Do you remember the song Jesus Loves Me? For many of us, it was the first song we ever learned in church. We can sing it without even thinking about the words. It’s been drilled into our minds, but do we believe it?
“Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so. Little ones to Him belong; they are weak but He is strong. Yes, Jesus loves me. Yes, Jesus loves me. Yes, Jesus loves me, the Bible tells me so.”
Did you know before it was a song, it was part of a best-selling novel. As a writer, I found that interesting. Anna Warner was a writer at a time when tensions grew between the North and South. Anna felt an urgency to share her faith with them due to the impending war. She led Bible studies for soldiers and looked for opportunities to share her faith in her novels. Jesus Loves Me was a poem recited to a dying boy in her fictional story Say and Seal. Years later, William Bradbury, a voice and organ teacher, came across the poem and decided to put it to music. Since he was an accomplished hymn writer, the song took flight and traveled the nation during one of the country’s most divesting times in history. Soldiers on both sides of the Civil War clung to the song during the war as did their family members.
We know the song, and now we know the history of the song, but do we believe it? Do you believe Jesus really loves you? If not, take a moment to seek the proof the song speaks of in the last line. Scripture reminds us over and over of the Lord’s love for us.
John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” The Apostle Paul points out how priceless a gift this act was for us in Romans 5:7-8, “Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” God doesn’t require us to get our act together and clean up before He will love us. He loved us when we were a train wreck and He loves us now. There’s nothing you can do to make Him love you any more than He does right now and there is nothing you can do to make Him love you less than He does right now. Jeremiah 31:3 says the Lord loves us with an everlasting love. Circumstances don’t change that love. He loves us when things are going bad or we make poor choices like Abraham did in Genesis 12 when he encouraged Sarah to lie. He also loves us when we do everything right, as Abraham did when he was willing to obey God even when it meant sacrificing his one and only son [Genesis 22:1-19].
John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” The Apostle Paul points out how priceless a gift this act was for us in Romans 5:7-8, “Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” God doesn’t require us to get our act together and clean up before He will love us. He loved us when we were a train wreck and He loves us now. There’s nothing you can do to make Him love you any more than He does right now and there is nothing you can do to make Him love you less than He does right now. Jeremiah 31:3 says the Lord loves us with an everlasting love. Circumstances don’t change that love. He loves us when things are going bad or we make poor choices like Abraham did in Genesis 12 when he encouraged Sarah to lie. He also loves us when we do everything right, as Abraham did when he was willing to obey God even when it meant sacrificing his one and only son [Genesis 22:1-19].
What circumstances are you facing right now? Are things going well for you or are you facing a health issue or a financial crisis? No matter what you’re facing, Jesus loves you and He is there to walk through it with you. He will never leave you nor forsake you [Deuteronomy 31:6, 8; Joshua 1:5]. He will celebrate the joyous occasions with you and He will weep with you [John 11:30-36]. Open your heart to Him today and allow Him to step into your circumstances. He’s eager and waiting. How will you respond to Him?
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