Who Are the "Little Ones"?

"Be careful not to look down on these little ones," Jesus said to His disciples in Matthew 18:10.

Who are the "little ones" of whom Jesus speaks? They are, as His behavior illustrates, the weak, unlearned and untrained, wounded and vulnerable.

Why are these "little ones" so important? Because, as Jesus explains, ". . . [T]heir angels in heaven always see the face of My Father." (Matthew 18:10)

Some "little ones" are weak and unlearned. In the last days, wrote Saint Paul to Timothy, there will be no respect for what is holy; there will be a love of pleasure rather than God. Some people will appear to have a godly life but they won’t let its power change them. Saint Paul told Timothy that counterfeit teachers would increase in the last days. He cautioned that they would be especially manipulative of "weak-minded women who are burdened with sins and led by all kinds of desires.

"These women," continued the inspired Saint Paul, "are always studying but are never able to recognize the truth." (2 Timothy 3:1-7 GOD’S WORD) Who are these "weak-willed women"? The Concordia Self-Study Bible notes that they are "unstable women who are guilt-ridden because of their sins, torn by lust, and victims of various false teachers."

Do we know these women? Yes. They are us.

American women are the best educated women in the history of the world, yet a high percentage is ill-informed about our origin and noble purpose. We are "weak-willed" when influenced by every trendy thought. We are unlearned when we seek knowledge at the university or from self-help books, but are "unable to recognize the truth." We are untrained when no one mentors us in purity, good judgment, and positively affecting the culture for generations to come.

When I was a young woman in Lutherans For Life, I was determined to help others learn the truth about abortion. I was the one who learned most! Over and over again, I came face to face with men and women who had been more influenced by the world than by the Word of God. These men and women separated their faith from everyday life and, based on opinions and theories, made choices that forever changed their lives. Some wrapped their worldly thinking in Jesus (a spiritually dangerous deception); others spiraled into despair. For this reason, as an older woman in Lutherans For Life, I was motivated to begin a mentoring ministry using the model of Titus 2.

Every group of Titus 2 women is made up of the weak and unlearned. That’s because we’ve all been influenced by worldly ideas such as modern feminism, modern sex education, population control, and abortion. Worldly ideas attack the very heart of what it means to be a man or a woman. Satan tempts us to doubt God and our human flesh jumps at the chance! We may be able to rationalize with trendy thoughts but, without holding on to the "sword" of God’s mighty Word for life, we are most tragically ill-equipped to be strong in the face of danger.

Weak and unlearned women (or men) become wounded and vulnerable. Festering wounds produce both pain and anger. Pain may cause us to draw in, but anger may cause us to lash out. It was during a Titus 2 presentation on biblical manhood and womanhood that I noticed the agitated woman. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw her repeatedly shake her head. I prayed for the opportunity to have a private moment with her, but my body shook when the moment came. Placing herself firmly "in my face," she hissed, "I will never raise my daughter to trust a man!" In a twinkle, the Holy Spirit reminded me that the angels of this "little one" see the face of God. I was encouraged, not to look down on her but, to see her broken heart. I could cherish this woman in her wounded state, not by focusing on her contrary attitude but, by gently speaking God’s Word. I could assure this "little one" that our Heavenly Father is faithful to keep His promises and that, in Jesus, she and her daughter will always find the Perfect Man who honors women with His sacrificial love.

At a Titus 2 "tea" hosted in an LFL home, I challenged the group to read popular quotes and then contrast them with God’s Word. When the discussion took a natural turn toward abortion, I became aware of the woman to my right. I could "hear" her anger as she loudly, and almost rudely, scribbled in her study guide. This attractive 30-something woman was certainly educated. Her eloquence and choice of words earlier in the day evidenced "knowledge." But, her anger revealed something else. Had the pain of this woman’s wound pierced her conscience? Was her conscience now poking away at the wall of denial she had built for self-protection? No matter. Because the angels of this "little one" see the face of God, I was called, not to look down on her, but to cherish her. I could do that by sharing words of welcome from the Savior of her precious soul.

Vulnerability often takes women (and men) by surprise. It is common, as I begin to wrap up "Dressing for Life: Secrets of the Great Cover-up," to see tears in the eyes of daughters, mothers, and grandmothers. This purity life-style show, a mentoring tool of Titus 2 for Life, works up to and concludes with the message of the white wedding dress—what it signifies and why God wants all women to wait patiently for their husbands on their wedding nights. No longer am I surprised to see guests brush away tears as they watch young girls model vintage wedding dresses. What memories produce those tears? Are they of joy . . . or regret? No matter. It is more important for me to remember that, because the angels of these "little ones" see the face of God, I should not look down on them. Instead, I can cherish these "little ones" with tenderness only the Holy Spirit can motivate by excitedly moving on to my favorite part of the whole script: In Jesus there is hope! All of us have failed to dress and live in a way that pleases God but, in Jesus, every repentant man and woman is forgiven and set free to start fresh and clean!

Jesus says the "little ones" are the weak and unlearned, wounded and vulnerable. They are all around us; in fact, they are us.

May we be moved by Jesus’ Spirit of truth to cherish the "little ones" of all generations. Why? Because their angels in heaven see the face of the Father!