7,074,686,150

Oh, boy, there are SO MANY people on this Earth! Billions and Billions and Billions. This site said there were 7,074,686,150 when I looked. Sometimes it feels like half of them are in front of me slowing me down from where I am trying to go. One big traffic jam.

But God is absolutely clear. He knows each and every one of us. He loves each one of us. He wants a real live relationship with each one of us, whether we are number 99 or 99,999,999 or 7,074,686,150. God doesn’t want anyone left behind or left out. Not if you are one of the “good guys”. Not even if you are one of the “bad guys”. He has an individual plan for each of us. How does He possibly do that? Why does he do that? Because He is God and He is Great and He is Good!

“What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost. Mathew 18: 12-14.

Do you have the simplicity of a child?

Remember the song: “Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so”? The simple song of a child. Oh how we used to love to sing that song over and over again. The simplicity of a child.

Jesus beckons us to start over like children. Can I have that level of faith and simplicity? Can I humble myself so I can get a good look at the Kingdom and His new plan?

May I become simple and elemental again. May I have the faith of a child.

At about the same time, the disciples came to Jesus asking, “Who gets the highest rank in God’s kingdom?” For an answer Jesus called over a child, whom he stood in the middle of the room, and said, “I’m telling you, once and for all, that unless you return to square one and start over like children, you’re not even going to get a look at the kingdom, let alone get in. Whoever becomes simple and elemental again, like this child, will rank high in God’s kingdom. Matthew 18:1-5