Author's Note: Every day on the YWAP Fast Jan. 6-26, 2020 we’ll write about our experience as we respond to what God plants on our hearts during our extended time with Him.. Eventually the story will be chronicled into a book. “But first and most importantly seek (aim at, strive after) His kingdom and His righteousness [His way of doing and being right—the attitude and character of God], and all these things will be given to you also.” Matthew 6:33 AMP
The Millstones of Sex & Addiction
Childhood should be a happy time of celebrating milestones like first words and first steps. I had a dream last night about my Grandson. It was a good dream with lots of smiles! Celebrating a child's milestones brings smiles and causes them to become smilestones! He's a happy little guy surrounded by two loving parents. One of my joys in life is making short videos to stay in contact with him. as we live about 2,300 miles away. He has the benefit of living in a safe and nurturing environment with a family who loves him unconditionally and will put his best interests ahead of their own. My thoughts this morning, though bright with thoughts of my Grandson's smile, drift toward a deep sadness. Millions of kids don't celebrate milestones, their lives are weighed down by millstones.
A millstone in the Bible was like a life stone because it grinded grain and provided a means of providing food and sustenance for one's family. It was so important that it was forbidden to take a person's millstone as a pledge for a loan. (Deuteronomy 24:6) Millstones were very hard and very heavy making them deadly weapons when dropped on someone's head from a wall. (Judges 9:53) Jesus had something to say about people who hurt children. He said it would be better for them to have a millstone around their neck and drowned in the sea than to hurt a child. Matthew 18:6
I find it hard to believe that any human being would purposely hurt a child. Nobody jumps out of their mother's womb and says, "Hello world, I'm here to hurt children!" Evil was birthed in the beginning of the world when Eve was tempted by the devil. (Genesis 3:1) Evil hasn't stopped stealing, killing and destroying up to our present day. Generation after generation, evil continues to have its way in destroying families. I think children are the enemy's favorite target. It's almost as if the devil is perverting God's Word by saying "Train up a child in addiction and he will go the way of addiction to death and destruction."
Children are born addicted to moms who are addicted. Children follow in their father's alcoholic footsteps. Some abused children become abusers and continue the destruction of youth. Some children are identified for human trafficking from birth. The sexual abuse can happen at any age. It hurts to think that grown men can abuse babies for evil pleasure. This happens all over the world - that makes it everyone's responsibility to take a stand and stop it. Addiction in its many forms reaches out to make children victims: drugs, alcohol, sex, gambling, porn and some folks are just plain addicted to violently abusing children.
Take a stand for children. While it's true that those who hurt children will be punished, that doesn't stop the creation of future millstones. The devil wants to destroy the future of all children by putting millstones on their potential in God's plan for their lives. If you are someone who hurts children for personal gain and pleasure, you need to know there's no pleasure in hell where your future lies. Don't use children for sex. Don't use children to sell drugs. Don't sell children for sex. If you need help, reach out. Jesus will remove the millstone from around your neck. Jesus will turn your heart of stone into a heart of flesh and give you a future with hope. He removed the gravestone from His tomb after his death. He made a way for all of us to be free from the death that sin and evil bring. Cry out to Jesus.
DAY FOUR WORD
Matthew 18:6 Amplified Bible
“but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble and sin [by leading him away from My teaching], it would be better for him to have a heavy millstone [as large as one turned by a donkey] hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.”
Matthew 18:6 The Message
“But if you give them a hard time, bullying or taking advantage of their simple trust, you’ll soon wish you hadn’t. You’d be better off dropped in the middle of the lake with a millstone around your neck. Doom to the world for giving these God-believing children a hard time! Hard times are inevitable, but you don’t have to make it worse—and it’s doomsday to you if you do.”
Jeremiah 29:11 International Children’s Bible
I say this because I know what I have planned for you,” says the Lord. “I have good plans for you. I don’t plan to hurt you. I plan to give you hope and a good future.
