September 8
Bigness is Not Greatness
In the Hour of Silence"Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones."
THE little one may be a child. Then I must not despise the child. He is dear to the Father and to the Saviour. He has come into the world, trailing clouds of glory from God, who is his Home. He has the greatest capacities and the greatest possibilities. So far from slighting and harming him, let me feel that I am on holy ground in his society, and let me thank God for the sweet fellowship of the children.
The little one may be a weak and backward disciple. He tries me sorely by his ignorance, his error, his despondencies and misgivings. But the travel-stained feet of Christ are members of His body no less than the busy hands and the thinking brain. Let me not hold in contempt these dusty and wayworn feet. Let me bathe them tenderly in the refreshing waters of love.
The little one may be a sinful and outcast soul. Ah well, but this soul, covered over with earthliness, sunk in degradation, is one of the diamonds and rubies of the King of kings. If I will take pains with it, if I will set myself to burnish and brighten it, it may flash and sparkle in the diadem that adorns the Lord's brow for ever and ever. And then I shall have gladdened two hearts eternally—the human heart I have helped to redeem, and the divine heart of my Saviour Christ.
Therefore let me beware lest I despise one of God's little ones. I cannot estimate the value He attaches to them, the love He cherishes for them, the future He descries in them. They may win a grace fuller of grandeur than Gabriel and Raphael and Uriel and Abdiel, the princes in the hierarchy of the skies.