Jesus Loves Me
Jesus Loves Me
How many times have we sung those words? We sang them as children and we sing them with our children and our grandchildren today. “Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so.” We want those we love to know that Jesus loves them. It matters to us. We tell our little ones that Jesus loves them when we tuck them in at night. When our friends are hurting we tell them that Jesus loves them and is with them. We sing songs about His love. Our pastor teaches us about how God loves us. We sing about it. We know it, right? “Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so.” The Bible says it – so we believe it, right?
Last night I sat in a group of beautiful women who all gather for a Bible Study about God’s unfailing love. We are studying Hosea through a Bible Study by Jennifer Rothschild. I highly recommend it. We sat and talked about God and His unfailing love for us. Just like Gomer wandered, we shared how we wander away from God and He - like Hosea – comes after us. No matter what we have done or do – no matter where we have been or go – no matter whom we try to please and impress or don’t - God loves us with an unfailing, everlasting love. He always has and He always will. We are His beloved. At the end of our discussion I asked the group if they now knew that they are loved. As I gazed around the room, there was still doubt. Oh yes, we know that God loves others. Oh yes, we know that God loves. Well…God loves everyone…well, almost everyone…but…surely not me. Why would He love me? He knows all about me.
We see things from our perspective. We love our children – so we understand that God loves them. We love our friends – so of course Jesus does, too. But we do not love everyone – so it just does not make sense that God loves those who in our eyes are so unlovable. God is holy and we are most definitely not. Our love is limited. How can we possibly understand a love like His? Let’s think about it. The Bible tells us that God IS love. Love is who He is. It is what He does. He loves with an everlasting, all-encompassing love. This love rains down on us, covers us, surrounds us, and envelops us! It is ours. Because He is love – we are loved. Loved…it is who we are.
But don’t take my word for it. Let’s see what God’s word says…
Beloved, let us love one another for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. I John 4:7-11
So there it is – God IS love. We are His beloved. He loves us so much and so completely that He sent His son to die for us – yes, you and me – us. Well, then what?
Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus who being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:5-11
Let your mind absorb that for a minute. God sent His son to die for us. That is love. Jesus left His throne and humbled Himself for us. That is love. He lived His life as a living sacrifice for us…leaving us a perfect example of who we are to be and how we are to live. That is love. He was falsely accused, He bore our shame, He endured our punishment, He died for us. That is love. Why did He do it? Well the Bible tells us…
For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:6-8
Well, we cannot say we deserved the grace He has shown to us. No – we deserve the opposite. We deserve death. But…even at our very worst Jesus loved us enough to die for us. He loves us just as we are – but He loves us too much to leave us this way. He wants more for us. That is why He did it. He wants us to have the best of His best. How do we know?
Jesus Himself is speaking, “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” John 10:10
Jesus came to give us life – eternal life – quality of life. Because of Him we can all have a life of abundant love and blessings here on earth and a complete and perfect life with Him in Heaven. We do not have to worry – we can walk in faith. We need not fear – we can have peace. There is no need to bear our pain – we have a great comforter. God gave us everything we need. He gave us Jesus.
Now, let me ask you… Do you know that Jesus loves you? Are you sure of it? Do you know it? Do you accept it? Say it! Say, “Jesus loves ME!!!! Jesus loves ME this I know!!!!! Jesus loves ME for the Bible tells me so!!!!!”
My sweet friend – my prayer for you today is that you will believe it - that you will receive it and that you will walk in it!
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