A Love for Little Children

God’s Amazing Love Series
Second of five reflections on the love of God

One day some parents brought their children to Jesus so he could lay his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples scolded the parents for bothering him. But Jesus said, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children.” And he placed his hands on their heads and blessed them before he left. —Matthew 19:13-15 NLT

I can’t remember the crisis, now, but I was in a frustrated and frantic mood. I probably had lost something important and needed to find it quickly. That would have been a typical reason for losing my self-control back in the day. In any case, I was muttering about whatever-it-was when I happened to glance at the doorway of the study where I was grumbling. There stood two-year-old Mary, blanket in hand, looking sadly up at me. “Mary,” I sighed. “Do you know why Mommy is so upset?” She nodded her little head. “Cuz I avregating you.”

That stopped me in my tracks. Oh dear me, no, darling girl. You were not aggravating me at all. It was something else that set Mommy off. I gave her a big hug and slowed myself right down. How easily a child takes on the burden of a parent’s unhappiness! How quickly we can hurt little ones without even noticing that we have. This should not be. God loves the little children and places high value on them. And so should we.

Today, we take a look at God’s Word and celebrate the way He notices and cares about little children:

God loves children even before they are born. He watches them in the womb, and in His amazing, all-knowing way He plans out their days on earth before they happen. “You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed” (Psalm 139:15-16 NLT).

Children are blessings bringing joy with them in their arrival. “Children born to a young man are like arrows in a warrior’s hands. How joyful is the man whose quiver is full of them!” (Psalm 127:4-5a NLT).

Children receive special attention from our Shepherd. He not only carries them in His arms, but He is also especially gentle with their mothers. “He will feed his flock like a shepherd. He will carry the lambs in his arms, holding them close to his heart. He will gently lead the mother sheep with their young” (Isaiah 40:11 NLT).

Children are important enough to be taught, not just once in a while, but all the time. “And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up” (Deuteronomy 6:6-7 NLT).

God will severely punish all who harm children. He is fiercely protective of the vulnerable. “But if you cause one of these little ones who trusts in me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to have a large millstone tied around your neck and be drowned in the depths of the sea’” (Matthew 18:6 NLT).

God will not tolerate us looking down on children as if they don’t matter. Children are valuable and precious to God. “Beware that you don’t look down on any of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels are always in the presence of my heavenly Father” (Matthew 18:10 NLT).

Jesus loved and welcomed little children and did not see them as an interruption, but as a blessing. “One day some parents brought their children to Jesus so he could lay his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples scolded the parents for bothering him. But Jesus said, ‘Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children.’ And he placed his hands on their heads and blessed them before he left” (Matthew 19:13-15 NLT).

We are to train and discipline children without belittling them or harming them. “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4 NLT). “Fathers, do not aggravate your children, or they will become discouraged” (Colossians 3:21 NLT).

Sadly, because children are small, and we are the ones in charge of them, we can overlook their needs and their little hearts in our own hurry to take care of ourselves and our plans and our work. I was too busy and self-absorbed that day in the study when Mary thought my anger was directed at her. I needed a reminder that my children were deserving of my attention and my explanations throughout the day. Children are valuable and so dearly loved by our wonderful God. He welcomed them when He walked the earth long ago, taking time to hold them and bless them and truly notice them. Let’s love children like He does!

Father God, Your love for little children is amazing. From before our births, You know us and form us and have a plan for us. Thank You for these reminders that You are protective of these tiny ones. Help us to love like You do! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

You are loved,
Sharon

Sweet Selah Ministries

Vision
To inspire a movement away from the belief that “busy is better”
and toward the truth of God’s Word that stillness and knowing
Him matter most—and will be reflected in more effective work and service

 Mission
To offer biblical resources and retreats that help women pause (Selah)
and love God more deeply as they know Him more intimately (Sweet)

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