Above Rubies Daily Encouragement Blogs
WHAT'S THE REASON?
Traveling to Washington State this last weekend to speak at the Above Rubies Retreat, I sat by an older couple. We got talking about children and he shared with me that his father was from a family of 13, he was from a family of six, but he only had two children! They were rather astounded when I told them we had over 40 grandchildren.
But why the decline in the number of children? This is typical today. The number of children per family is smaller each generation. What do you think is the reason? I believe that perhaps the greatest reason is that our concept of God has changed. We live life according to how we think of God. Many people love God, but often it is a god of their own imagination, a god who fits into their lifestyle, and who goes along with the current thinking of the day. They do not worship the God of the Bible who is I AM THAT I AM. The God who does not change. The God who reveals Himself through His Word and who does not fit into our human understanding.
God challenges us in Psalm 50;21 "You thought that I was one like yourself. But now I rebuke you and lay the charge before you."
People today seem to think that God is like our societal thinking that limits children because they interfere with our plans. But this is not the God of the Bible. He loves children. He loves life. He created us and plans for us to have children. We see the heart of God in Deuteronomy 7:12-14: "The Lord thy God shall keep unto thee the covenant and the mercy which he sware unto thy fathers: And he will love thee, and bless thee, and multiply thee: he will also bless the fruit of thy womb, and the fruit of thy land . . . Thou shalt be blessed above all people: there shall not be male or female barren among you, or among your cattle."
Don't you think it's time we began to think like God thinks instead of bringing Him down to our level? Colin and I had to change our thinking. Can you believe that in the beginning of our marriage my husband only wanted one child? After our first child, God gave us twins, so he gave up after that! But why did he think like that? He didn't dislike children. He came from a wonderful family of nine children and wasn't put off by a big family. He was conditioned by society and the thinking around him and was therefore deceived. God had to change his thinking and his heart (and mine).
And how does He change our thinking? By His Word of truth. Make sure your God is the God of the Bible, not your own imagination.
Blessings from Nancy Campbell
