PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Matthew 18:10-14
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“Your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish.” (Matthew 18:14)
God does not want anyone to perish (2 Peter 3:9), but especially not the ‘little ones’.
In the previous verses we see that Jesus is talking about little children (18:2).
Little children represent the weaker, dependent ones in our world.
Sadly they are often used, misused, and abused in the world… and even in the church.
And many of these little ones become lost, messed up, broken, addicted, trapped.
Can you think of children who are suffering, in the world or in the church?
Child soldiers, sex slaves, trafficked teens, children abused by church leaders?
Kids suffering for their parents bad choices, broken and dysfunctional homes.
Abandoned, aborted, neglected, yelled at, poorly fed and clothed.
Jesus is showing the special place that these little ones have in God’s heart.
We can’t solve all of these problems, but neither can we ignore them.
If God goes out of His way, even ‘leaving the 99’, to help them, shouldn’t we?
Do we spend most of our church time with the 99, while neglecting the lost ones?
Jesus is gently challenging our priorities, and urging us to see God’s ‘little ones’.
PRAYER
Lord, open my eyes to see the ‘little ones’ You love around me. Help me to love them like You do, and to do what I can to help them find their way home to You!
Do we get used to seeing the ‘lost’ and not caring anymore? I mean, do I/we get desensitized and no longer responsive? Getting involved in the life of one is better than none – and is one out of many – but it is at least one. Lord – help me to address the ones that you put in my life – because I know that you care about each one – especially when they are vulnerable and young!
Lord God almighty forgive my indifference. Help me O Holy Spirit to see and care for the ‘little ones’ , the vulnerable, the outcast, the unfortunate who crosses my path. Grant me the compassionate heart and the love you have for them Lord Jesus.