Jesus Loves Me

Note:  The following post is an edited and updated post from March 14, 2014.  My most sincere prayer is that it will bless you and increase your understanding of just how much Jesus loves you.  Jesus’ love is vastly different from any other love we receive.

Image from Pixabay

The title of this blog post is one of the most beloved and well known hymns to Christians throughout the world, Jesus Loves Me.  In preparing to give a short devotional talk at a local nursing home (in March 2014), the Lord gave me this title and topic—a topic that would be meaningful for those who would be listening (what follows is an expanded version of that devotional talk). 

My goal was to keep my words to a minimum, yet convey some deep truths and comfort many elderly saints.  When doing nursing home services it is a good thing to keep things short and simple, as well as stick with the old hymns that are well-known and loved. 

Created by K. Jolly. All Rights Reserved.

Created by K. Jolly. All Rights Reserved.

A brief internet search led to learning about the background behind this meaningful song.  Please check out the following website to learn more about this beautiful hymn. History of Jesus Loves Me   

Image from Pixabay

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.  

(John 3:16 KJV)

Jesus loves me this I know.  What an amazingly simple yet profound truth!  Jesus loves me this I know—simple enough for a young child to grasp and share in great confidence.  Jesus loves me this I know, profound enough to bring grown men and women to tears.  It is also profound enough to be proclaimed by born-again Bible scholars (for example, Karl Barth).

“Jesus loves me this I know for the Bible tells me so.”

From http://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Inspirational-Images/large/Romans_5-8.jpg

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.  

(Romans 5:8 KJV)

Throughout the Bible we read of God’s deep, stubborn, everlasting love for us.  We can see His love in the Old Testament as He freed Israel from oppression in Egypt.  God’s love was apparent even when Israel constantly wandered from God’s plan for them and He disciplined them.  (Similarly, human parents discipline their beloved children.)  In the New Testament, we see His love through Jesus.  He loved us even when we were still sinners.  He loved us so much He sent His only Son, Jesus, to die a horrific criminal’s death on a cross!  That is amazing love!  This is a love that sets us free to truly live—live as we have never lived before—to live more fully and completely. 

Image from Pixabay 

O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.

But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 

(1 Corinthians 15:55-57 KJV)

In dying and rising again, Jesus gives us the victory over death and the grave.  Now that is LOVE!  We have eternal life that matters when we have Jesus as our Savior and Lord.  That, my beloved, is love.  Therefore, in our life and in our death we can find joy and peace, even when the world around us is crumbling to pieces.

The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing. 

(Zephaniah 3:17 KJV)

God loves you so much.  He rejoices over you with joy.  He sings over you with joy.  You are God’s beloved child!  His heart is for you, not against you.  Knowing and experiencing this should change how we see and interact with the world and with those around us.

WordCloud created by K. Jolly. All Rights Reserved.

Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.

He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.

Herein 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 ought also to love one another.

No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. 

(1 John 4:7-12 KJV)

Remember and rest in the fact that Jesus loves you more than your mind can begin to conceive.  Jesus loves you and me because the Bible tells me so!  Share the love of Jesus with those around you each day.  You will discover the amazing blessing of blessing others.

Listen to Jesus Loves Me:  

Please join with me in prayer:

Father, Thank You so much for the love You demonstrated to the world through Jesus.  Help us to open our hearts to Your amazing love more and more each day, and experience the transformation that love does in our hearts, minds, and lives.  In turn, stir us to share Your healing, restorative love with those around us.  Open our eyes to the hurting world around us—a world that needs to hear the Good News and experience Your amazing grace and love.  In Jesus’ Name, we pray.  Amen.

From My Heart to Yours,

Kim        

God’s Valentine

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.  (John 3:16-17 KJV)

Note:  This post is an edited and revised version of what I shared last year on Valentine’s Day.

God's Valentine image from pixabay

Happy Valentine’s Day!  God loves you so much—more than you or anyone can begin to fathom! 

Have you ever realized that you are God’s Valentine and that He is yours?  Think about what this means; let it seep deeply into your soul—your innermost being.  How does knowing this change your view of yourself, your view of God, and your view of others?

God loves each and every one of His children fully and completely—a love that is uniquely and individually designed for His children.  God’s love for us is so intense and deep that we are unable to fathom it this side of Heaven.  God’s love is a love that completes and fulfills us in a way that nothing or no one on earth can.

Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.  (1 John 3:1 KJV)

Since we live in a sinful, fallen world, it makes sense that the love we experience here would seem rather incomplete.  In Heaven, I believe that we will experience such a fullness of God’s love that our earthly bodies and minds simply could not handle it.

God’s love of and for us is an empowering love, it is not a love that controls or manipulates to get its own way; it is a love that sets its object (that is us!) free!  Due to the sinful world we inhabit, at times we experience love that is anything but freeing; in fact, it sometimes controls and manipulates to get its own way.  Sadly, “love” in this world can also be horrifically abusive.

