Little Ones to Him Belong

Intercom Devotion

Earlier this week I was rocking my daughter, who is almost two, to sleep before bed. I sang her the simple hymn, “Jesus Loves Me,” which is one of her favorites. She has some speech delays, but she knows some sign language, and she loves this song because she can sign the refrain, “Yes, Jesus Loves Me.”

As I cuddled my rapidly growing child and reflected on how quickly this time goes, I sang her the line, “Little ones to him belong, they are weak but he is strong.”

I was hit by an obvious realization: the “little ones” aren’t just young children. All of us are “little ones.”

I focus so much on teaching my own children their developing faith, that I often neglect my own, and at that moment the Holy Spirit reminded me: I am a little one. I am weak but he is strong.

In Matthew chapter 18, Jesus reminds his disciples that, “Unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven” (Mt 18:2-4).

When I get frustrated that I can’t do everything well, or feel like life is throwing more at me than I can handle, God reminds me that I am but a little one and I have a heavenly Father who loves me. He knew me before my conception, in my mother’s womb, and continues to care for me every moment of every day until I join my fellow saints in heaven.

So to all my readers, all of God’s “little ones,” be encouraged: Yes, Jesus loves you. The Bible tells you so.