DAY FOUR PRAYER
Thank You God for Your heart for children. Thank You for placing Your Love for children in my heart. You know my anguish and heart cry on their behalf. Last night I walked on frozen ground under a moonlit sky in Your Presence with children on my mind. You gave me a beautiful night and yet reminded me of children in pain. Show us how to stop evil from destroying our children Lord. The world says that, "hurting people hurt people." You overcame the world, show us how to do the same and save the children. Amen.
DAY FOUR DEEP THOUGHTS
A millstone in the Bible was like a life stone because it grinded grain and provided a means of providing food and sustenance for one's family. It was so important that it was forbidden to take a person's millstone as a pledge for a loan. (Deuteronomy 24:6) Millstones were very hard and very heavy making them deadly weapons when dropped on someone's head from a wall. (Judges 9:53) Jesus had something to say about people who hurt children. He said it would be better for them to have a millstone around their neck and drowned in the sea than to hurt a child. Matthew 18:6
I find it hard to believe that any human being would purposely hurt a child. Nobody jumps out of their mother's womb and says, "Hello world, I'm here to hurt children!" Evil was birthed in the beginning of the world when Eve was tempted by the devil. (Genesis 3:1) Evil hasn't stopped stealing, killing and destroying up to our present day. Generation after generation, evil continues to have its way in destroying families. I think children are the enemy's favorite target. It's almost as if the devil is perverting God's Word by saying "Train up a child in addiction and he will go the way of addiction to death and destruction."
Children are born addicted to moms who are addicted. Children follow in their father's alcoholic footsteps. Some abused children become abusers and continue the destruction of youth. Some children are identified for human trafficking from birth. The sexual abuse can happen at any age. It hurts to think that grown men can abuse babies for evil pleasure. This happens all over the world - that makes it everyone's responsibility to take a stand and stop it. Addiction in its many forms reaches out to make children victims: drugs, alcohol, sex, gambling, porn and some folks are just plain addicted to violently abusing children.
Take a stand for children. While it's true that those who hurt children will be punished, that doesn't stop the creation of future millstones. The devil wants to destroy the future of all children by putting millstones on their potential in God's plan for their lives. If you are someone who hurts children for personal gain and pleasure, you need to know there's no pleasure in hell where your future lies. Don't use children for sex. Don't use children to sell drugs. Don't sell children for sex. If you need help, reach out. Jesus will remove the millstone from around your neck. Jesus will turn your heart of stone into a heart of flesh and give you a future with hope. He removed the gravestone from His tomb after his death. He made a way for all of us to be free from the death that sin and evil bring. Cry out to Jesus.
DAY FOUR WORD
Matthew 18:6 Amplified Bible
“but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble and sin [by leading him away from My teaching], it would be better for him to have a heavy millstone [as large as one turned by a donkey] hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.”
Matthew 18:6 The Message
“But if you give them a hard time, bullying or taking advantage of their simple trust, you’ll soon wish you hadn’t. You’d be better off dropped in the middle of the lake with a millstone around your neck. Doom to the world for giving these God-believing children a hard time! Hard times are inevitable, but you don’t have to make it worse—and it’s doomsday to you if you do.”
Jeremiah 29:11 International Children’s Bible
I say this because I know what I have planned for you,” says the Lord. “I have good plans for you. I don’t plan to hurt you. I plan to give you hope and a good future.
DAY FOUR PRAYER
Thank You God for Your heart for children. Thank You for placing Your Love for children in my heart. You know my anguish and heart cry on their behalf. Last night I walked on frozen ground under a moonlit sky in Your Presence with children on my mind. You gave me a beautiful night and yet reminded me of children in pain. Show us how to stop evil from destroying our children Lord. The world says that, "hurting people hurt people." You overcame the world, show us how to do the same and save the children. Amen.
DAY FOUR DEEP THOUGHTS
- Can you do one thing to help a child in a bad situation?
- Do you have children with friends in bad situations who need some comfort provided by you and your family?
- Can you make it a habit to pray everyday for children who are victims of addiction and human trafficking?
- Educate yourself on how to help addicted people, try and walk in their shoes.
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