Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven
The children’s friends
I.
The children around us have friends.
1. They have Divine Friends. God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Ghost, are these Friends.
2. They have angelic friends.
3. They have human friends. Some in heaven; also on earth.
II. Lessons.
1. These thoughts should encourage anxious parents.
2. These thoughts should encourage despondent teachers.
3. These thoughts should encourage neglected and sorrowing children. (J. Morgan.)
The children’s foes
1. Among the children’s foes may be reckoned physical diseases and ailments.
2. Among the children’s foes must be ranked evil passions.
3. Among the children’s foes are to be found many vile and malicious demons.
4. Among the children’s foes are to be found many foolish and wicked men.
(1) Persons who indulge vicious habits.
(2) The circulators of profane literature. (J. Morgan.)
Hidden force in a child
For they are the men and women of the future, and within them lurk wondrous possibilities and powers which shall be developed and manifested and felt another day. Naturalists tell us that in every single drop of water in the ocean there is electricity enough to generate two thunder-storms. The power is there silent and’ hidden, nevertheless ready at any moment to leap forth and do terrible execution. So within the soul of every little child in our homes, in our schools, and in our streets, there is a moral force lying hidden on which two utterly opposite eternities hang. (J. Morgan.)
Children in danger of perishing
The children around us are in danger of perishing. What that means none of us can fully describe or imagine. We may have seen a superb mansion perish by a fire, or an extensive mill perish by an explosion, or a magnificent ship perish in a storm, and may have attempted to estimate the loss, and have mourned over the wreck and ruin. But for a child, with a God-given, a God-endowed, and a God-redeemed nature to perish, must be something far more terrible than the loss of any mansion, or mill, or ship that ever was built, however elaborately finished, or expensively furnished. (J. Morgan.)
God’s love for little children
1. It is a love of utter unselfishness.
2. It is the love of delight in them.
3. It is a love of compassion toward them.
4. It is the love of trust in the almost infinite capacities of children. (T. Gasquoine, B. A.)
Destitute children
I. A careful regard should be paid to children. Ii. They are liable to perish.
1. Through lack of food.
2. Through lack of knowledge.
3. In a moral sense they are liable to perish.
III. It is not the will of the parent of good that these little ones should be included in peril and ruin. (D. Ace, M.A.)
I. The dangerous exposure of mankind.
II. The will of the father respecting us.
III. How that will is to make effect. (J. N. Pearson, M. A.)
God’s care for His children
1. The existence of things which put in peril the souls of them that may be the children of God.
2. It is contrary to God’s will that these dangers should be fatal to the salvation of His people.
3. The means which God has provided for the accomplishment of His gracious will in the salvation of the little ones.
4. The encouragement which the text affords to those who are desirous of imparting that knowledge which maketh wise unto salvation. (Bishop Sumner.)
The Father and the little ones
I. The truth asserted. God’s will is for their welfare.
1. Because He is their Creator.
2. Because He is Love.
3. These words apply to the whole realm of childhood. They are not limited to children of the good and wealthy.
II. A sad truth implied. That notwithstanding God’s will children may ripen for evil and be lost. (C. Vivace.)
Not an ideal child
I saw some time ago a great painter’s representation of this scene. He makes this child so noble-featured, full of brightness and beauty, standing there as a young prince, fetched for the purpose from a fair palace. That is artistic, but it does not answer the purpose. What was done was done on the spot. The Master did not send for and bring the fairest and best-trained child that Galilee contained. No; it was a street loiterer He called to Himself. Some little one busy at play in the market-place, or one looking on wondering at the edge of the crowd-the first little one on which His eyes could rest; and taking him with gentle hands, with all the roughness in which He found him, the Master pointed to him, and said: “Do not despise him; deem him not unworthy of your regard, but rather with all yore” powers influence him for good. Win his heart for God. Open to him the gates of heaven, and do all you can to smooth his path. Do not despise one of these.” (C. Vivace.)
Men must co-operate with the will of God
Still there is room for human labour. What would the earth be without it? Suppose that where we see the corn ripening we saw only a barren waste; if the ground had not been ploughed, or the seed not sown, or the plants not tended, could we look on it and say, “Even so, Father, for so it seemeth good in Thy sight? “ No; we should have to say: “It is not according to God’s will; God’s goodness has been defeated, and man’s badness crowned with triumph.” God in the course of providence ordains that our work and effort should be used to produce that on which He has set His heart. When a house is being built, there are different sets of labourers. On a certain day you see the work standing still, and on inquiry as to the cause you find that one set of men were idlers, they had gone holiday-making, and all the others were baffled and could do nothing. Look into the sluggard’s garden; the sun is there, and the dew, and they cannot do anything; the showers descend; all God’s celestial workers are there; but they cannot do anything because man is idling, has not dug the earth, has not scattered the seed; therefore God’s means can do nothing. This is one of the great mysteries of the universe. I wonder that God did not determine to do it all Himself, and not wait for our work, and have His purposes baffled, because we do not do our share of the labour. (C. Vivace.)
