -Isaiah 7:15

God didn't originally wants kings to rule His people, but only someone who has this knowledge would rule effectively. So, King Solomon asked for this, and God gave it to him along with wisdom (the ability to utilize that knowledge).

Give your servant (Solomon) therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people? - 1 Kings 3:9

It appears this wasn't a Good Tree/Bad Tree dynamic. The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil was neither evil nor poisoned. The more I study about it, the more it appears that it was a forbidden tree because the ability to determine good and evil was more knowledge than we could morally handle. Although they were both ways to connect us with God, only one was the right way. It reminds me of the Tower of Babel as they used their knowledge and skills to try to reach into the heavens (and save themselves from the judgement of God through another flood), and God scattered them to stall progress for a time (Genesis 11:1-9).

But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths. -Genesis 3:4-7

Here, they realize they're naked, as if that were a thing they could only know once they obtained knowledge of good and evil. Nakedness is not evil. God said everything was good as of yet in the garden. No, the fact they disobeyed God was evil. The fact that we thought we could know better than God what was good or delightful for us was evil. The fact that we know good and evil, but don't know what how to handle that knowledge, spreads evil like a cancer. For comparison, think about the technology we've developed and knowledge we've gained through the years that ended up in atomic bombs and warfare. Adam and Eve desired to hide their shame, but their method of covering up wasn't adequate.

The fruit of the Tree of Knowledge was a delight to the eyes because they were prideful of how good they would appear to have such knowledge. The tree was not wisdom itself, but the knowledge of knowing the difference between good and evil is needed in order to be wise (utilize the knowledge).

Later, when Jesus returns to walk among humans in the New Testament, came to spread the wisdom needed to utilize this influx of knowledge released by Adam and Eve.

The book of Revelation says that all is not hopeless. The Tree of Life is a river of rest and cleansing from our shame of mishandling the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. We will wash our clothes clean in it's waters, quench our thirst (unlike the Tree of Knowledge which brings a consuming hunger), heal from its leaves, and eat the fruit of everlasting life. We are invited back to the Eden of fruits and trees described in Genesis.

To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God. - Revelation 2:7b

On either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. -Revelation 22:2

Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. -Revelation 22:14

If anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book. -Revelation 22:19

Out of the ground the LORD God gave growth to every tree that is pleasing to the eye and good for food. And in the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. - Genesis 2:9

Eden, itself, is a symbol of our first sacred place of worship, like a temple or church, where God and humanity walk together. In the very center of this garden, was placed both the Tree of Life and the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. In Jewish temples, there was a place called the Holy of Holies, an area where only the priests could go. In this place, God resided, and it was separated from the rest of the temple by a thick veil. In a Jewish text, Midrash Tanhuma, explaining the temple and the holy of holies, it states:

Just as a navel is set in the middle of a person, so the land of Israel is the navel of the world [cf. Ezekiel 38:12; see also Ezekiel 5:5]. . . . The land of Israel sits at the center of the world; Jerusalem is in the center of the land of Israel; the sanctuary is in the center of Jerusalem; the Temple building is in the center of the sanctuary; the ark is in the center of the Temple building; and the foundation stone, out of which the world was founded, is before the Temple building.

The center of this first temple, Eden, was the holy of holiest places, where resided the trees. Some theories, both in Jewish and Christian traditions, hold the Tree to Knowledge was a veil of sorts before the Tree of Life. We all know this veil was torn when Jesus sacrificed His life on the cross.

In a way, Adam and Eve were seduced into thinking they could obtain knowledge of good and evil and gain wisdom, like God and the angels had, in order to save themselves and connect them with heaven. However, as we know, we're utterly incapable of saving ourselves (the angels failed in this too!) or of being truly like God.

We now all have access to the Tree of Life through Jesus.

God bless!


Sources other than Bible:

https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justin-taylor/the-tree-of-life-and-the-tree-of-the-knowledge-of-god-and-evil/
https://www.biblicaltraining.org/blog/curious-christian/4-3-2012/what-tree-knowledge-good-and-evil

https://metode.org/issues/article-revistes/the-symbolism-of-trees.html
https://blog.sivanaspirit.com/sp-gn-what-is-the-tree-of-life/
https://rsc.byu.edu/archived/ascending-mountain-lord-temple-praise-and-worship-old-testament/tree-knowledge-veil

Being Saved - God's Continual Battle to Keep Us

I remember someone once told me that there's no such thing as stasis (a period or state of inactivity or equilibrium). We are always getting worse or better. That goes for relationships, personal development, really anything in life. You're either improving or deteriorating, and you know what? That was the first thing I thought when I saw this verse.

