Come, Follow Me for Littles · September 14

A happy little child in modest ancient-Israel robes holding up a big clean white cloth in the sunshine beside a stone basin of water, with a kind smiling mother kneeling close by in a sunny courtyard full of flowers.

Monday

White as Snow

Today's idea Jesus can make us clean again — all the way clean.

Have you ever spilled something on your very favourite shirt? Maybe some red juice, right down the front. Oh no!

Long ago there was a prophet named Isaiah. Heavenly Father gave him messages to share with the people, and one of them was about a spot just like that.

Isaiah said that when we do something wrong, it can feel like a bright red spot inside us. We know it is there. We wish we could rub it away, and we cannot.

Then Isaiah shared the most wonderful promise in the whole message. He said that even if our mistakes are red as scarlet, they can become “white as snow.”

That is what Jesus does. When we say sorry and try again, He washes the spot away — not halfway, not almost. All the way white, like fresh new snow in the morning.

So you never have to carry a red spot around by yourself. You can hand it right to Him.

A beautiful white temple with a golden spire on a green hill, families in modest ancient-Israel robes walking happily up a winding path toward it holding hands, wildflowers along the path under a bright blue sky.

Tuesday

The House on the Mountain

Isaiah 2

Today's idea The temple is Heavenly Father's house, and there is a place there for you.

Isaiah saw something wonderful — a picture of a day far, far in the future. He saw a beautiful house standing up high on a mountain.

It was not a house for people to live in. It was Heavenly Father's house. It was a temple.

In Isaiah's picture, people came to that house from everywhere. Some came from close by. Some came from very far away. They walked up the mountain together and said to each other, “Come, let us go up to the house of the Lord.”

And do you know what happened there? They learned about Heavenly Father. They learned about Jesus. And they felt quiet and peaceful inside, the way you feel when someone tucks you in.

There are temples today too. Maybe you have driven past one and seen it shining white with a light on top.

Isaiah saw all those people coming. Your family can be some of them.

A kind man in modest ancient-Israel robes standing with one hand lifted and a peaceful smile inside a bright golden temple hall filled with warm light, with three gentle friendly angels singing above him.

Wednesday

Here Am I

Isaiah 6

Today's idea When Heavenly Father needs a helper, you can say, “I will go.”

One day Isaiah was in the temple, and something amazing happened.

The whole room filled up with warm golden light. Isaiah looked up and saw angels, and they were singing together: “Holy, holy, holy.”

Then Isaiah heard Heavenly Father asking a question. It was a question for anybody who was listening. He asked, “Whom shall I send? Who will go for us?”

Isaiah did not wait. He did not say, “Maybe later.” He did not say, “Ask somebody bigger.” He said five little words: “Here am I; send me.”

And Heavenly Father sent him. Isaiah spent the rest of his life telling people about Jesus.

Heavenly Father still needs helpers. Helpers who share the last cracker. Helpers who sit by the new kid. Helpers who sing. You can say it too: “Here am I.”

A young mother in modest ancient-Israel robes holding a newborn baby wrapped in soft cream cloth, a kind father kneeling close and smiling at the baby, gentle lambs resting nearby in warm golden daylight.

Thursday

A Name That Means “God Is With Us”

Isaiah 7

Today's idea Jesus's special name means Heavenly Father is right here with you.

Do you know what your name means? Lots of names mean something. Names can be little presents that somebody gave you before you were even born.

Hundreds and hundreds of years before Jesus came to earth, Isaiah told the people a secret about Him. He said a baby would be born, and that baby would have a special name: Immanuel.

Immanuel is a long word to say. But it means something short and lovely.

It means: God with us.

Not God far away. Not God on the other side of the sky. God with us — right here, close enough to touch.

So before Jesus was even born, His name was already a promise. And the promise still works today: whenever you feel little or lonely, you can remember it. God with us.

A father in an everyday striped tunic sitting on a flat rooftop with two small children in modest ancient-Israel robes, all smiling and pointing up at one big bright star in the evening sky, a warm lantern glowing beside them.

Friday

Wonderful

Isaiah 9

Today's idea Jesus has beautiful names, and every one tells us something about Him.

Do people ever call you more than one name? Maybe your real name — and also “sweetheart,” or “buddy,” or “my girl.” Each one tells you something about how much you are loved.

Isaiah gave names to Jesus too, before Jesus was even born. He said, “Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given.”

Then he listed the names, and they are some of the most beautiful words in all the scriptures.

Wonderful. Counsellor — that means somebody who always knows just what to tell you. The mighty God. The everlasting Father. And the Prince of Peace.

Prince of Peace might be the loveliest one of all. It means that Jesus makes things calm and safe inside you, the way a warm hand on your back makes you calm.

Every Christmas, people all over the world sing those words out loud. And Isaiah wrote them down first — long, long, long before.

A little child in modest ancient-Israel robes walking happily through a sunny green meadow leading a gentle wolf, a fluffy white lamb, a spotted leopard, a baby goat, a calf and a kind-faced young lion all walking peacefully together among wildflowers.

Saturday

A Little Child Shall Lead Them

Isaiah 11

Today's idea Someday Jesus will make the whole world gentle and safe.

Isaiah saw a picture of how the world will be someday, and it might be the loveliest picture in the whole book.

He saw a wolf lying down in the grass beside a fluffy lamb. He saw a spotted leopard resting next to a baby goat. He saw a little calf and a young lion eating side by side, like two friends at snack time.

Nobody was frightened. Nobody was in a hurry to get away. And do you know who was walking out in front, leading the whole gentle parade?

A little child. A little child, about your size.

Isaiah said that someday nothing anywhere will hurt or scare anybody, because the whole earth will be full of knowing Heavenly Father — as full as the ocean is full of water.

That day is coming. And while we wait, you can make one small corner of the world gentle. That is what a little child leading looks like.

A laughing child in modest ancient-Israel robes pulling up a wooden bucket brimming with clear water from a round stone well, with a happy family singing nearby in a green meadow full of wildflowers under a bright sky.

Sunday

Wells of Joy

Isaiah 12

Today's idea “God is my salvation” means He is the One who saves me and brings me home.

At the end of all those messages, Isaiah did something you might not expect a prophet to do.

He sang.

His song went like this: “God is my salvation. I will trust, and not be afraid.” Salvation is a big word, but it means something simple — God is the One who saves us and brings us home to Him.

Then Isaiah said something interesting. He said joy is like a well.

You know how you drop a bucket down deep into a well, and pull it back up brimming with cool, fresh water? Isaiah said we get to draw up joy just like that. And here is the best part: there is always more down there. You cannot use it up.

So Isaiah finished his song the way happy people always finish. “Sing unto the Lord,” he said — because He has done wonderful things.