YES, Jesus loves little children, and loves to have them pit their trust in Him.
Permit me, my dear little friends, to speak to you a few moments about His great love. Doubtless you have often heard the wondrous “Story of the Cross,” and perhaps have wept as you heard of the deep sufferings of Jesus; but suppose now you had stood by that cross, and had seen the Saviour bleed and die, and had been told that it was all for your sins, what would have been your feelings, do you think? I am sure your hearts would have been filled with the deepest sorrow, though at the same time, with love and gratitude to such a Friend.
Yes, dear children, do you not feel a great love to earthly friends who are kind to you—to tender parents and loving brothers and sisters, and to kind teachers who would do anything for your welfare? But O, no earthly friend, however kind, can love you half as much as Jesus does. Jesus has died for you. He came to this earth and lived a life of suffering and sorrow, and died a shameful death, that you might live and be happy in His presence forever.
And what does He ask in return for all this? Ah, dear children, Jesus knew that you could do nothing in return for such love, and therefore He asks you to do nothing, only to believe His great love—to believe that He has done all this, and all to save you.
But perhaps some child will say, I have always believed that Jesus died; I have always been taught to believe in Him. So you may, dear child, but there is a great difference between believing that Jesus died for sinners and believing that He died for you—knowing Him as your own Saviour. It will do you no good to know that Jesus died unless you know that He died for you.
You may be young, but you are not too young to be a sinner, and therefore not too young to need a Saviour.
But perhaps you will say, How can I know that Jesus is my Saviour? You must look to God’s Word, dear child, and that will tell you with certainty. Turn to 1 Timothy 1:15,15This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. (1 Timothy 1:15) “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation (that is, worthy that everybody should believe it), that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” And again, Jno. 3:16,16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16) “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
Now God means what He says, and He will never turn away one that comes to Him in the name of Jesus, not even the youngest child. O, no! He loves to see children come to Him; for Jesus, who always spoke according to the mind of His Father, said when on earth, “Suffer the little children to come unto Me, and forbid them not.” (Mark 10:1414But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. (Mark 10:14).)
ML 07/16/1916