I love how God’s word can unfurl and reveal the heart and character of God.  I love it even more when we can use it see how God views us.  As parents, a right perspective of how God views your child is important.  In fact, one of our ministry values “Imagine the End” is significantly impacted by how you view your child.  As parents, we want our kids to live up to their fullest potential.  And it’s important to make sure that our idea of their potential is firmly rooted in scripture.  

 

Psalm 139:13 says “You alone created my inner being.  You knitted me together inside my mother.”

 

Genesis 1:26 says “Let us make humans in our image, in our likeness.”

 

1 John 4:8 says “…God is Love.”

 

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 says “Love is patient.  Love is kind.  Love isn’t jealous. It doesn’t sing its own praises.  It isn’t arrogant.  It isn’t irritable.  It doesn’t keep track of wrongs.  It isn’t happy when injustice is done, but is happy with the truth.  Love never stops being patient, never stops believing, never stops hoping, never gives up.”

 

So… based upon the text, you & your child are intricately crafted in the image of the Heavenly Father.  This means we bear His heart and His character.  God is love.  Therefore we are love.  Love is patient, kind, and isn’t arrogant.  

 

Here’s a great exercise for every parent.  When you pray for your kids, pray 1 Corinthians 13:4-7.  Replace the word “Love” with their name.  Why?  Because they are crafted in the image of the Father.  And the Father is Love.  Since our kids are created to reflect the heart and character of God then use His scripture as the guide to know what that reflection should look like.  

 

Now… we all know that our kids don’t always display patience, kindness and a distinct refrain from jealousy.  Goodness… neither do we!  Clearly sin hinders our ability to truly live up to God’s design.  

 

Watch!  It gets even better!

 

Matthew 11:28 Jesus says, “Come to me, all who are tired from carrying heavy loads, and I will give you rest.  Place my yoke over your shoulders and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble.  Then you will find rest for yourselves because my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

 

Jesus tells us to take on His yoke.  The yoke He refers to is a tool use to unite two oxen, and harness them together to pull a load.  The yoke serves to unite the oxen and help them to walk step by step.  The yoke does not allow one oxen to get ahead of the other… but to walk in step together. Jesus says, “Place my yoke over your shoulders and learn from me…” 

 

We can all agree that Jesus is the unhindered reflection of the image of God.  And when we learn to walk in step with Him then we reflect the image of God, as well.  Just as we were designed.  

 

Parents, your child… no matter their athletic ability, intellectual intelligence or zany personality… your child is created to walk in step with Jesus so they my fully know and live out their intricate design.  To reflect the heart and character of God.  This is the most imperfect process you can imagine.  And yet it is a beautiful process.  

 

Take heart that as you raise your child into adulthood, they are designed for a relationship with Jesus… to be yolked with Him. Without Jesus, they cannot know their fullest potential.  And He cares more about it than you do because it was His idea from the beginning.