Even at that, I believe we can catch glimpses of this love in the world around us, as well as throughout the Scriptures.  Think about this:  God’s Word (both the Old and New Testaments) is His love letter to us.  How cool is that?!  Try reading your Bible as God’s love letter to you; see what a difference it makes in how you perceive the words in it.

Personal Photo

How does knowing the Bible is God’s love letter to you change how you read it?  What do you think about this idea of the Bible being God’s love letter to you?

In February 2009 (including Valentine’s weekend), I was blessed to go on a Walk to Emmaus retreat—a 72 hour date with the Lord.  It was a wonderful time of spiritual growth, nourishment, and renewal!  Experiencing God’s love and the love of His children was simply amazing!  I simply do not have the words to describe that time.  To learn more about this experience, please see:  Walk to Emmaus. 

We see God’s love for us in the imagery of a shepherd caring for his or her sheep—protection, provision, care, and guidance.  His love for us goes far beyond the love we feel for our family and friends or receive from them.  It is a love that heals and love that provides safety and security that is not of this world. 

God’s love is perfect and complete—it fits us perfectly, it heals us and sets us free from fear (1 John 4:18 KJV) and bondage to sin.  God’s love is the real thing!

The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing. 

(Zephaniah 3:17 KJV)

How have you experienced God’s love?  How have you shared it?

Please join with me in prayer:

Dear God of Love, we long to bask in the healing warmth of Your love.  Please pour into our open hearts Your love, so that we may in turn pour out that love on others.  It is only in and through You that we have any capacity to love.  Fill us with Your Holy Spirit, enabling us to love those who are the most challenging to love—who are the ones who are the most loved-starved in our midst.  As we begin to think about preparing for Lent and then Easter, direct our attention to Your greatest demonstration of love—sending Your precious and only Son, Jesus Christ, to walk on earth and to die on the cross in our place, and rising again—giving us access to You and to eternal life that is worth living.  In Jesus’ Name, we pray.  Amen.

From My Heart to Yours,

Kim

Jesus Loves Me

The title of this blog post is the title of one of the most beloved and well known hymns, Jesus Loves Me, to Christians throughout the world.  In preparing to give a short devotional talk at a nursing home, the Lord gave me this title/topic—a topic that would be meaningful for those who would be listening (what follows is an expanded version of that talk).  My goal was to keep my words to a minimum, yet convey some deep truths and comfort many elderly saints.  A brief internet search led to learning about the background behind this meaningful song.  Please check out the following website to learn about this beautiful hymn.  The story behind the hymn "Jesus Loves Me".

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that 

whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16 KJV)

Jesus loves me this I know.  What an amazing simple yet profound truth!  Jesus loves me this I know—simple enough for a young child to grasp and share in great confidence.  Jesus loves me this I know, profound enough to bring grown men and women to tears.

“Jesus loves me this I know for the Bible tells me so.” 

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8 KJV)

Throughout the Bible we read of God’s deep, stubborn, everlasting love for us.  We can see His love in the Old Testament as He freed Israel from oppression in Egypt.  God’s love was apparent even when Israel constantly wandered from God’s plan for them and He disciplined them.  (Similarly, human parents discipline their beloved children.)  In the New Testament, we see His love through Jesus.  He loved us even when we were still sinners.  He loved us so much He sent His only Son, Jesus, to die a criminal’s death on a cross!  That is amazing love!  Love that sets us free to truly live. 

O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?  The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.  But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.  

(1Corinthians 15:55-57 KJV)

In dying and rising again, Jesus gave us victory over death and the grave.  Now that is LOVE!  We have eternal life that matters when we have Jesus as our Savior and Lord.  That, my beloved, is love.  Therefore, in our life and in our death we can find joy and peace, even when the world around us is crumbling to pieces. 

The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.  (Zephaniah 3:17 KJV)

God loves you so much.  He rejoices over you with joy.  He sings over you in joy.  You are God’s beloved child!  His heart is for you, not against you.  Knowing and experiencing this should change how we see and interact with the world and with others around us.

 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.  He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.  In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into 

the world, that we might live through him.  Herein 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 ought also to 

love one another.  No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.  (1 John 4:7-12 KJV)

 Remember and rest in the fact that Jesus loves you more than your mind can begin to conceive.  Jesus loves you and me because the Bible tells me so!  Share the love of Jesus with those around you each day.  You’ll discover the amazing blessing of blessing others.

Listen to "Jesus Loves Me"

Please join me in prayer:

Father, thank you so much for the love You demonstrated to us through Jesus.  Help us to open our hearts to Your amazing love and experience the transformation that love does in our hearts.  In turn, may we share Your love with those around us.  In Jesus’ precious Name.  Amen. 

From My Heart to Yours,

Kim