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. -1 Corinthians 1:18

Not dead but dying. Not saved but being saved. Interesting concept. It reads this way as a state of continual progression in most of the versions I've looked at (NIV, OJB, ESV, etc). So, I checked out Strong's Concordance and double checked some sources. The Greek verb σωζομενοις for "being saved" is in the present passive participle, which means an ongoing passive action properly translated as "being saved" not just "saved."

It also brings to mind the fact that we can't just accept God as our savior, maybe get baptized, and just go on about the rest of our life not trying anymore. Don't get me wrong about salvation. Jesus said, "It is finished" (John 19:30). He paid the debt of all sin in full. However, we are continually being saved from the darkness of the world. We are in a battle where the outcome is determined but the sides are being chosen every moment.

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. - Galations 6:9

And as for you, brothers and sisters, never tire of doing what is good. - 2 Thessalonians 3:13

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. - Ephesians 6:18

Have you ever heard that romantic saying, "I choose you everyday." In any close partnership such as marriage, we must continually choose the other person. In every decision we make, we must consider our loved one. If we don't, our relationship begins to grow apart as life drives a wedge between you.

This is the same as our relationship with God. We may have committed to Him, but we must continue to accept His salvation and reach out to Him in every thing we do and say.

God bless!


Sources other than Bible:
https://biblehub.com/commentaries/1_corinthians/1-18.htm
http://www.kjvtoday.com/home/are-saved-or-are-being-saved-in-1-corinthians-118-et-al
Strong's Concordance
Oxford Dictionary

(Don't) Follow Your Heart

"Just follow your heart!" That saying has popped up in every thing from movies, shows, music, everything as if it were a wise saying. It's shown up in the moral of the story even in places that don't say it outright. So, what's my problem with this worldly proverb?

It's in direct opposition to every truth uttered by God.

The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? -Jeremiah 17:9

Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh. -Romans 13:14

For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. -Matthew 15:19

Your heart was not made to be your master or your leader in anything. Your heart was meant to be led. It's full of every corruption that it has been exposed to since your birth, and if you follow it, you follow it straight into the hornet's nest.

What does my heart say? It gets irrationally angry when someone cuts me off in traffic, thinks working for a living is a complete waste of time, and falls for every commercial's idea for what I need to be happy in life (ooh, that burger would fulfill me, or wait maybe it's the newest dieting plan? Nope, it definitely the burger). This is on a good day when the darkness of the world doesn't encroach on me quite as much.

Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. -Proverbs 4:23

Murderers, rapists, adulterers were all struggling with the desires of their heart. What kind of leader is that? I really don't want to follow something that's brought me several times to the icy fingers of depression. I've heard its words when I've been overcome with anxiety, lying about my worth and exaggerating the importance of others' opinions. When you follow your heart, you follow the world.

If your heart isn't the leader, who needs to guide your heart?

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. -Psalm 23:1

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. John 10:11

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. John 10:27

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6

God's words and guidance can be found, first and foremost, through the Bible. Do what it takes to be reminded of God's ways and truths. The world is quick to encroach upon you. Let God's light in daily through reading the Bible, speaking to loved ones of God, singing Christian music, or praying often.

My son, pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart. -Proverbs 4:20-21

Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as reminders on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, speaking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Write them on the doorposts of your houses and on your gates, so that as long as the heavens are above the earth, your days and those of your children may be multiplied in the land the LORD swore to give your fathers. -Deuteronomy 11:18-21

The heart is a liar. Put on God's armor and pick up His sword to fight the darkness within and without. You may tire, but God never will.

God bless.

He Makes All Things New

While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease. - Genesis 8:22

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day. - Genesis 1:1-31

With the creation of Earth, God instituted a cyclic measure of time. Every dark followed by light is a day, every seven of those is a Sabbath, and after several of those weeks are months, years, all expressing their circular nature by reoccurring events, seasons, and holy days. Time is cyclic, and so are we, in many ways. We wax alert with the sun, wane by the time the sun sets on the horizon. The moon's many phases can calculate a female body's monthly pattern. Every season brings high and low energies, and our lives can be pictured as a circle with childhood, rising maturity to physical and mental peaks, dipping once again back to the frailty of age.

