Arrows: Where Are We Aiming Them?
DAY 3 | Arrows: Where Are We Aiming Them?
READ
Psalm 127:3–5; Philippians 2:3–5, 8
“Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth.”
Psalm 127:4
THE TRUTH
Psalm 127 gives us a powerful picture of children: Arrows.
“Children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward.”
Then: “Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth.”
An arrow is designed to be aimed.
It requires direction.
Focus.
Patience.
Discipline.
Practice.
And ultimately, the direction of the arrow is greatly influenced by the person holding it. That makes the story of Isaac and Rebekah even more sobering. They had been given two arrows. But look at what their actions helped aim those boys toward.
Favoritism.
Deception.
Manipulation.
Rivalry.
Anger.
Resentment.
Jacob participated in deceiving his father and would continue wrestling with deception throughout his life.
Esau held such a deep grudge against Jacob that he planned to kill him.
Isaac and Rebekah aimed their children at one another.
Not intentionally perhaps. But their actions did.
That's the difficult truth for every parent:
We're always aiming our children at something.
Not simply by what we tell them. But by what we show them.
If our children hear us gossip, we're aiming.
If they watch us lie, we're aiming.
If they see us manipulate people to get what we want, we're aiming.
If they watch us blame everyone else for our problems, we're aiming.
If everything in our home revolves around possessions, achievement, appearance, or success, we're aiming.
If they watch Mom and Dad disrespect one another, we're aiming.
But the opposite is also true.
When they watch us forgive, we're aiming.
When they see us confess sin, we're aiming.
When they experience patience, we're aiming.
When they watch us serve, we're aiming.
When they see Mom and Dad remain faithful to one another, we're aiming.
When they watch us worship, pray, give, serve, and pursue Jesus, we're aiming.
The question isn't whether we're aiming them.
The question is: What are we aiming them toward?
And Scripture gives us our target. Jesus.
Paul tells us:
“Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus.”
What was His attitude?
Humility.
Obedience.
Selflessness.
Sacrifice.
Jesus didn't merely tell us what love should look like.
He showed us.
That's how we aim the next generation toward Him.
Not merely by telling them to follow Jesus.
But by allowing them to see what following Jesus looks like in us.
REFLECT
- If someone learned how to follow Jesus primarily by watching your actions, what would they believe following Jesus looks like?
- What attitudes or behaviors in you could unintentionally aim the people around you toward something other than Christ?
- Which characteristic of Jesus do you most want the next generation to see consistently demonstrated through your life?
A HAPPILY MARRIED REMINDER
Don't use today's devotional to evaluate your spouse's parenting.
Don't think: “Our kids would be better if my spouse would...”
Ask instead: “What direction are my words, attitudes, habits, and actions aiming them?”
You cannot control everything influencing your children.
But you are responsible for the direction you are pointing them.
TOGETHER OR INDIVIDUALLY
IF YOU'RE MARRIED
If you have children, consider what they regularly observe in your marriage.
What do they see when you disagree?
What do they hear when you're frustrated?
How do they see you speak about one another?
Do they see affection?
Forgiveness?
Grace?
Service?
Prayer?
Repentance?
Do they see Mom and Dad pursuing Jesus?
Now ask together:
“What are we intentionally aiming our children toward?”
Choose three characteristics you want your children to consistently experience within your home.
Then ask: “What would they need to regularly see in us for those characteristics to become believable?”
If your children are grown, don't assume your opportunity to influence them has ended.
Your relationship with Jesus, your marriage, your repentance, your encouragement, and your prayers can continue pointing them toward Christ.
If you don't have children, consider the people who still observe your marriage.
A fruitful marriage can point far more people toward Jesus than those who share your last name.
IF YOU'RE SINGLE
You may not be raising children, but you're still influencing people.
Younger family members.
Friends.
Coworkers.
People at church.
Children in your extended family.
People who look up to you without you realizing it.
Ask: “Where is my life pointing the people who watch me?”
You don't need to be a parent to help aim someone toward Jesus.
FROM THE MARRIAGE CREED
Our Marriage Creed describes seven characteristics we've seen modeled perfectly in Jesus:
Love Unconditionally
Care Selflessly
Protect Actively
Provide Physically, Emotionally & Spiritually
Lead Humbly by Serving
Pursue Intimacy Intentionally
Practice Faithful Devotion to Christ & my Spouse
These characteristics aren't only meant to shape our marriages.
They should become visible in our parenting.
Our children should experience love that isn't earned.
Care that notices their needs.
Protection that guards them.
Provision that prepares them.
Leadership that serves them.
Intimacy that knows them.
Devotion that remains faithful to them.
But there's something even greater we want them to see.
Where those characteristics came from.
Jesus.
We don't ultimately want our children to grow up saying: “My parents were amazing.”
We want our lives to help them say: “Jesus is worth following.”
RESPOND
TODAY I WILL...
Think about one characteristic or habit you're currently modeling that could aim others in the wrong direction.
Something in me that needs to change is:
Now identify the direction you want to aim instead.
I want my life to point others toward:
Then make it practical.
One thing I will intentionally model today is:
Maybe it's:
Patience instead of frustration.
Grace instead of condemnation.
Truth instead of deception.
Contentment instead of materialism.
Humility instead of pride.
Forgiveness instead of resentment.
Responsibility instead of blame.
Generosity instead of selfishness.
Faithfulness instead of compromise.
Don't merely tell someone where to aim.
Show them.
PRAY
Father, thank You for the people You have entrusted to our influence.
Thank You especially for children.
Your Word calls them a heritage.
A reward.
A blessing.
And arrows placed into our hands.
Give us wisdom to aim them well.
Forgive us for the times our own sin has pointed others in the wrong direction.
Forgive our selfishness.
Our impatience.
Our anger.
Our deception.
Our gossip.
Our materialism.
Our pride.
Our manipulation.
Our unwillingness to admit when we're wrong.
Don't allow our sin to become the pattern another generation follows.
Jesus, make Your character increasingly visible in us.
Teach us to love unconditionally.
Care selflessly.
Protect actively.
Provide faithfully.
Lead through humble service.
Pursue meaningful connection.
Remain faithfully devoted to You and to those You have entrusted to us.
For parents, give them patience, guidance, discipline, direction, grace, forgiveness, consistency, and wisdom.
For those whose children are grown, continue using their words, actions, prayers, and example to point their families toward You.
For those without children, reveal the people You've placed within their influence and use their lives to point others toward Christ.
Above everything else:
Aim our hearts toward Jesus so our lives can help aim others toward Him.
May the next generation see Christ in us and desire to know Him for themselves.
Amen.
TOMORROW
Jesus' disciples saw children coming and apparently thought:
Interruption.
Jesus saw those same children and said:
“Let them come.”
He took them in His arms and blessed them.
Children require time.
Attention.
Sacrifice.
Patience.
And selflessness.
But Jesus reminds us:
Children are not interruptions to the important things in life. They are among the important things God has entrusted to us.
Day 4: Not an Interruption — Learning to Love Children Like Jesus.