“WHAT kind of children does God love?” said a Christian one day to the children in his Sunday-school. “Good children,” “Good children,” was the answer from several voices.
The teacher was silent, and the scholars were perplexed to know what answer to give. Presently he said, “Jesus loves bad children.” The children were surprised at this, and one little girl anxiously asked if it was really true. When she was assured that it was really true, because it is written that God loved the world, and in it “there is none that doeth good, no, not one,” she burst into tears, and said, “I am so glad then, for I am a bad child.”
Thus the “gospel of the grace of God” first dawned upon a little child, and melted a rebellious spirit into tenderness and tears.
God loves all children, not because they are bad, but because He is good; not because they are lovely, but because He is loving: for “God is love.”
No doubt the children that Jesus called to Him and blessed, were children who had been sinful and wayward and disobedient; but He did not say “Suffer the good little children to come unto Me,” but “Suffer the little children to come unto Me.”
If Jesus were living here today and preaching the gospel and teaching the people and blessing the children, how glad you would be to have your parents take you to Jesus that He might put His hands on you and bless you; and Jesus would surely make you welcome.
Though Jesus is not here, yet you can come to Jesus. He sees you, and hears you, and loves you, and knows your needs; and if you are a sinful, naughty child, He loves you still, and calls you to Himself. You may speak to Him and He will hear you, and forgive you, and heal you, and help you.
Will you not come to Him today, just as you are?
ML 02/22/1903