And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” - Revelation 21:5

Here we are, just after the first day of spring in the northern hemisphere and first day of autumn in the southern, feeling the slowly turning wheel of this world more than usual. Springtime, especially, has an atmosphere of new beginnings that inspire us to rise once again from our winter slumbers. It's a wonderful time for the renewal of our souls.

Let my teaching fall like rain and my words descend like dew, like showers on new grass, like abundant rain on tender plants. – Deuteronomy 32:2

Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. – Psalm 51:10

The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad; the desert shall rejoice and blossom like the crocus; it shall blossom abundantly and rejoice with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, the majesty of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the glory of the Lord, the majesty of our God. Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. Say to those who have an anxious heart, “Be strong; fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you.” - Isaiah 35:1-10

Fear not, you beasts of the field, for the pastures of the wilderness are green; the tree bears its fruit; the fig tree and vine give their full yield. “Be glad, O children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God, for he has given the early rain for your vindication; he has poured down for you abundant rain, the early and the latter rain, as before. - Joel 2:22-23

It's a time of year that reminds of us God's constant renewal of the Earth, gift of life, and how He provides for us all to thrive in His warmth and the replenishing waters of His Word.

I will send rain on your land in its season, both autumn and spring rains, so that you may gather in your grain, new wine and olive oil. – Deuteronomy 11:14

For behold, the winter is past; the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth, the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land. - Song of Solomon 2:11-12

'For behold, the winter is past, The rain is over and gone. 'The flowers have already appeared in the land; The time has arrived for pruning the vines, And the voice of the turtledove has been heard in our land. 'The fig tree has ripened its figs, And the vines in blossom have given forth their fragrance. Arise, my darling, my beautiful one, And come along!'" - Song of Solomon 2:11-13

He provides and is ever-present as sure as the cycles of sun and moon and seasons. In a way, the cyclic measure of time is a reminder of His constancy and His reliability in a world as chaotic as the open seas in a storm.

Why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. – Matthew 6:28-29

Let us know; let us press on to know the Lord; his going out is sure as the dawn; he will come to us as the showers, as the spring rains that water the earth. - Hosea 6:3

May this season bring you blessings and a reminder of God's everlasting grace.

Flora & Fauna

The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it. - Genesis 2:15

One of the first responsibilities humanity had was to take care of the environment.

And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” Genesis 1:28

Something to remember is that every time someone is to be a leader or in a dominant position in the Bible, their utmost task is to serve those in submission to them (See my post "The Christian Dirty Word - Submission"). We are, as those in dominion over all of nature, responsible for the environment just as it's the responsibility of anyone given any gift to use it for the good of God's kingdom.

Whoever is righteous has regard for the life of his beast, but the mercy of the wicked is cruel. - Proverbs 12:10

But ask the beasts, and they will teach you; the birds of the heavens, and they will tell you; or the bushes of the earth, and they will teach you; and the fish of the sea will declare to you. Who among all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind. - Job 12:7-10

You shall not muzzle an ox when it is treading out the grain. - Deuteronomy 25:4

For six years you shall sow your land and gather in its yield, but the seventh year you shall let it rest and lie fallow, that the poor of your people may eat; and what they leave the beasts of the field may eat. You shall do likewise with your vineyard, and with your olive orchard. - Exodus 23:10-11

When you besiege a city for a long time, making war against it in order to take it, you shall not destroy its trees by wielding an axe against them. You may eat from them, but you shall not cut them down. Are the trees in the field human, that they should be besieged by you? - Deuteronomy 20:19

There are numerous instances in the Bible where God shows concern over the plants and animals and our treatment of them. We were made stewards of the world, and this includes the environment. The world is not ours. It's still God's. One thing I know, it's if anyone loans you something, you should return it in the same condition or better. If you read Matthew 25:14-30, you'll learn that when God gives you gifts, He gives them to you for the prosperity of His kingdom.

To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away. -Matthew 25:29

We are made to tend God's massive garden called Earth. If it's within our power to take care of it in any way, it's our duty to do so.

