Our church is planning a day where we will recognize and bless the newborn babies and other small children in our congregation. From all that we read in Scripture about the importance of children, it seems to be fitting that we have such a ceremony.

Jesus saw the significance of children when others failed to do so. In Luke 18:15-17, we read, “People were also bringing babies to Jesus for him to place his hands on them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them. But Jesus called the children to him and said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.’”

Other verses in the Bible inform us about how precious children are. Psalm 139:13 says, “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.” This verse, one of many Scriptures that are used to build a pro-life worldview, tells us that every single baby in its mother’s womb is the handiwork of God. Therefore, those precious little lives are worthy of our love and protection. It is a shameful tragedy that one of the most dangerous places for a human being to live in our society today is in their own mother’s womb.

Not only does God create us in the womb, but he also has plans for us before we are ever born. Jer.1:5 says, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart…” Think about all the little children in your family, or church, or neighborhood, and consider what God might have in store for their lives. The possibilities are exciting!

Because children mean so much to God, and since he has such great plans for them, they need direction. Prov.22:6 teaches us, “Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.” From a young age, children need to be taught the ways of the Lord. They need to be saturated in Scripture and carefully brought up learning how to live their lives according to the principles set forth in the Bible. The world will not teach them anything about God; such instruction must come from the parents and Sunday school teachers.

Many Scriptures reinforce the truth that children are a blessing from God. Psalm 127:3 says, “Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him.” It is especially important to remember this verse whenever a child in your care is misbehaving in some way! Just keep repeating to yourself, “They are a blessing from God! They are a blessing from God!”

The priestly prayer from Num.6:24-27 was meant to be a blessing for all the Israelites, but it is a good prayer to offer up for children today: “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.”

Another good prayer for children is found in a verse of the popular Christmas song, “Away in a Manger”—“Bless all the dear children in Thy tender care, and fit us for heaven, to live with Thee there.”