Jesus … said to them, Let the little children come to Me … whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it. And He took them up in His arms, laid His hands on them, and blessed them.
Mark 10:14–16
In the waiting area of an airport, a young couple with their infant child once attracted special attention. Whenever a person looked at the baby – young or old, happy or sad, man or woman – he returned a smile, delighting the entire waiting area. He was simply adorable.
As I watched this child smile over and over, I thought about how much God loves us. He desires ‘eye contact’ with us. He finds joy in that. And we too are to find our true joy in communion with Him.
The certainty that God loves us belongs to the core of the Christian faith. Yet we must not think of this love as indefinite or abstract, for it is deeply personal. It is not just a general attitude; rather, God wants a personal relationship with each individual.
Sin had obscured our view of God’s love. But this divine love manifested itself in all clarity when the Son of God came to earth.
Jesus Christ, the Son of God, became man. He humbled Himself in order to reach us. When we look at Him, we see how the love of God triumphs over moral darkness, over hatred and violence. And He did even more: He gave His life for us. On the cross of Calvary, He atoned for sins so that lost people might find their way to God and enjoy His fellowship.
Today’s reading: 1 Kings 13:1-19 · John 9:35-41
https://gbv-online.org/calendar/262/date/2024-08-30