“Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.”
Matthew 18:5-6

This verse is not meant to discourage or scare you, but rather remind you that you have a significant responsibility when you raise a child. Though it is a blessing, a gift, and a reward to be a parent, it also has its many challenges and frustrations. Despite these challenges, God is a God who gives good gifts, so even when the stress of life gets to you, and when the grocery bill gets higher and higher, you should always remember that the gift is good because God is good. You should always remain thankful for the gift, even when the gift has added pressures of its own. A home can be a huge blessing, but it is also a huge responsibility. In the same way, each of us should receive the gifts God has given us with the right heart because whoever receives a child in Jesus' name receives Jesus, because that child was created in the image of God. With this in mind, it is also a reminder for every parent to be faithful in raising up that child in the ways of the Lord, not in a lazy or destructive way, but intentionally modeling a life that points them towards Jesus

We pray this week that you would take time to listen to the playlist we have linked below, worship God, and reflect on how you and your spouse can be intentional in modeling a life that points your family towards Jesus.