All the little children of the world

Everything God desires and has designed is the target of Satan’s whispers and temptations.  God desires unity; Satan does all he can to cause division and discord.  God desires community; Satan drives wedges between individuals.  God creates us with value and worth; Satan tries to convince us we are worthless.  God brings life; Satan brings destruction and death.  God tells us we are redeemable; Satan tries to convince us that we cannot be saved from our sin and shame.  

So who are you going to listen to?

God tells us that the children of God who gather at the throne will come from all over — from every nation, tribe, people and language.  That means that the old children’s song is so true: “Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world.  Red and yellow, black and white; they are precious in His sight.  Jesus loves the little children of the world.”  And all those children grow up into adults, red and yellow, black and white.  

Unfortunately somewhere along the line, those children learn or see modeled divisions that come between the colors of skin.  Rather than looking at the heart of a man like the Lord (remember the story of Samuel and the anointing of David as king), we look at the outward man and make decisions about the value and worthiness of others.  Yet we will stand shoulder to shoulder, maybe hand in hand before the throne of God to sing praises to the Lamb of God.  So, let me ask you: Can you wholeheartedly and joyfully sing with the children their song about the red, yellow, black and white of this world, and the heaven to come?  If not, let me suggest you go back and read James 4:1-10 again from this morning’s sermon.  

Pressing on…

Ron Tipton, Senior Pastor