To Seek and to Save

Christ's death was necessary to save that little one, for He came not only "to seek and to save” (the adults, see Luke 19:10), but also to save these little ones who had not gone astray by their own wills (Matt. 18:11). His death and blood-shedding opened up the way of blessing for all who would not refuse His pardon.
Now it is important to see that the Lord must have ALL the glory, and so it is not only His sovereign will that draws us to Himself, but also that keeps us in His hands, for "I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand." John 10:28. It is true that we, as believers, are responsible to read His Word and keep near to Him, but it is His power that preserves us, and will bring us safely home to glory. So we read of our responsibility in Phil. 2:12, "Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling," and then in the next verse, "For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure." Would any Christian want to take the credit to himself that, after God had chosen him and saved him by sovereign grace, then from that point on it depended on his own faithfulness? We are most surely responsible to live to please the Lord Jesus, but here again we have the sovereign goodness of God that works this in us. Both go together in the Word of God, and one is never out of harmony with the other. Would any devoted Christian take credit for his own faithfulness, or would he not, while feeling his responsibility, say that he just praised the Lord for putting right desires in his heart and giving him the power to please Him? Even at the judgment seat of Christ when the Lord rewards any faithfulness to Him, we will cast our crowns at His feet saying, "Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power." Rev. 4:11.
There is, of course, the government of God in our lives as believers for self-will, and God our Father may have to chasten us in love for our profit (Heb. 12:10).