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The Scriptorium

Little Ones, Rejoice!

Jesus cares for us well. Matthew 18.10-14

Matthew 18: Others First (3)

Pray Psalm 28.1, 2.
To You I will cry, O LORD my Rock:
Do not be silent to me,
Lest, if You aIre silent to me,
I become like those who go down to the pit.
Hear the voice of my supplications
When I cry to You,
When I lift up my hands toward Your holy sanctuary.

Sing Psalm 28.1, 2.
(Angel’s Story: O Jesus, I Have Promised)
I cry to You, our Savior, O, be not deaf to me!
Lord, speak to me with favor, lest I should dying be.
Hear now my supplications when for Your help I cry.
Receive these, my oblations, before Your throne on high.

Read Matthew 18.1-14; meditate on verses 10-14.

Prepare.
1. How is it clear that the Lord cares for His “little ones”?

2. Why did Jesus come to earth?

Meditate.
In the Kingdom of God, we’re all “little ones.” Think how little we must be to God, Who contains the entire vast cosmos within Himself. Think how little we must seem amongst the teeming billions who populate this earth. Yes, we are all “little ones” – the “little ones” of the Lord. And as Kittie L. Suffield reminds us, “Little is much when God is in it.”

Jesus delights to think of us as His “little ones.” We are like frolicking lambs, and He is our Good Shepherd. From our text, it is clear that though we are little, the Lord cares for us greatly. Apparently, each of us has an angel (or angels) who stand before the face of our heavenly Father, ready to come to our aid or defense at His Word (v. 10). We don’t make as much of angels as we should, probably because we don’t see them at work. But they’re there, doing whatever the Father decides and Jesus commands, to care for us in our journey to the lush meadows and still waters at the end of life’s journey.

Jesus came to earth to seek (v. 11, cf. Lk. 19.10) and find those who are lost. He tracks us down in our lostness and takes us to Himself. Little ones can easily become lost. Indeed, we’re born lost, and need Jesus to find us. The longer we’re lost, the “loster” we become. But we can’t be so lost that Jesus can’t find us. Ask Saul of Tarsus.

Our Father in heaven will not allow a single one of His “little ones” to perish. The Good Shepherd has died to pay the cost of our lostness; and He sends His Spirit to seek and save each one the Father has set apart for Himself. We are perhaps daily reminded of our littleness and our tendency to get lost. Rejoice, little ones, the Good Shepherd and His angels are on the job, and nothing can separate us from Him (Rom. 8.38, 39).

Reflect.
1. Is it helpful to think of ourselves as the “little ones” of the Lord? Explain.

2. Where were you lost when Jesus found you?

3. Give thanks and praise to God for the angels He uses to care for you. How might you be more mindful of their presence and work throughout the day?

How much grace the Lord has toward each one believing in him he himself declares when he shows their angels always beholding the face of the Father who is in heaven. Great is the grace of the angels toward all who believe in Christ.
Chromatius (fl. 400), Tractate on Matthew 57.1

Thank You, Lord, for the angels who will go before me today. Remind me to give You thanks and praise as I…

Pray Psalm 28.3-9.
Praise and thank the Lord, throughout the day, that He is your Good Shepherd, your strength, your shield, and your saving refuge. Once you were lost, but now you are found. Give thanks and praise to God!

Sing Psalm 28.3-9.
Psalm 28.3-9 (Angel’s Story: O Jesus, I Have Promised)
Lord, count me not among those who walk in sinful ways.
With words of peace their tongue glows while evil fills their days.
Your works they disregard, Lord, while evil fills their hands.
Destroy them by Your Word, Lord, and let them no more stand.

Blessed be the Name of Jesus, for He will hear our prayer.
His strength protects and shields us with mercy and with care.
In You our heart rejoices; You help us by Your Word.
To You we raise our voices to praise and thank You, Lord.

Our strength are You, O Savior, our strong defense and sure.
Anointed with Your favor, we rest in You secure.
Save us, and bless us, Jesus, upon us turn Your face.
With shepherd’s care, Lord, keep us forever in Your grace.

T. M. Moore

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All quotations from Church Fathers from
Ancient Christian Commentary Series, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006). All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter (available by clicking here).

T.M. Moore

T. M. Moore is principal of The Fellowship of Ailbe, a spiritual fellowship in the Celtic Christian tradition. He and his wife, Susie, make their home in the Champlain Valley of Vermont.
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