Journeys of Grace

Some truths are so simple that I forget to remember them. I know them so well that they hardly affect my life anymore. I realized this past weekend that the fact that Jesus loves me is one of those half-forgotten truths.

At a retreat this weekend, one of the speakers shared some of the difficulties he and his family have gone through during their years in full time ministry. As he shared story after story, I was reminded of God’s sustaining grace in the lives of His children, and I was convicted by the simple faith demonstrated by the speaker’s children.

At one point after God’s gracious provision for the family’s needs, one child attributed the provision to the fact that “Jesus loves me.”

Jesus loves me.

How often are the simplest truths of the Christian faith best understood by little children?

I may be able to write academic papers about the love of God, but how much do I meditate on that love for myself? How much does the reality of that love strengthen me, sustain me, and motivate me in my walk with God? How much do I appreciate or even believe that God does indeed love me?

As all good churched kids do, I grew up going to Sunday School and singing songs like “Jesus Loves Me” and “Jesus Loves the Little Children.” When I got older, I began to learn and love songs like “What Wondrous Love Is This” and “How Deep the Father’s Love for Us.”

All these songs, however, basically communicate the same message. They all speak of the wonder and awe of God’s unquenchable, unending, unfailing love for us, His children.

So, how did I ever get to the point where Jesus’ love became just a song from Children’s Church and not an active reality in my life? When did my estimation of God’s love become so small? When did I start seeing every circumstance of my life through the lens of my own inabilities and insecurities instead of through the lens of God’s love?

1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear.

This is how I must live my life—understanding and delighting in God’s love for me! God has left no place for fear and doubt in the hearts and minds of His children. He hasn’t called us to fear and condemnation but to love and everlasting life.

Knowing myself, I imagine that I’ll have to persistently remind myself of God’s love for me or I’m very likely to forget again.

But Jesus’ love for me cannot and will not ever change. He loved me when I was just a young child, exploring for the first time what redemption meant. And even though I’ve grown up and changed, Jesus hasn’t changed. Yes, He loves the little children. But He also loves adults. He also loves me. And He won’t ever stop.