A bit ago, I shared on Instagram the Little Lights Devotional by Tiny Truths. It’s a new devotional for toddlers and their families. And I had a friend reach out with so many good questions. Like who is this book geared towards? Is it teaching a works-based faith? All valid. And I did my best to thoughtfully consider and give my honest opinion after reading it cover to cover. And, well…now I’m sharing it here, in case others are curious.
Who is this book for?
First, I think that this is for sure geared towards Christian kids. Not one to send to the neighbors who don’t know Jesus. I’d say it’s for kids (preschoolers specifically) who are already learning about Jesus and what it means to be apart of his family.
Does This Promote Moral Deism?
Another concern raised was whether this book falls into the area of moral deism (the idea that the Gospel can be reduced to behavior modification). I could be wrong, but those weren’t the intentions i got from this book. It doesn’t start with saying ‘these are things to do to please God’ it starts by saying God is light and we are his children. I think if I just read the introduction, I’d feel maybe a little more moral deism vibes, because it talks a bit about ‘learning how to shine our lights.’ However if that is a feeling a parent recieves from the intro and is unsure how to navigate it, I’d encourage them just to skip the introduction. Books like these are tools to help us disciple. It’s ok to use them in a way that works for us, and serves our goals. However, again, those were the intentions got.
The book starts with acknowledging our identity as Image bearers and Children of God. I know that some books use these phrases interchangeably. But again, I felt like they used this appropriately as it is aimed towards a Christian audience. It talks about how we are light because God made us, and filled us with his light.
I like that on page 10 it says ‘God’s light is in you and something you can never earn or lose. It’s a gift.’ I think this is largely another way of sharing that we are made in God’s image, and that never changes. And I think it shares more of the theological message that when we are apart of God’s family, we get to be apart of restoring creation to God’s perfect shalom. Which is true, and a call of believers to work towards ushering the Kingdom of God. And that means sharing God’s love. This devotional shares concrete ways of doing this, but because it starts with our identity in Christ, as God’s children, I feel like it shows up as more of an outpouring of our identity in Christ. Not a works-based salvation. Or a Gospel that only leads to behavior modification.
Actually the first 17 pages are all about our Identity as God’s children. It’s not even until page 18 that we see something we can do, when it says ‘be joyful.’ But even then, it is about the joy we find when we remember that we are beloved children of God, made in his image.
The next part of the pages get a little more into actions. But I didn’t hate it, because it’s giving concrete examples of ways we can be apart of bringing about shalom, because we are made in God’s image. And sometimes it’s helpful to have concrete examples of what this looks like. What does seeing God’s image in others look like? What does it look like to love our neighbors the way God does. But because it starts with such a firm emphasis on identity i felt it more offered a perspective of God’s love flowing out of us, not something we do to earn God’s love, or that we can lose God’s love by not doing these things.
I think it is up to parents, no matter what resources we use, to continually bring us back to the truth that ‘we do not earn God’s love and light and it’s not something we earn.’ But I don’t think the book skips that message. The whole first chuck is all about that. But is a message that repeatedly needs to be reaffirmed.
In the end, I think it’s a book showcasing what it means to be imago dei. And recognizing the ways we can represent God here on earth and bring about his shalom ‘your kingdom come.’ Which i mean, the world is going to tell our kids to do these things too. They’ll say ‘to be a good citizen or neighbor, or do what is right.’ But I think I like this book because it ties those things to the message that ‘this is what God is like’ and we are his children, so we are like this too. I feel like it’s less works based and more identity as God’s beloved children based.
Though I will say a book is just a tool. So it’s going to go back to the parents to help unpack how their kid is processing what is being said. Helping reaffirm that we don’t earn God’s love. And when we are having a hard time regulating our emotions it doesn’t make us any less loved or any less an image bearer. We are still beloved children. A tool only teaches so much. It goes back to how the parents are choosing to reinforce the message.
So again, if this tool is a good fit for your family, I am so glad. If not, and not every tool I share will be a good fit, it’s ok to skip it, and find something that serves your family better.
Baby Devotions 