The Daily Devotional
Thursday, December 11, 2025
In the Arms of Mercy: Children Close to God’s Heart
“But when Jesus saw this, he was indignant and said to them, ‘Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it.’” — Mark 10:14–15
Introduction
On December 11, 1946—just one day after the world paused to consider human dignity on Human Rights Day—the United Nations founded UNICEF to care for children left hungry, homeless, and harmed by the scars of war. Today, it stands as a global reminder that children are closest to God’s heart. In Advent, as we draw near to the Christ Child of Bethlehem, this call becomes even clearer: compassion for every child is woven into the story of our Savior.
Reflection
Jesus welcomed children in a world where they were often overlooked, teaching His disciples—and us—that the kingdom belongs to the small, the fragile, the unnoticed. That truth still echoes as we consider millions of children today who face hunger, war, displacement, and uncertainty.
A simple moment I once witnessed comes to mind: a toddler, no more than two years old, spotted a stray kitten trembling outside a grocery store. Without hesitation, the child toddled over, knelt beside it, and gently placed a cracker in front of the frightened animal. No judgment. No analysis. Just instinctive mercy. Adults walked past that kitten all day, but it took a child to stop and see a creature in need.
Jesus invites us not only to care for children but to learn from them—about compassion without calculation, generosity without reluctance, tenderness without fear. When we look at the Christ Child, we see God’s mercy wrapped in vulnerability. When we look at the world’s children, we see His image waiting to be honored.
Application
Today, ask God to help you notice one place where mercy is needed—perhaps a struggling parent, a child in your community, or a global need you can support. Act in a small but sincere way: donate gently used clothing, support a children’s charity (local or global), send a kind note to a young family, or pray intentionally for children in crisis around the world. Let Advent form in you a heart like Christ’s—a heart that never turns away from “the least of these.”
Conclusion
As we await the coming of Christ, we remember that He arrived as a child—humble, vulnerable, and radiant with divine love. When we extend mercy to children near and far, we honor Him. When we protect them, feed them, and pray for them, we meet Jesus in their midst.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, who came to us as a child in a manger, soften my heart toward every child who bears Your image. Teach me to see with compassion, to act with courage, and to reflect Your mercy in a world where so many little ones hunger for hope. As You opened Your arms to welcome children, open mine, that I may become an instrument of Your love—nearby and across the world. Amen.
Devotional by: Kenny Sallee, ThM — Deming, NM, USA
The Bible texts are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible (NRSV)© 1989, 1993, the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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