It really didn't matter one bit when the neighborhood bully shouted in the face of the four year old boy. The bully truly thought that his fierce facial expressions and 100 decibel screaming would shake the little boy loose and send him crying home to his Momma. Surprisingly, the four year old stood firm and smiled into the face of the much older madman. When the bully's screams didn't phase the little one, he shook his monster sized fist in the face of the child saying "What is your problem, aren't you afraid that I will trounce you into smithereens?"
Still smiling and seeming unmoved, the little boy motioned with his tiny finger for the bigger than life bully to come closer because he was whispering something that he wanted him to hear. The bully moved in to see the smile broaden even more... as the little one whispered "My Daddy is standing right behind you!"
"My sheep hear My Voice, and I know them, and they follow me. And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My Hand. My Father which gave them Me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of My Father's Hand. I and My Father are one." John 10:27-30
There seems to be a notable tenderness sown into the fabric of a child that has that simple contagious faith that moves the mountains of the heart. That tenderness if nurtured and strengthened can become an incredible growing source of hope, as well as a living example of the Kingdom.; And yet ... I wish it weren't so .. that same tenderness is very fragile and can easily be violated, making it a source of darkness that stains the steps of the little one as he moves through life.
This is potentially the reason that a Millstone Neck Tie accompanied by a deep sea dip has been offered in three of the Gospels (Matthew 18:6, Mark 9:42, Luke 17:1, 2) to the offender as declared by Jesus. Offend one of His little ones "it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea." This ...May seem harsh, but O how He loves His little ones!
Jesus desires us all to turn to Him, and turn away from the distractions that so easily crowd in on us while we are trying to establish the vanishing foundation of this temporal mirage ... Let's live for things that Last Forever! In the swirl of affairs of this life, live to offer His Love... little children thrive on love and potentially die without it.
"And said, Verily I say unto you, Except you are converted, and become as little children, you shall not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven." Matthew 18:3
There was a pain filled trek to the top of a bloody hill purposed for torture and such a cursed death. There was a royal Spirit that surrounded the One upon whom "This Day's" violence had been so savagely focused and ordered. The battle had been fought with a strange lack of concern for His own welfare, in so much that it would truly appear that "One Man, would die for the nation ... the world."
The testimony of His duty bound persecutor was amazing ... wow could so many other be so oblivious of this "Surely this Man was the Son of God!" Oh yes ,,, what appeared to be defeat by calloused on-lookers... three days later ended up in a terrifyingly awesome victory - He lives!!! But that Victory doesn't have Jesus forcing His way into the lives of people.
Picture this - Jesus stands and whispers to the heart of every soul ... "For I so love you!" Will we truly love Him in return...
As the door closes to another day ... and He watches over what is left of that tender child, will we hold back the words in silence or will we let our hearts move our lips upright to speak the words He desires to hear ... "Jesus, I do love you!"
"For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." Speak the words of Love ... in response to the Lover of your Soul.
HLFA,
Jeff
PS. If you cannot love and forgive those whom you can see, how can you even begin to tell Jesus that you love Him?