Arrows

If you would rather watch than read click here:  http://youtu.be/Kj2hruy0YDo

Children born to a young man are like arrows in a warrior’s hands. How joyful is the man whose quiver is full of them! He will not be put to shame when he confronts his accusers at the city gates. Psalm 127:4, 5 NLT

This is a scripture that warms the heart of most parents. They get warm fuzzies just thinking about a quiver full of arrows with multiple colors on the end of the shaft which represents the pictures of their children on the mantle. I love them so much, the thinking goes, I won’t let anything happen to them!

But that is not the metaphor the Bible is using. The purpose of an arrow is to be sent. Arrows are for shooting. How else would the man confront the accusers at the city gate? The Psalmist

isn’t glowing over his accumulation of arrows or children. He wants to win the battle.

The enemy doesn’t play fair, and he doesn’t care about what is important to you. His one mission is to overthrow the plan of God, and he is hell bent on undermining it anyway he can. The battle will come right to you and your home.
The safest place to be on earth is the center of His will. Many parents are over protective of their children. The lie that we, as mere parents can ultimately protect our children from all problems in life does the children more harm than good. It doesn’t teach them to depend on their Creator who alone can protect and provide for them. Neither does it allow them to develop problem solving skills.

Safety in this world is mostly just an illusion. This is a painful truth! However, it is also true that in Christ you are safe enough. It is better to put your children in places where they will learn to trust God and fight for themselves in a spiritual way than to send the signal that the most important thing in life is their safety.

Are you trying to protect your children against faith risks? If so, you will find yourself working against God. When your life is in His hands, there is no better way to live than to live SENT.

Gary Kendall
www.livingsent.net/devotionals
Week 6, SENT  Day 4, Devo 29