| When people see what a big family I have, I'm often asked, "Are they all YOUR children?" I'm always glad to answer with a resounding "YES!" Unlike those of generations past, people today are often shocked when they see a large family. We get a variety of responses: "Why would anyone want so many children?" "I can't handle the two I have!" "How can you afford them?" If you haven't already guessed, my family and I are Born Again Christians. We believe the Bible, and have taken to heart God's command, "to be fruitful and multiply." (Gen. 1:28, 9:1,7) Even though our society in general looks at children as burdens, God actually calls them a "reward" that can bring lasting happiness. "Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them." Ps. 127, 3,5 If brought up in the ways of the Lord, children can be a great blessing to their parents. "A wise son maketh a glad father." Prov. 10:1 "The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice, and he that begetteth a wise child shall have joy of him. Thy father and thy mother shall be glad, and she that bare thee shall rejoice."Prov. 23:24,25 If not, God say children can actually become a curse to their parents and to a nation. "There is a generation thht curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother." Prov. 30:11 "...A foolish son is the heaviness of his mother." Prov. 10:1 "...He that is a companion of riotous men shameth his father." Prov. 28:7 "A child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame." Prov. 29:15 But there is hope for children. You see, there is another family that is multiplying that God talks about in His Word, the family of God. God not only desires physical but spiritual children as well. When someone becomes Born Again, or Born of the Spirit, (as Jesus taught in John chapter 3), they become children of God. "But as many as received him, (Jesus Christ), to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name."John 1:12 Only those who have believed the Gospel and received the Lord Jesus Christ as their own personal Saviour will be His children throughout eternity. Jesus said, "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." John 3:3 The first step to have a blessed family is to become part of God's family. Please allow me to tell you how you can join God's family and know for sure that you are a child of God. The Word of God tells us..... "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." Rom 3:23 "For the wages of sin is death." Rom 6:23 "As it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgement." Heb. 9:27 "But the...unbelieving....and all liars , shall have thei part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death." Rev. 21:8 "...Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." Luke 13:3, 5 The good news of the Gospel is that.... "...Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures...he was buried, and...rose again the third day..." I Cor. 15:3,4 "...While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Rom 5:8 Jesus said all it takes is childlike faith to be saved. "...Except ye be converted, and become as little children ye shall not ento into the kingdom of heaven." Matt. 18:3 You can become God's child today! Pray this "Sinners Prayer" with all your heart and invite Jesus to save you right now. Dear Jesus, I am sorry for all my sins. I ask you to make me YOUR chld. Please forgive me and save me from Hell. By faith I now recieve you as my personal Saviour. I am only trusting the blood you shed for me on Calvary's cross as payment for all my sins. Thank you LORD JESUS for saving me, and giving me a home in Heaven. Amen. If you have trusted Christ as your Saviour, you too can now claim the promises that God has given to His children. Here are just a few: "For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus." Gal. 3:26 "I write unto you little children because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake." I John 2:12 "...Jesus...said, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God." Luke 18:16 |
| This Bible tract was originally written by Pastor Bob Leib on his daughter Joy's 6th birthday. She is the fifth born of six children. Revised by Pastor Joe Cammelleri, father of 8. Put on the web by Mrs. Bob Leib. |
| Are They All Yours? |
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