AND the Lord set "a little child" in their midst, and said, "Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven." (Matt. 18:33And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 18:3).)
We find that "little children" have a part in Scripture, and seeing this, should we not remark more than we do that the Lord also now uses them to teach others more of Himself; and, instead of scorning, as we older ones often do, to learn from "a little child," recognize the great power that God often gives them over others?
We read, in the millennium God wills that those animals which are now the fiercest shall obey "a little child," and "a little child shall lead them"; and why then should we be unwilling to be led by a little believer, or to learn a lesson from anything, however small we may think it, the Lord would choose to lead and teach us by; for nothing that helps us to follow more closely after Himself could be unimportant.
I once knew a dear little boy, who was much used of the Lord in his simple way to those around him. His mother recognized the Lord's voice of comfort and exhortation to herself many a time through her child. He was only six years old; and the first time his words impressed her was after a workman in their house had had a bad fall from a ladder. Someone, who was talking of it before the child, said, "Oh, poor Will, I hope he won't die now!”
The little one was playing, and, to her surprise, looked up gravely, and said, "Then you must pray for him," and was quite quiet. After a while he quaintly added, "I have," thus showing he had learned the simple lesson of faith, so hard to learn by us. "Whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive." (Matt. 21:2222And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive. (Matthew 21:22).)
Once when his mother was sick he said, "Mamma, are there any harps in heaven?”
“Oh," he said, with great stress, "if it's in the Bible it must be true, and they'll never wear out!”
The dear sick mother had been fading away some time, and had been most anxious about leaving this little son, hoping he was the Lord's. When the child spoke thus it seemed like an answer to her prayers straight from the Lord, while it taught and reminded her that she also ought to have more of his childlike trust.
Soon after, he came up and laid his little curly head by her side, and said, wistfully, “Oh, mother, I shall cry when you go—I know I shall; only sometimes, just sometimes, I wish I was going too, and if I do I shall never cry again!”
“Yes, darling," she said, marveling at her little son, and softly added, "'And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.' (Rev. 21:44And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. (Revelation 21:4).) Truly this sweet little one was a living example of the Lord's words, " Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings Thou hast perfected praise" (Matt. 21:1616And said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise? (Matthew 21:16)), and used of Him day by day unconsciously to convey words of encouragement and hope to his mother; thus was he the little instrument to teach her more of His heart.
And we should do well to remember the warning given, which might be looked at in connection with the above verse—" Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of My Father which is in heaven." (Matt. 18:1010Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven. (Matthew 18:10).)
And if we did remember this more often, how many unkind, thoughtless speeches to the little ones, and especially the Lord's little ones, would remain unsaid; sometimes, perhaps, they try older ones, or weary them. Well, if we are patient and loving, it is more than rewarded by knowing we are being so to those for whom the Lord has a special love and care. Let us not forget that He said, "Whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward" (Matt. 10:4242And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward. (Matthew 10:42)); thus showing He certainly is not indifferent to the way in which His little ones are treated. He commends them specially, too, to Peter, where] He said, “If ye love Me, feed My lambs." (John 21:1515So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. (John 21:15).) T. O'N. N.