We sing the great majestic hymns of the faith in my church.  Recently we sang one of the most majestic hymns of all time, Jesus Loves the Little Children.  You might not think of this simple children's song as majestic, but the message is powerful.

Clare Woolston wrote the words to the famous Christian song, Jesus Loves the Little Children.  Woolston was a preacher in Chicago Illinois and lived from 1856 to 1927.  This song is a favorite even today, especially among children.

Jesus loves the little children,
All the children of the world.
Red and yellow, black and white,
All are precious in His sight,
Jesus loves the little children of the world.

I sang the song with joy, but sadness as well.  I couldn't help but focus on the words, "Jesus LOVES the little children, ALL the children of the world."  That is the good news.  Jesus does love all the children of the world!  Yet I was sad.

Some have redefined Jesus' love to be an offer of love half way to the heart of children.  They believe that if children repent, Jesus' love continues.  However, if children do not repent, Jesus' love turns to eternal wrath and eternal damnation.  This seems odd for God to love and then rescind the offer!  If that is true, then what is grace really?  However, Jesus' love is not conditional like our love.  His love goes the whole way through to pay for our sin and guarrantee a seat in Heaven, reaching our sinful hearts... sooner or later.  His love for his chosen ones is unconditional, unrelenting, unthwartable, unchanging.  "Jesus LOVES the little children...."

Others have redefined all to mean all nationalities and all types, but not each individual child.  Jesus MIGHT LOVE a particular child OR he MIGHT NOT.  They are not sure.  However, anyone who has read anything about the life of Jesus realizes that he was kind and loving to each individual.  He was even kind to the Pharisees who hated him and invented foolish ideas such as, God does not love all.  Yet Jesus does love, "...ALL the children of the world."

With good news like that how can I stay sad?  Time to share the Good News and LIVE for Christ!

For the love of Christ constrains us; because we judge thus, that one died for all, therefore all died. He died for all, that those who live should no longer live to themselves, but to him who for their sakes died and rose again.

2 Corinthians 5:14-15 (WEB)