Mentoring Manna:  Arrows in the hand of a warrior

© 2003 Pastor Keith Hassell

MM00034

Psalm 127:4  “Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one’s youth.”  We are at war with the fallen values in our culture.  Things like alcohol, drugs, violence, pornography, immorality, and rebellion threaten to completely undermine the foundation of society.  The key to change is found in our children.  Children will become what we fashion them to be.  In this passage, Solomon compares children to weapons---specifically, arrows.  Parents are to carefully form their children even as a warrior would construct fearsome “arrows.” A warrior’s future may depend upon the accuracy and strength of each arrow.  Arrows have three basic parts:  the arrowhead, the shaft, and fletches (usually made of feathers).  The arrowhead represents the child’s education, skills, and gifting.  As parents we should insure that our children receive the best in their educational opportunities.  The shaft represents the child’s character. A good arrow’s shaft must be straight.  No matter how sharp the arrowhead, if the shaft is crooked, the arrow will always miss its mark.  Even an inferior arrowhead on a straight shaft is better than a sharp arrowhead on a crooked shaft.  The fleches represent the stabilizing aspect of the arrow as it soars through the air.  Without fletches, the arrow can twist, turn, or flip.  Children need stability in their lives.  That stability comes from a relationship with God.  Most arrows contain three fletches that represents a relationship with the Father, with the Son, and with the Holy Spirit. Inevitably, children will face situations in their lives that can throw them into a tailspin.   Once a child is “released” from the hand of their parent, only a solid relationship with God can give them the stability they need during the tough times of life.  An arrow is shot from a bow.  The bow represents the direction, guidance, encouragement, and blessing given to the child.  Parents need to instill a sense of destiny into the heart of their children.  Don’t “point” them toward a worldly goal.  They need to be pointed toward the bulls-eye of God’s will for their lives.  Parents are the warriors fighting for the next generation.  Our children are our arrows.  Don’t ignore the battle. We must do what it takes to fashion our children into arrows that will hit the mark in their generation for God’s glory.

Application:  One of the greatest needs today is for children from Christian homes to be fashioned and formed into mighty weapons against the enemy.  Sadly, many parents have believed that their greatest responsibility is to give their child a good education. Later these parents become greatly disillusioned when their well-educated children falter in life due to bad choices and destructive character deficiencies.  Bad behavior needs to be addressed at the youngest of ages.  Remember that bad behavior ignored is bad behavior taught. This in turn leads to bad character.  Character formation takes a lot of time, energy, perseverance, and discipline.  But the final fruit of good character reaps great rewards for both the child and the parent. Some parents default on this process. Rather than take action, they seem to count the days until their children can leave home. They forget that they are raising their grandchildren’s parents.  The fruit of bad character is usually multiplied in the grandkids!  Children also need spiritual “fletches.”  This is the spiritual development of the child.  As parents we must not ignore this area!  We need to pray with our children, read the Bible with our children, and model biblical principles in daily life.  We need to help our children form a relationship with their Heavenly Father through a saving relationship with Jesus Christ. Then they need to learn how to be led by the Holy Spirit. Giving careful attention to the little “arrows” in your quiver will insure that your child is fitly fashioned to hit the bulls-eye of God’s will for their life and do great damage to the kingdom of darkness.

Prayer:  “Heavenly Father, I thank You for my children.  You said that children are like arrows in the hand of a warrior.  Forgive me for the times I have not taken my role as a parent seriously.  I ask that You grant me wisdom so that I may raise my children with the education, character, and spiritual foundation to hit their mark in life for Your glory.  I pray this in Jesus’ name.  Amen.”

Grace Fellowship     P.O. Box 260       Rusk, Texas 75785       (903) 683-6550

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