Our Reward on Earth - Children

There are few purposes in life more important than bringing up children, and that most definitely includes all non-parents who have any association with children. Parents may have the most influence, but everyone has influence on everybody, and that includes the little ones. We are a guiding force to them while they are a reward to us all. How would God raise a child? Better than any of us, so we probably should introduce the two.

But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple courts, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they were indignant. “Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him. “Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read, “ ‘From the lips of children and infants you, Lord, have called forth your praise’?” - Matthew 21:15-16

This is where "from the mouths of babes" came from. Children are in many ways more observant and wise, and I can tell you from my own experience, I've probably learned more from my own daughter than I've taught her.

People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them. - Mark 10:13-16

He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me. “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. - Matthew 18:2-6

Children are quicker to be meek or humble, occupying a lowly position in society with little to no power. Generally, that's still true today. That's not to say they never argue or disobey, which will be covered later, but they are mostly open-hearted. These are some of the ways a child can teach you, just by being themselves. Jesus becomes a mother bear while talking about these little ones, warning any one who should attempt to take away their innocence and loving hearts.

Speaking of causing children to stumble, we must be careful to guide them through whatever obstacles life may throw their way in their spiritual path. Let them encounter said obstacles, pointing out what lessons they teach while the consequences are small . They will come across those obstacles again, but they may be bigger next time. How to teach them? There are as many parenting styles as there are stars in the sky. Let's just be sure we pay attention to God's advice in this area (since he's the ultimate Father).

Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. - Proverbs 22:6

I started with this one cause it's the hardest to understand. Doing everything just right in parenting or raising a child in faith will not ensure they believe or that they'll even be a decent person. God is a perfect Father, and many of His children fell astray. That's the whole reason we need a savior. The fact is, this is a very generalized guideline to the general public. If you train a child up in wisdom and love, they will be much more likely to follow God's ways than if you don't. However, that doesn't mean they're hopeless even then, thank God! The fact is, we all have free will. Do your best.

Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will drive it far away. - Proverbs 22:15

Rod of discipline sure sounds like a spanking to me. Actually, it can mean any form of discipline. Some children react horribly to spankings, and some don't react at all. Every child is different, and every parent must follow the way they feel best reaches their child. In the end, however, children at some point always need discipline. Don't withhold that from them because they can't learn without all your tools from your parenting belt, and that's doing them more harm than good. Even God disciplines those He loves (Hebrews 12:6). Are you better than He? Just find the right method for your child.

Impress them on your children. Talk about them (God's commandments) when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. - Deuteronomy 6:7

This should be obvious. Teach them God's basic commands and will.

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

Not just for fathers, really. If the shoe fits, put it on. Don't exasperate (provoke is another translation) your children. It probably states fathers because men can (generally) be quicker to express anger. Put away unnecessary yelling, excessive discipline, constantly getting onto the child for small things. This will not help them. It will harm them. If you poke the bear, expect it to lash out.

Lest you forget parenting is a two-way street, here's some advice God has for being a child.

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise— “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.” - Ephesians 6:1-3

“Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you. - Exodus 20:12 (This is one of the 10 commandments.)

Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. They are a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck. - Proverbs 1:8-9

Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. - Colossians 3:20

Since there may be people of all types reading this blog and some of you may have had abusive or damaging parents, these are all instructions for typical children of typical parents. God does not want children to obey their parent's commandment to harm themselves or do evil (no authority is higher than God). Understand the context in which these words are written and the spirit behind them.

For everyone else, you might love these words. You need to let your children know of God's words for both parents and children, so they know your expectations for them and for yourselves and your reasoning behind it being God.

Whatever you do, don't forget that all children, no matter how difficult or easy, are gifts from God.

Children’s children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children. - Proverbs 17:6

Children are a heritage from the LORD, offspring a reward from him. - Psalm 127:3-5

He lifted his eyes and saw the women and the children, and said, "Who are these with you?" So he said, "The children whom God has graciously given your servant." - Genesis 33:5

None of us are perfect parents or children because none of us are perfect humans. Some days we fail more than we succeed, but it's so very important that God's overarching message comes across no matter what you do: love. Love doesn't mean permissiveness. God is not permissive even though He is Love. We should treat our children as though we are Children of God and so are they.

Do you have any advice on how to raise children that you've received from God's Word?

God bless!