“Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God (Mark 10:14).

“And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them. But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily, I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them” (Mark 10:13-16).

Jesus loves and cares for all boys and girls everywhere. He wants to live in your hearts. He has a plan for each of you and wants to lead your lives.

Once, while talking to His friend, Jesus taught that boys and girls are much more important to God than flowers and birds.

Birds do not plant seeds and store up food. God feeds them. He helps them find bugs and seeds to eat. Flowers live only a few days. God gives them beautiful shapes and colors. You are much more important to Him than these. So if God takes care of the birds and flowers, He will certainly take care of all boys and girls. See Matthew 6:25-33.

He gives you food and clothes and helps you to be good and kind. You need to put your trust in Him, for He knows what is best for you. He is a loving God who wants to help all those who are in need. In your troubles, or sickness, or sorrow, He will help you. The Bible says, “If we ask anything according to His will, he heareth us” (1 John 5:14).

A father had two sons. The younger son said, “Give me my share of the money.” He took it and went far away from home. He and his friends wasted the money, having a good time. Soon it was all spent. Then his friends left him alone.

A man gave him work feeding pigs, but he did not have anything to eat. He was so hungry!

He thought, “My father’s servants have much to eat. I will go home, and I will say to my father, ‘I have sinned. I can no longer be like a son. May I work for you as a servant?’” and the younger son started for home.

The father was watching and waiting for his son. How he missed him! When he saw his son coming, he ran and hugged him and kissed him!

The son said, “Father, I have sinned. I am no more worthy to be called your son. Just let me be one of your hired servants.”

But the father had already forgiven him. He told his servants, “Put a coat and shoes on him. Kill a calf, and we will have a happy dinner together. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.” From Luke 15:11-24.

This story shows how Jesus loves all sinners. The Bible says, “There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth” (Luke 15:10).

The Bible tells us another story about how much God loves everyone.

One day a man walked down a lonely road. He met robbers in the way. They jumped on him and hurt him. They took his clothes and his money. Then they ran away. The man was badly hurt. He could not get up.

A priest came down the road and saw the man who was hurt, but he did not help him. He hurried by on the other side of the road.

A Levite came down the road. He also saw the man who was hurt and stopped to look at him, but he did not help him either. He walked by on the other side, too.

A Samaritan came riding down the road on his donkey. When he saw the man who was hurt, he stopped to see if he could help him. He washed his cuts with oil and wrapped them up. He put the man on his donkey and took him to the nearest inn.

In the morning, the good Samaritan said to the innkeeper, “Take care of the man until he is well. Here is money to pay you. If it is not enough, I will pay you more when I come again.” Found in Luke 10:30-35.

Jesus wants us to be loving and kind to those who are in need. When the love of Jesus lives in our hearts, we will do nothing because we are proud or selfish. But in humility, we will think more of others than we do of ourselves. We will not look only to our own interests, but will try to think and understand how others feel, too. The Bible says, “By love serve one another” (Galatians 5:13).

We are to love our enemies and forgive those who treat us wrongly. We are never to return evil for evil.

When we have the love of Jesus in our hearts, we will be kind to our friends, obedient to our parents, and happy to tell other boys and girls what the Lord has done for us.

Jesus loved us so much that He died on the cruel cross for our sins. Now we should love Him so much that we give our hearts and lives to Him.

“We love him, because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19).

God Is the Loving Father
By Mabel Niedermeyer and George F. Root

1. God is the loving Father
   Of children everywhere;
   No matter where their homes are,
   They live within His care.
2. He loves all those in far lands
   Whom I may never see;
   He also loves the children
   Who live next door to me.