Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 19:14)

In looking into the early period of the life of Jesus with His parents, and on into His adult life of teaching and preaching concerning children, we see a charter of seventeen articles.

1. The Father Guardian of the home receives warning and direction from God for the children. Joseph did.

2. The Mother Wife of the home sets forth submission to the Father Guardian and the hardships which follow submission. Mary did.

3. The Father Husband shared obedience and submission to hardships, also, which were brought about by their obedience to God. Joseph did.

4. The Father Husband has especial audiences and authorities from God during various nights with his family. Joseph did.

5. All around the family are dangers with a great slaughter of children going on. Joseph and Mary knew this.

6. Not only are there dangers and slaughter near them, but also surrounding them, in the coasts thereof. There was no other place of safety known to go but to God. Joseph knew this, and God directed him to go to Egypt.

7. After the parents obeyed the will of God for their only child, the Word of God was fulfilled, and safety and preservation kept them. The entire family knew this.

8. "The Star of Providence" guarded and confirmed the way and led others to see this God-led family in harm's way. The Wise Men saw this.

9. God protected the child from slaughter until those forces against the child were stopped. His pathway of danger was removed when the King and those who assisted Herod were removed in death.

10. Jesus, in His great earthly ministry, opened up the universal invitation to all children: "suffer little children to come unto" Him; that they should not be forbidden; and He blesses them in His midst.

11. The capacity and gift of the human spirit extended by God to each child is of such value to God that Jesus compares it spiritually to regeneration.

12. Jesus raised at least two young people from the dead, which is exemplary of their capacity for life and His desire that they have their life. Jesus believed children should live life.

13. Jesus drove out a demon from a child. He intended for children to be delivered from Satanic power and influence.

14. When Jesus was on His way to be crucified, women wept like mourners after Him. Instead of telling them not to weep, He simply redirected their weepings to be for their children rather than for Him.

15. There was a time when some of the children from the home of Joseph and Mary did not understand the ways and words of Jesus. Likewise, there could be different children in a home that do not understand the Lord.

16. Even Mary, in her life, is thought of as either not understanding Jesus or having a different opinion than He did on some occasions.

17. In looking back over these articles in "The Children's Charter," it is easy for the parents to equate appropriate application to their own family: headship and submission are most important.

(This is an excerpt from The Human Spirit, Vol. 1)